On this particular morning all seemed very quiet; we were sternly told not to wander away. There didn't seem as many people as usual waiting to board; the adults were all very serious and talking among themselves quietly. Grandfather Tarbit, Ida and Agnes as well as other relatives were there to see us off and Auntie Agnes kept squeezing me with big hugs. I think I was only interested in my "new" watch! Mrs Henricksen, a family friend, had given me a watch she no longer used and I thought , at 10 years, that I was very "grown-up" wearing it.
No buckets and spades this trip...I knew that we were off to a place called Amiens somewhere in the country near Stanthorpe. We would stop briefly at a place called Toowoomba on the way and an Aunt and two young girl cousins whom we had not previously met would be on the platform to say Hello.
It was to be a long day and I had books and things to keep me occupied...and quiet!
Our home at Annerley was near a reservoir and therefore in an area designated as "high risk" for possible air raids now that the war with Japan was coming closer. Dad had been spending many nights in the city staying in a flat made available for his use as part of Communications within the Defence Force. I can only assume that he must have had constant worries about out safety while he was absent. Many schools and families had decided to evacuate and go to country areas away from the city. Just when the decision was made for us to go I do not know. Did I know when at the school "break up"at the end of 1941 that I would not be returning to Yeronga school the following year? I do not know.
It was now January and we were on that train heading South West. Uncle Ernie, one of Mum's brothers, had found a deserted house for us to rent in Amiens. He lived in Bapaume on the same railway "loop" line.
The stop at Toowoomba proved disappointing. I was excited to be meeting some cousins but whether it was shyness on both sides or what I can only remember feeling that they were not interested in meeting us. I dont remember anything about the rest of that journey or how we actually arrived at the house. I think it was already dark and assume Uncle Ernie must have provided transport. My cousin Edna and her two little girls accompanied us ( I am fairly certain about that) but I am not sure if her husband also made the trip. Dad was only there to get us settled and then had to return to Brisbane. I have very vague memories of a rather chaotic first night.
The next morning though brought lots of excitement as we explored our surroundings. There was a grapevine all around the verandah of the cottage and it was laden with ripe white grapes. The orchard had peach, plum and apricot trees full of fruit! There was a huge barn behind the house and on the side of it was a heavily-laden passionfruit vine. There were some sore tummies for a few days until we all settled down!
Amiens is about 15km from Stanthorpe in South Queensland. If my memory is correct, there was a "loop" line from Cottonvale ( before Stanthorpe) and a train which ran once a week from there via Paschendale, Poziers, Bapaume and on to Amiens which was the end of that line.There may have been other stations but those are the names I remember. The "stations' were really only sidings and un-manned. Someone attended the Amiens stop on train days. The line had been set up when the area was opened up for soldier settlement after World war 1 ( hence the names of the "towns.") It was not a passenger line as such as its purpose was to transport the fruit and vegetables to go to the Brisbane markets.
Although I did not know it at the time this was the start of big changes in family life as I had previously known it.
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House at Amiens |
This was all new to me Hilary. It was wonderful to fill in a gap in my memory. My memories of Amiens only start once we were living there.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully narrated also.
Lois