HARRY & ADA SMART
Written by Ada Smart
Glencorrie progresses
Life on Kangaroo Island was great for young folk rearing a family. So much outdoor activity, even when at home on the farm. Harry, later prepared and set down a tennis court at home.
I used to take the children to church at the Stokes Bay Hall. As the sheep and cattle numbers grew, so did the labour needed; and we found we had to miss some of the church sessions to help with the jobs necessary; sheep feeding, culling, drafting, tailing or marking lambs; whilst there were extra hands, not available on school days.
After a number of years, we gave up milking the cows. They had served their purpose, whilst our sheep numbers and beef cattle were few! Every young bull Harry purchased, he put a ring in their nose to be able to control him. My job after he was safely on the ground was to sit on his head, whilst the ring was inserted. My neighbour was astounded, and no way would she do such a thing! Really, it was no problem!
Fires
Summer time brought fear of fires! One summer, there was a beauty. The old Islanders down at Snellings Beach used to light up the scrub every few years, on a wind blowing away from the sea, to make their farms safe should the scrub catch fire from the other direction, and so burn through to the shore. So, unthinkingly, they got the north wind and lit up. We blockers were right in its path. Every available man was out fighting that fire. I was home with the children, and the phone was constantly ringing.
At midnight, a blocker from several miles up the road arrived in a panic. The fire was getting close to their (Boyles) home. She wanted some bags to wet down to try and do something to save the house. By the time she returned home there were men and trucks there; thank goodness! Early a.m. Harry arrived home and was going to go with his tractor and blade to try and stop the fire coming up the creek. So, it would not come through to our block. He with the help of several others were able to do just that! It was a very worrying couple of days! Over the years there were a number of fires that seemed to ‘pop up’ in most unexpected places.
Brian and John on Possum the horse, Lynette, Marilyn and Paul 1957