Cantering Around Cloncurry
Arriving in Cloncurry, we stopped to pick up groceries. Getting in the car, Mum noticed a note on the front windscreen. Thinking it was a parking ticket, Mum picked it up. It was actually a note telling us one of our caravan tyres were flat. We hadn't even noticed this and were glad that someone else had noticed. We were in a dilemma, however, as we didn't have the correct socket extender. We luckily borrowed some off another person and changed our tyre. Amazingly, in all our extensive travels, this was our first tyre to pop. We then headed out to Cubbaroo.
We were staying in a house at Cubbaroo, and were glad to have a break from the caravan. The station owners there were kind enough to let the 3 older kids work with them. While Dad taught their kids, as a home tutor, Bethany, Joel and Josh had one of the best times ever. Bethany's horse crazy and was delighted to be able to muster on horseback. Joel and Josh rode horses as well as expanding their skills on a motorbike and quad. It was 12 hour days for them, on top of schoolwork, but they still loved it. It did tire them out a bit! The first week we were there, there was some of the station owners friends there as well. As a treat one day, Shammy, the little pony, was brought in and saddled up and they all had a ride. The little girls were delighted!
Cubbaroo was a part of 3 stations. Granada and Ballaghmore were the other stations. They covered altogether about 40,000 acres. They run 16000 head of cattle. Their main breeds were Brahman, but they had some Charbray. The group owning the stations was Hacon and Sons. At Cubbaroo, they had some animals. They had 11 chickens, which were about to start laying eggs. They also had 2 female pigs, named Lorraine and Jilly. Jilly was hand-raised from a little baby. At the start of our stay, they also had a poddy calf named Prickle. We fed him from a bottle. At the end of our stay, he was put on a dairy cow. Quite a few calves were put on the stations dairy cows while we were there. The station owners also got a new baby boar that they bought. They also borrowed a big boar from the sellers. They also had 6 dogs. Three of them were used to work cattle.
While at Cubbaroo, Bethany turned 13. She was glad to get lots of presents. As a unofficial birthday present, she worked in the yards and preg-tested some cows. She got a watch, earrings, a word game, a book and several other presents.
What did we do at Cubbaroo:
Mustering the cattle- on horses, quads and motorbikes
Working them in the yards- branding, sorting cattle, castrating, vaccinating, preg-testing.
Moving cattle between different paddocks
Maintenance work- fences, troughs
Rounding up cattle from paddocks
Working horses- saddling and bridling
Loading cattle on trucks
Feeding animals- pigs, chickens and a poddy calf
Mustering the cattle- on horses, quads and motorbikes
Working them in the yards- branding, sorting cattle, castrating, vaccinating, preg-testing.
Moving cattle between different paddocks
Maintenance work- fences, troughs
Rounding up cattle from paddocks
Working horses- saddling and bridling
Loading cattle on trucks
Feeding animals- pigs, chickens and a poddy calf
One Saturday, Joel went out fishing at one of the dams. He managed to catch a grunter, which was a reasonable size too. Dad cooked it up and reckoned it was delicious.
When all the cattle work had finished, the station owners were kind enough to let us ride their horses. As our exercise, we walked around the paddock our cottage was on and also rode. We shared 2 horses between the 3 older kids and the little girls shared Shammy. It was heaps of fun and we were very glad of the opportunity By the time we had left, the older kids could all ride comfortably at a canter. Tahlia could walk while being lead. Chloe could ride with nobody leading her, but with somebody close at hand. She could also trot. We had all improved heaps. The sum total of our falls off the horses were 4 times. Excuse me for all the horse photos!!
Wondering about our Akubra's? They were a very generous gift from the station owners for all our hard work. We all love them!!!
Typical Sceneries of Cubbaroo:
Cloncurry
"The Friendly Heart of the Great North West"
Places to visit:
Cloncurry Unearthed Visitor Information Centre and Museum: Flinders Hwy PH: 07 4742 1361
John Flynn Place Museum: Daintree St PH: 07 4742 2778
Cloncurry, often known as the place of the birth of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, has an extremely interesting museum in the founders honour. It has exhibits about the RFDS, the radio, aviation, and lots more.
Chinaman Creek Dam- 3km W of Cloncurry. A lovely dam, with nice nature walks around the area.
Cloncurry Leisure Centre- Daintree St PH: 07 4742 1403
Family Eating Out:
Wagon Wheel Motel- 54 Ramsay St PH: 07 4742 1866
This was a great restaurant for all the family. There was a friendly atmosphere, and the meals were great. We commonly had dinner here while in Cloncurry shopping.
Places to visit:
Cloncurry Unearthed Visitor Information Centre and Museum: Flinders Hwy PH: 07 4742 1361
John Flynn Place Museum: Daintree St PH: 07 4742 2778
Cloncurry, often known as the place of the birth of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, has an extremely interesting museum in the founders honour. It has exhibits about the RFDS, the radio, aviation, and lots more.
Chinaman Creek Dam- 3km W of Cloncurry. A lovely dam, with nice nature walks around the area.
Cloncurry Leisure Centre- Daintree St PH: 07 4742 1403
Family Eating Out:
Wagon Wheel Motel- 54 Ramsay St PH: 07 4742 1866
This was a great restaurant for all the family. There was a friendly atmosphere, and the meals were great. We commonly had dinner here while in Cloncurry shopping.