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02:10,793 --> 00:02:12,750
In 1942, the Japanese
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00:02:12,751 --> 00:02:16,000
were driving invincibly
southward from Singapore.
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It seemed inevitable that
next into their hands
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00:02:18,209 --> 00:02:21,000
would fall the Northern
Territory of Australia,
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the largest undeveloped
region in the world
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with a million head of
cattle and a population
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00:02:25,834 --> 00:02:28,333
of only 5,000 whites.
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Space, scorched earth and space,
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was Australia's final weapon.
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But first, the vast herds
of the north must be saved.
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And so, across Australia
moved a mass migration
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00:02:39,418 --> 00:02:41,167
unique in history.
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From small beginnings, the
mobs of cattle poured south
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00:02:44,293 --> 00:02:45,918
in an almost unending flood.
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00:02:46,876 --> 00:02:49,708
This is the story of one
mob and of the people
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who drove it across a continent.
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- The Japs'll get nothing from me.
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00:04:50,293 --> 00:04:52,458
- Old Gutsache wants you, boss.
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00:04:52,459 --> 00:04:53,293
- Righto.
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00:04:53,294 --> 00:04:55,293
Hold 'em, boys, I gotta see the manager!
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00:05:03,376 --> 00:05:04,542
Lookin' for me, Burt?
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00:05:04,543 --> 00:05:06,083
- Yes, come in, Dan.
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00:05:06,084 --> 00:05:09,625
I was just tellin' the
boys I've a shock for ya.
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00:05:09,626 --> 00:05:11,792
- What's that, the
company givin' us a rise?
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00:05:11,793 --> 00:05:14,292
- That big a shock, you'd
be turnin' on whiskey.
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00:05:16,168 --> 00:05:18,668
- Listen, boys, I've
just had this telegram.
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00:05:20,001 --> 00:05:22,250
Closed works, stop.
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00:05:22,251 --> 00:05:26,750
Load vital machine parts on SS
Toowoomba immediately, stop.
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00:05:26,751 --> 00:05:30,542
Destroy freezing plant,
evacuate personnel, stop.
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00:05:30,543 --> 00:05:32,167
Regards, Barton.
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00:05:32,168 --> 00:05:34,167
- Nice of him to send his regards anyhow.
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00:05:34,168 --> 00:05:36,583
Well, looks like
we're through, war anyway.
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00:05:36,584 --> 00:05:38,000
Must be expectin' the Japs.
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00:05:38,001 --> 00:05:38,876
They were close enough last night.
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00:05:38,877 --> 00:05:40,042
Yes, too bloomin' close.
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00:05:40,043 --> 00:05:41,375
- Well, there's no use squawkin'.
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00:05:41,376 --> 00:05:44,417
The one thing we've plenty
of in Australia is space,
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00:05:44,418 --> 00:05:47,083
so why not use it like the Russians did?
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00:05:47,084 --> 00:05:49,542
Scorched earth and space.
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00:05:49,543 --> 00:05:52,958
Oh, here, help yourself.
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00:05:52,959 --> 00:05:55,833
There won't be any big
shots up here for awhile.
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00:05:55,834 --> 00:05:58,625
And don't bother about packin' that stuff.
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00:05:58,626 --> 00:06:01,250
Just rip it out and get it aboard.
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00:06:01,251 --> 00:06:02,251
- What about the cattle, Burt?
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00:06:02,252 --> 00:06:03,375
- Just shoot 'em where they are.
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00:06:03,376 --> 00:06:05,542
I've got some ammo for you here somewhere.
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00:06:05,543 --> 00:06:08,250
- I'm not gonna shoot those cattle, Burt.
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00:06:08,251 --> 00:06:10,333
- They'd make some fine
dinners for the Japs.
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00:06:10,334 --> 00:06:12,251
- I won't leave 'em for the Japs, boy.
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00:06:13,793 --> 00:06:14,793
I'll overland them.
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00:06:16,793 --> 00:06:19,209
- You'd never get through, Dan, look.
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00:06:23,001 --> 00:06:26,000
This is just to stop you
from committing suicide.
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00:06:26,001 --> 00:06:27,375
We're here.
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00:06:27,376 --> 00:06:30,542
You'd either have to make
for Adelaide or Queensland.
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00:06:30,543 --> 00:06:32,917
Adelaide is 2,000 miles away.
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00:06:32,918 --> 00:06:34,208
Queensland is 1500.
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00:06:34,209 --> 00:06:35,792
- I'll make for Queensland.
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00:06:35,793 --> 00:06:37,208
- All right.
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00:06:37,209 --> 00:06:38,458
And when you crossed the Orde,
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00:06:38,459 --> 00:06:39,625
you'd be out of feed and water.
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00:06:39,626 --> 00:06:41,001
It's terrible country.
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00:06:42,334 --> 00:06:45,042
You know how long the
Duracks were coming here?
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00:06:45,043 --> 00:06:46,043
Three years.
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00:06:46,793 --> 00:06:48,000
The war'd be over then.
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00:06:48,001 --> 00:06:49,708
- You can't tell me there haven't been
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00:06:49,709 --> 00:06:52,001
any big movements of
cattle since the Duracks.
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00:06:52,876 --> 00:06:55,750
Listen, Bert, when I went
down to Halls Creek to enlist
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00:06:55,751 --> 00:06:58,333
the sergeant there,
Paterson, he said to me,
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00:06:58,334 --> 00:07:01,250
"In this war bullocks are
more important than bullets.
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00:07:01,251 --> 00:07:02,542
"You stick to cattle," he
said, "and you'll be doing
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00:07:02,543 --> 00:07:04,167
"a better job for Australia than bashing
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00:07:04,168 --> 00:07:05,834
"your spine in some army camp."
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00:07:06,959 --> 00:07:08,126
Then he knocked me back.
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00:07:09,126 --> 00:07:10,583
I was the only recruit that day,
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00:07:10,584 --> 00:07:12,583
so we went out and got drunk.
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00:07:12,584 --> 00:07:14,251
I've never forgotten what he said.
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00:07:15,126 --> 00:07:17,125
"Bullocks are more
important than bullets."
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00:07:17,126 --> 00:07:18,583
- He was right in a way, but...
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00:07:18,584 --> 00:07:21,458
- But you want me to leave a
thousand head of cattle to rot.
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00:07:21,459 --> 00:07:24,000
If I can get a plan together,
will ya let me have a go?
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00:07:24,001 --> 00:07:25,792
- I'd have to have an official okay.
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00:07:25,793 --> 00:07:27,875
- Aww, don't give me
that line of bull, Bert.
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00:07:27,876 --> 00:07:29,958
You know you've got
authority for all I need.
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00:07:29,959 --> 00:07:30,918
Will ya back me?
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00:07:30,919 --> 00:07:32,543
- I can't stop ya, Dan.
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00:07:34,876 --> 00:07:36,168
I'll tell ya what I'll do.
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00:07:38,043 --> 00:07:40,375
Don't know why people make
such a fuss of these things.
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00:07:40,376 --> 00:07:42,958
They always come unstuck on me.
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00:07:42,959 --> 00:07:44,625
I'll tell ya what I'll do.
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00:07:44,626 --> 00:07:46,125
I'll give you a personal contract
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00:07:46,126 --> 00:07:48,542
and try and have it
okayed when I go south.
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00:07:48,543 --> 00:07:50,167
- Good on ya, Bert.
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00:07:50,168 --> 00:07:51,793
I knew you wouldn't let me down.
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00:07:54,834 --> 00:07:57,083
- Ya know what you're
tryin' to do, don't ya, Dan?
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00:07:57,084 --> 00:07:58,750
You're tryin' to drive a
mob of half-wild cattle
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00:07:58,751 --> 00:08:00,458
the distance from London to Moscow
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00:08:00,459 --> 00:08:03,708
in a bad season and the
wrong time of the year.
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00:08:03,709 --> 00:08:06,458
- No wonder they call you old Gutsache.
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00:08:06,459 --> 00:08:08,458
Well, I'll see ya in Moscow.
102
00:08:09,751 --> 00:08:11,625
- Woo!
- And heads!
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00:08:11,626 --> 00:08:13,167
- It's heads.
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00:08:13,168 --> 00:08:14,792
For quid in the guts wanted.
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00:08:14,793 --> 00:08:16,125
Four quid in the guts wanted.
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00:08:16,126 --> 00:08:18,083
Come on, come on, come
on, come on, come on.
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00:08:18,919 --> 00:08:20,583
10 to set, place your bets, boys.
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00:08:23,626 --> 00:08:25,583
10 to set, place your bets, boys.
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00:08:29,251 --> 00:08:30,251
- Hey, Corky!
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00:08:31,376 --> 00:08:33,625
Hold on a minute, I wanna
have a yarn with the boys.
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00:08:33,626 --> 00:08:35,292
- Not now, Dan, my boy.
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00:08:35,293 --> 00:08:36,750
If he throws another heads, I get a cut.
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00:08:36,751 --> 00:08:38,458
- This is important.
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00:08:38,459 --> 00:08:40,292
- What's more important than making dough?
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00:08:40,293 --> 00:08:41,209
Come on, stand clear.
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00:08:41,210 --> 00:08:42,833
Come in, Spinner, come on.
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00:08:42,834 --> 00:08:43,876
Fair go, boys, fair go.
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00:08:47,251 --> 00:08:48,251
Tails!
119
00:08:49,668 --> 00:08:53,000
- Gentlemen, Mr. Dan McAlpine
wants to say a few words.
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00:08:53,001 --> 00:08:55,375
- Listen, fellas, here's the story.
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00:08:55,376 --> 00:08:56,417
I want six men to help me drive
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00:08:56,418 --> 00:08:57,918
a mob of cattle to Queensland.
123
00:08:59,334 --> 00:09:01,250
Well, what about it?
124
00:09:01,251 --> 00:09:02,084
- You're too late, Dan.
125
00:09:02,085 --> 00:09:03,208
- It's the wrong time of the year.
126
00:09:03,209 --> 00:09:04,500
- You'd never get through the centre.
127
00:09:04,501 --> 00:09:05,708
- That's my funeral.
128
00:09:05,709 --> 00:09:06,958
- And it's likely to be.
129
00:09:09,001 --> 00:09:10,833
- It's like this, Dan.
130
00:09:10,834 --> 00:09:12,583
We're goin' to join up when we get south.
131
00:09:12,584 --> 00:09:13,418
We want to sorta stick together.
132
00:09:13,419 --> 00:09:15,292
- That's right, we oughta
be doin' a war job.
133
00:09:15,293 --> 00:09:16,667
- This is a war job.
134
00:09:16,668 --> 00:09:18,708
Bullocks are more lmportant than bullets.
135
00:09:18,709 --> 00:09:19,875
- And much bigger.
136
00:09:19,876 --> 00:09:21,208
You can see them coming.
137
00:09:22,044 --> 00:09:23,167
- Fair go, fair go.
138
00:09:23,168 --> 00:09:24,417
Let's get this straight.
139
00:09:24,418 --> 00:09:25,708
Who's coming with me?
140
00:09:25,709 --> 00:09:26,917
- None of us, Dan.
141
00:09:26,918 --> 00:09:27,918
We're going to fight.
142
00:09:27,919 --> 00:09:30,001
Come and get it!
143
00:09:34,668 --> 00:09:35,543
- You'll come with me, won't ya, Jackie?
144
00:09:35,544 --> 00:09:36,917
- Where to, boss?
145
00:09:36,918 --> 00:09:39,042
- Across three states, Western Australia,
146
00:09:39,043 --> 00:09:41,917
Northern Territory, and
Queensland to the sea.
147
00:09:41,918 --> 00:09:42,793
- How long on the road, boss?
148
00:09:42,794 --> 00:09:44,418
- Oh, a year, maybe two.
149
00:09:45,793 --> 00:09:47,250
- Okay, I'll come with ya.
150
00:09:47,251 --> 00:09:48,084
Wait till I tell the missus.
151
00:09:48,085 --> 00:09:49,418
I'll be back in five minutes.
152
00:09:53,668 --> 00:09:55,375
- I'll come with you if you'll have me.
153
00:09:55,376 --> 00:09:56,667
- You're a sailor, aren't ya?
154
00:09:56,668 --> 00:09:57,708
- Yes.
155
00:09:57,709 --> 00:10:00,167
- There's nothing romantic
about us, ya know.
156
00:10:00,168 --> 00:10:03,083
We don't carry guns or shoot up rustlers.
157
00:10:03,084 --> 00:10:04,958
We're just plain cattlemen.
158
00:10:04,959 --> 00:10:07,000
Hard yacka and hard tucker.
159
00:10:07,001 --> 00:10:08,876
I think you better stay by your ship.
160
00:10:10,376 --> 00:10:11,418
- But I hate the sea.
161
00:10:14,834 --> 00:10:16,458
My home's in Scotland.
162
00:10:16,459 --> 00:10:18,625
My mother was killed in the Blitz.
163
00:10:18,626 --> 00:10:20,625
I've been torpedoed twice.
164
00:10:20,626 --> 00:10:22,793
Once I spent 19 days in a ship's boat.
165
00:10:24,084 --> 00:10:25,167
I thought I'd got over it by now,
166
00:10:25,168 --> 00:10:27,584
but the bombing out here
has brought it on again.
167
00:10:30,626 --> 00:10:32,250
I'm a coward, I suppose.
168
00:10:32,251 --> 00:10:33,917
- Oh, I wouldn't say that.
169
00:10:33,918 --> 00:10:35,458
Can ya ride a horse?
170
00:10:35,459 --> 00:10:36,792
- No, I'm afraid I can't.
171
00:10:36,793 --> 00:10:39,375
Well, not very well, anyway.
172
00:10:39,376 --> 00:10:40,875
- Can ya cook?
173
00:10:40,876 --> 00:10:43,333
- Yes, I can, and I don't mind hard work.
174
00:10:43,334 --> 00:10:44,625
- Could you get a discharge?
175
00:10:44,626 --> 00:10:47,458
- Yes, the skipper said I
could on medical grounds.
176
00:10:47,459 --> 00:10:50,042
- Ah, what's the good
of you and me and Jacky?
177
00:10:50,043 --> 00:10:52,168
We'd lose half the cattle the first night.
178
00:10:53,418 --> 00:10:55,418
Well, I suppose I better start shooting.
179
00:10:56,876 --> 00:10:58,875
I was dead set on getting
those cattle through.
180
00:10:58,876 --> 00:11:00,417
- And so you shall, Dan, my boy.
181
00:11:00,418 --> 00:11:02,125
All is now well.
182
00:11:02,126 --> 00:11:04,083
Dr. Corkingdale in person
is coming with you.
183
00:11:04,084 --> 00:11:05,500
- You are, Corky?
184
00:11:05,501 --> 00:11:07,250
It means work, ya know.
185
00:11:07,251 --> 00:11:08,833
- I've worked in my time.
186
00:11:08,834 --> 00:11:10,417
- I thought you were all set for the city.
187
00:11:10,418 --> 00:11:13,250
- Well, on sober consideration,
188
00:11:13,251 --> 00:11:15,167
wasn't it tragic about the pub?
189
00:11:15,168 --> 00:11:16,917
On sober consideration, I thought it wise
190
00:11:16,918 --> 00:11:20,417
to avoid the bright lights of
Sydney a little while longer.
191
00:11:20,418 --> 00:11:21,792
We get paid for this trip, I hope.
192
00:11:21,793 --> 00:11:23,375
- You bet.
193
00:11:23,376 --> 00:11:25,167
- Yes, Dan, what are you offering?
194
00:11:25,168 --> 00:11:27,333
- Standard drover's rate,
six quid a week and tucker.
195
00:11:27,334 --> 00:11:29,625
And a bonus at the end if we get through.
196
00:11:29,626 --> 00:11:31,125
- That's all right, then.
197
00:11:31,126 --> 00:11:33,375
You see, Les and I have
got some pretty good horses
198
00:11:33,376 --> 00:11:35,167
that we didn't like leaving,
so if we can stick them in
199
00:11:35,168 --> 00:11:37,167
with your plan, well, you can count on us.
200
00:11:37,168 --> 00:11:38,792
- You beaut.
201
00:11:38,793 --> 00:11:40,333
Moscow, here I come.
202
00:11:40,334 --> 00:11:41,168
- Moscow?
203
00:11:41,169 --> 00:11:42,375
I thought you said Queensland.
204
00:11:42,376 --> 00:11:44,250
- Aw, that's just a fancy of mine.
205
00:11:44,251 --> 00:11:46,209
Well, come on, let's
get some gear together.
206
00:12:01,626 --> 00:12:03,292
- Whoa!
207
00:12:03,293 --> 00:12:04,376
- G'day, Bill.
208
00:12:05,376 --> 00:12:07,043
G'day, Mrs. Parsons, Helen.
209
00:12:09,918 --> 00:12:11,542
Gonna sell the waggon, Bill?
210
00:12:11,543 --> 00:12:12,708
- No.
211
00:12:12,709 --> 00:12:15,542
- Ah, well, I'll pinch
it after you've sailed.
212
00:12:15,543 --> 00:12:17,000
- We're not sailing.
213
00:12:17,001 --> 00:12:18,084
We're coming with you.
214
00:12:19,584 --> 00:12:21,000
- No you're not, Bill.
215
00:12:21,001 --> 00:12:22,500
It's no job for women.
216
00:12:22,501 --> 00:12:24,000
But thanks for the offer.
217
00:12:24,001 --> 00:12:25,293
- Now, wait a minute, Dan.
218
00:12:26,501 --> 00:12:27,501
Hold those.
219
00:12:30,334 --> 00:12:31,750
Now look here, Dan.
220
00:12:31,751 --> 00:12:32,833
You know that me and my family are better
221
00:12:32,834 --> 00:12:35,584
with the cattle than any of
these ratbags you got here.
222
00:12:38,293 --> 00:12:39,459
- Come over here, Bill.
223
00:12:46,709 --> 00:12:48,083
- Who's the girl?
224
00:12:48,084 --> 00:12:50,000
- Bill Parsons' daughter.
225
00:12:50,001 --> 00:12:50,834
But don't bother.
226
00:12:50,835 --> 00:12:52,333
Her mother watches her like a hawk.
227
00:12:52,334 --> 00:12:53,334
- Get out of here.
228
00:12:54,709 --> 00:12:55,709
- Mary.
229
00:13:00,959 --> 00:13:02,708
Here, dear, put this on.
230
00:13:02,709 --> 00:13:05,250
- But Mother, Jeff never asked me.
231
00:13:05,251 --> 00:13:06,958
- Yes, dear, I know.
232
00:13:06,959 --> 00:13:08,625
But your father's set on making this trip
233
00:13:08,626 --> 00:13:09,875
and it would be better for all of us
234
00:13:09,876 --> 00:13:12,250
if the men think you're attached.
235
00:13:12,251 --> 00:13:14,125
- Hello.
236
00:13:14,126 --> 00:13:15,583
- Can I call you Sinbad?
237
00:13:15,584 --> 00:13:16,833
He was a sailor.
238
00:13:16,834 --> 00:13:18,292
- If you like.
239
00:13:18,293 --> 00:13:19,417
- All right, then.
240
00:13:19,418 --> 00:13:21,542
But there's one thing you'll
have to get straight, Bill.
241
00:13:21,543 --> 00:13:22,625
I'm the boss.
242
00:13:22,626 --> 00:13:26,125
This is my idea and I'm gonna
see it through as boss drover.
243
00:13:26,126 --> 00:13:27,250
- That's okay with me.
244
00:13:27,251 --> 00:13:29,333
Didn't think I wanted to
take your plans over, did ya?
245
00:13:29,334 --> 00:13:31,083
- You're such an argumentative old cow,
246
00:13:31,084 --> 00:13:34,083
I wouldn't put it past ya.
247
00:13:34,084 --> 00:13:35,084
- Oh, sailor.
248
00:13:35,085 --> 00:13:36,417
Put that stuff on the waggon.
249
00:13:36,418 --> 00:13:37,293
The Parsons are coming with us.
250
00:13:37,293 --> 00:13:38,293
- Okay.
251
00:13:41,126 --> 00:13:42,959
- The boy will give you a hand, Mary.
252
00:13:44,584 --> 00:13:45,750
What's your name?
253
00:13:45,751 --> 00:13:48,334
- Hunter, but your little
girl has christened me Sinbad.
254
00:13:49,751 --> 00:13:51,000
You see, I'm a sailor.
255
00:13:51,001 --> 00:13:53,208
- This is my daughter, Mary.
256
00:13:53,209 --> 00:13:55,000
- Hello, Mary.
- Hello.
257
00:13:55,001 --> 00:13:55,876
Glad to know you.
258
00:13:55,877 --> 00:13:57,209
- Is that ship taking mail?
259
00:13:58,334 --> 00:14:00,125
Mary wants to get off
a letter to her fiance
260
00:14:00,126 --> 00:14:01,708
in the Middle East.
261
00:14:01,709 --> 00:14:04,709
- Oh yes, I expect so, Mrs. Parsons.
262
00:14:06,293 --> 00:14:07,875
- Oh, Mother, you are the limit.
263
00:14:13,793 --> 00:14:15,334
- Here's your contract, Dan.
264
00:14:16,334 --> 00:14:18,042
Two bob a head for every hundred miles
265
00:14:18,043 --> 00:14:19,792
and eight pound a day waiting money.
266
00:14:19,793 --> 00:14:21,625
Oh, and there's just one thing.
267
00:14:21,626 --> 00:14:23,417
This bonus, I can't promise anything,
268
00:14:23,418 --> 00:14:25,208
but I'll do the best I can.
269
00:14:25,209 --> 00:14:26,292
- Aw, that'll be all right.
270
00:14:26,293 --> 00:14:27,375
The company doesn't come across,
271
00:14:27,376 --> 00:14:28,251
I'll take it outta mine.
272
00:14:28,252 --> 00:14:30,000
- Oh, that's just plain stupid.
273
00:14:30,001 --> 00:14:31,001
- Hey, steward.
274
00:14:33,126 --> 00:14:34,250
What about a bottle of whiskey?
275
00:14:34,251 --> 00:14:35,708
- Sorry, all in bond.
276
00:14:35,709 --> 00:14:37,083
- How about a bottle of beer?
277
00:14:37,084 --> 00:14:38,583
- In bond, too.
278
00:14:38,584 --> 00:14:39,917
- Have you got any fags?
279
00:14:39,918 --> 00:14:40,918
- Got none.
280
00:14:41,959 --> 00:14:43,583
- No business sense.
281
00:14:43,584 --> 00:14:46,293
- Let's go forward, let's go aft.
282
00:14:50,209 --> 00:14:51,043
- Bye, Bill.
283
00:14:51,044 --> 00:14:52,208
And all the best, Dan.
284
00:14:52,209 --> 00:14:55,292
And I still think you're
takin' on too big a job.
285
00:14:55,293 --> 00:14:58,083
- You'll be sorry, sailor!
286
00:14:58,084 --> 00:14:59,667
You'll be sorry!
287
00:14:59,668 --> 00:15:02,042
- Don't forget to tie him up fore and aft.
288
00:15:02,043 --> 00:15:02,876
Tom, mix.
289
00:15:02,877 --> 00:15:04,583
- What do you call him, Pharlap?
290
00:15:04,584 --> 00:15:06,292
- It's a mare, not a horse.
291
00:15:06,293 --> 00:15:08,917
- He wouldn't Know the difference anyway!
292
00:15:10,084 --> 00:15:11,708
You'll be sorry!
293
00:15:11,709 --> 00:15:14,208
- I wish I had some more experienced men.
294
00:15:14,209 --> 00:15:17,458
- Aw, the kid's all right.
- You'll be sorry!
295
00:15:17,459 --> 00:15:22,876
You'll be sorry!
296
00:15:23,918 --> 00:15:25,667
You'll be...
297
00:15:35,043 --> 00:15:36,292
They were the last white people
298
00:15:36,293 --> 00:15:38,918
we could expect to see for four months.
299
00:15:55,918 --> 00:15:59,793
We only made four miles that
first day, but it was a start.
300
00:16:09,543 --> 00:16:13,918
We had 968 head of cattle and 53 horses.
301
00:16:14,834 --> 00:16:17,083
You need about six horses
per man on a trip like this
302
00:16:17,084 --> 00:16:19,125
when you're workin' 'em night and day.
303
00:16:19,126 --> 00:16:22,543
So, without Les and Charlie's
20, we'd have been very short.
304
00:16:31,584 --> 00:16:34,542
That night we set our
watches to drover's time,
305
00:16:34,543 --> 00:16:36,459
that is sunset, six o'clock.
306
00:16:37,418 --> 00:16:39,417
The cattle had settled down pretty well,
307
00:16:39,418 --> 00:16:42,043
so I let Nipper and Les
take the first watch.
308
00:16:44,626 --> 00:16:46,834
Next morning we started
the droving routine.
309
00:16:47,751 --> 00:16:50,000
Sleeping cattle have to be awakened gently
310
00:16:50,001 --> 00:16:52,375
or they're liable to stampede.
311
00:16:52,376 --> 00:16:55,418
So, there are no crack of
whips in the piccaninny dawn.
312
00:17:01,834 --> 00:17:03,375
While the cattle were still wild,
313
00:17:03,376 --> 00:17:06,083
I put Jacky on to give them a lead.
314
00:17:06,084 --> 00:17:07,875
But soon, natural leaders
from among the cattle
315
00:17:07,876 --> 00:17:10,958
take over the job, and these stay in front
316
00:17:10,959 --> 00:17:12,293
for the whole of the drove.
317
00:17:14,793 --> 00:17:16,917
Les and Charlie, having the best horses,
318
00:17:16,918 --> 00:17:19,958
rode the wings to prevent breakaways.
319
00:17:19,959 --> 00:17:22,625
I put Mary on the tail with Corky.
320
00:17:22,626 --> 00:17:24,583
I was paying her a man's wage, so I wanted
321
00:17:24,584 --> 00:17:26,417
to see how good she was.
322
00:17:26,418 --> 00:17:27,251
She seemed
323
00:17:27,251 --> 00:17:28,251
to shape up all right.
324
00:17:30,251 --> 00:17:31,833
With plenty of feed and water,
325
00:17:31,834 --> 00:17:34,168
the plant and the mob
settled down pretty well
326
00:17:35,084 --> 00:17:38,584
and we made good time, but I
knew this was the easy bit.
327
00:17:40,959 --> 00:17:43,542
A usual day's drove is eight to 10 miles.
328
00:17:43,543 --> 00:17:45,875
We sometimes did 15.
329
00:17:45,876 --> 00:17:48,918
We were late and time was our enemy.
330
00:18:02,001 --> 00:18:05,333
It took us a month to
cross the coastal plains.
331
00:18:05,334 --> 00:18:07,043
Then we started through the scrub.
332
00:18:16,918 --> 00:18:19,418
There were 200 miles of
that without a break.
333
00:18:20,251 --> 00:18:21,500
This made the going a lot harder
334
00:18:21,501 --> 00:18:24,417
because you must keep the
cattle in a tight bunch
335
00:18:24,418 --> 00:18:26,708
or you'll lose the stragglers.
336
00:18:26,709 --> 00:18:29,333
But there was still quite a
lot of surface water about
337
00:18:29,334 --> 00:18:31,251
which helped to keep the gang cheerful.
338
00:18:32,834 --> 00:18:35,500
- You know what a woman in
Charters Towers said to me once?
339
00:18:35,501 --> 00:18:39,208
"Corky," she said, "you're
a magnificent hunk of man."
340
00:18:39,209 --> 00:18:40,833
- And what happened then?
341
00:18:40,834 --> 00:18:42,042
Then?
342
00:18:42,043 --> 00:18:43,418
Then she pinched my wallet.
343
00:18:45,126 --> 00:18:47,667
- Don't you think Sinbad is lovely, Mary?
344
00:18:47,668 --> 00:18:48,708
- Yes, I think he's nice.
345
00:18:48,709 --> 00:18:50,667
- I'm terribly in love with him, you know.
346
00:18:50,668 --> 00:18:51,668
He's my boyfriend.
347
00:18:52,459 --> 00:18:54,875
Are you in love with anyone, Mary?
348
00:18:54,876 --> 00:18:56,293
- Oh, I don't know.
349
00:18:59,251 --> 00:19:01,209
So, the second month went by.
350
00:19:03,793 --> 00:19:06,417
Although the daily
routine remained the same,
351
00:19:06,418 --> 00:19:10,875
there were always little
episodes to break the monotony.
352
00:19:10,876 --> 00:19:12,292
- The black fellas know we're coming.
353
00:19:12,293 --> 00:19:13,501
See the smoke signal?
354
00:19:31,584 --> 00:19:32,792
- Look, Helen.
355
00:19:32,793 --> 00:19:34,251
Myalls, wild blacks.
356
00:19:47,501 --> 00:19:51,958
As we got inland, it got
hotter and the drag got harder.
357
00:19:51,959 --> 00:19:53,250
So, it was quite a thrill for us
358
00:19:53,251 --> 00:19:56,250
to come on the brand new
North-South Road built
359
00:19:56,251 --> 00:19:59,001
across Australia to supply
the fighting in the islands.
360
00:20:02,918 --> 00:20:06,125
- Bit of a change from
the old days, eh, Ma?
361
00:20:06,126 --> 00:20:07,708
- My word.
362
00:20:07,709 --> 00:20:10,250
I never thought I'd see a
bitumen road in the Territory.
363
00:20:10,251 --> 00:20:11,667
- They tell me it's gonna be like this
364
00:20:11,668 --> 00:20:13,542
all the way to Darwin.
365
00:20:13,543 --> 00:20:15,125
Takes a war, eh?
366
00:20:15,126 --> 00:20:16,126
- It does.
367
00:20:16,918 --> 00:20:18,668
- Well, we'd better get them across.
368
00:20:21,251 --> 00:20:22,459
- Something coming, Dan.
369
00:20:27,209 --> 00:20:28,292
- Dan, it's a convoy.
370
00:20:28,293 --> 00:20:29,626
It's a convoy, Mum!
371
00:20:33,668 --> 00:20:35,334
- Might get some news of the war.
372
00:20:37,501 --> 00:20:39,126
- I wonder where the Japs landed.
373
00:20:53,668 --> 00:20:56,125
- Look, it's a girl!
374
00:20:56,126 --> 00:20:58,667
Take a gig at this sheila!
375
00:21:04,876 --> 00:21:06,333
- You beauty!
376
00:21:17,668 --> 00:21:19,583
- Hey, how's the war going?
377
00:21:19,584 --> 00:21:21,625
They licked them at Milne Bay!
378
00:21:21,626 --> 00:21:23,708
- They turned 'em at Kokoda.
379
00:21:23,709 --> 00:21:25,793
- Wait till we get there!
380
00:21:27,251 --> 00:21:28,458
- Good on ya, mate.
381
00:21:28,459 --> 00:21:29,708
Good on ya, digger.
382
00:21:45,918 --> 00:21:48,292
It was a week after crossing the road
383
00:21:48,293 --> 00:21:51,417
that we came to our first big obstacle.
384
00:21:54,918 --> 00:21:56,418
- That scared 'em at any rate.
385
00:22:01,501 --> 00:22:02,833
- Well, what do you make of it, Bill?
386
00:22:02,834 --> 00:22:03,834
- I don't know.
387
00:22:04,668 --> 00:22:07,251
I've never seen so much
water this time of the year.
388
00:22:08,126 --> 00:22:09,126
It's a cow.
389
00:22:10,709 --> 00:22:13,000
How far is Cootabulla Crossing, Jacky?
390
00:22:13,001 --> 00:22:14,834
- About 50 or 70 mile.
391
00:22:15,668 --> 00:22:18,542
- That means a fortnight to
get back to the stock route.
392
00:22:18,543 --> 00:22:20,125
We can't afford the time, Bill.
393
00:22:20,126 --> 00:22:21,001
We'll have to swim.
394
00:22:21,002 --> 00:22:22,333
- You think we can swim here, Jacky?
395
00:22:22,334 --> 00:22:26,792
Sure, might lose all the
cattle there, boss.
396
00:22:26,793 --> 00:22:28,168
- Encouraging bloke, Jacky.
397
00:22:37,543 --> 00:22:40,708
Well, Bill and I have just
been down the main stream.
398
00:22:40,709 --> 00:22:42,458
We'll have to swim.
399
00:22:42,459 --> 00:22:44,750
The idea is I'm gonna cross over now
400
00:22:44,751 --> 00:22:46,125
and have a look at the other bank.
401
00:22:46,126 --> 00:22:49,250
If it's not too soft, Nipper'll
follow with the horses.
402
00:22:49,251 --> 00:22:51,708
Mrs. Parsons, you and
young Helen'll cross over
403
00:22:51,709 --> 00:22:53,958
in the waggon with the tucker.
404
00:22:53,959 --> 00:22:55,625
Then we'll have a crack
at the cattle, Charlie.
405
00:22:55,626 --> 00:22:56,459
All right?
406
00:22:56,460 --> 00:22:57,708
- Yes, okay, Dan.
407
00:22:57,709 --> 00:22:58,792
- Good, let's get goin'.
408
00:22:58,793 --> 00:23:00,626
- Hang on, Dan, and I'll come with you.
409
00:23:03,251 --> 00:23:05,001
Now, this is a job for you, sailor.
410
00:23:06,043 --> 00:23:08,376
You gotta make this waggon into a boat.
411
00:23:09,584 --> 00:23:13,125
Empty out these canteens
and lash 'em back and front.
412
00:23:13,126 --> 00:23:14,250
- Fore and aft, old boy.
413
00:23:14,251 --> 00:23:16,375
- So she'll float.
414
00:23:16,376 --> 00:23:19,458
And you can use those drums
as well, but lash 'em tight.
415
00:23:19,459 --> 00:23:20,293
Got it?
416
00:23:20,294 --> 00:23:21,417
- Okay, Bill, I've got the idea.
417
00:23:21,418 --> 00:23:22,418
- Aye-aye, sir.
418
00:23:51,793 --> 00:23:53,375
Okay, Bill!
419
00:23:53,376 --> 00:23:56,043
Send over Nipper and the horses!
420
00:23:56,918 --> 00:23:58,751
- Righto, push 'em in.
421
00:24:11,084 --> 00:24:12,667
- I think she'll float, all right.
422
00:24:12,668 --> 00:24:14,001
- I think she's a beaut.
423
00:24:22,959 --> 00:24:25,625
- So glad you could come to
the launching, Lady Parsons.
424
00:24:25,626 --> 00:24:27,750
Now, if you'll take this
bottle and propel it
425
00:24:27,751 --> 00:24:30,375
against the stern, saying these words:
426
00:24:30,376 --> 00:24:33,125
I hereby name thee the Saucy Sue.
427
00:24:33,126 --> 00:24:34,208
And on...
- For heaven's sake,
428
00:24:34,209 --> 00:24:35,084
stop playing the fool.
429
00:24:35,085 --> 00:24:36,208
There's work to be done.
430
00:24:36,209 --> 00:24:37,708
Dan's waiting.
431
00:24:37,709 --> 00:24:39,334
Gotta get it down to the crossing.
432
00:24:42,543 --> 00:24:44,042
Right!
433
00:24:44,043 --> 00:24:46,667
- Come on, Rusty, come along, boy.
434
00:24:46,668 --> 00:24:49,667
- Righto, Helen, I'll take him in for you.
435
00:24:58,501 --> 00:24:59,917
- Righto, Bill!
436
00:24:59,918 --> 00:25:02,251
Now, take it steady, Nipper.
437
00:25:43,001 --> 00:25:45,293
Straight and easy, Nipper.
438
00:26:14,376 --> 00:26:16,626
- What's the matter, Rusty?
439
00:26:18,084 --> 00:26:19,708
Help, Mummy, quick!
440
00:26:19,709 --> 00:26:20,709
Sinbad!
441
00:26:21,584 --> 00:26:22,875
- Let go, Helen.
442
00:26:22,876 --> 00:26:23,793
Let go at once!
443
00:26:35,751 --> 00:26:38,167
- Keep 'em going, keep 'em going!
444
00:26:45,751 --> 00:26:47,417
- Nice shot of yours, sailor.
445
00:26:47,418 --> 00:26:48,418
Thanks.
446
00:27:13,376 --> 00:27:14,459
- Good on ya, Ma.
447
00:27:15,793 --> 00:27:16,959
Now for the cattle.
448
00:27:22,709 --> 00:27:23,876
Ya, ya!
449
00:27:24,751 --> 00:27:25,626
Ha, ha, ha!
450
00:27:33,084 --> 00:27:34,084
Ya!
451
00:27:36,501 --> 00:27:37,459
Ha!
452
00:27:37,460 --> 00:27:38,625
- Keep on going, Bill.
453
00:27:38,626 --> 00:27:39,667
Don't let 'em check.
454
00:27:39,668 --> 00:27:41,625
Lead 'em right in.
455
00:27:41,626 --> 00:27:42,667
Ha!
456
00:29:43,876 --> 00:29:45,667
- What about crocs?
457
00:29:45,668 --> 00:29:47,125
- My boy, I've got such a wind up,
458
00:29:47,126 --> 00:29:49,459
if they come near me I'll take off.
459
00:30:29,043 --> 00:30:30,043
- Get up.
460
00:30:32,501 --> 00:30:33,501
Go on.
461
00:30:44,293 --> 00:30:46,250
- Good on ya, fellas.
462
00:30:46,251 --> 00:30:47,376
We're on our way.
463
00:30:54,918 --> 00:30:58,168
After we left the river, the
feed started to get very poor.
464
00:30:59,251 --> 00:31:01,208
This slowed us up a lot.
465
00:31:01,209 --> 00:31:02,792
We were down to five miles a day
466
00:31:02,793 --> 00:31:06,000
with a thousand still to go when,
467
00:31:06,001 --> 00:31:09,583
one morning, a tragedy happened.
468
00:31:28,459 --> 00:31:30,167
- Boss, boss, hey, boss!
469
00:31:30,168 --> 00:31:31,001
- What's up?
470
00:31:31,002 --> 00:31:32,208
- Wasn't my fault, boss.
471
00:31:32,209 --> 00:31:33,250
The lead horse broke his hobbles
472
00:31:33,251 --> 00:31:34,958
then went five, maybe seven miles.
473
00:31:34,959 --> 00:31:35,959
- What happened to the horses?
474
00:31:35,960 --> 00:31:37,167
- They ate poison weed, boss.
475
00:31:37,168 --> 00:31:38,168
Poison weed!
476
00:31:39,209 --> 00:31:40,333
- Helen, stay here.
477
00:31:40,334 --> 00:31:41,750
- What's happened, Mum?
478
00:31:41,751 --> 00:31:43,168
- The horses are poisoned.
479
00:32:23,959 --> 00:32:25,376
- They're so lovely alive.
480
00:32:29,459 --> 00:32:31,333
- There's nothin' we can do here, Bill.
481
00:32:31,334 --> 00:32:32,334
- No.
482
00:32:33,334 --> 00:32:35,168
- Get the hobbles and the bells, Nipper.
483
00:32:36,793 --> 00:32:38,958
Any of yours among 'em, Charlie?
484
00:32:38,959 --> 00:32:40,043
- No, not one.
485
00:32:40,876 --> 00:32:41,751
- That's lucky.
486
00:32:41,752 --> 00:32:43,418
- Yeah, we're gonna need 'em now.
487
00:32:45,251 --> 00:32:46,625
- I hope he doesn't think he's gonna work
488
00:32:46,626 --> 00:32:47,918
the guts out of our bunch.
489
00:33:15,209 --> 00:33:17,167
- The worst of it is, half
the horses we got left
490
00:33:17,168 --> 00:33:18,542
are crook anyhow.
491
00:33:18,543 --> 00:33:20,000
- Not less than Charlie's.
492
00:33:20,001 --> 00:33:22,751
- Soon will be if we
work 'em 24 hours a day.
493
00:33:23,668 --> 00:33:26,208
Better rest up a couple of weeks, huh?
494
00:33:26,209 --> 00:33:28,001
- Yeah, do the cattle good.
495
00:33:29,334 --> 00:33:31,125
Lucky there's feed and water.
496
00:33:31,126 --> 00:33:32,875
- We think we should move on, Dan.
497
00:33:32,876 --> 00:33:34,667
- We've gotta rest the
beasts up a couple of weeks,
498
00:33:34,668 --> 00:33:37,167
Charlie, otherwise we're
likely to lose the lot.
499
00:33:37,168 --> 00:33:38,001
- Yeah?
500
00:33:38,002 --> 00:33:39,084
Well, we're not staying.
501
00:33:40,126 --> 00:33:41,458
You've seen what the country's like.
502
00:33:41,459 --> 00:33:44,042
If we hang around here
it'll be too dry to move.
503
00:33:44,043 --> 00:33:45,333
Then the wet'll hit us
504
00:33:45,334 --> 00:33:46,209
and we'll be stuck here till the winter.
505
00:33:46,209 --> 00:33:47,043
We're going on.
506
00:33:47,044 --> 00:33:48,751
- And we're takin' our horses.
507
00:33:52,126 --> 00:33:53,001
- You realise that means standing us
508
00:33:53,002 --> 00:33:54,958
and the cattle up here, don't ya?
509
00:33:54,959 --> 00:33:56,917
- Well, we think this trip's crazy anyway.
510
00:33:56,918 --> 00:33:58,750
You're likely to lose the
whole lot, horses and all,
511
00:33:58,751 --> 00:33:59,959
so we're getting out.
512
00:34:02,001 --> 00:34:03,168
- You long cow.
513
00:34:04,918 --> 00:34:06,167
- Here, stop that.
514
00:34:06,168 --> 00:34:07,458
Stop that, both of ya.
515
00:34:07,459 --> 00:34:10,209
While we're in camp I'm boss
and I won't have fighting.
516
00:34:11,126 --> 00:34:13,043
That goes for you, too, Dan MacAlpine.
517
00:34:13,918 --> 00:34:15,208
Now, you can take your mate
518
00:34:15,209 --> 00:34:16,792
and your precious horses and get out!
519
00:34:16,793 --> 00:34:18,292
- But, Ma, we need...
- Shut up!
520
00:34:18,293 --> 00:34:20,501
We don't want dingoes in this camp.
521
00:34:22,084 --> 00:34:24,043
We'll get along all right without them.
522
00:34:39,001 --> 00:34:41,000
- Bill, I've got an idea.
523
00:34:41,001 --> 00:34:42,792
There's horses at Brunette Downs.
524
00:34:42,793 --> 00:34:45,667
Taking Jacky and Nipper, I
could be back in a month.
525
00:34:45,668 --> 00:34:48,292
- And wait for a fortnight
for the horses to recover.
526
00:34:48,293 --> 00:34:50,000
- Yeah, that's right.
527
00:34:50,001 --> 00:34:50,834
- Can't we leave the cattle here
528
00:34:50,835 --> 00:34:53,000
and pick them up after the wet?
529
00:34:53,001 --> 00:34:54,625
- You don't wanna give in, do ya, Corky?
530
00:34:54,626 --> 00:34:57,042
- Dan, my boy, I put
myself to sleep every night
531
00:34:57,043 --> 00:34:58,583
counting that bonus.
532
00:35:00,376 --> 00:35:01,376
- Say, Dan.
533
00:35:02,668 --> 00:35:04,250
I just saw the strangest thing.
534
00:35:04,251 --> 00:35:06,250
You know that lot of trees
we call Kangaroo Clump,
535
00:35:06,251 --> 00:35:07,583
well, just at the back
of it just now I saw
536
00:35:07,584 --> 00:35:08,958
a big bunch of horses.
537
00:35:08,959 --> 00:35:10,417
- Horses!
538
00:35:10,418 --> 00:35:13,250
- They're brumbies, wild horses.
539
00:35:13,251 --> 00:35:15,375
- Well, I better go out and
shoot the brumby stallion
540
00:35:15,376 --> 00:35:17,250
or he'll be trying to cut out our mares.
541
00:35:17,251 --> 00:35:18,084
- But why shoot them, Bill?
542
00:35:18,085 --> 00:35:19,250
Why not catch them?
543
00:35:19,251 --> 00:35:21,043
- By crikey, the kid's right.
544
00:35:22,834 --> 00:35:24,708
- How many's in the mob, Corky?
545
00:35:24,709 --> 00:35:25,917
- About a hundred.
546
00:35:25,918 --> 00:35:27,250
- We wouldn't need a hundred, Bill.
547
00:35:27,251 --> 00:35:28,792
A dozen or so would do us.
548
00:35:28,793 --> 00:35:30,750
- Okay, okay, Dan, you're the boss.
549
00:35:30,751 --> 00:35:32,500
- What, you think it's no go?
550
00:35:32,501 --> 00:35:34,208
- It's too big a gamble.
551
00:35:34,209 --> 00:35:36,500
If you miss 'em the first
time, they're gone for keeps
552
00:35:36,501 --> 00:35:37,625
and we're back where we are now,
553
00:35:37,626 --> 00:35:39,500
excepting that you'll have
lost another three weeks
554
00:35:39,501 --> 00:35:41,542
and that three weeks may
mean losin' the cattle.
555
00:35:41,543 --> 00:35:43,417
Too big a gamble, I tell ya.
556
00:35:43,418 --> 00:35:44,625
- Isn't this whole trip a gamble?
557
00:35:44,626 --> 00:35:46,417
- Going after brumbies at a time like this
558
00:35:46,418 --> 00:35:48,250
is just something for nothing
rubbish, that's what it is.
559
00:35:48,251 --> 00:35:49,958
- Maybe you're right,
but if we don't move soon
560
00:35:49,959 --> 00:35:51,250
we won't get through at all.
561
00:35:51,251 --> 00:35:53,083
And I'm gonna get those cattle through.
562
00:35:53,084 --> 00:35:55,500
We've gotta take a chance, any chance.
563
00:35:55,501 --> 00:35:57,167
So, we go after the brumbies.
564
00:35:57,168 --> 00:35:59,167
- Okay, okay, Dan, you're the boss.
565
00:35:59,168 --> 00:36:01,458
Sounds like a flaming
wild goose chase to me.
566
00:36:01,459 --> 00:36:03,667
- Bill, you've named
the first one we catch.
567
00:36:03,668 --> 00:36:06,250
Wild Goose out of Corky's Folly by Gamble.
568
00:36:21,501 --> 00:36:22,917
That night, we
watched the brumbies
569
00:36:22,918 --> 00:36:23,918
come in to water.
570
00:36:27,209 --> 00:36:28,792
Luckily, the waterhole was in the gap
571
00:36:28,793 --> 00:36:31,251
in the hills which made
it easier to make a trap.
572
00:36:32,668 --> 00:36:33,833
- I can see Wild Goose.
573
00:36:33,834 --> 00:36:35,333
The big stallion with white stockings.
574
00:36:35,334 --> 00:36:36,168
- No, it's not.
575
00:36:36,169 --> 00:36:37,500
It's the black mare
with the diamond blaze...
576
00:36:37,501 --> 00:36:38,501
- Quiet!
577
00:36:39,293 --> 00:36:40,917
- Nice lot of horses, eh, Bill?
578
00:36:40,918 --> 00:36:42,209
- Haven't caught 'em, yet.
579
00:36:43,459 --> 00:36:44,958
- Our first job was to build a fence
580
00:36:44,959 --> 00:36:46,500
with a slip gate in the middle of it
581
00:36:46,501 --> 00:36:48,459
across the narrowest part of the gap.
582
00:36:49,709 --> 00:36:52,334
While we did this, the
others got the ropes ready.
583
00:36:53,334 --> 00:36:55,667
These were to prevent the
brumbies breaking back
584
00:36:55,668 --> 00:36:58,500
when we started driving
them towards the gate.
585
00:36:58,501 --> 00:37:01,458
The bits of cloth made
them show up in the dark.
586
00:37:01,459 --> 00:37:04,458
The women didn't like tearing
up their party frocks,
587
00:37:04,459 --> 00:37:05,626
but it was all we had.
588
00:37:12,834 --> 00:37:15,000
We finished the job in two days
589
00:37:15,001 --> 00:37:16,584
and decided to go right ahead.
590
00:37:25,793 --> 00:37:28,833
This is your job, Helen,
and it's very important.
591
00:37:28,834 --> 00:37:30,000
Ya see this rope?
592
00:37:30,835 --> 00:37:33,750
Well, it's attached to the
gate at that fence down there.
593
00:37:33,751 --> 00:37:37,458
You'll see the horses pass and
pause outside the stockade.
594
00:37:37,459 --> 00:37:39,667
We're goin' to try and
scare 'em through the gate.
595
00:37:39,668 --> 00:37:42,958
Now, when they're all in,
all in mind ya, not before,
596
00:37:42,959 --> 00:37:44,542
you cut the rope.
597
00:37:44,543 --> 00:37:46,667
Wham, the gate shuts and we got 'em.
598
00:37:46,668 --> 00:37:47,501
All right?
599
00:37:47,501 --> 00:37:48,334
- Yes, Dan.
600
00:37:48,334 --> 00:37:49,334
- Good kid.
601
00:37:52,459 --> 00:37:53,459
- Dan.
602
00:37:53,460 --> 00:37:54,792
- Yeah?
603
00:37:54,793 --> 00:37:56,250
- Suppose they don't go in?
604
00:37:56,251 --> 00:37:58,001
- They don't go in, Helen, we're sunk.
605
00:38:04,043 --> 00:38:05,043
She's all set.
606
00:38:05,043 --> 00:38:06,043
- Good.
607
00:38:07,918 --> 00:38:08,918
- Whoa, boy.
608
00:38:20,751 --> 00:38:21,875
- Here they come.
609
00:38:21,876 --> 00:38:22,876
- Yeah.
610
00:40:21,584 --> 00:40:24,500
- All go in, please go in.
611
00:40:57,543 --> 00:40:59,667
We've done it, we've done it!
612
00:40:59,668 --> 00:41:01,501
Sinbad, we've done it!
613
00:41:07,209 --> 00:41:08,959
- Okay, Dan, they're in.
614
00:41:10,418 --> 00:41:12,417
- Well, so far so good, eh, Bill?
615
00:41:12,418 --> 00:41:13,625
- Yeah, but now you've...
616
00:41:13,626 --> 00:41:16,501
- Yeah, I know, now we gotta break 'em.
617
00:41:22,918 --> 00:41:25,750
Well, that's got rid
of the rubbish, anyhow.
618
00:41:25,751 --> 00:41:28,667
- Breaks my bleedin' heart to see them go.
619
00:41:28,668 --> 00:41:30,125
I bet you I'd get a fiver a head for them
620
00:41:30,126 --> 00:41:31,667
at Anthony's Lagoon.
621
00:41:31,668 --> 00:41:33,500
- We're not goin' to Anthony's Lagoon.
622
00:41:33,501 --> 00:41:36,167
- But Dan, they got beer there.
623
00:41:36,168 --> 00:41:37,583
You know, Dan, beer!
624
00:41:37,584 --> 00:41:39,625
The stuff they make with hops.
625
00:41:39,626 --> 00:41:41,208
Ah, I haven't tasted a drop since
626
00:41:41,209 --> 00:41:42,583
they bombed the pub at Wyndham.
627
00:41:42,584 --> 00:41:43,418
- Yeah, that's the trouble.
628
00:41:43,418 --> 00:41:44,251
We'd lose you for a week.
629
00:41:44,252 --> 00:41:46,167
You'd half kill yourself with the booze.
630
00:41:46,168 --> 00:41:47,667
- What a fate.
631
00:41:47,668 --> 00:41:48,668
Aw, come off it, Dan.
632
00:41:48,669 --> 00:41:50,292
You like a drink as well as the next one.
633
00:41:50,293 --> 00:41:52,708
- I know I do and so
does Bill and the sailor.
634
00:41:52,709 --> 00:41:54,125
And what happens to the cattle then?
635
00:41:54,126 --> 00:41:55,918
We're not goin' to Anthony's Lagoon.
636
00:41:59,959 --> 00:42:00,959
- Wowser.
637
00:42:04,334 --> 00:42:05,542
- How is he, Jacky?
638
00:42:05,543 --> 00:42:06,376
- Pretty strong, boss.
639
00:42:06,377 --> 00:42:07,583
I think he'd buck the pants off ya.
640
00:42:07,584 --> 00:42:08,834
- Yeah, we'll see.
641
00:42:10,126 --> 00:42:11,418
- I'm glad we're going on.
642
00:42:12,334 --> 00:42:13,833
- Are you, Sinbad?
643
00:42:13,834 --> 00:42:14,668
- Of course, Mary.
644
00:42:14,668 --> 00:42:15,668
You know why.
645
00:42:18,543 --> 00:42:20,334
- Look, look, Dan's up.
646
00:42:26,043 --> 00:42:28,375
- Right, Jacky, let her go.
647
00:42:54,668 --> 00:42:56,334
- Stick to him, Dan.
648
00:43:15,793 --> 00:43:17,167
- Mary, Mary, Sinbad!
649
00:43:17,168 --> 00:43:18,667
I've broken Wild Goose in.
650
00:43:18,668 --> 00:43:20,668
- But I...
- Come and see.
651
00:43:26,543 --> 00:43:29,208
- If you don't feel
like a beer after that,
652
00:43:29,209 --> 00:43:30,626
you're not human.
653
00:43:34,876 --> 00:43:36,417
- Look, isn't he lovely?
654
00:43:36,418 --> 00:43:38,292
Much nicer than the other wild gooses.
655
00:43:38,293 --> 00:43:39,958
- Helen, why didn't you
let him go with the others?
656
00:43:39,959 --> 00:43:42,000
- Oh, but he's coming with us.
657
00:43:42,001 --> 00:43:44,708
Corky and I have got to enter
him into the Melbourne Cup.
658
00:43:44,709 --> 00:43:45,918
Haven't we, Goosey?
659
00:44:19,626 --> 00:44:21,333
Helen got round me, of course,
660
00:44:21,334 --> 00:44:23,543
and Wild Goose became
a member of the plant.
661
00:44:28,334 --> 00:44:30,583
We'd lost a week breaking the brumbies,
662
00:44:30,584 --> 00:44:33,208
and they were still hard to
get any real work out of.
663
00:44:33,209 --> 00:44:36,168
But they saved us overworking
our trained night horses.
664
00:44:37,168 --> 00:44:41,083
Everyone was glad to be
on the move, even Corky,
665
00:44:41,084 --> 00:44:43,459
who seemed resigned to
missing out on the beer.
666
00:44:46,959 --> 00:44:48,958
- Nice to get a letter, wouldn't it, Mary?
667
00:44:48,959 --> 00:44:50,792
- Oh, wonderful, Corky.
668
00:44:50,793 --> 00:44:53,917
Isn't it a shame we can't
go to Anthony's Lagoon?
669
00:44:53,918 --> 00:44:55,958
- I'd speak to Dan about it.
670
00:44:55,959 --> 00:44:58,417
- Hm, I think I will.
671
00:44:58,418 --> 00:44:59,418
- Good girl.
672
00:45:02,459 --> 00:45:05,167
- You going to check your
contract at the Lagoon, Bill?
673
00:45:05,168 --> 00:45:06,250
- We're not going there.
674
00:45:06,251 --> 00:45:07,792
- You oughta see your contract, Bill.
675
00:45:07,793 --> 00:45:08,626
- Why?
676
00:45:08,627 --> 00:45:11,292
- The whole family might
be working for nothing.
677
00:45:11,293 --> 00:45:14,583
- Hm, I never thought of that.
678
00:45:14,584 --> 00:45:16,125
- Supplies running low, Mrs. Parsons?
679
00:45:16,126 --> 00:45:18,750
- Yes, they are a bit, Corky,
but I expect we'll manage.
680
00:45:18,751 --> 00:45:21,042
- Wonderful supplies at the Lagoon.
681
00:45:21,043 --> 00:45:22,583
- Have they got milk?
682
00:45:22,584 --> 00:45:24,750
- Tonnes of it, my dear, all kinds.
683
00:45:24,751 --> 00:45:26,458
- Mum, we might run out.
684
00:45:26,459 --> 00:45:28,417
Wild Goose drinks and drinks.
685
00:45:28,418 --> 00:45:30,084
- Sensible creature.
686
00:45:41,418 --> 00:45:44,750
- Your missus tells me she's
a bit short of stores, Bill.
687
00:45:44,751 --> 00:45:47,125
What about calling at the Lagoon?
688
00:45:47,126 --> 00:45:48,708
- Well, I think we oughta have a look
689
00:45:48,709 --> 00:45:50,000
at that contract, ya know?
690
00:45:50,001 --> 00:45:50,959
- There may be some letters.
691
00:45:50,960 --> 00:45:52,458
- And news of the war.
692
00:45:52,459 --> 00:45:53,543
- Milk for Wild Goose.
693
00:45:56,168 --> 00:45:58,958
- Everybody seems very
keen all of a sudden.
694
00:45:58,959 --> 00:46:00,209
What about you, Corky?
695
00:46:01,709 --> 00:46:03,000
- Huh?
696
00:46:03,001 --> 00:46:04,542
Oh, it's immaterial to me, Dan.
697
00:46:04,543 --> 00:46:06,542
You know the cattle come first with me.
698
00:46:06,543 --> 00:46:08,542
So, anything you say.
699
00:46:08,543 --> 00:46:10,334
- You sound too good to be true.
700
00:46:11,209 --> 00:46:12,751
Anyhow, I'll think about it.
701
00:46:25,584 --> 00:46:27,083
- Anthony's Lagoon!
702
00:46:27,084 --> 00:46:29,958
Wine, women, and song.
703
00:46:29,959 --> 00:46:31,501
Lead on, MacAlpine!
704
00:46:52,959 --> 00:46:54,417
- Any letters for Parsons?
705
00:46:54,418 --> 00:46:55,293
- Or MacAlpine?
706
00:46:55,293 --> 00:46:56,293
- Or Corkingdale, miss?
707
00:46:56,293 --> 00:46:57,126
- Just be a minute.
708
00:46:57,127 --> 00:46:58,167
Just get this telegram off.
709
00:46:58,168 --> 00:47:00,458
- Oh, can ya just see if there's any mail?
710
00:47:00,459 --> 00:47:02,250
- First come, first served, ya know.
711
00:47:02,251 --> 00:47:03,708
That gentleman's from Camooweal.
712
00:47:03,709 --> 00:47:05,042
- Well, we've come all
the way from Wyndham.
713
00:47:05,043 --> 00:47:06,292
- That's a long trip.
714
00:47:06,293 --> 00:47:07,750
- Yeah, fair trot.
715
00:47:07,751 --> 00:47:09,500
Best part of a thousand miles, I reckon.
716
00:47:09,501 --> 00:47:10,334
- Cattle all right?
717
00:47:10,335 --> 00:47:12,167
- Wonderful, Nick, wonderful.
718
00:47:12,168 --> 00:47:13,500
They need to be for the next bit.
719
00:47:13,501 --> 00:47:14,501
- Bad is it?
720
00:47:14,501 --> 00:47:15,334
- Terrible.
721
00:47:15,335 --> 00:47:16,500
Startin' to bring all the cattle down
722
00:47:16,501 --> 00:47:17,542
from the gulf country.
723
00:47:17,543 --> 00:47:18,792
- Bad as that, eh?
724
00:47:18,793 --> 00:47:20,458
- They're eatin' the heart
out of the Stock Route.
725
00:47:20,459 --> 00:47:21,750
Water's short, too.
726
00:47:21,751 --> 00:47:25,417
- Oh well, we'll get through all right.
727
00:47:25,418 --> 00:47:26,750
- Hello, hello?
728
00:47:26,751 --> 00:47:28,125
What names did you say?
729
00:47:28,959 --> 00:47:29,793
Is that you, Milly?
730
00:47:29,794 --> 00:47:31,250
It's Glad here.
731
00:47:31,251 --> 00:47:32,875
I've got a telegram.
732
00:47:32,876 --> 00:47:35,917
19 words ordinary, to the Carters.
733
00:47:35,918 --> 00:47:37,167
What's that?
734
00:47:37,168 --> 00:47:38,084
Is he?
735
00:47:38,085 --> 00:47:39,167
Oh, the poor dear.
736
00:47:39,168 --> 00:47:40,668
All right, I'll wait.
737
00:47:41,751 --> 00:47:43,583
Her baby's crying again.
738
00:47:43,584 --> 00:47:44,792
Always does when the phone rings.
739
00:47:44,793 --> 00:47:46,208
What names did you say?
740
00:47:46,209 --> 00:47:47,750
- Parsons.
- MacAlpine.
741
00:47:47,751 --> 00:47:50,625
- Corkingdale, J. Claverhouse Corkingdale.
742
00:47:50,626 --> 00:47:52,792
- Oh, Corky, you never told us.
743
00:47:52,793 --> 00:47:54,125
It's terrific.
744
00:47:54,126 --> 00:47:55,583
- Looks beautiful on a check.
745
00:47:57,376 --> 00:47:58,209
- MacAlpine?
746
00:47:58,209 --> 00:47:59,209
- Yes.
747
00:48:00,001 --> 00:48:01,043
- Mary Parsons.
748
00:48:01,959 --> 00:48:03,125
- Thanks.
749
00:48:03,126 --> 00:48:04,750
- Corkingdale.
750
00:48:04,751 --> 00:48:05,751
- No.
751
00:48:07,543 --> 00:48:09,167
- Anything for Maxwell?
752
00:48:09,168 --> 00:48:10,500
- Yes.
753
00:48:10,501 --> 00:48:12,375
Captain Hector Maxwell?
754
00:48:12,376 --> 00:48:13,376
- That's right.
755
00:48:13,377 --> 00:48:15,125
- Oh, thank you.
756
00:48:15,126 --> 00:48:17,543
Another branch of the family.
757
00:48:19,418 --> 00:48:21,542
- It's the straight contract, Bill.
758
00:48:21,543 --> 00:48:22,543
- Well, it's something anyway.
759
00:48:22,544 --> 00:48:23,833
- But no bonus?
760
00:48:23,834 --> 00:48:25,375
- No bonus, Corky.
761
00:48:25,376 --> 00:48:27,458
- That's gratitude for you.
762
00:48:27,459 --> 00:48:30,417
Well, I always knew Malone
was all belly and no heart.
763
00:48:30,418 --> 00:48:32,125
Forgotten men, that's what we are.
764
00:48:32,126 --> 00:48:35,375
Save his rotten cattle from the
Japs and then he forgets us.
765
00:48:35,376 --> 00:48:37,000
- You'll get your bonus, Corky.
766
00:48:39,293 --> 00:48:42,126
Mary hasn't been neglected anyhow.
767
00:48:46,251 --> 00:48:48,000
- Aw, he's only writing because he's
768
00:48:48,001 --> 00:48:49,375
having a good time with the English girls.
769
00:48:49,376 --> 00:48:50,209
- Lay off.
770
00:48:50,210 --> 00:48:52,917
- Now, I was in the last
war, and every time I slipped
771
00:48:52,918 --> 00:48:55,750
I used to write to my girl.
772
00:48:55,751 --> 00:48:57,458
Remarkable the number of letters she got.
773
00:48:57,459 --> 00:48:58,751
- Oh, shut up, Corky.
774
00:49:01,251 --> 00:49:04,751
- Okay, okay, come and have a drink.
775
00:49:06,501 --> 00:49:08,126
- See ya later, Mary.
776
00:49:25,668 --> 00:49:29,083
♪ Hardships, hardships ♪
777
00:49:29,084 --> 00:49:33,418
♪ You don't know what hardships are ♪
778
00:49:51,543 --> 00:49:53,208
- Get up, you lot.
779
00:49:53,209 --> 00:49:55,875
We've got to move the
cattle in the morning.
780
00:49:55,876 --> 00:49:59,501
Ma, you're wonderful.
781
00:50:01,668 --> 00:50:03,667
The stages towards the Queensland border
782
00:50:03,668 --> 00:50:06,167
were everything the
Camooweal bloke had said.
783
00:50:06,168 --> 00:50:08,917
No feed, no surface water.
784
00:50:08,918 --> 00:50:10,208
Dry as a bone.
785
00:50:10,209 --> 00:50:12,792
The only water we got was
from government bores,
786
00:50:12,793 --> 00:50:13,793
and they were few.
787
00:50:14,793 --> 00:50:18,293
Being shorthanded made it worse
and tempers got a bit edgy.
788
00:50:19,209 --> 00:50:20,375
- Get up, come on!
789
00:50:20,376 --> 00:50:22,000
Go on, get up!
790
00:50:22,001 --> 00:50:24,500
Get up there!
791
00:50:24,501 --> 00:50:26,292
Get up, get out of it!
792
00:50:26,293 --> 00:50:28,375
- Why the hell didn't ya
keep them outta there?
793
00:50:28,376 --> 00:50:29,708
What do ya think I was doing?
794
00:50:29,709 --> 00:50:31,500
- Haven't I told you the
only way to haul them back
795
00:50:31,501 --> 00:50:33,542
is to get off your horse and face them?
796
00:50:33,543 --> 00:50:35,958
A man on foot scares 'em stiff.
797
00:50:35,959 --> 00:50:38,542
Don't try to be a cowboy,
just get off your horse.
798
00:50:38,543 --> 00:50:40,542
- Oh, shut your trap!
799
00:50:40,543 --> 00:50:41,376
Go on, get up!
800
00:50:41,376 --> 00:50:42,376
Go on!
801
00:50:43,376 --> 00:50:45,792
It's a funny
thing in such dry country
802
00:50:45,793 --> 00:50:48,668
that bogholes are one of the
greatest dangers to cattle.
803
00:50:51,293 --> 00:50:54,583
At last, the sight of the
border hills of Queensland
804
00:50:54,584 --> 00:50:56,667
promised easier going.
805
00:50:56,668 --> 00:50:59,542
I was worried about
inoculating the cattle,
806
00:50:59,543 --> 00:51:02,542
it's a strict law when
you cross a state border,
807
00:51:02,543 --> 00:51:05,542
but the rest of the
plant got quite cheery.
808
00:51:05,543 --> 00:51:09,000
♪ Oh there ain't no rest
in the great nor'west ♪
809
00:51:09,001 --> 00:51:12,833
♪ Where the shade is best
near the white ant's nest ♪
810
00:51:12,834 --> 00:51:16,042
♪ Hardships, hardships ♪
811
00:51:16,043 --> 00:51:19,458
♪ You don't know what hardships are ♪
812
00:51:19,459 --> 00:51:22,750
♪ In summer it's dust and heat and grime ♪
813
00:51:22,751 --> 00:51:26,333
♪ With a wet behind in wintertime ♪
814
00:51:26,334 --> 00:51:28,042
? Hardships, hardships?
- I don't know how Corky
815
00:51:28,043 --> 00:51:29,043
can sing in this.
816
00:51:29,044 --> 00:51:30,125
What?
817
00:51:30,126 --> 00:51:32,708
I said I don't
know how Corky can sing!
818
00:51:32,709 --> 00:51:33,709
Why not?
819
00:51:33,710 --> 00:51:35,000
We're getting near the border.
820
00:51:35,001 --> 00:51:36,501
Won't be long now.
821
00:51:42,418 --> 00:51:45,208
♪ I've just come down from Darwin town ♪
822
00:51:45,209 --> 00:51:48,042
♪ Where the men are black
and the girls are brown ♪
823
00:51:48,043 --> 00:51:50,083
♪ Hardships, hardships ♪
824
00:51:50,084 --> 00:51:51,250
- Helen, stop that.
825
00:51:51,251 --> 00:51:53,583
I won't have Corky
teaching you such things.
826
00:51:53,584 --> 00:51:56,958
- But Mum, he only teaches
me the clean verses.
827
00:51:56,959 --> 00:51:58,542
- I should hope so.
828
00:51:58,543 --> 00:51:59,709
- Aeroplane comin'.
829
00:52:02,626 --> 00:52:03,626
- Him come this way.
830
00:52:04,709 --> 00:52:07,583
- Hey, Corky, Jacky says
there's a plane coming.
831
00:52:07,584 --> 00:52:10,543
- Maybe it's Mr.
- Curtin come to congratulate us.
832
00:52:12,668 --> 00:52:14,000
Maybe he'll give us a medal.
833
00:52:14,001 --> 00:52:15,583
- Maybe it's a Jap.
834
00:52:15,584 --> 00:52:18,209
- Blimey, I never thought of that.
835
00:52:21,334 --> 00:52:24,334
- Rough country to take cattle over.
836
00:52:29,709 --> 00:52:34,709
- There they are.
837
00:53:27,834 --> 00:53:30,292
- Mr. MacAlpine?
- That's me.
838
00:53:30,293 --> 00:53:31,500
- Gosport's my name.
839
00:53:31,501 --> 00:53:32,875
- Glad to know ya, Mr. Gosport.
840
00:53:32,876 --> 00:53:34,042
- You made good time.
841
00:53:34,043 --> 00:53:35,458
- Not bad.
842
00:53:35,459 --> 00:53:37,750
- The minister sends his congratulations.
843
00:53:37,751 --> 00:53:39,583
- Oh, thanks.
844
00:53:39,584 --> 00:53:41,333
Now, these are the members of my plant.
845
00:53:41,334 --> 00:53:46,334
There's Bill...
846
00:53:47,293 --> 00:53:49,043
Hello, boy.
847
00:53:54,043 --> 00:53:56,250
- It's a bleeder bullock.
848
00:53:56,251 --> 00:53:58,417
- My flamin' oath, it's a bleeder.
849
00:53:58,418 --> 00:54:00,375
- What's the matter with your friend?
850
00:54:00,376 --> 00:54:02,208
- Oh, you don't wanna
take any notice of him.
851
00:54:02,209 --> 00:54:04,417
He thought you were Jack Curtin.
852
00:54:04,418 --> 00:54:06,542
For inoculation, eh?
853
00:54:06,543 --> 00:54:08,250
- Yeah, it's the law, ya know.
854
00:54:08,251 --> 00:54:09,958
- That'll be all right, Mr. Gosport.
855
00:54:09,959 --> 00:54:12,000
Gonna be a job yardin' 'em, though.
856
00:54:12,001 --> 00:54:14,042
- There's that old mustang
camp at the 20 mile.
857
00:54:14,043 --> 00:54:16,333
- Mr. Gosport, Bill Parsons.
858
00:54:16,334 --> 00:54:17,542
- How do ya do?
859
00:54:17,543 --> 00:54:19,167
- Well, that sounds very good to me.
860
00:54:19,168 --> 00:54:20,001
- Yeah?
861
00:54:20,002 --> 00:54:21,125
Well, you'll have to make it snappy.
862
00:54:21,126 --> 00:54:23,500
There's not much water there
and our limit's two days.
863
00:54:23,501 --> 00:54:25,458
- How long will it take to go to Wyndham?
864
00:54:25,459 --> 00:54:26,293
- In this?
865
00:54:26,294 --> 00:54:28,083
Oh, about six hours.
866
00:54:28,084 --> 00:54:30,083
- Do you know how long we've taken?
867
00:54:30,084 --> 00:54:31,125
- How long?
868
00:54:31,126 --> 00:54:32,333
- Six months!
869
00:54:32,334 --> 00:54:33,542
- Six months?
870
00:54:33,543 --> 00:54:34,543
- Mm.
871
00:54:35,834 --> 00:54:36,917
Hey.
872
00:54:49,334 --> 00:54:51,333
- Open the gate, Mary.
873
00:54:51,334 --> 00:54:54,042
Righto, boys, bring on some more!
874
00:55:04,209 --> 00:55:05,583
Got another log, Bill?
875
00:55:05,584 --> 00:55:06,668
Yep.
876
00:55:13,834 --> 00:55:15,708
- How about debentures?
877
00:55:15,709 --> 00:55:17,542
- Oh, I wouldn't worry
about them yet, Corky.
878
00:55:17,543 --> 00:55:19,417
- What are you cooking up now, Corky?
879
00:55:19,418 --> 00:55:21,833
- My friend here was a
stockbroker in Civvy Street.
880
00:55:21,834 --> 00:55:23,833
He's advising me on my company.
881
00:55:23,834 --> 00:55:24,793
- What company?
882
00:55:24,794 --> 00:55:26,459
- Like to see my prospectors?
883
00:55:27,376 --> 00:55:28,376
Here.
884
00:55:31,834 --> 00:55:35,458
"Northern Territory Exploitation Company.
885
00:55:35,459 --> 00:55:37,125
"Capital 100,000 pounds.
886
00:55:37,126 --> 00:55:39,959
"J. Claverhouse Corkingdale,
managing director."
887
00:55:42,084 --> 00:55:43,084
Sounds good, eh?
888
00:55:45,459 --> 00:55:47,125
- "Objects of the company.
889
00:55:47,126 --> 00:55:49,708
"To exploit the vast potential pastoral
890
00:55:49,709 --> 00:55:52,543
"and mineral wealth of
Australia's Northern Territory."
891
00:55:54,251 --> 00:55:55,084
- Hey, what's the game?
892
00:55:55,085 --> 00:55:56,792
You can't do that.
893
00:55:56,793 --> 00:55:58,167
- I've done it.
894
00:55:58,168 --> 00:55:59,750
- Well, what's wrong with it?
895
00:55:59,751 --> 00:56:02,126
- There's just one thing wrong, Corky.
896
00:56:03,459 --> 00:56:04,626
That word, exploit.
897
00:56:05,834 --> 00:56:08,250
We've exploited our
south for a hundred years
898
00:56:08,251 --> 00:56:09,709
and torn the heart out of it.
899
00:56:11,251 --> 00:56:13,417
Territory's far too
valuable to be messed about
900
00:56:13,418 --> 00:56:15,418
by get-rich-quick schemes like yours.
901
00:56:17,543 --> 00:56:18,917
I say let's save the North
902
00:56:18,918 --> 00:56:20,667
from what we've done to the South.
903
00:56:20,668 --> 00:56:22,875
- You mean leave it to the cattle kings.
904
00:56:22,876 --> 00:56:26,792
- No, I mean leave it to Australians,
905
00:56:26,793 --> 00:56:29,543
ordinary Australians
like Bill and his family.
906
00:56:33,626 --> 00:56:35,043
National job, Corky.
907
00:56:36,418 --> 00:56:38,875
Too big for little people like you.
908
00:56:38,876 --> 00:56:39,876
- Oh, rubbish.
909
00:57:10,626 --> 00:57:12,667
Your supper's ready, Sinbad.
910
00:57:12,668 --> 00:57:14,208
- Thanks.
911
00:57:14,209 --> 00:57:15,708
They've settled down all right.
912
00:57:15,709 --> 00:57:16,709
- Good.
913
00:57:17,501 --> 00:57:19,083
- Decent sort of night, isn't it?
914
00:57:19,084 --> 00:57:20,167
- Lovely.
915
00:57:20,168 --> 00:57:21,333
- See the cockatoos?
916
00:57:21,334 --> 00:57:22,875
Dozens of them.
917
00:57:29,209 --> 00:57:31,583
I wonder what Jacky's singing about.
918
00:57:31,584 --> 00:57:34,251
- About the time his people
owned this land probably.
919
00:57:35,376 --> 00:57:36,418
When they were happy.
920
00:57:38,293 --> 00:57:40,042
You'd better go now, Sinbad.
921
00:57:40,043 --> 00:57:41,043
- Yes, I suppose so.
922
00:57:41,918 --> 00:57:44,250
Well, goodnight, then.
923
00:57:44,251 --> 00:57:45,334
- Goodnight, Sinbad.
924
00:57:49,709 --> 00:57:51,917
- Oh, by the way, would
you like this horse?
925
00:57:51,918 --> 00:57:54,293
- All right, he's good on night work.
926
00:58:02,668 --> 00:58:05,083
Riding real bushman
style these days, Sinbad.
927
00:58:05,084 --> 00:58:06,209
Long stirrups, eh?
928
00:58:11,959 --> 00:58:14,500
- I've wanted to do that
for a long time, Mary.
929
00:58:14,501 --> 00:58:16,417
- So have I, but it's silly.
930
00:58:16,418 --> 00:58:18,000
- Why is it silly?
931
00:58:18,001 --> 00:58:20,625
- Because we both know it's the stars.
932
00:58:20,626 --> 00:58:22,583
And because we've crossed
half Australia together.
933
00:58:22,584 --> 00:58:24,875
- I think it's more than that, Mary.
934
00:58:24,876 --> 00:58:26,417
- Do you, Sinbad?
935
00:58:26,418 --> 00:58:27,875
I wonder.
936
00:58:52,709 --> 00:58:55,458
- Are you still in love with Jeff, Mary?
937
00:58:55,459 --> 00:58:56,459
- I think so.
938
00:58:57,293 --> 00:58:59,459
I missed him terribly when he went away.
939
00:59:00,334 --> 00:59:01,417
- I've loved you ever since I saw you
940
00:59:01,418 --> 00:59:03,542
riding up with the waggon.
941
00:59:03,543 --> 00:59:04,543
- Have you?
942
00:59:06,751 --> 00:59:08,500
I saw you, too.
943
00:59:08,501 --> 00:59:10,251
I pretended I didn't.
944
00:59:28,376 --> 00:59:29,376
The cattle!
945
00:59:42,001 --> 00:59:43,333
I'll try and stop them.
946
00:59:43,334 --> 00:59:45,751
You keep out of this, Sinbad.
947
00:59:53,959 --> 00:59:55,333
- They've headed north.
948
00:59:55,334 --> 00:59:56,917
Yes!
949
00:59:56,918 --> 00:59:58,542
Straight for the blasted scrub.
950
00:59:58,543 --> 01:00:00,500
- If they get too far into the
bog they're gone for keeps.
951
01:00:00,501 --> 01:00:02,750
You take the right wing
and try and head 'em.
952
01:02:45,626 --> 01:02:46,459
- Mary.
953
01:02:59,543 --> 01:03:01,000
Good on ya, Mary.
954
01:03:01,001 --> 01:03:02,792
Now we've got 'em.
955
01:03:22,043 --> 01:03:23,208
What do ya make, it Bill?
956
01:03:23,209 --> 01:03:24,417
- We lost four.
957
01:03:24,418 --> 01:03:25,750
No, make it three.
958
01:03:25,751 --> 01:03:27,292
- Mary and Jacky did a good job.
959
01:03:27,293 --> 01:03:31,583
- Mm, and he's the man who
didn't want women in his plant.
960
01:03:31,584 --> 01:03:34,375
- What's the black horse doing down there?
961
01:03:34,376 --> 01:03:35,376
Sinbad.
962
01:04:03,043 --> 01:04:04,001
- Here, boss!
963
01:04:04,002 --> 01:04:05,834
Good, hold the horses, Jacky.
964
01:04:27,459 --> 01:04:29,208
- He's hurt bad.
965
01:04:29,209 --> 01:04:30,792
I think it's a leg and this arm.
966
01:04:30,793 --> 01:04:32,083
- Oh, Dad, it's all my fault.
967
01:04:32,084 --> 01:04:32,918
I took the night horse.
968
01:04:32,919 --> 01:04:33,958
- No, you should have.
969
01:04:33,959 --> 01:04:35,583
It was your watch.
970
01:04:35,584 --> 01:04:36,418
- Poor kid.
971
01:04:36,419 --> 01:04:37,542
We'll have to get him to hospital.
972
01:04:37,543 --> 01:04:39,458
- And forget that mob at the back of us?
973
01:04:39,459 --> 01:04:41,000
You've got to shift the cattle today.
974
01:04:41,001 --> 01:04:42,458
- Yeah, I know.
975
01:04:42,459 --> 01:04:44,376
But two of us'll have to stay with him.
976
01:04:46,418 --> 01:04:48,000
- The aeroplane!
977
01:04:48,001 --> 01:04:49,001
- Good girl.
978
01:04:50,334 --> 01:04:51,543
We better get him ready.
979
01:05:06,334 --> 01:05:08,833
- What do you think we ought
to do, Mrs. Parsons, wait?
980
01:05:08,834 --> 01:05:11,083
- No, better go while the going's good.
981
01:05:11,084 --> 01:05:12,792
We don't want this young man's contraption
982
01:05:12,793 --> 01:05:14,293
frightening the cattle again.
983
01:05:15,126 --> 01:05:17,167
- Well, goodbye, Mrs. Parsons.
984
01:05:17,168 --> 01:05:18,126
Thank you very much.
985
01:05:18,126 --> 01:05:19,126
- Goodbye.
986
01:05:53,918 --> 01:05:55,375
What's the matter, Mary?
987
01:05:55,376 --> 01:05:56,709
- Sinbad's hurt!
988
01:06:18,293 --> 01:06:19,709
Stop, stop, stop!
989
01:06:22,543 --> 01:06:23,543
Stop!
990
01:06:57,001 --> 01:06:59,292
- Did you turn the cattle, Mary?
991
01:06:59,293 --> 01:07:00,918
- Yes, Sinbad, they're all back.
992
01:07:01,793 --> 01:07:03,333
- That's good.
993
01:07:03,334 --> 01:07:04,501
Dan'll be pleased.
994
01:07:06,209 --> 01:07:09,042
I'm afraid I'm not much
of a cattleman, Mary.
995
01:07:09,043 --> 01:07:11,125
- You should never have tried.
996
01:07:11,126 --> 01:07:12,001
- Good luck, Mrs. Parsons.
997
01:07:12,002 --> 01:07:13,043
- Thanks, Dan.
998
01:07:14,834 --> 01:07:16,501
- Well, bye-bye, Meg, old girl.
999
01:07:17,876 --> 01:07:19,417
It's a rough road, so don't forget,
1000
01:07:19,418 --> 01:07:20,625
plenty of brake on the hill.
1001
01:07:20,626 --> 01:07:23,917
- I'll be all right, Bill, but
watch out for those cattle.
1002
01:07:23,918 --> 01:07:25,208
- Ah, don't start worrying, Mother.
1003
01:07:25,209 --> 01:07:26,834
You know we need the money.
1004
01:07:27,751 --> 01:07:29,375
Look after the little 'un.
1005
01:07:29,376 --> 01:07:30,209
- Goodbye, Daddy.
1006
01:07:30,209 --> 01:07:31,209
I'll be okay.
1007
01:07:33,293 --> 01:07:35,043
- Righto, Nipper, let him go.
1008
01:07:36,543 --> 01:07:37,703
- Come on, Tiger, Dolly, get.
1009
01:07:39,084 --> 01:07:40,250
Come, come on!
1010
01:07:40,251 --> 01:07:41,833
Get up, Tiger.
- Cheerio, sailor.
1011
01:07:41,834 --> 01:07:43,083
You'll be all right.
1012
01:07:43,084 --> 01:07:44,793
Look after him, Helen!
1013
01:07:45,709 --> 01:07:47,375
- I did want to come with you, Sinbad,
1014
01:07:47,376 --> 01:07:48,958
but I just couldn't ask Dad.
1015
01:07:48,959 --> 01:07:50,208
He's too shorthanded.
1016
01:08:02,043 --> 01:08:05,458
We hoped they would
reach Naracoota Station in time,
1017
01:08:05,459 --> 01:08:07,668
but it would mean a hard day's driving.
1018
01:08:08,668 --> 01:08:10,167
They'd a pedal wireless
there so they could
1019
01:08:10,168 --> 01:08:11,584
call up the flying doctor.
1020
01:08:12,876 --> 01:08:15,167
Now, our main job was to get the cattle
1021
01:08:15,168 --> 01:08:18,333
onto the next water, two days ahead.
1022
01:08:18,334 --> 01:08:21,292
Cattle can't go more than
three days without water,
1023
01:08:21,293 --> 01:08:23,500
so we had to hurry 'em along.
1024
01:08:23,501 --> 01:08:25,042
I sent Nipper ahead with the horses
1025
01:08:25,043 --> 01:08:27,834
to make sure that the bore was okay.
1026
01:09:32,626 --> 01:09:36,209
When a bore goes dry on ya
like that, you're in a mess.
1027
01:09:43,793 --> 01:09:45,083
Did you see any surface water?
1028
01:09:45,084 --> 01:09:46,458
- No, not a drop, boss.
1029
01:09:46,459 --> 01:09:48,375
- Are ya sure the bore is busted?
1030
01:09:48,376 --> 01:09:49,626
- She's busted all right.
1031
01:09:51,251 --> 01:09:53,292
- Well, it's no use goin' back.
1032
01:09:53,293 --> 01:09:54,625
That other mob'll be there.
1033
01:09:54,626 --> 01:09:56,834
- With Nipper's news,
it's no use going on.
1034
01:09:58,543 --> 01:10:00,792
- How far is it to Argadargada?
1035
01:10:00,793 --> 01:10:01,793
Should be water there.
1036
01:10:01,794 --> 01:10:03,708
- Three days at least.
1037
01:10:03,709 --> 01:10:04,668
- That's no good.
1038
01:10:04,669 --> 01:10:07,292
It's water within two days
or there'll be no mob,
1039
01:10:07,293 --> 01:10:09,584
just a thousand stinkin' carcasses.
1040
01:10:14,001 --> 01:10:15,793
We'll have to take 'em over the top.
1041
01:10:17,834 --> 01:10:19,250
You'll never do it, Dan.
1042
01:10:19,251 --> 01:10:21,667
- What about the old Micah Road?
1043
01:10:21,668 --> 01:10:23,167
- They're bullocks, not goats.
1044
01:10:23,168 --> 01:10:24,333
- Yeah?
1045
01:10:24,334 --> 01:10:25,375
We'll have 'em climbin' ladders
1046
01:10:25,376 --> 01:10:26,500
before we're through with 'em.
1047
01:10:26,501 --> 01:10:27,501
Aw, come on, Bill.
1048
01:10:27,502 --> 01:10:28,792
Let's give it a go.
1049
01:10:28,793 --> 01:10:29,709
- All right.
1050
01:11:07,959 --> 01:11:10,417
- Hang on, here's another.
1051
01:11:13,209 --> 01:11:15,500
Come on, Tiger, get up, get up.
1052
01:11:15,501 --> 01:11:16,751
Come on, Dolly!
1053
01:11:34,126 --> 01:11:35,542
While the others drove the cattle
1054
01:11:35,543 --> 01:11:37,958
towards the old track I'd remembered,
1055
01:11:37,959 --> 01:11:39,709
Bill and I took our bearings.
1056
01:11:49,584 --> 01:11:52,251
Then, we started our big gamble.
1057
01:12:17,626 --> 01:12:20,417
Cattle bred in the plains
are bad hill climbers,
1058
01:12:20,418 --> 01:12:23,167
so I put Mary in front to give 'em a lead.
1059
01:12:23,168 --> 01:12:25,583
Once they start, the one thing you must do
1060
01:12:25,584 --> 01:12:26,793
is keep 'em moving.
1061
01:12:29,043 --> 01:12:29,918
Ha, ha, ha, ha!
1062
01:12:29,919 --> 01:12:32,084
That meant punching 'em up all the way.
1063
01:12:37,209 --> 01:12:41,293
But if ya let 'em turn back
or bunch, you'll lose the lot.
1064
01:13:05,584 --> 01:13:06,584
Ha, ha!
1065
01:13:45,293 --> 01:13:46,958
- Dan, Dan!
1066
01:13:46,959 --> 01:13:48,542
Dan!
1067
01:13:48,543 --> 01:13:49,917
- What?
1068
01:13:49,918 --> 01:13:52,750
- There's a tree over the track.
1069
01:13:52,751 --> 01:13:53,751
- Damn.
1070
01:13:54,918 --> 01:13:56,583
Right, try and hold the cattle.
1071
01:13:56,584 --> 01:13:59,292
Jacky, see if you can
get up there with a rope.
1072
01:13:59,293 --> 01:14:00,168
- Okay, boss.
1073
01:14:17,584 --> 01:14:18,751
- Whoa, bully.
1074
01:14:33,918 --> 01:14:36,500
Whoa, bully, whoa, bully.
1075
01:14:36,501 --> 01:14:37,501
Whoa, whoa.
1076
01:14:38,418 --> 01:14:40,251
Steady, steady, bully.
1077
01:15:06,959 --> 01:15:08,542
Whoa, bully.
1078
01:15:08,543 --> 01:15:09,543
Whoa, whoa.
1079
01:15:11,626 --> 01:15:12,626
Steady.
1080
01:16:56,501 --> 01:16:59,625
They got the
tree away just in time.
1081
01:16:59,626 --> 01:17:01,333
It had cost us some bullocks,
1082
01:17:01,334 --> 01:17:03,459
but the main mob was over the worst of it.
1083
01:17:13,459 --> 01:17:16,876
- There you are, now you'll be all right.
1084
01:17:30,418 --> 01:17:33,084
- Narwietooma Station
calling flying doctor base.
1085
01:17:34,334 --> 01:17:37,625
Narwietooma Station
calling flying doctor base.
1086
01:17:37,626 --> 01:17:39,042
Over to you.
1087
01:17:39,043 --> 01:17:40,125
Flying doctor waiting.
1088
01:17:40,126 --> 01:17:41,750
Go ahead, please.
1089
01:17:41,751 --> 01:17:44,250
- Drover badly injured.
1090
01:17:44,251 --> 01:17:46,918
Fractured arm, injured leg.
1091
01:17:48,043 --> 01:17:50,333
Possible injuries to the skull.
1092
01:17:57,959 --> 01:17:59,250
We got down the other side
1093
01:17:59,251 --> 01:18:01,458
easier than I expected.
1094
01:18:01,459 --> 01:18:04,083
So, Bill and I rode
ahead to check the water
1095
01:18:04,084 --> 01:18:05,876
at the billabong we were making for.
1096
01:18:13,168 --> 01:18:15,667
There was plenty in it
and it looked as though
1097
01:18:15,668 --> 01:18:16,958
our luck had changed.
1098
01:18:16,959 --> 01:18:17,959
- Lookout!
1099
01:18:27,834 --> 01:18:29,500
- You know what that means.
1100
01:18:29,501 --> 01:18:31,208
- Yeah, it's a bog.
1101
01:18:31,209 --> 01:18:32,750
If ya let the cattle rush this hole,
1102
01:18:32,751 --> 01:18:34,000
you might just as well have left 'em
1103
01:18:34,001 --> 01:18:35,708
to rot on the other side.
1104
01:18:35,709 --> 01:18:38,418
- Yeah, once saw it happen at Katharine.
1105
01:18:39,876 --> 01:18:42,083
They'd been dry for three days.
1106
01:18:42,084 --> 01:18:43,668
Smelled the water and rushed it.
1107
01:18:45,376 --> 01:18:48,083
Mob behind kept pushin' the
leaders deeper and deeper,
1108
01:18:48,084 --> 01:18:49,708
and in about 10 minutes, there wasn't more
1109
01:18:49,709 --> 01:18:51,042
than 20 bullocks in sight.
1110
01:18:51,043 --> 01:18:52,043
- Yeah.
1111
01:18:53,001 --> 01:18:55,167
You'd never hold 'em in this heat.
1112
01:18:55,168 --> 01:18:56,626
There's only one thing to do,
1113
01:18:57,459 --> 01:19:00,293
and that's to keep 'em back
in the bush until the evening.
1114
01:19:02,751 --> 01:19:04,875
- One good thing anyhow.
1115
01:19:04,876 --> 01:19:07,293
Not enough wind to give
'em a smell of the water.
1116
01:19:09,126 --> 01:19:11,000
We had bedded down the cattle in the bush
1117
01:19:11,001 --> 01:19:13,250
to wait for the cool of the evening.
1118
01:19:13,251 --> 01:19:16,333
Then we'd planned to water
them in small batches,
1119
01:19:16,334 --> 01:19:18,000
a hundred at a time.
1120
01:19:18,001 --> 01:19:22,042
It was a stinking hot day,
and all of us were dead beat,
1121
01:19:22,043 --> 01:19:24,583
but we daren't let them
near the water yet.
1122
01:19:24,584 --> 01:19:29,583
After three days dry, the smell
of water sends cattle mad.
1123
01:19:57,751 --> 01:19:59,917
- Ah, rich golden brown.
1124
01:19:59,918 --> 01:20:01,043
Might almost be beer.
1125
01:20:32,543 --> 01:20:34,293
Ah, nice cool breeze.
1126
01:21:32,043 --> 01:21:34,376
- They've smelled the water!
1127
01:23:04,376 --> 01:23:07,125
Get back to the water as quick as ya can.
1128
01:23:11,918 --> 01:23:13,167
- Look out over there.
1129
01:23:13,168 --> 01:23:14,208
There's not enough of us.
1130
01:23:14,209 --> 01:23:15,792
Get back to the water.
1131
01:23:20,126 --> 01:23:21,875
Hold 'em as long as ya can, Jacky.
1132
01:23:21,876 --> 01:23:22,918
Okay, boss.
1133
01:23:28,251 --> 01:23:30,251
- Get back to the water.
1134
01:23:44,126 --> 01:23:46,125
There's only one thing might hold 'em now.
1135
01:23:46,126 --> 01:23:46,959
We get off and face 'em.
1136
01:23:46,960 --> 01:23:48,625
- Don't you think they're too thirsty?
1137
01:23:48,626 --> 01:23:49,543
- We'll give it a go.
1138
01:23:49,544 --> 01:23:50,792
Hold the horses, Mary.
1139
01:23:50,793 --> 01:23:52,167
- I'll come, too.
1140
01:23:52,168 --> 01:23:53,958
- You do as you're damn well told.
1141
01:23:53,959 --> 01:23:55,458
Come on, Corky!
1142
01:23:55,459 --> 01:23:57,208
- All right, all right.
1143
01:25:17,209 --> 01:25:21,875
What the hell's he waiting
for, the whites of their eyes?
1144
01:26:07,418 --> 01:26:10,125
Now!
1145
01:26:42,084 --> 01:26:43,667
Jacky!
1146
01:26:43,668 --> 01:26:44,668
Nipper!
1147
01:27:05,126 --> 01:27:06,333
That was close, eh?
1148
01:27:06,334 --> 01:27:07,500
- Yeah.
1149
01:27:07,501 --> 01:27:09,250
Exciting while it lasted.
1150
01:27:09,251 --> 01:27:10,251
- Exciting?
1151
01:27:11,043 --> 01:27:13,375
Blimey, did ya see the dirty look
1152
01:27:13,376 --> 01:27:15,000
that big steer gave me?
1153
01:27:34,876 --> 01:27:37,000
That was the end of our travels.
1154
01:27:37,001 --> 01:27:39,583
With good feed and
water, we delivered okay
1155
01:27:39,584 --> 01:27:42,167
to the resting paddocks by the sea.
1156
01:27:42,168 --> 01:27:44,667
In eight months, we'd driven
a thousand head of cattle
1157
01:27:44,668 --> 01:27:47,543
1600 miles and lost 53.
1158
01:27:50,709 --> 01:27:53,125
We all went to Brisbane
to pick up the sailor.
1159
01:27:53,126 --> 01:27:55,083
He'd recovered well, and it was good
1160
01:27:55,084 --> 01:27:57,418
to have the whole plant together again.
1161
01:28:07,501 --> 01:28:09,792
The city life doesn't suit us much,
1162
01:28:09,793 --> 01:28:12,168
so we were quite glad
when the sendoff came.
1163
01:28:13,126 --> 01:28:14,667
- You mind saying a few words
to the camera, Mr. Minister?
1164
01:28:14,668 --> 01:28:15,792
- Why, certainly.
1165
01:28:15,793 --> 01:28:16,793
- Over here, please.
1166
01:28:19,126 --> 01:28:20,167
Right, Joe?
1167
01:28:20,168 --> 01:28:21,292
Okay.
1168
01:28:21,293 --> 01:28:22,126
- Now?
1169
01:28:22,127 --> 01:28:23,542
Go ahead.
1170
01:28:23,543 --> 01:28:25,708
- At this moment, the
largest mass migration
1171
01:28:25,709 --> 01:28:28,834
of cattle the world has
ever known is taking place.
1172
01:28:29,876 --> 01:28:31,583
The government, realising that Australia
1173
01:28:31,584 --> 01:28:35,167
will be looked upon both
in the wars and the peace
1174
01:28:35,168 --> 01:28:37,834
as one of the world's
largest food reservoirs,
1175
01:28:38,709 --> 01:28:42,125
is being to safety the
vast herds of the North.
1176
01:28:42,126 --> 01:28:45,500
But the initiative of this idea belongs
1177
01:28:45,501 --> 01:28:47,626
to one man and his little band of helpers.
1178
01:28:49,668 --> 01:28:51,458
- What are your plans for
the future, Mr. MacAlpine?
1179
01:28:51,459 --> 01:28:53,708
- Well, they tell me they
need drovers up North.
1180
01:28:53,709 --> 01:28:56,250
I'm a drover, so I'm gonna
get me another mob of cattle.
1181
01:28:56,251 --> 01:28:57,833
- Where can I write you, Mary?
1182
01:28:57,834 --> 01:29:00,625
- Oh, Wyndham will always find me.
1183
01:29:00,626 --> 01:29:02,750
Or Anthony's Lagoon on the next trip.
1184
01:29:02,751 --> 01:29:04,000
- I see.
1185
01:29:04,001 --> 01:29:05,626
- All passengers aboard, please.
1186
01:29:08,126 --> 01:29:09,875
- Well, goodbye, Mary.
1187
01:29:09,876 --> 01:29:11,542
It's been lovely knowing you.
1188
01:29:11,543 --> 01:29:13,501
- It's been lovely knowing you, Sinbad.
1189
01:29:19,834 --> 01:29:21,292
- Mary!
1190
01:29:21,293 --> 01:29:22,875
Come on, quickly, the plane's going.
1191
01:29:22,876 --> 01:29:24,417
Goodbye, Sinbad.
1192
01:29:24,418 --> 01:29:25,959
You're all covered in lipstick.
1193
01:29:26,876 --> 01:29:27,834
Come on, Mary.
1194
01:29:27,835 --> 01:29:29,792
- Best of luck with your
next mob, Mr. MacAlpine.
1195
01:29:29,793 --> 01:29:32,167
- Well, if it's anything
like this one, I'll need it.
1196
01:29:37,376 --> 01:29:39,376
Goodbye, sailor, thanks.
1197
01:30:45,293 --> 01:30:47,917
- We've started something, eh, Bill?
1198
01:30:47,918 --> 01:30:48,834
- My word.
79124
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