Our Own Backyard

 Hi I am 13 years old and I live on a farm. This is my house - a World War I soldier settlers place, which is just outside Hawkesdale in a little place called Willatook. People have to drive down a dirt road to reach our property which  is called Riverside. The name of the property came about because we are on the ‘Riverside’ of the Moyne River which flows through our paddocks to Port Fairy. My Pompa planted a tree outside my house. But sadly he has gone. Now every time I look at that tree I think what pompa would be like because I never knew him.
Look at the beautiful sunset over my backyard. (see photo below). We had a severe drought this year. Our cows lost a lot of weight while the drought was on.   My dad was awfully busy trying to keep water and hay up to them  Since the downpour of rain, they are in much better condition.

 

We have a mountain in our backyard called Mt Buggery. It is really a volcanic tumulus and has 2 trees - a dead pine tree and a young pine tree on top. The following information has been taken from the booklet titled The True Pioneers (Settlers on Woodlands Station, 1920-1932) written in 1988 for the Back To Willatook Celebrations. 

“Legend has it that in pre-settlement days, a bullocky was traveling towards Hawkesdale.  After passing a prominent volcanic rise with a small pine tree on the top, the bullock team and wagon became bogged.  The bullocky made his way by foot to Hawkesdale and sought sympathy at the local hotel.  After telling of how he became bogged, he was asked for the exact location, his reply being “way back to buggery, near that mountain”.  Since that day Mt Buggery was established as a local landmark.”
Years later a local school teacher recalls a geography lesson at school, when the class was asked to name the closest mountain to Hawkesdale.  No doubt the teacher had in mind an answer like Mt Rouse or Mt. Napier.  However, the first child to reply gave his answer as ‘Mt Buggery’.

I interviewed my Pa and got some answers.  I asked him:-  

When were the two trees planted on the Mount?  

New tree: It was a cypress tree and it was planted in 1983          

Old dead tree: It was a pine tree and it was planted in 1930 both these trees were planted by Pa’s dad (My great Grandfather)  I call him Pompa.  

Did people sleep at the Mount?

A bullocky camped there. This was in the early days. He watered his cattle at the Nardoo Creek    

When was Pompas Willow tree planted?

 He planted it himself and it was 30 years ago.  

When was the house built and who by? 

We have made alterations from1994-1995And then the house without alterations it was first built 1924-1926 it was a first world war settlement house. 

For how many generations does the house go back?

Pompa was the first in his family to own the property. Tommy Bence owned it before him  and before him it was owned by a big station. Has the property always been called Riverside ? Yes, Since the we have  owned it  since 1928.  Has the road always been called Nardoo Road ? The road wasn’t where it is now, it was closer to the house as long as Pa can remember it has always been called Nardoo Road.