A nomadic life

In 1906 Robert became ill with ‘fever’ and after four-months fighting his illness, died at China Camp on the 5th February 1907. He was aged seventy two. Robert was buried the following day and though his death certificate states he was buried at China Camp some family members believe he was buried at Thompsons Creek.

Many years later Norman wrote about his father’s death and how it marked the beginning of his ‘nomadic life’ when he left his childhood home on the Bloomfield.

Norman’s destination was the town of Almaden, originally a rail junction to Chillagoe, which was established in 1907 as a railway workers town. Despite labour shortages, nationwide advertising managed to secure one thousand construction workers from far and wide to construct the Etheridge Railway Line.

Norman headed northwest along seldom used tracks passing many bushfires, before meeting another lone horseman who invited him to his humpy for a cup of tea. Here he encountered ferocious looking dogs and the ‘lady of the household’ who served him tea laced with what Norman described as ‘considerably overproof’ rum. He declined the tea but accepted their offer of a bed for the night and directions through a country in which he was a stranger.

Along the way Norman almost became involved in a couple of ‘bogus mining propositions’ and admitted later that he was young and inexperienced, an easy target for people trying to take advantage of him. Fortunately Norman had already learned never to trust strangers and as a literate educated Bama, he had an advantage.

Stopping overnight at a hotel in Forsayth, Norman was asked by a police sergeant if he would sell his horse. The sergeant explained that his friend’s mother was seriously ill in Croydon Hospital and the closest horse suitable for the trip was in Georgetown.

Norman, unwilling to part with his horse, agreed to loan it to the sergeant and in due course it was returned.

Norman later reflected on the incident, ‘Bang went my pledge never to trust strangers, out went the sergeant, and away went the stranger mounted on my handsome steed’. Many years later when he returned from active service he met the stranger again who according to Norman ‘duly showed his appreciation’ for the loan of the horse.

It is not clear how long Norman led his ‘nomadic life’ nor what happened to his father’s assets when he left Connemara. Robert had freehold title over 160 acres at China Camp but neither Norman nor Charles would inherit the land. In 1941 it was resumed by the Council of The Shire of Cook and sold.