IT IS MAY 1946. YEARS OF DROUGHT HAD FORCED FRED AND MARGARET ANDREWS OFF THE WHEAT FARM THEY HAD PIONEERED NEARLY 40 YEARS EARLIER NEAR CHINKAPOOK IN VICTORIA’S MALLEE COUNTRY SOME 250 MILES FROM MELBOURNE. “THE BANK” HAD FORECLOSED ON THEIR PROPERTY. MEANWHILE SON GORDON (AGE 32) AND HIS WIFE, GLORIA, HAD BEEN SHAREFARMING NEARBY, AND SUFFERING SIMILAR PRIVATION. DROUGHT AND DEBT HAD FORCED THEM TO LEAVE, AND TO CONTEMPLATE A NEW LIFE IN MELBOURNE. ONE OF THE FINAL ACTS: A CLEARANCE SALE OF THEIR MEAGRE CHATTELS. CLEARANCE SALES CAN BE DESPERATE AFFAIRS, ESPECIALLY WHEN BUYERS KNOW THAT THE SELLERS ARE ON THE ROPES, BUT IT HAD RECENTLY RAINED, AND THERE WAS AN EXPECTATION THAT THE DROUGHT HAD BROKEN. SO THE CROWD WAS SUFFUSED WITH AN ELEMENT OF NEIGHBOURLY GOODWILL TOWARDS THE VENDORS – BORN AND BRED LOCALS. THE CLEARANCE SALE WAS “A SUCCESS” FOR THE YOUNG COUPLE.
MARGARET ANDREWS, GORDON’S MOTHER, HAD ALREADY MOVED TO MELBOURNE. FRED ANDREWS, GORDON’S FATHER, WENT TO LIVE FOR A WHILE WITH HIS BROTHER, JIM, IN NEARBY MANANGATANG [KNOWN COLLOQUIALLY AS MANANG].
WHAT FOLLOWS IS GORDON’S LETTER TO HIS MOTHER TELLING THE OUTCOME OF THE CLEARANCE SALE.
Chinkapook
Sunday
Dear Mother,
Just a short note to let you know how things are going up here.
Well the sale is over, and the excitement has died down. I certainly had a wonderful sale – everyone is talking about it. Everything sold much better than I expected, the day was nice, and there was a terrible big crowd from far and near. I will tell you a few prices to give you an idea. Tractor 470 pds went to Mildura, Tess [ancient Dodge car] 90 pds, Lofty [horse] 32 pds, Bess [horse] 33 pds, pony 20 pds. Horses averaged over 21 pds for the twelve. Harvesters 65 pds & 12 pds 10 shillings & 3 pds. Combines 31 pds & 5 pds. Tank from the camp 9 pds 5 shillings, stand 1 pound 5 shillings. Yellow cow 15 pds, black 12 pds, big heifer 12 pds, Star 11 pds. Old Girl’s calf 10 pds, poddy 4 pds 10 shillings. Cattle averaged over 10 pds for eight. Scarifier 29 pds, cart 15 pds, gig 3 pds. Bath heater 3 pds, Glory’s old bedroom suite 15 pds, lamps about 3 pds each, wireless 29 pds, dining room carpet square 8 pds. Fowls 7 shillings and 8 pence per head. Waggon 5 pds, stripper 21 pds, binder 8 pds.
The sale realized 1522 pds out of which I have to pay 150 pds on the tractor, and about 100 pds for commission including after paying expenses up here.
I have been to Manang today and collected 1000 pds on account of sale, but haven’t had a final settling up yet. I fought the final round with Cameron [the despised Commercial Bank of Australia bank manager] today (I hope). If you heard a ticking noise down there it was my brain working. It has been a battle of wits for the last month, but I think I hit him for six today, and I don’t think he will come up fighting any more.
He also gave me a document for you to sign, similar to the one he has already sent you [re the foreclosure on the parents' farm]. The one you have already got is no good, and it doesn’t matter about it if you haven’t already done so. But he wants you to sign this one. Dad signed his today, and I don’t think you have anything to gain by not signing this one as he [he, the bank manager] can’t now claim on stock and plant.
I don’t think I will be able to get down Sunday night as I have a power of business to attend to. I have to go to Manang again, and Swan Hill, and have a lot of work out on the farm to straighten out things. So don’t expect me until you see me, but I will try and get down on Tuesday if possible. The boss [Gordon often referred to his father, Fred, as “the boss”] has gone up to Manang to stay at Jim’s for a few weeks until we get settled in in town. I saw him up there today and he seemed quite happy. He spends a good bit of his time yarning to the old boy that cuts the wood. He slept in the sleep-out last night and never felt warmer in his life.
Well Mum it is nearly midnight and everybody else is in bed long ago, so I think I will draw this to a close. Wishing you all the best of everything, and all our love for Mother’s Day on Sunday.
We received an invitation to the send-off on Saturday night. [“we” being Gordon, wife Gloria, son Gary aged 6, and newborn daughter Margaret]. I don’t like the idea much but am getting used to these things.
Love to all from Gordon
Will see you all as soon as possible.
GORDON REINVENTED HIMSELF IN THE CITY, AND BECAME A SUCCESSFUL PASTRYCOOK AND SHOPKEEPER IN BRIDGE ROAD, RICHMOND. THERE WERE TWO MORE CHILDREN. GORDON DIED IN 1960, AT AGE 45.
Gary Andrews
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