bullocks

What a load of old bullocks!

"When taking steep hills or on narrow winding roads, when the bullocks closer to the wagon, known as polers, risked strangulation or a broken neck, the driver would talk continuously to the team, calling each bullock by name to adjust its pace and effort. Talk that took the place of halters and reins and language we can now only imagine." "Unlike the horse, which is subject to erratic displays of emotion, the working steer, known as a micky, tends to remain calm and collected and is more dependable in a predicament. Competent bullock drivers developed a philosophical, sanguine temperament, saving the strong language for the most difficult situations, otherwise their swearing reserve would have been exhausted before it was really needed. At the right moment the normally complaisant teamster would explode into profanity, the sudden shock of the awful words provoking the bullocks to bore into their yokes, all pulling together to overcome their load. The bullocky would then regain his usual easy-going composure, reserving his store of swearing until the next difficult situation." "Perhaps it’s not just the bullocky’s language that may fascinate us; there is also a lesson in self reliance in what was one of the most difficult and challenging of occupations. One old driver remarked that when faced with the seemingly impossible or extreme danger, you will have your doubts and will feel like not going on, but remember to always look on the humorous side and never lose your temper for a man who can drive bullocks can do anything." From a Hidden History Snapshot at : www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/yourcommunity/library/aboutthebluemou...

This is such a great photo of rural industry. Those logs must have been some kind of heavy.

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Symbols of Our Past, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

parcero _A;S

See a more recent one from the ACT..
www.flickr.com/photos/anitka/8809607802/

Timber became one of the biggest industries, which was mostly pine timber and was drawn to the rafting reserve by bullock team. In the early days the wheels of the wagons were not made by a wheelwright but were blocks sawn from logs which were known as block wheels. All the pine logs were rolled in the river and rafted to their destination, this was at times rather an unpleasant job as owing to the two shallow places mentioned earlier the men had to turn out, in the winter, at night to catch the spring tide, which only occurred at night time at new moon. Much of the pine timber went to a small saw mill at a place known as Tygum on the Logan River opposite to the Waterford Railway Station which was owned by the late Lahey Bros. where they made their first start in the timber business and later built a saw mill at Canungra. It was in the year of 1886 when the first Canungra Saw Mill was opened by the Lahey Bros. Another Saw Mill owned by the late Jesse Daniels at Cedar Creek commenced working at the same time and the year of 1896 was removed to Canungra. History of the Logan & Albert Areas by Roger Hart 1959

A good bullock was a valuable resource. Two good leading bullocks were essential, as well as two bullocks at the rear known as the polers. Mustering and yoking 24 bullocks could take up to two hours. Each bullock had a name and recognized it when spoken to. Bullock teams hauled logs to a waterway, or in the steep country to chutes, where the logs could be launched. Source: www.miragenews.com/backward-glance-timber-getters-and-saw...