Eileen James

Portrait of Eileen James: I was born in Rocklea Station, first of the first, 1945. My mum and dad was working, he was droving sheep by foot. After there we went to Kooline Station and that’s where I was reared up. When the shearing finish we go back out bush, travelling in a horse and cart. We used to trap kangaroos, and go over to Kooline lead mine to sell skins, just for some flour, tea and sugar. We’d move to another camp, stay there. When we move, we pack and we go along. We got no shoes, so when it got hot we climb back in the cart. We moved around, went and worked in Boolaloo Station, that’s where the welfare come along, tried to take me away. That day I took off into the bush. The boss’s missus argue with welfare, they fight for me that time. I was never stolen, but my nephew got taken from Ashburton station, my other nephew got taken from Kooline station. I got married, went and worked in Mount Stuart station for thirteen years. I worked on the stations, Wyloo, Ashburton, Nanutarra, and Kooline too. On the station we feel happy. We’d live in a little rough old tin house, with just an old cupboard, and an ugly old table. I never got my pay, only husband used to get paid those days, not ladies, nothing, but we was working. At the station, just worked for tea and flour and sugar.