All Alone - 27. Alo Chapter 27

“Yes well, it has been a bit of a struggle, Dave and Sue are my Senior staff, and live in a new cyclone coded house on the site of the original homestead, and you may have noticed another cottage where the old backpackers use to be, which is where Matt and Greg were living, but they are now in the apartment, as I have a station mechanic starting next week.

I too have a new home, the little stylish one sitting on the site of the old cottage, like Dave and Sue’s home they are both brand new, arriving early this week. We have permanent campsites at 14-Mile and just before Bulbari, for the North and South caretakers, and a new backpacker’s hostel close to there also” I said, giving a brief rundown of the changes.

“Yes, we know about the backpackers, we are staying there for the weekend, and no Nicholas is not with us” Angela said.

“We are very impressed with what you have managed to accomplish in such a short time, especially with the cyclone and then the earthquake, and we evennoticed that new camp site signs have been made, and placed on the east side of the new gravel track only” Jeremy added.

“Yes, well that is to have more tighter control on reducing environmental damage to the shoreline, with access to the beach heavily restricted, and we currently have two Parks and Wildlife Rangers patrolling the Marine park this weekend” I stated.

“Well they are big changes, we had a large fire less than month ago, that burnt a huge patch of shrubs and grass, including the main power and desal shed, where the fire started and all the way to just before the fence line, at Pelican Point, over 2,400 acres in area total” I stated.

“Oh, that is not good, I recall hearing about a big fire up this way, but I didn’t realise that it was on Coral Coast” Angela said to me.

“Yes well it is over, and the area has been quarantined to allow for regrowth to happen, so what about you both, what have you been doing since leaving here?” I responded.

“Not a lot really, we were concentrating on Nicolas and his trial, he ended up getting a hefty fine, 6 months on a prison farm and 5-years of probation, when he is released, he will have to find his own way in the world, as we will not be supporting him in any way, since we are currently unemployed” Jeremy stated.

“I see, well keep in touch, as I may have something for you both in a month or so down the track, I must go now, as I have a lot to do” I said and I headed through the door, which I closed behind me, and I headed to the conference room, where I sat down to think for a while.

About fifteen minutes later the phone beeped, “Lloyd I have your accountant on the line” Sue said to me through the intercom, “Thanks, and have the Dalworth’s gone?” I replied.

“Yes, looking a little confused and hurt, by your statement and abrupt departure” Sue said before putting the call through.

“Hello Lloyd, how are things progressing up your way” the accountant said to me, “Bloody busy start to the long weekend, and I have finally met my brother in law and nephew, who turned up here out of the blue” I commented.

“Oh good, I hope it was a pleasant reunion?” came the response, and I gave a short laugh.

“A little unusual, but all is good now,what news do you have for me?” I replied.

“Some mixed news actually, we were beaten to buying the two adjoining stations, but there are two other stations that would be just as good, Yaringa Station, with its homestead just 700 metres east of the highway, and is 248,000 acres” the accountant began.

“Yes, I know of it, I called into there once, just to introduce myself, soon after I took over ownership of the station, and the other?” I said interrupting him.

The other is Eurardy Station, which has been reduced in size a lot, as the state government has turned a lot of the area into a nature reserve, and now it has 257,000 acres, and its homestead is 3 kms west of the highway” I was informed,

“Yes, I have heard of that one. Ok, can you let the sellers know that I am interested in buying both, if you thing I can finance the purchase of the two stations, and I will be coming down late next week to inspect both properties” I said.

“Very well I will do that, and yes you have the finances to buy both of the stations, talk again soon, bye for now” the accountant said before ending the call.

Reaching over, I picked up the radio mic and called Dave, and asked him to come to my office as soon as he is free, and less than five minutes later he arrived, “I was in the machinery shed, so I was close by” Dave said.

“I have had a number of chats with my accountant over the past few weeks, and I’ve just finished speaking to him just now. I need to run a few things by you, for your opinion” I began as Dave sat down.

“Firstly, how long did you sign the lease of your farm for?” I asked, “12 months and they would like to extend it for another 3 years after that” Dave asked me confused at my question.

“I signed for 12 months, with me having the option to pull out after that time. You remember saying to me that the guy who is leasing the farms is based on Brooks Road, Ajana. Well there is only one big farm on that road, split into two sections, by the road, and guess who owns the whole farm?” I said, and Dave chuckled.

”Let me take a real wild guess and say that you own it” Dave responded.

“Yes, and the lease is up in just over a months’ time, which I will not be renewing, I have already contacted the real estate agent by email, stating that I do not want the lease renewed, as I plan to take back control of the farm” I said.

‘So what are your plans?” Dave asked.

“Well originally, I was going to buy two adjoining stations, about halfway between here and home, but we were beaten by another buyer.

The accountant has however found two other properties, that are alongside the North West Highway, also between here and home, so I am thinking of using them to breed cattle, and ship them down to the farm, to fatten them up and send them off to market from there” I stated.

“Which stations are you referring to?” Dave asked, and I opened the computer, and clicked on Google maps, where I had already marked the location of Coral Coast Station, Yaringa Station, Eurardy Station, Galena Estate and Chilimony farm, and I indicated to Dave to come and look at the screen.

“Yaringa station, which is just south of Wooramel River, which is entirely on the East side of the highway, with the homestead being just 700 metres off the highway, and it is 330 kms south of here and 268 kms north of Chilimony farm, pretty much half way between here and my home farm.

The second one is Eurardy station, which is on both sides of the highway, with the homestead 3 kms West of the highway, and it is 524 kms south of here and 80 kms north of Chilimony Farm, so both are very suitably placed” I said to Dave.

“Yes, they are indeed, would you think about selling this station, to concentrate on the two closer stations” Dave asked, “I considered it, and decided to wait and see how things go with these two stations” I replied.

“So, when do we go to check out these two stations?” Dave asked and I laughed.

“You are beginning to know me a bit too well, my friend” I responded, and Dave laughed with me, “Sounds like a hens party in herewith all the cackling going on” Sue said when she entered, and that made both of us laugh some more.

“Close the door dear, we have a few things you need to hear” Dave said to his wife, and once Sue had sat down, I looked at Dave, then back to Sue.

“On Thursday next week, the three of us are going on a business trip, I don’t want anyone else to know, until the very last moment, and the lads will be fine to keep things running while we are gone” I said to Sue.

“Where are we going?” Sue asked sounding surprised.

“Just a road trip south dear, so we need to be packed and ready to leave early Thursday morning for three days” Dave replied, and I nodded my head to confirm this.

“Ok, but you will have to tell me more, so I know what to pack” Sue said.

“I am buying two stations south of here, and we are going on an inspection tour, all the other staff need to know is that we are going on a business trip and that is all, ok?” I answered.

“Understood boss, does that mean you are going to sell this place, just when we are getting settled in?’ Sue replied.

“No, I have no plans to sell this place… yet, but I will be gaining control of a larger family farm, that has always been leased since my parents bought it, and we will be fattening up station cattle on the farm, once we get the boundary fences into good order” I replied.

“I think this is a very good move on your part boss, and I hope that we will be part of this project” Dave said.

“I hope so, because if the northern station is as good as I hear it is, that will be your new jobs as station managers” I replied.

“Oh wow, now I didn’t expect that, you have been really good to us since, we leased out our own farm, thank you” Sue said to me.

“Err, one thing that we had unintentionally forgot to mention to you, because everything has been happening so fast, we actually have a 16-year old son, Bryce, who is attending Agriculture College in Morawa since the beginning of last year” Dave said to me.

“I see, well if he does well at college, then he might even get a job with his folks on a 248,000-acre, cattle station” I responded with a big grin.

“Well he did spend the mid-year holidays last year, on his mate’s family cattle station, Jingemarra Station, I think it is called, some 130 kms north of Yalgoo, and 270 kms SSE of Morawa, and Bryce said that apart from the heat and flies, he loved it” Sue said.

When I walked into my house well after dark, I could smell some delicious cooking, and I saw Davis relaxing in the lounge, while my nephew was busy cooking in the kitchen.

“Well a young man with hidden talents, that is good to see” I said smiling at my nephew.

“Yes he is an awesome cook, far better than his old man” Davis commented.

“Admit it Dad, you are a lousy cook” Alistair commented, which made me laugh.

“That’s all I need, is a smart arse 12-year son, about to turn into a terrible teenager” Davis grumbled.

“About too?” I queried, “well his voice is starting to change and…” Davis started to say.

“And yes, I have hit puberty, get over it, Dad, it happens” Alister said, which made me laugh even more, as Davis blushed with embarrassment.

When we sat down to a very delicious meal, I stopped eating part the way through, and thought about what to say about the coming business trip.

“What is it Uncle? Not hungry?’ Alistair asked me.

“No nephew, nothing like that, I will definitely finish it. I just wanted to let you know, that on Thursday next week, I will be away on a three-day business trip, it will be just a long road trip, attending two meetings.

You are welcome to stay here and just relax while I’m away, or you can come with me, and with Dave and Sue” I announced, and there was a long period of silence, and Davis thought about it.

“I guess we can stay here and see if we can get my old vehicle going” Davis responded eventually.

“I have already had it towed back to the sheds, that car won’t be going anywhere till it is thoroughly dried, plus the fuel and oil need to be emptied, and the pipes drained, to make sure there is no water contamination, then the carburettor needs to be checked, as does the fuel pump, and only then will fresh oil and fuel be added” I stated.

“Wow dad, you did a real good job of stuffing up the car” Alistair commented.

“Shut up smart arse” Davis grumbled, as he tried to think what to do.

“Look you are welcome to stay here as long as you want, I will even give you some work to do, and we will have to get young Alistair here, into some distance education schooling” I said to my brother in law.

“Oh bugger, I was hoping to get out of school” Alistair stated, and I frowned at him.

“Sorry uncle, yes that would be great if you can organise that” Alistair added, and I smiled and turned to Davis.

“That is very generous of you, but won’t the station owner have to make that decision?” Davis asked.

“Dad, I think you are already speaking to the station owner” Alistair said, and I smiled and nodded my head yes to confirm Alistair’s guess.

“Really? Oh crap, oops sorry. Yes, I will happily accept your offer for work, and school studies for Alistair” Davis said, and this time it was Alistair who was laughing, and I just smiled.

“We might even have some daily chores for you too Alister, so you can earn some pocket money, how does that sound” I commented.

“Yes please” Alistair replied happily.

“Ok, but it will be a maximum of two hours a day, and only four days a week, since you are only twelve” I replied.

“Thanks mate, you have been a real-life saver for us, I don’t know what I would have done, if we didn’t find you” Davis said to me.

“Don’t thank me just yet, it gets very hot out here on the station, so you need to remember some rules and stick to them. Firstly, when outside, you must always wear a hat and carry fresh water with you .

I say fresh water, because this station has artesian water, meaning that it comes from deep underground, it is warm, and it is salty. We have a small desalination plant on the station, to convert salty water to fresh water. Secondly, you must let a station staff member know where you are always going , the station Utes carry extra fresh water and a two-way radio, in case you get stuck.

Thirdly keep the vehicles away from the beach and bloody water, I don’t want another drowned vehicle on the station, as you know we are on the coastline of the Ningaloo Reef Marine Park, which means, that the coastline is not under station jurisdiction.

You are lucky to not have received a $800 on the spot fine earlier today, and once they have been issued by the rangers, there is nothing I can do about it.

Lastly, you are not to go travelling all around the station, there are tracks all over the place, and some of them lead to very remote locations. The station is 48 kms long and 26 kms wide, so it is a very big and harsh place.