April-May 1976

Decision taken on way home on Labour day to make final move this year.

Mario handed in full-time resignation March 24 for June 24th.

Decision taken to name the property Malemijo Experimental Farm, and printing ordered. Public notice to be placed in The Age.

Next trip to Malemijo during May school holidays. We camped at the proposed house site, with the Cargill Trailer and two one-man tents. Weather still dry, but cold at night and warm in afternoons. Work planned was further selection of sites and beginning a small garden. Chain saw and generator (small) were carried with us, as well as post-hole auger, gardening tools, seeds and seedlings.

A section approx 8′ x 10′ (2.5 – 3.0 metres approx) was cleared at camp flat and fenced with stringy-bark and chicken wire. Brown onions seedlings, silver beet (late) and broad-bean seeds planted. Sage and rosemary cuttings planted and parsley, chives and a plum-tree seedling transplanted, three chestnuts planted and a garlic clove for each garden row.

Half-day spent re-straining fence and replacing gate-post on our western boundary, using muscle and Elsie* power.

Cathy** arrived for a first visit after dark on the last night (we were already in bed because of the cold). Mario and Lesley walked the track in the moonight to guide her to the camping-place. She stayed on after we left for Melbourne.

Since last visit we had contacted L-*** about access. Agreed to further discussions but in the meantime we were using his side-track which was padlocked.  Before going in we would visit them and arrange to add new padlock. Instituted double padlock system for the duration of our stay.

On second sight, the house-site less suitable than we remembered. We discovered the remains of a log and hessian hut further downhill from the site (posts only standing) and decided to rebuild on that site as a ‘tool-shed cum shelter’. Most of the remaining posts would have to be removed.

We heard kangaroos at night, and saw large greys heading up hill in the mornings. Many cockatoos were roosting in the large tres on the creek flats – flying in at about 4 pm, ready for sunset at 5 pm, and noisily flying out in the mornings. Our camp was visited by inquisitive red-breasted robins and green & yellow robins.

Feathers from an unfortunate rosella were collected from a small flat in the dry-wash.

* Elsie was the name we gave our Toyota Land Cruiser, as in ‘LC’.

** ‘Grandma Cathy’, Lesley’s mother.

*** the next door farmers. Names not fully expanded here .