Godfrey Augustus Redington

Story

Godfrey Augustus Redington

Left for Australia July 1948 on ‘S.S. Malaya’ an ex troop container and arrived at Fremantle six weeks later. Seven weddings on the way over. Discharged from ship at Brisbane; Six days at a holding camp under the old Storey Bridge before catching the train to Innisfail; arrived at Innisfail after a three day train trip from Brisbane.

My First sense of Tropical North Queensland is still with me. At the railway station we were met by our sponsors, loading all our gear into an old cut-down Armstrong-Sidley Ute. The first of this type of vehicle that we had seen; most of the local cars were cut off behind the drivers seats and a wooden tray anchored to the neat chassis steel – chains were wrapped around the wheels to give traction and the red mud tracks.

Their property was at Mundoo an Bamboo Creek, a more picturesque spot an earth would be hard to find; approximately 12miles south of Innisfail. Just a track through the rain forest for the last six miles.

About a mile from the homestead the Armstrong-Sidley broke down; after a few moments of quietness the rain forest came alive with the call of millions of cicadas. The noise was so loud that you had to raise your voice to be heard. Suddenly it would stop just as if a well conducted orchestra switched off.

Married Pam 1954. Son Greg born 1964, three grandsons Todd, Luke and Matthew daughter-in-law Christine.

Life\’s Job List

Royal Navy Ð North Wales

Farm Worker Ð Hertfordshire at Oxford shire

Landscape Gardener Ð Leather head, Surrey U.K.

Hawking Clothing Ð Townsville and North Queensland

Jackaroo Ð Cardington Station North Queensland

Engine Driver Ð (steam) Townsville

Owner Taxi Driver Ð Townsville

Manager – Yellow Cabs, Townsville

Manager Ð Rowes Bay Bush Children\’s Home Townsville

Wood Worker Ð Tolga Woodworks North Queensland

Courier Driver Ð Levis Transport Atherton

Wood Craft Ð Atherton Tableland North Queensland

Van Boy – Middleton Laundry. Hook, Surrey. U.K.

Home Guard Ð 52 Battalion East Surrey Regiment

Malden and Coombe Ð Council, Parks and Open Spaces

At 84 years of age, still looking for a challenge

“Upon arriving in lnnisfail, North Queensland’

l slept for the first three months in a

disused chicken run

Since then, every day has been on

adventure.”

MOVE OUT

At twenty-three the call was strong

Move out – Move out

The call to move was strong

Where to? Where to?

What land will I belong.

To Canada, New Zealand

The call to move was strong

Why did I chose Australia

The call to moue was strong

Why Queensland, North Queensland

When fairer fields were near

T’was the challenge

Yes the challenge – brought me here.

I’ve lived a life – a searching life

My share of ups and downs

Sat weary in the saddle

With the big horns all around

I know the taste of bull dust

Rain filtered through your hair

The scented smell of sandalwood

Burning in the evening air

I’ve roasted on the rolling plains Froze in the mountain air

Laughed – loved and cursed the day

That I saw Australia’s shore

And yet – I love Australia

The reason Plain to see

For the country gives me freedom

And the chance to be just me.

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