2011 - Theses - Flinders University

indeed. It will take all of Samuels’ tact – and several years – to convince his old friend togive up the reins and hand over to the young and capable Ted Hathaway, and his martinetwife, Florence. Meanwhile, Fred Eaton continues to ‘pray for people for the work’ while thesteady procession of young male teachers beat a tattoo into and out of Nepabunna, with afamiliar flurry of recriminatory letters about Mr Eaton, and by Mr Eaton, settling ontoSamuels’ desk each time.Nepabunna, February 1952Pastor LJ SamuelsAdelaideDear Brother in ChristGreetings to you in his wonderful name. Thank you for your letter today. Since yourwriting we have heard of the sudden death of our Beloved King. What a shock it was forus as I didn’t hear it until I got home form the mine and I called in the camp taking them akangaroo that one of our men shot and Ted Coulthard said there is sad news, so he mademe wonder, and then he said the king has passed away. I said my that is sad he was awonderful man, I have felt sorry in my heart continually for I feel that he was more than aKing to us he was a real friend. May God bless the young Queen as she takes up the crownthat her Father has laid down…Yours in His ServiceF. Eaton 221Nepabunna, 1952It is a day when the wind roars constantly, and Mrs Forbes does not hear the car enginecoughing as the Wertaloona Station vehicle lumbers its way unevenly towards her hill. She issitting on an upturned box in the lee of her hut, trying to warm her bones in the spring sun.She is thinking of her old friend Winnie, buried last week, and old Fred McKenzie, gone withthe winter frosts at Wertaloona. The drying wind licks at her squinting eyes, and she is153