Brian & Maree's Trip
to Victoria River Down - Northern Territory
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On recent holidays I returned to Victoria River Down for the first time, since I worked there in the stock camp at one of the outstations 'Moolooloo' thirty seven years ago. Things have changed alot, naturally, in the way they do things now (much more efficient) but not as wilde (cattle) and rough (lives) as it was back all those years ago. We were guests of Paul Holmes A Court and his wife Zara, and were well looked after by Jim and Maureen Coultard who manage Victoria Rvier Downs. It was fun and interesting for me but a bit sad to see the old way, including the Aboriginal Stockmen, has gone. Here are a few shots of the trip. |
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LEFT - Standing beside an old bronco ramp at 'Retreat' yards at Moolooloo, Victoria River Downs. Where I worked branding calves in 1966. The calf was lasooed and dragged up to the ramp by a stockman on a bronco horse, where it was leg roped by other stockmen, thrown to the ground, branded and earmarked. As can be seen, these yards and this way of working cattle, along with my youth has long faded into history! |
| RIGHT - At 'Waterbag' yards with cattle that have just gone through the cattle dip to clear them of ticks. These yards are now mostly constructed of steel, but remnants of the original wooden post and rail yeards are still there, which I worked in when our stock camp was camped there working cattle in 1966. |  |
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LEFT - On 'Dinner Camp' with Maureen Coutard, Zara, Katrina Holmes A Court and kids, near a 'Secret Place' on V.R.D. Maureen and her husband Jim manage Victoria River Downs and have lived and worked on cattle stations in the Kimberlies and Northern Territory all of their lives, they are both living legens up in that country. |
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RIGHT - Having a yarn and a cup of tea with Mark, the Manager of Moolooloo after 'the camp' had dipped and loaded a mob of cattle, at 'Waterbag' yards. Mark has been working up in the Northern Territory for twenty years, after coming up from Queensland. |
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Below are some photos I have dug up from my time at Victoria River Downs in the mid to late 1960s.
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ABOVE
- Me at Victoria River Downs in 1966, standing in front of the Hawkers
Truck, which was like a Myer on wheels for us, the Hawker would turn
up every few weeks and we would buy all our supplies from him.
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ABOVE - Another of me out on camp at Victoria River Downs in the late 1960's. |
 Me on one of the broncos at Victoria River Downs - 1966 |
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