"I am a girl with a mind
A bitch with an at titude
And a lady with class."
grown man cry, grovel and
suck up as he did. He was
desperate; he had no idea how
to work the dozer so I had him
where I wanted him.
Revenge is so sweet at times. I was 16
with a big chip on my shoulder; no one
messed with me and got away with it,
especially men.
So, we struck a deal and my career as
a dozer driver for Case began. I was flying
all over the country, test driving dozers
for a big company – one day in Darwin,
the next in Sydney. As a young woman in
a man’s world it was hard to crack, but it
was worth it as this job took me anywhere
and everywhere. The fellow and his family
became wonderful friends and like a new
family to me. It opened my eyes that there
were normal people out there and that
kids really did have great times if they
had someone to love them, to nurture and
respect them. We eventually had many
laughs over my motto that got me the job.
On my wedding day years later I
received a telegram saying ‘Congratulations
on your wedding day. May you have a girl
with a mind, a bitch with an attitude, and a
husband with class. Love - from a man who
knows an attitude!’
We stayed great friends until his death.
I stayed in this job for nine months on
and off, between doing lots of other things
from serving ice-cream to working at cattle
sales yards before returning to North
Queensland, where I ended up driving
a dump truck at a family mine. I wasn’t
happy and was planning and dreaming of
going to work on a cruise liner somewhere,
because I was told it was a great way to
travel and get paid good money.
The French family: Seated are Rob’s
parents, Gus & Adelaide French.
Middle back – Lyn and Rob. Back right,
Kerri-ann. Seated right, Anna with her
partner Joey below, and Ruby. Left,
seated, Camilla, daughter-in-law, with
Ashley nursing Ellie. Front centre, little
Robert. Photo taken Gilberton Station,
in the Gilbert River bed. (Jan 2017)
ISSUE 2 OF 4 IN 2017
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