Errabiddy Outcamp - WA

Ruin. ERRABIDDY OUTCAMP & THE LADY Mary Watson was one of a family of 12, and had never been away from home until she was married in 1921, at the tender age of 18. Her husband was at the time the station cook at Wooleen - a very long way away from her home in Midland Junction! Prior to leaving for her new home her husband James told her she would need "a good hat" - but that was all. Imagine her feelings when she arrived in the Murchison, at the time a raw and challenging place even for those born and bred there. To make matters even more demanding Mary and James. were soon sent to this place, Errabiddy Outcamp, a lonely outstation some 50 km from the homestead. During the two years they spent here Aboriginal girls were Mary's only regular companions, and she went through one 12 month period during which she didn't see another white woman, In her time here Mary gave birth to two sons, the second of whom died in infancy and was buried in a sandhill near the main station homestead. Mary left Errabiddy Outcamp - and Wooleen - soon afterwards, due to complications arising from the birth. She never actually saw the burial place of her son. in 1991, at the age of 88, Mary came back after an absence of more than 65 years to visit the outstation where she had once lived and to find the grave of her infant son. She also found the • chimney of her house' and the kurrajong trees planted as seeds by her husband in the early 1920s. Life for pastoral workers in those days was tough. especially for those living away from the homestead at outstations like Errabiddy. Butit was good foo, and Mary is reported to have said, upon her retum: "I really missed the place after I left. It's wonderful to come back. I never expected to find anything from my past still remaining harace!