My dad was a shearer by trade—but he also did other jobs in between. He was pretty handy with a pick and shovel and was called upon to dig wells—and graves. There's an art to digging both and Dad was good at it. Dad dug a fair few graves around Rylstone and Glen Alice. He was a hard worker, me old dad, and a man of his word. If he said he'd do something, he did it. I remember one time when I was a young fella, I was rabbit-trapping with him down around Glen Alice. Dad had a mate that lived in an old hut next to the property we were rabbiting on. Bill Barnes he was called, and he and Dad had been friends since they were kids. Anyhow, the two of them were having a yarn this day while we were rabbiting and Bill says to Dad, "When I die, Stan, will you dance on me grave?"
Dad answered, "Yeah, Bill, I sure will."
A number of years later Dad got word that Bill had died. "I gotta go down to Glen Alice," Dad said. "Old Bill's died." So away Dad went down to Glen Alice to dig Bill's grave and see him buried. They didn't have far to take him cos his old hut was across the road from the cemetery. Anyhow, after they buried him, Dad waited till everyone had left and then he danced on Bill's grave. Yeah, me dad was a man of his word all right.
Dad answered, "Yeah, Bill, I sure will."
A number of years later Dad got word that Bill had died. "I gotta go down to Glen Alice," Dad said. "Old Bill's died." So away Dad went down to Glen Alice to dig Bill's grave and see him buried. They didn't have far to take him cos his old hut was across the road from the cemetery. Anyhow, after they buried him, Dad waited till everyone had left and then he danced on Bill's grave. Yeah, me dad was a man of his word all right.