Val O’Sullivan (nee Gibson)

My family came to Australia from England in 1948. On our arrival in Australia, we stayed at my Uncle’s house in Kent Town, Adelaide. My Dad (Les Gibson) obtained a job at Leigh Creek. My Uncle wasn’t very happy with Dad taking his sister up north. Evidently, he came through Telford on the train during the war and of course the area looked very barren at that time. Dad departed leaving Mum (Lil), Paddy and me in Adelaide. We had to wait for a house to be built at Leigh Creek.

The day finally arrived and we boarded the train bound for Leigh Creek. Unfortunately, Dad had mentioned in one of the letters that the train was very slow going through Pichie Richie Pass and that one could get out and walk. Paddy and I took him literally and we pestered Mum to let us get off and walk with the train. Mum‘s answer of course was a firm NO!! Yes, you guessed it, the train picked up speed as it descended from the highest point. A good decision Mum.

Leigh Creek was certainly different to what we were used to. There were trees within the town that had been planted, but gardens at that stage were basically non existent. Pig Face grew well. Our water supply came from Sliding Rock and had quite a high salt content. Every house had a rainwater tank which supplied us with drinking water. The school was just across the road from our house. It consisted of one main building. The hall was opposite the school and my class was in the supper room of the hall. There were two teachers. Grades 1 to 3 were in the supper room and grades 4 to 7 were in the main school building. Naturally as the town grew, the school expanded. At first, classes were attached to the main building. Later transportable buildings were added. Assemblies were held each morning and we swore allegiance to Australia before marching to our class. Milk was supplied to the children at the school. At first it was powdered Sunshine milk. I still can’t bring myself to drink it by itself. Later we had fresh milk. Someone had established a dairy either in Windy Creek or Emu Creek area. It was delivered each day to the town and people would leave their Billies out. The school used to have a milk urn delivered and we had monitors to ladle it into mugs for students and then wash the urn so it was ready to pick up. Cleaning the floor was one of my favourite activities. The hose was brought into the classroom and the floor squirted. We would then put rags on our feet and slide up and down to absorb the water…what fun!  Paddy and I decided to wash the floor for Mum using the same method. It wasn’t successful and the lino and floorboards took a while to dry. Mum was not impressed. There was no air conditioning at the school (we had a fan) and on very hot days we were sent home to rest. Of course, there were quite a few of us who would be straight down the creek for a play, climbing trees etc. Children were free to explore creeks in the surrounding area. Quite often we would pack a few biscuits, a sandwich and water and be gone all day, coming home in time for tea.

Just after our arrival in 1949 Paddy and I were sent to the Co-op store, which was situated up near the mess hall where men had their meals. As we were crossing the land by the AIM Hostel a dust storm hit the town. Paddy and I clung to each other as particles of dust etc. whipped around our legs. It was something that I will never forget as we had never experienced such a thing before. Dad arrived and bundled us into his work vehicle to take us home. The town had no resident Doctor. The AIM (Australian Inland Mission) nurses were resident in the town and ran a small hospital. They attended everyone in the town and did a wonderful service. If a doctor was required he came from Hawker, which was 104 miles away. (Dirt road then). He visited the town for consults but not sure how often. Mr Monsoor came from Beltana with his truck full of goodies regularly. He was a Hawker and from memory had everything but the kitchen sink with him. I know that Mum bought material from him to make us dresses etc. The children used to wait for his visit to buy sweets (lollies). What a treat!

Dad had made friends with a family from the railways who moved to Marree just after we arrived. One weekend we caught the train and went to visit them. Dad left Mum, Paddy and me there as he had to go back to work. Mum decided on the Wednesday that we would go home on the train. It poured with rain the next day and the railway line was under water – another good decision by Mum. On our arrival home we discovered that we had an air conditioner installed – what bliss. It was called a desert cooler and was fitted into the kitchen window. My mother coped well with the heat. The Butcher asked her how she was coping and her answer was, “As long as it doesn’t get any hotter”. It was 105 degrees on the old scale (40°C).

Pictures were shown in the hall twice a week (Wednesdays and Saturdays). Unfortunately, in the early days when the dragline swung its boom the power would drop and the picture would disappear and then come back. We didn’t hang photos on the wall because when K cut was blasted for the removal of the overburden the walls shook. Things improved when they moved to North Field. We (the children) used to swim in the abandoned Telford Cut.

By the mid 50s quite a few children were ready for High School. It was decided that Leigh Creek School would become an Area School and would have years 8, 9 and 10. Some students still went away to various schools in Adelaide and Port Lincoln. I remained at the Area School.

I commenced work at the Drawing Office in 1957 and kept studying with a college to qualify as a Tracer. This skill became unnecessary in the late 60s as technology progressed and photo copiers etc. were readily available. Part of the job was to measure overburden removal. Jan Van Zetten was the engineer in the Drawing Office, Kurt Schroeder was the draughtsman, Mr Kapochany the surveyor.

My mother loved animals and when our dog, Ricky, cornered a wild cat in the yard she naturally went down to help the cat. Unfortunately, in doing so she slipped and broke her thigh. I was told at work that Mrs Gibson had had an accident. I don’t think I’d ever run so fast to get home, only to see Mum being carted off to the hospital in the back of a grocery van. She was in hospital for 6 months.

During my time in Leigh Creek, I joined the Drama Club, the Swimming Club, Netball Club (I played for the Pirates), Softball and Badminton clubs, and later the CWA. While a member of the latter Paddy and I took part in a Concert (the Black and White Minstrel Show). The Badminton Club were quite successful in the Country Carnival in Adelaide (Lockleys). Leigh Creek held many concerts and there was always great excitement when Harold Raymond brought his group to town. They raised money for the Blind Society.

The Lyndhurst car gymkhana was very popular in the 50s and a dance was held in the Lyndhurst Hall at night.

I moved away with my husband David and 2 children in 1965. We went to Whyalla and were there until 1989 when we moved to Port Augusta.