The local town council constructed the red soil road to prevent vehicles from getting bogged in the heavy sand leading up to the Charleville Aboriginal reserve. The reserve was known as the ‘Yumba’ (meaning camp) among its residents and it was situated on the outskirts of town, approximately three kilometres from the town centre. It was home to about 15 families, including mine. How generous the council was to build this road for us … after herding us off our land! Later, the strategically placed toilet blocks and water taps, also built by the council, made the living conditions on the camp slightly more bearable.

Two roads entered the camp: the top road, adjacent to the railway line, and the second road that turned off it, which became the red soil road. The top road was a nicely maintained gravel road and mainly used by the local council to access the animal pound. People also used it to agist their horses and other livestock. Mr Chapel, the pound keeper, lived at the end of the top road with his family. The families from the camp thought highly of the Chapels as they were very friendly towards us, and their hens provided a constant supply of freshly laid eggs. It was also the place where I had my first taste of ginger beer … It wasn’t the most pleasant of drinks but I managed to keep it down as I didn’t want to embarrass my big sister by spitting it out.