Bill Boyd was to speak on bullocks at the revealing of the metal Bullock sculptures at Kendall, Sunday 13th April at the official Port Macquarie-Hastings Heritage Festival launch. Having left his speech at home Bill spoke "off the cuff" and did so very well, but we'd like to provide a chance to see his original speech. Please click read more. Photo: Ray O’Neill (president of Kendall Heritage Society), PMHC Mayor Peter Besseling & Bill Boyd OAM. "BULLOCK TEAMS There has been a book written about red cedar, 'Red Gold', the tree that saved a nation. Now, I think, there should be a book wrote about bullock teams that helped save the nation. The first cattle were imported to the nation with the first fleet. I don't know where the rest of them came from. When land was first opened up in the Camden Haven Queens Lake area, someone selected station or 'run' as called in the early days. An ad 'For Sale' by Richardson and Wrench appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald of the 'Camden Haven Run' from Queens Lake to Herons Creek about 1100 acres or two square miles. There was about 700 head of cattle and 70 horses on that ground by then. Auctioned on Monday 23rd of January 1860, the sale was completed and bought by John Ritchie and Son and a caution was issued in the Maitland Mercury on the 2nd of February 1860 that people would be prosecuted if found with any cattle not lawfully obtained from him. We now have a good idea where a lot of the future bullocks came from to make up the many teams in the Camden Haven, Herons Creek areas. In its heyday Herons Creek had more than 20 teams, an average team about 24 cattle. Makes around 500 bullocks, and possibly one driver plus one offsider, about 40 people working them. Bullocks are a lot better to work in timber country than horses as they work slowly, whereas horses tend to rush to get the load started, but are better on long hauls, 10 miles or more, and are easier to shoe. Bullocks were used to transport logs from the forest to where a log punt could navigate the river, mostly around where the salt water meets the fresh water. If the trip was more than 5 or 6 miles, it would be a two day trip. First the log had to be snigged out to where it could be loaded on to separate trucks. Then brought to a road. This could take hours sometimes. You would only work your bullocks 6 or 7 hours a day because the bullocks were mostly grass fed. If they were to work in the winter, they would be supplemented by feeding small corn, called nobbys, husk and all. This was done by a nose bag, a sack bag cut leaving two straps to tie the bag on each bullock. Some bullock drivers were very cruel and did not look after their teams very well and they were prone to swearing. While good drivers treated their teams very well, making sure they were looked after, not overworked and given time to eat and rest. All bullock drivers carry a whip, mostly only used as bluff, but bullocks will not work without it. The whip was 4 plait, about 10 feet in length plus about 3 foot of fall. Overall, about 13 feet. This was attached to a green stick handle. The general rule the handle was to be about the driver's chin. Most cut from a myrtle or black plum tree. Some things about bullocks should be known. If they stand on your foot while you are yoking them up, they can stand on one leg, the one your foot is under. A bullock will take three or four good hits sometimes, before he will respond and move that foot. You can't work bullocks in the rain as their necks will chafe. You never put a bell on your leader as it will turn them deaf. On crossing a creek, if the bullocks are hot and dry, never let them stop for a drink as they will 'ring' and you may have to unyoke . This is dangerous and a lot of time wasted. The reason keys are tied with leather thongs is you can hit the key with your axe and it will fly out, leaving the bow to fall off and save the bullock from injury or drowning. The price of bullock teams varied greatly according to age, breed and number of bullocks in the team and age and condition of trucks. In 'The Cedar King', a book written by Bill Haydon's granddaughter, Geraldine Yabsley, Bill paid 200 pound a team in 1908. Bearing in mind Haydon had been working for 19 shillings a week, plus keep, probably 1pound ten shillings a week – 78 pound a year – 200 pound was a lot of money. Most teams were of mixed breeds. Mostly one leader would be a Jersey. A lot of Ayrshires were used, also Brindles (that is Jersey, Hereford cross). A lot of Illawarra Short Horns and Devons also. The way the team was made up – near side leader very quiet, off side leader, very responsive. The next 8 or 9 pair were called body bullocks. The second last pair, a pin bullock. The tallest and strongest in the team and the last pair were called tailers or if they were in a wagon, called polers. These bullocks had a rough life. Sometimes stags, (bulls castrated) about 5 or 6 years old. Lower and a strong neck. When breaking in new bullocks they would be yoked to an old bullock or tied together with a chain with a swivel in it and two big strong straps, then allowed to wander around in a paddock for a few days before putting them in the team. The new bullock would be yoked to his old partner and put in the team about 3 or 4 back from the lead. You would put the new bullock on the off side first so he would not spook and pull back as you came back from the lead to the tailers and secondly so that he did not kick you as you passed. Bullocks are like horses, they like to go to work and will walk along quite well on the way home, but don't ask them to go back the same day to the same place as will be very obnoxious. A pair of leaders can 'turn the yoke'. They put their heads together and end for end, finishing up with the yoke under their neck, facing the wrong way. Quite a challenge to get them to reverse that trick. Another thing that is exciting is when one day the key comes out of the bow as the bullock walks along. The bow will fall to the ground. The bullock will step out of line. When you stop the team, he will not walk back in. You will have to unyoke the other bullock and then shorten up the team. Now, these two bullocks will follow along all day. They just like to be with their mates."