RALPH READ

[Maureen K Clifford]

Have just been reading the Rural Weekly and there is a fabulous story in it today regarding the grave that has been fairly recently located of one of the pioneers of the Warwick / Killarney area of Queensland. Because he was a suicide it is in a paddock miles from nowhere, but his GG Grandaughter has tracked it down and the current property owner has allowed the grave to be fenced off and maintained for posterity. It was a wonderful story. Inspired me to write this.

I was familiar with the Greenup name as we often travelled through there to our second property but I never knew the history behind it. History is fascinating.


RALPH REID


There’s a lone grave in a paddock with a carved headstone of red
dated eighteen sixty eight – so long ago.
It sits beside Acacia Creek near the town of Killarney
and the body of Ralph Reid rests there below.

The ground’s unconsecrated and he has no company
save the cattle and the kangaroos who graze
on the grass around his resting place, no doubt he doesn’t mind.
It’s a peaceful spot to spend your final days.

Ralph was a tall dour Scotsman or so the story goes
a married man, twelve children running round.
He ran sheep out at Maryland and Acacia Ridge station,
close on twelve thousand head history has found.

But though sheep did well in the dry out in that border country
where the grass was lush and green and rainfall high,
in wet weather ‘twas not so good, far more suited to cattle
and Ralph saw his lambs just pine away and die.

In July eighteen sixty eight the management was altered
which saw Alf Greenup a new manager come
to Acacia , and Ralphs home and job were gone, quick as a flash
and his thoughts along dark pathways now did run.

Alone with worry and despair, facing financial hardship,
who knows what fears beset him, or what thoughts were in his head?
He saw an out and took it and drew his final breath
for he saw no way to feed thirteen. How would he buy their bread?

Emily moved to Warwick, four years later she was gone
though her remains were not placed there alongside Ralph.
Her children went to relatives and friends, where they were raised.
One hopes they lived long lives and had good health.

A tragedy played out over the years has come to light
and Ralph still rests beside Acacia Creek
embraced by land he loved and where he spent some happy years.
Now others care for him and for Ralph speak.

The owner of the property where Ralph rests is a man
of compassion – he will let the headstone stay,
fenced off, secure from cattle, who will crop the grasses short
around the grave-site of Ralph Reid who passed away.


Maureen Clifford © 12/12

[Neville Briggs]

I hope that there is no longer that detestable practice of burying people according to some judgement of a person's remains being unworthy to share the same place as others.

[Stephen Whiteside]

Interesting. Makes you wonder who paid for the headstone.

[Heather]

I know of two cemeteries where the Chinese were buried outside the cemetery.

[Stephen Whiteside]

Small point, Marty, and I hope you won't take offence. You need to put a space after commas and full stops, but not before them. (Those who do get buried outside the cemetery...)