Home Among The Gum Trees

Home Among The Gum Trees

By Paul McCann

Johnny and Joanne walked to the church, holding hands , they felt as if they would never see each other again .The war had begun and Johnny was called up for military service , It was 1941 when their wedding was planned but now another plan had presented itself , Something bad had happened to the world and now Johnny had to go to fight in a war instead of being at home with the girl he loved .

Joanne was broken hearted as the very next day Johnny had to leave , this was the last night they were going to be together and she never knew if he would ever return again . Her heart was in her throat and she didn't know what I could say , they walked in silence to the church to pray for his safe return .

As they walked many things were going through their mind . The hard times ahead m the dangers , then suddenly Joanne said .

“Australia loves you Johnny and I do too, so you better get home soon “

Johnny looked at her sand replied .

“ Just remember my love for you when I’m far away and I’ll be right there with you “

“ How could I ever forget you , I’ll write to you every day while your there “

The next day all the trucks arrived and one by one all the soldiers kissed their loved ones goodbye and headed off to war .

After a Johnny got used to the war and the noise and the blood spilling , the killing , and he adapted and lived with the thought that any day he could die . He read the letters Joanne sent and kept everyone and as the sound of  bullets and bombs were ever present, he remembered what Joanne had said and kept his mind on returning home to Australia to marry the girl he loved .

 Johnny didn’t get much sleep as the war continued at any time day or night in the different  games being played .

There was nowhere to hide for soldiers on the front line  .

On the battlefield no one hears you speak and ghosts crawled among you wherever you were .

No one was to blame, there was no shame , as soldiers killed one another in the fight and no one  died alone as the corpses piled up.

day after day as in Johnny ‘s head Joanne’s words kept going around and around .

“Australia loves you and so do I . Come home soon Johnny “

After the war was over, Johnny returned to Joanne and Australia and people  advised him to forget all about what had happened and make a new life with Joanne so they made plans for the wedding . Joanne noticed a big change in Johnny . He seemed less patient with everyday things and agitated with noise .Cars backing would sent him to the ground looking for cover and little arguments would arise over trivial matters . The love they had for each other helped them cope and they continued to kick start their relationship with ideas of how to move forward and get ahead .

A possible solution was to resettle into a rural life in the country , however Johnny wanted to look even further to a tranquil environment in the bush far away from people and the hustle and bustle of life .

Before the wedding They began to check out buying land in the country and beyond in the bush . Then they found a perfect place among the gum trees where they borrowed money from the bank to build their dream.

They were soon the proud owners of a bark hut cottage near a billabong; their home was surrounded by gum trees on a five-hundred-acre property .

The government gave them seventy head of cattle, some chickens and soon after the wedding they settled down to a quiet life . Johnny was slowly becoming much better in his ability to cope with everyday situations .

He was soon hand feeding bottle fed yearlings and worked hard to establish and maintain the running of their  property in the bush .Johnny kept in touch with a small group of soldiers who were not doing so good with civilian life after the war . Johnny shared his situation and mentioned how living in the bush had really helped him to move forward and some of his groups were thinking about  giving it a go themselves.

Joanne and Johnny soon had a little family , they wasted no time and soon the kids all arrived on steps, one after the other they came .

They adapted to parenthood very well and with a positive attitude in peaceful surroundings . As the children grew, they started home school and as a family they did everything together at work and play . They all pulled their weight and life was good  . Johnny had to learn how to carry on with life after the way and they were living the dream in their home among the gum trees with their cattle and other animals . Johnny found working with the dirt and looking after animals was a kind of therapy and the joy of his family and the love of a good faithful wife made him smile every day , Life had become a wonderful place and he forgot the things that he needed and gave thanks to God for his grace .

The End