LIFE was primitive and success required nothing less than “hard work”, says Lilia Nalder of the early days on the land at Clermont.
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There were no luxuries – the shower consisted of a few bare boards on the ground and water from the overflow of a big bore tank out in the paddock.
And, much the same as today, there were challenges aplenty, including wild pigs and dingoes.
With no sheep yards in the first years on a very undeveloped property, young horses were used to shepherd their flock in an effort to keep them safe.
Lilia, best known as Nan by her friends and family, recently celebrated her 100th birthday at Bethany nursing home in Rockhampton, and there was much to reflect on.
The simple pleasures of life on the land remain vivid memories – like the view across a spectacular field of sunflowers.
Nan said the indescribable beauty of things like this made the whole adventure worthwhile.
She also added that although life was hard for her family during their farming days, the issues facing today’s producers, despite all the advancements in technology, seemed quite daunting.
Lilia acknowledged the challenges of staffing, government regulation, input costs and price.
“It was hard back then, but it seems harder for the young ones now to succeed. And our government isn’t helping,” she said.
Nan’s birthday celebration was a great chance to catch up with her younger charges – some still on the land and most spread far and wide.
Guests, including Lil’s nine grandchildren and 19 greatgrandchildren, travelled from Sydney, Brisbane, Toowoomba, Twin Hills, Townsville, Mackay, Yeppoon, Tieri and Mt Larcom to celebrate a well-lived life.
She was born on August 5, 1913, in Brewarinna, NSW, to Elizabeth and Charles Pether, a mounted policeman.
As the family grew to eight children they moved onto the land at Temora.
Lil married Bert Nalder and had three children Victor (dec), Elizabeth (Betty) and Lynell (Lyn).
In 1956 the family moved to Central Queensland, where the Nalders were successful in drawing a block of land near Capella.
There were 34 blocks up for ballot to dissolve the English-based British Food Corporation (BFC) that had been set up to grow grain and run cattle and sheep, but which ultimately failed.
Dakota was part of Retro Station and was undeveloped with no living quarters, yards, fencing or sheds.
For three young adult children the move to Dakota was an adventure, despite the hard work.
The Nalders also bought a cattle property at Springsure as Dakota was more suitable for growing crops and running sheep.
The young ones married – Vic to Heather Eckford, Lyn to Wilson Millar and Betty to Kevin Rees, who had drawn Retro in the ballot. The Rees family lived on Retro.
As the children moved away Lil and Bert sold their properties and bought a small acreage near Mt Larcom, where they ran Santa Gertrudis cattle and Lil bred ponies as well as indulged her passion for gardening.
As Bert’s health declined they bought a house in Rockhampton as well and after Bert passed away in 1993 Annanvale was sold and Lil moved to Rockhampton but spent her time between the family – Vic and Heather at Moura, Betty and Kevin in Rockhampton (after selling Retro and buying Kassco), and Lyn in Toowoomba, whose husband Wilson was killed in a light plane crash in 1989.
Kevin also passed away in 1998 and Vic in 2011.
When Lil found that she needed nursing care she sold her house and moved into Bethany nursing home in Rockhampton.
