Boss Drover

Henry Michael BAUER, b. 19th March 1914, Blackall QLD Henry Bauer’s early days were spent in Blackall. At the age of 13, his family moved to ‘Highlands Station’ near Yaraka where he worked as a stockman until he became a Boss Drover during World War II. In 1954, with the help of his wife Gladys – a Tambo girl – as camp cook and four ringers; Red Hannan, Stan Fletcher, Ronnie Wade and Henry’s eldest son Alan Bauer, Henry took delivery of 1450 bullocks at ‘Nowranie Station’ near Camooweal, at 5 shillings per head per hundred mile. He crossed the Northern Territory border to ‘Lake Nash’ where the cattle were dipped. After picking up another 250 head at ‘South Galway’ near Windorah, Henry headed down across the New South Wales border to Walgett. A 1700 mile trip which lasted nine months and took him into three states. For Henry’s wife, the job of cooking for five men and caring for four young children on the road under such rugged conditions, was a daunting task. This gives us an insight into the endurance of our outback women.