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The New Ringer
A shy young man from the suburban outskirts takes himself to Gulf Country on a 1960s boys own adventure that changes his life forever
'A beautifully written - yet stunningly different - memoir of a young misfit. Absolutely loved it.' - Ray Martin
'We can give you a start. You will need a six foot by four foot piece of canvas and blanket. If you stay for three months we will refund your fare. You will need to fly TAA out of Cloncurry and advise me your date of arrival.'
And so began the adventures and misadventures of young Roland Breckwoldt. It was 1960. He was not yet sixteen, and the unworldly Roland was leaving his home on the semi-agricultural fringes of Sydney to work as a stockman on the vast cattle stations of the Gulf Country of North Queensland.
A more unlikely stockman you would not find. Born in an internment camp in Central Victoria, his family had come to Australia from Germany via Shanghai. But it was out mustering on horseback and living in remote bush camps with characters as eccentric as any in outback Australia that Roland learnt about the world and discovered his place in it.
Full of youthful stumbles and told with great freshness and gentle humour, this beautifully written coming of age story is a nostalgic and evocative reminder of a disappearing way of life.
'A beautifully written - yet stunningly different - memoir of a young misfit. Absolutely loved it.' - Ray Martin
'We can give you a start. You will need a six foot by four foot piece of canvas and blanket. If you stay for three months we will refund your fare. You will need to fly TAA out of Cloncurry and advise me your date of arrival.'
And so began the adventures and misadventures of young Roland Breckwoldt. It was 1960. He was not yet sixteen, and the unworldly Roland was leaving his home on the semi-agricultural fringes of Sydney to work as a stockman on the vast cattle stations of the Gulf Country of North Queensland.
A more unlikely stockman you would not find. Born in an internment camp in Central Victoria, his family had come to Australia from Germany via Shanghai. But it was out mustering on horseback and living in remote bush camps with characters as eccentric as any in outback Australia that Roland learnt about the world and discovered his place in it.
Full of youthful stumbles and told with great freshness and gentle humour, this beautifully written coming of age story is a nostalgic and evocative reminder of a disappearing way of life.
- GenresBiography
261 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 5, 2022
3 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 10, 2022
It was 1960. He was not yet 16, and the unworldly Roland was leaving his home on the semi-agricultural fringes of Sydney to work as a stockman on the vast cattle stations of the Gulf Country of North Queensland.
A more unlikely stockman you would not find. Born in an internment camp in Central Victoria, his family had come to Australia from Germany via Shanghai. But it was out mustering on horseback and living in remote bush camps with characters as eccentric as any in outback Australia that Roland learnt about the world and discovered his place in it.
Full of youthful stumbles and told with great freshness and gentle humour, this beautifully written coming of age story is a nostalgic and evocative reminder of a disappearing way of life.
Roland Breckwoldt was born on 8 February 1944 at Tatura, Victoria. He was educated at Macquarie Boys High School, Hawkesbury Agricultural College earning Diplomas in Agriculture(1965) and Rural Extension (1970) and the University of New England, where he graduated with a BA in 1977. He had an illustrious career.
Stockmen who work with the cattle in the Top End are known as ringers and are often only employed for the dry season which lasts from April to October.
All stockmen needs to be able to handle animals with confidence and patience, make accurate observations about them and enjoy working outdoors.
A stockman is responsible for the care for livestock and treatment of their injuries and illnesses. This includes feeding, watering, mustering, droving, branding, castrating, ear tagging, weighing, vaccinating livestock and dealing with their predators.
Apart from livestock duties a stock person will inspect, maintain and repair fences, gates and yards that have been broken by storms, fallen trees, livestock and wildlife.
Aboriginal Australians were good stockmen who played a large part in the successful running of many stations, because of their intimate bonds to their tribal places, and local knowledge.
A head stockman is responsible for a number of workers and a range of livestock and property operations.
A more unlikely stockman you would not find. Born in an internment camp in Central Victoria, his family had come to Australia from Germany via Shanghai. But it was out mustering on horseback and living in remote bush camps with characters as eccentric as any in outback Australia that Roland learnt about the world and discovered his place in it.
Full of youthful stumbles and told with great freshness and gentle humour, this beautifully written coming of age story is a nostalgic and evocative reminder of a disappearing way of life.
Roland Breckwoldt was born on 8 February 1944 at Tatura, Victoria. He was educated at Macquarie Boys High School, Hawkesbury Agricultural College earning Diplomas in Agriculture(1965) and Rural Extension (1970) and the University of New England, where he graduated with a BA in 1977. He had an illustrious career.
Stockmen who work with the cattle in the Top End are known as ringers and are often only employed for the dry season which lasts from April to October.
All stockmen needs to be able to handle animals with confidence and patience, make accurate observations about them and enjoy working outdoors.
A stockman is responsible for the care for livestock and treatment of their injuries and illnesses. This includes feeding, watering, mustering, droving, branding, castrating, ear tagging, weighing, vaccinating livestock and dealing with their predators.
Apart from livestock duties a stock person will inspect, maintain and repair fences, gates and yards that have been broken by storms, fallen trees, livestock and wildlife.
Aboriginal Australians were good stockmen who played a large part in the successful running of many stations, because of their intimate bonds to their tribal places, and local knowledge.
A head stockman is responsible for a number of workers and a range of livestock and property operations.
May 19, 2024
Story of a youth who struggles with his German heritage and dislike of study, leaves home at sixteen to become a ringer in northern Queensland and eventually, thanks to his mother's persistence, finds a love for education. His world changes again and he becomes a high achieving, well-renowned academic.
July 16, 2022
Really enjoyed Roland’s story, of his parents background, his childhood, and his life as a young ringer in remote Queensland.
December 15, 2022
a nice read
This is a good story, told in a very easy to read straightforward and honest fashion. The writers experiences for three years as a ringer in northern Australia when he was young left a lasting impression on him. The son of a German family interned in WW2, this also seems to have an impact on him, which appears resolved at the end. A nice story.
This is a good story, told in a very easy to read straightforward and honest fashion. The writers experiences for three years as a ringer in northern Australia when he was young left a lasting impression on him. The son of a German family interned in WW2, this also seems to have an impact on him, which appears resolved at the end. A nice story.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews