JOE AND THE GOVERNESS -

Back in the days before sealed roads and bridges, trucks used to cart supplies from Carnarvon out to the stations and bring back produce and sometimes passengers over what were little more than goat tracks.

When it rained the trucks often got stuck for days on end in bogs or at impassable rivers.

One one occasion a driver was asked to collect a young governess from one of the stations as she had to make a connection with a ship in Carnarvon. The driver was running behind schedule and was afraid he would not be able to get the young lady to Carnarvon in time for her to catch the ship.

Along the track he met another truck coming in the opposite direction. He waved the driver down only to find it was a young fellow named Joe. Now Joe, despite being 6 feet tall, young and quite handsome, was not what you would call a 'lady's man'. Joe did everything possible to keep away from the fairer sex including lodging in a small shack instead of a boarding house where there were house maids.

The first driver brought up the subject of the young governess and the fact that he was unlikely to make it to Carnarvon and back out to the station in time. Joe would have none of it, no woman was EVER going to get in the cab of HIS truck!

The truck drivers parted ways, Joe heading out towards the stations and the first driver now sorely pressed for time, dashing toward Carnarvon as there was now no choice but to try and get back for the governess.

Although the going was tough, the first truck still made good time and after unloading and refuelling it was soon heading back out to the station.

Our first driver did all he could to get out to the station in time and in the end he arrived with time to spare. He rushed up to the homestead to look for the governess only to be told that Joe had picked her up a couple of hours earlier.

He asked about Joe's 'no women in the cab' policy and the station owner laughed. The truck had pulled out with Joe in the cab and the young lady perched on top of a load of wool was waving and having a great old time.

The problem was that along the track there were a series of low telegraph wires across the road. These only just cleared the loads of wool and anyone sitting on top who was not aware of the wires could easily be swept off the top and either killed or injured.

Worried about this, the first driver set off in pursuit of Joe's truck. Late in the night he caught a glimpse the truck pulled off by the side of the road. Switching off his engine and lights he walked over to find Joe and the Governess fast asleep, not only that but they were cuddled together in a swag.

Not wanting to disturb them he made his way back to his truck and left as quietly as possible.

Later, back in Carnarvon, he made a point of finding Joe to ask about the governess and whether she managed to catch her ship. Joe replied with a sheepish grin, 'Oh she's not going now, we are going to get married!'

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