This book is the result of a chance finding of a 1909 Port Lincoln Recorder featuring the first story of this series by my mother in 1960 It was in the small cottage at Louth Bay owned by Jean and Sis Schramm, very early residents of the district. The story was told about the find to a prominent businessman in Port Lincoln who was amazed that the lost diary series had been found. Alfred King certainly lived a full life. Alfred was evidently home long enough to father ten children during his work in many parts of the state. The reason for my publishing this book is to show how tough the conditions were in the early days. The fear of being isolated with one’s family in a tiny shepherd’s hut miles from help, knowing that some natives had killed your neighbours. The times of lack of water and food when exploring and being helped by friendly natives, shows the compassion one race had for the other on many occasions. Many native women married the early settlers, whilst there were many native men shearing sheep and helping develop farms. Many a name of these people is part of our and their folklore as being revered for their assistance.
