DONALD McDONALD MACKAY, M.L.C.
IN the lives of Australia's advance guard of pioneers there is much that appeals to human sympathy in the tales of quiet heroism, of hardships undergone, of lives surrendered at the shrine of duty. The memories of these men and women will ever remain green in the hearts of those who survive.
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Photo by DONALD McDONALD MACKAY, M.L.C. Greenham & Evans. |
In Mr. Donald McDonald Mackay's life there have been many pathetic incidents and stirring adventures, and his expressive face tells the story of a hard-wrought life. In the place of his nativity, in the far-away Isle of Skye, where he was born in 1845, he passed the days of his infancy, listening to the Atlantic roaring upon the rocky shores. From those breezy wastes the little island lad inhaled the pure oxygen to which those hardy islanders owe their splendid constitutions. Donald's parents were farmers, and, like many others, were attracted by the prospects of wealth to be got in Australia, where emigrant ships by the score were sailing every year.
Fired with enthusiasm, the hardy Skye man, with his wife and family, determined to try his fortune in the south land, and in 1855 he embarked with all his belongings on board the emigrant ship Switzerland, bound for Adelaide.
On reaching South Australia, the family were engaged by Mr. Robert Lawson as station hands on a sheep run in the south-eastern portion of the colony for a period of twelve months. They had their abode about seven miles from the home station, and all were busy, and even young Donald was entrusted with the care of a flock of sheep. But the change of life did not suit the father, who pined for his island home until he became ill. And sickness hung gloomily over the lonely little bush house, and in less than twelve months from the time of entering the station so full of hope the father passed away.
The children were now cast on their own resources, and a right brave part did they play, for not only did they work on the station to the end of the term for which their father engaged, but did so under anything but favourable circumstances. In 1855 the blacks were not particularly friendly with their new white neighbours, and they showed their feeling by periodical raids. On one occasion young Donald, who was hardly eleven years of age, on returning home found his sister confronted by a huge aboriginal, who demanded "damper" under penalty of instant death. The little fellow proved himself a hero by energetically attacking the man, and through surprise for the boy's pluck, or fear, the man of the woods decamped, leaving the children in safety.
From the station the family removed to Narracourte, in the south-east, where they set to work to support their mother. The young Mackays became well known even in the short period of one year, and work was easily obtained at fencing and general bush-craft. Master Donald quickly tired of the monotony of this life, and his ambitions soared to the height of being in command of a bullock-dray. Then, at the age when most boys are at school, with stout whip and commanding voice he guided oxen on the road between Narracourte and Guichen Bay.
The distance between the two places was seventy miles, and owing to the bad roads the teams were frequently as long as six weeks on the journey. Although only twelve years of age, Donald frequently traversed this long road by himself, and the stout-hearted lad was conspicuous among his companions for his bravery; in tribulation he was sowing seeds of subsequent success. During following years he negotiated different descriptions of station work, and became a perfect bushman. His elder brother Roderick, having gathered together a little capital, invested it in the Denison Plains Squatting Company and decided to settle in Western Australia. He took over a number of cattle, sheep, and horses on behalf of the company, but the venture was not a success.
On returning to South Australia Mr. Roderick Mackay, in conjunction with others, chartered the Dutch ship Johanna Maria to take a second shipment to the West. On this occasion the stock was landed at Cossack, and travelled south-west to the Ashburton. The animals were so badly treated on the ship that they were not fit for the journey, and failure was once more experienced. These repeated disappointments broke Mr. Roderick Mackay in fortune, but not in heart, for so sanguine was he of the prospects of the country, if it once got a fair trial, that, on his return to South Australia, he was as anxious as ever to settle there. Donald accordingly placed his limited means at his elder brother's disposal, and the hardy pioneer, like King Bruce of old, "tried once more as he tried before, and did not fail."
The glowing accounts the brother gave of this great western colony induced Donald to try his fortunes here, and the following year he realised on property he had in South Australia and
