The following is a letter sent in response to a request from a manager to the resident owner of a western district (Victoria) grazing property for an inside lavatory at his manager’s residence. Written in the early 1950’s. Ed. Tomorrow we look further into this subject matter.
Dear ….
I refer to your suggestion re shifting W.C. convenience to Bath Room
I am not in favour of this move – it is against the Shaw tradition and ideas. You have only to look at my home and Kiama where my brother says he would not live in a house with W.C. inside etc, and same applies to our Melbourne homes. Margaret and (Wyn) were strictly forbidden to use inside W.C. when we were staying at Mt Lawley except in an emergency and the night time.
I’ll tell you of some of my experiences with my 3 septic tanks – I inspect them almost daily and if I miss I regret it invariably. I fish out quite a big section of the ‘Argus’ with a toasting fork etc a very nasty job. Then I flush our pedistal with a cream can (bucket) and I am relieved when it goes tis all clear.
The people who use their septic tank lifted the concrete lid of their tank and found 3 dead sheepdog puppies big oversize the tank. I found this a nasty job recovering the bodies and removing them
I remove everything from the pedistal when shearing is on because they have blocked up the pipes. I intended putting in a septic tank at the shearers hut but I have been warned on no account to do so.
I have come to the conclusion that a man is a fool to put in a Septic Tank for the Australian working man. – Of course this does not apply to you and Jean, but it possibly applies to the ones that come after you and occupy your present house and, as you reminded me one has to look ahead.
I tremble to think of the condition of affairs in your house if the house was occupied by others than you and Jean, people who I would willingly employ and people that I have employed.
They have fowled the pipes stuffing them up. I got Dickerson (plumber) to get them going. Apart from this a W.C. in the house would be a tragedy. We have to look ahead.
Signed (A great uncle of mine)
This is confidential and should be burned. GS
