They hit the road with four kids and no guaranteed work. Oh, and she was pregnant

Lyle Kent and his wife, Helen, both 74, have spent the past 30 years travelling around the outback, equipping remote cattle stations with his handmade saddles and leather goods, all while rearing their six children.

Just weeks after meeting, I accepted a position in Tewantin, about four-and-a-half hours away, to teach at a kindergarten. When I came home in September, after nine months of long-distance courting, he proposed. We got married in February 1972 in the same Uniting Church where we met. ‘I watched him and the manager saddle up and ride off together. My heart melted to see him doing what he loves.’In 1990, he suggested “the trip” – going out on the road, repairing and making saddles for remote station workers. On our first adventure, we had our four boys, aged 16, 13, 11 and nine, plus Jock, the family dog, piled into our Landcruiser; we towed a trailer of provisions. Our eldest child, Leah, stayed behind as she’d just started a job. I was pregnant with our sixth.

Conversation is difficult in a noisy truck; we could comfortably travel for kilometres without saying anything. Thirty years on the road together is a big chunk of our 52 years of marriage. Some years I’ve thought, “No, you can go without me,” but he wouldn’t. Although I sometimes long for a quieter life, I’m swept along by his pioneering spirit.Courtesy of Lyle and Helen KentHelen and I were born in Stanthorpe Hospital about a month apart.

‘If we get on each other’s nerves, we make a conscious decision to “get over it and get on with it”.’Now we spend half the year at home and half on the road. When we’re not travelling, we’re making the leather goods to sell on our next trip. One of our sons lives close by and keeps an eye on the property when we’re away.

Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Court case shines light on Paul Kent’s demonsThe Fox Sports NRL host’s well-publicised fall warrants compassion. This is why he won’t get much.
Source: smh - 🏆 6. / 80 Read more »

Court case shines light on Paul Kent’s demonsThe Fox Sports NRL host’s well-publicised fall warrants compassion. This is why he won’t get much.
Source: brisbanetimes - 🏆 13. / 67 Read more »

Graffiti-covered door from French revolutionary wars found in KentMarkings include public executions and a sailing ship chiselled into door in 1790s by bored English soldiers
Source: GuardianAus - 🏆 1. / 98 Read more »

Paul Kent appears in court following affray chargeJournalist Paul Kent has appeared in court following a video which allegedly shows him in a fight in the city's inner west.
Source: 9NewsAUS - 🏆 10. / 72 Read more »

Paul Kent seeks mental health, alcohol treatment after alleged brawl: courtHigh-profile NRL journalist Paul Kent has asked a court to give him time to seek mental health and alcohol treatment.
Source: smh - 🏆 6. / 80 Read more »

Paul Kent seeks mental health, alcohol treatment after alleged brawl: courtHigh-profile NRL journalist Paul Kent has asked a court to give him time to seek mental health and alcohol treatment.
Source: theage - 🏆 8. / 77 Read more »