rouseabouts

For every one of the rouseabouts was a girl dressed up as a boy --

Children of the Bush Henry Lawson 1894

Hindered rather than helped by the little Cleary boys, Stuart and a team of rouseabouts mowed and scythed the lawn, weeded the flower beds, sprinkled damp sawdust on the verandas to clear dust from between the Spanish tiles, and dry chalk on the reception room floor to make it fit for dancing.

The Thorn Birds McCullough, Colleen 1977

In return for plenty of food and a small wage, an endless procession of swaggies were temporarily entered on the station books as rouseabouts, to chop the wood for the homestead fires, feed the fowls and pigs, do the milking, help old Tom take care of the lovely gardens, do all the heavy cleaning.

The Thorn Birds McCullough, Colleen 1977

Sometimes he brought people sitting beside him on his unsheltered leather seat, visitors or hopefuls looking for work; sometimes he took people away, visitors or discontented stockmen or maids or rouseabouts, very occasionally a governess.

The Thorn Birds McCullough, Colleen 1977

Jackaroos, cattlemen, rouseabouts, shearers -- every sort of handy-man welcome.

The Kangaroo Marines R. W. Campbell

Anderson and David Boone (the latter's hair suspiciously smooth and shiny); Hogg, the dour old man who ruled the flower garden and every one but Norah; and a sprinkling of odd rouseabouts and boys, very sleek and well brushed, in garments of varying make, low collars, and the tie the bushman loves "for best" – pale blue satin, with what Wally termed "jiggly patterns" on it.

Mates at Billabong 1911

Come all you little rouseabouts and climb upon my knee;

Saltbush Bill, J. P. 1902

Come all you little rouseabouts and climb upon my knee;

Saltbush Bill, J. P. 1902

May be celebratory (weddings -- in this collection, New Year's Eve), or may indicate extreme social disapproval of someone. travellers: "shearers and rouseabouts travelling for work" (Lawson).

Children of the Bush Henry Lawson 1894

Swags were rolled up, saddle-bags packed, horses had been rounded up and driven in, the shearers 'cook and his mate had had their fight, and about a hundred men -- shearers, rouseabouts, and wool-washers -- were waiting round the little iron office to get their cheques.

Children of the Bush Henry Lawson 1894