Date: May 15th 2009

Westprint Friday Five May 15, 2009 

Included this week are:

·        Condamine Bells

·        Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre

·        Vokes Hill or Voakes Hill? 

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Friday Five 15.05.09 

Please note: While we were on leave the Friday Five books were mainly stock items to make things as easy as possible for our staff. Now that we are back at work the Friday Five will feature our second hand, ‘last ones’ and great treasures. Books are allocated on a first-come first serve basis. To reserve your copy of any of the following books please email info@westprint.com.au with the title you are interested in. All emails will be answered during the following week, either with details of how to pay, or a ‘sorry, the item has already sold’ email. Where possible, postage on multiple items will be recalculated to offer you the best price.  

1. An End To Silence. Peter Taylor. Second hand, hard cover in very good condition. 1980. Dust jacket has a clear archival plastic sleeve protecting it. The building of the Overland Telegraph Line from Adelaide to Darwin. Full index, maps, black & white and colour photos. One copy only $40.00 including post in Australia.

2. In The Steps of Burke & Wills. Tom Bergin. Second hand, hard cover in very good condition. 1981. Dust jacket has a clear archival plastic sleeve protecting it. In 1977 Tom Bergin and his crew attempted a 1600 kilometre camel trek. This is their story. One copy only $32.00 including post in Australia.

3. A Fortunate Life. A.B. Facey. Second hand, paperback in good condition. Bert Facey sees himself as an ordinary man, but his remarkable story reveals him as a winner against impossible odds. At eight, his ‘childhood’ ended and he was sent to work – clearing, ploughing, fencing, droving. He survived the gore of Gallipoli, the loss of his farm during the Great Depression, the death of his son in WWII and that of his beloved wife after sixty devoted years – yet felt that his life was fortunate. Three copies available $16.00 each including post. 

4. John Flynn. Apostle to the Inland. W Scott McPheat. Second hand, hard cover in good condition. 1963. Dust jackets in fair condition with clear archival plastic sleeving. The definitive biography of John Flynn, the man who transformed the face of inland Australia and who was the genius behind flying doctors and pedal radios. Two copies available $36.00 each including post.

5. Ghost Towns of Australia. George Farwell. Second hand, hard cover in reasonable condition. 1974. Dust jacket missing. Black & white illustrations and photos, colour photos. Includes (among others) Milparinka, Thackaringa, Hill End, Port Essington, Clunes. One copy only $32.00 including post in Australia.

Postage Rates. These items will usually not be found on our website. Orders will be supplied on a ‘first come, first serve’ basis. Westprint normal postage rates are $9.50 for one book, $12.50 for two books, $14.00 for 3 or more books. Free post applies to orders of more than $150.00. Postage rates apply to Australia only. Airmail postage rates apply to overseas orders. 

An important message.

Please note that the opinions and articles included in the Friday Five are not necessarily those of the Westprint mob. Nor do we endorse products (other than our own) listed in contributed articles.

Friday Forum

Jo’s forum comments in green. 

Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre

John and Jo have been involved with the establishment of a group of aviation enthusiasts in Nhill, hoping to preserve the rich history of the Nhill Aerodrome and in particular the Air School based here during the war. Here are a few details. 

Nhill was one of many towns across Australia that had an RAAF training facility built nearby during WWII. A group of local community members in Nhill have decided to research and document the history of Nhill's facility, an Air School built mainly for the training of navigators, although bombing and gunnery practice were a major part of the skills they acquired. About 8,000 trainees from all parts of Australia passed through Nhill between 1941 and 1945. The committee of the Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre would like to contact as many people as possible who have an interest in aviation, WWII training and aircraft of that time, or just what is happening at Nhill. The first edition of the Nhill Anson, an electronic newsletter is available at no cost by emailing john@westprint.com.au. We would love to have contact with any person who trained at Nhill or who is a relative, friend or acquaintance of any former trainee.

Membership to the group is $20 per calendar year and the money is used to fund ongoing projects and the erection of a suitable memorial. Email john@westprint.com.au for details.  

·        The following is from the Nhill Anson newsletter.
Nhill was a training station for the RAAF during WW2, as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme, initially as No.1 OTU from December 1941 until June 1942 when the unit was moved first to Bairnsdale and finally to East Sale. 1 OTU trained Pilots, Air Observers and Wireless Operator/Air Gunners for multi-engine squadrons. After their preliminary training, pilots went through a six week conversion to Hudsons and Beauforts, while Air Observers and Wireless Operator/Air Gunners received instruction in Oxford and Anson aircraft. Training tested bombing and gunnery, shipping recognition and reconnaissance, navigation and searchlight evasion skills. 

Nhill was also from September 1941 the location for Navigators, being designated as No.2 Air Navigation School until December 1943. In December 1943 the RAAF Armament School moved to Nhill from Hamilton. Renamed as the Air Armament School in January 1944, it later became the Air Armament and Gas School.

At its peak the base had 35 Ansons and about 800 personnel. During the month of January total flying hours were: day 708, night 891; February day 613, night 964; April day 627 night 737, these average monthly training hours continued until December 9, 1943, when No 2 ANS was disbanded. A total of 1935 flying hours were logged for the Ansons and a total of 2002 Navigators had completed training. The majority of the Anson’s were transported to other bases. 

Why the Condamine Bell became a Queensland Icon

© Paul Knie 2009 

“You know, there are a lot of people in Australia who are alive today simply because of the bell their great grandfather’s horse was wearing back in the pioneering days!” This statement was made by an elderly gentleman named Donald Cooney who was sitting at my kitchen table sharing a hot drink. This was a couple of years ago when my wife and I were researching the content of our latest publication, ‘Bells of the Australian Bush’. Donald was an ‘old bushie’ himself, as he puts it, and now holds one of this country’s best animal bell collections.  

He sipped his tea, leaned back in his chair and continued. “People don’t realise, back in the early days there were no fences, hardly any roads and an awful lot of rough country in between. When the settlers and pioneers travelled into the scrub, they only had animals; a horse or two, a couple of bullocks perhaps to pull a cart, and maybe a few sheep. Every night, when they put the animals out to graze, they took a big risk. Yes, you can hobble a horse, but even a hobbled horse can wander a long way in a night. This is where the bells came in. In the early hours of dawn, when the air is cold and clear, the knock of a good Condamine bell could be heard up to five or six miles away.” 

I was enthralled by the concept that a man’s animals were his means and that such a simple item like a bell could mean life or death. In some of the really hard country, a white man on foot was sure to perish. 

Donald continued. “There is a true story of a family in north Queensland who directly owe there lives to the bell on their bullock. They were in uncharted country and running critically short of water. One night their bullock, which bore the unflattering name of ‘Nobby’ wandered off and was not to be found in the morning. A frantic search was mounted and panic loomed as the family feared the worst. Without Nobby the party was grounded and could even die of thirst. After searching all day, the men increased the radius of their search by yet another mile and then, faintly in the distance, the gentle clang of Nobby’s bell was heard. Nobby was saved – or should I say, the family was saved, because not only did they find Nobby, but his keen sense of smell had led him to water. When the family finally came to where he was, Nobby was contentedly grazing on green grass beside a pleasant waterhole.” 

We finished our morning tea, Donald departed, and I had another story to include in the book. The thought remains; I think it would serve us well to remember those who came before us, the pioneers who helped make Australia the country it is, and the small insignificant bells that are a part of that epic story. 

Paul Knie 2009. 'Bells of the Australian Bush' is a full colour hard cover edition. More info about the book, bells and Aussie history can be found at www.cowbells.com.au 

We are trying to get hold of a few copies of this book. They will be in the FF when available.  

More on Bull Ants

·        Another local/bush remedy which has worked for many people for both bull-ants & particularly jumper ants (the little guys with bright yellow pincers which jump when you stir them up and are found in the Great Dividing Range particularly in Vic & NSW) – juice of green bracken fern stems. You crush the stem & rub the juice in with the stem. It immediately reduces the stinging to a pleasant low warm heat - low burn sensation. You need to keep applying every few minutes whenever the sting sensation rises. In about 15 to 20 minutes the sting is gone. I taught outdoor education in the mountains in N.E. Vic for many years & hundreds of teenagers who invariably got bitten – almost all claimed it a great success. The only downside – you need to be where there is green bracken fern!!

It is also important to note, the result is pain relief only. I’m aware of anaphylactic reactions to these jumper ants & it is important not to assume ANY benefits in this area from bracken fern, that’s a serious medical position & should treated as such with competent medical advice. Graeme. 

Trip Notes – Kidson Track

We travelled the Kidson Track last year in July in a Land Rover Discovery.  The weather was perfect: cloudless sky, temperature in the high twenties, but cool nights. We travelled from Kunawarritji to Eighty Mile Beach, a distance of 608km, comfortably in 2-1/2 days.

From Kunawarritji to Punmu Junction the road is a highway, unsealed of course; it is the supply route from Newman to Telfer to Punmu to Kunawarritji. But it is past Lake Auld, a huge clay pan, that it becomes a proper track.

We found the country very pretty and varied. It has everything you could wish for: red sand dunes, rocky outcrops, sometimes endless views, sometimes almost overgrown parts of the track, nice vegetation and flowers, dingoes, camels, ant hills, and some feral cats.

The track itself is firm over the sand dunes, which are at the southern end of the track. On the flat part, which is about 3/4 of its length, there are soft sand patches, rocky outcrops and wash-outs of some length. However, we never needed to transfer into low. The only problem is a lack of camping spots because of the strong cover of spinifex, perhaps less a problem with a camper, but we had to pitch a tent. In fact we found only two suitable spots. One is shown on the Hema Desert Map at the Wind Mill and Tank. The second one is about 135km from the bitumen of the Great Northern Highway (GPS 20o15'57"S-121o44'33"E). And there is not much fire wood around. Fritz 

Vokes Hill or Voakes Hill? 

According to Geoscience Australia different places within the Vokes Hill area are named differently. Try entering both names in the search facility at this link http://www.ga.gov.au/map/names/ . I was able to find Vokes Bore, Vokes Hill and Voakes Hill Corner.

Information from State Library of SA. http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=218
Expeditions in 1897 and 1898 had largely involved identifying Aboriginal water sources north of the Nullarbor Plain, in the Great Victoria Desert.  On these he was always accompanied by an Aboriginal man acquainted with the area.  Then in September 1898 he set out on a lengthier trip to the Everard Ranges to collect Aboriginal materials and to view ceremonies.  Despite trying conditions he returned safely to Fowler's Bay the following April.  Over the next two years he continued to explore this western region, then in 1901 decided to visit the Rawlinson Ranges and explore the country between Ernest Giles' route of 1875 and the Elder Expedition of 1891-2.  This time he took with him a Government surveyor to accurately plot the water supplies he found.  As well as the surveyor Bill Murray, Maurice was accompanied by Bill Voakes, and a part Aboriginal cameleer, Lambert and his wife.  With eleven camels the party set out from Ooldea on 22 May, travelling north and then north-west to Pat Auld's Vat and Gills Soak in the Unnamed Conservation Park and continued on to the Rawlinson Ranges on the edge of the Gibson Desert in Western Australia.  They then proceeded eastwards back to South Australia through the Tomkinson, Mann and Musgrave Ranges and then south to the Everard Ranges, and onto Ooldea and Fowler's Bay.  They were out for three months.  In December Maurice went to Adelaide, was interviewed and an account published in the Register 2 December 1901.  Bill Murray gave a lecture about their expedition to the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia (SA Branch) and a summary was published in the Society's Proceedings volume 5, along with Maurice's account given at a later lecture. In his summary Murray described the construction work undertaken by the Aboriginal people to construct dams to retain water:  'Here the natives had made two excavations in the clayey bed of lowest portion of an open saltbush flat, the excavated clay being built up and interlaced with twigs and branches into a horseshoe-shaped embankment about 2ft high [60cms] and a bottom width of about 3 ft [1 metre]'.

Latest from Desert Parks

National Parks and Wildlife South Australia. From Bulletin 342. May 11, 2009

·        Flooding of the Eyre and Warburton Creeks has altered through access to Birdsville and Clifton Hills. QAA Line to Birdsville is open by the Eyre Creek flood by-pass, and the Warburton Crossing to Clifton Hills is closed.

If you decide to travel in the Outback Region, you should ensure your vehicles are properly prepared and equipped for outback travel and any emergencies or delays. The use of trailers in the Simpson Desert is strongly discouraged.  Serious damage can be caused to vehicles and the environment, and difficulties are likely to result. Take extra water, food and fuel supplies. Ensure good communications equipment, either HF Radio or Satellite Phone. Ensure you notify a responsible person, such as a family member, of your plans prior to travelling into remote areas, and seek local advice. 

If you attempt driving in sandy conditions and get bogged, do not attempt to get the vehicle out without ensuring 4WD and hubs are engaged, tyre pressures are decreased and sand is removed from the path of the tyres.  If you become stuck, do not leave your vehicles to walk for assistance as this can have fatal consequences. 

LAKE EYRE NATIONAL PARK

Water is continuing to enter Lake Eyre.  At this stage it is not believed that the lake will fill to its total volume.  Water may be seen from Halligan Bay with the right prevailing winds, but the best way to see Lake Eyre is from the air.  Local charters are available at William Creek and Marree.

Halligan Bay Track – Open to 4WD.  This track is a declared Public Access Route.  Be aware of vehicles due to increased traffic. Please drive to track conditions. Driving on the Lake surface is an offence and dangerous. 4WD only along this track. 

Level Post Bay Track – Open to 4WD.  This track is a declared Public Access Route. Driving on the Lake surface is an offence and dangerous.  Be aware of vehicles due to increased traffic. Sand drifts have occurred on the road to Level Post Bay and 4WD is required.  No camping at level Post Bay – camping at Muloorina campground. 

INNAMINCKA REGIONAL RESERVE. Visitor sites at Innamincka and Coongie Lakes will be redeveloped in the coming months.  Please be cautious of heavy machinery.

Note: Be aware that entry to Innamincka Regional Reserve requires a day/camping permit or a Desert Parks Pass that must be displayed on the vehicle windscreen. Desert Parks passes/permits are available from the Innamincka Trading Post. (Desert Parks Passes are also available from Westprint.)

Coongie Track – Open.

Walkers Crossing Track – Open.

15 Mile Track and Access to Cooper Creek – Open.

Cullyamurra Track – Open.

Bore Track – Open. Contact Bollards Lagoon (61 8 8091 3873) prior to crossing private land. 

SIMPSON DESERT.

Witjira National Park – Open to 4WD with caution. 

There is minor erosion along some sections of roads so use caution along these sections – grading will occur soon so please be cautious of a grader along roads.  Visitors should purchase permits or Desert Parks Passes before travelling to Witjira.  Spring Creek Delta is permanently closed, so use the by-pass road east of Dalhousie Springs.

Check local conditions before travelling. Please call the Desert Parks hotline on 1800 816 078 for further information.  Camping is restricted to Dalhousie Springs, 3 O’clock Creek and Purni Bore while within Witjira National Park.

Simpson Desert – Open to 4WD only.  No access/exit via Warburton Crossing. 

Please check with local authorities or call the Desert Parks Pass Hotline on 1800 816 078. 

Access/exit via the QAA line is open by a sign-posted detour at Eyre Creek. 

The first few sand dunes west of the K1/Rig Road intersection along the Rig Road are difficult to traverse and may cause problems for drivers. Sand dunes are constantly being reshaped by dry conditions and prevailing winds.  The eastern side of sand dunes are becoming quite steep so extra care must be taken when crossing dunes. 

The use of trailers in the Simpson Desert is strongly discouraged.  Serious damage can be caused to vehicles and the environment, and difficulties are likely to result.

Visitors are advised to drive in a convoy, carry a HF radio or sat phone and limit the total load of their vehicles. However, do take extra reserves of fuel, food and water. Check local conditions before travelling in the area. Satellite phones are available to hire for Simpson Desert trips from Mt Dare Hotel and the Wirrari Tourism Centre in Birdsville.

Warburton Crossing – Closed due to flooding until further notice. 

For further information on SA Desert Parks and Far Northern South Australian road and track access, please call the Desert Parks toll free hotline on 1800 816 078 or the Transport SA Outback Roads hotline on 1300 361 033.

Angel Flight Outback Trailblazer

Story supplied by Lance Smith, Angel Flight. 

The bush roads of the Central Queensland Outback will come alive with a convoy of colourful 4WD vehicles for seven days during October as they embark on the inaugural Angel Flight Outback Trailblazer. Teams will engage in a wealth of unique bush experiences and fun challenges as they compete for prizes whilst supporting a remarkable, remote area charity – Angel Flight Australia.

Angel Flight Australia draws together from across Australia a group of over 1900 aircraft owners who give their planes and services as pilots at no charge to assist many down on their luck and in dire need of help. The Angel Flights take patients from rural Australia to and from treatment in regional centres and cities at no cost whatsoever to the patients and carers. They are the real unsung heroes of this story.

To assist this very worthy cause, the Outback Trailblazer has been launched. Those participating will not only be assisting a very worthy cause but will bring back some memorable experiences. Teams will meet plenty of local characters in the bush pubs along the way. There will be visits to tiny schools in remote communities where they’ll be entertained by the local children who are often the beneficiaries of Angel Flight’s services.

To join in this Outback adventure simply nominate a team (min. 2) and be at the start in Barcaldine on Sunday 18th of October. For further information and costs contact the Barcaldine Regional Council on 07 4651 5601 (Charmain) or log onto www.outbacktrailblazer.com.au and be part of the fun.

 

Friday Funnies 

·        After being married for 40 years, I took a careful look at my wife one day and said, "Honey, 40 years ago we had a cheap apartment, a cheap car, slept on a sofa bed and watched a 10-inch black and white TV, but I got to sleep every night with a hot 18-year old girl. Now, I have a $500,000.00 home, two $35,000 cars, nice big bed and plasma screen TV, but I'm sleeping with a 58-year old woman who is not a hot chick anymore. It seems to me that you're not holding up your side of things.
My wife is a very reasonable woman. She told me to go out and find a hot 18-year old chick, and she would make sure that I would once again be living in a cheap apartment, driving a cheap car, sleeping on a sofa bed and watching a 10-inch black and white TV.
Aren't older women great? They really know how to solve a mid-life crisis.

·        A Sparky (insert your profession of choice here, Lawyer, Plumber etc) dies and finds himself at the Pearly Gates. A brass band is playing, the angels are singing a beautiful hymn, there is a huge crowd cheering and shouting his name, and absolutely everyone wants to shake his hand.
Just when he thinks things can't possibly get any better, Saint Peter himself runs over, apologizes for not greeting him personally at the Pearly Gates, shakes his hand, and says, "Congratulations son, we've been waiting a long time for you."

"Totally confused and a little embarrassed, the Sparky looks at Saint Peter and says "Saint Peter, I tried to lead a good life, I loved my family, I tried to obey the 10 commandments, but congratulations for what? I honestly don't remember doing anything really special when I was alive.
"Congratulations for what?" says Saint Peter, totally amazed at the man's modesty. "We're celebrating the fact that you lived to be 160 years old!”
The Sparky is awestruck and says "Saint Peter, there must be some mistake. I only lived to be forty."
"That's simply impossible son," says Saint Peter, "We've added up your time sheets." 

·        A young son asked, "Is it true Dad, that in some parts of Africa a man doesn't know his wife until he marries her?" Dad replied, "That happens in every country, son."

To all of our Faithful Friday Five readers.

Please be aware that there are numerous reasons why your email address may be deleted from our system. One of the main difficulties is that many spam companies also use the program we use for publishing and this means the Friday Five may be rejected as spam. If you do not regularly continue to get the Friday Five please check with Graeme at info@westprint.com.au

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Cheers for now,

Jo

 

 

 

 

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