Date: May 29th 2009

Westprint Friday Five May 29, 2009 

Included this week are:

·        Lake Eyre Update

·        Uric Acid, Burke & Wills and the Landells’ Affair

·        Murder on the Rabbit Proof Fence

Next week

·        Camping – Queensland Stock Routes

·        12 volt auxiliary systems for travelling in remote areas

 

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To view the range of products from Westprint use this link

www.westprint.com.au

Unless otherwise noted all special prices listed in the

Friday Five are valid for seven days.

Friday Five 29.05.09

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. Putting Queensland on the Map. I forgot to add last week that this book will not be a normal stock item. Four copies left. See last week’s email for description.  $65.00 including post.

2. Recollections. Edited by Allan Peters. Nathaniel Hailes’ adventurous life in colonial South Australia. Hailes was a wry chronicler of early colonial South Australia. He arrived in Adelaide from England in 1839 and throughout his colourful career witnessed many strange and wonderful happenings. One copy only, may be able to get more. $20.00 including post.

3. Holidaying With Dogs. Lists over 2000 dog-friendly accommodation facilities in an easy to navigate format, including many more places that allow dogs inside. Tenth edition now available. $24.95 plus post $9.50. One copy 9^th Edition still available $16.00 including post. Please state old or new edition in your email.

4. Bush Camping With Dogs. Flat Earth Mapping. If getting away from it all, but taking the family pet is more your style this is the book for you. This is the guide to dog friendly camping areas across Australia. Includes more than 1100 campsites, more than 500 parks, reserves and forests, detailed maps, photos and information. $32.50 plus post $9.50. Special deal for this book & 10th Ed. of Holidaying with Dogs - $58.00 inc. post, offer available until June 5, 2009.

5. The Book of Lists. (Worldwide). The Original Compendium of Curious Information. Includes Food, Literature, Crime and other oddities like Famous People Who Were Expelled from School, Extinct Animals that are no longer Extinct. One copy only, slightly marked on back cover $20.00 including post.

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 now $8.50 for one book, $11.00 for two books, $13.00 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.  

Lake Eyre Update

·        I posted this on the ExplorOz forum on Wednesday evening. You are welcome to use it for Friday Five. In view of many recent queries about water, birds, access, etc, I thought I might offer some observations, based on very recent experiences. I have just returned from Marree, where I/we took a 1.5 hour flight in a 5 seat Cessna over the Lake, at 7.30 am on Tuesday May 19th. It was $ 250 a seat.
Points of note:
1. Fuel load limits smaller aircraft to the southern half of the lake (we did not get as far north as the mouth of the Cooper).
2. I saw about 10 silver gulls in Madigan Gulf - no other species observed.
3. The town is operating at maximum limit - beds, food, resources etc. I suggest you confirm a day before every booking you have made, or send a deposit. (For example, I observed about 15 people arrive late - after dark - & fail to find a bed.)
4. Due to failure to show up for flights and accommodation from bookings made, some operators are selling that seat/bed to an individual that they are face to face with - and I can't fault that.
5. Pilots are just that - do not have unreasonable expectations of them being professional tour guides. Prepare yourself by doing your own research. I found it very rewarding to have an idea of what I might actually see, in terms of landmarks, topography, etc.
6. The raised building on the northern end of town houses the Lake Eyre Yacht Club. I suggest you tie up to the wharf there. The sailing on L Eyre & feeder rivers is even newsier than water in the lake. They are also running the beaut website. This operation is, lMHO, likely responsible for many in the town earning a decent income at present. Even though not a sailor, I gave an un-asked for donation.
7. It can be hard to see the water - colour can be the key more than you'd expect.
8. I enjoyed every minute of the road trip from Adelaide to Marree and my time in the town. Drive down every street if you can, and imagine yourself living there. There are "real" characters in the district if you take the opportunity to greet them.
9. Enjoy yourselves.
Cheers. Rick 

·         Graham and Deb from Travel West Outback Tours in Charleville teamed up with Skytrans to offer 35 passengers a one day trip of a life time to see the water in Lake Eyre. Deb handled all the bookings and finally met everyone in Charleville where Graham joined the flight and provided commentary all the way to Lake Eyre and back. "The crew were fantastic and we got down to 600 feet at one stage over Lake Eyre, it was an amazing sight" Graham said. "Deb and I shouted everyone a drink in the Birdsville pub on the way home; it really was a day to remember". Read full report at www.travelwest.com.au Lake Eyre Read Report

We have also had queries about what the Channel Country is like at the moment. Has anyone been out there lately? 

Uric Acid (and other strange remedies)

Last week John asked for evidence of the bush remedy uric acid. We have had a wide range of replies, some of which are included below, along with John’s further explanation.

·         I don't think it is uric acid, which is not produced by human kidneys.  It is urea. The alcohol just acts as a diuretic to produce a bigger flow of urine. There are a number of urea creams/ointments on the market which soften skin.  Uric acid is pretty insoluble and is the nasty that builds up in joints to produce gout. Betty.

·        It is uric acid as the main ingredient in Heal Balm that you buy to put on your heals / feet to stop them from cracking!

·        I have recently found a remedy for the cracked and blistered hands query - after trying almost every other conceivable option for the last 15 years. Although I didn't try the rum/urine one, I do remember that my uncle told me when I was a kid that the cure for my chilblains (cracked and bleeding) was to wee on my hands. I thought at the time he was joking. I am now using something designed for cracked feet, which I got from the podiatrist called Footsmart heel conditioner. It contains Urea 25%. Prue

·        Lanolin (Adeps Lanae, aka: anhydrous wool fat or wool grease) is best for this, and for much else.

·        I was a competition gymnast in another lifetime before leather hand protectors were available.  Back then we applied urine to the hands to toughen up the skin and prevent calluses cracking.  It works by drying out the skin and lets you do spectacular giant swings around the horizontal bar with bare hands. Roger

·        A very close relative of ours was at Pentridge doing the old fashioned HARD LABOUR with picks and shovels. He and his mates swore black and blue the only way to relieve the hand problem was to PEE on them. Lael 

John’s Further Explanation

Thanks to all the people who answered my request for information about the use of uric acid for curing cracked hands. It really is interesting to read all the replies which range from the alternative use of lanolin to other similar uses to what I was asking about. However, Jo says I now need to elaborate somewhat because I did not quite get the answer I was hoping for. Here is the longer version of the story.

Sometime in the early 1970s I was in Menindee, NSW, following Burke and Wills. I had a group of people with me and so I asked if there was a local historian who would be able to help bring the story of Burke and Wills alive through his local knowledge. I was directed to a Mr Fred Carlson (if my memory is correct). I met him on several occasions when I was in Menindee and he always told the same story. Unfortunately, Mr Carlson died about ten years later and as I was not particularly interested in verifying his information until more recently, I am now feeling in the dark, so to speak. As near as I can remember the conversation always went like this:
"You know why Burke and Landells argued and Landells left the party don't you? (No of course I didn't).

Burke knew nothing about camels that was the problem. Landells knew that the camels would have to go through very rough country as they travelled further north. Camels have very soft feet and so he was about to use an old bush remedy to toughen the camel's feet. The remedy was to use uric acid to bathe the camel’s feet. This would heal any blisters or cuts and make the skin quite tough. Now you know how uric acid is produced? (No of course I didn't).

Well it is best produced from rum, but, you must first pass the rum through the kidneys. In other words you give the men rum to drink and then you collect their urine.

(Wow. That's a new one on me. A look of much scepticism crossed my face).

You don't believe me, then let me tell you this. A few years ago a group from a Sydney university came to Menindee to do some research on Burke and Wills and that was to be part of their research. It's probably in some library somewhere now. As well as that, they also said that the remains of the leather dishes used to collect the urine (hand gestures indicating about .8 metre diameter) were in a museum in Adelaide. (As far as I recall he did not say any particular museum in Adelaide)."

 I know Fred Carlson firmly believed this story and although I heard it several times, it never varied.
During my years as a tour leader I re-told this story many times. Occasionally someone would say they had heard of the uric acid treatment but the two people who were the most reliable sources were an old uncle who volunteered the information, completely unprompted and with absolutely no relationship to the Burke and Wills story. He claimed it was an axe-man's remedy he had used when ring-barking trees for clearing. He had also used it when fencing and the crowbar caused hand damage during the first few days. I have also heard it being used by miners who work in wet conditions causing extreme damage to hands. I also asked my doctor of many years ago who agreed with the remedy but said the rum may not have been completely necessary but probably concentrated the level of uric acid.
I am now a member of the Burke and Wills Historical Society and I mentioned the story to a friend who decided he would try to verify it on the internet, without success. I am asking Friday Five readers for help. If the story is true then someone somewhere must know something that can give me a lead. John.

Camper Trailer for sale

One of the Westprint mob has a camper for sale.  

2003 PIONEER BUSHMAN CAMPER TRAILER $19,990.

The Bushman camper trailer is a lightweight heavy duty camper designed especially for the Australian Outback. It has independent coil over damper suspension and treg hitch.

It has only been used a few times and never on 4wd tracks. A few dirt roads but mostly bitumen, it’s in great condition with no dents or major marks. The canvas is in pristine condition and the fully enclosed annex is in as new condition, has only been erected once. A regretful sale due to illness.

Some of the features of this trailer are:

·        Camper sets up in a few minutes – gas strutted roof converts to floor

·        Roll out Kitchen – Stainless steel

·        Double bed – gas struts lift bed base for under bed storage

·        Comes with heavy duty weatherproof awning and included is a fully enclosed awning.

·        Camper is lightweight and durable which means better fuel economy

·        Access doors are key lockable

·        2 x 4kg Gas bottles included

·        59 litre water tank

·        Tyres as new

·        240volt power pack and 12volt battery cradle

·        Bonus Fishing rod holders to fit camper included if you want them

Please phone COLIN PANTER on 03 9744 5461 (Melb) or mobile on 0434400174 for any further information.

Murder on the Rabbit Proof Fence

The Story:

·        It was a murder mystery writer’s worst nightmare come true. In 1929 Arthur Upfield, Australia’s premier crime writer, plotted a perfect murder for his novel The Sands of Windee. To his horror, one of his friends, stockman Snowy Rowles, put the scheme into deadly effect even before the book was published. The result was WA’s most sensational murder trial of the 1930s. The book Murder on The Rabbit Proof Fence is available from Westprint. The story is about to be screened on ABC TV as Three Parts to Murder. Stay Tuned.

Dig Tree

·        Have you got any local maps or grid references of the Dig Tree area? I 'am especially interested in any other of B & W camp sites and where both died. Ian  

The best Westprint map of the area is the Innamincka & Coongie Lakes map. It has a section showing their entire route from Melbourne to the Gulf (doesn't show specific camp sites). Inset maps show all memorials, markers etc around Innamincka. The reverse side has a large amount of information on Burke & Wills and the Dig Tree. Cost is $9.50 plus $3.00 post.

Map Queries 

·         We have been travelling around the Lake Eyre, Warburton and Innamincka areas using the Eastern Map of the Desert Parks. We were particularly pleased with the GPS Locations and would like to know  if you have maps available that are compatible with our GPS a Garmin Nuvi 660?, also can we purchase from you a replacement Eastern map and what is the cost? Graham and Maxine.

Replacement Desert Parks Maps (Eastern, Western and Outback) are available from Westprint. Cost is $9.50 each plus post. John’s reply about Garmin GPS is as follows.

Regarding your Garmin GPS:
We produce maps to a world standard (ECW file format). This format can be changed to suit most navigation software that also works on a world standard. However, as far as I know Garmin have their own map file format and it will only work with their own GPS. Therefore you are locked into using only Garmin maps. Now this may not be correct but I think it is. I would advise you to contact your retailer who should be able to verify that information.
Some GPS units or Navigators are just modified PDA computers running a light version of Windows. These will certainly run our maps and any other maps, aerial photos, scanned maps etc that can be produced to any standard format. Have a look at the Hema Navigator specifications or for general information. This may help explain what I am trying to say.
I do know that someone has managed to supply access software for Navman GPS so they will run world standard maps. Perhaps someone has done the same for Garmin. To see what digital maps on CD we have to offer click on Westprint Digital Maps. John. 

Friday Funnies 

·       PERKS OF BEING OVER 50
Kidnappers are not very interested in you.
In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.
No one expects you to run--anywhere.
People call at 9 PM and ask did I wake you?
People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.

There is nothing left to learn the hard way.

Things you buy now won't wear out.

You quit trying to hold your stomach in no matter who walks into the room.
Your eyes won't get much worse.
Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to payoff.
Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the national weather service.
Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either.
Your supply of brain cells are finally down to manageable size.

·        Did you ever wonder why there are no dead penguins on the ice in Antarctica- where do they go?
Wonder no more! It is a known fact that the penguin is a very ritualistic bird which lives an extremely ordered and complex life. The penguin is very committed to its family and will mate for life, as well as maintaining a form of compassionate contact with its offspring throughout its life. If a penguin is found dead on the ice surface, other members of the family and social circle have been known to dig holes in the ice, using their vestigial wings and beaks, until the hole is deep enough for the dead bird to be rolled into and buried.
The male penguins then gather in a circle around the fresh grave and sing "freeze a jolly good fellow." 

·        There's a way of transferring funds that is even faster than electronic banking. It's called marriage

 

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Cheers for now,

Jo

 

 

 

 

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