Date: March 5th 2010

 

Westprint Friday Five March 5, 2010

Included this week:

·        8^th Australian 4x4 Gathering. Pomona Qld. June 11 -15, 2010

·        Happy Trekkers Getaway Trek September 19 – 26, 2010-02-26

·        Information from Lyndhurst and Outback SA

·        Rain in Queensland 

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Friday Five 05.03.2010 

1. Beneath Whose Hand. RM Williams. Bushman, grazier, businessman, folk hero, raconteur – one of the legends of our time. This is RM’s own story. Photos. 202 pp. $33.00 plus post. Add to Cart 

2. The) Bushies. Allan Nixon 'The Uteman'. A follow on book from Bush Aussies. Nixon finds more bush characters - one of them a missing person for almost 30 years was re-united with his family as a result of these stories. 24.95 plus post. Add to Cart 

3. A Bushman Remembers James Mahoney remembers cooking in camp ovens, problems with wooden handles, gates, fences and snakes, and cooling off with billy tea.  170pp. $25.95 plus post. Add to Cart 

4. Bushman of the Red Heart Judy Robinson. Bushman of the Red Heart celebrates not only Ben, but also his parents Liz and Sam Nicker and their work in Central Australia from the Arltunga Goldfields in 1903 to Ryan's Well/Glen Maggie from 1914-1930. In 1923 fifteen year old Ben crossed the Tanami Desert solo. In the 1930s Ben took his team of camels and guided Michael Terry's expeditions in a triumph of bushmanship through the barren lands where Gibson and then Lasseter perished. In WWII Ben met a hero's death in the campaign in Greece.      'What better story-teller can there be than Judy Robinson, niece of Ben Nicker, who herself ... nearly died in the Outback, to write the biography of this outstanding Australian bushman - Ben Nicker'. 120pp. $24.95 plus post. Add to Cart

5. Cattle King Ion. L. Idriess. At the age of thirteen Sidney Kidman ran away from home with only five shillings in his pocket. He went on to become a horse dealer, drover, cattle buyer and jockey. He also ran a successful coach business. Above all, Kidman created a mighty cattle empire of more than one hundred stations, fighting droughts, bushfires, floods and plagues of vermin to do so. His enterprise and courage won him a huge fortune and made him a legend. This engrossing story by famous Australian author Ion Idriess is an inspiring tribute to the remarkable life of Sir Sidney Kidman – the cattle King. $25.25 plus post. Add to Cart

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.  

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. 

Disclaimer.

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

8^th Australian 4x4 Gathering

www.australian4x4gathering.org.au/

·        Welcome to the 8th Australian 4X4 Gathering incorporating the 2010 FWD Qld Corroboree. Proudly hosted by the Mitsubishi 4WD Owners Club of Qld (Inc) in association with Four Wheel Drive Queensland to be held in Pomona Qld Queens Birthday Weekend 11 - 15 June 2010

This Bi-annual event brings together four wheel drivers from across Australia to participate in four wheel driving, the opportunity to meet new 4x4 friends and enjoy a brilliant long weekend in the Sunshine state’s natural beauty. The main aim of the gathering is to give four wheel drivers a place to get together to foster friendships and exchange trip information, but most importantly to raise money for our nominated charities, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Qld Section), VKS-737 4WD Radio Network and the local Pomona community. Whether you are in a club or prefer to travel alone or with friends, you are invited to be a part of this memorable event in South East Queensland.

OPEN TO ALL FOUR WHEEL DRIVERS

History The Australian 4X4 Gathering has been held every two years, in every state and Territory so far except Queensland.
4WD trips are planned. Approximately 3-4 hours, with hard trips up to 5 hours duration. Trips will be rated Touring, Easy, Medium, and Hard.  

Locations will include various State Forests in the Sunshine Coast hinterland region and Fraser Island (extra cost for Fraser Island). There will also be Non 4WD Trips to Eumundi Markets, Dingo Creek Winery, Australia Zoo, and Mooloolaba Underwater World. Entertainment ‘Uncle Bob's Jug Band', Bush Poet Gary Fogarty, Adam Kilpatrick and Laura Downing. Workshops include: 12 volt electrical & solar systems, Off Road GPS Navigation, Mapping the Outback, Engine performance upgrades, Digital photography and Bush cooking. 

Outback SA – News from Lyndhurst 

·        There have been a number of improvements to roads in the area that may be of interest to your FF readers.

New sealed sections Strzelecki Track

Both the Lyndhurst to Marree road and the Strzelecki track have had more sealed sections laid over the past few months. Lyndhurst to Marree is now about half sealed. The Strzelecki track has had an additional 3 sections sealed as overtaking lanes along the track. These sections should make it easier to overtake road trains.  Travellers should still use caution on these sections of road as dust may still be a problem. The safest way to overtake these trucks is to call them on UHF channel 40 and ask if it is safe to overtake. Most drivers will be happy to assist.  Please also remember that when overtaking or passing another vehicle travelling in the opposite direction that you both throw a lot of stones. To avoid damage to your vehicle or theirs slow down to around 40kmh if passing in the opposite directions or only use enough speed to overtake if going in the same direction.

New Road Closure Signs.

Over the past few months new road closure / warning signs have been erected throughout the outback of SA. These new signs are electronic and are operated from Adelaide and Port Augusta. These signs are to inform motorist of road closures or restrictions.

Motorists are reminded that it is an offence to drive on roads that are closed or restricted and that severe penalties apply. If you are unsure ask at local businesses for the latest information.

Outback Rains.

Most parts of outback SA have received good falls of rain over the last month. Some areas have received around 250mm while others have received around 75mm. These rains should have a great impact on the outback as the area has been in drought for over 8 years. We should see a large range of wild flowers emerging in the next few weeks as well as lakes filling including Lake Eyre and Coongie Lakes.

Cooper Creek is flowing mainly from local rains but is expected to receive water from Qld in the next week or so. With all of the rain in this area visitors are in for a treat this year. Business operators are gearing up for a busy season and intending visitors are advised to make bookings as early as possible.

 New IOR diesel fuel outlet

Lyndhurst now has a new diesel fuel outlet. This outlet is operated by the Hotel and is available to everyone. Diesel prices from IOR have been consistently lower than anywhere else north of Port Augusta. IOR diesel price at Lyndhurst is currently 12 – 40 cents per litre lower than surrounding outlets.

There is also a possibility of another outlet being opened at Innamincka within the next month or so. Please travel safely.  Adrian Kellow, Lyndhurst Hotel Motel, Lyndhurst Caravan and Camping Ground, Lyndhurst Tyre Service, IOR Diesel Fuel Outlet, Phone: 08 86757781, Open 7 AM 7 Days,  Enjoy Outback SA. 

I asked Adrian what IOR was. Here is his reply.

IOR is short for Inland Oil Refiners. IOR is a Qld based company (Brisbane) with a refinery at Eromanga however the diesel they sell at retail sites comes from Mobil / Shell depots in either Adelaide or Brisbane and is all low sulphur on road diesel.

They currently have around 40 sites, mainly in Qld, NSW, NT and now 3 in SA. Not all sites are retail outlets and are therefore not available to the general public.  They have a very good system. They build a tank inside of a shipping container, and then add the pumps and all of the equipment to run the system. Everything from leaks, dips and water detection are done automatically and are monitored daily via the Next G mobile phone or in remote areas via Sat Phone.

For IOR account holders fuel is available 24/7 which appeals to the trucking industry.

IOR and myself have upset a number of other retail outlets in the area as our price is considerably lower than anyone in the area, Yes we are higher than say Adelaide or Port Augusta, on average 6 cents per ltr for Adelaide or  3 cents for Port Augusta excluding the discount chains.

We make no apology for our prices and our intention is to keep diesel as low as possible. We believe that it is time for locals and tourist alike to be able to buy fuel at a reasonable price. I for one believe that everyone is entitled to make a living but you do not have to rip people off in the process.  At this time we are not going into petrol or gas but may do so in the future.  Adrian.   

Happy Trekkers Outback Getaway Trek

19 – 26th September 2010 

·        Rotary Club Toowoomba East Fundraiser

The Trek will start at Toowoomba, go West of Tenterfield in the Torrington State Recreation Area & then wind its way East through the Ewinga State Forest, the Gilgurry State Forest, Yabra National Park, and the Border ranges taking in some of the best scenery including that on private properties, returning to Toowoomba following the head waters of the Murray/Darling waterway in Qld. We will be staying at farm stays & a 4wd park, and will radiate around those venues sightseeing & enjoying the country-side highlights. Vehicles with low range will be able to transverse all sections however those without (but with good clearance), will be escorted through alternate routes as appropriate. Off-road camper trailers are welcome but caravans will be unsuitable.   

We have been running Tag alongs for the past 15 years.... traditionally we have run “OUTBACK GETAWAY “ bi-annually, which is a fully catered tag along that is accompanied with a 4 piece band and support vehicles, and has auctions of donated goods raising about $100,000 for various charities.  This year the club is running HT for the first time. It is a BYO Tag along that will have Country Singers & Bush Poet entertainment, and vehicle support. We will have a large mobile BBQ & a Wood Chuck Wagon providing fuel for the communal campfire which will be the focal point at night. The adventure will have 3 two night stay’s and 1 one nighter. (There are at least 2 locations where an evening meal can be arranged, together with Shearing Quarters type accommodation.) The trip is being supported by members of the Downs 4WD Club who will act as “Trek Marshals” responsible for route matters and safe conduct. The route is limited to “Medium” classification as per Outdoor Sports & Recreation Competency Standards. The Trek will be leisurely with “time to smell the roses” averaging about 300k/day with a lay-day mid week with action contained, on that day  to canoeing, other river activities & Bird watching, or simply relaxing by the Clarence River.

Monies raised are Tax Deductible* & will go to some of the many good causes that Rotary supports. There are limited vacancies.

*Subject to ATO approval pending.

A useful link to the pdf is http://www.campertrailers.org/rotary_tagalong.pdf

Contact.  Les Webb leswebb1@bigpond.com

Bushies Fly Trap

• Found this in our local community Surrey Hills news!

Fly Trap.

Get a 2 litre or bigger plastic bottle.

On 1 side, cut 2 holes as big as your little finger approx 10mm from each side of bottle leaving a top flap. Keep the bottle lid shut.

If you cut only on 1 side you can more easily pour out the "Liquid Dead Flies" Read on!

Place some old meat or fatty scraps into bottle with some water.

The flies will smell the "Crap" and fly in, won’t be able to get out and will die.

When half full of dead flies, place some more water into bottle, close the lid and let it all ferment.

I am told the resultant "Brew" is an ideal fertiliser and the reader concerned grew 1300 Passionfruit in 2 years using her DFE (dead fly extract).

It’s better to have quite a number of these hanging from trees in the garden, not too close to the home (Smells 'orrible). Good luck. Lael. 

Rain in Queensland 

A band of rain has extended from Tennant Creek through Alice Springs, Bedourie, Charleville to St George in Queensland. Within this band totals of 300mm for the week are common. This has affected access to parks in Central Australia, the Simpson Desert and most of South – Western Queensland. Record flooding is predicted for St George where two river systems are expected to meet at flood level for the first time in recorded history. The same type of flood occurred at Mildura and Wentworth in 1954 when the Murray and Darling met in peak flood resulting in the highest flood ever recorded. 

Birdsville has recorded almost 300 mm during the last week, Mt Dare 70 mm and places in western NSW also received good rain. Access to Witjira as limited, The Simpson Desert is closed, all the tracks around Innamincka are closed and the water is about 8 metres above the causeway at Innamincka. For roads in Outback South Australia try this website

http://www.transport.sa.gov.au/quicklinks/northern_roads/northern.asp.

We are thinking of all the people who are seriously affected by flooding and we hope they will recover quickly. Those of us who have never been affected by flooding can only wonder how people in flood prone areas of outback Australia manage this constant threat.

The following letter is from Kantappa Station about 80 kilometres north west of Broken Hill.

We've had more good rains and the creek has run another banker !  The amount of water running down to the house dams from the creek is just huge.  I can't get very far yet, and might have a crack later this morning on a motorbike. But my wet and dirty clothes are starting to pile up coz I can't dry them on the line with all this rain and humidity. 

This is the 4th creek and flood in as many weeks, so the ground is just sodden, and the rain in the hills is filling the creeks and still coming down.  For those of you that know or remember Campbells Creek with the bitumen causeway...well, that's long gone.  We had 3 road trains of stock delivered here on Wednesday night, just before the rains arrived. The creek had left the bitumen hanging about 2 feet above the ground. To get the trucks across the creek, the causeway had to be ramped up to get the trucks across.  Thanks to the efforts of the neighbours all went well, and we finished unloading sheep and cattle at 1.15 am, the rain starting right on cue at 3 am.  Bright and early the next morning we let the sheep (1800 of them) out and with three bikes mustered them into a paddock that was not too under water.  The sheep are ours, returning from agistment, so they were not too difficult to control, the cattle were another unknown concern, because they're from Alice Springs, new to the place and we really thought they'd pile out of the yards and flatten the first fence they came to.  We devised a plan and to our surprise, they ran out of the yards, started eating and running at the same time, and basically headed in the right direction.  All went well, and just in time as more heavy rain began to fall and we returned to the house muddy and wet for a hot shower. 

News just to hand ... the bridge at the Umberumberka reservoir has been washed away, leaving the only access to town via Corona, when that eventually dries enough and the creeks go down.  It could take quite a while before that gets fixed. 

But the store of food is holding up, although I've a mate visiting so we'll be on the dry biscuits and canned sardines sooner rather than later.  Water is no problem.  Mozzies and flies are. 

Notice – we will be short staffed during March and April

·        Sonya will finally be having some time off during March and travelling in South Australia. Jo and Graeme will be travelling in Queensland during March and John and Bev will be travelling in New Zealand. We hope to have staff to keep our premises open but if you are travelling please phone first to check. 03 5391 1466. 

Friday Funnies

·        Interesting thoughts to ponder….

Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.

Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy.

Hard work pays off in the future, laziness pays off now.

Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

The hardness of the butter is proportional to the softness of the bread.

The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard.

 ·        Couples who have lived together a long time have their own way of communicating.

A woman overheard her aunt and uncle one day, "What are you looking for in that wardrobe?" she asked.

"Nothing," he snapped.

"Well, it's not in there. Look under the bed."

 ·        After playing 18 holes of golf, our foursome was sitting around the clubhouse settling our bets when another golfer stormed in. Fuming after a lousy round, he slammed down his scorecard and announced, "If I wasn't married, I'd give this stupid game up!" 

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Cheers for now,

Jo

 

 

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