Date: May 28th 2010

 

Westprint Friday Five May 28, 2010  

Included this week:

·    Strzelecki Track

·    Turning Vehicles

·    Trip Notes Wanted

 

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Friday Five 28.5.2010  

I’m still reading a few books and taking it easy. I’m actually wondering if I could make my job ‘book reader’ and just lounge around all day reading books.  

1. (The) Big Run Jock Makin. This engrossing book tells the rich story of the Victoria River Station in the N.T, from early white explorers who battled the vastness of the environment on their gruelling expeditions inland in search of good pastoral country, to the present day. This book captures the spirit of what was once the world's largest cattle run and this updated edition incorporates the recent history of 'The Big Run' under the management of Janet Holmes a Court's Heytesbury Pastoral Group. $26.95 plus post.  Add to Cart 

2. Cattle Duffers of the Outback. Frances Boyle. In the world of cattle duffing, the branding iron gives way to the gun. “These days, when the men are out mustering until well after dark and I am home alone cooking dinner, I have every light on inside and outside the house. As I walk from room to room, I carry my rifle with me. So much has happened over the past six years that now all I feel is a strange coldness deep inside me. I know that if someone was to come into my house yard and up the steps, and if I do not know them, I will shoot to kill”. This is an engrossing tale of mayhem, villainy and pillage. What is most shocking about this book is that it is not fiction. It is the story of one family’s struggle for survival on a cattle station in far north Queensland . The chronicle – a relentless unfolding of events over six years – tells of cattle duffing, organised harassment, victimisation, arson, corruption in local and state politics, and bent police. $24.95 plus post. Add to Cart
3. Bush Detective. A collection of short stories about the author’s life at the helm of South Australia 's CIB in the Riverland area. $17.95 plus post. Two copies in stock. No more available. Add to Cart 

4. Horses too are Gone. Michael Keenan. The drought had reached crisis point. Cattle farmer Michael Keenan decided he would have to get his starving cattle and horses to greener pastures north of the border. But then soon learned his troubles had only just begun. South-west Queensland seemed like a modern-day Wild West, and as Keenan moved his cattle along the traditional droving routes in search of long-term pasture, he had to match wits with a host of characters-- as well as Nature herself. This is a true story of Mikes struggle to survive mounting odds, and it’s an action-packed adventure that rivals and fiction. A fresh voice of knowledge of Australian life on the land, tinged with a sadness and nostalgia for a way of life under threat. This book will strike a chord with all Australians. This is his first book. $29.95 plus post.  Add to Cart 

5. Last Horse Standing.  Michael Keenan.  In 1971 bushman Jack Camp went mustering wild cattle - 'cleanskins' - in a vast and isolated stretch of the Kimberley coast. The potential profit would be huge - but so were the risks. It was the unpredictable and dauntingly hot wet season and the cattle would have to be swum out across a river notorious for its dramatic tidal surges. Everything was going to plan when a cyclone struck, flooding the area and wreaking devastation. Jack, his young son and a teenage stockman were left without food, shelter or a means of escape. No one knew their exact location.  As time passed without rescue and they grew weaker, Jack decided their only chance was to head for a cattle station some fifty kilometres away. Though he knew it would be deserted for the wet, Jack hoped he would find supplies and a two-way radio. The trouble was, to reach it they would have to strike out across the shark and crocodile infested tidal estuary. With them went the recaptured Bluey, the only survivor after the horses grazed on a poisonous local plant when feed was scarce. And so began a journey that would take them to hell and back.  $28.95 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.  

Friday Forum

Jo’s comments are in green.  

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.  

Notes from the Office

·    Graeme and I are getting ready to head off to Queensland again. This time we will be attending the 4x4 Gathering at Pomona . I will be pre-writing some of the Friday Five and John will be writing the weekly information. Does anyone have any trip notes from their recent outback adventure that they would be prepared to share with Friday Fivers? Your notes would make my job much easier over the next few weeks.  

Ernest Henry. Message to Ian, who was looking for information about Ernest Henry. Can you please email Westprint info@westprint.com.au. We have some information for you. (And yes, we have ‘misplaced’ Ian’s address!)

Cheers

Jo

Disputed Country

The) Disputed Country. Chronicles the story of the very first surveyed border in Australia . Between 1847 and 1850 saw an epic three year saga of dogged persistence through heavy rain and flooded swamps to harrowing escapes from the waterless mallee country. Then came the almost immediate destruction of huge sections of border makers by a devastating firestorm. The official nominated border was to have been on the 141st line of longitude, but it soon became clear that the border in practice was some kilometres west of this line. "The Disputed Country" being that thin slice of land between the intended border and the actual placement sparked a battle beginning in the courts and almost ended in civil war. More than a century and a half after our first surveyed border was meant to eliminate a lawless haven for criminals between two colonies, a "no-man's land" still exists between two states. This book also includes a guide to significant heritage sites along the border as well as detailed strip maps, prepared by Westprint. $32.50 Add to Cart

Order by May 31 and receive the Westprint Outback Victoria map free. Just add ‘free map offer’ to the notes section of your order.  

Trip Notes – Strzelecki

1. There's no longer a toilet at Montecollina Bore on the Strzelecki Track. (As you know, this troubles some people more than others.)

2. We took the Strzelecki Track from Lyndhurst to the Strzelecki Crossing, and it's in quite reasonable shape (with even a few sealed bits to facilitate overtaking).

 3. Then we took the "shortcut" from just south of the crossing over to the Bollard's Lagoon track (which saves quite a bit of distance compared with going up to Merty Merty). It's all been graded, and short diversions provided at the sticky spots. If you're coming the opposite way (from Cameron Corner), you turn left about 80 kms from the Corner where there's a white signpost with nothing on it and (at the moment) a lump of red plastic hanging on it.

4. The Bollard's Lagoon track from the Strzelecki Track to the Corner is in good order.

5. As of last Monday (10th) there was no diesel available at the Corner. It was due to be back on yesterday (12th), but as we know things don't always go according to plan in the Outback.

 6. The track from the Corner to Tibooburra is a bit rough in places, but not too bad. The Waka Claypan is dry enough to drive across.

 7. A chap who owns a property near the Corner said they've had enough rain to see them through the next two years or so.

 8. Don't expect wildflowers out there -- there's the odd one or two, but no mass showings.

Rob  

Do Not Overtake Turning Vehicles 

·    I have attached an article re Vehicle standards bulletin (VSB) 12 RTA Vehicle standards information (VSI) 13 May 1998 . This is in relation to "Do Not Overtake Turning Vehicles" in NSW not sure what happens in other states.

I thought that members, travelling public would be interested in this as a lot of caravans on the road would require this signage.

 If you would pass on or put in your newsletter or website it would be great.  As you can see the information came from Tow-Ed where we were able to purchase our signs.

 Terry and Rhonda

Note: The attachment mentioned was a pdf file and couldn’t be published here. This link should give the same information.

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/vehicle_regulation/bulletin/pdf/vsb_12.pdf  

Information Wanted  

·    Hi, first must say how much we enjoy your weekly news letter. It saved us from spending a lot of time working out a trip thru Cooper Creek and north thru Alice and back thru Warburton in April when the roads were cut and closed in places.  Thank you.  We ended up going to the Blue Mountains and back along the Nullarbor again and that was just as enjoyable.

Now in June we hope to drive along the Gunbarrel to Evarard Junction to McPhersons Pillar then back north on Gary Hwy to the Junction and east on Gary junction Road to Papunya and east to just north of Alice Springs.

The map I have says Permit is required on the Gary Junction Road but if we stay on the road and do not leave it except for a few meters do we need to apply for a permit? If we do who do we apply to?  We have a similar situation when we get up to the gulf. We will go from Bing Bong to Ngukurr where we want to head north to Numbulwar and on to the Central Arnhem Road into Gove Peninsula .  Then as we come west from Gove we would like to take the northern track that heads along the northern areas leaving the Arnhem road before Emu Springs.  This looks to us as tho we could traverse the country going past Ramingining and Goomadeer and on to the track that goes up to the Coburg Peninsula. Do you know if the roads are open to 4 wheel drive traffic?  And if we would need any permits and who we would ask. Or perhaps some of your readers would be able to add some information.

As farmers we tend to stay off formed roads as much as possible and back track as little as possible which has led to some great trips.  We carry fuel and water and all the bits necessary to be self sufficient. Thanks for any help you can supply.  We are really looking forward to seeing some new country. Lois.

Friday Funnies

Great signs.

In a Podiatrist's office: "Time wounds all heels."

On a Septic Tank Truck: Yesterday's Meals on Wheels

At an Optometrist's Office: "If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place."

On a Plumber's truck: "We repair what your husband fixed."

On another Plumber's truck: "Don't sleep with a drip. Call your plumber."

On a Church's Billboard: "7 days without God makes one weak."

At a Tyre Shop: "Invite us to your next blowout."

At a Towing company: "We don't charge an arm and a leg. We want tows."

On an Electrician's truck: "Let us remove your shorts."

In a Non-smoking Area: "If we see smoke, we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action."

On a Taxidermist's window: "We really know our stuff."

On a Fence: "Salesmen welcome! Dog food is expensive!"

Outside a Muffler Shop: "No appointment necessary. We hear you coming."

In a Veterinarian's waiting room: "Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!"

At an Electricians Company: "We would be delighted if you send in your payment

However, if you don't, you will be."

In a Restaurant window: "Don't stand there and be hungry; come on in and get fed up."

In the front yard of a Funeral Home: "Drive carefully. We'll wait."

At a radiator shop:   "Best place in town to take a leak."

Sign on the back of another Septic Tank Truck: "Caution - This Truck is full of Political Promises"

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 Remember to include a phone number or other alternative contact.

New email addresses are constantly and automatically being added to our list. If you do not wish to be part of our Friday Five group then please unsubscribe from the link at the bottom of this newsletter. This takes effect immediately. Westprint apologises for any inconvenience.

Cheers for now,

Jo

 

 

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