Date: August 20th 2010

Westprint Friday Five August 20, 2010

 

Included this week:

·         Outback Helpers

·         Road closures

·         Comments from users

 

Have you missed any copies? Use this link for archives

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 Specials 20.08.2010

This week – Books about old stuff!

 

1. Tins. Collectors Guide. 64 page booklet with photos and valuations and descriptions. $12.00 including post. Four copies. 

2. Grandpa’s Store. Photos, descriptions and valuations of early Australiana. $16.00 including post. Two copies.

3. More Australian Tins. 64 page booklet with photos and valuations and descriptions. $12.00 including post. Three copies.

4. Old Signs. Valuation guide. 80 page A4. $35.00 including post. Three copies.

5. Shop by Post. Edments Cash Stores. 116 A4 page guide. Black and White facsimile copies of catalogues of jewellery and homewards from the 1920s. Two copies.

6. Australia Somewhere in Time. 334 pages A4 size. A brief history of the navigators, the explorers and the colonies leading up to and including federation. One copy only. $45.00 including post.

7. Farmyard Relics. Valuation guide. 80 page A4. $35.00 including post. Four copies.

8. And The Wheel Turned Volume 1. The history of the Australian tyre manufacturers, car breakdown service clubs and spark manufacturers along with early engines, old garages and various old advertising. Two copies. $35.00 including post.

9. And The Wheel Turned Volume 2. The history of the Australian petrol and petrol pump companies with old advertisements. 160 pages A4 size. $35.00 including post. Two copies.
10. Kitchenalia. Valuation guide. 128 page A4. Black & White and colour photos.  $35.00 including post. Two copies.

11. Garagenalia. Valuation guide. 60 page A4. Black & White and colour photos.  $35.00 including post. Two copies.

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.  

Outback Helpers

·         In 2002 Jenny Watters from Mt Clere Station in Western Australia wrote to the OUTBACK Magazine in response to an outback helper’s letter in the previous magazine.  As a result Jenny and her husband Greg, together with another couple set up a scheme called ‘Outback Helpers’, whereby people wishing to be ‘outback helpers’ can be put in touch with host stations and farms in their chosen area or state.

Quite often on stations there are jobs that need doing, (e.g. painting, carpentry, a major spring clean, garden overhaul, cooking, dressmaking, mechanical, the list is endless) and it is beyond the station’s means to employ staff for these jobs. Getting tradespeople out to the ‘bush’ is extremely costly and there are many travellers (both young and not-so-young) who have a wealth of experience and would love the opportunity to stop off for a while and help out. 

People who visit will be expected to pitch in and help, as it is not a ‘free holiday stay’ scheme. But leave plenty of time for recreation, sightseeing, relaxing … whatever.  Keep in mind Helpers are Helpers, not employees … albeit willing helpers.

Outback Helpers has been very beneficial to both sides … a chance for the helpers to experience something new and exciting; and for the hosts to enjoy the company of people who are much travelled; and also enjoy a little respite from trying to do everything with never enough time to do it!

Outback Helpers tries to match compatible helpers and hosts together at a time that suits both, but of course this may not always happen. It is up to the ‘helper’ and ‘host station/farm’ to negotiate between themselves, suitability and the final arrangements before they visit.

Jean and Ted began helping co-ordinate the scheme with Greg and Jenny in 2008 and are ‘Outback Helpers’ themselves while Jenny and Greg are on the other side of the coin as a ‘host station’, Between them they co-ordinate both helpers and hosts from different sides of the country, however working as one scheme.

There are many people travelling around our beautiful country who would enjoy the chance to get off the tourist route and see how the other half lives. Host Properties from most states are available. If you are interested in joining, please email us – we look forward to hearing from you. Greg and Jenny, Ted and Jean

www.outbackhelpersscheme.com

 

Information wanted – best time to travel  

·         We were planning a camping trip from Sydney to William Creek and Halligan Bay to experience Lake Eyre and return via the Strzelecki Track and Innamincka somewhere in Late September.  Due to family commitments we might have to delay our travel plans until the last three weeks of October.

I assume that the chance of wet weather generally increases dramatically after September. Would you personally travel into that area or advise against travelling into that region during the second to fourth week of October? Of course I understand no one can predict the weather accurately.

My second question is if we do need a Desert Pass to camp on the way? How long does it take to obtain the Pass, what is the cost per vehicle or person and are they available over the counter during our trip or should we obtain them before departure? We likely will travel with two vehicles. Gary . Windsor Downs . NSW  

Gary will need a day pass to travel in to Halligan Bay . Depending on where he intends to camp he probably won’t need a full pass. To check whether you need a pass or not phone the Desert Parks Hotline on 1800 816 078. A full pass is valid for 12 months and a separate pass is needed for each vehicle. Passes cost $110.00 and are available from Westprint and at outlets in the bush. Does anyone have any tips about travelling in October for Gary ?

 

National Parks and Wildlife South Australia

Road Closures - 11th August 2010  

Halligan Bay Track – Closed due to rain.

Level Post Bay Track – Open to 4WD with caution.

Coongie Track – Closed due to rain.

Walkers Crossing Track – Closed due to rain

15 Mile Track and Access to Cooper Creek – Closed due to rain

Cullyamurra Track – Closed due to rain

Bore Track – Closed due to recent rains. Contact Bollards Lagoon (61 8 8091 3873) prior to crossing private land.

Witjira National Park – Open 4WD with caution. Please note Pedirka Public Access Route closed until further notice. Access to Dalhousie via Bloods Creek.

The Dalhousie airstrip is currently closed to public use until further notice.

Warburton Crossing – Closed until further notice. Water from the Birdsville/Bedourie area will keep the Warburton Crossing closed for an unknown time.  

“Comment from users particularly welcome”

The line above appears on all Westprint paper maps. Below are some comments from a user and the reply from John. Please note that we do our best to follow up all comments and changes we receive are kept on file for the next map reprint.

I have previously used Westprint maps in the Gunbarrel and Canning Stock Route areas and found them to be accurate and reliable. Also additional information not available elsewhere was received once from your office.
So when in Alice Springs recently and contemplating the Plenty and Sandover Highways travel I was enthused to see the Westprint map available in abundance at every reseller in the Centre. I thought it would be a recent edition.
How wrong can one be!!!
I got the 3rd edition which had no date shown. This may be convenient for the publisher but is a real downer for the user who has no idea how out of date it may be.
Two examples:
Tobermorey Station is shown as having fuel and camping. Local information is that this Station has not been functional in any aspect for at least 4 years.
The Urandangi – Lake Nash connection. It is obvious this area has never been field-checked and may have been copied from somewhere else.
The distance from the Dajarra - Mt Isa Rd to Urandangi is 93k and not 99 (as shown on the Hema map). Binyeah connection not seen.
No distance is shown on the “short cut” Headingly – Lake Nash for obvious reasons. It is so rough no local uses it – they have a detour around part of it.
The Old May Downs road appears to have been reconstructed in part and other new roads constructed which have not been signed (or shown on the map).
The only road signs found were at least 50 years old – etched pointer boards with no paint and attached to tree stumps.
The Urandangi publican is reputed to draw mud maps to help travellers – IF you get to talk to the publican and not some casual barman who has never travelled the route!
Because the administrator of the Community near Lake Nash is an idiosyncratic character no fuel or services are available. For practicable purposes no fuel or formal camping is available between Urandangi and Gemtree although road signs show otherwise. However the road is reasonably good in dry weather.  Ron 

 

Hello Ron,
Thanks for the information. It is rare that anyone bothers to let me know of any problems and we continue on blithely thinking everything is OK.
1. The 3rd edition is current and the date is shown on the back in the acknowledgements panel. It is 2004 and is due for revision as soon as we quit our dwindling stock. You will appreciate that we can not afford to throw too many maps away as they cost too much to publish and print.
2. We have been advised that Tobermorey is no longer functional but that has only been relayed to us during the last 18 months.
3. I will alter the Headingly - Lake Nash to a 4WD track. It is a stock route and I like to show them as many 4WDrivers like to get off the beaten track. The distance by the way is 60k and should be shown as well as a note about remote access and wet weather issues.
4. I have found it very difficult to get info on the Old May Downs road. I had great difficulty getting any information from the Mt Isa Shire. They didn't seem to have any official road between Lake Nash and Mt Isa. I would particularly appreciate any additional information you may be able to add on this area.
5. Unfortunately, the fuel and camping situation is one regularly found at small communities. Emergency fuel and service is usually available through the administration office in most communities, but for all intents and purposes anyone contemplating travel between Alice Springs and Mt Isa by the Sandover Highway , a distance of about 880 k, should be self sufficient for fuel, food, and water.
6. You mention Gemtree which is on the Plenty Highway and so perhaps I should say that fuel has been available at Hartz Range and at Jervois for many years and there is also an area at Jervois where camping is allowed. It may not be formal but it is a safe area for anyone who does not like to camp 'Out Bush'.

Thanks Ron for your excellent information. I will try to get some info from the Urandangi Publican. I have spoken with him in the past and, if it is still the same person, his info has been good. Please continue to send in any comments. At Westprint we appreciate every one and always try to follow up the information provided. Best Regards. John.

Now the reason behind this little story is that Westprint needs to revise our Canning Stock Route map over the next few months, but our crew don't have the spare time to just go for a quick drive. If anyone has any comments or corrections for our current edition map (4th edition) we would love to hear from you. Also any comments on the permit system and how it's administered would be appreciated as well.  

Friday Funnies

From Jim

·         Curses on Apple

My daughter wanted an iPod for her Birthday, so I got her one.

My Son looked at this and decided it was pretty cool, so I bought him an iTouch.

Having had a play with both of them, I decided to get myself an iPad which was really good.

My wife thought these were all pretty good as well, so I bought her an iRon......and that's when the trouble started.  

·         A guy is walking down the street with a case of beer under his arm.

His friend stops him and asks, "Hey! Whatcha got that case of beer for?"

"Well, I got it for my wife, you see?" the guys answers.

"Wow," exclaims his friend, "Great trade.  

·         I took my granddaughter to the doctor for her 2-year-old check- up. They had her do coordination tests, like stacking blocks, and they watched to see if she walked properly. And then the doctor said, "Gracie, can you stand on one foot for me?"  

So she walked over and stood on his foot.  

·         While visiting Annapolis , a lady tourist noticed several students on their hands and knees assessing the courtyard with pencils and clipboards in hand.  

"What are they doing?" she asked the tour guide.  

"Each year," he replied with a grin, "the upperclassmen ask the freshmen how many bricks it took to finish paving this courtyard."  

When they were out of earshot of the freshmen, the curious lady asked the guide: "So, what's the answer?"  

The guide replied: "One."  

·         Famous Mothers

COLUMBUS ' MOTHER:
"I don't care what you've discovered, you still could have written!"
MICHELANGELO'S MOTHER:
"Can't you paint on walls like other children? Do you have any idea how hard it is to
get that stuff off the ceiling?"
NAPOLEON'S MOTHER:
"All right, if you aren't hiding your report card inside your jacket, take your hand out of
there and show me."
MARY 'S MOTHER:
"I'm not upset that your lamb followed you to school, but I would like to know how he got a
better grade than you."
THOMAS EDISON'S MOTHER:
"Of course I'm proud that you invented the electric light bulb. Now turn it off and get to bed!"
PAUL REVERE'S MOTHER:
"I don't care where you think you have to go, young man, midnight is past your curfew."

ALBERT EINSTEIN'S MOTHER:
"But it's your senior picture. Can't you do something about your hair? Styling gel, mousse, something...?"

 

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.

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Cheers for now,

Jo

 

 

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