indooroopilly outback adventure birdsville – september 2005

Indooroopilly Outback Adventure

Birdsville – September 2005

Indooroopilly Rovers Outback Adventure

4 people drove from Brisbane to Birdsville and back - covering over 3500km in 8 days

Purposes of Expedition

• Service to Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), by helping them raise funds at Birdsville Races.

• Make contacts with RFDS, Lions and other community organizations.

• Spread the Scouting spirit and have fun.



• Day 1 – Brisbane to Roma – 484km

We’re Off


Stayed at Roma Scout Den• We were told that if we burnt down the den we could either phone the

Group Leader or 000. Both would get the same response, except they would be paid if we called 000.


• Day 2 – Roma to Birdsville– 1089km

Bought essential supplies in Charleville


Food at Quilpie Pub good. Speeding over cattle grids, not so good.


As the Yabbie races were the previous night, we saw no point in staying at Windorah, so continued to Birdsville.


Road kill included:• 1 stupid kangaroo that hopped off the road then came back • Many small birds – one went face first into the windscreen


Ferri’s overtaking adventure – to keep us awakeThe road verges were deeply rutted. As we overtook another car, the

trailer preferred to follow the ruts rather than the car, and gave us all a shock. Luckily nothing was damaged.


• Day 3 & 4 – Birdsville


Our patch of dust.


Massey Ferguson Tractor Club of WA drove across the desert from Perth.


Birdsville Racetrack

RacetrackBetting ShedEntrance GatesStable


On both days we manned the gates of the Birdsville Races. Over 5000 people attended with a percentage of the profits going to RFDS.

We also did the gates for the evening events at the community hall.

Over $20,000 was raised for the Flying Doctors over the weekend.


Surviving the Dust Storm… winds up to 74km/hr• Hold tightly onto any money, papers and hats• Talk as little as possible to avoid swallowing dust• Wear tight fitting goggles for eye-protection• DO NOT wear the Scout scarf bank-robber style to make it easier to breathe as it looks ridiculous.

Day 4


And a good night was had by all at


Except Ferri who was chasing a girl, who everyone else knew was already taken.


• Day 5 – Birdsville to Longreach – 682km

We’re off, again.


Good time to learn how to tow a trailer on dirt roads.


Straight road – all good.


Heading for Betoota - population of 0.Just a bend in the road.


If only I’d remembered the bend, rather than drift racing with a trailer.


No-one’s hurt. The car’s fine (almost). So we continue.


Beautiful desert flowers


Another sunset drive, almost hitting an owl and a wild boar. The night was just as dangerous, as a coating of fried bugs

on the headlights reduced visibility to almost none.


Longreach - Return to Civilisation

• Mobile phone reception

• Giving way at roundabouts

• Air-conditioned Scout den


• Day 6 – Longreach to Emerald – 412 km


Longreach Scout Museum


Khaki Uniforms are already museum pieces at Longreach.

All Longreach Scouts wear the new uniforms according to a RBT cop we met near Windorah


Hew’s Grandfather was a Scout in Longreach


Finding out about Log Cabin construction for our Crew’s shanty.


BarcaldineWindmill powers a pump that Simo (ex Rover of the crew) made.

Tree of Knowledge – 170 year old Ghost Gum under which shearers held their meetings during the Great Shearers Strike of 1891.


Drive into Emerald then follow the palms to Fred’s house


• Day 7 – Emerald to Bundaberg – 543km

Overnight at Caneboy’s house – does that make it Bundy moot 5½ ?


• Day 8 – Bundaberg to Brisbane– 382km


Travel Log

Day Start Breaks (Lunch) Finish Distance (km)

31/8 Brisbane Dalby(L) Roma 484

1/9 Roma Morven, Charleville, Quilpie(L), Windorah, Betoota

Birdsville 1089

4/9 Birdsville Betoota, Windorah(L), Jundah Longreach 682

5/9 Longreach(L) Barcaldine, Alpha Emerald 412

6/9 Emerald Stanwell, GladstoneMiriam Vale

Bundaberg 543

7/9 Bundaberg Landsborough Brisbane(L) 382


PreparationsDue to the remoteness of

some of the places we: - Took plenty of water and food

in case of a breakdown - Carried a spare tyre, and tools

to do emergency repairs. - Had First Aid supplies and

qualifications - Had group members with

experience in car maintenance and driving in the outback.

- Took maps and other equipment necessary for travel in the outback.


More preparations

As this trip was primarily for a service project we tried to reduce costs to participants by:

- Arranging free accommodation at Scout Dens (Roma, Charleville & Longreach), houses of friendly Rovers (Emerald, Bundaberg), and camping spots in town (Windorah, Birdsville)

- Obtaining sponsorship for petrol costs – courtesy of Birdsville

- Having use of Scout Car & trailer – courtesy of QLD Branch


What we learnt from the trip• Smoke doesn’t get rid of flies, but dust storms do• History of pioneers of the outback• 4wd trailer drift-racing is a real extreme adrenaline sport

Other things we gained• Friends• Invitations to help with other adventurous service projects

(Charleville B&S Charity Ball October 05), (Winton Races – 2007)


Publicity / Media Coverage We featured in - Beyond Productions Documentary - Queensland Branch Scout About Newsletter - Queensland Rovers MSN Group - Indooroopilly Rovers Website http://indooroopilly.scoutsqld.com.au/ - Tyakunda District Website http://tyakunda.scoutsqld.com.au/ - Western Times Newspaper (Charleville)

We were also seen by the public as Rovers & Scouts by - Being in Uniform at the Birdsville Races - Driving the “Escape to Scouting” car - Being proud to be Scouts

http://indooroopilly.scoutsqld.com.au/

http://tyakunda.scoutsqld.com.au/


Indooroopilly Rovers were thanked for our help at the Birdsville Races in the Western Times newspaper of Thursday, September 15, 2005.


Thank you to

• Collette Watson – Our RA• Alison Stickens – Event organiser of Birdsville Races• Michelle Omyla – RFDS Fundraiser• Birdsville – for paying for petrol• Scouts Queensland for the use of the Scout car• John & Sue Palmer and Longreach Scout Group• Sue Wallis and Roma Scout Group• Fred McBride of Emerald Scout Group• Richard “Caneboy” Cervellin of Millbank Scout Group• John Stephens, RA from Victoria

For making this Rovering’s Greatest Adventure.


Indooroopilly [email protected] Ferri 0418 468 340Or James 0423 216 051

Participants:James HanlonDaniel FerriHew ElcockKaty Gibson

mailto:[email protected]

indooroopilly outback adventure birdsville – september 2005

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