TRIP REPORTS
priorities of bleeding, dirt, potential infection and
covering wounds.
local knowledge proved its value when breezes sprung
up without warning during the evening. For the first time
for many years his spring fed creek was dry beside our
camping area.
Peter Dodson being treated by Rod and Cathy Phillips
after slipping on a steep slope of gravel
Camping at Lima East among a stand of spotted gums
The late afternoon and evening were a time of going
over our plans for central Australia, how to
accommodate the likelihood that Birdsville would be
isolated by flood, and what permits we might require.
Responsibilities were shared around the group.
A large tree branch has been winched aside to allow
progress up towards Vinegar Hill
Lunch and first aid over, we proceeded to climb Vinegar
Hill. Soon a fallen tree stopped our progress and
provided an opportunity to test ourselves on winching
safely before we proceeded to the top. The saddle
adjacent to Vinegar Hill marks the former site of
Tallangallook gold mine and the mine manager’s house
but all that remains today are the three main open pits
that we inspected, and some adits. The 7 tonnes of gold
coming from Tallangallook pits and creeks never
matched Bendigo and Ballarat, but this mining area was
certainly in the big league out of the 7000 Victorian pits
and shafts from 19 th century gold mining. After
Tallangallook, we headed towards Lima East and our
camping site on the property of Ian and Pam Herbert.
Despite the benign conditions, Ian requested that we did
not light a fire in the tinder dry camping area, and his
Next morning it seemed wise for Peter and Janelle to
head for Benalla Hospital for further tending to injuries.
Meanwhile we headed along White Gum Valley to Gum
Drop where there was a small waterfall and possible
aboriginal scratches in the rocks. From there we made
our way into Strathbogie town for a coffee and lunch
before we parted company with Rod Chapple who had a
long drive back to Mornington. It was then onto private
property again to drive on scenic hillsides practising our
stops and starts. Soon it was back on the road to Boho
South, Boho, the Hume Freeway and then Benalla where
Arthur joined Peter and Janelle heading back to Yass in
NSW.
As a shakedown trip this was a good opportunity to meet
one another, learn preferences (and dislikes), discuss
how we were going to adjust our trip because of
Queensland floods, and testing all our equipment.
Monday for most of us was cleaning vehicles, making lists
of all the items that needed repair or replacement before
April and then finishing our journey home to Sydney,
Wollongong and Melbourne,
Neil Phillips 1744