Why Four Wheel Drivers get a BAD Name
Submitted: Saturday, Aug 31, 2019 at 10:33
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Member - Stephen L (Clare SA)
Good Morning Everyone
I have an American friend travelling at the moment on the many great roads that Len Beadell and his team constructed.
On one of my phone calls from Candace, she could not locate the Marker on the Garry
Junction Road, and she put up a post here on EO, asking why was it not there.
I am now totally disgusted to share that some total low life, stole the marker, and then cut off the top section off to take
home as a souvenir of their desert trip.
The full story can be
read here from the Beadell's Facebook Home Page
What I would please ask all readers here on the
forum, that if you know of, or heard any stories about this to please contact there local Police, or contact the Beadell's direct.
These type of people need to be kept out of our deserts, as it shows their total disrespect of its history and beauty.
Please help out and pass on to all your friends, as we must find out who it was.
Thanks for your time.
Stephen

This is what the maker looked like

This was the plaque on the post

This is what Candace found in early August - only the tyre left

This is what the Beadell's found outside of Alice Springs - the post with plaque cut off
Reply By: Kenell - Saturday, Aug 31, 2019 at 11:05
Saturday, Aug 31, 2019 at 11:05
Sorry I can't offer any
information but it is evidence of a total lack of respect for our history and the hardships Len and his teams endured. I know it is relatively recent but Australian history just isn't valued as it should be. My experience with the various education systems around the country is between generations at present - my grandchildren are just starting their journey so it has been a few years since my kids went through it. The syllabus back then seemed to address the bushrangers, Burke and Wills, the gold rush and Jimmy
Cook and little else. Perhaps if our
young people understood more about our
heritage there would be fewer drongos such as these to disregard it.
I hope this thread develops and is shared beyond EO - I have sent it on to my boys who are connected in 4WD circles.
AnswerID:
627495
Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Saturday, Aug 31, 2019 at 11:14
Saturday, Aug 31, 2019 at 11:14
Hi Kennell
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
It was originally Candace that brought it to my attention, as I had personally given her lots of waypoints for those special Len markers, as she looked for some time trying to find it.
Please pass this on to all your friends, as it would gibe great to find the person who stole it, and justice be served on them.
Cheers
Stephen
FollowupID:
901522
Reply By: Ron N - Saturday, Aug 31, 2019 at 12:05
Saturday, Aug 31, 2019 at 12:05
Unfortunately, the 4WD fraternity comprises a relatively small percentage of mindless morons, who basically indulge in vandalism and mindless destruction, often fuelled by excessive quantities of booze.
These are the same people you see chopping up wooden structures or wooden posts to utilise as firewood for a major bonfire.
They are same people who leave broken bottles and rubbish everywhere, in the same area as they have camped or partied.
They are mindless vandals of the highest order, and they deserve to be found, identified, photographed and reported, wherever you see their mindless activity.
It would be even better if a "Hall of Shame" webpage was initiated, with these drongoes photos clearly identifying them - and pointing out they do not belong in the 4WD and outback adventuring fraternity - but are more likely to feel affinity with the mindless morons who graffiti trains. For all we know, they are probably already members of that group.
Cheers, Ron.
AnswerID:
627497
Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Saturday, Aug 31, 2019 at 13:49
Saturday, Aug 31, 2019 at 13:49
Hi Ron,
Yes that would be great, and we need everyone help to to put a stop to this, before we are all stopped from visiting these great locations.
Cheers
Stephen
FollowupID:
901524
Reply By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Saturday, Aug 31, 2019 at 12:38
Saturday, Aug 31, 2019 at 12:38
.
Hi Stephen,
Thank you for relating this most recent event in missing Beadell plaques.
They are significant artefacts of our Australian history and it is shameful that there are persons with low morals who continually steal them.
Connie and Mick labour to maintain these plaques in tribute to Connie's father who left us his
heritage of outback roads. Their efforts provide us travellers of Len's roads with tangible testimony of the hard work and privation of the
"Gunbarrel Road Construction Party".
The full story of the plaques maintenance program can be read
here on the Beadell website.
Connie and Mick deserve our full support of their efforts.
And the
plaque thieves deserve our full condemnation.
AnswerID:
627500
Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Saturday, Aug 31, 2019 at 14:00
Saturday, Aug 31, 2019 at 14:00
Hi Allan
To me it is extremely disappointing to hear of there such things, and I know first hand what it is like to come to one of those famous landmarks, only to find the
plaque stolen.
Years ago when came across one such tree on the original Abandoned Gunbarrel, stopping to hopefully photograph the
plaque, only to find the white painted blaze and no
plaque.
Perhaps as a group, we could all pitch in and help get the plaques back in place.
Cheers
Stephen
FollowupID:
901526
Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Saturday, Aug 31, 2019 at 16:00
Saturday, Aug 31, 2019 at 16:00
.
Stephen, as a "group' I think we could best "help the cause" by donating cash to the Beadell's Plaques Maintenance Program.
Connie and Mick freely give their time but it also costs a few bob to purchase materials to replace plaques, to say nothing of their fuel costs.
I am sending a donation their way and if anyone else wishes to do so, Member Message or email me (address in My Profile) and I'll send you their bank details.
FollowupID:
901528