Wave to Winston

A couple of years ago we had backpacker visitors staying with us. They had bought an old van to go round Australia. This van was a crock and was continually breaking down. I was about to sell my 1990 white LWB Pajero with roof rack(Winston). So (partly because they had been with us for a month by then!) we reached a deal where I sold it to them for part of its value, then when they sold it in Sydney they would pay some more. As they had no Australian address we used mine on the transfer.

In Sydney they sold it to another backbacker, who sold it to another one etc. All the time, the backpackers having no Australian address, my address in Perth remained.

As a result, four or five times a year we get a 'postcard' from Winston to let us know where he is. These 'postcards' (one arrived yesterday) take the form of speeding fines, parking tickets, unpaid road tolls etc. We don't do anything with them as they are not in my name but that of the current short term owner. The last postcard told us that Winston was speeding by less than 15kph (he is old) on the New England Highway in Murrurundi, NSW. he has been to Darwin, back to Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns as well.

So if you see a white 1990 Pajero rego 8CX 706 do give him a wave or stop for a chat, he was a good vehicle who took a family of five safely down the Gunbarrel to Alice, and back down the Central desert road. he must have about 300,000 on the clock by now.

Oh yes, he also has a low slung rather bashed gas bottle hanging under the back!