Birdsville Track - Closed or Not -Legally ?

Sounds fair enough. With the water depth currently one would be crazy to risk trying out the snorkel.

Just reads as little oddly though. To me it reads that the track is closed Marree to Mungerannie and then the reason why. But then counters that the road is open south of coopers creek. One of those yes it but no it isn't statements.

I suppose it can also read that when the ferry access roads are open then the track is open with only those restrictions which apply to the ferry itself.

The only reason I am asking really is to do with insurance. Most policies have a section concerning driving on closed roads. And so some legal beagle might suggest that the first few words tell the reader that the road is closed from Maree to Mungerannie. They are fussy old fuss pots those insurance companies.

Hmm before I do press send ..I had a read of the notice by SA ferries..something about use the ferry at your own risk.

Hmmm so that means if a vehicle comes a cropper while cruising across on the ferry you cant go taking action against SA roads ?

More or less saying that hey we are good guys we maintain the ferry well..but..if something happens dont blame us...well my point mr roads man is that if the ferry is not totally safe to use then how come the road is open when the ferry is in operation ?

The minister concerned has a requirement to ensure that safe travel of all taxpayers on public roads is provided. Bridges, ferries etc. should be well maitained so as to provide safe travel. SA Roads by inserting the use at your own risk clause in ferry use is trying to back it both ways.

Not as if they didn't know the water was coming long ago..sufficient time to ensure that either the existing ferry was safe to use or bring in a ferry that was safe and could deal with the expected use and weight loadings.

It may have been fine 20 or 3o years ago when the track was just that. No longer does Tom Cruise risk life and limb to deliver the mail or goods to Birdsville.

Have to wonder why those who live along the road to Birdsville pay their taxes sometimes. SA Toursim promotes the area for bird life and environment and yet SA Roads cant ensure an adequate ferry serive.

ok ok rant is over..resume normal programming.

Of course Tom Cruise doesn't deliver mail to Birdsville, he never did.

regards,
Dion.

Ha ha..ok ok..Cruse..Cruise..so spelling is not my best subject.

Can anyone please give me the coordinates of the Moongarra Channel crossing of the Birdsville Track? I'm heading that way next month.

Thanks

Bruce M

Cruse and Cruise are both incorrect.

With regards,
Dion.

ok Dion so now I am intrigued.. its an interesting bit of outback history the mail deliveries..around 1883 the mail used to arrive in Farina..and then various fellows would be contracted to take the mail further on to Cowarie..from there mail went to Haddon Downs via Birdsville.

The first actual mail run from Maree to Birdsville was completed by a fellow named Felon when he arrived on 10 April 1886

But getting back to Kruse..I have always wondered why Tom became the legend that he is. Cetainly did some very good driving..but he was on one of 8 or 9 men who ran the mail up and down the track. John Patterson had the contract from 1913 until 1920 something..later Harry Ding came along in July 1936 and so to Tom Kruse who began the trip in 1948.

But then again you probably knew all that..and yup..you are certainly correct..Kruse with a K

Funny thing is..today the mail comes by air but the supplies are run up and down the track by Tom. One of the nicest fellows you would meet. Apparently so too was Tom Kruse.

Hi Petterll

That is a good question about Tom Kruse, as you say many had gone before him.

I suspect the movie ‘The Back of Beyond’ which won a couple of International Awards when it was produced in the early 1950’s gave Tom the profile, and provided an insight not only into the conditions endured, but the man himself.

Cheers, The Landy

Stephen,

Yes I , like many others have been following the various threads on the topic and yes indeed much thanks to young Jade, Pat and even Nathan for the flow of information. Terra..had to scroll up to see how she spells her nick name then..lol

I will wait with baited breath for news from Ruth D...as I was planning my round about trip down to the pub with some supplies via Birdsville in a few weeks. I know Tom (Track Freight) pretty well and if he wont go up again then folks along the trak are in some bother eventually.

You are doing a great job with the information and like others I thank you for keeping us up on goings on. Those who find the topic boring must not be one of the 70000 people who use the track each year.

So princess miniwonka..you able to give us an update on access to the pub from the north ?