I was going though a few old photos and came across some of a trip up the centre my dad did in the late sixties and I thought some maybe interested. Dad drove trucks for the Manufactures Bottle Company from the mid fifties thought to the early seventies. He transported empty beer bottles from Victorian Marine dealers back to Carlton and
United Breweries in
Ballarat and
Melbourne, but during the conflict in Vietnam he transport packaged beer to
Darwin to be shipped over to our fighting man and women of the military
services.
During the late sixties the Stuart Highway was little more than a dirt track. Often during times of rain you were force to make your own track through the scrub as the road became a river.
On this particular trip there were nine loaded semis pulling 2 trailers with about 50 tonnes of packaged beer. The bulk of these trucks were Kenworths and AECs no sleeping berths, no CBs and no air conditioners a far cry from the vehicles of today. Extra fuel, water and food all needed to be carried on top of the load.Image Could Not Be Found
At
Woomera one truck rolled over and as the load was carried under bond what package beer that remained in tact was loaded on top on the others. The damaged beer was buried on the side on the road. Dad commented that he has never witnessed a dozer driver so gentle. He noted that on the return trip the there was an empty hole where the beer had been buried. Must have been wild animals.
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As the convoy travelled near
Marla the road became impassable with all the trucks bogged to the rope rails. Also stuck were many tourist buses and travellers.They were stuck there for more than several weeks with help unable to get through. Food was dropped in by air. He said the meals were interesting as the labels had been torn off so you were not sure what was from tea until you opened the can. Peach stew :-(
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Often they would get out of one bog hole only to drive straight into another. The highway resembled a river.
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It took him over 9 weeks to get to
Darwin and many months to get over the hangover. Once they reached
Darwin they unloaded and piggy backed the 2nd trailer
home.
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The full round trip took 11 weeks and the only communication the families had was by way of some news papers articles at the time.
A hard way to earn a living but one hell of an adventure.
Sadly Dad passed away in 2008 but I will always remember some of the great
stories.
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Happy Travels Dave