Grandmother tells of four-day desert ordeal

We read about the ex-South African who died in the Simpson trying to walk 16kms in 50 degree c heat. According to a newspaper report.

Sad.

I learned on my first trip across the Tanami, from the Aboriginal women, to rest under a bush in the heat of the day and travel early morning and late afternoon.

I cannot imagine trying to walk in that kind of heat. Water consumption would be massive.

Mark

Good reminder, many years late but I also put my order in for the book. She was indeed lucky she got the mobile to work.


Regards
Paul H

.
I just knew someone would question what I thought was obvious.

I consider it foolhardy for a woman alone to take the route of a "remote track south of Murrayville" rather than stay on main roads where help is never far away. This is compounded by her health condition of diabetes and overweight. It is quite possible that she could not even change a flat tyre.

Then there is "Relying on survival tips she learnt during her travels in the Northern Territory".......... she obviously did not learn to not travel on unknown tracks without a whole lot of precautions that I hardly need to spell out. Yes, I know, she did belatedly observe some measures of survival but was extraordinarily lucky that she was eventually able to make a contact on her mobile phone from there.

Finally Mrs Amos is quoted as saying that "....in future she would keep her family well informed and stock her vehicle with emergency provisions." It takes more than "keeping someone well informed" to avoid a situation such as this. But of course, it may be less than complete journalistic reporting. I hope so.

Allan B

Thanks for pointing out this one, a very interesting read and I agree with you 100% but something just does not seem right with this one, in my mind at least.

I've already put my order in for Bob Coopers book, better late than too late and we always learn something from incidents like this one. We too got a bit slack for a couple of years wandering off course without passing that on to our contact points, my fault entirely. So this is another timely reminder to me to look after the bride and do a travelling protocol review.


Regards
Paul H

I read the artical and didn't find that she had done anything wrong, but there again I am not holier than thou.

Aussie Traveller,
If the lady had done nothing wrong she would not be in a predicament.
And I would thank you to address the subject matter and not express insulting remarks toward the writer.

I stand by my statement.

I know that area well as I own a property out that way.

I can't for the life of me understand why she took that road. The Pinnaroo Bordertown rd run parallel to this route just to the West. It is sealed & has a 110kmh speed limit.

Maybe the GPS suggested the route she took? I only take the Murrayville rd like she did when I am out sightseeing in the area.

Very nice route by the way & some good 4WD opportunities in the area but it's not the go for a quick shortcut between Murrayville & Nhill.

Cheers
Stu

Hi Steve, I agree that she did some things correctly after getting into trouble, but I am astonished that she put herself in that situation in the first place, especially considering her health condition. She really was lucky to have not perished.

Yes. Lucky lady

Hi Val, Yes she did well but with a lot of luck. It could easily have finished very differently.

My point was, why would a woman on her own and in her condition take that track whilst commuting rather than the nearby Pinnaroo-Bordertown Road. Like Stu (Bushranger1) above, I am familiar with that territory and would not take that track unless picnicking. In Mrs Amos' own words, she was aiming to reach Nhill before nightfall so time was of the essence. It was either a mistake or foolish.

Well said Val. We all make decisions in life that turn out to be not such a good choice. When you are crook your thinking can be clouded and your thought processes often become irrational.

The interesting part is where the lady wanted to hide herself from others while she slept. That is a sad reflection of our times.

The old story when you have a problem that you have trouble sorting out. You have a good sleep or sit down and relax and that problem often turns out to have an easy fix. Have done this by having a beer or three but that can have it's own hazards because sometimes the next morning you can't remember how you solved the problem. Ha. Ha.

Have a good day,
RA.
Oh!! to be perfect