Saturday, 19th to Tuesday, 21st September 2020
At the Mataranka Servo (United) filling up for the southern run. a ute is next door and a chatty young lady is filling up. As we stand there bowser to bowser, I pass comment on the dirt bikes. I didn’t immediately see the security system.
Have a closer look. There are two.
N.B. Damn good home made pies. Get one if passing. Almost, but not as good as the Dunmarra’s
This very nice bush girl continues chatting to both of us then asks, ‘Do you like pumpkins and melons?” Anne says yes and she throws us a pumpkin and rock melon, explaining how she has just come from a farm and has a heap of the slightly undersized one. As we speak, they sit on the side board slowly ripening. A small win.
On a few k’s then turn off to Elsey Cemetery. It is the resting place of most real characters from the book, ‘We of the Never Never’ including the Author. There are other ‘unknowns’ buried here.
I copy from the website …. https://northernterritory.com/katherine-and-surrounds/see-and-do/elsey-memorial-cemetery ….
“Visit the final resting place of the people made famous by Jeannie Gunn’s book We of the Never Never.
Elsey Memorial Cemetery, located 20 kilometres south of Mataranka off the Stuart Highway, is of national and Territory historical significance primarily because it provides the remaining link with many of the individuals in the book.
The cemetery contains the remains of Aeneas James Gunn who moved to the station as manager and who died on 16 March 1902 of malarial dysentery only 13 months later. His grave is located next to a memorial to his wife Jeannie which reads ‘In loving Memory of the ‘Little Missus’. She died on 9 June 1961.
The cemetery remains as a tribute not only to those pioneers of the pastoral industry but also to Jeannie Gunn, whose portrayal of the Northern Territory Outback captured the imagination of a nation.”
Another historical book I will have to track down and read. It was quite an experience. The sparse location and widely scattered grave sites. Also, the fact that there were quite a few simple crosses and no details of both large and small graves was a stark reminder of how sad an ending many people have suffered.
Lee KEN , a Chinese cook who died at Elsey Station on 18th February 1903, while riding from Darwin to Daly Waters to take up the position of cook., but became ill at Chinese New Year at the station and died.
Below the authors plaque and her father.
plus many unknowns.
We pass through Larrimah again but decide instead to eat from the van rather than spend money.
Then On! On! to Daly Waters.
These are two sad attempts to photograph the I think 2.4km airstrip that reaches all the way to the highway. Nope. Too much to see too far away. Bummer.
So here we are a few months later. This is where I first put shorts on when on our way up in late July.
This sign is at the spot where we connect the water for the van. So what do you reckon they are trying to tell us?
Inside like coming home.
Lou and Phil evening entertainment. Same pair when coming up, but still good entertainment.
Across the road ‘Tim’s Junkyard’ which is a dramatic misnomer. It is a treasure trove. Have a look.
On hold to Telstra. Who CANNOT identify with this.
Antique and different types of barbed wire.
It reads, CAMPING … where you spend a small fortune to live like a homeless person. Says it all.
This is the vehicle of the host and owner. On the last trip I followed this to our camp spot.
Yes. There is a bit of luxury here.
But next day, we are on our way yet again.
Cheers.
