Octagon January, 2017

Bundaberg)
At most places one travels in the Outback
there are collection boxes on the counters of
most shops for the RFDS. After this incident
these boxes meant more to us, as it could
have been one of us in that RFDS plane
heading for a hospital.
Mundrabilla
West of Mundrabilla is Madura and it is
here that the road descends onto the Roe
Plains. We called (we usually have twoways
between us) for a smoko break right
on the edge of this scenic spot. Spectacular!
Because of the enormity of these vistas
it is very hard to take pictures – so one
just needs to stay still and enjoy them. At
this point, because we were well and truly
on our way home I cracked out our other
home-made fruit cake. When going on a trip,
I usually make one for going and one for
coming - we call it our survival tucker. It was
well received and Peter informed me that
the Nullarbor Nymph would not have been
able to make its equal.
Later Juliana & Warwick had gone on
ahead to try and find the golf links. It was
also so that he could give the MGB a blast
after sitting behind us for awhile. This was
something they tended to do from day one
whilst travelling with us. When we arrived
at Mundrabilla I went into the restaurant to
order lunch. Also having lunch there were
a couple of policemen. They went outside
to where Peter was still at the Y and as
they showed some interest in the car he
showed them some of its features, or should
we say lack of features compared to these
times. Juliana said “They didn’t want to talk
to us whilst we were in the restaurant!” It’s
marvellous how a piece of machine can
bring on conversations.
Eucla
Wal and Anna had gone on ahead this day
and jagged a wonderful panoramic site for
their campervan right on the edge of the
escarpment overlooking the Great Southern
Ocean and the old Telegraph Station - a
million dollar view. So good, that they
decided to spend a couple of nights there.
We however had to push on as we still had
38
The Octagon - January 2017
lots to show Juliana & Warwick of our wide
brown land.
We booked ourselves into a budget room,
but weren’t very impressed – there was no
basin, no toilet, no shower, no microwave, –
nothing, but a bed - and it wasn’t cheap! Still
it was a roof over our head and it was only
for one night plus it saved putting the tent up
- as accommodation otherwise was limited.
As we left Eucla the next morning Peters
eyes lit up as here was a sign saying
“Nullarbor Nymph”. “She must be around
here some where!”, he said. We started
heading out in the direction that was
indicated, but the next thing a golf ball came
whizzing out of the bush! We went further
and here was Warwick chipping away at the
Nullarbor Nymph Links!!! All things aside
Eucla is the home of the Nullarbor Nymph
legend, apparently. The story goes that
an out of work journalist penned this story
about a long haired blonde running naked
with the kangaroos and circulated it around
the world, for business was somewhat flat
at the Eucla Roadhouse in those days.
Business improved greatly after that, as
people came from all over the world half
believing the story. Only in Australia could
such a story have taken root!
Each of the links across the Nullarbor has
a shelter and a write up as to why that
particular link has its name for instance
“Brumby’s Run” at Madura refers to the
fact that horses were bred there for the
British Army (India) in the 1880s. Good one.
Incidental learning! At Eucla the links were
on the Rifle Range – this was the first time