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Post by Daggsey on Sept 15, 2011 9:20:48 GMT 10
Howdy all, In the DHL section under "Murrumba Star", I mentioned having left NSW in 1982 towing a fibreglass version, which, since the advent of this website, I can now identify as being a "Ministar". Read more: vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=chat&action=display&thread=2612#ixzz1Xy5F2qmmUnfortunately, not being an appreciator(??) of the finer points of caravans at the time, I actually can't remember it's age, but I reckon it was fairly old when I bought it in 1981 (or at least it seemed old at the time ;D). From what has been researched in the DHL section, it appears that it was probably a 1968 model. I can remember it had tandem 10" Mini wheels on rubber torsion bar suspension. It travelled from Gilgandra (NSW) via the Oodnadatta Track to Darwin and then down the west coast to Wittenoom (WA) where the suspension finally gave up the ghost and I sold it for the value of the fridge.  I can remember that at the time, I named the van "Mork" (Mork & Mindy was a popular TV show back then). In those days, whilst I was into photography, because of the cost involved in processing photos, it was prudent to take a minimal number of photos. I have searched my albums and have found a number I took around the Wittenoom area at the time:  The chap I sold "Mork" to......possibly no longer with us some 29 years later.....................  He was the local publican and seemed to be "in charge" of the fire truck (a Bedford), which he engaged me to signwrite the word "Wittenoom" onto the side.................  Wittenoom was "de-gazetted" a town by the WA Government in 2005 and had power disconnected..............for those who don't know it's history, it's main claim to fame was the asbestos mine next to it. I am told that road signs indicating how to get to the town have been removed, many buildings demolished (including the pub) and Wittenoom no longer exists on modern maps. comparticle.com/index.php/touring/ghost-towns-of-australia/ghost-towns-wittenoomThe Wittenoom Hotel, 1982..............  During my stay there, I followed tracks through the bush (as indicated to me by the above gentleman) to Wittenoom Gorge.........      This is all part of what is now known as Karajini national Park. I left Wittenoom minus "Mork" in September, 1982 with my possessions packed onto the back of the trusty Slowlux..........  ...........and headed into a dust storm for Tom Price....  So as not push the limits with photobucket, this is to be continued....................... Daggsey |
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Post by Daggsey on Sept 15, 2011 9:54:51 GMT 10
Fast forward 29 years............September 2011.............. Carrots and I packed up the Trail-A-Home and headed out the gate for the Pilbara in search of "Mork"..........................   On second thoughts, if the suspension on "Mork" was wrecked in 1982, what are the ironstone roads to a ghost town gunna do to the FC and "Gladys" the Globetrotter......no point in leaving another vintage van in the Pilbara............... OK, better take the Datto  ................  Any trip is about the journey as well as the destination.......... Daggsey |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Sept 15, 2011 10:00:08 GMT 10
Great! Another Daggsey and Carrots adventure! I'm looking forward to this one, even if they are have betrayed the V V clan with their accommodation.  At least they've chosen "white goods" with a respectable vintage name and heritage! But where are the dinky little canvas blinds over each window? ;D ;D ;D Can't wait for the next instalment Daggsey. Looks like being a bit of a thriller - do the intrepid pair find Mork or not? Wonderful photos of Wittenoom Gorge by the way. You go (or have been) to a lot of places I know I will never get to, so your fantastic photos are the next best thing!  There was a series on SBS recently where an English guy took a trip around the world following the Tropic of Capricorn. One of the places he visited was Wittenoom and he commented on the fact that it had been removed from the maps. There are still a few people living there - they have had all services and utilities cut off by the powers that be trying to force them out, but they continue on. Didn't see any sign of Mork in the footage though.  (Regarding the Tropic of Capricorn series on SBS, there's one on at the moment by the same guy following the Tropic of Cancer.) Don Ricardo |
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Post by Roehm3108 on Sept 15, 2011 11:42:26 GMT 10
Very interesting pics there guys. Sounds like an interesting adventure coming up. At least if you're gunna go ala modern vans, you picked a good brand. Didn't the Kedron make it to the Cape?
Ray
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Post by atouchofglass on Sept 15, 2011 16:58:44 GMT 10
All the best with the hunt for Mork Daggsey
Will be watching in anticipation of another fibreglass art piece being saved. ;D
Did you take a spare axle with you?
Atog
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Post by Daggsey on Sept 16, 2011 0:12:30 GMT 10
G'day Don Ricardo, Roehm 3108, Atog and any other vinvanophiles interested........... The photos of Wittenoom I've posted so far were from slides I took in 1982, so you might notice a few gremlins on them. Unfortunately I ain't mastered the art of "pixelising", so yas are gunna have to put up with the occasional image of the k_ D_ON (aka Trail-A-Home) and the Datto 4wd appearing in photos that I post.  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D.........I'll leave that little dilemma up to the moderators to sort out .............this story is about looking for a vintage van ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Our journey so far has taken us north to Perth and then further north on the Great Northern Highway to Newman. We contemplated meandering slightly west through Morowa and Yalgoo looking for the infamous Western Australian wildflowers, but after the rains of this past winter, the colour has been prolific just from the Great Northern...............      Of course, ya don't have to just sniff the wildflowers........there's other goodies to view.................these at Paynes Find.....   Then of course, there is the camping, "east of the rabbit-proof fence"..........................  And of course, no journey is complete without the viewing of the architecture of the country pub.............Mount Magnet.......   A few shots from Meekatharra...............    The Gascoyne River, Middle Branch.................   When ya know ya heading north...........................    When ya know ya gotta pay for heading north  Camped up in Newman.....................  It's interesting to see what's happening here in the Pilbara..........we've all seen the awesome photos Kingy has posted from the cabin of his truck and we've all heard about the "2 speed" economy...............we're only in Newman at the moment (a BHP town), but the frenetic pace of mining vehicles going non stop everywhere you go  ...................apparently this is nothing compared to what is happening in Port Hedland and Karratha........... Oh yeah, back to "Mork"...............no Atog, I haven't got a spare axle.............I reckon if I do find her/him/it, it might be a case of calling on Mr T's recovery vehicle or one of Mr King's trucks...........I reckon I might just burn that bridge when I get to it........... Daggsey Nahnoo, nahnoo  |
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noblesgarage
Full Member
A Man with many projects Dosen't have a lot of time."Cause He Walks Round In Circles"
Posts: 363
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Post by noblesgarage on Sept 16, 2011 10:38:38 GMT 10
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millsy
Junior Member
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Post by millsy on Sept 16, 2011 22:26:54 GMT 10
Daggsey, you are taking me down memory lane too!  I was brought up in the north of WA in the fifties. Mum a bush nurse, and Dad a prospector/mine worker. So we lived in some of the towns you have already passed through, and some you are headed for. We lived in Yalgoo, Meekathara, Witenoom Gorge, Marble Bar, Port Headland, and Broome. We left the west for Adelaide, via 6 months in Maryborough Queensland, at the end of '59. We used to drive down to Perth via the 'inland' road through Meekathara, for our annual 2 week Xmas holiday. It used to be dirt all the way from 'the Bar' to not too far out of Perth. It used to take 5 days. Except for the time the upper wishbone snapped on the Humber Snipe, just out of Nullagine. We did the next 500km or so to Meekathara at a speed of 10 miles per hour, with the front wheel leaning over at a 45 degree angle. My sister and myself loved it. We got to camp in the creeks each night, under the ghost gums. More fun than any boring little hotel room! We came over the hill just out of 'Meeka' about 9pm, three days later. We saw the lights of the town, gave a big Hooray, all four of us in unison, and about 1 second later there was this huge bang as the front wheel fell flat to the ground. We had to be towed in the last 2km! I also remember an earlier trip down to Perth when Dad owned a little Austin trayback truck. Looking at an old photo, it appears this truck was hardly as big as my Commodore. But in his prospecting wanderings he actually drove it across the Tanami. Stopping halfway across to do a valve grind job! My pet dog was on the back, and when we stopped for an icecream in the hills near Perth. But when we came out of the shop she had jumped off the back and we never saw her again. I was very upset! That dog used to look after me well as a young kid, 2 or 3 years old. She always brought me 'home' whenever I took off into the scrub. This was when we lived in a tent on the banks of the river in Port Headland. Anyway I visited Marble Bar to look up some mates from the fifties last December. Went via Kalgoorlie, Wiluna and Meekathara, Newman and Nullagine. But did not go into Witenoom. As you say, trucks everywhere. And all the little outback towns, like Leonora, all freshly painted up and with new bitumen, kerbing and street lighting. They are getting a share of the mining profits too. So I am certainly following this trip of yours with a lot of interest and nostalgia! Thanks for the great report. And good luck with your search for an old 'friend'. My quest failed in the end. The two people I was wanting to catch up with both live in Geraldton now. And they are not related! Just a coincidence I suppose. So I am looking forward to another trip across the Nullabor! |
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Post by Daggsey on Sept 27, 2011 10:16:21 GMT 10
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Post by Roehm3108 on Oct 6, 2011 16:02:58 GMT 10
Calling Daggsey and Carrots!!!!!! You must be up there by now! Hope you brought your respirator masks with you. Just been doing some reading up on Wittenoom - what a sad history! It actually is listed amongst such cities as Chernobyl as a town deserted because of a disaster of some sort.
Keep safe
Ray
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Post by chev51 on Oct 6, 2011 17:35:09 GMT 10
 Does that make this collectable? |
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Post by cobber on Oct 6, 2011 18:16:21 GMT 10
Yes you're doing it again for me Daggseys.... nostalgia  Back in 1998 we toured the area you're in now..... loved it, but we didn't take photos as good as you do  What's really making me remember is..... we did a half around Australia tour with the kids when they were young.... Port Augusta.... Ayers rock.... Tennant Creek etc.etc. Each night the kids related the days adventures into a tape recorder (I was into high tech. stuff them days ) and at the end of each day they would sign off with “Na-Nu Na-Nu”.That was in 1979 when Mork and Mindy were all the rage..... here's hoping you find Mork (if you're looking for him). But keep the photos coming please. Cobber. |
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Post by Daggsey on Oct 6, 2011 23:32:27 GMT 10
Nanoo, nanoo earthlings ......greetings from South Hedland........ Thank you Cobber for your interest ....do I detect a hint of cinecism in the search for "Mork"  ;D ;D ;D ;D A very embarrassing thing happened on the way to Wittenoom............taking advice from others (at Newman), we left our Trail-A-Home CROSS COUNTRY at Auski because we were told, the last 17kms of the 42kms into Wittenoom was that rough, "you wouldn't want to take a caravan there". I guess, because of the experience with "Mork", and the fact that the town had been degazetted and the State Govt. obviously isn't spending money there, I erred on the side of caution......what a GOOSE  ..........at least I didn't listen to those who said "oooooohhh, I wouldn't go to Wittenoom, what about the asbestos "..........unfortunately that is the way of the world today where no-one will take risks anymore, but that's another story .... anyway, back to the real story.......having left the van at Auski, we decided to do a half day round trip..................     and then it was to what is left of Wittenoom..........             Site where the pub was..............  No sign of "Mork", but despite Olfart's belief that everything was cleaned up in Wittenoom, guess what I found................     ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Chev51.........I reckon your flag could be collectable ......................and thanks Ray for your comments to be continued.............................(with another surprise ).............. Daggsey |
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Post by Roehm3108 on Oct 7, 2011 6:56:34 GMT 10
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Post by Daggsey on Oct 7, 2011 14:11:04 GMT 10
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Post by Roehm3108 on Oct 26, 2011 9:23:18 GMT 10
Daggsey tells us: "to be continued.............................(with another surprise) " Okay you guys, just cos you're having a good old time is NO excuse for not telling us what this "surprise" really is all about ;D ;D Ray |
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millsy
Junior Member
Posts: 52
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Post by millsy on Oct 26, 2011 23:08:19 GMT 10
Our family lived in Wittenoom in the mid fifties when I was only 3 or 4 years old. Dad worked in the mine.
I don't remember too much except that's where I started my love of flying. I used to jump off high things! But on one of those jumps I broke my leg, and still have the pic of me trying to ride my little three wheeler with one leg straight out in a cast.
A few years later we were living at Marble Bar, a bit further north. Dad organized the weekly DC3 fruit and veg plane to transport the eleven kids from the primary school down to Wittenoom for the annual sports day. Every other year before that the parents drove the kids down. So we did it in style that year.
But even in the fifties the Marble Bar kids had heard the rumours about all the widows in Wittenoom. A hush came over us as we were bussed down the long main street, and we were whispering to each other about which houses could be the ones with the widows in mourning.
The people of the Pilbara knew there was a problem, way back in the fifties, but whether they knew the men were dying from the ore they mined I am not sure.
Dad was a chain smoker and when ever anyone mentioned that he should quit smoking he just laughed it off saying that the asbestos would get him first. His post mortem at the age of 64 was inconclusive, although he did rely heavily on his bottled oxygen.
And then I had niggling thoughts myself through the nineties, forty years after living there. That's the danger period. But I seem to have survived unscathed luckily.
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