The Great Southern Expedition :: Day 5
Wednesday, 23 November
Rose at 6:20 am, packed up Alfred and after a piece of pineapple to keep body and soul together and set off for Renner Springs – the place that we’d heard so much about. Boy were we looking forward to that Steak and shower, by the time we reached there we were nice and sticky and just longing for a shower. Helen had first shower and mentioned in passing that there was tar on the floor – no shower rose and that only half of the ladies toilet remained – I decided it needed flushing anyway and just about flooded the joint – decided to use the “Men’s” next door! Next came my shower - I stripped off through my clothes on the floor and of course - tar everywhere - all over my white nylon blouse!
We all left Renner Springs with spots of tar in the most un-accountable places! Off to tackle that steak – it was terrible!! Dry and tough – so much for Bill [Gartner’s?] recommendation. Before we left we refilled our water bags and bottles – tar all over the tap! Just before we set off we thought it looked like rain, so decided as we were already covered in tar, a little extra wouldn’t hurt us and probably would improve Alfred tremendously – he was letting in the rain quite shamelessly. We were all quite pleased to turn our backs on Renner Springs.
Continued uneventfully to Tennant Creek. Who should be serving in T.C. bar but Connie Casey (ex Vic Hotel!). That was our good fortune, for Connie offered us the use of her room and bathroom to “clean up”. After showering and a quick beer with Connie, went in search of “grub” as we had promised to wait until 6:30 pm to have another beer with Connie. Had luscious sandwiches and tea in Cafe. Outlook grew rosier every minute.
Went back to Hotel just as Connie finished her meal time relief and then it was on! Several local lads were introduced and Norman McLean and Alex Severigny (Darwin-ites) both came and had a chat. We seemed to be having numerous "ones" for the road, but finally dragged ourselves away at 8 pm, amid rousing cheers and farewells from our merry group, which by this time included Lyle Newby! Wonderful what gin squashes will do – we sailed on for about three hours and camped about 80-90 miles out from Tennant.
Connie had sent us off complete with two bottles of beer and two lemonade in a Kero tin of crushed ice – we felt quite luxurious! Ice in our Thermos too! Mixed ourselves a milo – the ants beat me to mine – think I spread my pack on a nest but I was too weary and full of gin to care! – and so to bed!
Wednesday, 23 November 1955
Rose at 6.20am packed up and after a piece of pineapple set off for Renner Springs. Only bit of interest was a small valley in the midst of all the flat open country – I remembered the spot from my first trip up through the Centre – Helen has never seen it before in spite of her five trips down the track. Breakfast at Renner Springs, steak, eggs etc., and a wonderful shower – it’s hot and sticky driving, even at this early hour.
My goodness, was I glad to get away from Renner. Nothing but tar! Tar on the shower room floor (under a tank) – stepped on my blouse and got tar on it! Filled bottles from tap – tar on that too! Before we left we put Bostik along Alfred’s windscreen to keep out the rain – all over our fingers – gee we were happy! Travelled on uneventfully to Tennant Creek with a roadside lunch of pineapple and mango – wonderful fresh fruit. Who should be serving in Tennant Creek Hotel but Connie Casey (ex Vic. Darwin). The most enormous transport had just pulled up beside us – carrying cartons of Melb. beer, and here we are sipping that dreadful West End draft! Connie offered us her room and bathroom for a scrub up – most acceptable.
Impressions of Tennant Creek were most disheartening until we met Connie. After that the entire outlook changed. After showering we had a quick drink with Connie and went to Cafe for sandwiches and tea while she worked for 1/2-hour. Then we returned for “our shout” – finished up with quite a gathering and saw Norman McLean, Alex Severigny and Lyle Newby. We were given a rousing farewell, complete with 2 bottles beer and 2 lemonade in kero tin of crushed ice – supplied by Connie – the ministering angel. Dragged ourselves away at 8pm. Drove for about 3 hours and camped at a road junction about 8 miles west of Frewena. Mixed a milo which the ants beat me to – pity!! and once more to bed.