Another sad outback death...

rockylizard · Guru

Another sad outback death...

cultana · Senior Member

Also it pays to have at least a HF radio or a Sat phone, if not both.

But why do they call Windidda Station, a cattle ranch? The terminology appeared in both articles. One would hope that the ABC would know they are cattle station..

Bruce and Bev · Guru

sad and unnecessary - especially when his female companion stayed in the vehicle and was found alive and well............guess we never know what its like to feel abandoned and how we would react in a similar situation. We have a PLB which we would use in this situation (we also carry it when we walk off the beaten track). Pay about $300 for a unit not much bigger or heavier than a mobile phone and no on-going fees knowing you WILL be found within a few hours no matter where you are on the planet

03_Troopy · Guru

I think it's quite a bit more than a few hours by the time they go through all the rigmarole of verification etc. But at least you will be found, providing you make sure that your battery isn't flat and you do your serviceability checks when required.

dorian · Guru

A little off-topic, but I found it interesting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windidda

In 2005 approximately 500 cattle were found dead on the property, which appeared to have been abandoned. RSPCA inspectors were called to the property to provide assistance to the remaining 2,500 cattle. Only two of the station's 13 watering points were found be in working order and the livestock were so neglected that a further 30 head of stock had to be put down. The Aboriginal corporation that held the lease to the property, Ngangganawili Community Incorporated, were thought to have left the property for law business but had left no provision for the livestock. The RSPCA described it as the worst case of neglect seen in Western Australia. Later the same year the property was effectively destocked with 1,818 cattle being mustered and sold. The remaining 300 were likely to sold to with proceeds going back to the Wandidda Aboriginal Community, who had replaced Ngangganawili Community Incorporated after it was dissolved. The Wandidda Aboriginal Corporation forfeited the pastoral lease and the property was passed under management of the Pastoral Lands Board.

The community were later fined A$10,000 after pleading guilty to failing to provide adequate water for over 1,500 head of cattle at Windidda.

Bruce and Bev · Guru

Troopy - I used the word "found" rather than rescued - found as in located by satellite triangulation and a plane flying overhead (commercial or rescue). It could take up to a day for the nearest ranger/police to get to you either by vehicle or air. As for battery life - 7 years and annual check is a 2 min job. But with these sort of devices, at least you know you will be saved. As far as batteries and service goes, the same can be said for sat phones and HF radios don't cover all of Aust and if your car breaks down, you may not have the power to transmit - or to be able to provide your lat/long for them to locate you.

PeterD · Guru

cultana wrote:
But why do they call Windidda Station, a cattle ranch? The terminology appeared in both articles. One would hope that the ABC would know they are cattle station..

That depends on whether it is the abc or the ABC. Have a look at the banner across the top, then open an ABC page and notice the difference.

The Yanks would not know what cattle station is.

aussie_paul · Guru

Bruce and Bev wrote:
Troopy - I used the word "found" rather than rescued - found as in located by satellite triangulation and a plane flying overhead (commercial or rescue). It could take up to a day for the nearest ranger/police to get to you either by vehicle or air. As for battery life - 7 years and annual check is a 2 min job. But with these sort of devices, at least you know you will be saved. As far as batteries and service goes, the same can be said for sat phones and HF radios don't cover all of Aust and if your car breaks down, you may not have the power to transmit - or to be able to provide your lat/long for them to locate you.

Absolutely Bruce and Bev...

Aussie Paul. smile

johnq · Guru

A sad loss.

To be practical, it demonstrates that regardless of the best intentions and actions of government it is not possible to remove all risks. In a free country people exercise choice and they should. Sometimes their decisions are poor.

How many times does government have to say maintain the vehicle, exercise care to avoid travelling in the heat ('olds' especially), carry sufficient water, stick with the vehicle, advise someone etc etc? Same advice applies to locals as to tourists.

What I wonder is if the constant nagging from albeit well-intended authorities and endless regulations to 'protect' us are resulting in the perceived wholesale transfer of individual responsibility to the State and raising a nation of functional incompetents who now need to be protected from themselves.

Years ago in country areas we always had split water tanks, a canvas tarp, axe, shovel and a go-to bag with the makings for tea and a bag of rice with a few other necessities. A .22 rifle as well. Good God, that single shot would wrinkle the brows of the serially upset urban hipsters. Those days if anything went wrong (not uncommon) the old man would first make a billy of tea and find shade while contemplating the options, "Might as well be comfortable, we have some work to do". Several times we camped for flooding from distant rain to subside, or for the mud to firm up a bit.

Cupie · Guru

johnq wrote:
A sad loss.

To be practical, it demonstrates that regardless of the best intentions and actions of government it is not possible to remove all risks. In a free country people exercise choice and they should. Sometimes their decisions are poor.

How many times does government have to say maintain the vehicle, exercise care to avoid travelling in the heat ('olds' especially), carry sufficient water, stick with the vehicle, advise someone etc etc? Same advice applies to locals as to tourists.

What I wonder is if the constant nagging from albeit well-intended authorities and endless regulations to 'protect' us are resulting in the perceived wholesale transfer of individual responsibility to the State and raising a nation of functional incompetents who now need to be protected from themselves.

Years ago in country areas we always had split water tanks, a canvas tarp, axe, shovel and a go-to bag with the makings for tea and a bag of rice with a few other necessities. A .22 rifle as well. Good God, that single shot would wrinkle the brows of the serially upset urban hipsters. Those days if anything went wrong (not uncommon) the old man would first make a billy of tea and find shade while contemplating the options, "Might as well be comfortable, we have some work to do". Several times we camped for flooding from distant rain to subside, or for the mud to firm up a bit.

Excellent advice for all such situations, even down to a bogged vehicle. My first encounter with this advice was in a Jack Absalom DVD as was the advice to set a tyre alight.

-- Edited by Cupie on Friday 9th of January 2015 07:38:09 PM

03_Troopy · Guru

Bruce and Bev wrote:
Troopy - I used the word "found" rather than rescued - found as in located by satellite triangulation and a plane flying overhead (commercial or rescue). It could take up to a day for the nearest ranger/police to get to you either by vehicle or air. As for battery life - 7 years and annual check is a 2 min job. But with these sort of devices, at least you know you will be saved. As far as batteries and service goes, the same can be said for sat phones and HF radios don't cover all of Aust and if your car breaks down, you may not have the power to transmit - or to be able to provide your lat/long for them to locate you.

Your position to with about 120M may be relayed within minutes if you have a GPS capable PLB, if you don't have a GPS capable PLB this could take a lot longer, and could be hours to locate your position with about 5Km i think it is. Then the distress signall has to be verified.. again it could take minutes if you have registered your plb, if not again it could take hours. Then you wait for a suitable SAR vehicle to be dispatched to go find you. Then you will be found......

And of course any electronic device needs power to operate. I was merely pointing out that the EPIRB, PLB whatever you want to call it is not a magical device that will always be ready to do it's job when required.. it needs to be checked... yes, like all the other devices you mentioned.

And any of the other communications devices you mentioned, should always be tried first, if you have them. The PLB or EPIRB is a LAST RESORT usage when there is a threat of GRAVE AND IMMINENT DANGER.

-- Edited by 03_Troopy on Friday 9th of January 2015 10:19:07 PM