Yes, they are on their way! + updates
A group of "slightly crazy" Walkers are journeying from White Cliffs to Lightning Ridge. It's a 31 days trek - 686 kilometres - they'll have time enough thinking about the hardships of those early miners 100 years ago.
They're also walking to raise money for the Australian Opal Centre. Donations are welcome - go to www.australianopalcentre.com and click on The Walk
This photo was taken on the first day, Saturday 23rd June. From left to right: Rod Cook - Shovel - Irmhild Bakker - Barbara Gasch - Gunnel Hecht - Doug Brook - Juergen Hecht - Sue Dowton
For those who were wondering
The square squiggly box in the "Upcoming Events" column on the left of this page is a QR Code that can be included in emails, and on printed posters etc. to give mobile and tablet users a quick link to the relevant website.
The ideal use would be in printed marketing materials for businesses, and the like.
Simply include the box in your printed materials and users who point their smartphone cameras at it will go through to your website. For example the QR code on the right is for Brian Cox's website listing "Wilcannia Auto Repairs", listed in the business and services directory of this website.
For Android phone users you can download and install a free app (such as "QR Droid"). Once installed and opened, simply point it at the squiggly box, and voilà.
History Corner -- The Mail Run
Before motor transport became useful and popular, camels, bullocks and horses were beasts of burden in the outback. Camels were most used because they could carry a good load on their backs and were faster than bullocks and could exist on less feed and water than the other two mentioned.
For many years even after the introduction of motor transport, the common on the northern side of Broken Hill was called “camel camp” which was occupied by Afghans and their camels, which reminds me of a story often told by mine host, George Tainsh, proprietor of the hotel in which I stayed during my five years in Broken Hill.
George’s story goes like this. Before becoming a publican George was the local representative of Vacuum Oil Co (now Mobil) and each year all the reps of South Aust. And Broken Hill were called to Adelaide to bring them up to date with all the latest in the oil industry.
The night before the conference, George and a few mates had a night out drinking and playing poker, so naturally they were not too bright for the lecture the following morning.