6 minute read
Dangerous overtaking putting others at risk
Risky driving on Flinders
During a recent trip along the section of the Flinders Highway on the way to Charters Towers I was amazed by the high number of wide loads.
Add to that scores of triples and quads.
What was a worry is that I saw five instances of car drivers conducting dangerous overtaking to get around heavy vehicles, some of which are more than 50m long.
One of those stupid acts almost resulted in a car having a head on collision with an oncoming vehicle.
I reckon the only thing that saved that reckless driver was the actions of the quad driver who slowed down considerably.
What is the Min Min light?
The piece in a recent column about an alleged sighting of a black panther sparked a huge response and some of those who contacted Spy also mentioned the elusive and mysterious Min Min Light.
So what is a Min Min, does it really exist and how many people have seen it?
Over the years Spy has spoken to many truckies who claim to have seen a Min Min whilst travelling remote roads at night.
Others have provided what they say are feasible explanations for what it is.
The Min Min has remained one of Australia’s true mysteries for more than 100 years and opinion is divided about what it actually is.
Hundreds of creditable people have reported seeing the phenomenon along the 376km stretch of road between Winton and Boulia in the Queensland outback.
Visitors from all over travel to Boulia in the hope of seeing the Min Min light which was first sighted by Cobb and Co coach passengers in the late 1800s.
It is described as being an orange glow, which moves around at great speed over flat country. It can jump up and down, and seems to move away as one approaches it.
In the main street of Boulia is a large sign advising visitors of the Min Min being a genuine mystery.
Many truck drivers travel along the Winton to Boulia Road, where the only stop for refreshments in between is the Middleton Hotel, which is about halfway.
Numerous truck drivers have stopped there over the decades claiming to have seen the light.
The Min Min Encounter
Centre in the main street of Boulia has a record of many alleged sightings and included is a pic taken during 2003 in the town, which appears to be an unexplained light.
It was snapped by a Western Australian lady staying at the caravan park in the main street of Boulia and the shot is of the street outside.
One of the pictures taken amazingly shows a large unexplained light on the side of the road.
Well-known and famous outback businessman and ex truckie, the late Cliff Donohoe, used to travel between Townsville and Boulia, and wrote a book about the Min Min.
Donohoe claimed it was real but couldn’t say exactly what it was.
A Brisbane scientist claimed that that the Min Min Light is a cold layer of air, which reflects light.
A highly respected woman who was raised in Boulia said that she was born at the Min Min Hotel, which is 108km from there.
She said her father’s grandmother was named Granny Lilly and used to walk around the hotel area each night, carrying a kerosene fuelled hurricane lamp, before going to bed.
Sadly she died and it is claimed her spirit was seen with the lamp, hence the origins of the Min Min.
If you doubted some of those I have spoken to who claim to have seen the Min Min light you might well receive a “knuckle sandwich” on the jaw.
Of course there have been opinions which include that it is light from a UFO and the odd humorous one.
The late Larry Dulhunty, who travelled the outback for more than 50 years before he died in 2007, had never seen it but had spoken to many who had.
“They reckon a chemical such as phosphorus on the bum of a roo or emu is the cause,” he said.
So if you are a truckie and have seen the Min Min or have your own opinion about exactly what it is, we want to hear from you. Any pictures are welcomed.
Sharp edges on seats
One of the major complaints from truck drivers is the shortage of genuine rest areas, specifically ones which have toilets, and shaded areas with tables and seats.
So Spy was reluctant initially to report concerns from drivers about rest areas which have these.
Their whinge was that some of those with concrete tables and seats have sharp edges which has resulted in cuts for users.
Half a dozen drivers say they have received wounds which have resulted in bleeding as they have gotten up to leave the seats.
These sharp edges are on the corners of both the tables and chairs and their wounds have been on the back of the legs or the stomach.
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Spy experienced this whilst taking a break at one such rest area.
This may seem like a menial complaint but not so for anybody who has suffered a wound.
Hay trucks in large numbers
It is that time of the year when a large number of trucks hauling hay can be seen on our highways and byways.
So Spy asked one long time truckie who had two trailers chock a block loaded with hay what was the reason.
“There is a lot of cattle being shifted as the demand for beef increases.
Also mustering is going on everywhere and in the far north and the NT cattle are being taken to ships for live export,” he said.
Also the stations on which the cattle have grazed have little grass so the demand for hay is great.
Public phones scarce
Due to the fanatical use of mobile phones by most peo ple, those public phones which had once been around in large numbers are now scarce.
Once upon a time public phones were found everywhere.
Whilst on a trip along the Flinders Highway recently Spy noticed a public phone booth outside the Caltex Raodhouse at Calcium.
There was even a person inside either making a call or trying to.
More panther sightings
My piece in a recent edition about a couple in a caravan allegedly spotting a black panther-like big cat resulted in a heap of responses.
One WA truckie who lives in Baldivis said that in 2009, at about 10pm, he was standing outside a donga and saw a tioned here in World War II had panthers as mascots and released them into the bush when hostilities finished.
However, this gent who still drives a Hino in his hometown, which is 46km from Perth, has a second possible explanation.
“I heard that some escaped from circuses and bred in the bush,” he said.
Piddle problem
As truckies negotiate the highways and byways often along remote routes they come across roadworks, some of which have traffic control officers.
A percentage are female and it seems that many have a problem finding a location when they need a piddle.
Male controllers can slip behind a tree or scrub where one is available. However, it
Along with his wife, they had been away and had no idea that the bill was overdue.
They returned home to discover the power had been cut off.
However, pardon the pun here, but he was in the dark as to which of the five electricity providers in the Perth region serviced his residence.
So he phoned them all and you guessed it, his provider was the last one he contacted.
In the end the power was restored after three more days and he had to pay a reconnection fee.
Shirt centre of attention
A man wearing a colourful shirt who was standing with his back facing traffic entering a busy shopping centre was the centre of attention.
The shirt he had on stood out like dog’s you-knowwhat and had the words “Without trucks Australia stops” screen printed on it.
Spy saw the gent and heard numerous patrons who were heading into the local IGA store discussing it.
It was the first time Spy had ever seen such a shirt but it certainly was a positive for the road transport industry.
Snapper to the rescue
Around Australia, Spy has numerous contacts who are keen photographers, with an eye out for pics they can send to me.
One who has provided lots of images over the years is retired NSW journalist Graham Hunt who also has a road transport background through his father who had been a long-time truckie. Hunty, as he is known, usually sends pics of trucks, roadhouses or other things pertinent to the industry.
However, on this occasion he sent me sensational snaps he took whilst attending the Australian inshore rescue boat (IRB) championships at Kingscliff, just over the Queensland border in NSW.
I know this sport doesn’t have a road transport industry flavour. But lots of truckies I have spoken to over the years while doing stories for Big Rigs follow it.
Recently, I had the pleasure of going on a road trip with Hunty to Ravenswood and Charters Towers and enjoyed it.