General News
10 July, 2026
The Red Centre: Part 1 with Val Dwyer
In September 1989, Maryborough Christian Community College had an eleven day trip with Hollands Bus Lines to the Red Centre and Alice Springs.
It was organized by Bruce Upton, admin director at the school and Jacque Durbridge, office guru. We couldn’t get sufficient numbers from the school community so advertised — and were joined by a local dentist, his two sons and his parents — also three travelling backpackers from Finland. We were 14 adults (including teachers and parents) and 15 kids.
We left Maryborough at 7 am and expressed for 34 hours to get to Alice Springs, with the two Holland brothers Phil and Brian sharing the driving and sleeping. Sandwiches, cakes, drinks and fruit were provided so we didn’t have to stop to eat. We passengers groggily slept on and off.
We travelled along the west MacDonnell Ranges and visited the Rev John Flynn grave, Stanley Chasm and the Ellery Creek water hole.
Our bus broke down with a puncture in the middle of nowhere and we all had to push it to help get it going.
When we stopped for toilet breaks, we were given strict instructions to be back on time, ‘or else!’ — the or else being, if you were late, you had to lie on your back and kick your legs in the air like a dead ant. There were always a few dead ants and lots of laughter at their ‘punishment’.
Arriving in Alice Springs we finally got to pitch our tents. I was sharing with Sr Reba. From then on, each night we had to pitch our tent, then every morning pull the whole thing down and pack it ready to go in the bus storage area.
The tents were not like the ones of today, light weight with floors. These were heavy cumbersome canvas. We also had to blow up and squeeze empty our lilo (mattress) every day.
Phil, Brian and Heather our cook, were experts at all stops over the whole trip. Off the bus, set up the food, set up the stoves, instant kitchen, all dig in — then a roster for everybody to have a turn at washing up and tidying away.
In Alice leaving our camp site we walked into the town centre and were amazed as it was Regatta time. We witnessed a street parade led by a Scottish band of pipers and drummers.
The parade was on its way to the Henley-on-Todd dry river bed boat race. Each ‘float’ was manned/womaned — all having to walk/run in an effort to be first over the finish line. Entrants included a group of Americans, a Carlton Draft/Fosters Lager bunch, a Viking ship and crew and advocates of the Human Endeavour.
In 1962, a group of local Rotarians came up with the idea of a Regatta, including a boat race, as a fundraising event for charity. Each year since then, local Rotarians and their bottomless boats gallop down the sandy bed of the Todd. A new glamorous Miss Henley-on-Todd is elected every year. The first Miss Henley in 1962 won a one way trip to the airport with the most unpopular taxi driver in town.
We visited the Royal Flying Doctor Base. Presbyterian Minister Rev John Flynn, riding the outback by horse and camel, was the genius behind the establishment of flying doctors. The first flight was in May 1928. In 1933 The Australian Medical Service was established and later was to become The Royal Flying Doctor Service. Rev John Flynn was born at Moliagul, 56 kilometres from Maryborough, in 1880.
The old telegraph station was fascinating, it was like a small village. In January 1872, the first telegraph message was transmitted from here to Adelaide. The telegraph office was constantly manned. The station master lived on site with his family.
Five of us hired a pink mini moke, $70 for the day, and charged around to see the sights of Alice and visited the casino in the evening.
We visited, and all rode ‘The Ships of the Desert’ at the Camel farm.
Part 2 coming next week