Saturday 13 March 1982
After making a special ‘press run’ for the assembled media on the biggest tributary of the Severn River, Quart Pot Creek, the boats were put onto the bus for the journey to Mingoola Station on the Mole River. This start/re-start point was two kilometres from the Mole River’s junction with the Dumaresq River, 52 kilometres south of Stanthorpe.
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- The start on Quart Pot Creek, Stanthorpe.
Last minute checks took a considerable time but finally the expedition was underway at 12.28 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
For the next 460 kilometres the river (by its various names) forms the border between New South Wales and Quensland.
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- Mole River re-start point. The start of the expedition proper.
After a dash down the rocky-bottomed Mole River the boat crews sped out into a flood swollen Dumaresq River (headwaters of the Darling River).
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- The river level was fairly high but nevertheless receding from floods two days previously.
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- The Mole River was fast flowing and shallow with several small rapids.
The high banks allowed only occasional glimpses of cleared farming land. Many irrigation pumps were seen. Tobacco is one of the major crops of the region as evidenced by the many drying sheds.
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- The bent over trees indicate the height to which the river had risen only days earlier. The expedition was to catch up to these flood waters less than two days later.
It was not intended that the bus follow the boats, merely move from camp to camp. The 4WD Escort would refuel the boats and Rover would attempt to ascertain suitable routes for the Expedition. With this in mind the bus crew headed towards Sunnybrook, nine kilometres out of Yelarbon.
Bonshaw Weir, eight kilometres downriver from the hamlet of Bonshaw, is termed a ‘stepped weir’ constructed from steel sheet piling, backfilled with concrete.The weir is 65 metres wide, with an initial drop of approximately 1.6 metres. The floodwaters reduced the drop considerably.
The weir provided anxious moments when my boat filled with water and ‘turned turtle’ at the bottom of the weir while Mark filmed the other boats jumping it.
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- Mark filming at Bonshaw Weir.
Mark was caught in the backswirl of the water rushing over the weir and was unable to break free. I made numerous attempts to push the nose of the submerged boat in towards him so he would have something to grasp but all to no avail. After being sucked under four times (he would not let go of his movie camera) he was finally able to push off the wall and propel himself into calmer water.
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- Steve and Andy jump Bonshaw Weir.
The rest of the boat crews had driven to the south bank to meet Tony in Rover and were unaware that the river had very nearly claimed Mark’s life – a situation that Mark and I had difficulty comprehending and even more difficulty reconciling, given the near tragedy. However, life, and the Expedition, goes on.
It took some time to dry out and re-start my motor before the Expedition could continue.
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- An injured swan on the Dumaresq (as the Darling is known here).
Meanwhile the crews took the opportunity to replenish personal energy levels (have a snack) and reflect on their good fortune to find such agreeable water levels.
An aluminium canoe that had been found farther upriver was offloaded to Rover, as were the second fuel tanks and lunch boxes. All other unnecessary weight was removed from the boats in an effort to coax more speed from them. Rover departed full to the roof lining.
The weather had been hot and humid all day. The crew in the bus arrived at Yelarbon and a few kilometres out of the town found their way blocked by the flooded Mackie Creek. Bob unloaded the Yamaha motorbike, brought for just such an occasion, and headed off towards Sunnybrook to attempt contact with the boat crews – not realising that they would not be arriving. After a marathon effort – all to no avail – he returned to the bus where Ted was waiting.
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- Less than 24 hours previously the water was over the top of these pylons being erected for a new bridge at Texas.
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- The reason why a new bridge was being built.
Back on the water the various delays caused the day’s run to be shortened. The overnight stop was brought back to Texas. As contact could not be made with the bus crew the boat crews were without bedding, cooking facilities or shelter. It was believed that the bus and its crew were possibly trapped at Yelarbon due to floods but there was no way of confirming this. The support crew in Escort arrived. Money was found among all the expeditioners and the support crew was despatched to the local fish and chip shop. They arrived back with sustenance and a large tarpaulin for shelter that had been arranged by the local Police.
SUMMARY OF PROGRESS
| Departed Mole River | 1228 |
| Entered Dumaresq River | 1232 |
| Bonshaw Weir (fuel) | 1514 |
| Re-start from Bonshaw Weir | 1603 |
| Texas Bridge (overnight) | 1648 |
| Running Time | 2 hours 55 mins |
| Refuelling | 49 mins |
| Delays | 36 mins |
| TOTAL TIME | 4 hours 20 mins |
| Distance | 79 kilometres |
| Average Speed | 27.1 kmh |
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