I thoroughly enjoyed all three videos - great story of Madigan and excellent aerial photography. Here is some added desert history. Warning: There’s a fox in the henhouse! Madigan in his book “Crossing the Dead Heart” references his planned route across the Simpson Desert in 1939 as through the difficult central parts and its middle. He considered that the desert hadn’t truly been crossed before because no white man had actually passed through its centre - its heart - and his would be the first true crossing. Was this true or false? Unlike the well-equipped and publicised Madigan Expedition, a little Aussie battler named Ted Colson from Bloods Creek Station gave his wife Alice a hug and a peck on the cheek, grabbed his Aboriginal companion Peter Ains, kicked a couple of camels in the ribs and rode across the desert to Birdsville. After a quick beer he returned home thus making the first crossing of the desert by a white man. The year was 1936. Ted was not well educated but in my book he was a true bushman. He received very little recognition for his effort. When I re-enacted Madigan’s crossing as a celebration to him and his party nearly forty years ago (1979), one of my objectives was to compare his so called difficult central parts to my knowledge already gained of Colson’s crossing which Madigan had called a southern crossing therefore obviously inferior to his planned route through the centre. Considering all factors (distance, terrain, vegetation), I came to the conclusion after my re-enactment that the difficulties facing a camel journey traversing either route were so minor as to preclude any further discussion on southern or middle crossings. Both were great journeys through difficult terrain and they could both feel justifiably proud of their achievements. Years later well respected walker C. Warren Bonython determined the geographic centre of the Simpson Desert. This placed both Madigan and Colson’s journeys about equidistant from the magic centre. Wow. The only people that I know of to have passed within a few miles of Bonython’s centre point at that time were D. Von Sanden in 1962 (N to S), Reg Sprigg in 1964 (S to N) and my own solo crossing travelling East to West in 1977 all by vehicle. In 1994 planning was well underway to do a solo camel crossing of the Simpson to pay tribute to Ted Colson when by chance I came upon an old newspaper article. It was about a bloke who as a child lost a father he had never known. The child was of the opinion that his father was coming to collect him from Colebrook Childrens' Home at Quorn to take him back to the desert and his mother when he hit a tree and was killed. He stated in the article “All my dreams were shattered”. Well, that was a dream that we could make happen in a different way, so I added another camel and offered him the journey of a lifetime, a re-enactment of his father’s desert crossing in 1936. This bloke was Daniel J. Colson (Danny Boy) the part aboriginal son of Ted Colson. Starting at his father’s old home at Bloods Creek (read ruins) we completed our crossing in 21 days. At The Knolls about half way across I had hooshed the camels down where his father had in 1936 and we then climbed to the top of the southern most hill. Handing him a copy of a photo taken by his father he was able to stand on the exact same spot. When he finally spoke there was a huskiness to his voice that I hadn’t heard before and I glimpsed the shimmer of a tear in his eyes. “Nothing much has changed” he said “It is almost identical”. Well, he was right. It is timeless out there. That is why it is so special. As I left Danny gazing out over the salt lake and the gidgee massed valley, I had no doubt he was longing for a touch denied him so long ago. A child’s dream was now being fulfilled in the only way possible. His face displayed his emotions. He was being reconnected and I could feel Ted’s presence. Father and son were now united. My desert mate Danny passed away July 2016 aged 84.
Stefan I know the air strip you mentioned and showed we crossed it back in 2012 when pushing through Madigan Line before a Track existed. It seems even a bit more over grown now. Even though the track tacks away from it being a serious adventure now, it certainly is beautiful country. Great work again.
yes I agree kicking myself that I did not do Madigan 2 years ago but a failure of a vehicle in our group prevented us, however, our return Nothern Simpson Cross Country traverse made up for it hard to get more remote than that.
I have found sat phones are absolutely useless in the past, the only thing worth while is the good old HF radio with a tapped antennae and/or a long wire aerial with a manual tuner. I use a old Barrett SB 250 wireless. never lets me down.. I was amazed when I started watching your videos Stefan that you didn't have HF... Shane
Can you imagine the stress of trying to get the Sat phone to work in a life threatening emergency? Just show's how we cannot totally rely on tech in all situations.
Hi Stefan, I've been enjoying your videos over the last year, having also done many of the tracks you've showed. One question please - what software are you using to edit your video's ? Thanks, Mark.
![Simpson Desert Madigan Line by 4wd [2018] | Incl Desert Walker Footage | EP 4 | ALLOFFROAD #154](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/aBTJXfkF4rQ/mqdefault.jpg)
![Simpson Desert Madigan Line by 4wd [2018] | Incl Desert Walker Footage | EP 4 | ALLOFFROAD #154](/img/tr.png)
![Simpson Desert | Madigan Line & Hay River Part 1 ALLOFFROAD [2022]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/oKIOb8XrdYw/mqdefault.jpg)
![Simpson Desert Madigan Line by 4wd [2018] incl. History EP 2 | ALLOFFROAD #152](/img/n.gif)
What is your most memorable Madigan Line experience? Have you done it more then once? How has it Changed?
Wow amazing milky way shots. Really happy i found this series thanks.
Glad you like them!
I thoroughly enjoyed all three videos - great story of Madigan and excellent aerial photography. Here is some added desert history.
Warning: There’s a fox in the henhouse! Madigan in his book “Crossing the Dead Heart” references his planned route across the Simpson Desert in 1939 as through the difficult central parts and its middle. He considered that the desert hadn’t truly been crossed before because no white man had actually passed through its centre - its heart - and his would be the first true crossing. Was this true or false?
Unlike the well-equipped and publicised Madigan Expedition, a little Aussie battler named Ted Colson from Bloods Creek Station gave his wife Alice a hug and a peck on the cheek, grabbed his Aboriginal companion Peter Ains, kicked a couple of camels in the ribs and rode across the desert to Birdsville. After a quick beer he returned home thus making the first crossing of the desert by a white man. The year was 1936. Ted was not well educated but in my book he was a true bushman. He received very little recognition for his effort.
When I re-enacted Madigan’s crossing as a celebration to him and his party nearly forty years ago (1979), one of my objectives was to compare his so called difficult central parts to my knowledge already gained of Colson’s crossing which Madigan had called a southern crossing therefore obviously inferior to his planned route through the centre.
Considering all factors (distance, terrain, vegetation), I came to the conclusion after my re-enactment that the difficulties facing a camel journey traversing either route were so minor as to preclude any further discussion on southern or middle crossings. Both were great journeys through difficult terrain and they could both feel justifiably proud of their achievements.
Years later well respected walker C. Warren Bonython determined the geographic centre of the Simpson Desert. This placed both Madigan and Colson’s journeys about equidistant from the magic centre. Wow. The only people that I know of to have passed within a few miles of Bonython’s centre point at that time were D. Von Sanden in 1962 (N to S), Reg Sprigg in 1964 (S to N) and my own solo crossing travelling East to West in 1977 all by vehicle.
In 1994 planning was well underway to do a solo camel crossing of the Simpson to pay tribute to Ted Colson when by chance I came upon an old newspaper article. It was about a bloke who as a child lost a father he had never known. The child was of the opinion that his father was coming to collect him from Colebrook Childrens' Home at Quorn to take him back to the desert and his mother when he hit a tree and was killed. He stated in the article “All my dreams were shattered”.
Well, that was a dream that we could make happen in a different way, so I added another camel and offered him the journey of a lifetime, a re-enactment of his father’s desert crossing in 1936. This bloke was Daniel J. Colson (Danny Boy) the part aboriginal son of Ted Colson.
Starting at his father’s old home at Bloods Creek (read ruins) we completed our crossing in 21 days. At The Knolls about half way across I had hooshed the camels down where his father had in 1936 and we then climbed to the top of the southern most hill. Handing him a copy of a photo taken by his father he was able to stand on the exact same spot. When he finally spoke there was a huskiness to his voice that I hadn’t heard before and I glimpsed the shimmer of a tear in his eyes. “Nothing much has changed” he said “It is almost identical”. Well, he was right. It is timeless out there. That is why it is so special. As I left Danny gazing out over the salt lake and the gidgee massed valley, I had no doubt he was longing for a touch denied him so long ago. A child’s dream was now being fulfilled in the only way possible. His face displayed his emotions. He was being reconnected and I could feel Ted’s presence. Father and son were now united.
My desert mate Danny passed away July 2016 aged 84.
thanks a lot for your background information, it's greatly appreciated
Stefan I know the air strip you mentioned and showed we crossed it back in 2012 when pushing through Madigan Line before a Track existed. It seems even a bit more over grown now. Even though the track tacks away from it being a serious adventure now, it certainly is beautiful country. Great work again.
yes I agree kicking myself that I did not do Madigan 2 years ago but a failure of a vehicle in our group prevented us, however, our return Nothern Simpson Cross Country traverse made up for it hard to get more remote than that.
Great episode bud, very well put together and presented.
Thank you very much....
Thank you for sharing, bit of a worry about the sat phones...
yes, had this now twice happening they should not be carried as the only emergency communication means
I have found sat phones are absolutely useless in the past, the only thing worth while is the good old HF radio with a tapped antennae and/or a long wire aerial with a manual tuner. I use a old Barrett SB 250 wireless. never lets me down.. I was amazed when I started watching your videos Stefan that you didn't have HF... Shane
Just fantastic Stephen
Great editing, wonderful story telling and brilliant footage
Such a pleasure to watch on a 50" TV while relaxing
Thank you mate :-)
It is the Mokari Airstrip built to service oil exploration rigs.
thank you very much, that's it :-)
It’s actually not the Mokari Air Strip air strip which is located South of the French line and not Madigan
Love the work and effort as always great to watch
Thank you very much mate :-)
Brilliant, I may attempt a solo crossing on my motorbike.
that would also be quite an adventure especially unsupported
Can you imagine the stress of trying to get the Sat phone to work in a life threatening emergency? Just show's how we cannot totally rely on tech in all situations.
Hi Stefan, I've been enjoying your videos over the last year, having also done many of the tracks you've showed. One question please - what software are you using to edit your video's ? Thanks, Mark.
FCPX is the software used for editing