In 1973 I got my 1st big rig, a new Mack R600 with the 300 coolpower, airstart, & a luxurious but un-useable fibreglass hotbox sleeper, which is why I slept in a swag. Anyway I used to pull 2 single deck stock trailers in to Katherine abattoir from the surrounding cattle stations, all dirt of course, & as far out as Urandangi, on the NT/QLD border, which then had a pub, run by a widow. It had a Lister generator sufficient to run one light globe, & it had a kerosene fridge that could accommodate one carton of beer which the widow refused to replenish until the whole cool-ish at best carton had sold. Who now remembers the hand painted sign on a rock saying "cool beer"? I retired in 2016 & my last truck was a KW T904 with a Cat C16, spyders on 6 rod, Aerodyne walk in sleeper, icepack, & all the creature comforts. I did over 5 million kms in this truck & it was the very best I ever had. I used it to pull triple flattops out from Perth to remote Northwest mines, & I miss it sorely. I've seen this before, but thanks for posting.
Where was this filmed? Any info? Blue Dodge Wellside pick up truck with the white roof at 2:00 looks like a truck I drive in the late 80's Mt Isa 2:27 ?
Hi Paul, sorry I have no further information about this film. It was one of two vintage films purchased from eBay in the UK and the seller tells me he acquired them at a car boot sale near Manchester UK. The other film has footage from the US. The original reel from which I edited the road trains was 40 minutes long and included some film of the Flying Doctors and the Rosseta Flynn Home as well as what looks like a missionary church meeting. I will edit some more from this reel at some stage and post this to my channel as well, there may be other things you recognise.
@DaveEldergillCineFilm Thank you Dave. Very interesting video. I know some of the places and some of the men filmed in this home video. The clip is an interesting array and eclectic mix of the vast country in Australia, and its people in transport throughout the early 70's and of course the trucks themselves. In the 1st instance the film covers a broad area from the: - East Kimberley's of Western Australia to - Mt Isa in Qld. Thousands of km’s apart if you went via Katherine NT and not the Murinjai Track [today’s Buchanan Hwy]. Predominately, [this edited version,] it is filmed mostly in the East Kimberley Region where two cattle trucking companies successfully operated out of Wyndham WA, a small town in the state of Western Australia. Population back then was not large. The standard township of Wyndham was about 500 people and grew to 800 with the Meatworks in seasonal operation. The double decker roadtrain [a cab-over MACK twin steer], was the 2nd vehicle called the "High and the Mighty” and owned by Noel Buntine. The vehicle was new in 1972. In 1974, I was a Co-Driver with Brook Hartley, a staunch Buntine Driver and supporter. Maybe it was circ 1975 Brooke is also featured in this clip at the bush races and camp draft. Regardless the locations in this clip are various and pieced together. Like all good film Directors do, the owner of this clip cut and pasted to make a GREAT story.. From Wyndham in the East Kimverly in WA to Mt Isa in Qld. The race meeting might have been at the Negro River which is located on the Duncan track. The Duncan Hwy as it is called today, was once a mind bending disastrous back breaking corrugated road where at times of the worst conditions possible it could send a sane man to Disney land. This road frequently straddles the WA and NT border from Hwy1 to Nicholson Stn. There are 3 Buntine men in the clip in the gymkhana are/were all great men ... All Northern Territory "tuff" men. Others in this clip, were equally formidable characters including the Stockman on horseback. In the 50’s 60’s and 70’s, everyone worked together as a team. Without team ship in play very few would have survived to arduous and daily difficulties that many coped with as part of a normal day. , There where NO lay about lizards on the Dole like there are today, [Black, White and Yellow]. Everyone had a job. All the workers, Black, White or Yellow ..Everyone at Buntine's and EKT ... had an equal standing with equal pay. Us truckers, couldn't do much in those days without the assistance of a trusty horse and the Aboriginal Stockman. Although some Vesty Managers [Wave Hill] typified the harshness and competitiveness of a burgeoning corporate enterprize. Vesty managers, were offered Bonus Pay incentives before they became fashionable in the 90’s. In short, some did anything to get that Bonus, Others were honourable Managers who provided health clothing and education to all alike and without discrimination. Australian outback history of today, does not record the real truth. Bad news sells newspapers .. Not fairness and not Facts. I am not sure on the population statistics back then, but I think the Kimberley had no more than 3,700 people when I was based in Wyndham Town from 1975 for 2 years. Putting this population number and its disparity when compared to today, into perspective, my 1972 issued NT driver’s license, which I still hold today has a license number 33793. The Sgt who handed my truck license at 16yrs, calmly stated that I was the 33,793 person to receive an NT license. Go figure.. Those Buntine boys at the races were: - Brian Hanson atop of the truck with the umbrella ...Always a funny chap but equally a rogue .. - Side view of Brook Hartly, - next unknown and then - Kevin (Renegade) Renehan. The cattle station could have been Nicholson Stn, but equally it also looks familiar like Argyle Stn... Vesty owned Nicholson Stn and many of its neigbouring cattle stations on the WA NT border. I suspect it was Nicholson Stn. Argyle Stn is now swallowed up by Lake Argyle.. Sold by the Durack’s in the late 60’s to the forward-thinking Charlie Court Western Australian government. There is also a clip of cattle being unloaded at the Wyndham Meatworks. These building had not change throughout the 70’s until the place was closed. The clip brings back some memories.. Mt Isa mines is conveniently thrown in for some unknow reason. Maybe the Vesty representative included this because Vesty also owned Morstone Downs north of Camooweal on the Qld NT border. Morstone, is a couple 100 clicks away from the township of Camooweal. Camooweal is located on the NT Qld Border enroute to Mt Isa. Back then, an executive would fly from Mt Isa to a Capital City. The film identifies the T-Junction of the major road leading from the Mt Isa town center, clearly showing the mine site in front and the corner we would negotiate and navigate with a roadtrain as you travelled west to Camooweal Qld to cross the Qld / NT border. I think the owner of the film used a lot of poetic license and might have been a representative of the Vesty Family and their interests in Australia. 1973 was the time of great change for Vesty’s. The Australian Taxation Office was pursuing them for decades of unpaid taxes and of course the Lingiari lead walk off from Wave Hill Station. The later matter was coming to a head after 7years of a workers walk-off. Why the walk-off? It is alleged, the Wave Hill manager didn’t want to lose his bonus as promised by Vesty’s Head Office in LONDON.. Go figure, those people in London were only after extreme wealth without taxes and went on to sell out of Australia to reestablish and rip / pillage Sth America. That said, the English mob regularly sent representatives to review their operations in the NT Qld and the Kimberly, namely, Limbunya Stn, Nicholson Stn, Mistake Creek; Gordon Downs and a host of others in Western Australia. Not to mention the host of vertical integrated businesses across Australia. Nice memories Warren Buntine
@@asianmgtI worked underground at MIM 1970-73 so it’s pretty obvious 2:17 is at Mt Isa. I remember Buntines around then but I remember Wrights Roadtrains more because they were over the road from the drive-in picture theatre. Was Noel your old man or related? The road from the Isa to the NT Border was a shocker back then, single lane mostly, bitumised during WW2. Also the road out to Cloncurry, you can still see some of the remnants of the original. Edit: I read it again, obviously not your old man if you drove in 1974. We must be roughly the same age.
In 1973 I got my 1st big rig, a new Mack R600 with the 300 coolpower, airstart, & a luxurious but un-useable fibreglass hotbox sleeper, which is why I slept in a swag. Anyway I used to pull 2 single deck stock trailers in to Katherine abattoir from the surrounding cattle stations, all dirt of course, & as far out as Urandangi, on the NT/QLD border, which then had a pub, run by a widow. It had a Lister generator sufficient to run one light globe, & it had a kerosene fridge that could accommodate one carton of beer which the widow refused to replenish until the whole cool-ish at best carton had sold.
Who now remembers the hand painted sign on a rock saying "cool beer"?
I retired in 2016 & my last truck was a KW T904 with a Cat C16, spyders on 6 rod, Aerodyne walk in sleeper, icepack, & all the creature comforts. I did over 5 million kms in this truck & it was the very best I ever had. I used it to pull triple flattops out from Perth to remote Northwest mines, & I miss it sorely.
I've seen this before, but thanks for posting.
I’m so glad you enjoyed this little piece of nostalgia
@@DaveEldergillCineFilm I did Dave, & thanks again.
Good times mate. How hard is it to pick up jobs as a owner driver
I gotta a piccie of me sat in the first ever triple Diamond T at the transport museum in Ghan in 95 ! Best time of my life in OZ
Brings back some memories
Road Train love it
I worked with a guy who had driven the mack rigid of buntines, great footage
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it
rippa, thanks!
Thinking the rodeo at the beginning is either Renner Springs or Aileron with a slight lean towards the latter.
I was thinking Renner
Check the Town And Country Ute.
I heard about noel bunting off a digger during ww2 he said australia had to be opened up like usa
Buntine was 12 years old when ww2 began.
5.20 looks like Tancred Meat Works at Bourke NSW
Wyndham Meat Works Western Australia
Where was this filmed? Any info? Blue Dodge Wellside pick up truck with the white roof at 2:00 looks like a truck I drive in the late 80's
Mt Isa 2:27 ?
Hi Paul, sorry I have no further information about this film. It was one of two vintage films purchased from eBay in the UK and the seller tells me he acquired them at a car boot sale near Manchester UK. The other film has footage from the US. The original reel from which I edited the road trains was 40 minutes long and included some film of the Flying Doctors and the Rosseta Flynn Home as well as what looks like a missionary church meeting. I will edit some more from this reel at some stage and post this to my channel as well, there may be other things you recognise.
Yes mt isa
@DaveEldergillCineFilm
Thank you Dave.
Very interesting video.
I know some of the places and some of the men filmed in this home video.
The clip is an interesting array and eclectic mix of the vast country in Australia, and its people in transport throughout the early 70's and of course the trucks themselves.
In the 1st instance the film covers a broad area from the:
- East Kimberley's of Western Australia to
- Mt Isa in Qld.
Thousands of km’s apart if you went via Katherine NT and not the Murinjai Track [today’s Buchanan Hwy].
Predominately, [this edited version,] it is filmed mostly in the East Kimberley Region where two cattle trucking companies successfully operated out of Wyndham WA, a small town in the state of Western Australia.
Population back then was not large. The standard township of Wyndham was about 500 people and grew to 800 with the Meatworks in seasonal operation.
The double decker roadtrain [a cab-over MACK twin steer], was the 2nd vehicle called the "High and the Mighty” and owned by Noel Buntine. The vehicle was new in 1972.
In 1974, I was a Co-Driver with Brook Hartley, a staunch Buntine Driver and supporter. Maybe it was circ 1975
Brooke is also featured in this clip at the bush races and camp draft.
Regardless the locations in this clip are various and pieced together.
Like all good film Directors do, the owner of this clip cut and pasted to make a GREAT story..
From Wyndham in the East Kimverly in WA to Mt Isa in Qld.
The race meeting might have been at the Negro River which is located on the Duncan track.
The Duncan Hwy as it is called today, was once a mind bending disastrous back breaking corrugated road where at times of the worst conditions possible it could send a sane man to Disney land.
This road frequently straddles the WA and NT border from Hwy1 to Nicholson Stn.
There are 3 Buntine men in the clip in the gymkhana are/were all great men ...
All Northern Territory "tuff" men.
Others in this clip, were equally formidable characters including the Stockman on horseback.
In the 50’s 60’s and 70’s, everyone worked together as a team.
Without team ship in play very few would have survived to arduous and daily difficulties that many coped with as part of a normal day.
,
There where NO lay about lizards on the Dole like there are today, [Black, White and Yellow].
Everyone had a job. All the workers, Black, White or Yellow ..Everyone at Buntine's and EKT ... had an equal standing with equal pay.
Us truckers, couldn't do much in those days without the assistance of a trusty horse and the Aboriginal Stockman.
Although some Vesty Managers [Wave Hill] typified the harshness and competitiveness of a burgeoning corporate enterprize.
Vesty managers, were offered Bonus Pay incentives before they became fashionable in the 90’s.
In short, some did anything to get that Bonus, Others were honourable Managers who provided health clothing and education to all alike and without discrimination.
Australian outback history of today, does not record the real truth.
Bad news sells newspapers .. Not fairness and not Facts.
I am not sure on the population statistics back then, but I think the Kimberley had no more than 3,700 people when I was based in Wyndham Town from 1975 for 2 years.
Putting this population number and its disparity when compared to today, into perspective, my 1972 issued NT driver’s license, which I still hold today has a license number 33793.
The Sgt who handed my truck license at 16yrs, calmly stated that I was the 33,793 person to receive an NT license. Go figure..
Those Buntine boys at the races were:
- Brian Hanson atop of the truck with the umbrella ...Always a funny chap but equally a rogue ..
- Side view of Brook Hartly,
- next unknown and then
- Kevin (Renegade) Renehan.
The cattle station could have been Nicholson Stn, but equally it also looks familiar like Argyle Stn...
Vesty owned Nicholson Stn and many of its neigbouring cattle stations on the WA NT border.
I suspect it was Nicholson Stn.
Argyle Stn is now swallowed up by Lake Argyle.. Sold by the Durack’s in the late 60’s to the forward-thinking Charlie Court Western Australian government.
There is also a clip of cattle being unloaded at the Wyndham Meatworks.
These building had not change throughout the 70’s until the place was closed. The clip brings back some memories..
Mt Isa mines is conveniently thrown in for some unknow reason.
Maybe the Vesty representative included this because Vesty also owned Morstone Downs north of Camooweal on the Qld NT border.
Morstone, is a couple 100 clicks away from the township of Camooweal.
Camooweal is located on the NT Qld Border enroute to Mt Isa.
Back then, an executive would fly from Mt Isa to a Capital City.
The film identifies the T-Junction of the major road leading from the Mt Isa town center, clearly showing the mine site in front and the corner we would negotiate and navigate with a roadtrain as you travelled west to Camooweal Qld to cross the Qld / NT border.
I think the owner of the film used a lot of poetic license and might have been a representative of the Vesty Family and their interests in Australia.
1973 was the time of great change for Vesty’s.
The Australian Taxation Office was pursuing them for decades of unpaid taxes and of course the Lingiari lead walk off from Wave Hill Station.
The later matter was coming to a head after 7years of a workers walk-off.
Why the walk-off? It is alleged, the Wave Hill manager didn’t want to lose his bonus as promised by Vesty’s Head Office in LONDON..
Go figure, those people in London were only after extreme wealth without taxes and went on to sell out of Australia to reestablish and rip / pillage Sth America.
That said, the English mob regularly sent representatives to review their operations in the NT Qld and the Kimberly, namely, Limbunya Stn, Nicholson Stn, Mistake Creek; Gordon Downs and a host of others in Western Australia. Not to mention the host of vertical integrated businesses across Australia.
Nice memories
Warren Buntine
@@asianmgtI worked underground at MIM 1970-73 so it’s pretty obvious 2:17 is at Mt Isa. I remember Buntines around then but I remember Wrights Roadtrains more because they were over the road from the drive-in picture theatre. Was Noel your old man or related? The road from the Isa to the NT Border was a shocker back then, single lane mostly, bitumised during WW2. Also the road out to Cloncurry, you can still see some of the remnants of the original.
Edit: I read it again, obviously not your old man if you drove in 1974. We must be roughly the same age.
Haha
Yes ...Noel was my father.
And I spent some time [1 season] in the Isa '77
awesome video 👍
Thank you 👍