Tues 8th Aug. 1995
We left Mataranka camp site and drove up to the town, to display our vehicles to the townspeople and local school children. An army foot patrol turned up for a look as well. From here it was about 100 or so kms to the town of Katherine, according to my diary, we were doing convoy control again, which meant going on ahead to direct the packets off the main highway to our campsite. While we were waiting for them to arrive, a jeep was seen approaching, it was not one that either of us recognised and certainly looked the worst for wear, loaded up with kit and flying a large Union Jack flag, we stopped him for a chat. It turned out he was from South Australia and been chasing the convoy all the way non-stop and it had not been an easy journey after a near miss with a kangaroo, he hit a post. A road spring was well out of line. He was later assisted by the RAEME LAD in getting his old jeep fixed up.
That afternoon we were invited to an Australia Remembers barbeque at Katherine Museum. In the field next to the museum, a huge army field hospital had been set up as part of the military exercise which was well under way. A M113 had been brought up to the museum for people to look over..
The following day we went back to the south side of Katherine, to RAAF Tindal airbase. The original "Track" that the wartime convoys used, went through the airbase. As security was very tight with the exercise on we were under strict instructions, no cameras :-(. We drove slowly through and there was so much kit around. F18 aircraft taking off, also Kiowa helicopters, etc. Hidden under the trees were M113 carriers and Leopard tanks. We returned to our camp with the rest of the day to ourselves. I went down to the low-level bridge over the river, no crocodiles to be seen though. There are freshwater crocs in this area.
In the evening while going back to the Land Rover, I heard something, turned around and it was a big frill necked goana or similar.......I am afraid I did not hang about as he looked a little disturbed........not half as much as I was :shake:.