Gismo Queen and her King

Day 49 - Agnes Creek to Coober Pedy

There's times when our volunteer firefighter training comes in handy, but car accidents would have to be the most unfortunate application of skills.

Today travelling south on the Stuart Highway, we were the fourth and fifth vehicles on scene from our side of a mini-bus (9 seater) rollover. We were the only ones with a satellite phone so it came to me to call for help. I approached the scene to get the facts and found eight victims strewn across the road, with two nurses providing some assistance and others trying to reassure some of the walking wounded. I explained to the nurses that I was a volunteer firefighter and that I was calling for help. I eventually got through to the police, gave the location and details and then got one of the nurses to speak to the dispatcher, as there was already one fatality by that stage and a second very likely. It was horrible and no matter how many accidents I have attended, it is never any easier. There was very little any of us could do (although fair play to the nurses who were doing an excellent job) and being so remote, it was over an hour before any emergency services arrived on scene - but as any good firie will appreciate, the CFS (South Australian Country Fire Service) were the first on scene.

Lisa made us tea and coffee and kept the kids occupied. Once police arrived on scene, they were able to control traffic and diverted us off the road onto a chicken track that got us around the scene.

Several hours later than planned, we arrived in Coober Pedy. We are staying just outside town in an old opal mine, which has underground camping areas, although unfortunately not big enough for caravans! However, it is a good place and we were quickly set up before heading into town to check out things. Coober Pedy is renowned for it's underground everything - homes, businesses and apparently campgrounds! Primarily it is an opal mining town.
You may notice the extreme lack of vegetation. Not only is every surface in town mined, but there is no topsoil and so little rain that plants don't grow well. The average annual rainfall is just 175mm. They have a desalination plant for the town's water, and for us tourists, a water bowser - just like a petrol bowser! But a whole lot cheaper at 20c per 30 litres!!

We headed back to the campground for dinner (pumpkin soup and garlic bread) before our 7pm mine tour. The guy who runs this campground bought the property to try mining but quickly realised he wasn't going to make money that way so he converted it to a campground! But every night he does tours of the old mine and it was very interesting.

Tomorrow we're off to find me some opals - but probably the easy way - from a shop!

posted by Tracey @ 9:35 pm