Blinman and Leigh Creek to Marree SA.

On our fourth day at Wilpena it was time to move on. We have chosen to follow Major Roads and not 4 wheel drive tracks so we were venturing to Blinman on bitumen and then across to Leigh Creek via Parachilna. At Blinman we visited the old Blinman Copper Mine. What a great effort the the small population of Blinman have done to restore the mine as a tourist attraction having raised some hundred thousand dollars to make it a safe site. This was also acknowledged by the SA Energy and Mines Department as they gladly handed the mine responsibilities over to the community given their efforts structurally and financially. It is now a whole of town operation and they do it so well.

The Blinman Mine Site

The Blinman Mine Story

Inside the mine

Blinman Cornish Pasties, a main and desert in one meal.
Pastie one end and small bit of Apple at the other!
One of the best Pasties around!

This was a good un-sealed road through to Parachilna and then bitumen to Leigh Creek, after a IGA shopping spree on to Copley and Lyndhurst. From Lyndhurst it was a well graded un-sealed major road to Marree. Before Marree we stopped at Farina, the former Leigh Creek, which is now being restored by the Farina Restoration Group. What a great job they are doing. Many of the old stone buildings are being rebuilt by qualified stonemasons funded by the Farina Restoration Group. Other trades and handy people volunteer and do much of the labouring. One of the first buildings to be restored is the underground Bakery. This is in full operation to help support funding for the town's restoration. As well as the restoration work the Group has established a great little campsite in Farina to attract campers who may eventually volunteer or just buy goodies from the underground Bakery. The camp is great, safe and cheap, we paid $5.00 per head and had a great stay. We strongly recommend it.

One of the Farina stone buildings under restoration.

The Farina underground bakery

Starting the campfire at Farina campsite

The Farina Bakery Cafe

Sunset at Farina Campsite.

One fascinating story to be uncovered in the process of the Farina restoration is that of Flight Lieutenant John Napier Bell of the RAAF. In July 1935 John Bell of Farina SA enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force at Point Cook Victoria. No. 10 Squadron, RAAF was formed at Point Cook in Victoria on July 1st 1939. John was posted to the Squadron and was sent to the UK to assist with the war effort.

In June 1940 the Admiralty requested that an aircraft and crew from the squadron be made available for a secret mission. John Bell volunteered for the mission. They were instructed to prepare a Walrus Amphibian aircraft for the mission. They did this but found that the Walrus could not mount the guns that were required. In Australian ingenuity style they made it all come together. John took off with his quickly selected crew at about 3.00am on the 18th June. They were expected back after dark on the same day. Nothing further was heard of John and his crew or craft.

John's family received a letter from the RAF Casualty Section advising that John was missing in action and was believed to have flown a special mission to Brittany France to endeavour to rescue General de Gaulle and his family from German invasions. The mission was unsuccessful and it was believed that John and his crew were shot down by the Germans. The letter revealed to Johns family that he had been buried in Ploudaniel, France on 18th June 1940.

The amazing part of the story is that in September 2010 Kevin and Anne Dawes of Farina Station received an email from overseas where Anne and Yannick Lageat had visited Farina that year and had noticed a war memorial noting that Flight Lieutenant John Napier Bell had been lost in Brittany. Anne and Yannick wanted to ensure the Dawes that John and his comrades graves were indeed buried in Ploudaniel, Brittany France, a village near Brest. They sent photos of the graves advising that they were well looked after.

It became apparent that the people of Ploudaniel, Brittany France,annually acknowledge the mission of the Australian RAAF led by Flight Lieutenant John Napier Bell. When asked why this was still being acknowledged the French confirmed that it was the least they could do considering that in their lowest time of need in 1940, Australian Air Force members came to assist them! 

Acknowledgement; The Farina Restoration Group, "A Circle Completed, The last Mission of Flight Lieutenant John Napier Bell, RAAF" and the book " Farina from Gibbers to Ghost Town, Rob Olston 2009.

From here we drove on to Marree arriving on the Saturday morning knowing the Marree Races were on that day. After enquiring at the Marree Pub about accommodation we were told we needed to go to the Marree Oasis Caravan Park. This was basic but very reasonable and served our purposes. It was not long before we were on the bus to the races. Arriving there it was a great little country town race meeting with all and sundry there to have a good time. It was not long before we had purchased the mandatory raffle tickets and the Calcutta Cup entry ticket. We had a few bets with no wins that were worth writing home about but we had a great fun day. Half way through the afternoon we met up with Bev and Nev Harrison from WA. A lovely couple we met in Wilpena. After a few more races and not too profitable bets they announced the Chook Raffle. This was one of the highlights for me. All the kids were lined up on the race track. Only kids could enter. The chook was released and the kids had to catch it. Eventually, a young girl caught the chook and she was able to proudly take it home!

Marree Races

Winners of the Marree Cup 2015

Chook Raffle

Sunset and around the fire

We caught the bus back to the Oasis Caravan Park and soon settled into a bar-b-que on the old Tuba Fire Pot.

In the morning we set off for William Creek with the Harrisons in tow!

Road to William Creek!