The Spirit of ’79 was very much alive when eight OWs set off to cross the Simpson Desert, 46 years after their school days came to an end.
For those unfamiliar with ‘The Simpson’, it’s one of Australia’s largest and most iconic deserts, stretching across South Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland. It’s a true embodiment of the Aussie Outback, with endless red sand plains and dunes, including the world’s longest parallel sand dunes.
After a series of well-organised planning sessions, the group departed Melbourne in mid-July in four 4WD vehicles, heading for the heart of Central Australia. Two of the vehicles were ex-Australian Army Land Rovers, affectionately known as 'Perenties' (named after one of Australia’s largest lizards). Both were owned by car enthusiast Craig Joel (OW1979), who was joined by co-driver Peter Evans (OW1979) in one, while Andrew Watson (OW1979) and I shared the other.
Built for rugged performance rather than comfort, these manual-drive beasts came with no air conditioning, sound systems, or cruise control - a stark contrast to the brand-new, feature-packed INEOS Grenadier driven by Jeremy Fox (OW1979) and his co-driver Stephen ‘Bum’ Hyde (OW1979).
Straight out of the showroom, the Grenadier delivered a plush ride, though a few pit stops were needed to tighten bolts rattled loose by thousands of kilometres of rocks and potholes. The fourth vehicle was a near-indestructible petrol-powered Toyota HiLux, piloted by David Hoyle (OW1979) with Rob Mellor (OW1979) as co-driver. The HiLux didn’t skip a beat, handling everything the Simpson threw at it without so much as a cough, splutter or backfire.
Celebrating our successful crossing of the Simpson Desert at the Birdsville Hotel
One of the few luxuries of the trip!
Parked outside of the RAAF Woomera Range Complex in South Australia
Approaching the 30+ metre sand dune nicknamed 'Big Red' on the eastern edge of the Simpson Desert
The famous Pink Roadhouse of Oodnadatta
The boys of ’79 in front of the ‘Welcome to Coober Pedy’ sign before leaving ‘civilisation’ to trek across the Simpson Desert
Over the course of two weeks, the group covered more than 5,500 kilometres of bitumen, rock, sand and an abundance of dust. Each evening, the Outback silence was broken by stories from decades past. Tales from the football field, rowing sheds and classrooms mingled with memories of parties and interactions with the girls from MLC and Korowa during the daily tram and train commutes to school. Despite the passage of time, the bonds forged in youth were unmistakable.
The group quickly shifted from ‘work mode’ to full-blown adventurers. While not physically taxing in the traditional sense, spending long days behind the wheel, navigating dune after dune and soaking in the vast beauty of the Outback set the stage for evenings around the fire, where each pair took turns cooking and cleaning (skills we may not have picked up during school camps at Chum Creek). Though now in our 60s, this young-at-heart crew understood the value of staying active and embracing the opportunities our great land provides. By journey’s end, talk of future adventures had already begun, perhaps another Simpson crossing, or new terrain in the Kimberley, Broome or even Cape York. Time will tell.
A special thanks must go to Craig Joel for his tireless enthusiasm throughout the trip. From leading early prep meetings to navigating a particularly wet desert (thanks to Queensland storms that turned dry creeks into surging rivers), Craig’s leadership and commitment to ensuring both safety and enjoyment played a huge role in making this adventure one to remember.
Mark Jenkins (OW1979)
