SAD DEATH.

The camp was shaken today by the reported death of a worker at Ethabuka Station in western Queensland. The station is located in the north-eastern corner of the Simpson Desert. Twenty five year old, South African born Mauritz “Mo” Pieterse died last Monday after becoming stranded in the desert. He was a conservationist working for a similar organization to the one I am working with here and some of the people here not only knew him but had recently worked with him.

Major Mitchel Cockatoo.

Mauritz and a 30 year old co-worker, Josh Hayes, had set out in the morning to check bores on the station. When their Toyota Hilux had become bogged they set out to walk the 16 kilometres to their camp. However in the 45 degree heat they didn’t have enough water. When the pair didn’t return that night a search was mounted and they were found 10 kilometres from the station. Josh Hayes is still in Mount Isa hospital recovering from dehydration and heat exhaustion.

A Rainbow Bee-eater and a Dusky Swallow.