gary
26-08-2010, 05:02 PM
Just talking to good friend Tony Buckley who along with Lachlan MacDonald
and our Texan friend, Anne Adkins, have returned from a 16,000km road trip
from Sydney to Arnhem Land and back via Cairns on the way up and returning
via Katherine, Kunnunurra, Halls Creek, the Tanami Track, Lake Eyre, William
Creek & Broken Hill.
As volunteers for the Three RIvers Foundation (http://www.3rf.com.au/whoswho.asp) (3RF) they had taken up an 18" Obsession in
Lach's Landcruiser and joined with Ian MacClean to help show views
of the night sky to local communities present at the Garma festival for
aboriginal culture.
Tony reports that on the way out of the Bungle Bungles in WA, Lach had reported
being unwell including having nausea and other symptoms. They then passed through
Halls Creek and were on their way out to Wolf Creek when Lach continued to
be unwell, so they turned around back to Halls Creek. Reluctant at first
and saying he would probably feel better in the morning, Lach was eventually
persuaded to go to the hospital at Halls Creek where he was diagnosed as
having been bitten by a Death Adder. Sure enough, there were a couple of
puncture marks that had penetrated his Dunlop Volleys and he was apparently
unaware that he had been bitten. They had walked through spinifex and Lach
had probably gotten bitten then but possibly had thought it was just a spinifex
needle. Apparently the Death Adder can strike at lightning speed.
As some people have an allergic reaction to anti-venom, the hospital decided
not to administer it but to observe him. They drove slowly back to Sydney and
Lach was not in top form. Lach tells me that it may be four to six months
before he is fully back to health as the symptoms can linger for that long.
We wish Lach a speedy recovery.
Many of you will already know Lach and most of you who attended this year's South
Pacific Star Party probably were shown views through the 30" SDM by Lach.
Tony tells me up until that point, Lach would ask him why he would bother
putting on boots when they went bush walking. :thumbsup:
and our Texan friend, Anne Adkins, have returned from a 16,000km road trip
from Sydney to Arnhem Land and back via Cairns on the way up and returning
via Katherine, Kunnunurra, Halls Creek, the Tanami Track, Lake Eyre, William
Creek & Broken Hill.
As volunteers for the Three RIvers Foundation (http://www.3rf.com.au/whoswho.asp) (3RF) they had taken up an 18" Obsession in
Lach's Landcruiser and joined with Ian MacClean to help show views
of the night sky to local communities present at the Garma festival for
aboriginal culture.
Tony reports that on the way out of the Bungle Bungles in WA, Lach had reported
being unwell including having nausea and other symptoms. They then passed through
Halls Creek and were on their way out to Wolf Creek when Lach continued to
be unwell, so they turned around back to Halls Creek. Reluctant at first
and saying he would probably feel better in the morning, Lach was eventually
persuaded to go to the hospital at Halls Creek where he was diagnosed as
having been bitten by a Death Adder. Sure enough, there were a couple of
puncture marks that had penetrated his Dunlop Volleys and he was apparently
unaware that he had been bitten. They had walked through spinifex and Lach
had probably gotten bitten then but possibly had thought it was just a spinifex
needle. Apparently the Death Adder can strike at lightning speed.
As some people have an allergic reaction to anti-venom, the hospital decided
not to administer it but to observe him. They drove slowly back to Sydney and
Lach was not in top form. Lach tells me that it may be four to six months
before he is fully back to health as the symptoms can linger for that long.
We wish Lach a speedy recovery.
Many of you will already know Lach and most of you who attended this year's South
Pacific Star Party probably were shown views through the 30" SDM by Lach.
Tony tells me up until that point, Lach would ask him why he would bother
putting on boots when they went bush walking. :thumbsup: