Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Lifestyle
Tom White as told to Katie Cunningham

The kindness of strangers: we broke down in the outback and a retired mechanic came to our rescue

Pete
Composite of a car refilling petrol with colourful drawings over the top.
‘A stone had pierced the rusty fuel tank and our petrol had drained on to the road.’ Composite: Victoria Hart/Alamy

It was 2003 and the Peter Falconio case was fresh in our minds. As 22-year-olds itching for adventure, my wife and I, and one of our closest friends, nonetheless decided to fly from the UK to Australia and spend six months road-tripping through the outback.

We were driving 250km from Julia Creek to Mount Isa in Queensland, in a Ford Econovan that had seen better days.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Cara Delevingne reveals bizarre lesbian sex party disaster
The supermodel and actress has opened up about an unforgettable romantic encounter while discussing her sobriety, relationship with musician Minke and her changing attitude towards love as she embarks on a new chapter in her career.
BANG Premier
BANG Premier
Your License Plate Is Public — But Should Your Driving History Be?
A stranger can photograph your license plate at a red light without asking permission. That doesn’t mean the stranger should get your driving history, home address, or a convenient timeline of your movements. In the United States, those are different kinds of information, governed by different rules. Yet modern technology…
Clever Dude
Clever Dude
Would You Pay More for the Same Meal Just Because It Looks Better?
Imagine ordering grilled chicken with rice and vegetables at two different restaurants. One serves everything in a simple pile, while the other arranges the chicken neatly, places the vegetables in colorful sections, and finishes the plate with a carefully drizzled sauce. The ingredients and portion sizes are identical, yet the…
Grocery Coupon Guide
Grocery Coupon Guide
Stick it to them: Before social media, bumper stickers were the Twitter of the roads
Before we had social media, Americans used bumper stickers to share their strongest and strangest views with people who didn’t necessarily care
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
When Vogue Was A Canvas: 11 Of The Most Beautiful Illustrated Covers In The Magazine’s History
Before the camera took over, Vogue’s covers were painted by hand, and Dalí was among the artists who made them. Peacocks, palm trees and Art Deco zigzags turned the magazine into a gallery of illustration for decades.
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
Eminem Reportedly Risks 'Irreparable Reputational Damage' After Kid Rock Collaboration Draws Fan Disappointment
Eminem has faced criticism for appearing on Kid Rock's Christian album, with commenters and Salon questioning the reputational risks of the collaboration amid political differences.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play