Research cardiologist and now travel blogger Murray Esler (Dad).  Photo courtesy of the Baker IDI.

My father Professor Murray Esler is a renowned research cardiologist.  As a consequence of his international reputation (proud much, who me?) he travels frequently and is a Qantas Platinum Level 1 frequent flier.  Nearing seventy he was somewhat confused to be asked by the chief steward on an international Qantas flight whether he had left the children at home this time.  “Aren’t you a travel blogger?”  he was asked.  The penny dropped and he realized they had confused him with me (?????).  No, he wasn’t a travel blogger, just the father of one.  Perhaps so that in the future he can answer in the affirmative he has contributed this story about his own experience of traveling with children.  Being a doctor, and the father of a doctor-travel blogger he has added a positive health message in for good measure.

In search of a Good Samaritan by Murray Esler

Woods Point is in the middle of nowhere, a former gold mining town at the southern end of the main range in the state of Victoria.  Overseas guests to our family holiday house in this tiny village with a population of 35 have been thrilled to have visited the Outback.

Driving in and out  of Woods Point was always hair-raising, over 84 kilometres of unsealed, rutted and sometimes icy road, with the perceived danger accentuated by drifts of snow and swirling banks of fog in winter. On one such winter drive back to Melbourne the risk materialized, with mechanical breakdown of the newly purchased four wheel drive Toyota wagon, complete with electrical failure and no car lighting on a black, freezing night. In this pre-mobile phone era the isolation was complete, and hopes that a car might pass were not high. We settled down for the night.

Some relief was at hand for the four children.  My wife had packed a large, army-style duffle bag full of snow clothing in the car just in case of an event such as this.  In addition she had food and hot soup on hand.  But it was a very long night, especially for the parents,  as the warm clothes were all kiddy size. The “cavalry” might have arrived but their bearings were off. A worried grandmother contacted our neighbour, a Police Inspector, who sent the troops down the other of the two roads connecting Woods Point to the outside world.

So we survived in a chilled state, and woke to a frozen mountain morning, with tree ferns and gums coated with frost and roadway pools frozen. Just after first light a car materialized from the gloom, but chose not to respond to our predicament, sailing by with just a toot of the horn. So it was up to us. Daughter number one set off on foot with Dad on the 25 kilometre journey, with a skip in her step as she contemplated this one-on-one adventure with her father. After a few kilometers help was at hand, to the palpable disappointment of daughter, when a second car showed more manners and drove us to the nearest gas station. Staff returned and towed us out. And the diagnosis? A battery connection had been left untightened at our new car’s one month service, and had worked loose so that eventually all electrical charge was lost.

For 20 years more, until the children had grown and moved to far points of the globe, the family frequently visited Woods Point. From this experience we learned some lessons, and remembered the things we did have right. In remote winter driving always have warm clothes and warm food on hand. Always carry wheel chains, and a full tool kit (not needed this time). Tell people precisely where you will be driving. A fuel powered generator would have saved us. And always be a Good Samaritan yourself, getting some points in credit for your own time of need !