We sorted out a number of problems re normal[?] society, especially about Conservation Committee which is defunct. He wants to revive it. I suggested that he should get rid of the old state-library capiseta[?]f the committee and to refer it on the birew[?] of the "Rare mes[?]" chapter in the book. He asked me to talk to people about it on this trip, esp. Caleby[?], Kirkpatrick and Bartholomai. I also told him that Roser[?] could be out here and could speak at the next normal[?] soc. John drove me out to the airport.

Had an uneventful flight up to Alice Springs in a Viscount ; took off soon after 11.30 arrived Alice Springs 2.45. Flew over Lake Eyre - the country here is a marked contrast to the Western Desert. Lots of exposed sediments everywhere. North of the lake soon got into extensive sandhill country. Terrible stuff with great chains of salt lakes spreading out eastwards from the Lake. And then sand dunes to the north and east pretty well until you get to the Alice. Hung around at the airport until a bus came into town. Then walked around until I located the Stuart Arms. Contacted Dave Howe at Territories. He is the T. O. to the biologist and is the one who had kept the moles in captivity. Simpson[?] came back with Mike at about 1900 hrs. We had a drink and then met Dave Howe who will get projectors for Saturday evening when we get back from Alcoota. To bed late after much conversation. Mike believes that C.Pal. Collins will pass over to the Commonwealth muser[?] when established.

> 18th Oct Friday
Up at 0700 and packed to leave for Alcoota after breakfast. Went and did a bit of shopping in the town. Got some lunch to take with us and left the hotel at 10.00. Left Alice Springs at 10.05.
Bond Springs, Yambah Stn., Boundary fence, Arltunga turnoff ( the Gardark, Arltunga 79).
Yambah turnoff - to Homestead
Plenty River turnoff signposted head Tank 47. Turned off the bitumen to the east. This is just before Gillan's Well. The turnoff to Alcoota is about 15 miles beyond hand tank.
Bushy Park Boundary
Mud Tank, stopped for lunch.
Turnoff to Alcoota, Alcoota Homestead.

Met Ivor and Mrs Edna Paine (managers) an extremely nice couple with the fondest memories of Mike Woodbine and his friends. Stinton had spent two days there but had kept contact ever since with Christmas letters etc.- a lesson to us all. The homestead is a nice one, cool with excellent lawns and good garden. They are having the best season in living memory, after a five year drought they have already had 1541 - during the drought for some years they had less than 400 and averaged 500, 970 squ miles and carrying 3,000 - fully loaded they carry 5,700. Stock are in beautiful condition and country looks good, a fair amount of dead stuff about but also regeneration.

Drove out to the exposures. These are very interesting. We went first to Paine Quarry which is in the greyish lacustrine material. Lots of bone scattered about all over the surface - picked up a few bits : [Sketch].

Ran off everything left in the film to give a good idea of the locality  including a view from hill 1 across to hills 2 and 3 with the Precambrian in the background, and one from hill 2 across to hill 1 with hills 5 & 6 in the background ; also took photos of the actual matrix(?) in cosll(?) showing the small iron pisolites of the laterite in the green matrix at the cluste(?) of sandstones and quartzites in the red fluviatile material. The silicate has been used extensively by Aborigines and blocks and flakes are everywhere. The red material on hill 2 shows bedding and the whole thing is incredibly reminiscent of the beds at the junction of Gregory Creek and the Gascoyne which Bob Savage and I prospected without success last year. Walking on the flats is difficult, v. soft mudhole country with bindii everywhere. Finished off film [C5301-20].

> 19th Oct Saturday.
Up late ie 7.30 with mug of tea after a pleasant evening session. Drove with Mick & G.G.S. down to the Twins (ie Hill 6) which is split and the road to the homestead passes through the saddle between them.

Took photos in col. and b & w. Col.5401 of the laterites exposed on the S.E. flank of the western(?) hill. There is pisolitic laterite below the limestones(?) and silicate above that.

Took photos from the tops looking out towards hill 5 with hills 1,2,3&4 behind them. An xcellent view with cairn (?) in foreground.

Walked across to hill 5 where there  is a reasonable(?) sequence of laterite at the bottom ; but not clear what it is that is lateritized - looks a bit like a sandstone from the quartz clasts within it.

Drove back to the homestead where we dropped of GGS and had a cup of tea and then drove out to hill 4 where took photos. All fluviatile here. Walked out the creek between 4 and 3 without luck. It does not appear to get below the quatery(?) alluvium.

Drove back to Red Hill (Hill 1.) and to Paine Quarry. Collected a few bits of bone and got B&W photos of what we had seen and photographed in colour the day before. Back to Homestead for lunch. Finished off with photos of homestead and family.

Drove back to Alice Springs to the hotel. Simpsons are standing up to it well and enjoyed it all immensely.

> 20th Oct Sunday
breakfast at 0600 hrs and then off to Ayers Rock by plane. A Beechcraft Bonanza, quite comfortable.

Route up south of forbidden area of U.S. Space tracking centre and then to Hermannsberg Mission then some good shots of Palm Valley and then on 240* to the Rock. Mt. Connor - a great table top most impressive in the distance. Then Ayers Rock and then the Olgas in the distance, c.1 hour. On arrival took a shot of the weathering on the S.E. side of the rock then on to a cup of tea in the motel.

After tea drove on round the rock to the climb. Were taken to all the tourist caves and waterholes. Guide John       a most resourceful man , apparently he was the chap who moved the Vollprechts in 1959. He asked if I knew them when he heard that I was from the west.

The cave paintings are poor but the guides seem to be pretty careful about them. There's no vandalism that I can see. The guide knows little about them and is keen to clean(?). Took photos of a lot of them and promised to send them to him with interpretations. Number of poor artifacts about found one grinder(?) in a cave. Also bitten Quandong nuts, faeces of a large mirid(?). Echidna scats and mejectu(?) of a ? kestrel with lizard bones in it.

Maggie Springs good water in it and run off still coming off the rock.

> (20 Oct cont.) Wildflowers everywhere - they are certainly having a good season. Diamond doves everywhere near the water. Butcher birds calling, Ibis and White-faced heron near the water. A few budgies but not yet time for the flocks to build up.

Have not seen a kangaroo in the whole time we have been at Alice Springs and vicinity. Ivor Paine(?) says that they are plentiful in the property and he cannot see that it is wise to protect them. He is not worried about them in good seasons, but is worried in poor seasons. John says that there are rock wallabies in the rocks.

Flew straight back to Alice Spr. being 60*. Very hazy no chance to get photos. After we had eaten, Dave Howe, Technical Officer Animal Udstumes(?) Branch, N.T. took Mike and self out to see the collection which had mostly been made by S Parker(?). Infested with Demodios(?) Alcohol bottles in an open room with no protection against light. Study(?) skins of animals v. poor. Previous night he had shown us a short film of Notoryctes(?) in captivity. Very quick mover on the surface - saws(?) along with birdfeet going like a mural mural(?) forefeet under the body - seems to progress on the backs of its fore feet. Not a clumsy mover at all, digs by cutting down beneath itself with its forefeet. I advised him to get copies & said that I will pay. Slides not up to much.

> 21st Oct Monday
Breakfast at 7.30, out to airport to go to Mt. Isa. Flight plan 124 min.
Course 70*
Course 58* Alice Springs 6500ft [C5502-3]
Course altitude 9000ft. still over ranges, Burt Plains visible on the portside. 140 lcts.
Ranges still to South [C5504] ; to North tumbled ranges still the skyline.
Ranges still  everywhere to the East and to the North. They appear to thin out to the South - but too much haze to be certain

Ranges pinching out as we enter the Georgina Basin. Based palaeozoic sediments. We seem to be flying almost directly over the Northeastern apex of the range system of the MacDonnells.

The end of the ranges took [C5505] looking southwards. Rivers flowing N.E. across pretty bare open plains. Rivers have scattered gums along banks, but here are only continuous along banks ; but these are only continuous on the larger streams. Scattered breakaway and hills of fairly small size.

Took [C5506] looking south west with the edge of the range in the haze just below the tail plane. Large river in foreground with low seemingly lateritized breakaways cross our front across the wide plain.

Photographs of CLM of yesterdays flight to Ayres Rock [C5507]. Looking south with parallel ranges and large river in background. Flying over low broken country - should be rock wallaby country.

Ranges to our north with breakaways. Look like sediments. Homestead and airstrip below. Crossed second large river . Homestead on N.E. bank - strip on S.W. bank. Not much good in the wet !

Pretty bare ? spinifex country with occasional gidgee and patches of mulga. Thin line of trees along creeks. Pretty hungry looking country. Lines of low ranges to the north

Patches of ? acacia along drainage systems [C5508] to south course 55* should be approx 1/2 way. Over very dry red plains almost without cover. Photo to South [C5509] pretty featureless native drainage system. Same all round as far as eye can see.

Crossed dog fence which makes the Queensland Border. [C5510] to South. Fence runs diagonally across picture thus[ /].

Southwards flowing river at Homestead River confirmed on map as Georgina R. photo [C5511] : Headingly Stn Homestead. Starting to come down over some pretty horrible country. [C5512] photo of rocky outcrops scattered around to the west of Mount Isa. Very bumpy(?). Landing at Mt. Isa [C5513-4]

Excellent airconditioned Airport buildings "The Copper City". Went into town, had a reasonable lunch then back to airport to wait for Jet(?) at about 6.30 meal on plane. Met at Brisbane by Alan Bartholomai and then to Albert Park Motel for night $11.50 !

> 22nd Oct Tuesday BRISBANE
Spent day in Brisbane Museum. Letter from Pat with enclosure for Donald Walker re the Mueller Medal. Wrote to him and told him that I would see him in Canberra over the weekend.

Also tried to get Frank Farmer(?) on the phone ; no luck so got Deeble (?) and asked for a copy of the Submission re the Biological Survey to be sent to me in Brisbane for Simpson to see. He promised to ask Bob Walsh about it. Wrote to Frank explaining it and also told him of Simpson's travels and interests.Wrote to Pat and to Margaret.

Looked at some specimens and asked for the loan of the only Dasyurus crustindi(?) in the collection. 2 from Central Australia and also specimens labelled Archyaunus(?) and Koalemus in the collection. Also asked for the types of Cuscus procurus, Archinates semirus(?) and Koalemus to be sent for Eileen. Species nos (not types) asked for loan are F14.685, 686, 688, 689.

Alan Bartholomai's thesis is developing well. He has 3 species of Protemnodon of Osas(?) sines recognised(?) as good. These are P. anak, P. brehusi, P. roechis(?) (one is a sys of mile (?). Protemnodon is a good species within Maugris(?).

West through the W.A.M. material with him (sent by De Vis) and identified it for netn(?). One spec belongs to his new species woodsi and we must give him usd no for referral.

Spent v. nice evening with Alan and Trish(Patricia) and two little girls at their home. Stayed night with them.

Alan tells me that he has a P. brehus from "Rosewood Stn." N.W.A. in the collection must check on this locality. Also promised to send him the refs. to Kurten's species tunova brises(?)

He tells me that he is writing a general account of the evolution of the Macropodidae for the thesis. Must ask more about this.

> 23rd Oct. Chinchilla.
Drove to Chinchilla stopped at Toowoomba to book motel and then to Dalby for lunch. Arrived at Chinchilla at approx 3.30 pm. Let the Simpsons have half an hour's rest and then drove down to a locality to the west of the town (down a"double carriageway road" into a dirt road : through a gate and down to the river. Good exposures of gravels and clays, collected quite a lot of scrap bone, 1 tooth of Euryzygoma denense, a mandibular fragment with Phascolonus gigas. gave letter to Alan Bartholomai. It is the second specia of this species collected at Chinchilla. GGS and Mike persuading A.B. to screen the clays for small amounts(?) in the hope of getting a direct comparison with Grange Burn. This locality is home to a Texting Locality in the new Bureau(?) map series.

> 24th Oct. Chinchilla & Macalister
Drove out to the Rifle Range saw the type(?) section at the river and then walked on map etc Main Gully System. As last time, the exposures at the head of the little gullies and on the surfaces of the small hills on the E of the main gully system are prolific in bone. Picked up lots of scraps.

On the way round the gullies saw a Koala in a tree. Climbed it & got some photos. G.S.S. delighted to see one in the wild.

Back to the car and then drove back along the West fence to a track leading across the rifle range. Drove along this until it reached the river ; then got out & walked along the river bank back to the Dalby(?) fence, through it along the river fence for a few yards to a breakaway sandy cliff on the river edge. Rich in bone. Collected some, this is the Sand Scree Locality that Bartholomai wants to sluice(?). Should be good.

Drove back to Chinchilla.  After lunch drove bact towards Toowoomba , dropped into the Rifle Range in the hope that Anne could see the koala - no luck but saw a pair of Varanus gouldii. G.S.S. got some good photos.

Drove on to Macalister to the west of Dalby turned south at the crossroads signposted JIMBOUR (northwards). Drove down to the Condamine where there are good exposures of the sand facies of the Eastern Downs pleistocene occur. Met Gordon Ross and wife.

Drove down to the Condamine and collected numerous bone specimens including several very good ones with teeth - all Diprotodontidae. Gordon Ross and his father over the years made good collections most of which are in the Queensland Museum.

Took numbers of photographs. Unfortunately the river is now the sewerage effluent for Dalby so the river is constantly recursing(?) but one can still see how the river excavates specimens(?) and lodges them in the deeper pools.Old Jimbour homestead was the launching point for Leichhardt's expedition and it is obvious that some of Owen's Condamine material could have come from this sand facies(?) which is quite different from the black or chocolate soil.Left and drove back to Toowoomba where we put up at the Range Motel. Quite comfortable - we had dinner at the Top of the Range, a new "country club" type cafe. Excellent dinner beautifully got up and served.

> 25th Oct (Friday)
Drove over to Kings Creek at Clifton. Took photos of the profile exposed with Black soil covering about the top metre, then chocolate alluvium (forming a terrace downstream). This is an excellent example of one of the black soil localities. Jack Mahony and I had previously collected a mandible on 22nd Sept. 1966. but this time we collected no bone. Picked up a few freshwater molluscs (no 68.1453 in collection). Drove back to Brisbane. Caught 1630 plane to Sydney and then TAA433 to Canberra arriving late at about 2000 hrs in the rain with a temp. of about 40* F. Donald Walker there to meet me.

> 26th Oct (Saturday)
Went to Bureau where Mike showed me all his material photographed specimens for teaching purposes. Mike demonstrated his vibrotool - excellent.He has beautiful material from two localities - Riversleigh and Canfield = Victoria River = Bullock Creek farm. Riversleigh is probably not far off the Ngapakaldi in age and Bullock Creek about Alcoota. Both in a v. hard matrix(?). Bullock Creek rich in large mandibles, whole shells etc. Riversleigh work v. interesting small spears (?) showing up. Photographed: Macropod Kangaroo Well : L. misc
Riversleigh Zygomatine. Tedford 1967
Riversleigh Palorchestine. Tedford 1967
Riversleigh Nototherium Brematherium angulim Tedford
Bullock Creek  Neohelos
Bullock Creek  Kolopsis