Noccundra Pub is pretty close to the dig tree, about 130km west of Thargomindah. It stands beside the hall, in a very remote and isolated part of the channel country. A few hundred metres away is an excellent camp beside the Wilson River where we caught yabbies and yellow belly. Many caravanners spend just a night or two there and do not wish to unhook, but would like a pub meal.
Enterprising hoteliers, Neil and Margaret Turner, have started a take-a-way service. Just order from the full menu as you pass the pub, give them a time and Neil will deliver it to you. He told us it surprises and delights him to arrive with meals to find the caravanners sitting outside with their table all set ready to enjoy their meal.
It was such a novelty that we ordered a hamburger for lunch: it was delivered right on time and so huge that one burger did both Denyse and me. Breaking all our usual rules about cooking at home, we then indulged ourselves with dinner in the historic dining room in the pub.
At Quilpie we came across Merv who runs a trailer loaded with food supplies for caravanners and locals. He carries specialty items you do not see commonly in far western towns, such as frozen reef fish, prawns, meats, and fresh fruit and vegetables.
Merv and his partner travel thousands of kilometres over rough corrugated roads on their fortnightly trip from Brisbane.
They do a roaring trade, but have to contend with a lot of damage to their truck. Earlier in the year they hit a damaged grid and did very expensive damage to the suspension. However, they love their life on the road and provide a wonderful service to western folk and caravanners, who appreciate the chance to stock up.
Has anyone else noticed other similarly enterprising business people out in the west?