ADELAIDE TO DARWIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3830, 9 August 1927, Page 5

ADELAIDE TO DARWIN.

TWO INTREPID WOMEN.

REMARKABLE MOTORING FEAT.

AUCKLAND, August 1. The proud record of being the first woman to drive a motor car through Australia’s hinterland from Adelaide to Darwin and back again is held by Mrs Gladys Sandford, of Auckland, who returned by the Niagara after five months’ absence. Mrs Sandford was accompanied on this adventurous trip by Miss Stella Christie, of Thames. Alone the two women braved the desolate and barren interior of the Commonwealth, and in spite of frequent warnings and fears for their safety’ they accomplished their object without so much as a scratch.

“Australians do not know their own country,’’ stated Mrs Sandford. “We met blacks when hundreds of miles away from any white people, and we found them most friendly and curious. Before leaving civilisation we were told to have revolvers ever ready at our hips, and we did; but they were never used in selfdefence.”

Mrs Sandford spoke enthusiastically of the days and nights spent in the eerie quiet in the heart of the Commonwealth, days following days when not a soul was seen. Sometimes they had visits from blacks, many of whom had never before seen a motor car.

“We never felt frightened,’’ stated Mrs Sandford. “At nights we turned the car into a bedroom, and read by the light of an electric lamp. As we lay there we felt instinctively that the curious natives were hidden close by watching us. The natives were friendly everywhere.” Arrangements were made in Sydney for food supplies to be sent ahead, but these were supplemented by wild turkeys and ducks shot by Mrs Sandford and Miss Christie

The greatest trouble experienced during the trip was bush fires. On one occasion they fan into a fire when the petrol tank of the car was leaking, and this caused them many anxious moments. The hole in the tank had been blocked up with soap, and fortunately for them, held, and the leakage was only small. “On one occasion we ran short of water and had to live on the shortest rations for four days," stated Mrs Sandford. “We were hoping all the time that we would run across a native, but there was not one in sight. Finally we met some friendly blacks.”

During a lonely trip across the contirnent the motorists called in at an isolated station. The family comprised husband and wife and two daughters, and the daughters, who were both over 20 years of age, had never seen the sea, a railway train, or a white baby. Mrs Sandford had the unique honour on one occasion of christening- two black babies. “We had a wonderful trip,” added Mrs Sandford. “Next year I hope to motor from Capetown to Cairo. Our trip has convinced us of one thing, and that is that white women have nothing to fear from the blacks in Australia.”