Duo follows 1932 trek of forebears

BRENDAN CRABB

A FORMER Gerringong minister and his wife will today complete the same epic journey undertaken by family members 75 years ago.

On July 4, 1932, George Faram, his brother Dick and their nephew Herb began a 98-day, 16,000km trek around Australia in their Model A Ford.

The trip began in Melbourne and took them through Adelaide, Darwin, Mt Isa, Sydney and more.

Exactly 75 years to the day, Herb's nephew Les Hewitt and his wife Lynette began their journey.

Mr Hewitt, a retired minister at Gerringong Uniting Church who now lives in Koonawarra, felt a compulsion to retrace his relatives' steps.

"We'd been around Europe, so we decided it was time to see Australia," Mr Hewitt said.

The Hewitts planned their cross-country trip carefully, although obviously didn't have to contend with many of the rougher roads that the Farams did.

"Herb and his uncles planned their trip for a year; they stationed petrol at a number of places around the country that didn't have those facilities," he said.

A far cry from the Model A, the Hewitts were given use of a now road-hardened Ford Territory for their journey.

They were assisted by Brett Elliott from Harrigan Ford at Yallah.

"The Territory has been excellent; I particularly like the cruise control, which is great when going across the Nullabor, and the air-conditioning makes things easier," Mr Hewitt said.

"We had a wheel come off in Broome though and had to spend a week there: that was terrible!"

The Hewitts have also been replicating the photographs taken by Herb of various landmarks.

Thankfully, they are equipped with a digital camera, rather than Herb's Lantern slide camera.

When asked if people thought they were crazy for undertaking such a journey, Mr Hewitt said people were fascinated by it.

"We've had a lot of people saying they'd give their right arm to do it," he said.

The Hewitts' trip hasn't always been smooth, either.

"I spent several days in Geelong Hospital with pneumonia, but it's been a fascinating experience," Mr Hewitt said.

The Hewitts will finish their journey in Melbourne, where they plan to spend a few days relaxing after their adventure.