In 1923, Michael Terry bought an old Ford automobile with the intention of crossing northern Australia from east to west. However, the trip had to be postponed when mislaid mail wreaked havoc with his arrangements with his intended travelling partner. Whilst having a beer in a pub in Winton, though, Terry's attention was caught by a stockman he overheard talking among a group of men. He approached the stockman with an invitation to accompany him on his exploratory journey and, to Terry's surprise, the stockman, Richard (Dick) Yockney, accepted. The two shortly thereafter set off on what was to be a journey of endurance, marvel and survival across largely roadless and uncharted territory which, at one point, almost cost them their lives.
