Vale Tom Kruse

[Keith Webb]

Good memory, Hanno

You are absolutely correct! The film was made by the Shell Film Unit, directed by John Heyer. I think Tom is responsible for giving many people their interest in CMPs - the second half of the film features the F60L cab 12, while the first half Tom drives the Leyland Badger.

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Rest in Peace Mr Kruse!

I remember seeing the movie when I was a small boy. If I recall correctly, I got to see it because my Dad was working at Shell at the time and they showed the movie to their employees. A friend and I replayed the sand dune scenes with a Dinky toy Morris Commercial artillery tractor for days on end. I think that is how I got pre-occupied with CMPs . . . . thank you, Tom!

Hanno

[Keith Webb]

Hanno, this is what you're talking about.



On the left is John Heyer.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

Hanno, this is what you're talking about.

On the left is John Heyer.

Correct, I vividly remember the CMP with its weird blunt nose crawling up the huge sand dunes, coming over the top and then slowly drive down the other side. Next day my friend showed his Morris-Commercial Dinky toy and we were convinced it was the same truck.

H.

[Howard]

And to think that the cab 12 in this photo was probably less than 15 years old at the time...

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Howard

And to think that the cab 12 in this photo was probably less than 15 years old at the time...

12 years in fact as the movie was made in 1953, released in 1954. It seems a lot of these trucks sort of reach a plateau of degradation fairly quickly depending on the use/abuse they receive.

The Badger was five years older but had a rebuild including new chassis and a Thorneycroft bogie around 1948.

Here's the Badger:

[warren brown]

Much to my astonishment and disappointment- I've been informed The Australian no longer produces an obituary column. Tom's story would have been a must read. However, there is a documentary television series in production for the ABC which uses some of the 'Back of Beyond' film - mentioning Tom and his adventures...It'll screen either late this year or early 2012.

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by warren brown

Much to my astonishment and disappointment- I've been informed The Australian no longer produces an obituary column. Tom's story would have been a must read. However, there is a documentary television series in production for the ABC which uses some of the 'Back of Beyond' film - mentioning Tom and his adventures...It'll screen either late this year or early 2012.

I also made a doco at the same time which screened on Channel 7 and the History Channel at the time as the excellent Peter Lewis Landline segment.

Our program, Last Mail from Birdsville - the story of Tom Kruse will screen in South Australia this Saturday morning.

I can also confirm the time for the funeral which is 2.30, not 2 as previously mentioned.

At the moment I'm editing a memorial piece to be shown at the wake.

[Howard]

During my visit to Broken Hill last April we paid a visit to the Royal Flying Doctor base. I was disapointed that they did not have any copies of Back of Beyond/Last Mail on hand. Since then I had completley forgotten all about it.
The DVD's are available on line HERE. Money from the sale of the DVD's goes to keeping the flying doctor flying.

Much to my astonishment and disappointment- I've been informed The Australian no longer produces an obituary column. Tom's story would have been a must read. However, there is a documentary television series in production for the ABC which uses some of the 'Back of Beyond' film - mentioning Tom and his adventures...It'll screen either late this year or early 2012.

There is an obituary on the RFDS website, here