Outback Community Newspaper Est 1982 8672 5036 Thursday 20 December 2012 ISSN 1833-1831 •Mechanic on duty •Tyres •Tyre repairs •Fuel •Parts •Opening hours 7.30am- 5pm Tel: 08 86725 920 http://cooberpedyregionaltimes.wordpress.com LONG HAUL ENDS FOR McARDLE FREIGHT DRIVER ROD SOPEER Road train driver Rod Sopeer delivering weekly supplies to Coober Pedy for McArdle Freight has finally hung up his big keys and retired. Rod has been in the freight business for 51 years, since he was 17 years old, spending most of those years providing a freight service to the Far North of South Australia, Alice Springs and Darwin. Rod spent nearly 10 years driving weekly freight to Coober Pedy for Mick Lucas and Sons and just before Lucas Supermarket sold to Tim Carter’s IGA, Rod changed over to McArdle and continued the same run for another 5.5 years. While many of us know that fresh foods and other items will always be replenished on Thursdays, few would see the people that are involved behind the scenes that makes this service happen. The staff involved at McArdle Freight providing a service ‘just to Coober Pedy’ totals around 17, with 4 staff in Administration, Terry who drives around Adelaide all week picking up freight orders bound for the Far North. It takes 6 fellas to load the two road trains at McArdles Adelaide Depot, before the 2 drivers embark on the weekly run of 1700 kilometres - round trip. McArdle Freight run 11 transport trucks, but the two road trains which leave the depot on Wednesday mornings bound for Coober Pedy, pull into the Flat Hill Road yard in the early hours of Thursday mornings. Then as dawn Owner of McArdle Freight Brian McArdle, travels the last run with long time friend and retiring trucker breaks we find 4 men on deck unloading and delivering Rod Sopeer. Rod pictured as he unloads the Coober Pedy Regional Times as his last chore before freight around Coober Pedy. departing for the southern inland leg of his deliveries Having long term stalwarts like Rod on a regular freight run helps to ensure consistency with client’s ongoing From1970 Rod began his own trucking business with “Retirement is a bit strange”, said Rod who likes routine. requirements. two trucks carting to Alice Springs, Darwin and also taking “But it’s good to have a rest and I plan to go caravaning mining equipment to Mount Tom Price in Western Austalia. with my wife who is retiring on Friday. “We are going to “Over the years I’ve come to know most of the outback Rod carted freezer vans for Alice Springs lifeline Jack Tasmania in March and then relocating to Victor Harbour.” folk on the stations surrounding Coober Pedy. I did the O’Day, who meant as much to the remote township of regular runs to Jumbuck Pastoral Company including Alice Springs as McArdle Freight means to our town. Rod added, “I’d like to extend my sincerest thanks to Bulgunnia, Commonwealth Station, Mobella and everyone who has helped me over the years. Some of Mulgathing Stations, where we deliver stores, windmill Rod also worked with Brambles for 17 years as their those are Reece Watson who was Luke Lucas’ manager. supplies and of course the Coober Pedy Regional Times”, Operations Manager in Adelaide. “I was always around and Nick Ikonomopoulos who used to help me unload said Rod. trucks,” he said. and his wife Maxine for her help - to name a few”. SERVING THE OPAL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD SINCE 1982 Christmas Message Editor: Margaret Mackay PO Box 275 Coober Pedy SA 5723 Ph: (08) 8672 5920 O Come All You Faithful? Email: [email protected] This well known Christmas carol, continues, "O come let us adore Him, Christ the Next Newspapers Lord". Thursday 31 January 2013 But what in God's name does it mean? The answer is simple, but the application of the Thursday 14 February 2013 answer is often complicated. Thursday 28 February 2013 Thursday 14 March 2013 For religion and Christ-ianity are connected, but at the same time are separate. My Space booked by Wed (week prior) definition of religion is "a human attempt to try to please God". Personally, I don't like Material must be in Fri prior being thought of as a religious person. While I don't agree with everything Karl Marx wrote (and I haven't read much!) he is quoted as saying that religion is the drug that is used to Advertising Rates keep the general population under control! Black & White Display $6.50 per cm/col But Christ-ianity tells us that we are called to 'adore' Christ the Lord. That is treating Classified $8.00 per cm/col Jesus Christ as Lord, boss, the one who is sitting in the navigators seat, and from whom we Colour on Application take directions. So Christianity is "God's way of sending His son to save." Inserts on Application With all religions, any investigation of them at a historical level will always find flaws. DISTRIBUTING 4,500 + to As an Anglican, the way the Anglican Church began under Henry 8th, is not one to inspire SA : ADELAIDE CENTRAL confidence. So I don't trust in religion. Also Cavan, Bute, Pt. Pirie, Dublin, Minlaton, Pt. Broughton, PT. AUGUSTA, Snowtown, Pt. Wakefield, But as I've looked at Jesus in the Bible for over 35 years, He does inspire confidence! * Bute IGA 9 High St, Bute, SA * Snowtown IGA 36 Railway Tce, Why not look into what the words of our carols mean this Christmas. * Port Broughton IGA 27 Harvey St * Dublin BP Lot 7 Port Wakefield Rd, * Port Wakefield BP Truckstop Geoff Piggott 22 Snowtown Rd Port Wakefield Catacomb Church Minister. Ceduna/Thevenard, Pt. 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Letters to the Editor must be attributed with a name, address and contact phone number - names and town of origin will be printed, or may be withheld at the Editor’s discretion. During the course of any election campaign, letters to the editor dealing with election issues or similar material must contain the author’s name and street address (not PO Box) for publication.” Page 2 Coober Pedy Regional Times Thursday 20 December 2012 FAREWELL & THANK YOU - Coober Pedy - FROM NILANTHA AT OPAL INN an underground ‘city’, built from the profits of opal mining Experience life in the outback town of Coober Pedy, famous for its fabulous opals and bizarre underground homes. For generations, miners have dug into the white and orange rock to extract the valuable, sparkling stone. The tunnels and chambers they dug were cool and dark, perfect to escape from the desert sun. Coober Pedy ‘evolved’ as the result of a massive post war Opal Rush where hardy pioneers developed a make or break gem industry in the desert terrain. See the extravagantly built UNDERGROUND SERBIAN CHURCH with it’s magnificent stained glass windows and carvings. Visitors can stay overnight and experience underground life as the locals know it! Opal Inn’s Front Office Manager and Senior Duty Manager Nilantha Seneviratne during his last week at the Opal Inn Nilantha Seneviratne was one of the first Sri coming back to Coober Pedy in the “Once again I take this opportunity Lankans to live and work in Coober Pedy.