Anonymous

A white Toyota Land Cruiser ute, apparently new, was parked in the clearing. All along its passenger side canopy were black scorch marks. On the ground beside the vehicle was what Andrew first took to be the remains of a campfire, but the blackened area sprawled far larger than any responsible camper would allow.

A white Toyota Land Cruiser ute, apparently new, was parked in the clearing. All along its passenger side canopy were black scorch marks. On the ground beside the vehicle was what Andrew first took to be the remains of a campfire, but the blackened area sprawled far larger than any responsible camper would allow.

Drawing closer, Andrew realised he was looking at a campsite that had been entirely cremated. Chairs, awning, mattresses and a tent had all been reduced to twisted metal and dash. The only thing left standing was a toilet tent set apart from the main site. It had largely escaped the inferno save for some melted zips. The scene was cold, there was no smoke or embers, and the ash had long cooled.

Drawing closer, Andrew realised he was looking at a campsite that had been entirely cremated. Chairs, awning, mattresses and a tent had all been reduced to twisted metal and dash. The only thing left standing was a toilet tent set apart from the main site. It had largely escaped the inferno save for some melted zips. The scene was cold, there was no smoke or embers, and the ash had long cooled.

Drawing closer, Andrew realised he was looking at a campsite that had been entirely cremated. Chairs, awning, mattresses and a tent had all been reduced to twisted metal and dash. The only thing left standing was a toilet tent set apart from the main site. It had largely escaped the inferno save for some melted zips. The scene was cold, there was no smoke or embers, and the ash had long cooled.

The Land Cruiser stood locked and empty. Deciding to keep moving, the Marquards pressed on upstream, eventually finding a suitable spot to settle near a suspension bridge. But the memory of the burnt-out camp nagged at Andrew throughout the night. The next morning, he walked back to the incinerated site alone. Nothing had changed, yet something felt wrong.

The Land Cruiser stood locked and empty. Deciding to keep moving, the Marquards pressed on upstream, eventually finding a suitable spot to settle near a suspension bridge. But the memory of the burnt-out camp nagged at Andrew throughout the night. The next morning, he walked back to the incinerated site alone. Nothing had changed, yet something felt wrong.

The Land Cruiser stood locked and empty. Deciding to keep moving, the Marquards pressed on upstream, eventually finding a suitable spot to settle near a suspension bridge. But the memory of the burnt-out camp nagged at Andrew throughout the night. The next morning, he walked back to the incinerated site alone. Nothing had changed, yet something felt wrong.

A lead trailed from the Land Cruiser's canopy to the ground. The vehicle's passenger side mirror was missing, as though ripped off, and empty bourbon and cola cans lay scattered behind the rear wheel. Peering through a window, Andrew spotted a pink bag on the front seat. There was an esky tucked under the ute. When Andrew lifted its lid, he saw food inside that looked fresh.

A lead trailed from the Land Cruiser's canopy to the ground. The vehicle's passenger side mirror was missing, as though ripped off, and empty bourbon and cola cans lay scattered behind the rear wheel. Peering through a window, Andrew spotted a pink bag on the front seat. There was an esky tucked under the ute. When Andrew lifted its lid, he saw food inside that looked fresh.

A lead trailed from the Land Cruiser's canopy to the ground. The vehicle's passenger side mirror was missing, as though ripped off, and empty bourbon and cola cans lay scattered behind the rear wheel. Peering through a window, Andrew spotted a pink bag on the front seat. There was an esky tucked under the ute. When Andrew lifted its lid, he saw food inside that looked fresh.

Increasingly uneasy, Andrew returned to his family to talk the matter over. They wondered whether there had been an emergency and a second vehicle had taken the Land Cruiser's campers out for medical attention or supplies. With no phone reception and unable to do any more, Andrew photographed the scene. Once he was back in mobile range, he would report the discovery to the police.

Increasingly uneasy, Andrew returned to his family to talk the matter over. They wondered whether there had been an emergency and a second vehicle had taken the Land Cruiser's campers out for medical attention or supplies. With no phone reception and unable to do any more, Andrew photographed the scene. Once he was back in mobile range, he would report the discovery to the police.

Increasingly uneasy, Andrew returned to his family to talk the matter over. They wondered whether there had been an emergency and a second vehicle had taken the Land Cruiser's campers out for medical attention or supplies. With no phone reception and unable to do any more, Andrew photographed the scene. Once he was back in mobile range, he would report the discovery to the police.

Two days before Andrew Marquart discovered the burnt-out campsite, a 74-year-old named Russell Hill was preparing to go camping in the Wanangatta Valley. This would be Russell's third visit to the area in a month. Just one week earlier, he had camped for a single night in the Alpine National Park.

Two days before Andrew Marquart discovered the burnt-out campsite, a 74-year-old named Russell Hill was preparing to go camping in the Wanangatta Valley. This would be Russell's third visit to the area in a month. Just one week earlier, he had camped for a single night in the Alpine National Park.

Two days before Andrew Marquart discovered the burnt-out campsite, a 74-year-old named Russell Hill was preparing to go camping in the Wanangatta Valley. This would be Russell's third visit to the area in a month. Just one week earlier, he had camped for a single night in the Alpine National Park.

It was a six-hour round trip from his home in the West Gippsland town of Druin, but Russell relished his time in the great outdoors. A former forestry worker who'd later worked as a truck driver, Russell had embraced camping even more after entering retirement. He was an experienced outdoorsman and still relatively fit for his age, though he moved more deliberately than he had as a younger man.

It was a six-hour round trip from his home in the West Gippsland town of Druin, but Russell relished his time in the great outdoors. A former forestry worker who'd later worked as a truck driver, Russell had embraced camping even more after entering retirement. He was an experienced outdoorsman and still relatively fit for his age, though he moved more deliberately than he had as a younger man.

It was a six-hour round trip from his home in the West Gippsland town of Druin, but Russell relished his time in the great outdoors. A former forestry worker who'd later worked as a truck driver, Russell had embraced camping even more after entering retirement. He was an experienced outdoorsman and still relatively fit for his age, though he moved more deliberately than he had as a younger man.