Bigger than a three-ring circus, punchier in its literary expression and comments about the outback than Jimmy Sharman’s touring boxing tent , the fabulous , highly illustrated BURLEIGH BULLDUST DIARY roadshow is back on the gravel after a valve grind , rebore , oil change and new gudgeon pins . The unique series , in the style of gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson , but without a Samoan attorney and loathsome killer bats, will entertain and inform many readers with lurid pictures of far flung parts of the nation , especially the Top End. It may upset and infuriate a small number of yokels , but it will be too late for them to organise to tar and feather the author because he will have departed on a slow boat to China. Burleigh has been a keen observer of the changes taking place in the Australian outback since way back . The front cover illustration , above , drawn by him for the trail blazing 1969 national magazine –BROADSIDE –portrayed the growing Americanisation of Australia , signposts pointing to American bases at Pine Gap, near Alice Springs , North West Cape and Honeysuckle Creek . Pointers to Canberra and Sydney are on the ground and some misguided fool is singing Waltzing Matilda from a nearby billabong. A fierce bidding war against a media mogul saw Little Darwin secure the world rights to the BURLEIGH BULLDUST DIARY . We paid by cheque and will also be on a Panamanian registered bumboat fleeing to a foreign port by the time the poultice bounces. There are more than 20 parts to the Diary , dear readers, so tighten your seat belts for a magical mystery tour .
