mmg.com.au

Justin Crawford raised plenty of eyebrows when he landed his small Robinson R22 helicopter on the bare patch of land in Annesley St, where the old rice mill used to be, at lunchtime yesterday.

The Queenslander’s decision to land where he did was not unusual, for him anyway.

‘‘I had a look at the airport and thought ‘That’s way too far (from town)’,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s a different concept. Up there (in Queensland), helicopters are like Landcruisers, they’re everywhere.

‘‘I saw the clear spot here (in Annesley St) and thought, ‘That’s close enough’.’’

The reason for the stop? He was cold and wanted to buy a jumper.

Living in Julia Creek, near Mt Isa, jumpers are not all that common because the weather is generally hot year-round.

Asked if it was his only jumper, Mr Crawford’s reply was ‘‘Let me put it this way, it’s the first I’ve bought in about 10 years’’.

‘‘I was 42°C when I left (Julia Creek on Wednesday),’’ he said.

However, on picking up his new two-seater helicopter — which does not have any doors — in Melbourne yesterday morning, bound for Swan Hill, Mr Crawford said he realised pretty quickly we would need warmer clothing.

Warmer than the jeans, T-shirt, vest and thongs that he was wearing, that is.

‘‘I realised nearly straight away I’d made a mistake,’’ he said.

‘‘I don’t like to fly too high.

‘‘I fly about 1000-feet above the ground.

‘‘It’s about 17°C on the ground and about 14°C up there.’’

Just under an hour into the journey, Mr Crawford was flying over Echuca when he spotted Big W from the air and decided to pop in and buy a jumper.

While he didn’t find what he wanted there among the autumn clothing range, he was quickly pointed to a shop with heavier clothing.

After his brief stop in Echuca, Mr Crawford headed off to Swan Hill to pick up a mate.

Today, he is off home to Julia Creek — where no doubt he will not have any more use for his new jumper.