Acknowledgements – Closing in on the Kimberley
The greatest assistance in the preparation of this volume was given selflessly and assiduously by Gail Macdonald, who painstakingly transcribed all of John Pentecost’s obsolete Pitman shorthand, in which much of his 1882 diary was written, into accurate language of the day. That assistance is gratefully acknowledged.
Before I joined this project, Peter Bridge, Graeme Blake and Zoe Inman organised much of its source material, following which Gail Dreezens typed large sections of the original diaries with high accuracy, all of them giving the project a sound base.
Research in the preparation of this work was also assisted by staff of Battye Library, State Records Office of Western Australia, Perth, and by several others. Particular thanks are due to Series Editors Peter Bridge and Kim Epton, to botanist Professor Alex George for his detailed appendix on Pentecost’s botanical observations, to historians Dr Neville Green and Dr Ian Elliot for helpful references, to Dr Megan Ewing for assistance with genealogy and to Dr Cathie Clement for insightful history, helpful criticism and much patience fielding numerous queries.
Dr Marion Hercock patiently led me through the Western Australian Explorers’ Diaries Project’s version of the book making process over many years and pointed out numerous blunders.
Brian Knyn of the WA Mines Department and Nan Nicholson of Terania Rainforest Publishing also provided invaluable help and attention concerning Hardman’s illustrations.
Special thanks to Tony Scott and John Hall for their useful oversight and sound advice on a wide range of matters.
My late wife Vivienne provided much encouragement and support, as well as a marvellous model for writing lucid, commonsense prose.