Red towels, naked woman: Taxi driving on Fraser Island back in the day

Ask Nigel Freemantle about the most memorable taxi driving job he had in 23 years on Fraser Island and he will probably mention red towels and a naked woman …

Ask Nigel Freemantle about the most memorable taxi driving job he had in 23 years on Fraser Island and he will probably mention red towels and a naked woman …

Ask Nigel Freemantle about the most memorable taxi driving job he had in 23 years on Fraser Island and he will probably mention red towels and a naked woman.

Nigel and Maureen retired from Fraser Island 16 years ago, choosing Maryborough as their retirement home over Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.

“Maryborough businesses were good to us when we were living on the island,” said Maureen.

“We decided we would retire here and we love it. You couldn’t ask for a better place.”

Pictured during their weekly Saturday morning and lunch date at the Maryborough RSL $900 seafood and meat tray raffles, the Freemantles have many stories to tell of days on Fraser Island.

Nigel and Maureen Freemantle at their weekly Saturday morning date.

They were also partners in a tow truck business, pulling “countless” bogged vehicles from sand, surf and creeks.

Maureen remembers the overseas visitor who hired a taxi and refused to get in because he didn’t think a woman could drive properly on the island.

“I told him it was a long walk to Central Station.”

Nigel recalls being called to just north of Second Creek to pick up a camping family whose vehicle was being repaired at Rainbow Beach.

“Just look for the red towel hanging out,” he was told.

After pulling in twice to false alarm red towels on the way, he almost missed the next one because a woman was starkers in the surf.

She stayed naked while she and her husband packed up and wobbled naked in the passenger seat on the way to the barge, finally pulling on knickers just before stepping on to the mainland and breasting Rainbow.

“Don’t think she would get away with that today,” said Nigel.

“But you wouldn’t get away with a lot of things that used to be done on Fraser.”