In Sept 2008, neither Hazel nor Holdom had a vehicle that would make the journey to Adelaide, which I am presuming was their destination before it all went to hell at Marla. They had a rented car on that journey, and it's reasonably logical to say that situation didn't change after the accident. Holdom, working as a car detailer in Alice, still didn't have a car that would do the distance.
Let's say, he considers himself in 'unfortunate circumstances,' at least by the middle of October and joins the UC club, and by chance so does Karlie. with her car. . Not a great car, not a new car, but able to do the distances Holdom needs to do. For what? :dunno: Sub Judice. But romance is provoked and the idea of living in Adelaide, presumably, because that's where they both go to, very shortly. Because Karlie's car will get him there.
And by November 2008, he and Karlie are in Adelaide, Karlie ( and Holdom?) are doing journeys to Port Augusta, back to the Alice, to Mt Gambier... presumably in Karlie's car. If Holdom's car couldn't get to Adelaide back in September, no reason to assume it could in October or November, so using Karlie's car makes sense. Where Hazels 2 yr old is, I don't know, nor where Hazel is, but it is logical that her injuries, particularly her amputation allied with the paraplegia would have her airlifted to Adelaide.. pretty quickly, I would think, nothing unusual in that. I cannot imagine the cost of hiring a car for these runs, not in 2008 and not now, unless... No one would lend anyone a car for this kind of travelling either, no one's friends are that nice.
And unless Holdom got a job immediately, as car detailer, or whatever, in Adelaide, he is not working, and it's hard to see how he could if he is with Karlie on these long distance hauls across South Australia from east to west and from north to south and into the NT. I don't see him getting sickies for all that at a new job.
All of November 2008 is practically taken up with driving, maybe October was too, and then December it's off to Canberra. . Not a lot of activity on Karlie's card in the few weeks of December left to Karlie. And then, after Dec 14, 2008, it's one person doing the driving.. Almost the same distance, as he and Karlie had done in November, around 5,300 kms , but this time, without a small child.
Karlie , in November, used up about 36% of her income on fuel. This left her with roughly $ 36.00 a day to feed herself, and Khandalyce. 6 meals a day, bathing, laundry, nappies, shelter, etc etc.. I don't think that can be done, really. ( Her income would have been about $1588 round it up to $1600 per month in 2008 ) ( fuel was around $1.18 and she did around 5,200 kms in Nov)
With Holdoms unemployment payment, the money would have been only slightly further advanced, because he has to be fed and sheltered and dressed and barbered and showered, all of which cost , hourly. That lifts the costs to 9 meals a day, etc.
So the move to Canberra must have had some prize , something 'better', something worth the upheaval for both of them to act upon the idea. Some expectation of premises to live in, of jobs to do, of perhaps a job for Karlie, because Canberra is a very expensive place to go to when one has nothing to start off with. It isn't a 'starter' kind of place. It is fair to say , if you go to Canberra with not much, not much is where you will remain. Perhaps someone offered to share a house in Charnwood. . .