Coopers Creek at the locationn where William John Wills died seemed a beautiful oasis full of bird life and with fish and mussels said to be in plentiful supply. To us the creek seemed equally lush throughout the 50km length of it that we saw. It is diffucult to imagine with our present knowledge of survival how this could be the site of death due to starvation and malnutrition.
Had Burke been less hostile to the basically friendly Aborigines it is probable they would have been looked after and may have survived, despite the trek back from the gulf. It also appears from stories passed down by the Aborigines that they thought the same. However, most things seem easier with hindsight and history cannot be changed.