To answer Old Akro.....
Re - "There is also a very good point about why flight following is not used more commonly and why our system is not sufficiently resourced so that it can be encouraged"
'FULL SAR" - Flight Following - Used to be available by choice to all VFR flights - indeed it was mandatory for VFR CHTR flights and some others, re 'remote areas' / Nil ELT etc etc....
However, it WAS CEASED on 12/12/1991 - the FIRST of Dick's cuts to remove the 'duplication' of services - his words - and get rid of Flight Service.
"Your safety will be enhanced and it will cost you less" - was the mantra of the day.
So, the pilots of less than 20 year's experience will not know about the 'real 'you beaut' system we USED to have. The one that grew by 'evolution' out of 'necessity' as it was at the time it was developed, to cater for Australia's vast distances and small, spread out population.
A planned VFR flight approaching a destination when the ETA was close to Last Light, would be asked by the FSO, who was 'responsible' for the passing of all operational info to all flights in 'his' airspace, for an updated Estimate, and advised what LL was for that location.
IF the pilot's ETA was AFTER LL then the 'usual' question then put to the pilot was 'Advise your intentions'.
This was usually sufficient to draw the pilot's attention to land at a suitable alternate nearby ad. OR, add power so that he would make his destination by LL- hopefully.
Additionally, ANY amended weather likely to effect the safety of the flight would be directed to the pilot as a matter of course - that was a part of the 'Flight Following'.....
But all of that is now history, and is of academic interest only.....It was paid for by the way, by a small tax of a couple of cents or so / litre on avgas.
Now there is still a tax on your avgas, but that goes somewhere else....
Others may enlighten us - I've lost interest in such things - a looong time ago.
Not be seen a 'drift' nor as a detraction from the real subject matter here - just to answer and to provide some background info to Akro's question.
We deal with what we have, and it ain't much for the G/A pilot.
'Call Flightwatch' on HF - if possible.
The number of VHF outlets for this are minimal. I don't know if they are available in the area of interest in this case.
The only ones left in WA are the ones which were 'surplus' to ATC req's when the older 'F.S.' freq's were allocated to ATC use.
I guess the only choice left is for the G/A VFR pilot REQUIRING something, and can't get a word in, is to make a 'PAN' call, and say that they REQUIRE
(As distinct from 'request') whatever it is they are after.....
Nothing that may have affected the sad outcome of this flight however.