Again a similar story but at Bairnsdale in Eastern Victoria many years ago, but without the rope.
At the end of a 5 minute stop, we found the starter on the right engine had failed.The old captain had obviously had this happen previously and the outcome was that after having the engine suitably primed and pulled through, myself and two of the passengers pulled the prop through about one blade and she started readily but slowly.
The three of us just walked away, pulling the prop as we walked away with hands joined to ensure that if anything went wrong the person holding the prop would be pulled away.
Now I am much older and wiser.
Blackburn