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Fraser Island Clean Up ~ Australia Day Long Week End
Trip Attendees :
Friday 23 January
This was our first Fraser Island clean up weekend
we had attended and it was one that I had been looking forward to since I put my
name on the sheet many months ago. As is the case every time I go to Fraser, the
weather was inclement (to say the least). The trip up the highway from the Gold
Coast, for us was a challenge in itself, as South East Queensland had been
blanketed with 100mm of rain over night. It was still raining as we battled peak
hour traffic, heading towards our meeting place at Rainbow Beach at 11:00am.
The further north we went the better the weather
was becoming, which was a good thing. Still there was no escaping the humidity
and heat. We arrived at Rainbow Beach and we were not alone. This being the
annual 4WD QLD Fraser Island Clean Up weekend, there were hundreds of 4WD parked
everywhere. With the half price barge fees commencing at midday, everyone had
the same idea; fill up with petrol and find something to eat. Now Rodney did say
to meet at the bakery, but which one? I have never seen Rainbow Beach so busy
and it was proving difficult in finding the Mitsubishi Club amongst every other
4WD club on the main drag. I decided to do a lap of town and just look for the
club stickers on the backs of likely looking cars. Eventually I found Rodney’s
green Pajero and parked near it. I found Eric and Helga sitting outside a bakery
near the beach end of the main street, with Eric doing his best to stay cool (or
was that look cool).
Eventually all of Friday’s starters arrived, The
Metcalfe’s, The Newman’s, The Halls, and us The Johnson’s. So we aired down in
town for the short drive out to Inskip Point for the barge trip across to
Fraser. Our trip leader must have known something, as we were able to pass most
vehicles airing down at Inskip and drive straight onto the Manta Ray. After
waiting for the barge to fill up, we were then on our way. The local police were
there to greet us at Hook Point, conducting speed and modification checks. The
sun had been shining at Rainbow, but it was quickly fading, turning into showers
the further north we went.
Our destination for camp was the camping area just
north of Cathedral Beach. For those of you that have not been to Fraser, it’s a
big island. The trip up the beach at low tide according to my GPS was going to
take an hour and a half. The driving was easy, especially with all of the rain
we had had. No complaints though, from anyone, as the air conditioning was
definitely doing a good job. One thing that all of us were dreading was putting
up the tents. Not only was humidity 100%, but the big black clouds way up in the
distance didn’t help the cause.
We arrived at the Yurru Camping zone to find a
fantastic grassed (what a bonus) setup perched up on the dunes, with potential
for catching a sea breeze. All four parties set about putting up tents, tarps,
toilets tents, and tables, roughly all finishing about the same time. That
wasn’t so bad, but we definitely needed a swim. I braved the beach opposite our
camp, but I needed something a bit colder. Eric suggested that we all head down
to Eli Creek for a swim, so we did. We stopped off at the wreck of Maheno for
the obligatory picture after which we traveled the eight kilometers to Eli. The
water in the creek was cold, icy cold, but very refreshing. Some of the group
headed up to the head of the creek to float (walk) back down. Along the way
Amanda was stopped by two foreign back packing girls asking her to take some
pictures of them swinging from a tree over the creek. The first image that came
to mind for me was Tarzan and Jane, so I said; me Tarzan, you Jane, but a total
lack of comprehension came over their faces, so I left it at that. We then made
our way back to our cars for happy hour and a well-deserved refreshment.
Saturday 24 January
Now every time I have previously been to Fraser it
has been extreme. May it be the wind or rain (most of the time both). Last night
it was calm and very hot. I would have given my first born for a breath of
breeze, not that he seemed to mind, sleeping the night through. When the camp
all rose and the discussion centered on the night that had just been, Eric
disclosed that he had a portable electric fan in his tent last night, hooked up
to his battery and inverter. Now I know why he is Club President, he’s smart,
but definitely worthy of a fine never the less. Eric did go on to say that the
rest of us should all be fined for not having one. Ha.
The sun was shining now and a lovely 10 knot sea
breeze was blowing as we made our way down the beach to Eurong to register for
the clean up weekend. We were given our designated area to clean on the Sunday,
a hat and garbage bags. This year the event organizers wanted the collected
rubbish sorted into recyclable and general waste. After registration I was given
the honor of leading a morning trip back to camp. I decided to take the group to
Lake Garawongera and then onto Yindey Scrub, coming back out at Cathedral Beach.
A trip that would take in a fascinating and the not very often visited brown
lake, (but one of my favorites) and a rainforest in all its glory, in the rain.
We cooled of with a very relaxing swim. This lake is always warm, with its
tannin stained water it absorbs the suns rays.
From here we left for Yindey Scrub and the heavens
opened up again. The track quickly turned into pools of water, for some of which
a snorkel would have been good insurance. I have never seen or driven in so much
rain, the track was like driving down a river, very enjoyable just the same. We
all negotiated this without incident having to pull over and at times reverse up
to let other 4WD groups through on the one way tracks. We eventually made it to
Cathedral Beach for a pie or ice cream. Here we met up with John Veling and his
friend Pamela; they had just arrived on the island at lunchtime. From here we
made our way back to camp to find John and Penny Heath had also set up. Now
every one was here it was time for happy hour.
Sunday 25 January
Clean up day. The clubs area was to the north, we
were assigned from Indian Head and 10km south. We had six vehicles so each was
positioned every couple of hundred metres, were we would pick
up debris, most of which was washed in from the sea. Once we had done our
individual areas you would drive to the head of line and continue from there.
From what rubbish I picked up I can safely say that the campers of the island
are a clean bunch, with most of the rubbish being washed in from the sea. Some
notable items were, toothbrushes, they were a dime a dozen and plastic bottle
lids. After a couple of hours we were finished, with a whopping 60 garbage bags
of rubbish loaded mostly in the back of Wayne’s Navara. From here we visited
Waddy Point for a swim and then onto Orchid Beach for ice creams and afternoon
tea.
That night we travelled down to
the Clean Up BBQ, which was put on by 4WD Queensland, The EPA and Toyota. The
night was fantastic with most of the 701 people from all Clubs across QLD for
the weekend, in attendance. Tania Kernaghan performed songs from her new album
and several prizes were given away. Even our own Rodney Metcalfe won a prize and
got to go up on stage and steal a kiss from Tania. The night rapped up with Mary
and Rod using each other as leaning posts, falling asleep in their chairs. It
was a big, long day after all.
Monday 26 January –
Australia Day
After a leisurely breakfast, we
all began the task of packing up our gear and making our way back to Rainbow
Beach. On the way we stopped again at Eli for a swim and had morning tea at
Happy Valley. The drive down the beach was bathed in sunshine, with a long line
of 4WD heading home after an eventful long weekend. We caught the barge back
across to Inskip, aired up and headed into town for a pie. From here we said our
good byes and made our way home.
I would like to thank Rod and
Mary as trip leaders for making the effort to organise the clean up weekend on
behalf of the club. The trip is one that I recommend that all members take the
time to do. It’s for a great cause and as a bonus camping and vehicle fees are
waived, with discounted barge fees.
See you on the track.
Peter
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