24
Straddie Island News $3.00 WINTER 2013 AT NEWSAGENTS & SELECTED OUTLETS meet the DUGONG A shy, fascinating creature, distantly related to the elephant, which communicates by chirps, whistles and barks — the dugong may be one of Moreton Bay’s least seen and most curious inhabitants. Approximately 1000 dugongs live in the warm waters of the sheltered and shallow bay. Globally, however, there are serious threats to this gentle animal’s survival. The World Conservation Union lists the dugong as vulnerable to extinction. Continued back page >>> PHOTO: COURTESY MARINE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES DEPT, UQ

Sin winter2013 email

Embed Size (px)

DESCRIPTION

News, views and opinions from the community of North Stradbroke Island/Minjerribah.

Citation preview

Page 1: Sin winter2013 email

StraddieIsland News

$3.00WINTER 2013AT NEWSAGENTS& SELECTED OUTLETS

meet the DUGONGA shy, fascinating creature, distantly related to the elephant, whichcommunicates by chirps, whistles and barks — the dugong may be one ofMoreton Bay’s least seen and most curious inhabitants. Approximately1000 dugongs live in the warm waters of the sheltered and shallow bay.Globally, however, there are serious threats to this gentle animal’s survival.The World Conservation Union lists the dugong as vulnerable to extinction.

Continued back page >>>

PHOT

O: C

OURT

ESY

MAR

INE

BIOL

OGIC

AL S

CIEN

CES

DEPT

, UQ

Page 2: Sin winter2013 email

2 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS WINTER 2013

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

PARKING AT THE ONE MILE IS Aprime example of how NOT to plan! Thenumerous uses of this very smallarea, which have over time been allowedto develop, have created a major problemfor council and residents. And it’s a prob-lem that is not easily resolved.

Here are a few of the problems andsome suggestions to fix them:

1. In dry weather, does the bus, HAVEto drive down to the water taxi? Could itturn around at the VMR? Or, could itenter at the rear of the caravan park (util-ising the unused land there) drop off,pick up, and turn around there? OK, itwould need discussions with the state gov-ernment and council, but surely the timehas come for action.

2. Could the dirt track east of the VMRbe sealed and parking bays with solarlights put in for additional parking?

3. What about utilising the old HighSchool car park? Maybe even a pedestriancrossing could be provided on Ballow Rd?

I accept that some or none of my sug-gestions would work. But what other ideasare on the table? Or, do we put it in thetoo hard basket until someone gets hurt?Kerry Noonan, Dunwich

FRIENDS OF STRADBROKE ISLAND(FOSI) disagrees with Bill Giles’ asser-tions in his letter in the Easter issue ofSIN (about sand mining and that itshould continue). It is a matter of hardfact, science and just commonsense thatsand mining is causing serious, perma-nent environmental damage to theIsland. Tourism is and will remain themainstay of the Stradbroke economy. Itdoesn’t make any sense to continue sandmining when it is damaging future busi-ness prospects and employment.

For people with talent and vision thereare many opportunities in nature-basedrecreation, tourism, education andhealth and this will create employmentfor other people who wish to live andwork on the Island. This long-termapproach triumphed in the 70s and 80s

when sand mining was stoppedeverywhere else on the populatedEast Coast of Australia.

These communities have general-ly flourished. Sand mining on NorthStradbroke Island is out of step andhas been for decades. Preserving thenatural beauty of the Island is theonly sensible approach.

Obviously tourism and over-devel-opment can be destructive too if notcontrolled and local environmentgroups have always played a role inminimising the impacts. FOSI worksto build an ethos of caring for theenvironment. If people show con-cern for nature then the future canbe protected.

We just can’t look the other waywhile sand mining eats away at theIsland’s environmental assets.

FOSI believes that whether youlook at this from an economic per-spective or an environmental per-spective, you come up with the sameanswer – sand mining should end.

Enough damage has been done.Future prosperity depends upon itending soon. It is worth remember-ing the words of Quandamookaleader Darren Burns in the previousissue of SIN

“… sand mining is a very destruc-tive industry. As well as destroyingthe ecology it is slowly pitting peopleon the Island against one another.There is a sophisticated campaigngoing on from the mining companyto tell everyone that mining is OK.But it’s not.”Sue Ellen CarewPresident Friends of Stradbroke Island

IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR WHEN THEhumidity decreases and those coolwesterlies arrive and for StraddieIsanders it’s when our energy levelssurge — because there is just so muchto do on Straddie in winter!If you don’t believe me check the pagesof this issue of SIN.There’s everything from running, cyclingand marathon swims to surfing thecrystal barrels those westerly offshorebreezes bring. And it you’re not in the water (orrunning or cycling to dive into it), thenthere’s every manner of fishing you cando — off rock-walls or jetties or boatingon the Bay. As our newly-wed fishing columnist, JimCampbell will tell us, the winter whitingand mullet are already here, and thebream and tailor are well on the way.Small business owners of Straddie lovewinter too because it brings longer-staytourists and visitors. Energeticbushwalkers who will walk for miles toget a glimpse of a golden wallaby orwattlebird or those elusive glossy blackcockatoos in their hollow eucalypts.There are also the less active wildlifeenthusiasts — let’s called them the“chilled enthusiasts” — who will sit forhours over coffee and cake or gelati atPoint Lookout cafes, waiting to spot awhale spout (or 10). My particular Island interest is golfingand I can’t wait for the return of theStraddie Ambrose in late July, in thedepths of winter when golfing onStraddie comes in to its own. Oh thedeep blue skies and crisp green greens!But the best thing about winter for me, isthat the cane toads — the bane of mylife at Straddie and critters I have nevercome to terms with since they arrived onthe Island in my childhood — disappearfor a few months before the springwarmth brings them out and aboutunder foot again.Enjoy your winter on Straddie and thanksfor reading.— Trish Lake

OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD

EDITOR Kate Johnston [email protected] EDITOR Trish LakeREPORTING Liz JohnstonLAYOUT Mr TADVERTISING Vicki Kelleher [email protected] FOLLOW SIN ON FACEBOOKwww.facebook.com/straddienewsISSN 1839-5716GENERAL DISCLAIMER Views expressed in articlesare contributors’ own and not necessarily the view ofthe publisher. Statements of fact are believed to betrue, but no legal responsibility is accepted for them.PRINTER PrintcraftPUBLISHER Freshwater ProductionsPO Box 86 Point Lookout Qld 4183

Page 3: Sin winter2013 email

WINTER 2013 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS 3

NEWS

This year’s Stradbroke ChamberMusic Festival introduces a new program for students from theQueensland Conservatorium ofMusic. This is in addition to

its established Dunwich State School workshops.

Either a trio or a quartet will be selectedto participate in the inaugural Jani HaenkeYoung Musicians program, offering inten-sive chamber music and ensemble develop-ment to the chosen students.

From July 21 to 28, they will work underthe guidance of three experienced profes-sional performers, violinist Sophie Rowell,violist Caroline Henbest and cellist LouiseKing, who will perform at the festival onStraddie between July 26 and 28.

The students will be coached as a groupin the pieces of repertoire they have select-ed, with a different tutor for each move-ment. As well, each member of the groupwill receive an individual lesson focusing onthose repertoire items.

There will also be special sessions inwhich they will join with professional musi-cians appearing at the festival, to play andstudy key pieces from the chamber musicrepertoire.

Finally, the group will give two public per-formances at the NSI Historical Museumand at Dunwich State School, featuring therepertoire they have studied.

While they are on Straddie, the studentmusicians will be billeted in the homes oflocal children who are themselves learningan instrument and who, it is hoped, will ben-efit from the inspiration of having anadvanced student to stay. Festival sponsorTransit Systems is providing courtesy watertaxi transport.

The program is supported by the JaniHaenke Charitable Trust. SCMF artisticdirector Rachel Smith said: “Jani and Ishared a fervent belief in the need for

strong arts education. This program offersnot just teacher–student coaching, but anall-round learning process – playing along-side professionals and with younger students, observing professional rehearsalsand concerts, and having opportunities toperform in public.

“Playing chamber music with professionalmusicians and learning alongside them is aninvaluable but rare opportunity for Conser-vatorium students. Their skills will beextended, listening powers developed andunderstanding of the music deepened.

“This is the most inspiring and challeng-ing experience that a student can have –with a very sharp learning curve.”

The much younger instrumentalists atDunwich State School will not miss out

while all this is going on. Over three days,festival favourite Louise King and her col-leagues will again provide workshops andlead a student performance at the school.

Rachel told SIN she had been inspired byher time spent with Dunwich students inprevious years.

“I remember one little wide-eyed girlwho, after listening to us play aMendelssohn quartet (and upon beingprompted to tell us how it made her feel),said it was ‘like a giant house made of gold,filled with swirly colours’.”For information on the sixth StradbrokeChamber Music Festival (26–28 July), visitwww.stradmusic.org. Book tickets through4MBS Ticketing on 3847 1717, 9am to 5pm,seven days a week or online at 4mbs.com.au.

DISCOVER THE DIFFERENCE…“My husband and I both found Julie’s honest and genuineapproach to real estate sales to be a breath of fresh air.”

The testimonials from clients of Discover Stradbroke Real Estate speak for themselves.

With over 20 years of local knowledge and outstanding property sales results with Discover Stradbroke,Julie has helped people make their dreams come true. Regardless of the value of the property, you can be assured that you will receive a high level of service to achieve your goal. If you’re considereing buying orselling, contact Julie Elliott for a confidential discussion.

Julie Elliott Sales Manager/Licensed Agent0408 853 940 [email protected]

Festival gives young musicians a lead noteB Y C O L C U N N I N G T O N

Dunwich students at last year’s workshop.

Page 4: Sin winter2013 email

NEWS

4 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS WINTER 2013

The North Stradbroke IslandHistorical Museum has won anaward from Google Earth Out-reach for its use of Googlemapping technology in its up-

dated Online Heritage Trail. The museumwon the inaugural John Oxley LibraryCommunity Heritage Award in 2010 whenthey first created the online trail.

“We have always wanted to use technologyto share the history of NSI with the world,and to showcase our amazing collection ofhistorical and contemporary photographs,”Museum president Geoff Moore told SIN.“By adopting the latest technology fromGoogle we have been able to bring morethan 30 sites of historical interest, from allover the Island, to life.”

Museum members Kate and JonathanHodge volunteered many hours of theirtime and expertise to create the new OnlineHeritage Trail, with the help of a GoogleEarth Outreach Grant.

“The back-end technology we used to cre-ate the Trail has only been recently

launched by Google,” Jonathan said. “UsingGoogle Maps you can navigate around theIsland and zoom into particular areas to seephotos of that place from the Museum col-lection, and experience how it has changedthrough time.”

The website is based on the real-life NSIHeritage Trail, which can be followed bylooking for easily recognisable green signslocated across the Island, and which has anaccompanying pamphlet that is widely dis-tributed by Redland City Council. TheOnline Heritage Trail will eventually beaccessible from mobile phones, making it avaluable tool for visitors.

“When we won the award, the OnlineHeritage Trail was featured on Google’sFacebook site and Twitter feed, and therehas been an impressive spike in the hits onour website as a result, with lots of overseasinterest,” Geoff said.

Find the Online Heritage Trail by followingthe link on the front page of the museumwebsite at www.stradbrokemuseum.com.au

With some long-time com-mittee members steppingdown and funding shortfallchallenges to meet, the Island’s not-for-profit youth

organisation, Youthlink, is looking torenew.

“We are looking for people with passionand community spirit, who can bring freshideas, energy and drive to our Youthlinkteam for the youth of North StradbrokeIsland,” Emma Simms told SIN.

Since 1992, Youthlink (YL) has been pro-viding opportunities and events aimed atencouraging the Island’s young people tobe active, creative and contributing mem-bers of their community.

First founded as a theatre association, theorganisation incorporated in 1999 andexpanded into annual arts, cultural andsporting events.

These included the popular Sand ArtWhale Welcoming, Jumpin In and lanternfestivals, skate days, adventure camps, localdance and soccer coaching, and numerousworkshops, from screen printing to bandmentoring and oil painting.

All of these projects were made possiblethrough community grants however many ofYL’s grant applications were unsuccessful thisyear, leaving the group without enough fundsto hold the Whale Welcoming Festival, tradi-tionally held in the winter school holidays.

If you are a parent of local youth or haveexperience in working with young people,Youthlink would like your help to keepdoing the work they do, providing the next

Funding setbackleaves whaleswithout welcome

Museum wins technology award

generation with fun activities they would notusually have access to, because they live in aremote community.

“A big thank-you to all current and previous YL committee members, volun-teers and supporters for your contributions

and please keep an eye out for posters aboutour AGM towards the end of the year,”Emma said.To get involved with Youthlink contact EmmaSimms on 0408 152 008 or via Facebookwww.facebook.com/#!/nsi.youthlink

Page 5: Sin winter2013 email

WINTER 2013 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS 5

NEWS

Dreamtime drawn to Lines in the Sand

The 2013 LINES in the SAND nature first festival (22-25 June)will feature four performancesof Stradbroke Dreamtime, a QPACand Queensland Theatre Com-

pany production based on the writings ofOodgeroo Noonuccal — Aunty KathWalker.

Kaleenah Edwards (above right) – great-granddaughter of the acclaimed writer,poet, artist and activist – is one of three castmembers in the 40-minute show.

It was first performed last year in Bris-bane, as part of the Out of The Box festival,staged in Brisbane’s Southbank culturalprecinct.

The performance uses song and dance tobring to life Oodgeroo’s stories of growingup on Minjerribah/North StradbrokeIsland.

As well as performances in Point Look-out, Amity and Dunwich, the show will betaken across the water to Macleay Island.

Now in its fourth year, the LINES in theSAND festival features a program of per-formances, installations, artist residenciesand workshops, each with the theme ofnature at their heart.

As it has grown in confidence the festivalhas become one of the second best reasonsto visit Straddie during the June school hol-idays (the first being the whales, of course).

For Stradbroke Dreamtime bookings andupdates about other LINES in the SAND events call 0418 729 822 or [email protected] You can also visitwww.linesinthesand.com.au or “like” the event onFacebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Lines-in-the-Sand-North-Stradbroke-Island.

Stradbroke Dreamtime tickets: child $10 (Elders and children under school age free),adult $15, family pass $50.

THE MOST AMAZING SHOP

Come and visit u r sure to find that special gift, clothing or the very thing uwanted. Open 10am holidays ring and check (usually every day) non-holidays

wed, thurs, sat maybe sun clothes – giftlines – furniture – collectables – the unusual – garden pots

plants – sleepers – planters – manchester

8 BINGLE ROAD DUNWICH(ON THE MAIN STREET LOOK FOR THE POTS & FLAGS)

CAROL 0419 727 133

Page 6: Sin winter2013 email

6 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS WINTER 2013

NEWS

Island Vibe – North Stradbroke Island’s annual festival of music, art andisland culture is one step from becoming Australia’s greenest festival,according to organisers.

The Vibe, back for its eighth year from Octo-ber 25-27, received a Highly Commended plac-ing in the International Greener Festival Awards,making it one place from being named Aus-tralia’s greenest.

As Vibe Artistic Director, Morgyn Quinn putsit: “For eight years Island Vibe’s reputation hasbeen built on pure solid awesome vibe.

“Whether it’s the great line up of internationalbands and DJs, the best local Australian acts, thedeadly Indigenous and Pacific Island culturalperformers or the family friendly atmosphere,Island Vibe remains one of Australia’s best lovedfestivals,” Morgyn told SIN. “Then there’s themarket village, the all-ages workshops, and thebeautiful beachside location!”

Organisers of the 2013 Island Vibe promise touphold what Morgyn says is a high standard ofmusic and performance, with artists from theUK, US, Jamaica and New Zealand already confirmed for the program.

Solid, awesome and now greener Vibe

Stop sand mining and save the natural beauty of Stradbroke Island.

natural Stop sand mining and save the

beauty of Stradbroke Islandnatural Stop sand mining and save the

beauty of Stradbroke IslandStop sand mining and save the

s best loved national icons – cockatoos, gliders andAustralia’

.beauty of Stradbroke IslandStop sand mining and save the

s best loved national icons – cockatoos, gliders and

otect the wilderthe need to pr

.savestraddie.com for morisit wwwV

Stop sand mining on Stradbr

oke Island.ness of Stradbrotect the wilder

e information about.savestraddie.com for mor

oke Island.Stop sand mining on Stradbr

Tickets are available online atwww.rudekatrecords.comLocal’s tickets cost $125 and areavailable from Noreen’s Seaside Shop, at Point Lookout, with proof of an NSI post-code address of 4183. Moreinformation on this year’s Vibe is atwww.islandvibe.com.au

Page 7: Sin winter2013 email

WINTER 2013 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS 7

Now the cooler months arehere it’s time to start plan-ning for the Island’s annualmulti-sports festival – theStraddie Salute.

And this year the Straddie Salute willmake a new addition to the two-day festi-val, with the Straddie Pure – viewed by theorganisers as a more traditional triathloncourse, where the mountain bike leg isreplaced with a road cycle race.

Salute director, John Guise, from Week-end Warrior Events, says the festival for-mat offers four events over two days withan authentic Straddie Island experienceguaranteed.

“Triathlon and multisport competitorsare looking for new challenges so we’re

expanding our program of events everyyear to offer new options,” he said.

The Festival begins on Saturday, Sep-tember 7, with the Straddie 1000 OceanSwim, a one-kilometre swim in the watersoff Cylinder Beach.

According to John Guise, it’s the per-fect way to kick-start an active weekend onStraddie.

“With $500 cash up for grabs it alsoattracts some of the state’s premier openwater swimmers.

“Three great events make up Sunday’sSeptember 8, program. First is the MizunoAdventure Run/Walk – a challenging 8kmcourse around Point Lookout. With a runand a walk option, it’s perfect for all agesand abilities.”

Then, there’s the Straddie SaluteTriathlon, a race John says incorporatesStraddie’s unique natural charm.

“The Straddie Salute has become amust-do weekend on Queensland’striathlon calendar and for good reason.”

The Straddie Salute Multisport Festivalreceived a boost in May, with NSI sand-mining company Sibelco confirming theirsupport as the event’s major sponsor forthe next two years.

“Sibelco has been a proud supporter ofthe Straddie Salute since 2008 and we’revery excited to confirm our continuedsupport as the new major sponsor,” PaulSmith of Sibelco Australia said. RedlandCity Council and Tourism and EventsQueensland also support the event.

Redland City Council plans toreduce red tape and “streamlineprocesses” in the hope of fast-tracking Toondah Harbour into amulti-use seaside development,including marinas and aconference centre.

Redland City Mayor, CouncillorKaren Williams, has welcomedDeputy Premier and Minister forState Development, Infrastructureand Planning Jeff Seeney’sdeclaration of Toondah Harbour asa Priority Development Area (PDA).

Councillor Williams said ToondahHarbour was a key component inCouncil’s strategy to driveinvestment and create new jobs inwhat she called “a new era of

business and economic growth”.Cr Williams said Council had

reduced red tape and streamlinedprocesses to attract the rightpotential investors.

“Council is here to work withinvestors – provided their projectsare sustainable and compatible –to make things happen.

“Toondah Harbour is one of onlya small number of projects to gainthe State Government’s support asa PDA in Queensland and is a keymilestone in our Redlands – Openfor Business and Investmentcampaign.”

Cr Williams said thedevelopment of the main transportlink to North Stradbroke Island

presented a unique opportunity fortourism, mixed-use developmentand community facilities atToondah Harbour, that would delivera sustainable boost to theRedlands economy.

“The area is little more than abasic ferry terminal and car park atthe moment but could be adynamic and thriving area with arange of exciting marine activities,marina, attractive public spaces,boardwalks, cycling paths, parks,apartments, office spaces,restaurants, shops and a boutiquehotel with conference facilities,” CrWilliams said. “With a breath-takingview of the bay and islands, thearea is wasted as a car park.

“I look forward to hearing fromthe community about what theywould like and to hearing frompotential investors about what theycould do to transform this area… we are expecting a populationgrowth of more than 40,000residents by 2031,” Cr Williamssaid.

A council spokesperson told SINthat no funds had been put asidefor the development of facilities atthe Dunwich or One Mileferry/water taxi arrival points. TheWeinam Creek ferry terminal,servicing Russell, Lamb, Karragarraand Macleay Islands was alsogranted PDA status by the stategovernment.

TOONDAH A “DYNAMIC SEASIDE PRECINCT” — IF INVESTORS WILLING

For more information on the 2013 Straddie Salute Multisport Festival visit www.weekendwarriorevents.com.au

Straddie Salutes sport in September

NEWS

Page 8: Sin winter2013 email

8 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS WINTER 2013

QUANDAMOOKA CUES by Cameron Costelloe

THIS LINE FROM AUNTY OODGEROO’S (KATH

WALKER’S) POEM A SONG OF HOPE HAS BEEN

FOREMOST IN MY MIND RECENTLY. July 4, 2013 (coincidentally American

Independence Day) marks the secondanniversary of the Quandamooka People’shistoric Native Title Consent Determina-tion, handed down by the Federal Court ofAustralia.

What has this meant for the Quan-damooka People and for the future of itschildren?

We have always been a distinct societywith our own system of laws and customs. AFirst Nation complete with structures, insti-tutions and organisations. We have alwaysexercised our rights. Our society has contin-ued to adapt to the effects of colonisationdespite ever-growing pressure and non-recognition of our rights.

What the determination did was recog-nise our society and our rights in the Aus-tralian legal system. We can now rest assuredthat both systems of law (Aboriginal andnon-Aboriginal) acknowledge and protectthose rights.

Prior to the Determination, the threat ofreprimand and punishment in exercisingour rights lingered heavily. It created anenvironment void of certainty that prevent-ed any major investment by the Quan-damooka People in our lands. This in turnprevented potential investors from comingto us to create an economic base for ourfuture generations. We were locked out ofeconomic development opportunities for along time.

My view is that the Determination hascleared these blockages in the Australianlegal system and opened the door for theQuandamooka People’s to invest, particu-larly in land, to develop opportunities totheir full cultural, social, and economicpotential. We simply must realise theseopportunities. A failure to do so will meanthe struggles of our ancestors, and past andpresent Elders, would have been in vain.

So now the Quandamooka People areplanning for the future – our way.

The Quandamooka YoolooburrabeeAboriginal Corporation (QYAC) is the pre-scribed body corporate formed under Com-monwealth legislation to represent and

manage, where appropriate, the Native Titlerights and interests of the QuandamookaNative Title Holders. At its inaugural AGMin November 2012, QYAC announced it wasembarking on an extensive Strategic Plan-ning process to establish the priorities ofQYAC to serve the Quandamooka Peopleinto the future.

Former Prime Minister Paul Keatinglaunched the Strategic Planning processand outlined clearly the challenges facingQYAC. Notably he said that he had faith thatwhen Aboriginal people got their land backthrough Native Title, that Aboriginal com-munities would find their own way under aprocess of self-determination on landowned by them.

This is a challenge QYAC is facing headon with a steady hand and sound commer-cial and legal advice. The approach will beconsidered and measured. Out of thisprocess will come a number of large nationbuilding projects for the QuandamookaPeople.

So each year, July 4, is not only a nationalday of celebration for the QuandamookaPeople. It is also a time for reflection of theprogress from the hard fought gains of ourpredecessors.

In this regard QYAC continues to strive tolay the foundations for our nation. It willlead the way for security and prosperity forour future generations. Our ultimate goal?

A glad tomorrow, for our children’s children.

Cameron Costelloe is a Traditional Ownerand chair of both the QuandamookaYoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation andMinjerribah Camping.

“To our children’s children a glad tomorrow.”

Gingin ngaliyamarimba gudjundabu

Sin BRIEFSTRADDIE SHORTS

The Straddie Shorts Film Festival willbe held at the NSI Historical Museumin Dunwich on Friday November 8. Allcommunity members are invited toenter films with the theme Our Story.Films must be delivered to the GreenRoom, Point Lookout, or the museumin Dunwich by October 20 to beincluded in the festival. Films can bedelivered on DVD or USB and must beno more than three minutes long.

WHALES START EARLYThe whales arrived off Straddie beforethe start of official whale spottingseason, with Point Lookout Bushcarecoordinator Judy Hines spotting oneoff Frenchman’s in the first week ofMay. Another four were reportedfrolicking off the Point two weeks later.Let the count begin.

SHOUT OUT TO JAM MAKERSIt is a well-known fact that the NorthStradbroke Island Historical Museumwas “built” on the fruits of the hardlabour of several generations of localjam makers.Our present chief cumquat cutter,Mike Hines of Point Lookout, hassuccumbed to arthritis in his handsand no longer can slice and dice thecumquat crop.Would any keen cumquat choppers orjam cauldron stirrers, please contactthe Museum on 3409 9699 or [email protected]. We are more than happy to providefruit, sugar, jars, guidance andappreciation to jam makers.

AMITY POINT PLAYGROUPA new Amity Point Playgroup meetseach Monday morning, downstairs atthe Amity Point Community Club, from9.30am. Please come along to takepart in group play and social activitiesfor the under-5s and their parents andcarers.

SWALLOWED SQUID JIG REMOVEDA small pied cormorant that wasrescued by Island wildlife rescuevolunteers, and found to haveswallowed a squid jig, was operatedon, recovered and released back intothe wild.

Page 9: Sin winter2013 email

WINTER 2013 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS 9

NEWS FEATURE

SEAGRASSSAVIOUR

Traditional block and chain boatmoorings tear out seagrass as theheavy chain drags on the sea floor,

creating underwater “crop circles” that canbe seen from the air (above left).

Seagrass beds are home to juvenile fishand crustaceans, which form the basis ofcommercial and recreational fisheries,and also provide food for dugongs, listedglobally as vulnerable to extinction, andthe vulnerable green turtle.

Scientists have found that the world’sseagrass meadows are in decline, withmany factors, including sediment runoffand algal blooms, contributing to theirloss.

In Moreton Bay, up to 15 per cent of sea-grass beds are torn out by boat moorings.

Scientists at the not-for-profit organisa-tion, SEQ Catchments, say that throughthe installation of an innovative new moor-ing, designed by an Australian, approxi-mately 12 football fields worth of MoretonBay seagrass will begin to recover, with amuch higher cumulative benefit to sur-rounding seagrass beds also expected.

More than 100 boats have had the newmoorings installed free of charge through

a grants program. A further 10 areplanned for boats moored off One Mile.

SEQ Catchments Community Partner-ship Manager for the Redlands, Bay &Islands, Joel Bolzenius said: “Using thisdesign, seagrass starts to recover relativelyquickly in about a year, as do all the crittersthat rely on it to survive.

‘‘These moorings also have a longerservice life and good security that matchesor exceeds traditional moorings.”

The seagrass friendly mooring incorpo-rates an anchor pole tipped with a screwhelix or auger, which is drilled into thesubstrate and also minimises the draggingthat is commonly experienced with tradi-tional block and chain moorings. The poleis 1500mm (small marker buoy version) or3800mm long (mooring version).Attached to the mooring pole, just belowthe sea bed, is a set of load spreaders to sta-bilise the post.

Originally the 280mm shock absorberor load spreader is fixed to the top of thescrew-in anchor, but to meet the shallowerconditions of Moreton Bay, this design wasamended to allow the shock absorber to sitdirectly under the buoy, connected to thescrew-in-anchor via Aquatec marine graderope. A further length of rope connectsthe shock absorber to the boat.

The Seagrass Friendly Mooring isinstalled and maintained from a boat fit-ted with a hydraulic auger drive.

The innovative new mooring was invent-ed by boatie Desmond Maslen. Des, whohas made a living installing and servicingboat moorings, decided to design a newmooring when he discovered the damagethat old fashioned chain moorings werewreaking on the marine environment.

More than 100 boaties have been given new boatmoorings under a project to restore damagedseagrass beds in Moreton Bay. Another 10 are in thepipeline for boats off One Mile.

in moreton bay,up to 15% ofseagrass bedsare torn outby boatmoorings.

For more information about the moorings visit www.seqcatchments.com.au or call 07 3211 4404

Page 10: Sin winter2013 email

Amity resident Rex Kimlin, whowas a wireless operator on boardLancaster Bombers flying mis-sions over Germany in WorldWar II, was invited by the

Dunwich RSL to give an address at thisyear’s ANZAC Day ceremony. Here is anedited version of his address.

“As I am only a few weeks away from turn-ing 90, I am going to read my address.There’s an old song that fits me now. TheOld Grey Mare She Ain’t What She Used toBe! I hope my levity doesn’t offend anyone,but we laughed a lot in Bomber Command.Better than crying. My address will be main-ly based on my time in Bomber Command.

My father was a digger in World War I.The ‘War to end all Wars’ it was supposed tobe, but that certainly didn’t happen. Heserved in those dreadful trenches in Franceand Belgium, where he was blown up by ashell – injuring his hip – and gassed, whichcaused him lung trouble all his life.

He was very involved with the WynnumRSL in the 1930s and 40s when the club-house was just a little timber hall.

My wife, Charmian, had four uncles inWorld War I, and two of them paid thesupreme sacrifice, one of them dying along-side his brother. One of the uncles was anofficer and his sword now hangs on the wallof my son’s house. Charm also had threebrothers who served in the Merchant

Marine Service in World War II, servicingNew Guinea. My young brother Noel servedin the RAAF in Darwin.

Since World War I there has been WorldWar II, the Korean Conflict, Vietnam, Iran,Iraq, Afghanistan, and now North Korea isthreatening to start another one. I hope andpray that nothing comes of it.

I remember marching with my father inthe 25th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli, and thinking to myself, ‘Cripesthat’s a long time ago’.

Now the war that I was in – World War II– has been over for 68 years. Where did allthose years go?

I trained as a wireless operator/air gun-ner in the RAAF and as the Japanese werethreatening our shores, I expected to besent to fly in New Guinea. But we had no sayin where we served and I was posted to England to fly with Bomber Command, inLancaster Bombers.

I was with an old RAF squadron, but therewere a lot of Empire troops flying withthem. Our crew consisted of three Aussiesand four Brits. We did 35 missions over Germany and Occupied Europe, and werelucky enough to come through unscathed.

The casualty rate was horrific, particularlyup to D-Day in 1944. There were 125,000airmen who served with Bomber Commandand 55,000 were killed. Nearly 50 per centlost their lives. It was by far the highest rate

of casualties, percentage-wise, being morethan double that of the rest of the servicesput together.

It was a strange sort of war for us airmenwith Bomber Command. We had comfort-able barracks, and good food by wartimestandards. We would take off on a raid overGermany, which would take anywhere fromfour to 12 hours, be shot at for hours, main-ly by anti-aircraft fire, come back, have a slapup meal, and tumble into bed to try to sleep,if the mind let you.

I lost quite a few mates, but never at anystage did I see a dead body. They would justnot return from a raid, and that was that. Itwas a bit hard on the nerves, and it was agreat relief when we got through a tour of35 trips unharmed.

Quite a few crews did a lot more raidsthan we did, but unfortunately some didonly a few before they disappeared. Somedidn’t make it back after their first.

The Army, Navy, and the MerchantMarine all had big losses, and lived a lotrougher than we did, but we all lost matesand contributed to the eventual victory.

Although ANZAC Day began as a remem-brance of the Gallipoli Landing, where theNew Zealand army fought alongside theAussies, it now encompasses all the services– the Army, Navy, the RAAF, and the Mer-chant Marine Service. We are fast runningout of veterans from World War II.

Charm and I have six wonderful grand-sons, and we hope and pray they won’t haveto go through what we did. One of ourgrandsons, Dale, is with us this morning,wearing my father’s medals.

We ex-servicemen and women who survived will never forget our mates whodidn’t come back.

May they rest in peace.”

10 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS WINTER 2013

ANZAC DAY

LOST MATESREMEMBERED

“WE LAUGHED ALOT IN BOMBERCOMMAND.BETTER THANCRYING.”

Each Anzac Day our community is reminded of thesacrifices many Island residents made in wartime.

Page 11: Sin winter2013 email

WINTER 2013 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS 11

NEWS

S IN fishing columnistand Dunwich identityJim Campbell marriedhis best friend andpartner through life,

Kathy Eichmann, in a ceremonyin the grounds of the DunwichHall in April.

The pair exchanged vowsunder a magnificent camphorlaurel tree, then had photos takenat Bradburys Beach, beforereturning to the hall for a wed-ding reception with friends andfamily.

Jim and Kathy met many yearsago and became friends throughthe local theatre group, the BayPlayers.

“Only in more recent times didour friendship blossom into usmaking a lifelong commitment toeach other,” Jim told SIN. “Dun-wich is a very special place for us,”he said.

And now, in the year the Dun-wich Hall celebrates its centenary,Jim, Kathy and Dunwich shareanother important milestone.

From Dunwich with love

Carly and Grant Whyte foundmore than the perfect weddingvenue when they first visitedStraddie – they found their newhome.

Carly, who wields the scissors at the Strad-die Styles hairdressing salon in JunnerStreet, Dunwich, told SIN that from themoment the couple saw the Island itbecame something of a love affair.

“We’d been struggling with a weddingvenue choice where we were living up theSunshine Coast,” she said.

“When a family member who works onthe Big Red Cats suggested Straddie, wecame to see it. We instantly loved the Island.We were married at The Little Ship Club inAugust 2010 and then we came back regu-larly for weekends away.”

The following May, when Grant wasoffered plastering work on the Island, theydecided to make the leap to leading theisland-life full time.

“We can’t imagine leaving the Islandnow,” Carly says. “When we found out wewere expecting our first baby I startedmobile hairdressing on the Island while Iwas pregnant. When Bailey was nine-months old, and it was time to go back towork, it was either ‘jump on a boat’ or starta business, so we started to discuss the ideaof Straddie Styles.

“In late 2012 the salon opened its doors,and has grown from my tiny mobile clien-tele to what it is today, a busy salon.

“I love working and living locally as ourson is only across the road at the local day-care and while there is not always enoughplastering work for my husband, there hasnever been a problem for him finding full-time work doing other jobs.”

Carly says some locals are still learningabout the salon as it is quite small and hid-den between the butcher’s and the bottleshop, just up the hill from the barge.

“I get some tourists in for a quick trimwhile they’re waiting for the barge, and thelong-term campers seem to find me as theylove to have their hair freshly shampooed.

“I still do a mobile salon on a Tuesday asthere are many clients who find it hard toget to the salon.”

Carly says a good UV leave-in moisturisingcream is the key to keeping hair lookinggood while still enjoying Straddie’s beachlifestyle.

“I offer two types of treatments to reallyget your hair back into good condition, arelaxing deep mask heat treatment and anexpress macadamia nut oil treatment.”

Carly offers 10% off for seniors and has aFacebook page where she shares hair caretips, specials and competitions. Call thesalon direct on 3415 2827.

Love at first snip for Straddie styler

Page 12: Sin winter2013 email

12 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS WINTER 2013

ENVIRONMENT

The tale is in the

tideline B Y D R S C O T T B R YA N T

“a huge pumice raft, with pieces up to the size ofsoccer balls and initially covering an area of theocean about 100 times the size of straddie.”

Left to right: A submerged volcano erupts. Pumice raft. Dr Scott Bryan and son Lucas collecting pumice on Main Beach.

PHOT

O: JA

N AL

DENH

OVEN

Page 13: Sin winter2013 email

WINTER 2013 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS 13

Strolling along Straddie’s fabu-lous beaches in recentmonths, it has been hard notto notice a tremendousamount of flotsam washed up.

This new flotsam is more unusual thanthe typical coconuts, plastic bottles orrubber thongs that usually get washedup, and has a fascinating story to tell of an eight-month voyage across the Tasman Sea.

The conspicuous immigrant that haswashed up in significant numbers onStraddie’s beaches is pumice. Pumice isan amazing, naturally-formed volcanicrock, the solidified result of molten lavafoam or froth being thrust into the air orsea from a volcano below. It is highlyporous and its density is less than that of water (up to 80% of the pumice vol-ume can comprise bubbles) thus allow-ing it to float.

Despite being full of bubbles, pumicehas considerable strength giving it manyuses, from being the stones that give ourdenim clothes their “stone-washed” look,to a place in shower cubicles as a footscour.

Eastern Australia faces what is knownas the Pacific Ring of Fire, a chain of tensof thousands of volcanoes extendingfrom New Zealand, northwards to Tongaand Fiji, west to Papua New Guinea andthen north to the Philippines, Japan andonto Alaska, before extending southalong the western coast of the Americas.

Many volcanoes along the Ring of Fire are well-known and erupt with relative frequency, but from Tonga toNew Zealand, there are an unknownnumber of submerged volcanoes await-ing discovery.

Pumice is a frequent traveller to ourshores, typically originating from distanteruptions in the Ring of Fire betweenTonga and New Zealand. We’ve hadthree arrivals of pumice in the past 11years, two of which occurred in 2002 and2007 with the pumice coming from vol-canoes in Tonga more than 5000 kilome-tres away. The latest influx of pumicecame from the Havre Seamount, a newlyidentified volcano in the KermadecIslands, approximately 1000 km north ofAuckland and 2700 km from NorthStradbroke Island.

The pumice from Tonga is distinctlygrey, whereas the Havre pumice is whiteand the colour of the different pumicehelps in identifying the different genera-tions and sources of pumice. Interest-ingly, the scientific community has notbeen making the initial discovery ofthese eruptions, but the public.

This was particularly so in the case forthe Havre Seamount eruption, whichwas first recorded by Maggie de Grauw, aresident of Paeroa, New Zealand. Whiletravelling by plane from Samoa to Auck-land in July last year she noticed a pecu-liar large mass floating on the ocean.Believing it to be a mass of floatingpumice (or pumice raft), she took pho-tographs and emailed them to me.

Unbeknownst to Maggie, she was thefirst person to record the raft, the product of a volcanic eruption that hadoccurred some two weeks before from a submarine volcano with no knowneruption history.

It was another 10 days before the NZDefence Forces confirmed that thisindeed was a huge pumice raft, withpieces up to the size of soccer balls andinitially covering an area of the oceanabout 100 times the size of Straddie.

Since then, that pumice has embarkedon a voyage around the southwest Pacif-ic, first washing up along the northernbeaches of the North Island of NewZealand, and then reaching Tonga inNovember last year.

Reports of this pumice washing up onAustralian beaches began appearing inlate March, and have now been reportedfrom Byron Bay to the south and as farnorth as Heron Island.

To reach our shores in eight monthssince the eruption, the pumice musthave travelled at an average speed ofabout 12 km/day.

Along its journey the pumice becamehost to a thriving community of organisms. Each pumice fragment isable to support and transport one tohundreds of a wide range of marineorganisms including barnacles, worms,molluscs, crabs, snails, anemones andcyanobacteria.

These biological hitchhikers have thusbeen ferried thousands of kilometresacross the open ocean, at the will ofwinds and waves to serendipitously find anew home here.

Given that volcanic eruptions havebeen occurring on average once everyfour years or so from volcanoes in theTonga-Kermadec region, it should notbe too long before we see pumice wash-ing up on our beaches again, telling us ofa distant volcanic eruption, and with aprolific biological cargo on board.

Dr Scott Bryan is Vice Chancellor’sResearch Fellow, Science and EngineeringFaculty, Queensland University ofTechnology. He has been studying pumicerafts for the past 10 years.

Point Lookout is also made of a silica-rich volcanic rock like the pumice – butwithout the bubbles. It is believed to be about 230 million years old, the sameage as the Kangaroo Point Cliffs in Brisbane. PHOTO: GLEN CARRUTHERS

Page 14: Sin winter2013 email

14 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS WINTER 2013

NOTICE BOARD

Freshwater pearl and semi-precious gem jewellery. Fashion jewellery,

sarongs, evening bags, homewares, unusual gifts, clothing, decorator

items, shells, toys and much much more! 3409 8798

Open Monday, Thursday, Friday , Saturday: 9.30 am - 5 pm Sunday: 9 am till 1 pm • Open 7 days on school holidays

ANCHORAGE BEACH FRONT RESORT, POINT LOOKOUT

Noreen’s Seaside Shop

Massage & acupressurePostural correctionInjury rehabilitation

Improve your breathingLymphatic drainageRelieve pain & tension

MOB: 0409 538 972 E: [email protected]

Linda RagoMeiso Shiatsu Practitioner

The Yoga Tower8 Billa StreetPoint Lookout

Page 15: Sin winter2013 email

WINTER 2013 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS 15

NOTICE BOARD

Tel: 07 3409 [email protected] Sovereign Road, Amity Point, North Stradbroke Island, Qld, 4183

Proprietors: Eddie & Steph Walker

Open 7 daysTrawler Fresh Prawns, Oysters,Crabs, Whole Fish, FilletsLarge range of frozen seafood

Stradbroke IslandBUTCHERY

Friendly Service andBest Meat Guaranteed

1 Stradbroke Place Dunwich QLDOpen Mon-Fri till 5pm & Sat till 12noon

Fax: 3409 9196

EFTPOS AND MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED

Phone: 3409 9088

3206 4844Incorporating K.C. Domestic Trap Cleaning & Lee’s Septic Tank Services

www.liquidwaste.com.au • [email protected]

Lee’sLiquid Waste Services

Clean again.

EPA LicensedEST. 1984

27/7 Professional Service

SEPTIC TANKSHOLDING TANKSOILY WATERTREATMENT PLANTS

SHIPS’ BILGERECYCLED WATER

DELIVERIESGREASE TRAPS

• Free quotes and advice • Family owned and operated • • All suburbs inc. Stradbroke and Bay Islands •

• Commercial and domestic •

PORTALOOS

Lic. No. 50044Established since 1991

on North Stradbroke Island

Specialists in Domestic, Commercial andIndustrial Installations, MaintenanceTV Systems, Lighting, Power, Safety

switches, Hot Water systems, Stoves etc.

Bill Rhodes 0407 965 [email protected]

Dan Rhodes 0409 270 [email protected]

Ph. 3415 3083 Fax 3415 3098PO. Box 186 Point Lookout 4183

For your Local Electrician andMember of the ECA Call Bill or Dan

BE SEEN IN SIN For all advertising booking and queries please email [email protected]

POINT LOOKOUT

MARKETS8am til 12 noon

At the community hall opposite the bowls club.

Most Sundays. Check signs.

Page 16: Sin winter2013 email

16 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS WINTER 2013

NOTICE BOARD

CJ’s islandpizza

Enjoy a slice in paradise…Visiting, leaving or just arriving? Grab a pizza,enjoy the sunset along the Dunwich foreshore.

OPEN PUBLIC HOLIDAYS AND EVERYDAY DURING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

3415 2444 OPEN4–8pmBallow Road Dunwich 7 DAYS A WEEK

STRADBROKE

Enviropest Services07 3415 2522

P/L

• Cockroaches, spiders (Domestic pests)• Visual termites inspection and report• Termites treatments• Visual timber pest inspection and report (Pre-purchase)• Alterm (Termite shielding)• Sentricon (Termite baiting system)

11A Illawong Crescent, Dunwich 4138

Victor Korzeniewski. Licence No PMT–O–3514. BSA Licence No 743908.

ISLAND PARADISE

GETAWAYfrom $500*

Recharge your batteries this winter with your own slice ofIsland paradise. Includes 3 nights in a 2 bedroom apartmentfor up to 6 people; return vehicle ferry transfer; unlimitedwireless internet access, free DVD hire.*Subject to conditions and availability

07 3409 [email protected]

BAY ISLAND VALUATIONSPaul W Mergler AAPIAssocDipBus (Real Property Valuation)Certified Practising Valuer

Phone 3409 8855 Fax 3415 3060Mobile 0417 786 [email protected]

Professional property reporting through service, quality and advice.

PO Box 300 Point LookoutNorth Stradbroke Island

QLD 4183

We have now established an office atPoint Lookout, attended by appointmenton Thursday and Friday.You will find us at 32 Tramican Street.Phone 07 3806 1511 for a discussion with Brian Hooker, partner.

SOME OF OUR SERVICES:

Strait tothe Point.

• Taxation and BAS returns for all entities • Super fundaccounting and audits • Clear and concise accountingand tax advice • Tax Planning and Estate Planning •Planning for Succession • Management Reporting and Secretarial Services.

Page 17: Sin winter2013 email

WINTER 2013 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS 17

NOTICE BOARD

Local, Fresh Prawns, Bugs, Fish, Oysters, Scallops & more

TRAWLER FRESH SEAFOOD

Mintee Street, Point Lookout

Wed to Sat 10am - 4pm & Sun 10am 3pm

Tel: 3415 3436

Ph 3409 8353 Mob 0409 618 353

Mal Starkey’sSEAFOOD HOUSE

PROVIDING STRADDIE’S FINEST SEAFOOD

FOR OVER 20 YEARSStraddie’s local fisher for quality seafood

Cnr Tramican & Donahue Sts, Point Lookout

SATdoofa

Sel a

ivtFe

s

Enqu

functwed

ding

sta

y

02TAUGUS0 1AYURDSAT,gtinsTareeB&e inWod, ofaSe&eslRaff,sidKe thorfesitivctiA

!!REOM&CSIUMVEIL

dMi - 10 2retniWs &refofkkeewble.laials avaic spegniddew

fnoitag obli anorfow neirEnqu.tikon itamorfn igniddew

el.comehotrokbdrastions@funct

on itaodmomc accitsatnaF

310

&

31ble.

eer f

u .ael.com

on

ivL

live ic

mus

dimormta

ys

tos peuldchesic usme ivegaPook bce Faurr on o

e!tisbWe

d- ibse werouwei v dealskeewo To.fn ieor CKOOBE/QUIREN3409 8188

edt &

ro fetLL A C

FOR ALL Venue hire/Weddings/Functions/School camps Contact Stradbroke Island Holidays 07 3821 0266

*Times may vary

SURF CLUB BAR Open Saturday & Sunday from 3pm* Awesome ocean views Cold beverages, friendly staff Courtesy bus

Visit SIN on facebook

Page 18: Sin winter2013 email

18 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS WINTER 2013

NOTICE BOARD

Stradbroke

Auto Repairs

• Full Service and Tuning• Engine Reconditioning• Brakes and Clutches• Suspension and Front

End Repairs• Roadworthy/Inspection

Certificates

• Manual and AutomaticTransmission Repairs

• Tyre Repairs• Breakdown Calls• Free Quotes

Blair Howe& 3409 9336PO Box 39 Dunwich QLD 4183

PLUMBING DRAINING GAS FITTING NORTH STRADBROKE ISLAND

DAMIEN MARSH

Lic. no. 14408 BSA 1239824

Phone. 0427 458 177

NSI Mobile Vet

“North Stradbroke Island’s resident vet”Small animal vaccinations

and house call consultations by appointment.

Dr Morgan Chance BVSc (Hons).Mobile: 0411 539 067 • Phone : 3415 3340Email: [email protected]

Radio National 2009 Regional Museums Award

John Oxley Library Community History Award 2010

Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am - 2pm • Sunday 11am - 3pm15-17 Welsby Street, Dunwich • Phone 3409 9699

www.stradbrokemuseum.com.au

NORTH STRADBROKE ISLAND

Historical Museum

PRESERV ING OUR H I S TORY

��

Stradbroke Island

BLINDS & AWNINGSYour local supplier of all types of Venetians, verticals,

roller blinds aluminium and fabric awningsShowroom at 7 Ballow Road Dunwich (beside Dolphin Real Estate)

PHONE DAVID THORBURN

3415 32060400 341 532

www.islandweddings.net.au [email protected]

Page 19: Sin winter2013 email

WINTER 2013 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS 19

OBITUARY: LES GROOM

Islanders lost a good friend and a great community supporterwhen Les Groom died on April30, aged 81.

Les and his wife Betty establishedtheir passenger ferry service to Strad-broke Island in 1986, with two smallboats that ran twice a day. Passengersdisembarked at a boat ramp at Cleve-land.

While Les skippered, Betty sold tick-ets from a small yellow van on theCleveland side. Eventually Bettymoved to The Pink Shop, at Ormis-ton, so she could keep in radio con-tact with the boats. She also ran theshop as a general store serving nearbyschools

Ferryman was the last of a long lineof occupations for Les who was a sad-dle maker when he and Betty married57 years ago. Then he bought a breadrun, then a milk run, then a parceltransport operation, and finallymoved from delivering parcels todelivering people.

“He never believed in stagnating,”Betty told SIN.

Within six months of operating thefirst Straddie Flyer service Les andBetty realised the boats they hadbought were not suitable so theybought a 28ft catamaran and commis-sioned the building of another, 18ftcat.

“Then we decided to try and build ajetty from the Cleveland side but wehad terrific opposition from the coun-cil,” Betty recalled. Instead they built awalkway onto a pontoon. Eventuallythey won the day and built the exist-ing jetty and office at Toondah Har-bour in the early 90s.

Early on the family bought a boatcalled Keno, built for the purpose oftaking gamblers offshore. It was a badbet. “It was a disaster, it kept breakingdown,” Betty said.

But sticking anyway with the letter Kthey acquired Kitty Kat, built for theBrisbane River and later sold to a bayislands operator. The company, stillwholly owned by the Groom family,now operates three catamarans, AlleyKat, Top Kat and Calypso. It runs 14return services every day betweenStraddie and Cleveland and a free buspick-up from Cleveland railway stationand the shopping centre and schools.

The family also owns a cruise boat,The Queenslander, which operates inthe Brisbane River.

Les was diagnosed with chronic lym-phocytic leukaemia in 1998. The dis-ease progressed slowly, but in the lastfour years of his life Les suffered mul-tiple infections and illnesses. He had atriple bypass, knee replacements andeventually his sight was affected.

“But he wouldn’t give in,” Bettysaid.

Three years ago, in the face of hisdeclining health, Les and his sonsbrought the newly purchased Calypsodown from Cairns.

“I am so glad he did that,” Bettysaid. “He went to places and islandshe’d never seen and he had a marvel-lous time being with the boys.”

Les is survived by Betty and theirchildren John, Patricia, Donna andAlan. The entire family, includinggrandchildren, is involved in the running of business, either on boardor providing maintenance, IT andclerical support.

Good friend and community supporter

T he recent decision by the state govern-ment to declare Toondah Harbour aPDA – or Priority Development Area –

was recognition of the area’s significant po-tential and should be welcomed.

The departure point to Straddie is lessthan satisfactory. It could have great pas-senger facilities with secure parking, visitorinformation and so forth.

During the past four years Council haswisely invested in land in the Toondah Har-bour area to ensure that the community is

well placed to benefit from any changes.But while it is a great opportunity, it is

also a great threat. Already I have heardsome talking about what could be done –from a mainlander’s point of view – ignor-ing the needs of both islanders and passen-gers.

The planners start with a blank canvasand through various consultations (includ-ing with the community) shape a visionthat both private and public investors canembrace.

The legislation that backs this processallows the planners enormous power andshuts out community opposition once theplan is done.

Needless to say, it is hoped that the visionis one that meets with community expecta-tions. The area is primarily a departurepoint for Stradbroke Island and this shouldnot be undermined.

Every community member with an inter-est in the future of Toondah should take akeen interest and get involved.

COUNCIL NEWSwith Councillor Craig Ogilvie

“He went to placesand islands he’dnever seen and hehad a marvelloustime being withthe boys.”

Page 20: Sin winter2013 email

20 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS WINTER 2013

FISHING

The lorikeets are screeching, the euca-lypts are flowering and it’s gettingharder to get out of a warm bed on

these colder mornings. Kev and Ben and all the crew are

pulling in the winter season mullet, whichhave turned up on cue as they do at thistime every year. The water temperaturesare dropping and Watto from the AmityPoint Fishing Club reckons the bream are on their way. A good cold westerlychange is all we need for a bumper fishingwinter. Already there have been somegood catches of tailor.

CLUB NEWSThe Amity Point Fishing Club had a slowstart to the season with most catches beingwhiting, dart and parrot interspersed withsome flathead.

February was the month for whitingwith both Bob and Bernie bagging out.Bob had the heaviest whiting at 0.700kgwhile Brad Williams weighed in a nice2.00kg flathead. There have also beensome good catches of dart from alongFlinders Beach with Daryl Lowe, Scott

Beioley and Bernie Mascord scoring wellwith their respective catches. The heaviestdart belonged to Bernie with a weigh in of0.545kg. The fish of the last comp went tojunior Reed Hoare-McLachlan with anotable 2.565kg parrot. The biggest fishweighed in at the last comp was a 3.520kgparrot caught by Jim Hemsley. Leaders inthe comp at this stage are Bob Armstrongand Terri Mascord, and Ben Armstrong inthe juniors.

BREAM WORTH CHASINGBream are a great table fish and worthchasing. The rock walls around Amity andthe foreshores around Dunwich areamong the best places to try your luck.Amity really can fire up along the rockwalls but the snags are at times frustratingand can test your resolve.

I usually fish Amity with as little lead aspossible, aiming to fish the top and bot-tom of the tide when there is little run inthe water. Mainly no lead is the bestweight for around those parts, but in thepast, when necessary, a number one beanhas been my choice.

On my last outing there were no beansin the tackle box and only rounds and twonumber one surf sinkers. Glad that wasthe case because I used the number onesurf with a 1/0 baitholder hook and noswivel. Guess what? Reduced my snag upsby about 80 per cent.

Been using an old 12ft Outcast Raider,which is usually used for flathead on thebeach, and found it perfect for fishing therock walls at Amity. It’s light enough forbream and long enough to get out over therocks. Any 4144 rod would do the trick.

The first four in a 4144 stands for thenumber of wraps of fibreglass that areused in the manufacture of the rod blankand the last three numbers tell you thelength of the rod in inches. Therefore a4144 is a four wrap and is 12ft in length.

A three-wrap rod is a very light rod andwould be used for whiting. The morewraps that are used the stronger andstiffer the rods become and are more suit-ed for rock fishing.If you have photos you’d like to see in SIN, or stories to tell, send them [email protected]

FISHY TALESwith Jim Campbell

Reed Hoare-Mclaughlin with bream caught in the April competitionand, right, with his catch of parrot in the March competition.

Page 21: Sin winter2013 email

WINTER 2013 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS 21

PROPERTY

A s a new financial year clicks over it is agood time for owners of rental prop-erties to consider a number of issues

to do with insurance and tax deductions.One to consider is Landlords’ Insurance.

This is a tax-deductible expense and isessential for anyone renting their property –whether for short-term holidays or on a permanent basis.

You should look for a policy that providesfinancial security against the consequenceof loss and damage from events, and also forlegal liability.

Some of the events that can be coveredinclude rent default; deliberate, intentional

or malicious damage by a tenant; theft ordamage of contents; loss of rent; and legalliability through injury, where we recom-mend a minimum of $20-million legal liabil-ity insurance.

There are also Depreciation Schedules toconsider. If you own an investment propertyand have not been claiming depreciation,you could be missing out on thousands ofdollars in deductions.

As a building gets older, items wear out –in other words they depreciate.

The tax office allows investment propertyowners to claim the cost of this depreciationas a deduction on their annual tax. Any

property owner who obtains income fromtheir property can claim depreciation.

When calculating depreciation deduc-tions, items that are taken into considera-tion include the purchase price, settlementdate and the plant and equipment itemswithin the property. Unit owners can claim,in addition to the plant and equipment intheir unit, part of the common property e.g.driveways, outdoor furniture, lifts, poolpumps and the like. Ray White North Stradbroke recommends theservices of BMT Tax Depreciation who can becontacted on 1300 728 726 if you havefurther questions on this topic.

ISLAND PROPERTYBy Rae Green

MORE PRIZE THAN PROMISE For Straddie golfers, and those from furtherafield, news that the legendary tournament– The Straddie Ambrose – was to be re-inau-gurated after a break of several years wasexciting.

If you love your golf and like loads of fun(on and off the golf course), this 27-holeevent on the weekend of July 13 and 14 isnot to be missed. The stakes are high, withmany great prizes, and, as it’s an Ambroseevent, pretty much all levels of golfers canenjoy the event.

There are Hole-In-One prizes, Nearestthe Pin, Longest Drives and a plethora offun and frivolity for all. In fact, the day issure to serve up more prizes than promises!

If SIN readers are quick they may stillhave time to register a team for this most fes-tive event on the North Stradbroke Islandgolfing calendar. Contact the North Strad-broke Island Golf Club on 3409 9999 tobook a place.

SEEKING A CLUB ‘PROVIDORE’To use the vernacular finding favour in cer-tain political circles, the club is “moving for-ward” with a new business model incorpo-rating a Club Providore (Service ContractManager) to oversee the general operationsof an ever-expanding array of pastimes.

And these pastimes are not cateringexclusively to the golfing fraternity. The

North Stradbroke Island Golf Club hasrecently embarked on a wildlife sanctuaryventure – not surprising given the numberof kangaroos visiting the course every day.

And there are other sporting projects inthe pipeline as well, so if you think you havewhat it takes to be the new Providore, pleasephone the Clubhouse.

CHARITY BEGINS ON THE GREENWhile many larger golf clubs on the “bigisland” sponsor charity days, as a smallerclub we think charity begins at home!

Our latest event benefitted Island publi-can and golf club vice-captain Michael Jack-son, who was recently taken seriously, andsuddenly, ill.

With the aid and drive of club memberMr. T. J. Hodgetts, and the generosity of theclub, a benefit day was organised to helpmake Michael feel a bit better.

This wonderful benefit day raised morethan $8000 – not too shabby – and the goodnews is that Michael is making a steadyrecovery. We hope to see you on the fairwayssoon Mike!

Geoff Nette, Secretary, NSI Golf ClubNorth Stradbroke Island Golf Club – par 70,9 hole and 18 tee with grass greens andfairways – is open daily 8am-5pm. Phone3409 9999 or visitwww.northstradbrokeislandgolfclub.com.au

TEE TIMENews from the NSI Golf Club with Geoff Nette, Secretary

Making an appearance at the first of threerounds of the North Stradbroke Island GolfClub Championship (l-r) Desley Grose, Lyn King(Women’s Club VP) and Sonia Miles.

Page 22: Sin winter2013 email

22 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS WINTER 2013

Autumn is my favorite season and I thinkmany surfers from around Australiawould agree with me. On Straddie,

autumn brought light offshore winds, consis-tent east swell, warm water and limitedcrowds: conditions that made for manystoked surfers.

Main Beach has experienced some serverscarping, the most I have seen in the past 15years, with some mature she oaks, “casuari-nas”, falling into the ocean. The problemscaused by this erosion is that driving downMain is limited to the bottom half of thetide.

We have also seen tonnes of plasticreemerging from its hiding place in thedunes making much of the beach resemblea tip.

On the plus side, all that sand has formedsome great banks along the beach. One Saturday in April it was absolutely pumpingrights and lefts 3-5’ barrels and half a dozenguys spread over 100 metres of beach. Bedeand Lincoln must have a good nose forMain as they both arrived from the GoldCoast to have their share.

Frenchman’s produced quality waves inlate April and early May with a great bank inthe middle of the beach lighting up with asolid SE swell and west-south-west winds.Hopefully this was a sign of great things forwinter.

Cylinder also had some major changes inautumn with no beach on the high tide.Recently tons of sand coming around thecorner from Main has formed a spit bankstraight off the headland and a large lagoonon the inside, which has been great forswimmers and boat launching.

GROWING GROMSThe Point Lookout Boardriders have beenhaving a great year with junior developmentits major focus. Grom comps have beenheld every month. The highlight was Bede’sFox Grom Shoot Out. For many juniors itwas their first taste of competitive surfing. Itwas a fantastic event for all the Island’syoung surfers and was well supported byfamilies from up and down the coast.

Ethan Ewing and Trey Clough were stand-outs finishing 1st and 2nd in the under-16boys. Ethan won a motorised skate boardand Trey a Mt Woodgee custom surf board.

LOCALS ON THE WORLD TOUROn the WCT (World Championship Tour)Bede Durbidge had a solid start to the year.At the Quiky Pro on the Goldie he wasknocked in the quarters, finishing 5th. Hefollowed that up placing 13th at both the

Rip Curl Pro at Bells and the Billabong Proin Brazil.

Tim Mac Donald represented Australia inthe ISA World Surfing Games in Panama.Australia finished with silver behind SouthAfrica. Tim is entering WQS (World Quali-fying Series) star events this year to improvehis seeding for 2014. As SIN went to print hewas preparing for an event in Japan.

Nathan Specht competed in two pro-junior events in Tahiti, making the quarterfinals in both, his best result to date. LincolnTaylor had less success in the two primeevents he has so far surfed this year. In theMargaret River Pro he was eliminated with adouble interference placed on him and TajBurrow. In Brazil he was eliminated in thelast 20 seconds of his first round heat. Lincoln will work to reestablish himself atthe next few events, beginning with an eventin Mexico. Olé.

Lincoln Taylor getting shacked off Main. PHOTO: MURRAY TAYLOR

SURFING with Murray Taylor

Autumn winds bring winter waves

Dan Holt enjoying some Main Beach magic. PHOTO: MURRAY TAYLOR

Page 23: Sin winter2013 email

BEACH YOGA TALES by Linda Rago

Here come the whales! It’s the season of vividsunsets and delicate dawn skies, goosebumps after a dip, the pleasure of finding

a sunny cove out of the breeze, wet suits, vests,beanies and flannies!

Keeping the kidneys warm with a “cummer-bund” style wrap is a great way to dress for beachactivities. Rubber shoes are handy but knowinga few techniques to warm the body quickly canbe the difference between discomfort and pleas-ure on a winter’s day fishing, walking or whale-watching.

The colder weather makes us draw our energyinwards and if we create time for daily walkingmeditations, we can warm the blood and stabilisethe temperature around the kidneys. When wewalk with a rhythmic, striding gait, opposite arm-to-foot swinging forward, our breath deepens,our oxygen levels go up, our hips and lower backloosen and the musculature around our kidneysbecomes more elastic.

Our kidneys need to stay warm because kidneyenergy governs the bones and cartilage, the ears,our balance, skin-tone, hair, finger and toenailquality, our sweat and urine.

It can be particularly helpful to massage andstimulate the bony structures and soft tissuearound the ears, and pummel or rub the back ofour legs and lower back quite vigorously.

Tug on the earlobes about 20 times with yourthumb curled to the back of the ear and indexfinger over the front of the lobes.

Open the eyes up and then gently close thelids as you keep the “stretched” feeling around

the eyes, then using your finger tips on the eyebrows and your thumbs on the cheekbones,massage in an outward direction toward yourears. Let your fingers wander up into your hairand onto your scalp.

Eating a bit more protein in winter is useful,particularly for breakfast. Good quality protein(like beans that are dark or black in colour,whole grains like buckwheat, quinoa, brownrice) helps build energy for a day’s activity. Thesefoods lend themselves to slow cooking methodsproducing lovely aromas from the kitchen toentice you indoors.

Postures that can warm and stimulate the kid-ney/bladder channels are all sorts of forward andback bends in sitting, lying and standing, bowpose in the prone position or standing, leg liftswith sacral support and side bends that compressthe zone around one kidney while taking pres-sure off and “opening up” around the other.

At Beach Yoga it is often winter-wise to beginwith a “volley of movement” — leg swings, pum-meling, strong exhalations — before a series ofspinal movements that engage the energyaround the kidneys.

And let’s not forget the glands that sit atop ourkidneys — the adrenals. If your adrenals fire upbecause of shock or excitement, you can becomecolder with fatigue as a result.

Engage the above postures, wear the waist-band-style wrap, introduce protein at breakfastand snuggle in!

And a warm welcoming smile works wonderstoo!

Linda Rago [email protected] has beenstudying and teaching yoga andshiatsu healing practices since1989. She specialises in mindfulpostures, recovery from injurythrough positive attitude, movement and respiration. Beach Yoga — Straddie is on Facebook.

cacophonous & grating DID YOU KNOW?Straddie’s Little Wattlebird,Anthochaera chrysoptera,is the smallest of thewattlebird family. The sleekbody of this handsome bluish-grey-eyed honeyeater iscovered with brown and whitestreaks and its long tailsports white-tipped feathers.In flight, a lovely reddish-brown patch is apparent onthe wings. The LittleWattlebird dips its longcurved beak deep into flowersto reach the nectar that itlaps up with its bristle-covered tongue. It also eatsinsects, berries and seeds.Easily recognisable by its loudclucks as well ascacophonous and gratingcalls, it is often seen flitting around flowering andfruiting trees.

— Lee K Curtis

WINTER 2013 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS 23

PHOTO: BRUCE MARTIN

Page 24: Sin winter2013 email

The name dugong derives from aMalay word meaning Lady of theSea, yet elsewhere they are less-flat-teringly referred to as Sea Cows,due to their diet of seagrass.

They are the only marine herbivorous seamammals in the world and have beenobserved to suckle their young for up to fiveyears, even though calves starts eating seagrass at three months old.

Solitary animals, they travel alone or inpairs for most of their 70-year lifespan,although they have been seen in herds of 10to 300.

Their distant relationship to the elephantgoes some way to explaining the dugongs’large and thick-skinned bodies, which growup to three metres in length and weighmore than 600 kilograms at maturity. In thewarmer waters of the bay dugongs growslowly and tend to be a larger size than thosefound elsewhere.

According to Janet Lanyon, researcher atthe Marine Biological Sciences Department,University of Queensland (UQ), dugongbones are dense and solid, with no marrow,acting as ballast and enabling the dugong tostay suspended just below the surface of thewater.

Their bodies are streamlined, fast whenswimming over short distances, and fullyadapted to a marine pelagic lifestyle, with adolphin like tail. They can manage six min-utes without breathing but generally surfaceevery two-and-a-half. They have been knownto travel 20 kilometres from shore and diveto depths of 20 metres.

Dugongs have poor vision but acute hear-ing and communicate with one another by

chirps, whistles and barks. Tusks are presentin males and some older females, and alldugongs have scars on their skin, malesfrom warding off other males, and femalesfrom mating.

Dugongs feed on seagrass in both shallowand deep water, eating up to 30kg per dayand leaving long trails in the grass in theirwake. Sea grass is prolific in the easternparts of Moreton Bay, making it an idealhabitat for the mammal. When in muddywaters, dugongs feel for the plants with sen-sitive hairs near their lips, and use their flex-ible muscular upper lip to dig up the plants.

During winter months in the bay, whenless sea grass is available, protein in theirdiet is supplemented by eating smallamounts of sea squirts and marine worms.

Being slow breeders, dugongs are suscep-tible to a decline in population numbers. Ittakes 10 to 17 years for a female dugong toreach breeding maturity, after which she willgive birth to one calf every five to sevenyears.

Historically, the Indigenous people of thebay hunted dugongs for their meat, skinand bones. After European settlementdugongs were harvested in much largernumbers for their blubber.

The most serious threat to dugongs today,however, is loss of seagrass habitat. Themajor flooding events of recent yearsdestroyed extensive sea grass meadows. Andhuman recreation has also had an impact,with boat strikes and entanglement in fish-ing nets causing dugong fatalities. Tradition-al boat moorings also destroy large circulartracts of sea grass (see story page 9).

According to Ms Lanyon, there are things

we can do to help reduce our impact ondugongs. Research being done by the UQDugong Group has identified that duringwinter months, most of the dugongs spendtime in the Rous Channel, between NorthStradbroke Island and Moreton Island,where they can easily move back and forthbetween the bay and the warmer waters ofthe ocean. At low tide there are dugonggroups near the surface in waters adjacentto the banks, where they like to drift gentlywith the tide.

During April to August extreme careshould be taken when driving boats in thisregion, as there could be 50 to 100 dugongsin the channel at any time. It is best to havea spotter in the front of the boat, always fol-low the “go slow” instructions, and travel ata non-planing speed.

Stick to the channels and drive slowly andcarefully across the sea banks. If possible,use propeller guards on your boat to reducestriking dugongs. Slow driving also reducessedimentation, which smothers seagrass.

The UQ dugong team continues toobserve and research the mammals to better understand their habits and threats.To date, they have caught and tagged morethan 600 dugongs in Moreton Bay using a rodeo technique, holding the dugong at the surface for five minutes while meas-urements, samples and photos are taken.They are then tagged and micro-chipped so that their health and movements can be monitored.

Sincere thanks to Janet Lanyon and researchersat the Marine Biological Sciences Dept at UQ fortheir assistance and photographs.

B Y A N G E L A M C L E O D F R I E N D S O F S T R A D B R O K E I S L A N D

STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS WINTER 2013