Straddie Island News autumn 2012

Straddie Island News

$3.00

AUTUMN 2012

AT NEWSAGENTS & SELECTED OUTLETS

M I N J E R R I B A H / N O R T H S T R A D B RO K E I S L A N D ’ S C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R

STRING IS IN THE AIR

Stradbroke Chamber Music Festival organiser Rachel Smith has world class musicians leaping at the chance to play at the annual event.

.com.au

DAVID COLLINS BLACKBOX PHOTOGRAPHY

The 2012 Stradbroke Chamber Music Festival will open at the new Point Lookout Hall in July, with the world premiere of a string quintet by Robert Davidson, commissioned to celebrate the festival’s fifth birthday. See story page 6.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR NORTH STRADBROKE ISLAND IS a natural treasure deeply loved by Queenslanders.

Locals also call it “Total Drama Island”. It feels like that sometimes with the sandmining controversy. But today, as I look out over the bay, it’s Total Paradise Island. The tide is falling and bands of colour intensify: shades of turquoise and the pale yellow of the sandbanks. Birds all the way from Siberia will be moving on to the mudflats to feed and dugongs will have gone to deeper water.

Stradbroke was created by sand deposition over millennia, sculpted by wind and water.

Layering inside dunes is the key to how water, the island’s lifeblood, flows to different habitats. The patterns took hundreds of thousands of years to create. That can’t be replicated by humans. It’s what makes Stradbroke so precious.

To the north and south I see bare dunes bulldozed for sandmining. Gigantic pits are out of sight but I can picture them. Ancient dunes are stripped of vegetation, turned upside down, inside out, to depths of l00m, often right down to sea level.

Those dunes cannot be restored after sandmining. That’s what science says. That’s what miners know from experience and that is what I see. The country is also weakened, less resilient to extreme climatic events and weed species.

To some, the green layer replanted after mining looks OK and the company PR says it will return to “original”, in time; so it’s acceptable to mine country first and then make it a national park. That must be comforting because the alternative, that country is destroyed forever, is so hard to bear. On my walks I see that even after 30 years’ rehab, most things that make Stradbroke special are absent: carpets of boronias, the buzz of insects, heathlands, healthy swamps and streams. They are gone, with no sign of coming back.

There are many ways to resolve jobs and the economy but once we destroy the fabric of the natural system, that’s it: Gone, forever.

Heading home on the sandy track, I wonder about the total drama befalling Stradbroke.

I got to question LNP leader Campbell Newman on radio and, yes, he wants more mining on Total Paradise Island.

— Jan Aldenhoven, Point Lookout This opinion piece first appeared in the Brisbane Courier Mail.

2 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS

A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING Jim Campbell (SIN letters, Summer 201112), have been talking about installing sewers in all NSI townships.

To put it bluntly — sewering all of NSI is expensive.

It would cost, at least, $40 million to do all three townships. Obviously this is a significant civic investment, and property owners would have to contribute as well. Once sewerage is installed, each house would be required to “hook up”. This would cost between $6000$10,000 per property. And, annual wastewater charges are on average about $730 per year per property.

I know there are many Islanders who won’t like that.

NSI is not the only part of the Redlands that is not sewered. The cost to sewer all the Southern Moreton Bay Islands is estimated to be at least $250 million dollars. The population for those islands is already much larger than Straddie, and increasing rapidly. Council would be more likely to build sewers there first because the costs per household would be lower, and the return to the Council would be higher. This though would result in increased wastewater charges.

When the Council has looked at this issue in the past, it has had to think about the environment, public health, and potential development. There is no evidence that there is any negative impact on the environment (water table, ocean) with the current situation. With regard to public health, the reported failure of the existing septics on the Island is very low. And at the moment, there is no proposal on the table for high-density redevelopment. This may change of course, but at the moment there aren’t a lot of blocks that are “constrained” by the need for sewerage trenches. Keep in mind too that the new “advanced treatment systems” need less trenching.

On the mainland, the cost of treatment plants is spread across many, many households. The political reality is that the overwhelming majority of Councillors are responsible to a mainland rate-base that isn’t interested in paying for these very large projects on the Islands. A recent study of Council income/expenditure showed that over $10 million of mainland rates were spent on the Southern Moreton Bay islands, over and above the rates collected on the Islands.

A similar situation applies to NSI. The bottom line for the prospect of sewering NSI is that there are political and financial challenges, and it isn’t going to change.

Council officers are currently preparing a Total Water Cycle Management Plan, which will consider all these issues and more. This will be an opportunity to challenge the prevailing view in Council that small, remote communities can’t expect the services of the city. It won’t be an easy fight, but if there is an island consensus that residents are prepared to wear the direct costs, and opportunity costs, then it’s a fight that will have to be had.

— Craig Ogilvie, Division 2 Councillor, Cleveland

OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD THE PEOPLE OF NORTH STRADBROKE

Island are a diverse bunch.

With council elections around the corner, and a state election just behind us, there are some issues that it can be challenging on which to find common ground.

And if you are an elected representative, or even a community newspaper, pleasing all of the people, all of the time is impossible.

Right now, Councillor Craig Ogilvie faces his third election to represent the people of North Stradbroke Island on Redland City Council, so he of all people knows how tough it is to please everyone.

In Councillor Ogilvie, we've been lucky to have a representative who, for the past eight years, has spent so much time, not just focussed on Island issues, but on the Island itself. As well as representing the Island, Division 2 consists of mainland constituents in Cleveland. In the past we haven't always had representatives who were so willing to cross the Bay. Councillor Ogilvie warns that, in the hands of a pro-development council, the new Redlands Planning Scheme (which you can download from the RCC website) could destroy Straddie as we know it. This is because the recent Native Title claim allows for land around the townships to be rezoned. Here then, is another issue for Islanders to debate.

The Straddie Island News also faces tough decisions sometimes. We like to tap into the broadest community but we also like to give alternative points of view, sometimes in our editorials, and sometimes from our contributors who have ideas that push the boundaries .

In this issue alone you will read conflicting views about whether the Island should be sewered and if we can afford it. The story about beach driving lessons could be like waving a red rag at those who'd like to ban vehicles on the beach. And then there is the controversial "dob in a druggie" dilemma posed by our local police.

Pro or anti-development, pro or anti mining, pro or anti-beach driving, pro or anti-fishing – there are so many issues and causes on Straddie because we are a community of passionate people.

To live on Straddie is to know what it is to be passionate about the Island, and community.

– Trish Lake EDITOR Kate Johnston editor@straddienews.com MANAGING EDITOR Trish Lake REPORTERS Maria Tan, Liz Johnston LAYOUT Mr T ADVERTISING 3252 4551 FOLLOW SIN ON FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/straddienews ISSN 1839-5716 CONTRIBUTORS Editorial contributions are warmly welcomed. Articles are edited for purposes of style and space. We cannot print anonymous material.

PRINTER Paradigm Print Media PUBLISHER Freshwater Productions PO Box 86 Point Lookout Qld 4183

AUTUMN 2012

NEWS

Passion for education honoured

Q

uandamooka Elder Aunty Joan Hendriks has been awarded a Doctor of the University by the Australian Catholic Unive rsity for her contribution as an Indigenous Elder and educator in the field of Aboriginal education,reconciliation and justice for indigenous Australian peoples. She will graduate early May. The highest honour awarded by the University, it recognises persons of distinguished eminence in some branch of learning or distinguished by outstanding services to the University, meritorious cultural achievement or eminent public service.

A further award, in honour of Aunty Joan, has been created by the Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC).

The Aunty Joan Hendriks Spirit of Catholic Education Reconciliation Award will form part of QCEC’s annual Spirit of Catholic Education Awards, and will recognise individuals who make an outstanding contribution to the life of a Catholic education community in the area of Reconciliation.

Aunty Joan is an Aboriginal Elder of the Ngugi people from Moreton Island and is highly regarded for her many roles within the Catholic education community. These have included being Queensland Bishops’ nominee to the National Catholic Education Commission and teacher at the Australian Catholic University.

She recently retired as Chair of the QCEC Indigenous Education Subcommittee and is currently Cultural Awareness Project Officer and Elder in Residence at Lourdes Hill College, Brisbane.

Aunty Joan is also an active member of many local community organisations on Minjerribah.

Aunty Joan Hendriks

Kerry, Sharron, Julie and Colin wish all SIN readers a very Happy Easter. Enjoy your holidays!

The Lookout Shopping Centre 1 Mintee Street, Point Lookout Qld 4183 Tel: +617 3415 3949

AUTUMN 2012

A fresh approach to real estate

STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS 3

NEWS

Music clip sings the praises of Straddie ocals from Dunwich and Point Lookout have appeared in a music video for Australian roots musician, Xavier Rudd. But it was Straddie who starred.

“It all came together organically,” director and editor Nikki Michail told SIN. She suggested Minjerribah could be a great location for the new clip “put the word out” to a few local mates, and it was filmed over a week in February.

“The laid back lifestyles, stunning scenery and wildlife over here really suited the lyrics and vibe,” Nikki, who filmed the clip with Anthony Broese, said. “We were stoked to showcase the Yulu Burri Ba dancers. Xav was honoured they could do some traditional dance for the video.

“It’s such a unique, creative community on this Island and we’re glad people around the world get to see a slice of that.”

Classic Straddie sunsets, local kids surfing, early morning time

L

Locals took part in the filming of a music clip for roots musician Xavier Rudd. L-r: Tjahli and Craig Tapp, Andie Crosser, Kaiyu Bayles, Xavier Rudd, Selena Davey, Patrick, Djidari Gringai, Jandarcan, Isaiah and Maretta Coolwell and Mandy Blivett.

lapses and gorgeous freshwater locales completed the clip, which had more than 30,000 views in the first few days of its online release.

“The main feedback from the online commentary has been how lucky we are to live in such a nat-

urally beautiful country,” Nikki said. “We hope people seeing this clip are compelled to look after those landscapes, and also do what they can to learn about and support Indigenous Australian cultures.”

The clip for Follow the Sun, the first single and video from Rudd’s upcoming album, can be seen on YouTube or the filmmakers’ website www.sustainabledreaming.org.

P Mike’s a powerhouse

for the planet

oint Lookout’s Mike Hines has shared the Redland City Council’s 2012 Australia Day Environmental Achievement Award for outstanding environmental contribution to the Redlands.

Mike shared the honour with wildlife carer Jan Smith, of Wellington Point, who keeps SIN posted on local environment news with her regular email updates.

Between them they are the words and pictures of the local environment; Mike also emails daily to a wide circle of friends and fellow enthusiasts from across the globe, sharing the beautiful photographs and descriptions of birds he sees on his daily walks.

Friends describe Mike as a powerhouse.

For more than 50 years he has recorded, banded and tracked birds and animals wherever he is, including during a stint working on Macquarie Island in Antarctica.

He has done the same in Brisbane and Townsville, and for the past 12 years on Straddie during his retirement.

Mike has always been a dedicated environmental volunteer and has shared his knowledge to train young people. He has been a valued member of Point Lookout Bushcare for more than a decade, and makes regular patrols of his local beach to pick up rubbish.

— Liz Johnston Mike Hines and Jan Smith accept their shared award from Mayor Melva Hobson.

4 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS

AUTUMN 2012

NEWS

Free training for better beach driving ree training in the skills needed for safe four-wheel driving (4WD) on Straddie beaches is being offered.

Two training sessions, funded by a federal government grant, will be held on North Stradbroke Island on April 21 and 22, starting 10am and 10.30am respectively, and running til approximately 3pm. A maximum of 10 vehicles can take part, with up to five drivers per vehicle.

The sessions form part of the Better Beaches Program, a joint venture between the South East Queensland Regional Landcare Facilitator and offroad-driving expert, Dave Darmody, from P7 Offroad.

F

Drivers will learn how to drive safely on the beach while causing minimal disruption to local wildlife and native vegetation. They will be shown how to ensure maximum safety for themselves, their passengers, and other beach users and for the optimal use and protection of their vehicle.

Developed with the 4WD community, the Better Beaches program includes practical advice and tips on how to prepare for foreshore driving.

Teacher and accredited off-road driver trainer, Dave Darmody, has more than 16 years experience in delivering this type of training. ‘‘One of the most important safety tips, and

one which can minimise the impacts four wheel drive vehicles have on the beach, is correct tyre pressure. Other points the training will cover include preparation for beach driving, driving technique, and the use of high and low range,” Dave said.

Dave says the training is part of a grassroots movement to encourage people to do the right thing and empower them to promote best practice driving skills with their friends and families.

For more information and to reserve a spot contact Dave Darmody: 1300 725 440 info@4x4training.com.au www.p7offroad.com.au

Sand mining means everything to us and without it we wouldn’t survive.

G Gerald erald is a lifelong lifelong Straddie Straddie resident resident and has worked worked for for the local sand mining company company since he h lef ft school Over those those years years he’s he’s seen left school.. Over seen sand sand ing elec tricity, then t the bar ges and eeven ven much much of the Island oad mining br bring electricity, barges Island’s’s rroad network. Being part part of a tthir d generation indigenous family faamily emplo yed locally network. third employed erald is creating creating the Straddie story. story. in sand mining mining,, G Gerald

AUTUMN 2012

e .au i d d a Strories.com st STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS 5

NEWS

String is in the air

Sin BRIEF STING LIKE A BEE Veteran beekeeper, Charlie Bowman tells SIN the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) has offered an extension that allows him to keep his hives on national park lands until 2019, when mining leases are also set to expire.

The Bowman family’s beehives were outlawed from national park land last year when the Naree Budjong Djara national park was declared.

CAMELS AT HOME Half-hour camel rides along Home Beach will operate every day during the school holidays. Camel trainer Lionel Keegan tells SIN his camels are caught wild in the outback and brought to the Redlands to be trained for riding and racing. For more information: outbackcamels@ozemail.com.au

STARDUST CINEMA RETURNS The outdoor cinema will return to Point Lookout to coincide with the Taste of Straddie event scheduled for the end of June. Movie fans are being asked to bring blankets and pillows for the “crisp” winter weather, with backup plans for moving indoors if the temperature sinks too low.

POINT LOOKOUT LOO The besser block toilet block that has enjoyed star views over Frenchmans Beach for decades is to be demolished.

UNIVERSITY ON STRADDIE The University of the Third Age, or U3A, started in France in 1973 and arrives on Straddie in 2012. The organisation runs courses aimed at retired people – those entering the “third age” – and is looking for tutors as well as students, to lead courses in languages, arts, health and physical activities, computers, craft and hobbies.

Contact U3A Redlands on 3821 3888 9am -12 Monday to Friday.

FERRY MERGER UPDATE Residents and visitors are being encouraged to book their ferry passage ahead of time as the merger of the two ferry companies continues. Ferry operators, Transit Systems, say they will endeavour to place car traffic on the better appointed Big Red Cat, with commercial traffic travelling on the Spirit of Waiheke, a barge charted to maintain services since the blue Quandamooka and Minjerribah barges were sent to Gladstone.

The Minjerribah is due back at the end of May. In a letter to residents, Transit Sytems said: “We appreciate that this vessel is not to our usual standard and we do ask for your patience as we work to provide a service to the Island during this period.

“Specifically we apologise for the lack of onboard facilities and encourage you to make use of the shore café on the Cleveland side.”

The company says it is not experiencing significant capacity issues. Big Red Cat bookings can be also made by the Stradbroke Ferries reservations team.

6 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS

PHOTO: DAVID COLLINS, BLACKBOX PHOTOGRAPHY.

AMITY SWIMMING REPAIR Council has plans to replace piles and net at the Amity Point Swimming enclosure during April and May.

Stradbroke Chamber Music Festival organiser Rachel Smith slanders and visitors thronged to hear high-energy performances by leading musicians at last year’s Stradbroke Chamber Music Festival, almost doubling previous ticket sales.

While there was much to delight traditionalists some concerts crossed musical boundaries, drawing a wider audience.

The bar has been set even higher in 2012, with an outstanding line-up of performers revelling in the opportunity to play six concerts at intimate venues in all three townships.

Chamber music lovers will be tempted by gems from the repertoire, ranging from the sparkling virtuosity of Mendelssohn’s String Quintet No. 2 to the haunting beauty of Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 15.

The players include special guests Sophie Rowell (formerly leader and first violin, Australian String Quartet), Caroline Henbest (former principal viola, Australian Chamber Orchestra) and visiting Dutch cellist Eric de Wit (Scottish Chamber Orchestra).

Local favourites Louise King (cello) and Rachel Smith (violin), principal wind players from the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, will return, along with virtuosic

I

pianists Anna Grinberg and Liam Viney (playing Stravinsky’s masterwork Petrushka for four hands at Amity Point).

Last year, jazz trio Misinterprotato thrilled a capacity audience in a dusk performance at the Point Lookout Life Saving Club, and by popular request they will return to the venue (under their new name, Trichotomy) for the premiere of an exciting new project for jazz trio and string quartet.

Later the same evening, at the Point Lookout Hall, an atmospheric concert – with some theatrical touches – will feature American composer George Crumb’s Vox Balaenae (Voice of the Whale), inspired by the singing of the humpback whale.

The whole family will enjoy an outdoor Sunday morning concert, with a brass quintet and other virtuosi, on the grassy waterfront at the Little Ship Club in Dunwich.

The Stradbroke Chamber Music Festival will take place in Point Lookout, Dunwich and Amity Point, from Friday 27 July to Sunday 29 July.

For more information on all six concerts and ticketing, visit www.stradmusic.org — Col Cunnington

AUTUMN 2012

NEWS

Pow wow at Polka Point he Anishinnabek Northern Lights Dance and Culture Troupe visited Minjerribah recently to share culture, dance and a deep spiritual connection to land with the local Indigenous community.

The group of dancers, drummers, singers and storytellers hail from the The Great Lakes region straddling Canada and the USA, and were in Queensland to perform at the Woodford Folk Festival. During the stay they connected with a number of southeast Queensland’s Indigenous communities.

Anishinnabe spritual leader Bucko Teeple told the Toowoomba Chronicle there were great similarities between the struggle of Australian Aborigines and his people.

“We share a similar history, where our governments dispossessed us of our lands and put in policies to eradicate our cultures,” Mr Teeple said.

Quandamooka Elder Aunty Joan Hendriks wrote the following account of the Anishinnabek visit to Minjerribah:

T

LIVING WITH THE LAND: THE EARTH OUR MOTHER

BY AUNTY JOAN HENDRIKS An early Saturday morning in January this year witnessed the arrival of the Anishinnabek Northern Lights Dance and Culture Troupe to our island home Minjerribah.

A phone call earlier in the week ,seeking permission for the group to visit , set the scene for Salt Water Murris Quandamooka board members and artists to prepare for a shared happening.

Polka Point, the local traditional Gathering Place, became the point of contact with the wider community who had gathered in anticipation of the arrival of our distinguished guests. So the scene was set for the welcome and witnessing of the shared story, song and dance; and the common ground of the connections to the living environment of Mother Earth, which First Nations people from around the world share.

Our Yulu Burri Ba Dancers welcomed the visitors in song and dance and the Anishinnabek responded with the chanting of their drums, accompanied to the magical sound of birds.

THE MOST

Top: Members of the Anishinnabek Dance and Culture Troupe with the Yulu Burri Ba dancers of Minjerribah. Above: Aunty Joan Hendriks with Anishinnabek Elders. Right: An Anishinnabek dancer performs at Polka Point.

The old and the new ways of dance were demonstrated, first by a respected Elder then in the new age dreaming butterfly dance of a younger woman.

The dance performance concluded with our Yulu Burri Ba Dancers joining the Anishinnabek dancers in their traditional dance, and the Anishinnabek dancers sharing in the spirit of our Yulu Burri Ba dance.

It gave witness to two Indigenous nations, each in their own right entitled to their own cultural identity, embedded in the environment of Mother Earth,

becoming one in the spirit of sharing oral stories.

The exchange revealed the common thread of experiences between the two nations and became a building block for furthering relationships between both groups.

The oceans that stretch between our lands (Canada and Australia) did not take away the connectedness that we shared in story, song and dance rituals; the depth of respect that both nations treasure in valuing country, of family heritage and connectedness with the Spirit of the land and waters.

AMAZING

SHOP

8 BINGLE ROAD DUNWICH

(ON THE MAIN STREET LOOK FOR THE POTS & FLAGS)

CAROL 0419 727 133 Come and visit u r sure to find that special gift, clothing or the very thing u wanted. Open 10am holidays ring and check (usually every day) non-holidays wed, thurs, sat maybe sun clothes – giftlines – furniture – collectables – the unusal – garden pots plants – sleepers – planters – manchester

AUTUMN 2012

STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS 7

NEWS

Bushcare takes aim at Island’s worst weed

She may sound pretty, but the Singapore Daisy has become public enemy number one to Point Lookout Bushcare. he group has joined forces with SEQ Catchments and Redland City Council to eradicate the weed, which has invaded South Gorge and is being tracked up the beach and over the dunes to the 18 Mile Swamp.

So invasive is the weed that is now threatening the swamp, a wetland of international significance and part of the newly declared

T

Naree Budjong Djara national park.

The eradication project will concentrate on removing Singapore Daisy from South Gorge adjacent to Main Beach, as well as on nearby private properties where much of it is found.

South Gorge is well visited and, with 4x4 access to Main Beach less than 50m away, Singapore Daisy (Sphagneticola trilobata)

is being spread by vehicle and people movement.

Jan Johnman of Point Lookout Bushcare says Singapore Daisy is one of the most significant invasive species to threaten the wetland and dune ecosystems adjoining Point Lookout. ‘‘Although we have been weeding and replanting for several months now, it would not be possible to remove all the Singapore Daisy from the Gorge without assistance from the council and SEQ Catchments,” Ms Johnman said.

Local contractors will carry out the initial weed control, with Bushcare volunteers continuing essential manual control, re-vegetation and maintenance of the site.

Signs will be put up to educate visitors and locals of the work being done and engage the community in the planting of native species and the removal and monitoring of weeds.

Funding from the Redland City Council Community Grants program ($11,000) will go towards spraying and signage at the Gorge. A $10,000 WetCare Australia grant will address the sources of the Singapore Daisy invasion of the Gorge. The in-kind support of the 15 Bushcare volunteers is estimated to be worth $20,000 and $30,000.

Though we’d say: priceless.

– Kate Johnston

ISLAND BEAT

By PETER TWORT Officer in Charge, Dunwich Police. 3409 6020

TOTAL ISLAND BAN We continue to work in harmony with all licensed premises on the Island to ensure a safe environment for patrons and staff. A reminder that if a person is banned from one licensed premise, they will be refused service at all establishments in that township for three months. If the behaviour is extreme, such as an unprovoked assault of a patron, assault or threats to a staff member, the possession and/or supply of drugs, or property damage over $500, they will receive an Island-wide ban for three months. Repeat offenders get six months and 12 months etc. The first six-month ban from all Island establishments has just been given.

PROPERTY OFFENCES We have witnessed an increase in property offences throughout all townships over the past few months.

These include unlawful entry of vehicles at car parks, stealing from campgrounds etc. Some of these could be related to drug habits. Please secure your house and vehicle when left unattended, and do not leave valuables in your car.

We have increased our patrols to try to prevent 8 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS

offences and bring offenders to justice, as too have Redland City Council through increased security patrols. We have a zero tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour, drunkenness and drinking in public.

MOVEMBER Last year members of Dunwich Police and Point Lookout Beat took part in MOVEMBER. A female member from Redland Bay station got into the act and the two stations combined raised $1040 for Beyond Blue and Prostate Cancer. A big thanks to the following for their donations to this very worthwhile cause, (even if some of the MOs were not that worthwhile, if I do say so myself): Straddie Pub, Stradbroke Early Learning Centre, Point Lookout Foodworks (Bob’s Shop), Fins n Fries, Point Lookout Post Office, Amity Club, M&M Cleaning.

DOB IN A DRUGGIE Drugs remain a destroyer of our community. We have all observed how this scourge, and, for want of a better description, those who peddle it, affects each and every one of us, and our island

community. We continue to need the support of the community. We need to stand up against drug use, not just talk about it as a problem, but actually do something. And that something is to inform the police. Tomorrow it could be you, your child or grandchild that is affected and it will be too late.

Everyone is someone, so do something now. Join the fight and help us by providing information, no matter how trivial you think it may be. Do not assume that we know about it. Intel is like a jigsaw and you may hold the vital piece of information that we need to complete the picture. All information received is treated in the strictest of confidence.

So “dob” in a druggie and make our world a better place.

SAFE HOLIDAYS I urge all motorists to obey the traffic laws, do not drink and drive, do not speed, do not have people riding in the back of utes, wear your seat belts. A reminder we have mobile radar in our troopy.

The normal road rules as above also apply to the beaches: Main Beach speed limit is 60kph, Flinders 40kph.

AUTUMN 2012

NEWS

EYE IN THE SKY Unmanned aircraft will patrol Straddie’s beaches in April as part of a new trial being run by Surf Life Saving Queensland and V-TOL Aerospace.

Similar to the military stealth planes that were last year deployed from Point Lookout to survey whales and dolphins, the aircraft has been developed especially for SLSQ to see whether or not the planes can be used to carry out search and rescue operations.

The aircraft can fly lower than other planes and can cover up to 36 sq km an hour, with the potential to be used as a floatation device that drops into the water to help struggling swimmers. If the Straddie trial is successful the planes will be rolled out to other Surf Life Saving Clubs around Australia.

Saltwater Murris top the class at US uni

BY MARIA TAN anging along the walls of an American university are two murals by the artists of the Salt Water Murris Quandamooka.

The first, Quandamooka Dreaming, commissioned in 2007, was so popular that Eastern Connecticut State University ordered another.

It took two years to create but the second mural, Sea Animals of Quandamooka, was delivered to Connecticut over the Australian summer.

Saltwater Murris artists Belinda and Leanne Close worked with Martin Kaklis on the original design of the five-metre mural, split into four sections. Salt Water Murris spokesperson Steve Johnson told SIN that Belinda, Leanne and Martin were pleased with the final outcome.

“It does take their work out into the world and it also exposes the Salt Water Murris as a gallery and as an art centre,” Mr Johnson said. “Artists are not always confident about what they do, so feedback about what we’ve achieved is quite important for everybody.”

Adjunct art professor from the Eastern Connecticut State University, Muriel Miller, told SIN that both Australian murals made a “magnificent statement of the Aboriginal art on North Stradbroke Island.”

Muriel first saw the work of the Salt Water

H

AUTUMN 2012

Murris artists in 2007 on the side of the One Mile jetty bus shelter. She was so impressed she phoned her boss.

“I have brought students to Australia five times as part of a summer course in Art and Biology,” Muriel said. “One of our stops is at the Moreton Bay Research Station at North Stradbroke Island.

“I showed the president of the university the pictures and told her about the artists on the Island. She loved the images and asked if I would contact them about painting a similar piece for the Student Centre at the university.

“We plan to visit and do Art and Field Studies in June, 2012 and are planning to do another workshop with our students and the Salt Water Murris while we are there.

“Australian artwork is fascinating and we loved learning about the stories behind the paintings,” Ms Miller added. “We learned how the young artists learn about the past through paintings and keep their stories alive for future generations.

“Those who view the murals are entranced by the images of the animals and the beautiful bright colours of the paintings.

It inspires them to want to travel to Australia to meet these artists and learn more about the culture of the Indigenous people in this region of Australia, along with other areas of the world.”

Managing Director of V-TOL Aerospace, Mark Xavier, told SIN that North Stradbroke Island was chosen as the location for the project because they wanted to test the technology in remote and hard to access beach areas.

“We’ve operated there in the past and we know the locality pretty well. It suits the requirements for what Surf Life Saving Australia are trying to trial,” Mr Xavier said.

With 310 surf life saving clubs and 11,000 beaches, Surf Life Saving Australia says that coastal drowning deaths are too high and most often occur at remote beaches or after patrolling hours.

“Any tool that could help us save more lives is definitely worth exploring,” Surf Life Saving Australia’s CEO, Brett Williamson said.

Members of Dicky Beach SLSC Jack Kelly, Douglas Simpson and Jessica Simpson with the unmanned aircraft that will be trialled over Straddie.

STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS 9

NEWS

Clean up floats ugly issue of marine debris

PHOTO: JENNIFER LODER, REEF CHECK AUSTRALIA.

Volunteers prepare to set out from Amity Point for Clean Up Australia Day.

C

lean Up Australia Day volunteers cleared more than 100 kgs of debris from under the water and more than 30 bags of rubbish from on the land and among mangroves at Amity Point.

In total, 71 volunteers cleared 253

kilograms of rubbish. Divers, kayakers and beachcombers all joined in the effort, which also led to the rescue of a pregnant wobbegong, hooked through the dorsal fin and entangled in fishing line.

Diver Dave Lewis from Manta Lodge & Scuba Centre said: “It was a nice feeling to

see something swim away and know that we helped not only to pick up rubbish, but save a life.”

A team of 23 divers collected discarded fishing line, glass, metal and plastic – bringing to the surface the issue of marine debris, which is often “out of sight and out of mind”.

On land, volunteers collected rubbish that had washed up or been left behind by visitors, everything from ropes, glass and hard plastic items to three unexploded bullets, which were turned over to authorities.

All of the rubbish was sorted and recorded with the information gathered to be used as data for a University of Queensland research project into the impact of debris on Moreton Bay sea turtles.

“We all need to do our part to protect the places that we value,” Jennifer Loder, general manager for Reef Check Australia said.

“Most marine debris comes from land, so this could be as simple as picking up someone else’s rubbish next time you see it in a gutter or at the beach.”

Locals love new look Lookout hall edland City Mayor Melva Hobson joined with locals to celebrate the re-opening of the Point Lookout Hall and library.

Mayor Hobson cut the ribbon, together with local Councillor Craig Ogilvie, Indigenous elder, Evelyn Parkin, Indigenous representative, Raymond Walker and community reference group spokesperson for the project, Anne Heatherwick.

Mayor Hobson said the joint ribbon-cutting represented the cooperative nature with which the project was undertaken.

“As the only large public facility available for use by all members of the community and visitors to Point Lookout, it was essential that this building be upgraded,” Cr Hobson said.

In order to ensure the hall met community needs, Council trialled a new consultationmodel for public project delivery, one that was inclusive and reliant on the input of a community appointed reference group.

“I would not claim it was a quick process, but I will say that is has provided a blueprint for community involvement in the design and construction of other public facilities in our city. We learned a lot, and have been able to deliver something the community wants and will use,” Cr Hobson said.

The new building bears little resemblance to the brick hall built in the late 70s, which

R

10 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS

replaced a small community hall that was washed away in the 1974 floods (see page 21).

“These previous facilities would not have been possible without the great community effort and support. But it is gratifying to be able to present an architecturally designed refurbishment that really addresses the needs of the community,” the Mayor said.

Council was able to secure state and federal funding to complement its own budget for the project. Queensland’s Department of Local Government and Planning provided $300,000 and a further $345,000 came from the federal Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. The total cost of the refurbishment was in the vicinity of $1,000,000.

“Users of this hall will be able to experience

a light and airy atmosphere that brings all that is lovely about the outdoors in, while protecting against the elements. They will also enjoy new kitchen and performance facilities.

The Mayor said the hall was available for public hire and suitable for all manner of recreational and cultural uses. Equally as important, it would have a role in the Island’s future economic development.

Cr Craig Ogilvie, who was a driving force behind the project, said it had been a while in the making, but the hall would be a power of good in this community and for visitors as well.

To book the hall, phone the Point Lookout Hall Caretaker on 3409 8798 (Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday) or 3409 8337 (Tuesday, Wednesday).

AUTUMN 2012

NEWS

Straddie artist takes flight

S PHOTO: PETRINA WALKER.

traddie lovers jetting into London this northern summer will get a welcome from Minjerribah artist Elisa Jane Carmichael. She won’t be waiting in arrivals to personally greet you – but a collection of her paintings will be exhibited in Terminal 5.

Elisa Jane, granddaughter of Quandamooka Elder Aunty Joan Hendriks, is currently living in the UK and was invited to exhibit her paintings in the Heathrow studio of British fashion designer Paul Smith.

The Paul Smith Globe at Heathrow is part store, part gallery. As well as afashion it houses items the designer has gathered on his travels, and an “art wall” where a series of exhibitions by different artists hang throughout the year.

Elisa Jane’s exhibition is called Mumberleya tumbe, meaning “live” and is her take on being a Ngugi woman and descendant of the Yulu Burri Ba people of the sand and waters of Moreton Bay. The exhibition will run at the Paul Smith Globe, Departure Lounge, Terminal 5, Heathrow Airport from March 8 to May 3. To see more artworks by Elisa Jane visit www.ejcarmichael.com Elisa Jane Carmichael on Straddie last year with her work Mother Earth, Father Sky.

Inland move brings reward for Denis

A

AUTUMN 2012

PHOTO: EWAN LEIGHTON/STANTHORPE BORDER POST.

painting of a marshy landscape on Flinders Beach has won the $10,000 first prize in the 20th biennial Stanthorpe Art Festival.

The painting was by Denis Brockie, who lived on Straddie for 23 years before moving back to the Granite Belt, where he had lived before and worked as a sign writer.

“It’s obviously a very sweet way to re-enter the district,” Denis told Stanthorpe Post’s Ewan Leighton. “This is the first Stanthorpe prize I’ve attended, so I was a bit bowled over by the size of the event.

“I’ve been a coastal painter and I guess the challenge now is to become not just a bush painter but a painter of the granite landscape too.”

Denis’s winning painting, Flinders Overflow was judged by Archibald Prizewinning painter Davida Allen.

“It’s very gratifying for me that another painter has recognised the quality of my painting,” Denis told Stanthorpe Post.

Fans of Denis’s coastal scenes need not despair; while he’s turning his eye to the inland beauty of the Granite Belt, he’s also planning to spend winter on Straddie and on Island landscapes, no doubt developing his passion for abstract works as well.

STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS 11

NEWS

Don’t feed the dolphins T

ourists are still illegally feeding wild Indo-Pacific Humpback dolphins off Amity Point jetty .The Nature Conservation (Whale and Dolphin) Conservation Plan 1997, stipulates that the on-the-spot penalty for intentionally feeding a wild dolphin is $300, with the maximum penalty for an individual being $8000.

Amity Point resident Nicole Wilson has told SIN there is daily feeding of the endangered Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin, meaning that the creatures are being overfed and becoming reliant on humans. They are also being injured on fishing hooks and incurring the wrath of angry fisher people.

“I have gone down at midnight several times and they are still feeding them round the clock,” she said. “Only recently some dolphins have been seen with gang hooks in the side of their mouths.”

While the total Australian population size of Indo-Pacific Humpback dolphins is unknown, it is estimated there are between 119 and 163 individuals in Moreton Bay. The Indo-Pacific Humpback dolphins seen off Amity are not the same as the Common Bottlenose Dolphins hand fed by tourists from the

ARTWORK BY STEVE LIESEGANG

Movement on the edge A poem by Point Lookout resident Vicki Kelleher has been displayed on a window overlooking Brisbane River from the State Library of Queensland.

Vicki’s poem, The Movement, was the only poem in an exhibition of visual installations, music and films, chosen for display as part of second birthday celebrations for The Edge, a “digital cultural space” within the library. Each piece selected for the exhibition was created in The Edge, and Vicki found her inspiration on a visit to the space during the Brisbane Writers’ festival.

“I was inspired by the creative energy, the movement occurring within our bodies and minds as we travel from one thought, feeling, idea to the next and how we take this out into the world, and how we take it into ourselves,” Vicki said. “The Edge was a great place to sit and be with these words in my head and a quiet and reflective space to put these words down.”

An initiative of the State Library, The Edge offers year-round workshops, activities and events as well as free access to wi-fi, hardware, software and physical spaces for artists to meet and work on their projects. For more information visit: edgeqld.org.au

12 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS

“Only recently some dolphins have been seen with gang hooks in the side of their mouths.”

Tangalooma Resort on Moreton Island. The Tangalooma dolphin-feeding program is strictly monitored to ensure the animals only receive 10 to 20 per cent of their daily food requirements and must still hunt to survive.

There is no monitoring of dolphin feeding off Amity Point, meaning that the already endangered Indo Pacific Humpbacks are being exposed to the dangers of overfeeding, being caught on fishing hooks, losing their instinct for survival in the wild and their ability to pass on these skills to their young.

Late last year a spokesperson for the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) told SIN, and Nicole Wilson, that Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) rangers were monitoring the situation at Amity and were developing signage.

“There have been no signs erected to date,” Nicole told SIN. “There has been constant feeding of the dolphins on a daily basis up to and since the article (SIN summer 2011-12),” she said “Some of these people were very aware of the article but still ignored the issue.”

Frustrated by lack of official action, some locals placed their own laminated signs around the jetty during the summer holidays, but these were pulled down within the week.

Several requests for comment, put to the DERM media department by SIN, did not receive a response.

— Kate Johnston AUTUMN 2012

NEWS

When biologist Dr Kathy Townsend sent out a press release to journalists in 2008 about one of her two major research projects, Project Manta, she hoped to get some media attention. hat she didn’t expect was to be invited to the Maldives to swim with her giant research subject, the Manta ray.

But the press release caught the attention of film producer Gisela Kauffman, who contacted Kathy with a proposal for a documentary.

“I originally thought she and her team would just accompany our team out into the field to film,” Kathy told SIN. “Needless to say I was very pleased when she asked me if I would be ‘willing’ to also visit some other manta hotspots around the world.”

The resulting documentary, Project Manta, screened recently on ABC1.

Filmed in Mexico, Micronesia, the Maldives, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and our very own Moreton Bay, the documentary, showed Mantas – which have the largest brain to body size of any living fish – engaged in synchronised swimming for the group hunting of plankton as well as balletic mating rituals.

W

AUTUMN 2012

It also showed Kathy and colleagues Lydie Couturier, Fabrice Jaine and Anthony Richardson, tagging and photographing Mantas, then working through hundreds of photographs to identify individuals. Unique markings on the underbelly of each Manta act as a fingerprint, helping the scientists to count population numbers and track their oceanic progress from one exotic location to another.

“Manta rays are the largest bodied planktivorous species feeding in the waters in the Great Barrier Reef,” Kathy told SIN, “making them highly susceptible to impacts caused by climate change.

They show an amazing intelligence yet there is currently very little information known about them.

“This is of some concern as they have just recently been listed as vulnerable to extinction by the ICUN red list for endangered species, and they are in danger from overfishing in the waters just north of Australia.”

© KAUFMANN PRODUCTIONS PTY LTD.

Shining a ray on the Manta Dr Kathy Townsend swimming with Manta rays in the Maldives.

Project Manta is one of two large research projects being led by Kathy from the Moreton Bay Research Station (MBRS) in Dunwich. The other is into the impact of marine debris on sea turtles.

Established in 2007, and set to continue for several more years, Project Manta has corporate support from partners EarthWatch, Manta Lodge and Scuba Centre, Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, Sibelco, Project Aware, Sea World Foundation, Kauffman Productions, SEQ Catchments, Redland City Council, David Hannan Productions and Australian Marine Conservation Society, and government support through the Australian Research Council. Anyone wanting to follow Project Manta can “like” its Facebook page.

Scuba divers can see groups of Manta rays in waters just off Straddie at the Bommie dive site, a cleaning station for rays and other large marine animals.

STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS 13

NOTICEBOARD

Stradbroke Island Marriage Celebrant Since 1995

Ingrid E De Heus CMC 07 3409 8352 / 0408 770 924

T

AUSTRALIA’S PREMIER INDIGENOUS ART FAIR

Mary J. Burns CMC JP

Come and see North Stradbroke Island’s Saltwater Murris Qandamooka Inc. at CIAF this year.

WWW.CIAF.COM.AU

07 3805 1292 / 0439 951 1348

stradbrokeis.marriagecelebrant@gmail.com

CAIRNS INDIGENOUS ART FAIR IS A MAJOR INITIATIVE OF THE QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT FUNDED BY ARTS QUEENSLAND’S BACKING INDIGENOUS ARTS PROGRAM.

BELINDA CLOSE Muddy Waters of the Stingray 2O12. Acrylic on canvas 4Ocm x 5Ocm. Photo: Martin Smith

THE GREEN ROOM Market fresh fruit and vegetables, gourmet foods, Sol’s sourdough breads, dips and snacks, organic and gluten free products.

DRIFT GALLERY A collection of island style handmade art, textiles, clothing, and jewellery sourced locally and from around the world

Mintee Street ph. 3409 8523 Point Lookout 14 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS

AUTUMN 2012

PHOTO: SAM CRAIG VISUAL MOMENTS

2

1. Rebecca Cranshaw and Sam Valcke were married underneath the pandanus palms on the Cylinder Headland.

PHOTO: SAM CRAIG VISUAL MOMENTS

1

3 2. Having enjoyed many romantic weekends on Straddie, Nicole Lynch and David Richardson decided to declare their love and lifelong commitment at Deadmans Reserve.

3. A splash in the surf was a long way from the British winter that Susanna Davison, Jason Regan and their two young sons left behind for their Christmas Eve wedding on North Stradbroke Island.

4

4. It was a love match for Annette Gillis and Daniel Rea, married by celebrant Mary Burns at the old tennis courts located next to the Gorge Walk.

POINT LOOKOUT SURF CLUB BAR 3821 0266 OPEN Sat 3pm Drinks on the deck

• • • • •

Venue Hire Weddings Meetings School camps Surf awareness programs

TRADING HOURS MAY VARY

AUTUMN 2012

PHOTO: SAM CRAIG VISUAL MOMENTS

Weddings

STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS 15

PHOTO: SAM CRAIG VISUAL MOMENTS

a Island

WILD ISLAND

FOREIGN FEATHERED FRIENDS By

Mary Barram

vice-president, Friends of Stradbroke Island

From early September, Amity Point, 18 Mile Swamp and other wetlands across Straddie and throughout Moreton Bay will provide a temporary refuge for thousands of weary immigrants.

M

igratory shorebirds, also known as waders, are a diverse group of birds commonly seen feeding in inter-tidal areas or on the fringes of freshwater wetlands. They generally have long legs, no webbing on their feet and do not swim. But they certainly can fly!

Travelling remarkable distances of up to 25,000 kilometres each year, flying through extreme weather and avoiding predators, the smallest of these birds have bodies no larger than a hen’s egg. They fly at speeds of more than 60 km/h, for three days and nights and for distances of up to 10,000 km, non-stop. They lose about 40 per cent of their bodyweight while flying.

Shorebirds make the journey in several weeks, stopping two or three times along the way. When they stop, they must “refuel”: feeding and resting to build up energy reserves. On these stopovers they may increase their body weight by more than 70 per cent before undertaking the next stage of their journey.

The birds navigate a chain of wetlands from the northern to southern hemispheres along what is known as the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. The beaches, mangroves, mudflats, seagrass beds and coastal wetlands of Stradbroke Island, Bribie Island and

16 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS

many other areas in Moreton Bay, are often the first Australian sites used by shorebirds on their southern journey and the last before they return north. Around 40,000 shorebirds migrate to Moreton Bay each year. On Straddie we are most likely to see bar-tailed godwit, tattlers, eastern curlew, and whimbrel.

Once they arrive the shorebirds devote themselves to eating and regaining weight in preparation for their return journey. During summer at low tide, regardless of day or night, the birds feed constantly – pecking and probing for worms, insects and crustaceans. On the high tide they congregate in roost sites nearby, where they can interact, preen, digest their food and rest, while waiting for the ebbing tide to again expose their feeding grounds.

Wader numbers on Straddie decrease dramatically during March and April, as the adults begin their epic journey back to the northern hemisphere breeding grounds.

Most of the migrants spend June and July on breeding grounds in the northern parts of Siberia, Alaska, China and Mongolia.

They breed in areas where melting snow brings masses of insects, providing a vital food source for self-feeding chicks. With the onset of the northern hemisphere winter, and the depletion of food sources, the breeding adults, followed shortly after by

WHERE TO SEE SHOREBIRDS ON STRADDIE For a good look at shorebirds, sit quietly at a distance and study them through binoculars or a spotting scope.

AMITY AND FLINDERS BEACH One of the best places to see migratory and resident shorebirds is on the Amity sandbanks at the north-western end of the village.

POINT LOOKOUT Shorebirds make use of beach lagoons on Cylinder and Home Beach. Bush stone curlews are fairly common and can be seen at dusk, on roadsides, and heard calling all over the township at night. The tracks of the elusive beach stone-curlew have been spotted on Deadmans and Frenchmans Beaches.

BRADLEYS BEACH, DUNWICH Near the One Mile Ferry jetty is always worth checking out.

18 MILE SWAMP Access to this significant, internationally recognised wetland, is closed off by the Sibelco sandmining company, which is mining nearby.

AUTUMN 2012

The rare beach stone curlew can sometimes be spotted at Amity Point and Frenchmans Beach, Point Lookout. This image of a beach stone curlew, by Heyn de Kock, was awarded third prize in the 2011 BirdLife Australia national Best Photo Competition.

LOOKING AFTER STRADDIE’S SHOREBIRDS

Double-banded plover can be found at Flinders Beach.

Every time shorebirds are forced to take flight, they burn vital energy needed for migration and breeding. Repeated disturbances, and disturbances just before or after migration, are particularly damaging to their wellbeing.

• Keep dogs and cats well away from shorebirds.

• Avoid driving or operating all vehicles, vessels and recreational devices near shorebirds. Use 4WDs only where and when permitted and drive close to the water’s edge to avoid crushing nests. Don’t drive on the beach at high tide or above the high-water mark, especially between September and March, the summer breeding season.

• If fishing from a sandbar, choose the opposite end to where birds are gathered.

• Report sightings of foxes and other feral animals to Redland City Council. The recent increase in Bush Stone Curlew around Point Lookout is probably due to the efforts of fox catcher Michael Dickinson, who has trappedmore than 70 foxes in the past few years.

• Don’t set up camp near a roosting site or stroll through a roost site at high tide. Keep your distance from shorebirds.

ALL PHOTOS: HEYN DE KOCK

their offspring, set off once more for the feeding grounds of Australia and other warm southern parts.

Each year, around 15 per cent of the migrating shorebirds that visit Moreton Bay in summer, stay here for the whole year. This includes most of the first year birds that are too young to breed, or adults that are too weak for the northern journey. From February to August these birds are joined by the only shorebird of Moreton Bay that undertakes an east-west migration – the doublebanded plover

from New Zealand, which can sometimes be seen at Flinders Beach and Amity. These temporary visitors share the beaches and wetlands with Straddie’s resident shorebirds and water birds, which can be seen all year round, including the pied oystercatcher, bush stone-curlew, lapwings, terns and red-capped plover and our resident waterbirds – AUTUMN 2012

the herons, egrets, ibis and spoonbills. The vulnerable beach stone-curlew can also be found on Straddie while another rare shorebird, the sooty oystercatcher is occasionally spotted on rocky beach outcrops on Frenchmans Beach.

To learn more about shorebirds or get involved in wader counting and monitoring visit: www.waders.org.au

This article references information from: Wild Guide to Moreton Bay and Adjacent Coasts 2nd Edn, South Brisbane, Queensland Museum, 2011; Shorebirds of Australia Collingwood by A Geering, L Agnew, S Harding, CSIRO publishing, 2007; Queensland Wader Study Group www.waders.org.au

BIG PICTURE PROTECTION FOSI members are very concerned that the threats to Straddie’s shorebirds be recognised and addressed. While 18 Mile Swamp has been included in the new national park, FOSI believes the integrity of the swamp is at risk from deep dredge mining at Enterprise mine next to the swamp, and the impact of the Yarraman mine near the northern Key Holes. Shorebirds, especially resident birds, face continual threat from vehicles on beaches, particularly when driven at high tide or above the high-water mark. Destruction of birds and nests by dogs, cats, foxes and rough human feet is another ongoing threat. The proposed development and release of extra land at Amity and Flinders Beach must be monitored closely to ensure that adequate buffer zones are put in place to protect bird habitats.

This is an edited version of an article first published in the FOSI newsletter.

Bar-tailed godwits are often spotted at Frenchmans and Home beaches, Point Lookout and at Amity.

STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS 17

NOTICEBOARD

FISHESATTHEPOINT.COM.AU FIS SHESATTTHEPOINTT..C COM.AU U

breakffast, Fishes Café and Restaurant is s open 8am – 8pm daily for breakfast, specials lunch and dinner with a speci als blackboard menu including local lo ocal fresh seafood. Licensed orr BYO wine. Bike hire. Free Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi. Catering also available. Located Loccated at the Gorge Walk Walk entrance. e. entrance Call (07 (07) 7) 3415 3444.

Friendly Service & Best Meat Guaranteed

PHONE 3409 9088 1 Stradbroke Place Dunwich QLD Open Mon-Fri till 5pm & Sat till 12noon Fax: 3409 9196

Stradbroke Island

BUTCHERY

18 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS

EFTPOS AND MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED

AUTUMN 2012

NEWS

Finding the words fter five years working with others in the community to record as many words of their native language as they could remember, Aunty Margaret Iselin and the Minjerribah Moorgumpin Elders-in-Council launched the Jandai Language Dictionary.

Aunty Margaret told the Bayside Bulletin she decided to develop the dictionary after finding that local schools were teaching Indigenous languages from other parts of Australia.

Working with Aunty Margaret were Lyn Shipway, Sandra Delaney, Richard Day, Marlene Kerr, Fay Mabb and linguist Colleen Hattersley. Ms Hattersley said the dictionary was compiled from historical documents as well as words remembered by members of today’s community.

The dictionary comes in two formats, a 126-page hardcover book and a CD that can be installed onto computers running Windows 2000 and above. The CD has sound files for some entries, providing a pronunciation guide for a number of words. As well as single words, the book gives some simple sentence structures based that can be followed to create new information in Language. Following is an excerpt of the

A

speech given by Aunty Margaret at the launch of the Jandai Language Dictionary.

“My early days were spent with two old grannies who decided to teach us the language when I was five years old.

There were about five or six of us depending on how many came to the lessons.

In the middle of 1935 the government sent out notices to the people to tell the grannies on Myora Mission that the language had to be stopped and by the time I started school at six, it was definitely stopped.

We were told that if we were caught speaking the language we would be sent away to the Barambah Mission (now known as Cherbourg).

This was something that we were very frightened of, because to be sent away at our young age would have been a catastrophe.

So the grannies would not teach us the language at the Myora Mission any more.

Instead, in the afternoons after school we would go for walks with the grannies through the bush where they taught us the bush tucker.

They told us about the different plants, the words for the different animals and the trees – but it was said very softly in the language so no one else would hear. Then, on returning to the mission we spoke only English.

Of course, I started to lose the language as I

Aunty Margaret Iselin tgrew older, but I still know words that come up.

I’m 80 now and I think this dictionary will give us the opportunity to recover our language, which was taught to us all those years ago by Granny Dungoo and Granny Parsons, two lovely people who gave me the schooling on the culture of this Island and I am ever so grateful for that.”

To order the dictionary call 3409 9723 or email mmeic@bigpond.com

Eugaries opened up he history of the eugarie – Plebidonax deltoides – is on display at the North Stradbroke Island Historical Museum in Welsby Street Dunwich.

The Quandamooka people have lived on North Stradbroke Island for many thousands of years and part of their story was documented in the ancient shell middens once dotted across the Island. The many middens on the ocean beach indicated the extent of the eugarie – or pippi – in the diet of the Quandamooka people, though this history was destroyed when sand mining dredges mined the beach.

Today, many other nationalities seek eugarie to eat or to use as bait for their fishing lines. The decorative shell is used in many ways and the name even shows up as the name of a local band, the Pippi Lips. According to experts at the museum, eugarie is the Stradbroke Island word for the bivalve, while pippi is a New Zealand word.

Because of the popularity of eugaries for food and bait, the Department of Fisheries has imposed a bag limit of 50 eugaries to ensure the survival of the species.

The Eugaries display will be at the museum until early May. After that an exhibition called The Whale Story will feature information and photos about a dead humpback whale that washed up on Main Beach at Point Lookout late last year.

PHOTO: THANKS NSIHM.

T

Mining destroyed ancient Aboriginal shell middens, once dotted along Main Beach.

AUTUMN 2012

STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS 19

NOTICE BOARD

Chris

Semple

Stradbroke Island

BLINDS & AWNINGS Your local supplier of all types of Venetians, verticals, roller blinds aluminium and fabric awnings Showroom at 7 Ballow Road Dunwich (beside Dolphin Real Estate) PHONE DAVID THORBURN

3415 3206 0400 341 532

www.islandweddings.net.au davidroy0204@yahoo.com

20 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS

AUTUMN 2012

HISTORY

THE FALL OF THE HALL By

Ellie durbidge

The sheltering

S

PHOTO: WENDY GOEBEL, FROM THE NSIHM COLLECTION.

ometimes history is based on poor furniture. The Masonic Lodge constructed campers rushed and incorrect media reporting. The an annex at the end of the hall. Some time out of the front North Stradbroke Island Historilater when the Lodge erected its own buildcal Museum is committed to ing across the road, the vacated space was door as the building telling the story of how a small allocated to the North Stradbroke Island Hisbroke in two. island community fought torical Museum. It was to procure a public the first museum meethall. In all, there have ing place and the first been three public halls at area used to house the Point Lookout. museum’s modest collecThe story began with the tion. In 1988, the Earl of purchase of Sorrensen’s Stradbroke opened the modest Point Lookout museum and granted weekender back around the use of the Strad1960. The then Redland broke crest. Council Shire Clerk, Ernie Ellis, provided a community who often spent weekends library. Due mainly at Point Lookout, secured to Noreen’s untiring council support for the efforts, the hall became project. a focal point for regular Sorrensen’s house was markets. The hall prodismantled and re-erected vided a venue to showon a site overlooking North case local arts and crafts Gorge. The community and a means of raising undertook all kinds of funds for local groups. fundraising activities, from At the markets, Wendy raffles and square dancing Goebel provided mornto card playing evenings. ing teas and her husBelow the hall, in the band, Len, organised gorge, was a spring that was the odds-and-ends stall stone pitched and a small for many years to raise pump was secured to pump funds for the museum. water up to the hall. A The present hall, diesel motor provided light number three, was built for functions. Dance music on the same site when was provided by Pearl council undertook to Waller from Headlands provide a new hall. The Sheltering campers were lucky to escape unscathed when the Point Lookout hall Chalet while Norm old structure was disbroke in two and was flushed down North Gorge, during a 1974 cyclone.

Rahnsleben played drums. mantled except for When the main road was several brick walls that tion, along with the piano, hall furniture and constructed, the run-off was directed under formed the basis of the new structure. A the Buffalo Lodge regalia were flushed down the hall. On the Australia Day weekend in number of problems were faced and overNorth Gorge. Next day, the lifesavers used 1974, many campers erected their tents on come. Eventually, the $1 million, modern, the club’s belt and line reel to haul the piano the grassy areas around the hall, commonly user-friendly hall emerged. On Sunday, Febout of the gorge. known as the camping ground. Rain set in ruary 12, 2012, Evelyn Delaney delivered the Subsequently, a second public hall was and later a cyclone hit Point Lookout. The Quandamooka welcome to land, Redland built, when council chose a new site at Adder campers took shelter in the hall and around Mayor Melva Hobson and Councillor Craig Rock. Jim Eugarde’s personal effort and midnight a rush of water from the road unOgilvie jointly cut the ribbon and officially drive to erect a new hall has to be dermined the hall’s foundations. The shelopened the hall. acknowledged and Noreen McKinnon for tering campers rushed out of the front door This article first appeared in the North handling hall bookings. Various community as the building broke in two. The rear secStradbroke Island Historical Museum newsletter. groups donated a stove and other

AUTUMN 2012

STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS 21

NOTICEBOARD TRAWLER FRESH SEAFOOD Mintee Street, Point Lookout Wed to Sat 10am - 4pm & Sun 10am 3pm

YOUR PROPERTY HERE?

Tel: 3415 3436 Local, Fresh Prawns, Bugs, Fish, Oysters, Scallops & more

Mal Starkey’s

SEAFOOD

HOUSE Ph 3409 8353 Mob 0409 618 353 PROVIDING STRADDIE’S FINEST SEAFOOD

DiscoverStradbroke.com.au

Featured Property: Kinka@Karboora

Discover Straddie’s premium holiday rentals. Select from over 50 prestige holiday properties with views, proximity to the beach and pet friendly options.

FOR OVER 20 YEARS Straddie’s local fisher for quality seafood Cnr Tramican & Donahue Sts, Point Lookout

BOOK NOW at DiscoverStradbroke.com.au or Phone 07 3415 3949.

THE ACCOMMODATION CENTRE AND REAL ESTATE SALES Ray White North Stradbroke Island is the largest and longest established Real Estate Office servicing the entire Island. Residential and commercial sales, leasing, project marketing and investment portfolio management are our areas of expertise.

If you are considering renting your valuable holiday property at Point Lookout please consider our professional management team who would be happy to provide you with a Management Package for your consideration along with advice on how to set your property up for rental, rental rates and recommended inventory items.

4 Meegera Place Point Lookout PH 3409 8255 straddie.qld@raywhite.com www.visitstradbroke.com.au Rae Green 0417 797 885 Alan Carter 0409 873 757 22 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS

AUTUMN 2012

NOTICEBOARD

Straddie Golf Club ENJOY A FAMILY DAY OUT!

Noreen’s Seaside Shop ANCHORAGE BEACH FRONT RESORT, POINT LOOKOUT

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

• 9 hole /18 tee grass course • All equipment hire • Scenic view over Moreton Bay to Glass House Mountains • Open 7 days • Full bar, snacks, coffee • 9 hole putt putt Between Brown Lake and Blue Lake at Dunwich Phone 07 3409 9999 • straddiegolfclub@aanet.com.au www.northstradbrokeislandgolfclub.com.au

UNIQUE CYLINDER BEACH OPPORTUNITY Ocean views, beautiful north-facing land and original shack overlooking Cylinder Beach.

Tel: 07 3409 7224 rufuskingseafoods@bigpond.com 44 Sovereign Road, Amity Point, North Stradbroke Island, Qld, 4183

Owners keen to sell half-share in the large dress-circle building block, to build second holiday home.

Proprietors: Eddie & Steph Walker Open 7 days Trawler Fresh Prawns, Oysters, Crabs, Whole Fish, Fillets Large range of frozen seafood

More info call 0412 189977

Only a sur fer

kno

ws

ing feel e th

NOR TH STRADBROKE ISLAND

Historical Museum P R E S E RV I N G O U R H I S T O RY

Radio National 2009 Regional Museums Award John Oxley Library Community History Award 2010

鵹鵺 Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am - 2pm • Sunday 11am - 3pm 15-17 Welsby Street, Dunwich • Phone 3409 9699 www.stradbrokemuseum.com.au

AUTUMN 2012

STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS 23

EVENTS

Short on film, long on inspiration The second Straddie Shorts film festival will take place in November this year, with the theme “Out of the Blue”.

The inaugural festival screened under the stars on the front lawn of the North Stradbroke Island Historical Museum in Dunwich last year, and was warmly greeted by lovers of both films and Straddie.

Organiser Vicki Kelleher says that all entries must be a maximum of three minutes in length and can been documentary, fiction, animation or “a mash up of all three”.

Films, provided in DVD or USB format, can be submitted to the museum in Dunwich or the Green Room on Mintee Street, Point Lookout.

Vicki told SIN her inspiration for creating the festival was to tap into the Island’s rich heritage of filmmaking.

“Minjeribah/North Stradbroke Island has a rich cultural heritage in film, with local filmmakers producing underwater odysseys, environmental documentaries, animated film and feature length movies, and poetic invocations of the Island,” she said.

Come in June to grab a taste of Straddie

I

t’s always a tasty morsel but, from June 23rd to June 30th, Stradbroke Island is set to demonstrate just how delicious it really is. The Island is going all out to showcase its delights, and they are many and magnificent.

The initiative came from the Redland City Council Tourism Development Unit, who invited the Straddie Chamber of Commerce on board and, from there, the concept has simply taken flight.

The idea is for something to happen everywhere: all the Island’s communities are invited to showcase just what they have to offer.

A Taste of Straddie will kick off with a Dinner Dance at the Little Ship Club on Saturday, June 23rd, and culminate in a Beach Party on Home Beach on Saturday, June 30th. The Beach Party will feature what is, of course, our best asset: our glorious beaches. The event is hoping to attract sporting celebrities to take part in beach cricket and football, there’ll be music, and Stradbroke businesses will offer a variety of food for sale.

Tour operators will be offering tours all week, but on the final Saturday, they will run short tours continuously.

And everybody loves a wedding, don’t they? On Wednesday 27th June, everyone’s

24 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS

invited to one. OK, so it’s pretend, but it’s just as much fun. Stradbroke Events Management will set everything up for a beach wedding, Marriage Celebrant Mary Burns will perform the ceremony and, for a small charge, La Foccacia Restaurant will provide drinks and hors d’oeuvres around the Anchorage On Straddie pool. Fashions for the occasion will be from Noreen’s Seaside Shop.

If you want to know more about how you can be involved in the exciting events in every Island community, details are on the Chamber of Commerce website: www.straddiechamber.org, and more details on the programme will be on the visitor website www.stradbrokeisland.com nearer the date.

– Margaret Shields

AUTUMN 2012

EVENTS

Time to smile

BY EMMA SIMMS OF YOUTHLINK

‘There’s been more rain this year and the country is going strong’ – Time to Smile, Xavier Rudd. ast year Queenslanders faced one of the biggest natural disasters of recent history, with three-quarters of the state declared a natural disaster zone in January. It is times like these that really bring nations and communities together.

Youthlink is a not-for-profit organisation that works to bring the local Straddie community together by creating a diverse range of events and opportunities for the youth of North Stradbroke Island.

Last year,Youthlink won the Redland City

L

Council Community Organisation of the Year award, recognising the exceptional work that our volunteers have done over the years to provide creative, healthy, active experiences for the young people of the Island.

Time to Smile is the theme for Youthlink’s 2012 calendar of events. As a result of successful grant applications, Youthlink will this year be sponsored by the Port of Brisbane, Redland City Council, SIBELCO and National Youth Week. Without sponsorship, donations and community fundraising, the youth of Stradbroke Island would not have the opportunity to develop new skills, build their self esteem and forge friendships while having fun at Youthlink events.

2012 Projects will include the annual Skatebiz skating competition on April 14,

with spray-painting workshops facilitated by two local artists. The week long Whale Welcoming and Sand Art festival will return in the last week of the winter school holidays.

Discos, a theme park excursion, band mentoring and photography workshops are also on this year’s calendar of events.

Youthlink are also proud to support dance and drama lessons in Dunwich as well as the local soccer team.

All Island youth are encouraged to take part in any or all of Youthlinks activities.

Let’s continue to inspire our youth to be educated and proud individuals who willingly engage in their local community.

For more information on up and coming events keep an eye out for posters or visit (and like) our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/nsi.youthlink

Half Island now national park ifty per cent of North Stradbroke Island has been declared national park by the Bligh Government.

The declaration has placed more than 13,000 hectares under national park protection. The Naree Budjong Djara (My Mother Earth) National Park is jointly managed by the State Government and the Quandamooka People, the first such joint management agreement to be made outside of Cape York Peninsula.

Environment Minister Vicky Darling said part of the new park had been given a special category while it recovered from mining, with public access to the area restricted during rehabilitation.

The national park announcement followed the transfer of deeds to 13,875 hectares of land

F

AUTUMN 2012

on North Stradbroke and Peel Islands to the Quandamooka YoolooburrabeeAboriginal Corporation.

“Traditional Owners and Department of Environment and Resource Management officers are working together to develop visitor management policies, and operational procedures for the day-to-day management of the parks, including pest animal and plant control, fire management, permits, presentation and facilities,” Ms Darling said.

The Bligh Government committed to employing 12 rangers to manage the park, six of them to be from the Indigenous community.

Map of North Stradbroke Island showing areas now under the protection of the Naree Budjong Djara National Park.

STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS 25

NOTICEBOARD

Redland Open Space Strategy Consultation

Walkability checklist registration Redland City Council is asking residents to go for a walk or cycle around their neighbourhood as part of Council’s community engagement activities for the draft Redland Open Space Strategy.

Registration details

The draft Redland Open Space Strategy, will form the ‘blueprint’ for parks and open space management and development over the next 14 years.

details to rcc@redland.qld.gov.au with

You can complete a supplied walkability checklist to ensure your local area is truly walkable and has adequate recreation facilities. We will also supply a map of your neighbourhood.

www.redland.qld.gov.au

View the strategy, and register online to receive the walkability checklist package, at Council’s website www.redland.qld.gov.au then > Have your Say. You can also register by e-mailing your the subject heading ‘Open Space Strategy Registration’, or by phoning 3829 8707.

Keep as eye open for future engagement activities in Council’s Redland Snapshot column in the Bayside Bulletin or our website.

8034 03/12 SIN

Stradbroke

Auto Repairs Blair Howe

&

3409 9336

PO Box 39 Dunwich QLD 4183 • Full Service and Tuning • Engine Reconditioning • Brakes and Clutches • Suspension and Front End Repairs • Roadworthy/Inspection Certificates

26 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS

• Manual and Automatic Transmission Repairs • Tyre Repairs • Breakdown Calls • Free Quotes

AUTUMN 2012

OPINION

“Lateral violence … is created by experiences of powerlessness and oppression. It plays out in our families and communities through behaviours such as gossiping, jealousy, bullying, shaming, social exclusion, family feuding, organisational conflict and physical violence.”

“Lateral violence occurs because we are living within a society that is not designed for our way of doing things.”

— Mick Gooda, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission. Mr Gooda is a descendent of the Gangulu people of central Queensland.

Quandamooka’s success in soothing lateral violence he Quandamooka native title determination process has been hailed as a positive example to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities wanting to address “lateral violence”.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner with the Australian Human Rights Commission, Mick Gooda, says lateral violence takes the form of gossiping, jealousy, bullying, shaming, social exclusion, family feuding, organisational conflict and physical violence – and is preventing Indigenous communities from closing the gap between themselves and the broader Australian community.

“We need to close the gap,” he said “… but we cannot do this if we continue to harm each other with lateral violence.”

In a community guide to his 2011 Social Justice and Native Title Reports, Mr Gooda says that the risk of ignoring lateral violence is too great. He says lateral violence, also known as horizontal or intra-racial violence, has its roots in colonisation, brought about by the powerlessness, diminishing traditional roles and attacks on culture and humanity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, that came with European settlement.

“This behaviour is often the result of

T

AUTUMN 2012

disadvantage, discrimination and oppression,” he says.

“Although lateral violence has its roots in our history, it thrives today because power imbalances, control by others, identity conflict, negative stereotypes and trauma continue to feed it.

“Lateral violence is also linked to negative stereotypes that create low self-esteem. This in turn reinforces the feelings of powerlessness that engender lateral violence. If we feel badly about ourselves, if we believe the negative stereotypes and accept a victim mentality, then we are more likely to lash out in lateral violence.”

Mr Gooda is urging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to start a conversation about lateral violence in their own community and in his guide cites the Quandamooka Peoples claim for native title over their lands and waters, as an example of a community successfully dealing with lateral violence.

Although the 4 July 2011 native title determination marked the first native title determination in southern Queensland, the case study in the Community Guide said: “This positive outcome did not reflect the long and at times, difficult process that was experienced by the native title claim group.”

It went on to say that “Native title meetings

provided another forum for old fights about [sand] mining to take on a renewed energy.”

“Although native title can generate positive outcomes for our communities, these outcomes often do not occur because lateral violence fragments our communities as we navigate the native title system,” Mr Gooda said.

He said the Quandamooka people dealt with lateral violence by developing a clear and transparent decision-making process.

“The Quandamooka Peoples have ensured that this inclusive structure of decisionmaking continues beyond the native title determination process, by establishing the Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation to manage their native title rights,” he said.

Mr Gooda says that while governments have played a role in creating environments that breed lateral violence, they should not intervene to fix “internal relationships, within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

“Unfortunately, governments continue to see Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander disadvantage from a deficit-based approach – addressing the ‘Indigenous problem’,” he said. “Governments need to move to seeing us as capable and resilient, and work in an empowering way to prevent the conditions that can lead to lateral violence.”

STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS 27

NOTICEBOARD

NEW PRODUCT LINES . Dog leads and collars . Flea, tick and worm treatments for dogs and cats . Dog beds and replacement mats

OPEN 7 DAYS 18 Bingle Road Dunwich PHONE – FAX

3409 9252

Lee’s Liquid Waste Services EPA Licensed EST. 1984

Lic. No. 50044 Established since 1991 on North Stradbroke Island

27/7 Professional Service

Clean again.

Specialists in Domestic, Commercial and Industrial Installations, Maintenance TV Systems, Lighting, Power, Safety switches, Hot Water systems, Stoves etc.

Bill Rhodes 0407 965 699 rholec@bigpond.net.au Dan Rhodes 0409 270 036 rhodeselectrical@hotmail.com Ph. 3415 3083 Fax 3415 3098 PO. Box 186 Point Lookout 4183 For your Local Electrician and Member of the ECA Call Bill or Dan

SEPTIC TANKS SHIPS’ BILGE HOLDING TANKS RECYCLED WATER OILY WATER DELIVERIES TREATMENT PLANTS GREASE TRAPS PORTALOOS • Free quotes and advice • Family owned and operated • • All suburbs inc. Stradbroke and Bay Islands • • Commercial and domestic • www.liquidwaste.com.au • lees@liquidwaste.com.au

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

28 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS

AUTUMN 2012

STRADBROKE WILDLIFE RESCUE 0407 766 052 – 24 HOURS A DAY

Sign of safer times for wildlife?

BY JACK JACKSON

C

laytons Road leading into the township of Amity Point is a black spot for car strikes of wallabies and koalas. As most of our rescue team live in Amity, this road has been a source of anguish and frustration to them.

The road runs straight through a highdensity population of koalas who must cross the road to reach their territory.

Despite this, the speed limit on the road is 80 km/hr. This is in comparison to the speed limit for the road leading out of Dunwich, and a significant part of the Island’s remaining road system, which is 70km/hr.

For some time members of the wildlife rescue team have been lobbying Redland City Council (RCC) to reduce the speed limit on Claytons Road.

Now, thanks to the efforts of Greg Grimmet, of our rescue team, along with Lisa Bailey and Jenny Davis of RCC’s Indigiscapes Environmental Education Centre on the mainland, monitoring equipment in the form of rubber strips placed at intervals along Claytons Road have been installed to collect data on the road’s usage.

Yellow reflective signs reading “Wildlife.

Slow Down” have also been installed, although these have been placed very close to the 80km/hr speed limit sign, which

seems to be a contradiction, as 80 km/hr is too fast for the safety of wildlife.

Further to this, temporary LED signs were placed close to the road monitoring

strips, to add to the data being collected. It is now up the council to take this data and, hopefully, make some changes for the safety of our wildlife.

PROPERTY

ISLAND PROPERTY

By Rae Green

I

n my opinion the real estate market on Straddie has started to improve.

My colleagues and I base this on the volume of enquiries received through our office during summer, and the number of genuine buyers looking at properties.

However it is very much a buyer’s market and prospective buyers are looking to buy at the “right price”; that is the nature of the market at present. Prospective buyers are taking their time about making decisions and are specific about where they wish to buy within each township.

Any vendor who has had their property on the market for a lengthy period of time, and is serious about selling, needs to look at

AUTUMN 2012

their asking price as the present market conditions are likely to be with us for a considerable time. If you wish to sell, and are prepared to list at the right price, there are buyers out there. Where else do you find a paradise like Straddie on the doorstep of a major city?

Because of the ongoing wet conditions island homes, whether rentals, for sale or just your own family weekender, need to be checked carefully for maintenance issues.

There have been many leaks discovered in properties that have never leaked before. We are also finding timber decks, paths and paved or cement walkways that are in desperate need of being cleaned with a high-pressure hose. This is not a difficult

job but can be time consuming – though the end result is extraordinary and may save you or your family from a distressing fall. Island gardens are also in need of TLC. After the wet summer, everything is growing rapidly and unless you are vigilant trees and shrubs will overhang or touch properties, allowing ants and other vermin easy access to your property.

Rae Green is principal of Ray White Stradbroke Island and has been selling real estate on Straddie for more than 20 years. Queries about real estate or property management can be sent to her care of the Point Lookout post office or by visiting www.raywhitestraddie.com

STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS 29

SURFING BY MURRAY TAYLOR

Fourteen-year-old Ethan Ewing held his own in the under-21s division of the Volcom Kirra Teams Challenge off Duranbah on the Gold Coast.

PHOTO: CRAIG / SURFIN SNAPPS

Lincoln Taylor kicked off the year well, getting to the quarter-finals in the Burleigh Breaka World Qualifying Series event on the Gold Coast.

PHOTO: CRAIG / SURFIN SNAPPS

hile summer 2011/12 won’t go down as an all time surf season at Point Lookout, on the competition front there was plenty happening.

Ethan Ewing has been charging in the juniors, winning the Rip Curl Junior Challenge at Cabarita in northern NSW late last year. Ethan also won himself a new J.S. surfboard in the expression session of the Oakley Pro Junior, held on Straddie in February, for being the highest scoring local junior in the session.

Tim MacDonald was the highest placed local in the Oakley

W

30 STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS

event, placing 17 in a truly international event. Tim then went to Manly in Sydney to compete in the Australian Open Pro Junior where he finished second behind Matt Banting. Tim surfed exceptionally well throughout the event and was only beaten in the final by the narrowest of margins. He earned himself his first exposure on Fox Sports’ Fuel TV, which televised the finals live, as well as some great points and $$$.

The Point Lookout Boardriders Club competed in the Kirra Teams Event in February, finishing 14 out of 31 teams from

across Australia. The members of the Point Lookout team were Chris Semple, Luke Surawski, Ashley MacDonald, Curtis Ewing, Bede Durbidge, Logan Specht, and juniors Ethan and Nathan Specht. Heat winners for the club were Bede, Curtis and Ethan. It was a great effort from the team, especially Ethan as he competed in an under-21 division and is only 14 this year.

In the WQS (World Qualifying Series) Lincoln Taylor had a reasonable start to the year with a quarter final result in the Burleigh Breaka 4-star WQS, held on the Gold Coast. Bede

Durbidge entered the event, using it as a warm up to the Quiksilver Pro at Snapper, finished fourth.

Lincoln surfed in the trials for the Quiksilver Pro the day before the main event started at Snapper. He surfed strongly despite the wave-starved conditions. His powerful backhand attack suited the wave and he was unlucky to be eliminated in the quarter final by 0.05 of a point in the last minute of the heat.

Bede surfed very well in the Quiksilver Pro and was extremely unlucky to be eliminated in round three. I thought Bede surfed with “commitment, power, flow and innovation”, all components of the judging criteria but for some reason the judges did not reward his surfing. I might be a bit one-eyed for the Straddie boys, but I am sure that there are a lot of people who watched the event that would agree with me. Bring on Bells Beach and the RIP Curl Pro. The only swell worth remembering this summer arrived Christmas Eve, peaked Christmas Day and Boxing Day, slowly losing intensity as the New Year approached. Main Beach had some good banks and moderate swells early in 2012, when we finally got some northerlies. The banks at Cylinder changed dramatically with the Christmas swell moving truck loads of sand to Adder Rock, which was breaking about 400m out to sea.

AUTUMN 2012

FISHY TALES BY JIM CAMPBELL

Woulda, shoulda, coulda

T

he Amity Point Fishing Club kicked off the 2012 season in perfect weather conditions.

Thirty-six anglers took part in the first comp and between them weighed in some good quality catches.

The weekend’s most notable catch was by six-year-old Sasha Stienke who, under the watchful eye of her dad Jamie, landed a 71cm flathead weighing in at 2.465kg. This was Sasha’s first outing with the club. Sasha attends our local school and loves swimming and fishing. Bernie Mascord finished top of the male section with Arienne Hedley and Ben Armstrong dominating the female and junior sections, respectively.

Other good catches were recorded by: Rod Williams 620g dart; Stewart O’Brien 7kg mackerel; and Ben Armstrong 0.430g whiting. The Amity Point Fishing Club has 10 competition weekends every year. There are prizes for mystery fish, mystery weight and raffles. Watto’s sausage sizzle is not to be missed and gives everyone a chance to sit around and talk about the “woulda, shoulda, coulda” ones that did and didn’t get away. Anyone interested in joining the club must be a financial member of the Amity Point Community Club. The club is focused on encouraging juniors to come along and join in; an adult who also is a financial member must accompany them. The fees for the year are payable on July 1 and are $5.50 per adult, with juniors free. For more info call Watto 3409 9075 or Connie 3409 7115.

MACKEREL SEASON Mackerel season was in full swing as SIN went to print. In the past, keeping a big mackerel fresh and cool has been a problem. To house a big fish in an esky is a task and a half because of the room it takes up in the boat. A lot of anglers had their own fish cooler bags especially made for the purpose.

Now Wilson & Co has introduced a range of cooler bags to meet this need. There is an

Six-year-old Sasha Stienke landed a 71cm flathead weighing in at 2.465kg. inner pouch that can be packed with ice to keep the contents cold, but not sitting in water. They range in size from one that would comfortably fit a large mackerel to the types that are made to fit a kayak. Made from tough UV protected PVC nylon, these bags open flat for easy cleaning.

FISHING AT AMITY Visitors might like to try around the rock groyne wall south of the Amity Point jetty for a feed of bream. It’s a safe place to fish with the kids and toilets and swings are close at hand. Dwayne and Kylie’s shop is only a short distance to pick up an ice cream and a bait top up.

BREAM AT THE PIN In the lead up to the Easter holidays bream were turning up early at the Pin and good catches of flathead and dart were being had from around Flinders Beach and Amity Point. Dunwich is always good for trevally, bream, moses perch and cod. Pippies are still a little scarce along Main Beach. The

STRADBROKE

Enviropest Services 07 3415 2522

P/L

11A Illawong Crescent, Dunwich 4138 • 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)

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

AUTUMN 2012

population has not recovered since the last cyclonic event a few years ago. The best way to preserve pippies is by removing the shell and placing the muscle in an airtight container with coarse salt. Coarse salt can be purchased from Les and Michelle at Stradbroke Is Butchery in Dunwich. There is a 50 pippies bag limit.

LOOKING AHEAD TO WINTER The winter fishing season could be the best we’ve had for a while because of the good rainfall over summer. The mullet have started to move down south and this is a good indicator.

Please take it easy on our roads and beaches. Slow down and turn the headlights on while driving on the beach. Prevailing winds can make it difficult to hear an approaching vehicle but headlights can be seen for a few kilometres, giving children, and adults, ample warning of an approaching 4WD. Remember that our beaches are recreational areas not major highways.

BAY ISLAND VALUATIONS Paul W Mergler AAPI AssocDipBus (Real Property Valuation) Certified Practising Valuer Professional property reporting through service, quality and advice.

Phone 3409 8855 Fax 3415 3060 Mobile 0417 786 708 pmergler@bigpond.com www.bayislandvaluations.com

PO Box 300 Point Lookout North Stradbroke Island QLD 4183

STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS 31

Linc rides wave of success

S

TRADDIE surfer Lincoln Taylor has been chosen as one of 22 of Australia’s leading junior surfers to receive an inaugural Surfing Australia High Performance Scholarship.

The federally-funded program aims to nurture young surfers by offering them at-event support, strength and conditioning preparation, video analysis and remote monitoring through an online application called Kinetic Athlete.

“The scholarship program is part of our ongoing strategy of expanding our High Performance athlete pathway so that our junior surfers have every opportunity of one day making the World Tour,” CEO of Surfing Australia, Andrew Stark, said in a statement.

“Once our new state of the art, surf specific training facility, the Hurley Surfing Australia High Performance Centre, is finished construction in June at Casuarina, these athletes will

not only have the expertise of our experienced staff at their disposal but a brand new world class facility to use as their base.

“It will take two or three years before we see the lasting effects of this program but we are hopeful that from this crop of exciting young surfers we will eventually see the next Mick Fanning or Stephanie Gilmore emerge,” Stark said.

Twelve of the scholarships were awarded to male surfers and 10 to females. Of the recipients, 12 were from New South Wales, five from Queensland, two from South Australia, two from Victoria and one from Western Australia.

Lincoln learned to surf on Straddie waves, taught by his dad Murray, who runs the North Stradbroke Island Surf School, teaches at the local high school campus and writes a column for SIN. You can read more about Lincoln over the page and book your own lesson with Murray by checking out his ad on page 23.

Lincoln Taylor makes the most of short-lived summer swell off Cylinder Beach on Christmas Day. PHOTO: MURRAY TYALOR

Building community through art Quandamooka Salt Water Murris artist Belinda Close has designed an artwork with a message for visitors to Brown Lake – show some respect.

Belinda was inspired to create the work, about the human impact on Brown Lake for the 2012 LINES in the SAND Contemporary Arts Festival.

She says her painting contains a strong message to people who visit Brown Lake and bring “… their dogs, rubbish, soap, footprints through the bush etc. to show some respect for this beautiful ancient sacred Women’s Lake.”

Organisers of the LINES in the SAND festival say the event promotes North Stradbroke Island as a significant nature and arts-based destination, while providing short-term local employment. It brings visitors to the Island during quieter months and generates income for the Island’s small businesses, while exposing the work of local artists to a new and expanding audience.

LINES in the SAND 2012 is scheduled for June 27 to 30 and will feature artist residencies, outdoor ephemeral art installations around the Gorge Walk and headland, new media projection and performance, nature-based art workshops, an arts and environment forum and other spontaneous happenings.

For more information visit www.linesinthesand.com.au Brown Lake deserves respect. An artwork by Belinda Close.

STRADDIE ISLAND NEWS — AUTUMN 2012