Dirk Hartog Island clean-up

Withnell Point - home sweet home!

Thank you to an awesome team 21 to 25 September 2015

Standing from left to right - Doug, Kieran, Crash, Geoff, Roger, Steve, Malcolm, Malcolm, Trish, Tony, Angela, Mark. Sitting from left to right - Gus, Natalie, Rhian, Susan, Bruce, Judith, Keith. Thanks for the photo Tony.

Day 1A long day for those coming from Denham, and a productive one for those waiting at Withnell Point.

The Denham team were supposed to leave for DHI at 10am but the skipper delayed departure to catch the lull in the wind expected around midday. Consequently arrival at Withnell Point was closer to dinner than when expected at lunch time. But the waiting 4WD crew had not been idle - gazebos were erected, bbq cleaned and another fixed. In fact, if something looked like it needed some TLC, it got it!

Volunteers Rhian, Doug, Crash, Natalie and Geoff; with Parks and Wildlife staff Steve, Roger, Kieran and Susan were the late arrivals. Waiting at Withnell were all the 4WDers - Angela (our sensational cook), Mark (cook’s assistant), Trish, Malcolm, Tony, Keith, Gus, Malcolm, Bruce, Judith, Rick and Bon.

Crash, Geoff, Natalie and Rhian ponder what lies ahead as they watch Denham disappear.

Angela served up delicious meals every night and, between her and Mark, we were all very well looked after. Thank you very much Angela and Mark!

Turtle Bay - looking towards Cape Inscription.

Day 2All teams went to Sandy Point From there Trish and Malcolm proceeded to Charlies Harbour and Quoin Head with Steve and Susan. The team at Sandy Point comprised everyone else – Roger and Kieran with Rhian, Doug, Crash, Natalie, Tony, Keith, Gus, Malcolm, Mark, Bruce, Judith, Rick and Bon. Not quite everyone – our cook, Angela, was back at camp.

Roger’s team found a couple of rubbish tips at Sandy Point so, even though the bigger pieces were left for later collection, they ended up with quite a lot of rubbish. Although unexpected, it wasn’t surprising as this was the site of a shearing shed so a lot of old pastoral rubbish ended up dumped at Sandy Point. Some of the team disturbed a python during their work there.

At Sandy Point everyone scattered, uncovering all sorts of old rubbish. By the end of the day this included a couple of old rubbish tips. This is one of those places there will always to be more work to come back and do.

Mark, Roger and Crash in the background collecting rubbish while Bruce finishes bagging at the trailer.

Unfortunately this was Rick’s first and last day on the job. Hope you’ve made a speedy recovery Rick.

Mark at the trailer with Bruce, Geoff and Crash in the background.

Malcolm and Steve stop to adjust a sign on the way to Quoin Head.

Quoin Head and Charlies Harbour were stunning. Charlies Harbour was clean because people don’t camp there but Quoin Head was another story. It didn’t look too bad at first glance – just a double firepit with rubbish - but once digging the firepit began, it went deeper and took longer than expected. There was also a fair bit of rubbish scattered around the place once we started looking, which is fairly typical during a clean-up.

Quoin Head before Quoin Head after - “What fire pit?”

Steve shovels the contents of the firepit, including a lot of broken glass, into the bag held by Malcolm.

Finishing touches at Quoin Head - Malcolm, Susan and Steve pull together as a team to remove the last boulder.

Steve and Malcolm remove the boulders so it won’t be easy for future campers to construct a fireplace.

Trish and Malcom decided to collect the polypipe along the track on the way back to Sandy Point while Steve and Susan continued on to Sandy Point to top up the trailer and take a load of rubbish to Herald Bay. At the same time, Roger and his team were taking their second rubbish load from Sandy Point to Herald Bay.

It was a long, hot day to be working inland. We returned to camp after 5pm and the day took its toll on Rick, who had a back injury before beginning. Bon’s best efforts to stop Rick from overdoing it didn’t work - he was out of action.

Meanwhile, Angela had cooked us a delicious three-course meal beginning with pea soup and followed by steack and veggie rolls, although the rolls weren’t there for some reason so they became sandwiches instead. The veggies were delicious.

Kieran carting a drum to the drum pile. Untying the ropes in preparation for unloading - Natalie, Geoff (almost hidden), Crash, Roger, Mark and Kieran.

Above: Unloading the rubbish from two trailers and a ute - Steve, Mark, Kieran, Natalie, Roger, Rhian and Doug. Below: Rubbish pile at the end of the first day of collection.

Happy faces at the end of the day - Tony, Natalie, Geoff and Keith.

Roger and Steve winding down.

Day 3On our third day we achieved what we set out to while enjoying ourselves. We started early so we could finish early on what was expected to be a hot day. Being on the northern cliffs, we had ocean views and breezes and were able to appreciate the show put on by whales all day.

Rick and Bon started making arrangements to leave the island before the rest of us left in the morning. Mark stayed behind to help them pack before he and Angela caught up with us at Cape Inscription.

All except Trish and Malcom headed north, travelling to Cape Inscription via Turtle Bay to enjoy the views and stopping twice along the track to do just that. Trish and Malcom wanted to go back and finish the polypipe job they’d started the day before.

We had our morning briefing at our second view stop, Turtle Bay lookout, from where Steve and Roger took the ute to The Block and Mystery Beach before continuing south along a coastal track towards Charlies Harbour. When they described it afterwards it sounded like a great trip; although looking at Bruce’s video clip, a bit challenging towing the trailer up one of the big sand hills.

Looks like we’ve got ourselves a convoy!

The whale show began at Turtle Bay.

This old tramway at Turtle Bay lookout was part of the system used to transport materials for lighthouse construction. The rusted remains of a winch are at the top of the hill. Signs of a wooden jetty that was 232 feet long can be seen below in the water.

The lighthouse and associated keepers’ quarters were completed in February 1910 at a cost of 8,228 pounds.

Enjoying the view are Doug, Crash, Rhian, Bruce and Tony. Up the top are Judith, Natalie and Geoff.

The rubbish at Cape Inscription included a lot of broken glass, including glass from the lighthouse. Also littering the site was a lot of corrugated iron and, surprisingly, a rotting hessian bag of glass that included a lot of thick lighthouse glass at the ‘whale watching spot’.

Never mind the rubbish, the whale watching was fantastic! Fortunately we’d finished around the lighthouse and keepers’ quarters before we were distracted by them – there are some conditions that people really can’t be expected to work in!

With Roger and Steve were Bruce, Judith, Gus and Malcolm. Mark and Angela also headed in their direction after stopping briefly to check out Cape Inscription. Remaining with Susan at Cape Inscription were Kieran, Rhian, Doug, Crash, Natalie, Geoff, Tony and Keith.

Rhian and Tony loading the trailer under Kieran’s careful supervision.

Doug inspecting the remains of an old tank at Cape Inscription.

Rhian making sure the whale show of Cape Inscription was appreciated.

The lighthouse and associated buildings at Cape Inscription.

Urchin Point was next. Fishers were packing up camp as we began collecting rubbish. Toilet paper littered Urchin Point and all of us collected more toilet paper than anything else. Of course the bulk of material comprised pedestal fans, milk crates with toilet seats, ironing boards, the remains of an old wreck, and a very good table that’s been added to the DHI camping equipment. We also removed the two drums that had been used for fire. We didn’t end up decommissioning the fire pit as it was HUGE – a bobcat job.

Doug and Geoff retrieve the table and ironing board left on the rocks. The table was in excellent condition and came in handy at base camp. It will also be used during future clean-ups.

The amount of toilet paper scattered around Urchin Point suggests the milk crate and seat were never used.

Crash gathering some of the remains of a fibreglass vessel that have been at Urchin Point for a few years, while Natalie picks up smaller rubbish.

Crash and Rhian observe that the trailer is full so it must be time to go and unload at Herald Bay.

To avoid another long day, Roger and Steve very sensibly left their full trailer at Sandy Point for drop off tomorrow.

Angela had a great curry ready for dinner. Apparently the pancakes for dessert were pretty good too, but Susan was so deep in conversation she missed out.

After finishing at Urchin Point, Tony and Keith headed south then east along the track from Mystery Beach to Sandy Point. The Troopy went to Herald Bay with the rubbish via Withnell Point to drop off Kieran, Natalie, Geoff and Doug.

That left Crash, Rhian and Susan to unload the trailer and have a swim at Herald Bay before going back to Withnell where the low tide was a bit too shallow for swimming.

The rubbish pile at Herald Bay expanded as we emptied the trailer load from Cape Inscription and Urchin Point.

Angela serving Malcolm while Keith eagerly awaits his turn.

Kieran and Doug relaxing before dinner while Tony and Geoff munch away in the background.

Steve and Doug moving water from one place to another.

Crash enjoying the view and a beer before dinner.

Day 4This morning Mark cooked eggs for breakfast. His fried eggs were like poached eggs, making them the best fried eggs ever!

Because there was no barge to load, we had time to spare and lingered over breakfast. Steve and Roger went to drop off yesterday’s load of rubbish at Herald Bay then visit the Herald Bay ops base before going to check the airstrip and look for Judith’s sighting of ruby dock (they didn’t find it).

Malcolm, Trish, Bruce and Judith went straight to Louisa Bay, where they stayed for the day. Gus, Malcolm and Mark went to Dampier’s Landing, then returned to base camp. Angela stayed at base camp.

Susan took the Troopy with Kieran, Rhian, Doug, Crash, Natalie, Geoff, Tony and Keith to collect the polypipe Trish and Malcolm left along the Sandy Point / Charlies Harbour track yesterday. Collecting the stacks of polypipe along the track was made interesting because of the numerous stops required in the Troopy and resulted in modified transport arrangements.

Breakfast at Angela’s - Geoff, Gus, Trish, Malcolm, Bruce, and Angela lined up on the left; Tony and Crash on the right.

Roger making his lunch while Tony, Crash and Malcolm enjoy the view over coffee.

Keith and Tony spoiled for choice before Steve lined up the cereals in order of sugar content.

Kieran, Doug and Keith wrestle a bundle of polypipe to the trailer where Crash ties it down.

Then it was off to Herald Bay to unload the polypipe via a stop at Louisa Bay so Rhian, Geoff, Natalie and Doug could escape the Troopy for a while. This left Crash, Keith, Tony, Kieran and Susan to unload the polypipe at Herald Bay.

Before all of the polypipe was collected, the Troopy team was in awe of the amount of polypipe Trish and Malcolm had wrestled out of the bush and cut and bundled. During the stop at Sandy Point for morning tea and to finish tying down the load, all agreed that Trish and Malcolm’s efforts were worth a special award and ‘The Golden Polypipe Award’ was conceived.

Crash, Kieran and Keith making sure all the bags were tied.

Crash, Kieran, Tony and Keith unloading the polypipe.

Then it was back to Louisa Bay for lunch and a swim. The water was like glass and it didn’t take much to reach the deep water. Whales frolicked nearby, well perhaps they were a kilometre or two away, but they seemed close, so we felt like we were swimming with the whales.

Angela’s dinner began with a pumpkin soup entre, which all agreed was outstanding - so sweet and tasty. The steak that followed was fantastic – cooked to perfection by Mark and accompanied by Angela’s potato salad and coleslaw. Mousse followed for dessert.

The whole time Angela’s cooking has been sensational and both her and Mark have done an outstanding job looking after everyone.

The Denham team arrived at Herald Bay ops base in good time to unload, sort and reload items for returning to Denham on Kwilanna and the Naiad. The ride back to town on the Naiad was great – fast and, although bumpy in places, relatively smooth.

Unfortunately a pile of rubbish 35 metres long by three metres wide - over 100 square metres - remains at Herald Bay awaiting collection, so some of us still have a big job ahead of us. But that’s only because everyone did such an outstanding job during the week.

Thank you all very much. It has been an absolute pleasure working with you and Dirk Hartog Island has benefitted enormously from your visit.

Malcolm, Trish, Natalie and Geoff enjoy the views and shade.

Judith and Bruce with Tony taking a pic in the background.

Day 5Our last day involved an early start to pack up so the Denham team could get to Herald Bay for departure around midday. As usual everyone efficiently worked as a team and made short work of the big job of packing up camp.

After that very pleasant interlude we headed back to Withnells and had a relaxing afternoon while Steve took Natalie, Geoff and Keith to some nearby wetlands.

‘The Golden Polypipe Award’ was presented to Trish and Malcolm who graciously accepted the award and smiled for the ensuing paparazzi onslaught. They are now known as Poly and Pipe.