News Behind the Meeting September 2015
To the wafting music of dance lessons coming from the other side of the room divider, President Peter opened the meeting..only took about 15mins for the general hubbub and chatter to die down…and then welcomed Tranj our latest visitor.
Peter started on the agenda and with items 1 – 4 involving people who weren’t there ..with apologies…we immediately got to Item No 5 and figured at that rate we’d be finished by 8pm.. talk about supper roster pressure..!
Bruce was called forward to talk about Trackcare and Peter took the opportunity to congratulate him on his being recently elected Chairman of WA4WD Association. Bruce was quick to point out he’s too old to be trying to equal our Club’s previous past Chairman Craig Perry’s term which was 13yrs.
Bruce was our Club’s Trackcare delegate and is now a personal member of Trackcare as well. He said that one of his aims was to regrow the connection between the State’s 4WD body and Trackcare to be able to achieve more for the clubs to further enjoy offroad Western Australia.
In two week’s time, four of our Club, Brinkleys and Harrisons, are going with DPaW and Trackcare to Dirk Hartog Island for the second cleanup for 2015.
Next year, 2016, is the 400th anniversary of the Dutchman Dirk Hartog first encountering the 80km long landmass that creates Shark Bay.
Apart from events marking the significance of the year, the cleanup is also to further prepare the island for the return and rehabilitation of flora and fauna naturally degraded by introduced animals and man’s influence on the island.
Planned cleanup is for collection of debris washed up on shore to removal of old sheep farming sheds and installations. The island consists mostly of scrub covered sand dunes. To the east it is bounded by the Shark Bay Marine Park, and it is part of Shark Bay World Heritage Area. Dirk Hartog is an important nesting site for loggerhead sea turtle, with green turtles and loggerhead turtles both nesting on the beaches. It is also home for the endemic subspecies of the white-winged fairy-wren.
Quoin Bluff, mid-way along the eastern side of the island, holds an important pied cormorant nesting colony which, along with Freycinet Island some 80 km to the south-east, forms the Quoin Bluff and Freycinet Island Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International.
From Wikipedia: (and as you read through this brief history, note the origins of names of so many West Australian suburbs, streets, bays, parks etc.)
The island was discovered on 25 October 1616 by Hartog in the Dutch East India Company ship Eendracht from Cape Town to Batavia (Jakarta). The names of senior people on board, including Hartog’s were inscribed with the date on a pewter plate and nailed to a post.
In 1697 the Dutch captain Willem de Vlamingh landed on the island and discovered Hartog’s plate. He replaced it with one of his own, which included a copy of Hartog’s inscription, and took the original plate home to Amsterdam, where it is still kept in the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam.
On 28 March 1772, Breton navigator Louis Aleno de St Aloüarn landed on the island and became the first European to formally take possession of Western Australia in the name of French king Louis XV. This involved a ceremony (which took place on 30 March) during which one or more bottles were buried on the island.
One bottle was recorded as containing an annexation document and a coin.
In 1998 a bottle cap made of lead with an écu coin set in it, was first discovered at Turtle Bay. This triggered a broader search by a team from the Western Australian Museum . On 1 April 1998, an intact bottle bearing a lead cap identical to the one recovered earlier, also with a coin set in it, was unearthed.
No trace of an annexation document has yet been found.
In 1801 the island was visited by a French expedition aboard the Naturaliste led by Captain Emmanuel Hamelin. This expedition found de Vlamingh’s plate almost buried in the sand, its post having rotted away. The Captain ordered that it be re-erected in its original position.
In 1818 the Uranie with French explorer Louis de Freycinet, who had been an officer in Hamelin’s 1801 crew, sent a boat ashore to recover de Vlamingh’s plate. It eventually arrived in Paris, only to be lost for over a century. It was found in 1940 and returned to Australia in 1947, where it can now be seen in the Maritime Museum in Fremantle.
In 1869, Francis Louis von Bibra (son of Franz Ludwig von Bibra) was granted a lease on the island. Von Bibra established sheep on the island and traded guano from its bays.
The leasehold for the island was acquired by the Withnell brothers in 1907. The island was regarded as an ideal place for a sheep station as there was no danger of rabbit invasion.
In 1909 it was carrying a flock of about 12,000 sheep and produced approximately 400 bales of wool. The property was still owned by John and James Withnell, the children of John and Emma Withnell who were early settlers in the Pilbara. The brothers had estimated the area of the island to be 156,000 acres (631 km2) and intended to increase the flock on the island to 25,000. By 1910 the flock size was 14,200.
By 1919 the pastoral lease was put up for auction by the owner James Nicholas who also owned Croydon and Peron Peninsula Stations and was stocked by that time with approximately 19,000 sheep.
Perth Lord Mayor Sir Thomas Wardle purchased the island as a private retreat for his family in about 1969 and later retired there, becoming a semi-recluse with his wife. With the exception of the pastoral homestead, the island later returned to government ownership and became part of the Shark Bay Marine Park.
It is now run as an eco-tourism resort and maintained by Wardle’s grandson, Kieran Wardle.
On 16 March 2008, then Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced that the wreck of the World War II German raider Kormoran had been found on the seabed about 150 kilometres west of the island.
TRIP REPORTS: Jo Clews Camp Oven Cooking Bridget McPherson
Easy route in only Bob and I were having a minor domestic on Short Road and missed the Road Closed sign over the rather rushing Greenough River. Wasn’t too deep.
Arrived to set up. Lovely spot. Although Jo said she’d only be there for selected periods and classes, she stayed with us all the time chatting to all who arrived.
Cooking started Saturday am after a walk up to the ridge behind us and we were shown the fossils of shells exposed on the rock faces.
Saturday we cooked . Mixed weather. Then winds arrived. Two club gazebos trashed. People were holding down the Fry’s shelter so it also wouldn’t get more damaged and there in midst of it all was Glenn… holding.. with two hands…his piece of cake..!
Storm gone and after more cooking and more learning, we spread the food for a smorgasbord dinner.
Saturday night we ate so much Bob could not fit in his beer. That has never occurred..!
Sunday after a further lesson on scone cooking..that only Peter was inclined to attempt, the group began to head in different directions to home or elsewhere. One group went on to a wind farm and later to overnight at Coorow for a typical good pub meal. Those who had to work on Monday headed back to Perth.
A Great weekend
UPCOMING TRIPS: TRIP BOARD WAS FULL OF TRIPS.
COLLIE CLIMBS September 26 Paul Ryan
Trip’s full…but Paul advised to put names down even if it’s full as he often has a couple drop out before the day.
He attempted to pretrip the area last weekend. “Like driving on a greased pig,” Paul said. “If you can’t get off the carpark without sliding, then it’s not worth travelling all that distance not then able to go more than 500m. Paul will update closer to the trip date and if it’s still too wet in Collie then he will take everyone to closer places near Harvey.
NUNGARIN October 2nd Rick Ellis
Leaving Friday.
Things on in town on Friday and Friday night. They will be camping at the Mangowine Homestead where the Neil Diamond tribute band will be playing Saturday night. About 12 going so far. Cutting off this night as bookings need to be made.
CRAIG PERRY’S MYSTERY TRIP. October 18 Craig Perry / Peter Cole
Mystery trip so mysterious Craig doesn’t even know if he’ll be going..!
So planning is fluid and if Craig’s work does impose itself, then Peter Cole will take up the mystery and may combine it with a Ozi Explorer lesson for those who wish to include that component too. If no desire to get technical, then just enjoy the driving.
DADDY DAUGHTER LUNCH DATE CHANGED TO Nov 29
CHRISTMAS WILLOW BROOK FARM
For Members Only. Only an hour north of Perth.
Saturday night campover. Actual function is the Sunday lunch fully catered by the club. Bring kids or grandkids as 5 pm the owners ring a bell and animals run to be fed.
Reserved 25 spots. 19 taken up so far. On the verandah Sunday morning tea, the owners put on scones jam and cream for everyone.
CANNING STOCK ROUTE 30th June 2018 Pat O’Dowd
Advice from the audience…May be graded or even bitumen by then..!
But many need to start planning now to make it happen, so Pat has given all the details.
DATES: 30.06.2018 – 29.07.2018
DESCRIPTION: THE PURPOSE OF THIS TRIP IS TO GET AWAY FROM TRAFFIC LIGHTS, MOBLIE PHONES AND THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN BED.
REFER TO CLUB CALENDAR FOR MEETING TIMES AND PLACES
APPROXIMATE DISTANCE: 4018.8 KMS
FUEL: FULL TANK EX PERTH, FUEL CAN BE PURCHASED AT WUBIN, MT MAGNET, CAPRICORN ROADHOUSE, PARDOO ROADHOUSE, SANDFIRE ROADHOUSE, BROOME, FITZROY CROSSING, BILLILUNA, HALLS CREEK, WELL 23 (must be purchased eight weeks prior ). FUEL IS RELIABLY AVAILABLE FROM BOWERS AT THE KUNAWAREITI COMMUNITY ABOUT HALF WAY ALONG THE ROUTE (in the vicinity of well 33).
CONVOY LIMIT: 8 VEHICLES.
TRIP STANDARD: GRADE THREE, A MEDIUM GRADE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE TRIP WITH SOME SKILFUL OFF-ROAD DRIVING REQUIRED. TOWING OR WINCHING NOT NORMALLY REQUIRED. SUITABLE FOR EXPERIENCED DRIVERS.
RECOVERY EQUIPMENT: STANDARD CLUB REQUIREMENTS AS A MINIMUM.
VEHICLE: IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE YOUR VEHICLE IS ROAD WORTHY AND APPROPRIATELY SET UP FOR THE TRIP. ALL TERRAIN TYRES PREFERRED.
FOR THIS TRIP, YOU MUST BE ABLE TO CARRY AT LEAST 100 LTS OF FRESH DRINKING WATER.
PROVISIONS: CAMPING EQUIPMENT, CLOTHING AND SUPPLIES FOR 29 NIGHTS. FOOD CAN BE PURCHASED AT HALLS CREEK.
EQUIPMENT: BASIC VEHICLE SPARES. FIRST AID KIT. FIRE EXTINGUISHER FITTED IN A VISIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE LOCATION.
STRICTLY NO TRAILERS, CARAVANS, CAMPER TRAILERS OR WIDE TRACK VEHICLES WILL BE ALLOWED ON THIS TRIP.
MADIGAN LINE Malcolm Harrison 20 – 30th September 2016
Background..Cecil Madigan was part of Mawsons (of Antartica fame) trip across the Simpson in 1939.
It’s the most remote trip left to do in Australia.
It’s typically known as the East West Track but really, there is no track..it’s a breadcrumb track. Someone earlier who went through drove in star pickets as markers and Malcolm has all those way points.
Malcolm knows where it starts and where it finishes…(what more could he need???!!!)
Permits need to be discussed and issued.
A discussion ensued regarding some changes and some improvements in the issuing of permits in some areas.
Minimum of 3 vehicles. Wouldn’t, shouldn’t, travel with less.
Maximum of 6. Winter only. No towing of anything.
Direction West to East starting Mt Dare and back to Mt Dare via other more used tracks.
Can leave trailers etc at Mt Dare. And pick them up on return.
560km No halfway for fuel. Must be totally self sufficient the whole way.
Recent South Australian Government regulation changes, require anyone travelling Simpson Desert must have a sand flag to S.A. specifications.
OZI EXPLORER SESSIONS
1/ 12th December. Full PC version training. Saturday not Wednesday night at Manning Centre or if smaller number, at venue to be discussed.
2/ Hands-on in-car training. Date TBA
TRAINING:
Richard is too busy at work needs a hand with training. Various members indicated a willingness to help. Please phone Richard. Don’t wait for him to have to suss out who is available.
FORUM:
Judith asked all to collect their Tyrepower cards from front table.
She explained to new members about the “Fly Creme” list. List for orders on the Trip board. Price established is $13 for 120gm tub.
Fire Extinguishers: Unfortunately Trevor also had work commitments and didn’t arrive with the equipment for Morrison and Franks.
Rick Ellis was at Rays Outdoors and they were giving away DVDs of Jo Clews and Pat Callinan recipe techniques. He was allowed to bring some for the club. None were left at the end of the night.
Bob Gigenjack said he has problems with loading photos to Club Drop Box. Dropbox training day seems to be required. Paul (Webmaster) proposed at the next committee meeting it be discussed and guidelines and a uniform set of rules be devised.
Glen advised he’d had problems with Bushskinz service out of Adelaide. Bushskins items delivered incorrectly and months for returns to be arranged.
Murray also a member of the Delica Club advised they have Bash plates made locally. May be a solution.
Murray is buying 12 sets of Recovery tracks. If you want them then have $90 at next meeting and you get a set.
Raffle called. Ellis’s were banned outright and Bruce complained it was the first time in 3 months he hadn’t won something.
NEXT MEETING OCTOBER 7 will be a SAUSAGE SIZZLE.
No President. No agenda. Another mingle and catch up meeting. Everything catered. Bring kids and grandkids.
Next Committee Meeting 16th September.
Meeting Finished by 8:40…and supper was ready…! Though there were calls for anyone who knew how to use the new fandangled dishwasher.
Still didn’t get home till late though. Good to see everyone.