Fraser Island Cleanup
Australia Day Weekend 28-01-2004

The now regular trip to Fraser Island for the Association Cleanup was held on the Australia Day Long weekend on 24-26 January 2004.

The advance party being the Taylor’s decided to venture up before everyone else to ensure they got the best camping spot and to reserve the area that we had during the same trip last year. The Taylor’s headed to Fraser on Sunday after the wash out on Saturday. The rest of the club members turned up over the following week.

Fran and I travelled up on Wednesday with the Hiscoxes, the oldest Bishop with Grandchildren and a pommy backpacker friend in tow and the Cruice’s. The beach run up the island to the camping ground located about 1km past Cornwall’s Break Road was like a freeway after the rough and ready Cooloola Way to Rainbow Beach.

After we arrived we set up camp just after lunch and then relaxed for the rest of the day.

On the Thursday we ventured up to the Champagne pools, Waddy Point for lunch and drove through Orchid Beach to look at the flashy holiday homes. On the way back we stopped at Eli Creek for another swim. When we arrived back at camp the Kanofski’s had arrived and set up.

On the Friday another warm and humid day, we drove over to Lake Mackenzie had a swim and then drove over to Kingfisher Bay Day use area where we had lunch. We arrived back mid afternoon where a further group of travellers had arrived and set up camp. A large majority of the members present enjoyed a community camp oven roast dinner for tea that night.

On the Saturday we registered for the cleanup and were lucky enough to secure Lake Mackenzie for the cleanup. Everyone who attended received a peak cap for their participation. The last of the club members arrived today and an easy day relaxing at Eli Creek was enjoyed by most following the registration. The weather was very warm and the cool waters of Eli Creek were very refreshing. A couple of cars also decided to head up to the Champagne pools. A few decided to try their luck and wet a line, but were only able to catch Fraser island weed. A short lived fishing experience that day, not that it mattered, as happy hour more than made up for it.

Sunday morning kicked off about 8.30am where we headed off to lake Mackenzie via Eurong for the cleanup. During the cleanup we located a 9kg gas bottle, regulator, hose and burner hidden under some branches in the tourist coach area. As it looked suspicious (like it might have been stolen, we decided to pick it up after asking other tour operators about it. It was about to become the property of the Ipswich 4WD Club. After an hour or two of cleaning up lake Mackenzie everyone was into the water to cool off. The water was so nice that everyone started to turn into soggy prunes rather than get out of the water. When we finally did get out of the water it was decided to head to Central station for lunch. We reported to the ranger that we had located the gas bottle and other bits, when we were informed that a tour operator had complained that his equipment had been pinched. It was then handed over to the ranger for return to the tour operator. After lunch we returned to camp via the lake Wabby Lookout.

The evening soon arrived and everyone ventured down to the Group camping area off Cornwall’s Break Road, where the Association had set up the catering tent and entertainment stage. The Ipswich 4WD Club did themselves proud as the chefs for the evening, helped along by a large quantity of liquid gold and fermented grapes. The band played and raffles and competitions were held with some club members winning a few prizes. The entertainment ended about 10.30pm when the thunderstorm arrived and the stayers returned to camp to carry on until bed time.

The following day almost all packed up for the trip home, except for the few lucky ones who were staying on for a few more days. After the pack up was complete some departed and others returned to Eli creek for another swim and relax before waiting for the low tide and heading home.

All up 55 people from our club attended the cleanup. The total number of people from all clubs was approximately 740 people. The Gold Coast Club achieved the largest attendance with 62 or 63 people attending. The tracks on the island were in pretty good condition due to a lot of rain prior to our arrival.

I would just like to say thankyou to everyone who attended and I hope everyone enjoyed themselves. With the discounted barge fees, free camping and the permit fee being waved it is quite an inexpensive way to visit Fraser Island. Perhaps next year with a few more participants we can once again take out the highest club attendance. I look forward to returning there for another trip next year.

Dave Peebles.