“It’s All About The Experience – Yours and Ours ” Volume 10 Issue 2 Telephone : 08 8356 1874 April 2008

ur 2008 program began with a The Queenscliffe ferry took us to There are probably not too many people O very successful trip to Wilson’s Sorrento, and we made our way to Fish who can claim to have celebrated their Promontory early March Creek. 80th Birthday at Fish Creek ! The trip has a diverse range of scenery, Unknown to Merv, Ruth had organised ranging from the beautiful Grampians Where is Fish Creek?....well it is the a birthday cake for us to share at dinner. National Park to the unique coastal gateway to Wilson’s Promontory - attractions of The Great Ocean Road. approximately 165 kilometres south It just happened that Fish Creek was east of Melbourne, and 25kms from the hosting a “Fun Festival” that day, so The re-growth in the Grampians since entrance to Wilson’s Promontory. with the help of a jazz band which was the January 2006 bushfires is very playing in the hotel garden, Merv noticeable In total the fire burnt out The Promontory Gate Hotel ...(or received a good rendition of “Happy 130,000 hectares and destroyed 40 “The Fishy Pub”), as it is affectionately Birthday”. The previous night Gordon, dwellings, 72 farm sheds and more than called ,was our base for 4 days of another of our group celebrated his 62,400 sheep. One of the great features touring around the Promontory, birthday !! of the Australian bush is the way it Waratah Bay and the Strzelecki regenerates after a bushfire. Ranges. Just out of interest, some great footballers have come from Fish Bluestone buildings and hundreds of Creek— among them are Wayne kilometres of dry stone walling are a Weideman, Barry Standfield, Ian feature on the landscape of western Dunstan, and Barry Walpole. Victoria’s “Volcanic Trail “ which commences at Penshurst. Volcanoes in The return home was via the Bellarine the area provided a source of basalt and Peninsula and Great Ocean Road to bluestone, which has been utilised in Skenes Creek and the inimitable duo buildings and paving. characters Andrew and Roger at the One of Fish Creek’s famous features is the remarkable Daliesque mullet Skenes Creek Lodge Motel . balancing in a seemingly precarious Hosts Doris manner on top of the pub. and Andrew The Prom, with its beaches and short certainly walks is a great day trip. provide a friendly and The Strzelecki Ranges were next. welcoming Agnes Falls at 59 metres, are the atmosphere.

highest single span falls in Victoria,. Left: Roger Further on, the spectacular Tarra Bulga adjusts Merv’s National Park features lush fern- birthday hat !

This style of building can be seen in the gullies, giant Mountain Ash and Myrtle Photo courtesy old Hexham Hotel (above) . It was built Beech trees towering up to 100 metres. Andrew—Skenes Creek Motel c.1863 as the Woolshed Inn, and is a A highlight was a walk through a 300 two-storey structure of squared coursed year old Mountain Ash Forest to the bluestone rubble and a slate roof. The Over the years we have travelled the popular suspension bridge, before stables were originally used as a Cobb & Great Ocean Road a few times—and returning to Fish Creek via the hilltop Co changing station. each time we hope the weather will be Grand Ridge Road, Port Albert and It is an interesting example of Victorian good for photos and sightseeing. Foster. Vernacular—(ie architecture which is Well this time it was perfect! - and typical for an area or region). the 12 Apostles looked spectacular.

DESERT SKY TOURS……….. 1998 Finalist – Small Business Award Finalist …….. 2002 Winner – Northern SA Business Awards

Desert Sky News Page 2

Kalamurina Station Andamooka

Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) has secured an opportunity to Andamooka’s population is expected to purchase Kalamurina for conservation. double within three years following a flood Kalamurina covers 667,000 hectares (nearly 1.7 million acres), connecting of development applications in the town Lake Eyre National Park (to the south) with the Regional worth more than $14 million. Reserve (to the north). The opal town is now experiencing a ‘Gold Rush’ for real estate.

The total development applications currently before the Building Assessment Commission provides for 520 bedrooms.

This is comprised in a number of developments for double and single unit accommodation such as the 94 unit expansion at the Opal Hotel, another 62 units planned by Unique Accommodation and another planned development on the old caravan park site.

Olympic Dam’s super pit, Prominent By connecting these reserves, the acquisition of Kalamurina will create a Hill and all of the other major mine single protected area in central that is larger than the entire state developments within the region have of Tasmania. The regional significance of the property is further contributed to the expansion. demonstrated by its role in hosting the confluence of three of central Australia’s most important rivers: the and Kallakoopah In other news, the town has grabbed relics Creek converge with the on Kalamurina, before flowing of its past history and put them on display into Lake Eyre. in a new open air mining museum on the approach road to town. The diversity of Kalamurina’s habitats supports a wealth of desert mammals, birds and reptiles. Perhaps the most significant of these animals You’ll now notice on the left hand side is the Ampurta, an endangered mammal with its stronghold centred on of the road in front of the playground a Kalamurina. collection of dozers, Studebaker drilling rigs, and an old excavator. AWC will carry out a baseline survey in 2008 which is sure to reveal many other previously hidden biological treasures. Over time, the recovery of They’ve been placed there by the species such as the Ampurta will be measured as AWC’s on-ground Andamooka Progress and Opal Miners management improves habitat quality and reduces the effect of competition Association with the help of local residents and predation by feral animals. and businesses, to recognise the town’s link to its Opal mining history. At the time of printing this newsletter, AWC had raised the funds required In the 1990’s the Excavator was used as to complete the acquisition of Kalamurina but is still several hundred the backdrop to the annual school photo- thousand dollars short of the target for long-term management. graphs and has been viewed by many thousands of tourists over the years. The management priorities include: APOMA President Peter Allen said • Appointment of experienced, practical staff as Sanctuary Managers. much of the machinery was donated by • Rationalisation and, as necessary, restoration of infrastructure. the owners of Unique Accommodation • The removal of cattle, which is vitally important for the conservation and which was clearing its block ready for regeneration of riparian ecosystems, particularly along the Warburton and building units. Macumba Rivers and Kallakoopah Creek. “We’ll lay some blue metal down and • Culling and removal of camels. (AWC has already participated in a place descriptive signs up on each piece of regional program which resulted in the culling of over 130 camels on equipment telling of the role it played in Kalamurina.) developing the opal fields of Andamooka,” • The control of foxes and rabbits. Mr Allen said. • Developing and implementing a strategy for the management of “It just shows what a small town can visitors (large numbers of people now visit the Simpson Desert region do without all of the red tape.” every year on 4WD expeditions).

Desert Sky News Page 3

Cooper Creek! Itinerary Comments Itinerary for

Residents of Innamincka were given a Coongie Lakes: 2008 taste of things to come recently, when Within the Innamincka Regional the Cooper rose to about 2 metres at Reserve lies the World Heritage listed the causeway. region of Coongie Lakes. The track to Birdsville/Innamincka (9 days) ~ $1950 pp the lakes takes us roughly north-west Tuesday July 15 Innamincka township received 27 mm of Innamincka through dry sandy Wednesday August 13 of rain over two days. Scattered heavy country. Two regions are explored rainfall in the area also caused many along the way. Scrubby Camp Water- /Innamincka road closures. (7 days) ~ $1525 pp hole provides some excellent views of Friday July 4 the North-West branch of the Cooper , The summer rainfall not only and further along is Kudriemitchie Flinders Ranges/Arkaroola replenished rainwater tanks, but (5 days) ~ $995 pp Outstation. Including “Ridgetop Tour” stimulated growth of herbage and Tuesday September 9 grasses on the parched gibber plains The Coongie Lakes system has been Tuesday September 23 and sand hills near the town. recognised for its importance in Sunday October 12

providing a unique environment for Gawler Ranges The flow resulted from heavy falls of plants and animals of the desert. (5 days) ~ $830 pp rain over the hills to the north of Wading birds are plentiful, and the Saturday August 30 surrounding bush is full of other desert Innamincka which caused Oonabrinta Creek to run into the Cooper. bird species. (4 days) ~ $875 pp

Thursday November 13 We have a 4WD trip departing Sunday The high water closed the causeway to June 1st and travelling the Strzelecki Skenes Creek/Great Ocean Rd traffic between February 2nd and Track to Innamincka and Coongie (5 days) ~ $925 pp February 5th. Sunday May 11 Lakes.

William Creek & The Painted Desert As the creek fell, water birds and birds The 7 day personalised tour will take a (9 days) ~ $1745 pp of prey congregated to feast on maximum of 4 people, and we have Sunday April 27 schooling fish. one confirmed booking. If you would like to see this fascinating Yorke Peninsula & Innes National Park Opportunistic fisher people also (4 days) - $620 pp area of register your joined the birds. Saturday October 25 interest now!

Personalised 4WD Tours Birdsville/Innamincka

We have a few seats left on each of the Coongie Lakes & The Cooper Creek Birdsville/Innamincka trips. (7 days)_- $1925 pp The trips have double figure bookings Sunday June 1

and departures are guaranteed. Sky-trek & The Flinders (5 days) - $975 pp Cooper Creek Saturday June 14 A popular trip which includes the 3 Yorke Peninsula & Southern Flinders Strzelecki Track and nights at the (5 days) - $975 pp Above: A good haul of yabbies caught Cooper Creek Homestay Innamincka!! Thursday October 2 in one afternoon, on lines and in opera house pots, upstream of the causeway Flinders Ranges Other Personalised tours in 4WD at Innamincka !! Seats available October 12th only. vehicle can be arranged by request

Christmas 2008 As water levels continue to fall, experts How to contact us: are predicting great fishing and Our Christmas trip this year will be to  PO Box 683 yabbying in waterholes along the Australia’s other Red Centre—The GLENELG SA 5045 Cooper. Coonawarra. The base for the 5 day trip will be the Coonawarra Motor Lodge  08 8356 1874 and Bushman’s Inn at Penola. (we will have the Lodge to ourselves!)  [email protected]

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Desert Sky News Page 4 independent guerilla operations and did not appreciate Australian Commando Memorial the term Commandos which they believed was the role of the British Commandos in Europe.

In late 1943, Australian Army Headquarters decided to amalgamate the divisional cavalry regiments from the During World War II 2nd AIF infantry divisions with the independent the Tidal River area of companies and re-designate them initially as Wilson’s Promontory was “Independent Companies”. closed to the public and No.7 Infantry Training They then became known as “Cavalry (Commando) Centre for army Squadron”; but this soon changed to “Commando Squadron” commandos was estab- lished in February 1941. Section 29 of the National Parks Act requires that the

The location was chosen cairn at Tidal River commemorating wartime commando because of the rugged training be maintained. The Army buildings at Tidal terrain and its remoteness River became a holiday village after the war. from civilisation. The road into the area was finally sealed in 1970/71.

The title “No. 7 Infantry Training Centre” was a Coober Pedy goes Solar cover to hide the fact that “commando” training was Australia's largest solar power station is to be built at taking place. Coober Pedy, in South Australia's midnorth, to provide more than 10 per cent of the city's electricity needs. In 1940/41 the Australian Army needed to quickly reinforce our military strength in Australia. At that time our four AIF Infantry Coober Pedy was chosen Divisions were overseas in the Middle East and then Malaya. because it is not connected to the electricity grid and gets A British military mission, headed by Lt. Col. Mawhood, came all its power from diesel to Australia in 1940, to assist with a strategy to reinforce the generators. The solar power Australian Army. The outcome was to raise a number of station will cut diesel use in Independent Companies. the town by 520,000 litres, Independent Companies were special units, which were much saving 1,500 tonnes of smaller than an Infantry Battalion. They were highly trained in greenhouse gases. raiding techniques, sabotage operations and conducting guerrilla The new power station is expected to begin generating warfare. They could operate for long periods in remote locations electricity by the end of 2009. without normal lines of communication.

Volunteers were called for from the 1st Armoured Division and any AIF reinforcements still located in Australia. For the scrabble players! Volunteers were told they would be involved in special duties in units where high level of physical fitness was required and a This is very clever It was devised by someone who is higher than normal level of danger was likely to be encountered. deadly at Scrabble .

One of the first tests at Commando Training at Wilson's DORMITORY: Promontory was for new arrivals to climb Mt Oberon When you rearrange the letters becomes (558 metres). Those who failed to make it to the top were DIRTY ROOM returned to their previous units. PRESBYTERIAN:= BEST IN PRAYER Physical fitness was an essential component of training at the ASTRONOMER= MOON STARER Commando School. Training included demolitions, sabotage, DESPERATION= A ROPE ENDS IT night movement and operations, infantry minor tactics, THE EYES= THEY SEE patrolling, setting of ambushes, scouting, weapon training, and GEORGE BUSH= HE BUGS GORE operating solo or in small parties THE MORSE CODE = HERE COME DOTS There were initially eight Independent Companies and these SLOT MACHINES= CASH LOST IN ME were often referred to as “Commandos”. The men of these ANIMOSITY= IS NO AMITY independent companies saw themselves as carrying out

DESERT SKY TOURS………..1998 Finalist – Small Business Award Finalist ……... 2002 Winner – Northern SA Business Awards