Volunteers make the wheels keep turning

Those of us who have volunteered our time in one way or another will, I'm sure, acknowledge the pleasure and benefits that brought. We also, however, may have teetered on the boundaries of 'over-use'.

During the peak seasons in WA, national park campsites are cared for my a large community of volunteer camp hosts. Largely these are retired couples who, following minimal induction and training, base themselves for a month at a time in a particular site. For free camping they welcome new campers, collect fees, provide guidance, clean toilets and any other facilities. They also handle complaints and battle difficult campers.

One host confided that she had been told by a ranger that without them the rangers, desperately under-staffed, simply couldn't keep up with all that is required. The hardest sites to fill we're told are those that are more remote and which require off-road vehicles. We met one couple who had traveled all the way from QLD to participate.

Sounds like a great adventure, but the Govt needs to be very careful not to ask too much.

FlickR image by Flo & Jim Wilson

No excuses

We left the Millstream-Chichester N.P. today and headed west to the coast again. The Millstream end of the park is an oasis of clear springs and flowing water from the artesian basin that waters the surrounding Pilbara towns including Dampier, Karratha and Roebourne.

Its a fragile place. Just recently a popular camping spot and swimming hole has been permanently closed following cyclonic rains that eroded the river bed leaving trees with exposed roots ready to fall.

The wetlands are also said to be one of the most culturally significant indigenous sites in WA. Swimming is not permitted in the crystal clear waters of Jirndawurrunha pool.

Despite the fragility and preciousness of this area it felt strangely unloved. I can forgive the yellowing signage in the old Millstream homestead visitors centre, made harder to read due to lack of lighting (the could easily set up some solar powered lighting Steph so rightly pointed out), and the displays that were dusty and poorly kept. However within coo-ee of the rangers station, there was evidence of cattle (probably from the adjoining station) trampling the recently wet ground amongst the melaleuca forest and small seasonal creek beds. Hard hoofed heavy animals and fragile ground simply do not mix.

It was a stark reminder of the consequences of a Govt proposing to allow cattle back into our precious national parks.

Paying our respects

The Walls of China, Lake Mungo

It's appropriate perhaps, as we head off on our journey, that the first major stopover is Mungo National Park where the oldest known skeletal remains in Australia and oldest cremated remains in the world (both dated around 42,000 yrs ago) were found. A chance to connect to our ancient history and clear the metropolis from our souls.

Its ironic perhaps that they have been found as a result of European mismanagement of the fragile land; erosion caused by land clearing uncovering the past.

With rain clouds looming we drove the 70km Mungo loop track and the following day packed up a sodden camp and slid our way through the mud to Mildura, the last campers out before the road closed and even heavier rain fell on this desert landscape.