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The Wagaitear, February 2013 – 1

Australia Day celebrations

Vol 11 No 2 February, 2013 50c

Mungalo Native Plant Nursery Limited stock of rare pink dryandrii grevillea

Ready to plant – only $10 eachPhone 8978 5111 or call into 22 Mungalo Road

Bore big bangTwo of the three Charles

Point bores have been repaired and are fully operational after a huge power surge destroyed control boards and pumping equipment last month.

Equipment at the third bore was so badly damaged the con-trol cabinet has been removed and is being rebuilt.

With the Wagait Beach tanks full and demand low due to the rain, there were no supply prob-lems while all three bores were out of service.

A PowerWater spokeswoman said preparations were in place

to rebuild the third bore over the coming weeks.

“Water Services has advised that lightning is the most likely cause,” she said.

“Works will be scheduled to enhance system protection of the installation.”

Technicians who assessed the damage after the bores failed seemed certain lightning was not the cause.

They told Wagait Shire council workers an unusual power surge was the possible culprit.

The town water tanks now are operating normally.

Wagait Beach celebrated Australia Day in style again this year with a fun run, presentation ceremony and all sorts of activities at

the sports ground. More details see centre pages.

Tangled coils of wires and a yellow out of service tag mark where the 2-metre high water bore control box usually stands.

Navy cadets at the flag raising ceremony at

Wagait Beach.

Chopper drops inThis helicopter

dropped in to the Wagait Beach

sports ground last month on an urgent mission. See page 3.

2 – The Wagaitear, February 2013

What’s inside …Wagait Shire report ..........................................................4CEO to quit ........................................................................5Weather puzzle gets more puzzling ................................5New bus service in operation ..........................................6Trades and services + who does what ........................8-9Crossword and Stars .....................................................10Big birthday for lighthouse ...........................................11Tides, from the quarterdeck ..........................................12

Monthly rainfall and temperatureRain for January ......................................................... 269 mmMonthly average ......................................................... 424 mmRain since October 1 2012 ......................................... 526 mmAnnual average (Oct 1 – Sep 30) ............................. 1787 mmAverage Wagait Beach rainfall for February .............. 421 mmExpect it to rain on ......................................................18 daysAverage min/max temp (Darwin) .......................... 24.7/31.4ºC

The WagaitearPublisher: Jack EllisPublished at: 22 (Sect 60) Mungalo Rd Wagait BeachPhone: 8978 5111 mobile: 0417 089 528 email: [email protected]: monthly (first Monday)Deadline 25th of each monthPostal address: Box 11 Wagait Beach NT 0803Sold at the Wagait Beach Supermarket, Belyuen Store, Mandorah ferry and the Mandorah Beach Hotel. Subscriptions $1.75/edition (post paid), pdf on-line at www.nretas.nt.gov.au/knowledge-and-history/northern-territory-library/online_resources/page_two

If you want it, get on with it

Weather watch

NT Government infra-structure and transport team members are con-fident there could be a new Mandorah car park by the end of the dry sea-son – if there is consen-sus on the design.

Although held Tues-day mid-morning, an on-site public meeting to dis-cuss the project attracted more than 20 people.

One person questioned the need for an upgraded car park, while most peo-ple focussed on specific issues in the draft design.

These included layout, boat trailer parking close to the jetty, the future parking area occupying the most popular place to park and the lack of drop-off and pickup areas.

A proposed fish clean-ing area on the seaward edge of the car park came

in for the most flak with opinion divided between moving it closer to the boat ramp or abandon-ing the idea completely.

Lorna Manning and Lorraine Gardner both voiced concerns about the cleanliness and po-tential smell while posing the question about who would clean the facility and how often.

Debate over the pro-posed toilets also threat-ened to derail the meet-ing until project manager Tony Waldron put things back on track.

“We’ve got probably enough money to build a car park,” he said.

“Toilets cost quite a bit of money – all those fa-cilities are expensive. We need to plan but they’re not going to happen straight away.

“If we resolve all the (parking) issues we can have a car park by the end of the dry season.”

There was some dis-cussion on how people would get to the jetty and where to park during the construction phase.

While there was a sug-gestion of a bus between Wagait Beach and the jet-ty, it seemed likely the contractors would de-velop the parking area in two or more stages, leav-ing room for parking as usual.

Transport spokesman Paul Rajan was a little concerned about some of those at the meeting be-ing wary of the type of people who could be at-tracted to the new facili-ties once they were built.

“We have to be think-ing forward,” he said.

❛If we resolve all the issues we can have a car park by the end of the dry season❜

Transport’s Paul Rajan explains the details of the

proposed Mandorah jetty car

park layout and facilities

during a public meeting last

month.

“Development’ll come – it will happen one day.

“We’ve got a chance now develop the things this community will want in the future.”

The Transport Depart-

ment is assessing the feed-back from the meeting.

Once the concept de-sign is finalised, the up-dated plan will be circu-lated, possibly in the next four to six weeks.

Tony Waldron (right) with Feroz Ibrahim


Wagait Beach SupermarketPh 8978 5008 Fax 8978 576 email [email protected]

Open 7 days Monday – Saturday 8 am to 8 pm Sunday/public holidays 8 am to 5 pm

Groceries … liquor … hardware … gas … fuel … bait … ice … fishing tackle … takeaway food … espresso coffee …

Australia Post agency … Centrelink access point

local … friendly … convenient

It’s the pub with no fearLifestyle is a very impor-

tant issue to many people liv-ing on the Cox Peninsula – even for those who run a pub.

Not even workaholics like Mandorah Beach Hotel pub-lican Nick di Candilo see the sense of running themselves ragged when there is no sense in doing so.

And that, basically, is why the pub will be opening only four days a week and closed each Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday until March 18.

“We thought it was a pretty astute decision that was ful-ly supported by the Licensing Commission,” Nick said.

“For five years we’ve worked seven days a week and we’ve got it to the point where it’s nearly like we want it to work.

“It’s all a part of balancing work with lifestyle.”

Nick said the Licensing Commission seemed taken aback by his request to close for three days.

“People ask for extra hours; they weren’t sure what to do when we asked for less,” he said.

“We discussed it with our staff and they were OK with it until March.

“We know on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the community is served well by the shop.

“This time of year we’re do-ing about the same business from Thursday to Sunday that we do over the seven days.”

Nick di Candilo … all part of

balancing work with lifestyle.

Now that’s the way to get your phone fixed.

Fire captain Ray Nicholls (right) was pressed into service last month when the friendly Telstra tech dropped by to fix the public telephone at the supermarket.

Ray kept the sports ground clear of curious small fry while the chop-per landed and later when it took off.

But this service is not a sign of things to come at Wagait Beach when the telephone goes on the blink.

It just so happened the complaint was actioned while the technician who services the western Arnhem Land area was doing his rounds in Kakadu National Park.

A quick diversion across the har-bour on the way home must have seemed an easy way of solving the problem instead of someone having to drive around the harbour.

Just dropping in to fix the phone…

Servicing 6 am, 6.45 am, 7.20 am and 8 am ferry service departures from Mandorah and meeting 5 pm, 6 pm and 7 pm weekday ferries.

Other times by arrangement. Bookings are essential

Phone 0417 005 025


Wagait Shire Council audi-tors have declined to alter a find-ing based on last year’s accounts that indicates the council may not be viable in the long term.

The long-delayed draft audit report was tabled at the January council meeting.

Peter Clee spoke with one of the audit team to question the three key findings and said he was satisfied two of the issues were not major problems.

“Most concern was with the fairly significant loss (expendi-ture over income) of $150 781,” Peter said.

“On this basis (the auditors) were not prepared to change the opinion.

“They pointed to the lack of rate increases … we will need to do something so we can prove our viability.”

Details will be available once the auditor’s report is finalised.

• • • •The 2012-13 budget was

passed at the meeting, despite Pe-ter Clee’s ongoing reservations.

The transfer of the council’s accounts to new MYOB soft-ware last year resulted in dis-crepancies being lumped un-der the heading of “historical balancing”.

Peter described the figures un-der that heading as totally incor-rect, but moved for the budget to be accepted and then voted against it.

The budget, an essential item in the shire plan scheduled to be

approved four months ago, was passed 5-1.

• • • •Councillors were briefed by

Peter and chief executive Geoff Handicott about the jetty car park meeting held earlier the same day (see page 2).

“Overall there was a lot cov-ered,” Geoff summed up.

“The plan was put together and brought here as a starting point. Some people seemed to have trouble grasping this.”

Peter said the most important point raised was that the (In-frastructure) department had enough money set aside to actu-ally build the car park itself.

“We won’t see the buildings or ancillary equipment (such as) the toilets,” he said.

“The 120 car parks are ade-quate once the layout is suitable.”

Peter identified moving the boat trailer parking away from the popular “front spots” as an-other important issue.

“I think it’s a matter of getting ideas in quickly … they seem to want to get moving,” he said.

Geoff agreed. “They’re going to come back again with a firm proposal and I don’t imagine there’ll be too many changes af-ter that.”

• • • •The new sports and recrea-

tion officer who was due to start work at Wagait Beach and Bely-uen mid-last month didn’t.

Chris Mackay succeeded in winning a high profile training position with Queensland Emer-gency Services and pulled the

plug on his Cox Peninsula role.Geoff was not surprised by the

change of direction, saying it was an opportunity any young man would find hard to refuse.

• • • •The much-faded large sign

outside the shire council office could be about to be put to use.

Lisa-Marie Stones said she had been approached by people ask-ing about its use for advertising who wanted details of prices and sign sizes.

The question caught Geoff by surprise.

“I know we own the sign but I’ll have to look into it,” he said.

Several suggestions were put forward to ensure the signs were acceptable, attractive and a uni-form size.

It may also be an opportunity to replace the very faded and un-readable street map that puzzles so many visitors.

• • • •Lisa-Marie also asked about

the progress of the purchase of small children’s toys that dated back more than two years.

Geoff said he had not been able to find a grant or allocation for the purpose but believed the pro-ject may have been part of a larg-er community grant.

“We did look at some equip-ment but it was very expensive … about $2500 for a rocking horse on a spring,” he said.

He promised to check before the next meeting.

• • • •

Auditor report raises council hackles

Last month's council report

KEEP YOURCHILD SAFE

USE THE RIGHT CHILD CAR RESTRAINT

New child car restraint laws for children under 7 years will apply in the NT from 1 February 2013

For more information visit www.roadsafety.nt.gov.au

New restraint requirementsNew laws require all children in the under 7 years of age to be secured in an approved child restraint or booster seat when travelling in a car or vehicle. The type of the restraint depends on the age of the child.Under 6 months – rear facing restraint (baby capsule) – must not be in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows of seats6 months to under 4 years – rear facing or forward facing re-straint – must not be in the front row of a vehicle with two or more rows of seats4 years to under 7 years – forward facing restraint or booster seat – can only sit in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows when all other seats are occupied by younger children in ap-proved child restraints.Over 7 years – adult seat belt or a booster seatResearch shows children up to 7 years using an adult seat belt are at least 4 times as likely to sustain a head injury in a crash com-pared to children in an appropriate restraint.Penalties and fines – $480 (plus $20 victim levy) and 3 demerit points per child not appropriately restrained.This is a Wagaitear community service information article.

The old council sign with one out-of-date advertisement. A new lease of life proposed.


Mandorah Beach Hotel‘Your community hotel’

Wet season trading hours until March 18 Monday CLOSED Tuesday CLOSED Wednesday CLOSED Thursday 10 am to 10 pm Friday 10 am to 10 pm Saturday 10 am to 10 pm Sunday 10 am to 6 pm

No service Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or after 6 pm SundayPhone: 8978 5044 Fax: 8978 5060

No real monsoon until month’s end

Wagait Shire Council chief exec-utive Geoff Handicott will resign next month.

“I’ll be finishing up on March 19,” he said after announcing his decision to council members in a closed session of the January meeting.

“It’s not a lot to do with here, it’s more to do with family. It’s just a lot of little things, I can’t blame this place.

“All the kids are down there so we’ll be moving back to Albury-Wodonga in southern New South Wales.”

Geoff revealed several family mem-bers had suffered from poor health re-cently and both he and his wife Joy wanted to be closer to their families.

Geoff leaving next month

Geoff Handicott

Even the Burdekin ducks have given up waiting for the rain and taken over the wallaby bowl at one property at Wagait Beach.

It’s not only the ducks that can’t work out what’s going wrong with the weather.

Forecasters at the Darwin Bu-reau of Meteorology are baffled by the lack of rain over Darwin and the Cox Peninsula this wet season.

Wagait Beach has seen only 526 mm since the official start of the wet season on October 1 – well down on the end of January average of 889 mm.

And with the wet season driv-er, the Madden Julian Oscillation pulse, in the western Pacific and moving slowly east, it could be the end of February before it has any impact on the Cox Peninsula.

Climate Services manager Joel Lisonbee admits he’s at a loss for the reasons behind the strange wet season.

“At the beginning of the wet all signs pointed to near average wet season rainfall, but this sea-son has been far below average,” he said.

“One thing that can help us make a prediction is the strong signal from the MJO right now.

“If it stays strong we can expect to see it back in Australian longi-tudes in a little over a month. But it is not as bad as it sounds … the monsoon can still be present un-der these conditions, just less ac-tive than usual.

“The suppressed phase of the Madden-Julian Oscillation should be out of the way in about two weeks and we could see nor-mal monsoon conditions that are not affected by the MJO af-ter that.”

LowestThe lowest rainfall for Janu-

ary at Wagait Beach since records began in 1988 was in 2002 when only 94 mm was recorded.

1996 was the next driest, with 181 mm.

The difference could be that in both those years there was heavy rainfall in February.

If the bureau’s forecast proves accurate, there will need to be a stack of rain at the end of Feb-ruary and extending well into March to get the wet season back on track.

Where’s the wet?


The bus is dead; long live the bus

These are Belyuen Community Government Council enterprises

7-day 24-hour fuelDiesel & unleaded

available at city prices!

Prepaid fuel swipe cards ($10, $20, $50, $100) available during store trading hours. Cards

retain any unused value.

telephone: 8978 5078Open Mon-Fri 8.30 am to 4.30 pm; Sat 9 am to 12 noon.

Closed public holidays

BELYUEN MECHANICAL WORKSHOP

For all types of mechanical repairsOpen Monday to Friday between 8 am and 4 pm

Phone Mark 8978 5420Rego checks by appointment only

Fee-free ATM

in-store

Wagait Beach has a new bus service to replace the Larrakia Development Corporation’s Man-dorah Transport that wound up last month.

Brad Irvine is operating the Wagait Wagon, a new seven-seater people mover that will oper-ate mainly for the commuter ferries.

“I’ll be catering for local residents and regular commuters,” Brad said.

“We’re licensed to carry seven people – I’m not going to get a 20-seater bus unless I’m sure I can get the customers.

“A lot of people (who previously used the bus) have made alternative arrangements and it will take time to undo that.”

While the Monday to Friday morning and af-ternoon commuter ferries will be his main mar-ket, Brad is willing to run a taxi-type service if he gets sufficient notice..

“If someone wants people picked up on say Saturday and I’ve got sufficient notice and not doing maintenance, I can do it,” he said. “My rates will be comparable with Darwin taxis.”

“I’m also keen to hear from anyone with an H-endorsement – there will be times when I’m not available to drive. I’ll be paying proper rates.”

Brad Irvine and his new Wagait Wagon. Providing a service by appointment for the 6, 6.45. 7.20 and 8 am ferries as well as the 5, 6 and 7 pm commuter services from Cullen

Bay. Intending passengers must ring and book if they want to ride.

2013 Australia Day citizen award to Dale EganFormer Cox Peninsula Communi-

ty Government councillor Dale Egan, who died last year, is this year’s Wagait Beach citizen of the year.

As well as being a long serving coun-cillor, Dale was a former police officer and one of the Territory’s first wildlife rangers.

His wife Ellen and many Egan family members were at last month’s national day ceremony to observe the presenta-tion and accept the award from Wagait Shire president Trish McIntyre.

Earlier in the day, Kaleb Speechley, 13, won his third fun run – the 4 million mil-limetre mini-marathon – from his sister

Jordan, 12, with first-time entrant, Nyah Brown, 9, third.

Jackie Edwards’ dog Albert took out the encouragement award for his con-sistent appearances at the event.

Wagait Beach’s young cricketers won the match against the navy cadets, the Brown sisters, Sarah and Nyah, took the cake baking prize, the firies’ sausage siz-zle and the Cox Club bar both did a roar-ing trade and the tea and scones stand sold out.

Face painting again proved popular with some of the adults joining the chil-dren in the queue, while the fishing line casting attracted plenty of interest.

Shire president Trish McIntyre presents Tim, Michael and Ellen Egan with Dale’s award.

Wagait Beach Australia Day 2013 in picturesFirst up was the 4 million

mm fun run with the eager starters (right) lined up to go.

They were well cared for by Stem Edwards (below), Tom and Jez Malone and Phil Park-er who provided the refresh-ments around the course.

Right : Ka-leb Speechley showed good form for the third year in a row to finish in a time of 20 minutes and 10 seconds

Above: There was a good turnout yet again for the tra-ditional flag raising ceremony and (left), shire president Trish McIntyre’s address.

This was followed by the awards ceremony (see details page 6).

The Navy cadets (right) pro-vided the flag escort and for-mal flag raising party.

The Wagaitear, February 2013 – Australia Day 2013 liftout

Wagait Beach Australia Day 2013 in pictures

Above: Several of the spectators seemed to get very close to the action during the cricket match between Wagait Beach and the Navy cadets – or were they just fielders having a chat about tactics? The amateur face painters (below left) had a great time making sure no-one who wandered into range escaped unbrushed. The Cox Club bar and the tea stand in the background (below) catered for those with a thirst.

Above: Great concentration at the casting competition and (above right) the amazing cricket oval cake baked by the Brown sisters. Right: Did anyone escape the face painters?

The Wagaitear, February 2013 – Australia Day 2013 liftout


DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

www.nt.gov.au

Review of the Cemeteries Act You are invited to comment on the current Northern Territory Cemeteries Act and Cemeteries Regulations.A discussion paper along with the current legislation is available online at www.nt.gov.au/localgovernment.To request further information email: [email protected].

Submissions can be sent to:Mail: Legislation Unit Department of Local Government GPO Box 4621, Darwin NT 0801Email: [email protected]: 8923 7630

The closing date for submissions is Thursday 28 February 2013.

Sport and Recreation OfficerBelyuen Council and Wagait Shire are seeking expressions of interest for a Sport and Recreation Officer to work in both communities.

We are looking for:

• Apersonwhocanwhocanworkflexiblehours

• Hasexperienceworkingwithchildren/youths

• HasqualificationsinSport&RecreationorAfterSchoolCareactivitiesorsimilar

• HasacurrentNTdriverslicence(preferablyLR(lightrigid)orcangetanLRlicence).

• HasorisabletoobtainaWorkingwithChildrenCard.

Pleaseforwardawrittenexpressionofinteresttoeither:

GeoffHandicottWagaitShireCEOPMB19DarwinNT0801orceo@wagait.nt.gov.au – or CathyWinsleyCEOBelyuenCMB18DarwinNT0801orcathy.winsley@belyuen.nt.gov.au

Expressions of Interest close on 08 February 2013

Two Wagait Beach identities were among the Charles Dar-win University’s Mawul Rom graduates late last year.

The course is a unique combi-nation of traditional Aboriginal conflict resolution and modern mediation practices.

Those who have taken part in the course speak highly of the

wealth of knowledge availa-ble and the unique experience of working in two cultures to-wards one goal.

Above from left: Patrick McIntyre from Wagait Beach,

Richard Gunduwuy from Galiwinku, Brian Gumbula

from Balkara and Gillian Harrison from Wagait Beach.

New knowledge from cross-culture course


In an emergency …Medical – duty District Medical Officer 000 or 8922 8888Wagait Beach Clinic Tues/Thurs 5 pm to 8 pmNT HealthDirect (medical advice) 1800 022 222Police 000, 131 444Fire 89 785 176Power and Water 1800 245 090NT Emergency Services Cox Peninsula 000

Wagaitear trades and servicesWagaitear trades, services, public noticesWho does what at Wagait Beach

Accommodation MandorahBeachsideHotel 89785044 WagaitBeachBushRetreat 89785123

Airconditioner installation/maintenance MichaelVaughan(MJElectrical) 0427180379 ColinDunne 89785166

Belly dancing ChristholSwanson(43CoxDrive) 0413199928

Block and home maintenance Mark 0427029966 Matelot(Phil) 0412506999or89785372 Warren 0407546275or89785175

Builders PeninsulaBldg(Paul) 0428890108or89785488 MichaelCollins(sheds,fencing) 0418638170

Boilermaker Mark(AnythingSteel) 0411230918or89785466

Commissioners for Oaths PeterClee 0418894404 LindaKing 89785064 RhondaSolien 89785241

Concreting RickGosper 0404656270

Earthworks & installations: Mick&Donna 419822320or89785034

Eating out Underthe BanyanTree(CoxClub) 0411748386

Electrical contractor MichaelVaughan(MJElectrical) 0427180379

Flying lessons (gyrocopter) Max 0418856143

Gas fitting ColinDunne 89785166

Jewellery Michelle 0428852082

Marine Services IrvineMarine–BradIrvine 0417871082

Meat supplies Matt&Lil(MeatDirect) 0416942519

Minibus (Wagait Wagon) Bookings 0417005025

Native plant nursery ChrisandJack 89785111

Pest control PestOff–AndiRussell 048852002989785141

Plastering MichaelMilton 89785126

Printing and publishing Wagaitear 0417089528or89785111

Property conveyancing NaomiIrvine 89811086 TrishMcIntyre 89816733or89785237

Supermarket & hardware Chris,Sueandtheteam 89785008

Taxi truck and garden centre Mark 0427029966

Water deliveries Mick&Donna 0419822320or89785034 Mark 0427029966

Welding and metalwork Rick 0404656270

Windows, louvres, doors and fly-screens PeterWolf 0458 362 197Who does what is a free service to Cox Peninsula businesses.

To be included call 8978 5111 or email [email protected]

MATELOTPhil ‘I’ll cut your grass’ ParkerForallyourneedsincluding:lawn

mowing,brushcutting,chainsawwork,yardclearing,generalyardcleanup,

guttercleaningReasonable rates

Phone: 8978 5372 or 0412 506 999 If unattended (or unheard) please leave a message and

I will return your call. ABN37199580163

Wagait Beach fine diningUnder the Banyan TreeWednesday bingo evenings onlyThursday, Friday, Saturday 6.30 pm to 8.30 pmSunday breakfast 9 am to 11 amSunday dinner 6 pm to 7.30 pmCheck us out at the Cox Country Club – 103 Cox Drive

Phone: 0411 748 386

M KIEM and D HARRY CONTRACTING.

MOODY MICK“DIRTY DEEDS DONE DIRT CHEAP”

Ph: 8978 5034 / 0428 614 534for all your earthworks, water cartage, driveways, footings, sand, soil and rock

“If we can't do it we’ll know who can”


ARE YOU THINKING OF SELLING?Licensed Real Estate Agents

153 Mitchell Street, Larrakeyah NT 0820PO Box 2194, Parap NT 0804

phone: 8982 8282 fax: 8941 2315

www.alliancerealty.com.au

For professional advice and information relative to WAGAIT BEACH, please contact me

Ron ‘Mussy’ Shaw0410 064 775

[email protected]

•RepairsandMaintenance

•Yacht&BoatDeliveries

•Antifouling•Crewing•MarinaWork•BoatElectrics

❛We prefer not to limit ourselves❜

Irvine Marine Services Pty Ltd

ABN 87 160 023 718

Brad Irvine, Managing Director, Ph: 0417 871 082

Mark’s Rural Services & Garden Centre

• Slashing & spraying• Post/plant holes • Large bucket & backhoe• Taxi truck 5 m tray – 8 m lengths on racks –

back-load rates• 5000 litre water delivery any time $50• Tractor and operator $90/hr

Ph 0427 029 966 or text if no answer

DARWIN CARPETS & VINYLSNow at 91 Coonawarra Road Winnellie

For all your floor covering needsCarpet, vinyl, planks, marine carpet, artificial grass

Local installation and quotes now availableTrevor and Sally Edwards

Ph 8947 2077 Fax 8947 2311 Mob 0412 484 976

HUMPTY DOO PLUMBINGSelf-certifying plumber and drainer

General Plumbing Contractors

GREG KEOGHGood rates – great service

Phone & Fax: 8988 2093 0408 898 491 or 0419 820 733

MJ ElectricalElectrical Contractor

Michael VaughanAll classes of electrical installations,

maintenance and repair. Licence C1502 Licensed split system installer L061106

Phone 0427 180 379 Fax: 8988 2093

Wagaitear trades and services


Across 1 A resident of Anjou (7) 5 A leg bone (5) 8 Relating to audible sound (5) 9 Ledgeman (7) 10 Photon in, electron out, that kind

of (13) 11 Lacking intellectual acuity (6) 12 A dish served as the last course of

a meal (informal) (6) 15 Antipodean civil servant (6,7) 18 Universal remedy (7) 19 Positively charged electrode (5) 20 Pass a rope through (5)21Ametalsupportforlogsinafire-

place (7)Down 1 Greek author of fables (5) 2 Description of diplomacy by the

threat (or actual use) of force (7) 3 An argument that assumes that

which is to be proved (7,6) 4 A faint cloudy spot on the cornea

(6)

5 From that time on (13) 6 Wheeler (5) 7 European bison (7) 11 In writing (2,5) 13 Enchant (7) 14 A member of a Bantu people (6) 16 The human head (informal) (5) 17 A fastener that serves to join or

connect (3-2)

Answers to last puzzle

TIFFWORDS

76

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9

10

11 12 13

14

15 16 17

18 19

20 21

Pisces: February 20 – March 19Time to check what the billy lids are up to be-

fore you get home from work. If they keep going, they’ll wind up looking like one of the cane toads on the road. Lucky No 50 km/h.Aries: March 20 – April 20

Bloody hell, criticise the world and no-one giver two knobs of billy-goat poop. Criticise an Aries and the buggers all reckon it’s the end of the world. Lucky No 13.Taurus April 21 – May 21

How are the new year resolutions progress-ing? It’s going to take some of that bull-headed resolve if they are to last much longer. Lucky No 1.Gemini: May 22 – June 21

Leaving everything until the very last second may be an exciting way to live but it drives eve-ryone else bonkers. Give your friends a break. Lucky No 2 – again.Cancer: June 22 – July 22

The weather may not be conducive to outdoor activities like barbecues but that doesn’t mean a giant dose of the crabbies. Be nice to your friends! Lucky No 17. Leo: July 23 – August 23

The mirror is sagging again. Remember that resolutionaboutgettingfitandlosingafewofthose extra kilos? Stick with it and the results will show. Lucky No 6.Virgo: August 24 – September 23

This is the month to be extra nice to your part-ner.Aromanticdinnerinsomeflashplaceinthebig smoke could lead to some of that good old horizontal tap dancing. Lucky No 96.Libra: September 24 – October 23

Your future is a little hazy this month. Check the north sky carefully for a sign. No, not those thoseblackfluffythings.Theyarecloudsandmean you’re about to get very wet. Lucky No 44.Scorpio: October 24 - November 22

An interesting alignment of Scorpio’s stars this month which could mean some money com-ing your way. Enrolling your old Aunt Maud in a Phil Nitschke course will NOT bring you much luck. Lucky No 4.Sagittarius: November 23 – December 22Canetoadsstillfigureprominentlyinyour

future. Do a toad bust with the neighbours this month – you may meet someone (or thing) fascinating. Lucky No 10.Capricorn: December 23 – January 20GoatshaveaspecialsignificanceduringChi-

nese New Year this month. Take some chances by all means but beware of dragons on dark nights. Lucky No 88.Aquarius: January 21 – February 19

Dancing around naked is not going to stop the rain. All you are doing is scaring the neighbours, Terrifying little children and putting the chooks off laying. Lucky No 400 mm.

K I B B U T Z P U R I ME R N O R A AY I E L D M A I L B A GE A E B V B ED E T E R M I N A T I O N

H E E T TU N E A S Y C I N E M AP T S S VS P E C I F I C A T I O NT D M L T L UA N I M A T E I N E R TG T T N O Y TE N S U E T A N N E R Y

Shop before you shipFull range of ferry tickets available at the Wagait Beach Supermarket,

Belyuen Store and the Mandorah HotelFerry inquiries 1300 693 377

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120 years since Point Charles saw the light

Researched and written by LORRAINE GARDNER

Point Charles Lighthouse turned 120 on the first of this month.

Since 1893 the lighthouse has been many things to many people – most importantly saving many lives.

The light warns of the dangers in the area and has provided a rescue point for those who have come to grief on the water. In those early days, a flash light was used to commu-nicate with Fannie Bay for assistance

From 1893 until August 1933 when the lighthouse was automated, there was always something happening.

Records held by the NT Library’s Pictures NT include photos of houses, sheds and gar-dens as part of the lighthouse infrastructure.

By June 1893, with the help of the local Ab-original people, fences were erected around the cottages, a fairly successful garden was established in the jungle area and goats and fowl introduced.

The Aboriginal people also provided fresh fish to the lighthouse keepers and their families.

In January 1894 the flying ants and insects were so bad the operation of the light was af-fected and the lighthouse keepers were ask-ing for a remedy that allowed in fresh air but excluded these “tiny tormentors”. Sound familiar?

In that year a lighthouse keeper was sacked because he regularly fell asleep on shift and let the light do the same.

In 1908 lighthouse keeper Hugh Christie tried his hand at crocodile farming with 31 hatchlings from 36 eggs.

“Those wishing to try crocodile farming for household pets should put in an early appli-cation,” he suggested.

Crocodiles played a big part in everyday life then as they do today.

One morning Christie and an offsider were to swim out to their anchored boat, but with the tide too high to go down the cliff, decided to walk along the road to the beach.

Their dogs scampered down the cliff face and Christie’s offsider threw a stick into the water. As the dogs followed it a crocodile leapt from the water. The croc was shot and the dogs were saved.

Another day, a lighthouse keeper’s young son followed his dad out kangaroo shooting.

Without realising the boy was in the area, one of the party took a shot at a kangaroo and the child was hit.

The boy received seven pellets – two near the nose and eye. After much anxiety, a Dar-win doctor extracted the pellets and the boy’s sight saved.

While lighthouse keepers resided at Point Charles it was common for picnickers to sail over from Darwin for day trips.

The keepers would entertain the “tourists” by showing them around their gardens, take them up the 90+ internal lighthouse stairs and selling polished turtle shells, curios and locally taken photographs.

A wedding on Christmas Eve 1930 of Eric McNab & Edith Miller (the lighthouse keep-er’s daughter) was classed as “unique” by one newspaper of the time.

Today the area around the lighthouse is still a great place for fishing, a picnic or just a fun tourist run.

Author’s footnoteI sought permission from Canberra to have

an open day 120th birthday party. Unfortu-nately celebrations are only funded every 25 years so get ready for the big party on Febru-ary 1, 2018.

The above information above was sourced through the National Library’s Trove internet link. If you are interested, there is quite a lot of information on the web.

I am always hap-py to pass on any information I have gathered and to re-ceive any informa-tion you may have – Lorraine.

In 1894 a lad-der was construct-ed to allow pas-sage up the cliff face in front of the lighthouse.

This photograph was taken in 2010 but the ladder dis-appeared in 2011. Was it the remains of the 100-year-old ladder?

National Library of Australia Taken from page 3 of the

NT Times & Gazette February 3, 1893

The new lighthouse with

a flourishing pineapple crop.


from the quarterdeck …with the Admiral

ACROSS

THE

HARBOUR

Darwin Harbour tide times February – sponsored by

John Braybon is not noted for his good luck.

A couple of run-ins with the constabulary and his ability to fall from trucks and ferries are proof that he’s well known to the famous Murphy.

But his luck may have changed after winning a free ticket on the new Wagait Wagon bus service.

John was the first person to book a trip and scored the week-ly ticket as a reward.

• • • •For those who haven’t no-

ticed, the “Braderator” still is not getting power to the ferry air-conditioner.

It did run for one trip but over-

heated on the way back, cooking a couple of vital bits.

The admiral hears there may be a new solution in the wind.

• • • •Australia Day celebrations at-

tracted a good crowd again this year with the council area and the sports ground in great nick.

Council staff Gary, Robbo, Pam , Geoff and his wife Joy put in a mighty effort setting up.

They were ably assisted by the firies and emergency services.

Congratulations also to Kate Hinchliffe and Belyuen’s Ben Bigfoot for their student awards

• • • •

Discussions about the jetty car park last month included com-plaints about the distance to the far reaches of the suggested new parking area.

Several surprised bystand-ers were amazed and wanted to know how often anyone could park that close to the shops in Darwin or Casuarina.

One well-known local sug-gested the walk would do won-ders for some of the serial late comers who have to make a dash for the boat.

• • • •Still at the meeting, the sug-

gested fish-cleaning facility in the car park did not impress locals.

But a suggestion to put it on the jetty brought warnings of croco-diles and danger to the fishos.

Some suggested that given the amount of bait and rubbish being left on the jetty, a couple of crocs might be just the shot.

• • • •

Who recently bought a “small” floating toy to keep ducks out of the spa? It didn’t work, although it scared the kookaburras.

Copyright. The National Tidal Facility Australia – Flinders University of

South Australia.DISCLAIMER: These tidal predic-

tions are supplied in good faith and believed to be correct. No warranty

is given in respect of errors, omission or suitability for any purpose.

www.fastferries.com.au

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