Junction Journal—February, 2018 2
© COPYRIGHT 2018 Articles and photographs that are the property of the ‘Junction Journal’
may be reproduced, provided the ‘Junction Journal’ and sources are acknowledged.
Australia Day Celebrations ………………………... 3/4
Douglas Daly Farm Social Club News — Ultimate Frisby & Barra Brag Board ………..
5
Equine Facility Update ………………………………... 6-8
Douglas Daly Footy Tipping ………………………... 9
Pine Creek Police next visit …………………………. 9
Crocodile Stories and where to report ……. 10/11
Douglas Daly Road Report ……………………………. 12
Community Notice Board ……………………………... 13
Douglas Daly Weather ………………………………….. 14
What the Monsoon Brings ……………………………. 15/16
TDDCDA Cleaning Roster ……………………………. 17
The Junction Journal is
a monthly not for profit
publication servicing the
residents of the Douglas
Daly Community.
It is produced solely on
a 100% volunteer basis
with the first edition being circulated
May 20th 1992.
—————————————————–
Editor & Publisher
Sue Shotton
PMB 105, Winnellie, NT 0822
Ph: 08 8978 2705
http://www.facebook.com/
JunctionJournal
http://customers.skymesh.net.au/
~JunctionJournal/
What a wet month we have had with a typical
monsoon making its appearance felt by all. Our
thoughts went out to the Tourist Park when they
were flooded but luckily after a couple of days
of clean-up it didn’t even look like the water
had entered.
Its times like this that people need to slow down
and evaluate the situations before them. Drive
to road conditions and do not venture through
water unless you really need to. Thanks to
Douglas Station for keeping locals informed of
the river height of Hayes Creek on Oolloo Road
through the Douglas Daly facebook page. It
was appreciated by many.
When talking about speed and safety, it has
been noted that some people are not slowing
down when travelling over the bridges on
Oolloo Rd. This is extremely important if there
are people fishing on the bridges.
There may be children present, who sometimes
are not road savvy and may run across the road
when a vehicle is approaching.
If you are travelling at a slow speed when
people are around, you will be focussed on the
unexpected. You never know you might need
to brake for a crocodile. There have been a
couple who have decided to sunbake on
Douglas Bridge.
The wet has not finished yet so enjoy the sun
while it shines.
Junction Journal—February, 2018 3
Australia Day was well celebrated by the locals and wider community
coming together at the
Douglas Daly Community Hall.
Water play kicked off the warm Australia Day afternoon events with
‘There’s a hole in your bucket’ water races, a waterslide and giant beach
balls enjoyed by kids of all ages.
The courts were also filled with plenty of participants for cricket and
tennis fun matches.
Darts was also a favourite on the day with the women enjoying a very
entertaining ‘Round the World’ tournament.
Everyone brought a plate and the BBQ got fired up for all to enjoy the
Aussie favourite Snag with some light refreshment!!
Nibbles, party pies, sausages rolls and lamingtons were also a favourite
on the day.
Thanks to all who came and celebrated our Douglas Daly Australia Day.
Junction Journal—February, 2018 4
Junction Journal—February, 2018 5
Douglas Daly Farm Social Club News
The Douglas Daly Farm Social Club is located at the Douglas Daly Research Farm and is a great
place for a little bit of socialising on the weekends.
On Friday nights you can learn and play Ultimate Frisby if there are sufficient
numbers of interested players. Email CJ if you are interested.
Saturday night enjoy a dart and pool competition commencing on
Saturday March 10.
Douglas Daly Farm Social Club fishing brag board —
Runs from now till October. Who is catching the biggest
fish? Come to the club and brag about it. When you are
at the club register your fish catch for the week and see if
you can hit the leader board. You must have photo proof
of your catch with a date. It would be appreciated that
you also email a copy of your fish if it hits the lead to
[email protected] so we can keep a record of the best
fish each month.
If you are eligible, its never too late to join the Douglas Daly Farm Social Club which
will give you member’s benefits. Membership is just $10 single and $20 family.
Junction Journal—February, 2018 6
TDDCDAI EQUINE FACILITY REPORT UPDATE 23/2/2017
Walking through the Equine Facility Campground a week ago, it hit me that around this time last
year I was doing the exact same thing however instead of working on the ablution block with Joe
I was collecting data for the clearing application. So I look back at what we have done in the past
year as a community to what we will continue to build with the Equine facility year after year.
The Douglas Daly Community Development Association Inc. was granted $125,225 from the
Northern Territory Government Major Community Benefit Fund around early December 2016.
In April 2017 TDDCDAI was successful in receiving a permit to clear native Vegetation. All
cleared and non- cleared areas on Lot 16 Wilson Road had to be involved which included approx.
14.14Ha. This was completed by community volunteers.
The Equine Facility subcommittee started ordering materials ready for building infrastructure after
clearing was completed
Clearing was completed in April/May 2017. Chad Marriot pushed up piles of debri ready to burn
and Volunteers burnt piles.
On the 6th of May we had our first
major community working Bee. The
tank pad was on the agenda with
Nelson Nunn in the side tipper, Logan
Reid on the Bob Cat, Chris Howie on
his Telehandler and Cameron Heeb
on a loader. The Campdraft arena,
rodeo arena, camp, front and back
yards where pegged out. Trenches
where being dug from the tank pad to
the campground and the Arena.
Water lines were going in thanks to
Rooster, Chris Howie, Amanda Howie, Joe Scotney and other valuable volunteers. Dan Thomson
was busy on the grader levelling the ground preparing for the infrastructure to be built.
Also on the 6th of May TDDCDAI held their first Fundraiser The 60’s Night. This was Organised
by Kerry Harlan.
On the 26th of May the Herrod Family of Ponderosa Brahman Stud generously donated Brahman
Bull Lot 113 for auction at the annual
Katherine Brahman sale this raised $6000.00
On the 2nd
of June the Equine Facility Sub
Committee with the help of Helen Groves held
the Douglas Daly Campdraft Auction at the
ASHA Campdraft in Katherine. This was
organised by Amanda Howie and $7500.00
was raised.
On June the 10th 2017 was another Working
Bee and Mike Farrell organised Darwin based
group ‘Boys At The Shed’ to help out by stick
picking all of the Arena. This was very
Junction Journal—February, 2018 7
important as the ground needed to be ready for the Funkhana.
Also in June a Volunteer community workforce placed all of the Arena Material up. fantastic effort!
On the 16th of June with the help of volunteers Top End Water Storage built the 234,562L
Zincalume Tank. Top End Water Storage donated $2000.00 towards this build.
The Annual TDDCDAI Funkhana was held on the 24th of June 2017 in the enclosed arena! I
celebrated as this facility was being used for the first time as a safe enclosed area. A goal was
reached!
In August TDDCDAI held their Annual Cricket Match. Sarah
- Jane McBean organised catering which fundraised
towards the Equine Facility.
In October another and very successful working Bee was
held. H&K Contracting Kindly donated Gravel. Dan
Thomson was also busy loading Nelson Nunn in the side
tippers with gravel. The Volunteers worked hard through
very hot weather. Water troughs were placed in, all water
lines were covered over, tyres were placed around taps and
filled with gravel, debri piles were pushed up. The ablution
block profiles went up, the loading ramp was nearly
completed, and the rodeo arena was built. It was a long hot
day and as a result the campground now has access to
water.
In November a variation report was sent into the grant’s
department and accepted.
Also in November a grant extension was requested. The
grants department extended the grant to the 31st of April
2018
Junction Journal—February, 2018 8
At the start of November a
volunteer workforce once
again worked on the building
of the infrastructure and
spraying regrowth.
As of today, the Campdraft
Subcommittee are organising
the program for the first
Douglas Daly Campdraft
which will be held on the 6th
,
7th
& 8th
of July 2018. There
is also planning for the first
Douglas Daly Pony Club, and
the first Horsemanship/Campdraft school which will be held in June. TDDCDAI is also planning
for the next Funkhana.
To get the Equine Facility ready we are currently working on finishing the Ablution block, the
office/commentators box and tidying and placing the finishing touches on all areas.
This Enclosed Equine Facility has been and still is a very large project. It has been built by both
the Douglas Daly district and the greater community. The community spirit shows at each working
bee with a large number of community members working side by side. Be it the Farm/Station
hand giving up his fishing to help, the School teacher covering trenches and carrying tyres or the
Business owner supplying their machinery, workforce or money.
This is a good time to look back and asked ourselves WHY was this built? The answer being that
insurance policy pushed for a safer area when holding a Funkhana. It creates a venue for Cattle
handling, working dog and Horsemanship Schools. It gives
the youth another avenue for sports and recreation. It
creates opportunity for fundraising which also fits into The
Douglas Daly Community Developments Associations Inc
development plan to be sustainable.
Please consider all of our sponsors next time you do
business.
Written By Catherine Scotney
Junction Journal—February, 2018 9
Douglas Daly Footy Tipping Competition
Officially KICKS OFF with the first NRL match on
Thursday 8th March
VERSUS
If you are interested in joining the footy tipping competition please email Mary-Jane or
[email protected]. Entries can also be handed in during Friday night at the Social Club.
If entries are handed in late then the games that have already been played will give you the
away team as your pick. A small entry fee covers the end of season function and prize
money.
Both codes (NRL and AFL) form part of this competition and if you are not familiar with
one code then have a guess on the game outcome. It has been noted in the past that
someone with no knowledge of football codes has ranked in the top 5 tippers.
So have a go and join the fun. A good tipping competition is one that has a few players
and I know some tippers get quite competitive.
Junction Journal—February, 2018 10
Crocodiles with taste for Territory beef dragged from station dam Lucas Marks, NT Country Hour, Updated 8 Feb 2018, 8:43pm
Crocodile catchers are being kept busy this Top End wet season, with big Territory salties moving into places they've never been seen before, and snapping up cattle while they are there.
Two large saltwater crocodiles, dubbed Gobbo and Croco, were recently dragged from a dam on Annaburroo Station, and measured 4.3 metres and 4.4 metres, respectively.
"With the first lot of rain this dam filled up and within five hours there were these two big crocodiles," crocodile catcher Roger Matthews told the NT Country Hour.
The station, which backs onto the Mary River, was having problems with local crocs developing a taste for Territory beef.
"One cow had been killed and they found the body of the cow and realised 'there's something in [the water] because it's fresh'," Mr Matthews said.
"It's pretty amazing how quickly these crocodiles move into a water course.
"We just use these big treble hooks and throw them across and if there's a crocodile in there it doesn't penetrate the skin but it annoys.
"It comes out thrashing it's head side-to-side and we put a noose over its top jaw and drag it in."
It's not the first time the station has had trouble, with the station reporting in January last year it had lost more than 100 cattle to crocodiles and spent $100,000 to manage the problem.
Mr Matthews said large saltwater crocodiles couldn't be released back into the wild and rather they needed to find another private home, or be turned into trophy leather.
Once Gobbo and Croco were caught, they were loaded live onto the back of a trailer and taken to be killed and skinned.
"In our business we sell heads and skins," Mr Matthews said.
"We catch more crocodiles than probably people that want them, so that's how we make our money is the head and skin trade — and the animal is utilised."
'They're on the move and there are a lot more'
The crocodile catcher says the population is soaring, with wildlife authorities catching 370 crocodiles last year in the wild compared to the average of 280 per year.
"It shows they're on the move and there are a lot more. We find them in places they never were before," Mr Matthews said.
"They're notorious for travelling across land and they seem to know where all these dams are
Dubbed Gobbo and Croco, the crocs measured 4.3 and
4.4 metres respectively. (Photo supplied by Triple C
crocodile catching contractors to NT Country Hour)
Junction Journal—February, 2018 11
even if there's no creeks attached to them.
"The bigger guys mate, they can move anywhere and it's a real wake up call for all our people in the Northern Territory: stay away from water courses because what might've had nothing in it for years, with all the rain we've had, there could be a potential crocodile anywhere.
"All the kids playing in drains and things, keep out of it. If you see your mates playing in them, tell them to get out of it."
Saltwater crocodiles were listed as protected in 1971 after almost being hunted to extinction.
But since then their numbers have exploded and it's estimated there could be up to 200,000 in the wild, which nears the Territory's human population of 250,000 people.
Publisher
Of the
Junction Journal
A crocodile rides the waves at the mouth of Rapid Creek in Darwin.
ABC News 27 Jan 2018 Photo supplied: Andreas Heikaus
While crocodiles are a natural part of the NT ecosystem, you should report crocodiles that are any of the following:
close to a swimming area
in an area signposted as open for swimming
in a residential area, such as at Darwin Harbour, Katherine River, Nhulunbuy or Borroloola
behaving aggressively to people or posing a risk to public safety.
If your report is urgent, you should phone the following:
Darwin - 0419 822 859 or (08) 8983 2475
Katherine - 0407 958 405 or (08) 8973 8888.
Junction Journal—February, 2018 12
Douglas-Daly Road report 25th February 2018
Butterfly Gorge Access — Closed
Fountain Head Road — Road damage so drive with caution
Roads within the Douglas-Daly
Jungawa Rd, Boomjie Rd, Cadell Rd, Fleming Rd, Illawara Rd,
Oolloo Rd (Boomjie to crossing)
Maximum GVM 4.5 tonne, Light vehicles only,
High clearance 4WD needed in places
Hayes Creek Crossing Oolloo Rd
Water flowing at times—Caution required.
Oolloo Rd
Caution required in areas of road damage
Jungawa Rd
Caution required from floodway before first grid to grid at Research Farm—
area washes away easily
PLEASE DRIVE TO THE CONDITIONS
With the WET SEASON now here please be careful if flash flooding occurs
and drive to conditions.
If you come across a floodway that is going to cause some problems
PLEASE post this on the Douglas Daly facebook page so locals are aware of
all the hazards in our district.
https://www.facebook.com/Douglas.Daly.NT
For more up to date road condition reports visit
https://roadreport.nt.gov.au/road-map
Please remember the updates on this road map are
only as good as the people supplying the
information. Some road hazards do not appear.
Junction Journal—February, 2018 13
In a Medical Emergency you must ring the District Medical Officer at Royal Darwin
Hospital on 8922 8888 and state clearly that it is a
LIFE THREATENING SITUATION
SUE SHOTTON
Justice of the Peace
JP0248 08 8978 2705
In an emergency and needing a defibrillator within Douglas Daly, DDVBB have two—one
located at the brigade headquarters and one at
DDRF. There is also one at the school.
Adelaide River Health Clinic
9am to 12 am & 1pm to 4pm Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri
9am to 12 am — Wednesday only
Doctor Days
Ring to make appointment
After Hours — emergency only
89 767 027
Community Notice
Board
March 11 — 2018 Travel Expo
Darwin Convention
Centre.
March 24 — Super clean at the
community hall
March 29 — Pine Creek police
visit Douglas-Daly
March 30 — Good Friday
March 31 — Start of Easter
weekend
March 31 — Douglas Daly
Funkhana
April 2 — Easter Monday
April 13 — End of Term 1
If you would like anything posted on
this community notice board, please
email details to the
Junction Journal
https://www.facebook.com/
Douglas.Daly.NT
Junction Journal—February, 2018 14
Douglas Daly Weather Report
January February (up to 25)
Max Temp: 37.0 o C (1st) Max Temp: 35.6
o C (9th)
Min Temp: 22.3 o C (30th) Min Temp: 22.7
o C (1st)
Mean Temp Range: 23.8—32.6 o C Mean Temp Range: 23.9—33.8
o C
Max Wind Run: 54 km/hr WNW (29th) Max Wind Run: 59 km/hr SSE (4th)
Rainfall: 728.4 mm (manual) Rainfall: 228.4 mm
Mean Rainfall: 291.7 mm Mean Rainfall: 288.5 mm
Lowest Rainfall: 60.6 (2016) Lowest Rainfall: 77.4 mm (1986)
Highest Rainfall: 786.6 mm (1998) Highest Rainfall: 680.2 mm (2008)
Highest Daily Rain: 179.0 mm (30th) Highest Daily Rain: 94.2 mm (14th)
Highest recorded daily rain: Highest recorded daily rain:
194.6 mm (27/01/1998) 212.0 mm (01/02/2014)
Raindays: 25 Raindays: 15
Rainfall for season 17/18: 1359.8 mm Rainfall for season 16/17: 1861.4 mm
Rainfall for 2017 calendar year: 956.8 mm
Rainfall for 2017 calendar year: 1482.6 mm
Rainfall for 2016 calendar year: 1186.2 mm
Mean rainfall per calendar year: 1253.2 mm
Highest rainfall per calendar year: 1939 mm (2011) (manual recording)
Lowest rainfall per calendar year: 640.5 mm (1970)
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
Ja
n
Fe
b
Ma
r
Ap
rl
Ma
y
Ju
ne
Ju
ly
Au
g
Se
p
Oct
Nov
Dec
mm
2015-2018 Rainfall--Douglas River
2015
2016
2017
2018
Junction Journal—February, 2018 15
Douglas Daly Weather Extra — what a monsoon brings
Impressive storm clouds.
Flooded backyards, properties and businesses
and new born chickens
Junction Journal—February, 2018 16
Do SLOW DOWN when people are
fishing on the Douglas River
Bridge.
Swollen Rivers
Flooded roads
Flooded Paddocks.
Junction Journal—February, 2018 17
Pine Creek Police Visit …… 9
RNT Business Solutions 11
Douglas-Daly Road Report.. 12
Medical Emergency……….. 13
Community Notice Board …. 13
Douglas Daly Weather 14
TDDCDA Cleaning Roster .. 17
Advertiser’s Index
JOBS INCLUDE:
Clean toilets/showers
Clean kitchen & Bar area & fridges
Sweep or hose concrete area
Wipe tables and chairs
Mow lawns around hall and also bushfires compound
Check generator – fuel, oil, water
Clean tennis courts – check all equipment is stored away, sweep surface
Lock all door including toilets, tennis courts, generator shed and front gate.
If you are unable to commit to your rostered month, please swap with someone
and advise the committee secretary Teresa at [email protected] or [email protected] soon as possible.
MARCH
Super Clean
March 24th
All members to Attend
APRIL
Sue & Peter Shotton
Mary-Jane & Nelson Nunn
Chris Hazel
MAY
Bert Parker & Kerry Harlan
Ross Harlan-Parker
Mark & Teresa Henderson
Cleaning Roster
Remember your cleaning roster dates and
please contact TDDCDAI if you can’t do your month
or need help.
Top Related