In a tremendous display of community spirit about 50 cubic metres of rubbish was ridded from a range of local beaches in the Cooktown region on the morning of May 9th.
More than 100 volunteers from a wide range of organisations took to boats, motor vehicles and their feet to make a clean sweep of the coast from Cooktown's North Shore south to Chetty Tree Bay, Finch Bay, Quarantine Bay, Walker Bay and Archer Point.
"This was a highly successful and extremely trouble free day that showed the people of this part of the world have a great deal of community spirit and care for our local environment." said Ian McCullum from the event's organising committee.
At Archer Point, a bottle and rubbish dump created by campers was to be removed this week with machinery needed to remove about 20 cubic metres of garbage.
"We must find some way of making it clear to visitors who wish to share our beaches and foreshore areas you are welcome - but take your rubbish away with you or dispose of it properly where facilities are provided." said Mr McCullum.
He said the organising committee planned to make the beach clean-up an annual event, and that by raising public awareness there would be less rubbish to pick up in the future. The event also built on previous beach clean ups and locally led rubbish research projects in past years which have identified land areas further south as the culprits for the debris washed out to sea in flood time and blown straight back onto Cape York beaches by the ubiquitous south easterly trade winds.
Among the diverse range of Far North organisations to contribute a variety of resources and legwork for Sunday's event were local government, indigenous and environmental groups, marine rescue and recreational groups and Cooktown businesses and individuals.

Article credit to http://www.cooktownlocalnews.com/

This Easter photo with the Calder family pretty much encapsulates the April weather.  22 days of rain, but only 364 mm overall.  In spite of the very average weather over the last month (!), we are delighted that GBRMPA has decided to renew Ricks contract, and look forward to spending another year helping to look after the island.

On April 22nd, there was a visit from the Mossman High School year 12 Biology Class, organised by Louise Oliver. Students studied three environments: mud flat, coral reef, and mangroves.  They also broke into small groups to learn the basics of doing weather observations,  participate in the Tangaroa Marine Debris Surveys, and general island caretaking tasks. This field trip was highly successful and a credit to the students & staff of Mossman High.

43 Volunteer nights were spent on the island this month, which was one of our fullest months. Volunteers assisted with a variety of tasks including removing mould inside all buildings, and a clean up on Woody Island, which netted 3 bags of debris, as well as useful floats, buckets, and a fender. 524 pieces of rubbish were also collected on the normal daily island clean ups and entered into the  monthly survey sheet. Thanks to all those volunteers who took rubbish and recycling back for us, and also to Lee Walters for sealing the chipboard cupboards with paint, and to Beth and Adrian for assisting Julia Hazel in transporting research equipment to the island.  Julia is beginning the first stages of her Turtle Research Project.

For a full copy of the report please contact the Low Isles Preservation Society 

Sunday 7th March saw over 40 Port Douglas volunteers gather for Clean Up Australia Day. They split into 8 teams covering Four Mile Beach and the roadway form Port Douglas to Mowbray Bridge and collected over 50 large bags of refuse including an ancient “keep left” road sign. All volunteers enjoyed a free Barbecue afterwards by the Treetops lagoon pool, courtesy of the local branch of the CBA and the Rotary Club.

 The organisers, form Port Douglas Rotary Club and Blue Dive, were thrilled with the large turnout and wanted to thank all those that turned up and in particular the great turn outs from the CBA,  Pandanus Caravan Park, Latitude 16, Treetops Resort and Bendigo Bank. They are also confident that the event  will be even bigger next year.