Jill and Geoff Site Managers
19/3/25 to 16/4/25
(Day 11 – 29/3/25)
Beach (Day 12 – 30/3/25)
Where is Clew Point (Day 13, 31/3/25)
Scrabbling (Day 14, 1/4/25)
Frog Alert (Day 15, 2/4/25) ...........................................
New Captain? (Day 16, 3/4/25)
Chinooking … is that a Word? (Day 17, 4/4/25)
Boat in Pancake Creek (Day 18, 5/4/25) .......................
Games in Quadrangle (Day 19, 6/4/25)
A Bowton Connection (Day 20, 7/4/25)
Miscellaneous Day (Day 21, 8/4/25).............................
Crow Eater’s Beer? (Day 24, 11/4/25)
Down the Front (Day 25, 12/4/25)
One Year Older (Day 26, 13/4/25).................................
Oh, Happy Days! (Day 27, 14/4/25) 29
Horticultural Surprise (Day 28, 15/4/25).......................
All Things Must End (Day 29, 16/4/25) ......................... 31 Parting Comment for Visitor’s Book
It sure is great when you get an opportunity to do something different and challenging. Jill and I have been fortunate enough to be trusted for four weeks as lighthouse keepers at Bustard Head Lighthouse, an un-manned facility (can function perfectly well without 100% human intervention) on the east coast of Queensland. This document is a collection of learnings and experiences from our time at this natural paradise.
(S24.0221 E151.7641)
Getting There (Day 1, 19/3/25)
Early in December 2024 we visited Bustard Head Lighthouse for the first time after we learnt there were site management/caretaker roles available there. We expressed interest with Stuart Buchanan (driving force at the Bustard Head Lighthouse Association BHLA) and before we knew it, we were booked in to manage from 19 March to 16 April 25. It seemed like ages in planning but at last we are here!
To catch the LARC from 1770 we had to leave Gladstone at 5:00am. We drove the red Pajero for what may just be its last trip away (tyres are nearly at the end of their lives).
We made in comfortably to 1770 with enough time for breakfast (toasty and coffee).
Mark Chambers is the appointed grounds “expert” for the BHLA. He met with us as we prepared to board and asked us to call him if we had issues with weeds, herbicides or rubbish collection.
Our supplies were stored in one big yellow esky, two small aircraft carry-on bags and eight 44l plastic storage boxes. When we have planned for trips such as this in the past we skimp and compromise only to be met every time by those taking us to our destination with:
“That’s nothing! You should see what some people bring!” and today was no different.
The esky was strapped on the LARCs engine hatch, and all our other supplies were secured to the LARC’s roof.
Today Jill and I were tagging along on what is called the Paradise Tour, the only LARC tour that travels all the way to Bustard Head Lighthouse. We travelled with another 17 passengers we later learnt had paid $150 each for the tour.
Our LARC captain was Ant (short for Anthony). He was accompanied by Jono the mechanic and Kev, the tour guide. Kev had an extensive repertoire of Dad Jokes and were it not for the occasional interesting local history fact, I could have thrown him overboard myself.
Our tour took us from 1770 and into Eurimbula National Park. The value of a vehicle such as the LARC in this environment cannot be understated.
We crossed four creeks Round Hill, Eurimbula, Middle and Jenny Lind Creeks before we started the steep ascent from beach level to the LARC Picnic Area.
We stopped at the rustic shelter where Kev singlehandedly catered for us all with a quick fruit/chip and coffee morning tea.
Key to this stop was everyone using the rest room before the final climb to Bustard Head Lighthouse. NO-ONE and I mean, no-one except for Site Managers can use the facilities at the lighthouse. The BHLA have had bad experiences with unusual pooping habits in thepast (associated with damaging rest room fittings) and hence the hard decision was made.
It is only about 600m up the hill to the lighthouse. Along this short stretch is an unused quarry from which aggregate was sourced to make the lighthouse foundations.
At the lighthouse we disembarked and gathered at the lighthouse’s flagpole. Here Ant delivered a brief
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historical overview before dividing all passengers into two groups. One group would visit the museum while the other would climb the lighthouse.
The outgoing managers were Bruce and Karen Randall. They were from Noosa in Queensland’s Sunshine coast and had just completed their third month-long tour of the lighthouse.
Jill and I helped unload the LARC (of our supplies) and load Bruce and Karen’s equipment for their trip home. Bruce led the museum tour while we did this.
3 - Unloading the LARC at Cottage Number Two
We were quick and were able to join Bruce’s Museum tour when the first group had finished.
After both groups had seen the tower and museum, Ant took the two groups to the cemetery (400m down thehill). The cemetery tells many a story about tragedies that occurred at Bustard Head (and there were a few!). During this time Bruce and Karen shared a handover with us.
Full of our newly acquainted friends and outgoing site managers, the LARC could not leave before one last sales pitch occurred (this time for one of Stuart Buchanan’s published books). Moving forward I had to do this … more on that later.
Now all alone we decided to go for a walk. We strolled along a scanty track (not sure how long since it had been used before today) to Aircraft Beach (1.2km one way). The beach looked very nice but today it was very windy.
On the way back we stopped at the cemetery where we will be required to perform maintenance during our stay.
Back at the lighthouse (our home for the next 4 weeks is cottage 2) we collapsed both
acknowledging today had been a busy one and that something was so strange about this place … it was so quiet!
First Museum Tour (Day 2, 20/3/25)
It seemed a little like home when a chorus of kookaburras broke the silence just as light peeked over the horizon. Unlike our “kookas”, these were a little aloof. Obviously, they were a little unsure about us newcomers.
LARC tours do not normally run on Thursday but today they did. As a first-time tour leader, I was just a little apprehensive. Never a fan of reading a presentation, I worked hard to commit some key dates to memory … that proves I know stuff, right?
As I began my morning ritual of raising the Australian flag and recording overnight rainfall (4mm in this case) the dates of 1868, 1935, 1986 and 2002 kept on going around and around in my head. To help enforce retention I walked through the museum at least 10 times, each time looking for an interesting gem with which to interest the visitors during their 15-minute-long tour later in the day. PS a wise man once told me that it takes 5 minutes to prepare an hour-long presentation and one hour to prepare a 5 minute one … so true.
The LARC arrived at 10:30. It was chartered for the day by a “Fun over 50’s” Tour outfit with 23 passengers. It was good to see that most of them were just like us .
My museum tour went so well (for the first time). I remembered all the key dates and felt a genuine report with everyone in each of the two parties. They were genuinely interested in my message and often provided very useful feedback information. I just hope all tours will be like this.
Stuart Buchannan has written four books. My job was to sell these to tour participants just as they were about to leave Bustard Heads. Priced at $38 each I was not sure many would sell but after my sales pitch I had sold 10 volumes … woo-hoo!
Soon the growl of the LARC’s 12.9 litre Cummins Diesel disappeared and the quietness of Bustard Head returned. Jill and I decided to walk the 1.2km to Jenny Lind Creek along the track taken by the LARC.
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5 - Barring North Access from Jenny Lind Creek
One at the water’s edge we followed the shoreline (now with an in-coming tide) to see if there was an alternative route to the lighthouse from the creek. Sadly, steep rocky outcrops formed a barrier, and we were unable to progress far seaward from the Bustard Head track.
We headed inland from the same track, but the sandy shore soon gave way to muddy mangroves and by that time the mozzies had woken up and were fierce. It was time to go back to the light house.
Shark Spotting (Day 3, 21/3/25)
LARC Paradise Tours occur three times during “offpeak” weeks and so it was with some joy that we were able to sleep in this beautiful morning.
6 - Cottage Two, the Site Manager's Residence
During breakfast we had a call from the children who let us know that all was going well at home. We also had some bad news with the passing on of a good friend’s wife from cancer … so mixed feelings today. While at the lighthouse we are to perform, in addition to leading tours of the museum, grounds maintenance. The BHLA is keen to have couch over the entire quadrangle and cottage surrounds but as all lawn-growers know, weeds are the enemy.
7 - The Weeds do not Stand a Chance
Jill decided to weed around the two cottages while I road-tested the Honda push mower in the clearly neglected LARC Park shown below (mowing grass on dry, powdery sand has unique challenges). By lunch time we had made healthy “first free day” progress and decided that it was time for some Bustard Head “Rest and Recreation”
8 - Grass Grows well (and fast) in Shaded Areas
It was hot so we decided we would go for a swim at the nearby (1.2km from the lighthouse) Aircraft Beach. The beach was pristine and like so many stretches of coast in this part of the world unoccupied.
9 - Bustard Head Showing Aircraft Beach (Centre)
Once at the beach we skirted the shore to see just how far the swimmable sections reached. Blocked by some formidable rocks we found a small, protected beach and prepared to go for a dip. Just as we were about to dive in Jill noticed a school of bait fish gathering in the sheltered cove. Ordinarily that would be OK but on closer inspection we saw what looked very much like a shark (dorsal fin was a giveaway) rounding the fish up.
Do not be surprised reader when I say that we hightailed it away from this sheltered inlet and had a dip further up the beach.
12 - Look It's Safe on Aircraft Here!
As we returned to the lighthouse we met our first goanna. We think he is a local and look forward to meeting him again in days to come.
Tipsy
Teachers (Day 4, 22/3/25)
In preparation for today’s LARC tour, our first job was to conduct a site check. Jill spotted a small wallaby grazing on the lighthouse lawn. It looked like a pretty face but was “browner” than the ones we see at Gladstone.
13 - Furry Brown Wallaby (Think with Joey)
The LARC arrived at 11:00am. This time it consisted of a group of drunk 30–35-year-old women celebrating the birthday of one of its members and a less than impressed balance of older folk. I think Jill’s “very excellent” photograph (below) says it all.
14 - Spot Tipsy Teachers (and the Ones that aren’t)
Ant the LARC driver (and lighthouse tour leader) was quick to (as he always does) split the visitors into two groups. This time I sensed he wasn’t in the mood for fun and games and gave me the tipsy ones.
While the drunks were harmless enough it was very difficult to retain the attention of anyone during a walk through the museum with them on board. It was even harder to stop them from wanting to touch museum exhibits.
16 - Recollection of an Interesting Era Captured
In his book TAXI, Stuart Buchanan records the life of a night taxi driver through the easy going 1960s and 70s to the roaring 80s when Brisbane was “on fire”. Money flowed like water with brothels, casinos, SP bookmaking and other illegal activities operating openly under the protection of a corrupt police force and dishonest politicians.
Book sales were down today with me only selling three of Stuart’s four titles from the LARC. This wasn’t helped by me forgetting a copy of TAXI in the book for sale kit.
With our visitors safely on their way home, we were able to reconcentrate on our maintenance jobs. Given the size of the site and the many and varied expectations placed on us as site managers, we
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spent a little time trying to prioritise when and where to focus our gardening prowess. Our afternoon consisted of having an obligatory post tour nap and a second almost obligatory visit to our favourite stretch of Aircraft Beach.
17
- Aircraft Beach, 1.8km from the Lighthouse
18 - In the Rocks on Aircraft Beach
Up to now we knew that our movements were being watched by the odd bird, a goanna, a hungry shark, a wallaby but little else. As we walked back to the lighthouse, we crossed the path of a wild pig (and what stinkers they are!). Seems that there are other eyes watching us too … had better set a good example in future!
Ravage
and Snipper (Day 5, 23/3/25)
Today we decided was going to be a gardening day. Jill mixed up a batch of RAVAGE and started spot spraying the quadrangle, both cottages (inside the fence), the front of cottage one, behind the workshops and approximately a meter down the bank. RAVAGE instructions state two-day post spraying before mowing.
Geoff fired up the whipper snipper and trimmed around the flagpole, the circular wooden posts on the seaward side of the quadrangle and all the cottage one tank and foundation footings. The RAVAGE imposed mowing ban limited any mowing activity, so Geoff spent time touching up this story while Jill began pulling weeds in the yard northwest of cottage two. At this stage we were a little unsure about what to do with “pulled” weeds, so we bagged them in some old fertilizer bags we found in the gardening shed.
Lee from 1770 LARC Tours rang to tell us that Monday’s scheduled tour had be cancelled and that we were not to expect another until Wednesday, three days hence.
Pancake Anchorage (Day 6, 24/3/25)
At about 8am we set out for Pancake Creek. Just north of the turnoff to Aircraft beach is a signpost to Pancake Creek Anchorage and another to Pancake Creek. Both promised a 1.6km walk but were at 90 degrees to each other. We decided to take the Pancake Creek track heading directly north as it looked the better maintained track.
19 - Decisions, Decisions
Soon we were at Pancake Creek. It was very sheltered unlike the open ocean side of the heads, and it was obvious what yachties came here to ride out rough weather.
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20 - Oh for a Swim at Pancake Creek
As we followed the creek/mangroves (now heading south to the anchorage) we started to notice more signs of humans, sadly in terms of rubbish and camping waste. By the time we had reached the anchorage we had collected as much as we could carry
At the anchorage we spotted our first yacht (a twin hulled yacht called Wild Heart). Their tender as on the beach but there were no people to be seen. Using bush navigation instead of following the signs that would have made the trip much easier, we met up with the Pancake Creek Anchorage track we had dismissed earlier in the day. It took us back to the two-sign branch in the track we had paused at earlier in the day and proved to be on parr with or perhaps even better than the route we had chosen earlier.
21 - First Sign of Humans at Pancake Creek
By this time the sun was besting down on us, and we were very hot. I suggested that we cool off at the beach (only 600m away), but Jill wanted to return to the lighthouse, just in case the yachties were there
and were interested in a museum tour. They were not on the first count and I’m not sure on the tour.
22 - Track not so Bad
After Pointless, we returned to the beach for as swim only to be met by more sharks and a sting ray.
Refreshed by the dip we met two girls (one from Germany and the other from the USA) running the lighthouse track. They were crew members of a yacht that had just arrived from Lady Musgrave Island and moored in Pancake Creek. They told us that several more yachts would be retreating to Pancake because of the bad weather forecast for tomorrow.
Gloriosa Attack (Day 7, 25/3/25)
Today’s focus was on the gardens again. Jill charged her RAVAGE herbicide pump, and I mowed and whipper-snipped both cottages in preparation Wednesday’s tour. Both tasks were straight forward with the exception that I could not mow anything Jill had poisoned. I finished my task ahead of Jill and strolled into the undergrowth between the lighthouse lease and the ocean.
23 - So Tempting to Enter the Scrub
The scrub was open under the canopy (initially) but soon got very dense. I found my way to a rocky outcrop with a great view of inner rock but didn’t know how to get back to the lighthouse … I was lost. I was confident that irrespective of where I was, sooner or later I would cross a beach or track that would lead back to the lighthouse so that is what I did. I was met back at the light house by a very cranky Jill.
We spent the rest of the afternoon hand-weeding gloriosa, a lily on the top of Stuarts “most wanted to eliminate from Bustard Head” list.
24 - A Bucket of Gloriosa off to 1770
We bagged the plants and most importantly their bulbs in preparation for them to be taken to 1770 on the next LARC (tomorrow) where they could be destroyed.
26 - Stuart said these are Old Batteries
During our digging we found an antique iron, what looked to be something military and a 2-cent piece (they are rare today too, aren’t they?)
Three Telescopes? (Day 8, 26/3/25)
In preparation for today’s tour, we went to Cottage One and gave it a sweep and wipe down. The windowsills certainly got their share of attention. The tour arrived at approximately 11:30. It consisted mainly of old folk, some of whom had been here before or were “museum critics”.
They were all nice to show around including the critic who had an axe to grind about the Thomsas Rooksby astronomical telescope and its authenticity. While preparing my tour spiel I noticed there was a telescope in the museum and another in the lighthouse both claiming to be Thomas Rooksby’s. I had assumed that they were both Mr Rooksby’s, but could I be wrong?
27 - Telescope cared for by Rooksby
Sadly, we are within phone range of the mainland and got a few time-consuming calls today that reminded us of there being a world away from this paradise (all sorted). Jill headed off to the cemetery and pulled some weeds.
Today we ran out of bakery made bread. Before we hit the sheets, we loaded the cottage’s bread maker hoping that in the morning we would have a fresh loaf waiting for us.
Loafing
Around (Day 9, 27/3/25)
Well, it was worth the wait. We woke to a very attractive loaf of multigrain bread … and we had made it ourselves!
28 - Our First Fresh Loaf for a While
Today we returned to weeding the slope in front of the lighthouse. Past managers had focused on poisoning weeds. Sadly, however that did not always work, and we opted to pull the weeds instead. The photos below show the before and after of our work today (a fine effort even if I do say so).
30 - At the End of Our Weeding Session
While taking these shots from the top of the lighthouse I noticed two catamarans weaving their way through the rocks offshore. It is likely they were not from Lady Musgrave Island because yachts from there typically enter Pancake Creek at a point further north of the lighthouse (and rocks). The boats looked so small and were being tossed about as if in a washing machine (I was glad to be on terrafirma today).
Pointless, the popular English quiz show, is aired on channel nine at 2pm. This is a great time to down tools after gardening or weeding. After our daily “fix” we decided to go for a stroll to Jenny Lind Creek (approx. 3km return).
The tide was coming in and the sea was very rough. In Stuart Buchanan’s book “Lighthouse of Tragedy” there are numerous references to drownings that occurred in Jenny Lind Creek. After seeing it in the flesh it is easy to understand why so many lives were lost here.
32 – Another Jenny Lind Bay
We followed the creek inland and paused for a reflective moment only to spot a pod of dolphins and a turtle frolicking in the now much calmer water. The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast rain for us tomorrow but given the accuracy of their recent predictions I’m not sure that we will get any. Instead, we’ve heard in the news that the folk in northwest Queensland have been getting so much rain their homes are flooding. The pathetic coverage of these floods by the local television stations highlights their bias towards Queensland’s southeast corner where rainfalls significantly less than anywhere else in Queensland attract “disaster coverage”.
33 – Stuart’s History of the Bustard Head Lighthouse
No other light station in Australia has a history of tragedies to equal that of Bustard Head on Queensland’s Barrier Reef Coast.
Even before the lighthouse was completed in 1898, the station claimed its first life when a workman was fatally injured in the tower. Since then, shipwrecks, murder, abduction, suicide, drownings and cyclones have shattered the lives of light keepers and their families, as well as people to whom Bustard Head was no more than a name on a map.
Rainy Day Weeding, – (Day 10 28/3/25)
Down on the slope we continued weeding.
34 - Still Not Sure
35 - Never Sure
I started today by visiting Cottage One (museum) and fixing the lifting (potential tripping hazard) carpet. Required emptying a hallway cupboard full of Stuart’s books, lifting the carpet and performing some magic to flatten the carpet before doing everything again in the reverse.
While I do not normally trust the BOM yesterday they may have been right. Overnight we had a slow but steady 13 mm of rain. That said, it was not raining when we woke and so after breakfast, we performed laundry duties and lead by Jill, retreated down the slope to continue weeding. At about 11:30 more progress had been made in baring the hill.
36 - Less Live Weeds, More Weed Piles
The sky was looking a lot more ominous at noon and soon it began to rain again. We scampered up the lighthouse to get a look.
Logging onto the BOM confirmed our fears, it was going to be wet for the rest of the day.
37 - Lost the Horizon in the Rain
Before retreating into the cottage, I checked our rainwater tanks. Each cottage has a stainless-steel gutter with four downpipes, each feeding a separate tank. The downpipes can be closed using screw-on caps to direct run water to a specific tank. When the exception of the tank we were drawing from for our own use, all cottage two tanks were full to capacity. That said, any rain captured in the gutter would be directed into “our” tank.
As the rain continued to fall, we were confined to barracks where I soon lost the will to live when the USB I had been using to backup all of our lighthouse photos and diary entries, reverted to “reformat required” uncooperative mode .
Jill tackled the broom to get rid of the “to be expected at a beach” film of sand on the floor.
Pointless and Tipping Point helped while away the afternoon hours. Seems like the BOM was right … sorry BOM.
Oh! Still Raining (Day 11 – 29/3/25)
While we slept it rained steadily. The gauge read 39.6mm. Mark called to see how wewere and to quiz us about the impact of the rain. After some banter to and fro the call ended with Mark committing to send us a few sets of ear plugs.
Before today’s tour we check the museum and lighthouse for water leakage before using the snippers and rake to clear the path to the cemetery. Was surprised that the rain had “washed“ the grave rails (they appeared to be very white).
38 - Farewell to the Tour
Today’s group comprised of Canadians, Americans (Illinois), English (London) and a balance of Aussies. Presented my first tour guide challenge in trying to keep the attention of children.
As they left the sun was starting to come out with some fierceness. Used our post tour time to call Chelsea, Courtney and Luther to tell them about the July Rohde/Westhoff get together, a get together our kids did not know yet was going to include the Westhoff’s. All of them seemed quite excited that the entire Westhoff crew would be on the Sunshine Coast in July.
Spent the afternoon doing nothing until about 4pm when we took that familiar walk down to Jenny Lind Creek. The ocean was not as wild as past days by still demanded respect. From our side we saw the distant figure of a single camper/yachtie walking the beach on Middle Island. For about the first time in a while we had that feeling of not being totally alone. We returned to the cottage for a quiet night in, watching the footy and going to bed early.
Aircraft Beach (Day 12 – 30/3/25)
I woke early today (may have something to do with going to bed early and sleeping so well) and tiptoed around the cottage trying my hardest not to wake Jill.
It rained last night and there was 9.8mm in the gauge. That said, the weather forecast made no promise of rain today.
My day started with doing a load of wash, making some more “friends” on Facebook and cracking some tricky Sudokus; all very quietly.
Today we decided to catch up on the gardening. Jill tackled poisoning the weeds in the area to the northwest of cottage 1, while I made for the cemetery with mower and whipper snipper to give the grass around the graves a haircut. The poisoning took Jill a little longer than expected but it was her goal, and she was determined to get it done.
At noon I received confirmation from 1770 LARC Tours that there would NOT be a Monday LARC visit (as per schedule) and that the pink monster would only return on Wednesday. We would have to survive on each other’s company until then.
39 - A Couple of Chickens
At about 3 pm we struck out for Aircraft Beach. This time instead of peeling off to our favourite swimming spot at the south end of the strip, we walked to the northern end instead. The sea was a little rough, so we retreated (chickens) back to our favourite spot for a pre-sunset dip …. aaaaah!
All good things come to an end, and it was soon time to go back to the lighthouse. it was almost dark by the time we reached the cottage. Mozzies make a strong appearance once the sun is set and so we had really only just made it.
40 - Could easily Land an Aircraft Here
Where is Clew Point (Day 13, 31/3/25)
This morning, I woke early and after raising the “tatty flag” climbed the lighthouse to monitor the sea and creek action. The sea was flat (high tide), and I was able to spot at least 23 “Industry Ships” on the horizon but not even one yacht mast in Pancake Creek.
Yesterday’s garden campaign took it out of both of us and so we thought it was time for a little “us” time. Jill slept in late (woke at 8am) but I was soon to learn she had woken at about 1am to close windows etc thinking a storm was about to hit. The rain gauge read a paltry 0.4mm so we had little to fear overnight from the rain.
Today our plan was to search for and find the Clew Point auxiliary light. We locked up and headed out along the well-trodden (by us only it seems) path towards Aircraft Beach. Just after the turnoff to that beach is another fork in the road to Pancake Creek and to Pancake Creek Anchorage. We chose the former track, and it wasn’t long before we were sitting on a very attractive deserted beach.
41 - Beach at Pancake Creek
We didn’t need to ask each other if a swim was in order (walking in such humid conditions can really make you really, really hot).
Now much cooler, we continued to follow the banks of Pancake Creek, sometimes having to venture inland a bit but always with an eye open for the elusive track to the Clew Point Light.
Soon we were at Clew Point but instead of walking to a place with any elevation, we arrived at yet another pristine beach. Swim time again and lunch. Here we met up with a very friendly turtle who seemed very interested in chilling’ with us.
42 - Relaxing by the Sea
Sand soon gave way to rocks. The further we progressed the more difficult the rock-hopping got. It was particularly interesting to see the layering of rock seams with contrasting colours e.g. black on quartz.
43 - A Dark Rock Seam
Equally interesting were the one inboard and two outboard motors that had washed up on the shore.
44
- Lost an Outboard, Anyone?
Just short of reaching Aircraft Beach we were barred from following the coast by steep cliffs. The only option for us was to retreat inland. Jill spotted a narrow path most likely only ever used by the Park’s critters.
46 – The Lighthouse Keepers
Anyone who has ever wondered about life or a light station should read this book. Anyone with a thirst for a human interest story should read this book. Anyone interested in our maritime history should read this book. Any sailor with a passion for the rugged beauty of our Australian coastline should read this book
Stuart Buchanan, an ex-lighthouse keeper, has written a fabulous account of an extraordinary lifestyle that due to technological advances has completely disappeared from our culture yet contains so much of our maritime and early settler history.
47 - Clew Point Light
How surprised do you think she was when she found, at the path’s end, the abandoned Clew Point Light. Without a light and oozing asbestos, it was clearly just a distant memory.
Returning to Aircraft Beach proved to be difficult as all of the rocks that littered the shore were very slippery.
Jill was within 10m of reaching the sand when she bum-hopped on some rough quartz that left her with a grazed left leg … ouch!
48 - Ouch! That Hurts!
The sky had opened up and there was no sign of it letting up. Soaked to the skin we walked the 4km back to the lighthouse … much drying was in order.
Scrabbling (Day 14, 1/4/25)
Sleeping in was the order of the day (April Fool!). The rain gauge told us that there had been 23.4 mm of rain fall here in the past 24 hours. As we were walking back to the lighthouse last night it seemed like much more, but the gauge doesn’t lie.
Stuart rang during breakfast, and we had a chat about our past day’s adventure and the authenticity of Thomas Brooksby’s telescope/s. Stuart is a wealth of information and sure has a passion for the Bustard Head area and the lighthouse museum.
For the first time we broke out the Scrabble for a post breakfast duel. This may sound like a contradiction but a game with Jill never starts well when you (her opposition) begin with a really good word. Today I started by making a word with all seven tiles. What was I thinking?
49 - Breakfast Scrabble
No tours were scheduled today so Jill headed off down the slope for what turned out to be a 3-hour weeding session while I completed the March 2025 rainfall reconciliation for the Bureau of Meteorology. At Bustard Head the skies opened on 15 of the 31 days in March dropping a total of 100.6mm of rain.
50 - Rainfall Data ... the Old Way
After lunch I found the key to the weather station box just next to the lighthouse and decided to open it. This turned out to be a bad move since the timber had rotted and hinges frozen. Inside were three illegible/broken thermometers (I should have left well enough alone). I repaired the door using the limited resources of Stuart’s workshop. At least the next inquisitive lighthouse manager will be disappointed without having to repair the enclosure.
51 -
Life - what is it all about? As a young man Stuart Buchanan wanted to find out the answer to the beguiling puzzle that is the meaning of life.
He read the works of all the great philosophers, but the likes of Nietzsche, Plato, Kant and Aristotle couldn't supply him with adequate or fulfilling answers.
So began A lifelong quest which has now been crystallised in the author’s 6th book, A Blank Canvas: One Man's Journey to Discover the Meaning of life.
The rest of the day dragged a little. We were tired, the weather was starting to cool with potential for rain and we knew we were in for a tour tomorrow.
Frog Alert (Day 15, 2/4/25)
The show must go on Ant once said so we were in little doubt that there would be LARC visit today despite it raining heavily. We located the site’s stash of umbrellas, dusting the spiders off each to ensure the visitors were not frightened as well as wet. The stainless-steel gutter of each cottage directs water into the rainwater tanks, nowhere else. To ensure all tanks were full I “de-capped” a down pipe at cottage 1 only to meet a big black frog. I honestly felt a little guilty waking him up.
52 - I was so Happy Sleeping
The tour left 1770 at 7:30 and so we expected them at about 9pm. The rain had not stopped when they arrived and so the umbrellas went down well. Everyone gathered in the Engine Room as Ant delivered his introductory spiel. Today’s, 21 strong group was a great one. They listened, asked sensible
questions and were genuinely interested (doesn’t always happen). I sold 4 of Stuart’s books which was much better than the 0 sold last visit.
While I was doing my sales pitch, Neil Murguard and his young offsider appeared out of nowhere. They had arrived earlier that day on the maintenance LARC “Shirley Buchanan” with aim of adding gravel bought in from 1770 to the Jenny Lind to lighthouse track. They took the excavator stored at the lighthouse away to do the roadwork.
We decided to walk to Jenny Lind creek and arrived just in time to see the day’s tour LARC midway across the creek. We watched as it ventured to Middle Island for a day’s sand boarding.
53 - The LARC on Middle Island
As we returned to the lighthouse, we met up with Neil again. He seemed chattier and drew our attention to a flock of Lesser Frigate birds circling overhead.
54 - A Lesser Frigate
We had never seen these before. They are the pirates of the bird world and are known for fly under other birds forcing them to bank upwards spewing
out their stomach contents. The air-borne chunder is quickly scooped up by the invaders … yum, yum! Rain returned and we caught up on some welldeserved rest.
New
Captain? (Day 16, 3/4/25)
The slope lures Jill and so immediately after breakfast she returned there to kill the weeds.
55 - Weeding Warrior
I set about repairing the whipper snipper. Once repaired I used it to cut the ferule grass from under the solar panel structure and around the old fuel bunkers.
56 - Grass Snipper
Soon we were joined by LARC captain in training Mark and his stepson (Neil’s helper from yesterday). Mark also had to guide tours through the lighthouse in place of Ant who was soon to resign. Mark seemed
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to be grappling about what to say. Soon we were joined by Neil who set about giving Mark and his lad an induction of the lighthouse. I joined in and learnt a few new things including that the lighthouse is under surveillance.
It seems that when the door at the top of the lighthouse is open, an alarm sounds in lighthouse HQ (Brisbane?). There they know that Site Managers are at Bustard Heads and that everything will ultimately be alright (gullible hey?).
Chinooking … is that a Word? (Day 17, 4/4/25)
In the 24 hours from 9am yesterday we had received 30 mm of rain. After breakfast Jill, armed with her Ravage wand, returned to the sea-side slope to eliminate more weeds. I decided to get the ZeroTurn ride-on out to see how it worked. I had little difficulty in getting it up and running, due mainly to Stuart’s blow by blow instructions.
57 - Australian Army Chinook
While out we spotted a pair of military Chinook helicopters travelling low and at speed just off the coast. We learnt that they were supporting Cyclone Alfred recovery efforts in the northern parts of Queensland. It was really spectacular and I’m sure the pilots would have been enjoying themselves albeit on the taxpayer’s nickel.
A trio of Australian Army Chinooks is among Defenceassets assistinginthe recoveryfromexTropicalCycloneAlfred.
The CH-47F medium-lift helicopters from 5th Aviation Regiment had arrived in Oakey, near Toowoomba in south-east Queensland as of
Tuesday morning, having flown from Townsville onSaturdayviaRockhampton.
According to Defence,the aircraft are “on-call to supporttasking(pendingweather),ifrequired”.
“The Australian DefenceForce isworkingclosely with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Queensland and New South Wales state emergency authorities, and the Queensland and NSW governments to support theplanningandresponsetoTCAlfred,”Defence said.
“Defence is ready to provide high-clearance vehicles, support personnel and rotary-wing support for TC Alfred under the direction of Queensland and New South Wales emergency services.TheADFhasproactivelyreducednoticeto-move periods and is ready and prepared to provide further support to communities, as further requests are received by the Australian government.
“As at 11 March the ADF has deployed over 550 personneltoQueenslandandover680personnel to northern New South Wales, continued to provide support to reconnaissance, route clearance and welfare checks in northern New South Wales, and supported reconnaissance, route clearance and welfare checks in Hervey Bay, Ipswich, Laidley, Redlands, Gold Coast and SpringbrookareasinQueensland.”
More than 120,000 properties in south-east Queensland and northern NSW remain without power following ex-TC Alfred, which made landfall as a tropical low on Saturday night, bringing heavy winds and Brisbane’s highest dailyrainfallsinceJanuary1974.
We stopped for lunch and for what was becoming a regular thing, I dozed off. I woke and spotted Jill outside with four yachties and they all appeared to be dancing (in the absence of Aero Gard mozzies will do that to you). Jill had offered them a tour of the lighthouse, but their priority was to get back to the safe confines of their yacht some 2.5km away to
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escape the fierce locals and so they decided. Soon after yachties Kira, Matt and their two children arrived. They knew of Aero Gard and accepted our offer of a tour of the museum and lighthouse. We charged them for two ($40) and took their contact details (to reference their BPay transaction).
Boat in Pancake Creek (Day 18, 5/4/25)
In the 24 hours ending 09:00am today we recorded 0.4mm of rain (nearly nothing)
Jill went to the cemetery to clean the wooden rails. Seems like they need some high-pressure cleaning because hand cleaning is too difficult. The tour party came at 10:30 and was fewer in number than earlier groups. It made sense to take them through as one group rather than divide them up.
Not sure of Ant today. He was in a strange mood because he was adamant that we hurry. (nb one group at 1-1/2 the normal time did not give him reason to claim we were overtime since two groups at 1x normaltime would be longer). Group was good. There were a couple of youngsters (I expect more as school holidays start).
After the tour Jill got back to her wedding (she just loves it). From the bank we saw what appeared to be an empty tinny moored just south of middle rock. We could not see a diving float or anything else to tell us what was going on. A second inflatable boat with two passengers wearing lime green Hi-Vis floatation vests zoomed past the empty boat and made a brief U-Turn to improve their view of the empty tinny before returning to their original route away from the “deserted” boat. I guess they were convinced all was OK.
Used the Marine Traffic App to check for yachts in Pancake Creek I was able to identify two boats Jujegers (NZ) and Shilo VIII (Aus) as being moored in the mouth of the creek.
Games in Quadrangle (Day 19, 6/4/25)
There are times when you have to do what you have to do. Jill returned to her weeding, and I mowed the entire quadrangle. Forced to use a push mower (forbidden to use the ride on) it felt a little like trimming the expanse with a pair of fingernail clippers. The quadrangle contains stone foundations and so it was not an easy trim. I went on to mow cottage 1 surrounds also. Caused mainly by the plentiful rain and glorious sunshine, it had grown vigorously since I mowed it the first time.
We spotted a couple of yachties walking through to Jenny Linds. They did not stop to chat (their loss).
After lunch we watched a little AFL before heading off to Jenny Lind Creek for a swim.
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A Bowton Connection (Day 20, 7/4/25)
With school holidays having just started in Queensland, the herbicide having just done its job and the number of days at the lighthouse getting fewer and fewer, we knew we had to plan to ensure got everything done before we left. So, from now on we will put on a mowing session before every LARC visit. Today I got the trusty Honda out and tidied up around cottage 1. By the time the tour had arrived at the museum was looking quite splendid.
Seventeen people were on today’s tour, nine of which belonged to a family with a historical connection to Bustard Heads. In the early 1940s Sam Foster was lighthouse keeper here. In the outside world his son, John (a builder) and his family lived a normal life until one day the son broke his back in a work accident. The doctor insisted the son rest for at least six months and so at the invitation of his father John, his wife and his six-month-old grandson moved to Bustard Heads. John’s time away from mainstream Australia was not without incident. In 1944 Katherine Bowton, the mother of the “Maids of Middle Island” died. She could not be buried until formally identified by a police officer something that would take some time to occur given the closest police station was on the mainland. This time delay combined with the climate at the time (hot and humid) and the lack of refrigeration at Bustard Heads meant that our dearly departed was decomposing a little quicker than ideal.
Young John was called upon to make a coffin, something he did to ensure Katherine Bowton could be buried with somedignity. The connection you ask. The patriarch of today’s visiting family, now on his late 70s/early 80s was the six-month-old baby grandson from the 1940s.
The tour group was good today. I just felt a bit for the poor youngster that could not climb the lighthouse (potentially the highlight of his tour) because he was less than eight years old. Despite the family all having copies of Stuart’s book I was able to sell four books … I have my book selling Mojo back. Stuart called for a chat and requested two boxes of books be returned to the LARC shop in 1770. The cottages are Stuart’s book warehouses. Everywhere you look there are boxes stashed.
We had planning on taking the 2.4km stroll to the beach for a swim but succumbed to a fine belated lunch. When we woke, we decided to return to weeding and mowing. Better it be done now than at the last minute, right?
Miscellaneous Day (Day 21, 8/4/25)
We might be slow learners but at last we realised that maintaining this site is a big job for just two people. Jill set about cleaning the museum and the lighthouse while I fired up the ride-on to trim the expanse to the northwest side of the cottages.
61- Meanwhile Back Home
Some time ago our friends (Dave and Shirl) put us onto a great security camera deal and as a result we can now check up on the house from anywhere in the world. This is how we learnt that while we were furiously tending to the Bustard Head grounds, the lawnmowing contractor we had organised to look
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after our lawn at home had decided to delay trimming ours. Jill was NOT happy! We made phone contact with contractor and quickly cancelled him. Luther stepped up to the plate and came around to Dixon Drive that night to give the lawn a 15-minute haircut. Thank you, Luther. Your mother is happy again ☺
62 - ABC's Australian Story (on CD)
On a lonely Australian headland, one of our oldest lighthouses has been dying for 18 years. While its beam has provided hope and safety to shipping traffic for over 130 years, time has not been so kind in return. With modern technology, Bustard Head lighthouse, like the others around the world, has been mainly de-manned. Low maintenance lamps, solar power and computers keep the lights burning and turning these days. But the plight of the historic landmark on Bustard Head, named exactly 234 years ago on May 24 by Captain James Cook, would have been tragic if not for the crusade of passionate former lighthouse keepers Stuart and Shirley Buchanan. Bustard Head lighthouse station has been the scene of repeated tragedy throughout its history _ certainly more than any other lighthouse in Australia. Death by murder, accident, illness and suicide has plagued many of its keepers who suffered the hardship of isolation the lighthouse life imposed. Stuart and Shirley Buchanan fell in love with the beautiful Bustard Head location when they were lighthouse keepers there in 70s. They believed they had found their paradise. But when they learned the abandoned station cottages had been severely vandalised in the 90s, and State Government Parks and Wildlife Service wanted to bulldoze the site, they were livid.
After the anger subsided, the determination set in to save and restore the station. But their pleas to State Government for help fell on deaf ears and obstacles seemed to block their path at every turn. Then they received a $140,000 Commonwealth Heritage Grant and their dream to revive their beloved Bustard Head took shape. But not before a long, hard and costly journey that tried their nerves and their resolve on many occasions.
Experts on Site (Day 22, 9/4/25)
Today we were scheduled to have a tour from the US Lighthouse Society and so, as I was mowing the grass around our cottage, my head was spinning thinking of all the things they could pick holes in with my presentation.
66 - Driving the Honda Push Mower
Jill was meanwhile cleaning inside the lighthouse; a task it seemed had not been done for quite some time. Earlier this week I had taken the black rubber door mat to the lighthouse and seeing it was impregnated with dried sand and leaves, struck it against the side of the white lighthouse. Little did I know that the black hexagon shaped pattern it would leave on the lighthouse would be near impossible to remove. Jif saved the day. Tour time was fast approaching, and the whipper snipper cord feeder broke (just another loose end to attend to later).
67 - Learning from the US Experts
The US lighthouse Society consisted of 24 elderly Americans visiting Australia withe aim of visiting as many lighthouses in a short a time as possible. They were friendly, loud, possibly deaf and very camera happy. I did learn that a lighthouse lens type, spelt Fresnel, is actually pronounced “Frenel” (silent ‘s’).
Back at the LARC I sold 15 books. Which the dismal US/Aus exchange rate of 1USD~0.6AUD, the tourists got a bargain today.
68 - Herding Cats aka Posing a Group Photograph
During the tour a group of yachties (a family with two daughters accompanied by two adult friends) walked through camp. Based in Hervey Bay the mother and father had just sold up and bought a 12m catamaran. With little sailing experience they
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were doing a little pre-retirement learning before taking on the world. They were down on water but since they had arrived mid tour, we could not go to our store to sell them any. They quietly left for the Jenni Linds lookout. From there they would be in a prime spot to see the US Lighthouse laden LARC roar past as it made its way back to 1770.
To get back to their boat the group had to pass through the lighthouse again where we were waiting with a full jug of cold water (really? Who are we to deny other human beings’ water from our tanks?).
We learnt so much about their adventures. They did confirm that the Clew Point light was working. They even bought a Lighthouse of Tragedy book!
We hadn’t swum for several days and so we headed off to Jenny Linds for a dip. With the benefit of hindsight perhaps this wasn’t the best idea as the water was very choppy. we strolled along the creek and swam a bit before returning to the cottage. We managed to make it just in time to bunker down before the night’s mosquito onslaught.
Ant on Film (Day 23, 10/4/25)
I woke early and mowed around Cottage 2 while Jill returned to weeding and spraying on the slope (same ole, same ole).
Today’s tour group consisted of people from many different places. Some had a wealth of lighthouse knowledge too. Ant bought his Canon 5D to take some photos. In the whole time he had been a LARC captain he had never taken photos at the lighthouse. With his pending retirement, he thought it was time he had better do so.
I paid for two books I had sold to yachties using my debit card and on returning to the flagpole saw three small yachts navigating their way through the inner rock/middle rock gap. Not everyone does that (not everyone is that confident). After checking my phone, I soon learnt the yacht population in Pancake Creek had increased by three. Yachties are creative in naming their yachts. Tonight, we shared Bustard Head with Ceilidh Lass, My Serenity, One Life, Thanet and Shilo VIII (for the second time).
Just as we were about to go to sleep it began to rain. I closed all open downpipes and prayed that Jill’s Ravage work would not be undone. Jill did point out that I had left a light on in the museum. Sorry Stuart
but turning it off may have to wait until tomorrow morning ☺. Tomorrow we were to receive a visit from friends Fiona and Greg.
Crow Eater’s Beer? (Day 24, 11/4/25)
A slow start today. Jill was eager to prepare for Fiona and Greg’s visit and so cottage 2 got a good makeover. After launching at Turkey Beach our visitors with son Jason, moored his boat at Pancake Creek and set up camp there for the night. They called to say that they would be at the Lighthouse at about noon.
I turned off the Lighthouse Keeper office light (in the cottage 1 museum) and did a couple loads of wash. While we are perched on top of a hill, washing does not dry quickly here.
69 - Geoff, Fiona, Greg and Jill at Jenny Lind Lookout
As promised Fiona and Greg arrived at noon after a brisk 2.4km walk from Pancake Creek. They bought a few bottles of South Australian Beer and some Strongbow ciders (for Jill apparently).
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70- Fiona and Jill with our Lighthouse
After quite a bit of chat Jill and I took them for a tour of the lighthouse. Since they had come such a long way we gave them a copy of Stuart’s Lighthouse of Tragedy book.
After the tour we all strolled to Jenny Lind look out before walking back to the lighthouse and onto the cemetery. We tagged along to the Aircraft beach turnoff where we parted company. A good day was had by all, but the mozzies were getting just a little too friendly.
Down the Front (Day 25, 12/4/25)
Our pre tour routine was proving to be worthwhile. Getting some of the site work done before a visit from the LARC made for a relaxing second part of the day. Jill returned to weeding and spraying while I took the ride-on to places it should never had been to clean up Jill’s previously sprayed work.
Today was our eleventh tour and we were warned that in our time left we were to expect more backto-back “school holiday” groups. In today’s group were some folks that I am certain did not speak
English and so trying to convey “look but don’t touch” was a bit challenging.
72 - Jill, Ant and I ... What a Team!
All went well though and it was not long before the “Sir Douglas Banks” and its payload of passengers was on its way back to the Jenny Lind stop for lunch (a 9am departing Paradise Tour usually leaves Bustard Heads at about 12:30pm).
After we had some lunch, we decided to go to Aircraft Beach for a walk and/or swim. We were not so sure about the swim because the water was quick choppy.
73 - Beautiful Beach
Aircraft beach is very clean, so anything washed up is usually very easy to see. As we approached a “lump” on the sand it began to move. Turns out this green sea turtle had buried itself in the wet “sloppy” sand and was having trouble getting back into the ocean.
74 - Someone has to Save Me
With out help the struggling critter was soon back on firmer sand and eventually back in the water. Oh, that felt good.
The water was rough and so we decided to venture south past the end of the main beach in search of a more protected place to have a dip. It was not long before we found a “quieter inlet”, so we took the opportunity to cool down.
Post swim, Jill was keen to progress further south to see if the coast directly down from the lighthouse at Bustard Heads could be navigated and whether there was a path from the rocks to the lighthouse through the tree belt at the bottom of our slope.
The sun was low in the sky, we did not have a torch and the charge on the single mobile phone we had
with us was 29%. Yes, we could have planned this walk better.
75 - Rocky Coral Sea ... near inner Rock
Immediately after the beach we experienced a lot of rock-hopping to avoid steep cliff falls. From the light house it is very difficult to see “Inner Rock” but for our newly chosen path it was right in front of us and clear to see. The sea was like a washing machine, and I certainly would not want to be in a boat so close to the rocks.
It was getting darker and the track more challenging. Just south of Inner Rock there in aheadland on which Jill and I found what we are fairly certain was a grave. It set a sombre scene. Oh! Did I tell you it was dark?
76- Ominous at the Head
Guided only now by moonlight and the GPS of our ever-weakening mobile phone we made slow progress as we worked our way towards the Jenny
77 - Walk by Moonlight
The challenges of travelling at night are real. After a steep climb we stopped for a brief rest and to check our bearings. Jill was convinced we were still in the thick bush but after checking the GPS we learnt that the track we knew so well was only 10m away beyond the tree line. The moral is “trust your instruments”.
We were only 600m from the lighthouse and it was not long before we were back at the cottage having a good night in watching the AFL “Gather Round” Come-on Lions!
One Year Older (Day 26, 13/4/25)
No tours today but it’s my birthday, it’s my birthday! Weeds wait for no-one and so after breakfast we set out for what we thought to be our last garden assault. On the slope the temperature was nice and mild, but the wind was just a bit excessive to make it comfortable. As per normal, Jill attacked the weeds with RAVAGE, and I set about using the brush cutter for the first time to tidy up around the site edges. On the slope where most of the brush cutting was to occur it turned out easier to use the Honda mower.
At about noon I received a group call from the children wishing me a happy birthday. That was nice
78 - Birthday Celebration on Coral Sea Coast
The wind refused to back off so after taking a birthday photo to share with the family we withdrew to our cottage where we enjoyed watching the tail end of the AFL Gather Round. As per usual, inconsistent Port Power threw a spanner in the works with my footy tipping by being inconsistent. Late in the day, I checked the Marine Traffic App on my phone only to find at least five yachts moored in Pancake Creek. Clearly the windy conditions had struck fear into the hearts of the yachties too.
On a more serious note. During our time at Bustard Head, we have seen a very angry ocean at times but have never felt or witnessed its bite. Today in 1770 (we can see 1770 clearly from the lighthouse) a 46year-old UK man and his teenage son drowned when a rip swept them out to sea while they were on holidays at this popular tourist spot. A third 37-yearold man who tried to rescue them was injured and airlifted to Bundaberg Hospital where he is being treated for critical head injuries. All of those involved in this accident were from the same family. It was a sad way to end our 26th day at Bustard Head.
Oh, Happy Days! (Day 27, 14/4/25)
The team at 1770 Environmental Tours told us that there would be 25 passengers on today’s Paradise Cruise. When they arrived, I was just a little shocked (a lot actually) to see son Luther, daughter Chelsea, son-in-law Nathan and grandy Darcy on board
It was great to carry” Spot” to the flagpole particularly since her being tired meant she wanted to curl up next to me.
The tour went without a hitch, and it wasn’t long before the LARC was on its way to Middle Island for some “Fun in the Sand”.
Midway through todays tour a young Yachtie couple from West Australia entered camp eager to look around. Tour rules are that impromptu tours can
never interfere (quite rightly so) with scheduled LARC visits. So, we told them that if they took a short stroll to the Jenny Lind lookout, we would be able to take them through the museum on their return. They accepted our recommendation but once back had decided not to do the tour. Instead, we had a lengthy chat. Seems like the young man had been born and raised on boats unlike a lot of the yachties we had met during our stay at Bustard Heads who only came into sailing later in life (read inexperienced).
81 - Two Good Lookin' Spots
After we had closed up all of the displays we were sitting in the cottage when we heard a knock on the door. Yachties Cory, Brooke and baby Ridley from “One Life” had walked from Pancake Creek Anchorage and were keen on having a tour of the lighthouse. Guiding a small group (or individuals) through the museum and lighthouse is certainly more intimate and as a leader you get to learn more about those on the tour.
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82 - USA Registered "One Life" with Three Lives on Board
While Cory and Brooke climbed the lighthouse, Jill looked after baby Ridley. Several times during the ascent I saw Brooke race to a window to see how her baby was coping with Jill. I told her not to worry because Ridly was in the hands of a “Super Mum”. This, our third tour for the day, ended at the cemetery at about 4:00pm (just in time for the mozzies to return). With baby fed and just about to doze off the young couple set out for the anchorage, a 1.6km walk away
Back at the cottage we both passed out on the couch. We had better toughen up because the next few days were going to be busy!
Just before hitting the pillow in earnest, I did Wordle and got it in two attempts (almost a first for me) and on checking my AFL football tips discovered that I was in 80th position (out of 408468).
83 - Don't often get Two-Digit Bragging Rights
Horticultural Surprise (Day 28, 15/4/25)
When the LARC came today we were caught a little by surprise. Mark and Launa Chambers were hosts to their family on their first visit to Bustard Heads. We were surprised because we did not recognise them under the many layers of “Sun Smart” gear they were wearing … and besides, don’t all old, bearded fellows all have a slight resemblance to Santa Clause?
They were very friendly, and we were, for the first time, able to discuss our gardening challenges with Mark face to face. When they left, we felt as if we had done well during our four weeks at the lighthouse.
84 - Mark and Laura Surprise Visit
Once the LARC had left we closed the museum, made sure that everything was in its right and proper place, and returned to the Cottage to resume its April Spring clean.
All Things Must End (Day 29, 16/4/25)
Our entire focus today was on ensuring that Cottage Two was spotless for the new Site managers, Terry and Janet Martin. Based in the Sunshine Coast, Terry and Janet had been Site managers twice in the past. We helped and watched with interest as their cargo was unloaded from the LARC. Conservatively they had about three times more “stuff” than we had bought to the lighthouse. Janet bought a sewing machine (the Puges do also) and two-three tubs of associated sewing materials. The pair bought a lot of alcohol also … a good time is certainly planned for these two.
For the record and to remind us of what the lighthouse accommodation looks like (should we return one day … yes please) I took photos of each room as we left them.
85 - The Kitchen (with a freshly baked bread loaf)
The kitchen was well equipped with more than enough crockery and cutlery for a couple. It had a full-sized refrigerator/freezer, stove and oven, a microwave, air-fryer and even a bread maker.
As with the kitchen, the pantry was well equipped. It was stocked with cleaning products, and a huge selection of plastic bags, insect sprays and repellents.
87 – Laundry complete with Twin Tub
Most Australians have experienced using a twin tub washing machine sometime during their lives. While labour intensive when the loads of washing are large, they are great to wash and rinse a day’s worth of cloths. The twin tub in this cottage was both modern and new.
The electric hot water heater (sourcing its energy ultimately from the sun) never ran out during out stay.
88 - Lounge Room
The living room is located in the middle of the cottage surrounded by the kitchen and the veranda. There is a small television and an electric piano with weighted keys.
The black leather lounge is comfortable, albeit it a little hot when the temperature outside was high. Stuart has an interesting array of books on offer for site managers to read but sadly done of them are the
books he has us sell from the LARC (it is always good to know what you are promoting and I really hope Stuarts biographical offerings are good).
89 - Master Bedroom
Our bedroom consisted of a single double bed and more than enough storage space for clothes and personal stuff. I am always challenged by sleeping in a “less than Queen Sized Bed” because either I hit my head on the headboard or chill my toes when they stick out from under the bed spread. While no different here, the mattress was quite comfortable and I soon learnt to adapt and very rarely missed out on a good night sleep.
90 - Bed in Veranda
The southern veranda is spacious enough for us to store our possessions while on site. It contains one single bed and ten individual windows, each featuring heavy duty netting for those night hours when the mosquitoes come out to play.
91 - Front Veranda - Lighthouse Keeper's "Walk"
In Cottage One (the museum with an identical floor plan) this East/Front veranda served as the vantage point for the Head Lighthouse Keeper to observe “off shore” goings on in the Coral Sea and in particular around the Inner, Middle and Outer Rocks. In CottageTwo this veranda hasn’t a view of the sea but is a great place to sit, read, down a rum or two (if you have one) and simply relax while keeping an eye on the lighthouse and museum.
At the northern end of the veranda is a table ideal for eating breakfast at.
92 – Bath Room
The bathroom is well equipped also. Modelled on a 1986 design, the amenities here are certainly nothing to be sneezed at and certainly have it all over sleeping in a tent.
I’m not convinced that the maker of the toilet lid understood just how annoying it can be in Queensland having green tree frogs in the toilet. Here they retreat and take up residence under the rim around the toilet bowl. Not only can it scare a sitting toilet user when the frog leaves the rim but a
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flush can also result in a very unpleasant ride for the frog.
94 - Light House Keepers Office
We gathered a lot of recyclables while at the lighthouse and of course they had to be taken to the mainland on the LARC. All in all, our luggage was minimal. Perhaps next time we need to bring more alcohol and/or fizzy juice.
96 - Our Cargo stored on LARC Roof
Kev, the LARC guide was not happy when I darted off to deliver my last museum spiel. Lucky for him though, the ESKY was considerably lighter going home than it was when we arrived a month earlier. Our load (strapped to the LARC canopy) is out of site and out of mind too during our journey back to 1770. Interestingly, during our time at Bustard Head 301 visitors listened to my presentation and I was able to sell 45 copies of Stuart’s book series. At $38 each, Stuart is now $1700 richer.
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97 - Sliding down Middle Island Sand Dunes
The last leg of the Paradise Tour takes visitors to the LARC stop where morning tea (pre-tour) was served. Lunch here consisting of salad sandwiches served with billy-tea (or coffee). It certainly hit the spot.
Cleaned with military precision by Kev (by now we were sure he has ADHD) the hut was left spotless as the Sir Joseph Banks fired up to begin its crossing of Jenny Lind Creek to Middle Island.
At Middle Island the LARC parked at the bottom of a tall, multi-level sand dune. We used “waxed” boogie boards to slide (flat on stomachs) down the slopes. I’m just a little uncertain about how many folk are injured do this because, depending on the amount of wax on your board, one can hit the “notchy” slope to beach transition with enough speed to limp rather that walk away. I chose to attempt the lower slope twice.
A swim in Jenny Lind creek allowed all to cool down and wash off the “sticky” sand.
During the drive back to 1770 we were entertained by who else but Kev. His “Dad” jokes, Guiness Book of Records record attempts, ability to remember collective nouns for all sorts of things (did you know that a group of ferrets is known as a business?) and his firm grasp of petrosomatoglyphs made for an interesting journey back to 1770.
Ant is finishing up with LARC tours next Monday after being with them for about three years. We were not surprised then when he launched into a LARC doughnut on the beach and ploughed the Sir Joseph Banks nose-first into some crashing waves. We all had a blast.
Back in 1770 our car was waiting for us and in next to no time we were unloaded, had said our goodbyes
and were on our way to Agnes Waters. There we stopped in at the Tavern for a counter meal before the long trip home. Oh, how different it was eating in a crowd.
As we got back into the car, Jill and I looked at each other.
“Would we do Bustard Head Site Managing again?”
“Hell yeah! … bring on 2026!”
The trip home was event free. The Bruce Highway, as poor a condition as it is in was an easy drive. No sooner were we inside the house than we heard we a familiar sound … our little mate had missed us!
