Camp Hosting Report – Easter 2019, 18th to 22nd April.
What a fabulous opportunity to spend quality time with Land Rover Owner Club of Gippsland Club (LROCOG) members and socialise while volunteering in a most worthwhile adventure.
How?
Back in February Julia Beechey, the Community Engagement Ranger from Mildura, North West District of Parks Victoria (PV) wrote to Wayne Hevey, the Chief Executive Officer of Four Wheel Drive Victoria to see if a camp ground host program could be instigated in the Mallee over the Easter Long weekend break 18th to 28th April at the following camp grounds:
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Hattah-KulKyne NP, Lake Mournpall / Lake Hattah camp grounds https://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/hattah-kulkyne-national-park/things-to-do/camping
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Murray Sunset NP, Rocket Lake Camp Ground, and
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Murray Sunset NP, Shearers Quarters Camp Ground, https://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/murray-sunset-national-park
The Club considered the opportunity and in March Alan Harlow wrote back to Wayne expressing our interest in participating. Unfortunately, Land Rover Owners Club of Gippsland (LROCG) was beaten to the original sites; however, Wayne offered to find an alternate camp hosting opportunity.
By late March LROCG was offered another couple of options for Easter Camp Host:
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Jerusalem Creek, Eildon, and
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Toolangi / Murrindindi region
for which Alan brought the idea to our 1 April Club meeting and the Jerusalem Creek venue was selected. Tonee & Alan were joined by Colette & Jan Parniak and Peter Durrant for an interesting weekend and a rewarding experience.
What?
The 4WD Camp Host Program was developed by the Four Wheel Drive Advisory Committee, comprised of members of Four Wheel Drive Victoria, Parks Victoria and the Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning.
Camp Host supports the principle that 4WD Clubs are a lot better at educating and policing not only their own members, but the general public also pursuing their recreation. This is provided in a non-confrontational manner, thus increasing the effect it has on individuals who are more open to learning about reducing their impact on the environment. The 4WD Camp Host program places volunteers from 4WD clubs at selected camp sites in parks across Victoria to provide visitors with local information on four wheel driving as well as park based information.
The presence of a Camp Host ensures that travellers have a point of contact for information and assistance. This presence is also aimed at reducing incidences of damage and anti-social behaviour by other park visitors, through 4WD camp hosts reporting incidents to PV or DELWP
Some 35 sites are available for clubs to be part of the camp host program. Visitors to a Camp Host site are given information regarding environmental awareness and education which they can take away with them and utilise on future trips.
The Camp Host program is rewarding for clubs who participate as they can promote their club whilst out there and attract new members as well as doing their part to help create a more sustainable environment.
By reducing vandalism and waste we are saving money usually spent on repairs. This saved money can then potentially be re-allocated to improving four wheel drive tracks and campsites, which is ideal for four wheel drivers everywhere.
All personal amenities such as foodstuffs, fuel, personal camping and vehicular equipment are the responsibility of the individual volunteers who man a Camp Host Site, and all volunteers are required to abide by sustainable camping and driving guidelines.
Scheduled communication links between the base camp and the local PV/DELWP office are established to support the volunteers during their placement.
Program Aims and Objectives:
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Increased customer service in remote areas through providing information on sustainable four wheel driving and camping techniques, total fire ban and campfire information, assisting in reducing incidences of damage and anti-social behaviour;
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Provide an avenue for furthering the partnership between PV/DELWP, 4WD clubs and FWDV;
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Provide visitors with information to inform them of their natural surrounds, safety codes and sustainable practices;
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Providing visitors with an avenue for emergency contact;
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Demonstrate four wheel driving to be a socially responsible recreational pursuit which contributes back to the environment.
Where?
The camp host opportunity was in the Lake Eildon National Park which comprises the former Fraser National Park and Eildon State Park and is a major nature conservation area, as well as a very popular destination for both park visitors and visitors to the adjacent Lake Eildon.
This area is an important conservation reserve and incorporates a significant representation of remnant Box Woodland in North East Victoria. It is managed primarily for nature conservation purposes and the Park continues to provide opportunities for visitors to enjoy the natural environment and magnificent adjacent lake and waterways.
Specifically; we managed the Jerusalem Creek Camp Area comprising 72 camp sites.
Jerusalem Creek offers eight camping areas with unpowered sites, there are fireplaces and pit toilets provided and interestingly, for a National Park - dogs are permitted on leash in the Jerusalem Creek Camping Area.
Jerusalem Creek is a short distance east of Eildon and is a series of bush camps set high on the banks of Lake Eildon. Being close to town and a nearby boat club there are plenty of opportunities to grab supplies. The campgrounds are very basic with fire pits and drop toilets provided. The lake is the draw card here providing opportunities for all kinds of water based activities. However, at 30% of its capacity the views are somewhat stark at the moment. Most sites are set up for tent and caravan/trailer based camping.
After a 4 hour drive from Gippsland we met and had a
briefing from the local Ranger Neil and were allocated three sites in Area 2 – 10 (Alan and Tonee), 11 (Jan and Colette) and 13 (Peter). We set up
our camps and then checked the camp sites we were responsible for.
What?
Importantly we had a job to do, the documentation was ‘substantial’ and comprehensive; our role involved:
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Assisting rangers with the management of Park camping areas.
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Providing visitors with information and assistance regarding all aspects of the National Park experience, including: activities, things to see and do, 4 WD Tracks, walking tracks and trails, where to see and how to identify the park’s flora and fauna.
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Orientating visitors to their site and insuring they are on their booked site.
We were available on site in the morning and afternoon (2 hours approx.) and visited each site in the morning and afternoon, to talk to the visitors, provide information and ensure they have booked their site. Over the Easter weekend we were to be available for most of the day on the Friday and Saturday, however, we had a presence on site at all times as it turned out. Friends and family are welcome to join, Parks Victoria training was provided, and we were required to bring drinking water and food.
Peter took the opportunity to bring his young cousin’s four children, aged 13, 11, 9 and 6 for an adventure that they would not normally enjoy. Mum stayed at a cabin in the Eildon Camp Ground and the boys were shared by the two, Cousin and Peter to ease the pressure on Mum. Alan, Tonee, Jan and Colette were very generous with their time and attention to the boys who valued their participation in their adventure.
A current view of Lake Eildon
The surroundings were spectacular, for example from Mount Pinniger Lookout - you get panoramic views of the lake, the township of Eildon and Lake Eildon National Park which surrounds the lake. When you arrive at Eildon via the Goulburn Valley Highway and just before you cross the bridge into town, turn right onto Pinniger Road. Travel 2 kilometres then turn right onto Jerusalem Creek Road. Follow this road until you see the sign to the lookout.
Each night was spent sitting around a camp fire enjoying the company of friends and the sounds and sites of the night bush sharing tasty treats washed down with your favourite drink, helping the kids toast and eat marshmallow.
Tonee, Alan, Jan and Colette found time to visit the Lions market in Eildon on Saturday, which was very well attended by the hordes of visitors to the area. Lunch was at the Eildon boat club Aqua bar which overlooks the lake and the houseboat moorings. We returned in time to do our afternoon rounds of the camp sites.
On Sunday after an early inspection of the camp sites we set off to Alexandra about a 20 minute drive for coffee and cake followed by a walk around their town shops and market and a visit to a miners cottage (Dove cottage) which we discovered was being looked after by a women from Moe who shared many common friends, once again showing what a small world we live in.
On Monday after an early inspection of the camp sites which had been left very clean we packed up and gave our final report and our thanks for the opportunity to the local rangers (this happened twice a day am and pm) before headed home over the Black Spur to Healesville for lunch and cake at the Beechworth Bakery, the two lines for service were 20 deep but the short wait was worth it. By 4pm we were back home and unpacked and definitely thinking about hosting again in the future.
You can find more photos on the LROCG web site. https://lrocg.jimdo.com/
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