"snorkel-friendly grottos"

People in New York's Hudson Valley and the Catskills have been urged to visit Rottnest.

Their 'guy Down Under', Aaron Munzer, has included the beautiful island in his list of '10 things you can't miss' about our land girt by sea.

The Grampians, Salamanca Markets, Magnetic Island, the footy and the Great Barrier Reef all cop a mention - as does Rotto.

Aaron only has Rotto at #7 on his list, but at least it's on.

"The name Rottnest Island, Western Australia, makes it sound like a haven for Dutch pirates, but nowadays its only permanent inhabitants are the tame, cat-sized marsupials called quokkas and their buddies, the peacocks, who love leftover sandwiches (but don't feed them, you could get kicked off the island)," he reports.

"Its deep, snorkel-friendly grottos are filled with coral and tropical fish, and the stellar waves on the side facing the Indian Ocean draw surfers from around Australia."

(Isn't a grotto a small cave, usually with attractive features?)

"You can rent a bike for the day or get a guided tour from the friendly bus drivers. There's a picturesque lighthouse on one end of the island, and World War II ruins dot the higher points on the landscape."

(Hmm, actually the guns are in superb nick, but that is a mere bagatelle of a quibble).

Aaron writes for the Times Herald-Record, so we expect eager visitors from places like Woodstock, Roscoe and Jeffersonville to be catching ferries from Fremantle soon.

Warning: the Rotto peacocks aren't to be confused with warbler Burt Bacharach.

badroom secrets

A stark contrast during Rotto Bloggo's recent five-day sojourn.

We were in an eight-bedder, and the time had been carefully assigned.

Rotto Bloggo had one all the time, as did another pair.

However...the other two bedrooms were divided: a couple of people the first couple of days, then a couple plus kids were moving in.

(They were meant to come for three nights, but only managed two: their ferry journey was cancelled, and it didn't seem that rough...)

Anyway...the images you see here are how the first lot left their rooms for the couple and kids...

One excellent, and one...how shall we say...not so good.

Even the curtains are crooked in the not-so-good example.

Also, we note in today's excellent The Sunday Times a young model named Bridget Malcolm is enthusing about stuff.

She loves Rottnest! But she dislikes the cooler months...

"I hate winter! I hate the cold and the wind and the rain," she says.

Even in a Rotto villa with the heater on, knocking back some red and playing Scrabble?

jerk on end of line

This wrasse was caught near Longreach - safely away from the new no-go Rottnest fishing zones.

He was thrown back: a Rotto Bloggo associate described the wrasse as rubbish.

We see we were using terminal tackle as we wet a line: "Some examples of terminal tackle include weights, floats, and swivels".

What about those new no-go zones?

The new zones are at Green Island, West End and Armstrong Bay; existing zones at Parker Point and Kingston Reef have been extended.

You can still fish from about 83 per cent of the Rotto shore.

Yes, but a couple of the new verboten spots were nice spots.

We can't find much in the way of reaction to the changes.

There was this in a Recfishwest statement last year:

"Recreational fishers also want a future for Rottnest, but not one where we are being told that we are the only problem and where there is a no balanced approach. Recreational fishers have done more for the aquatic conservation of this state than any other group yet this is never recognised by the green fringe who think that locking up the world will solve all its problems."

Mr Percival!

Yesterday in Borders Rotto Bloggo glanced at a book about islands.

It went on at great length about the 40 best islands you have to visit before you die.

Absoloute piffle, alas, because there was no mention of Rottnest: the nearest they got to the beautiful island was Bali.

One day last week we were cleaning fish at the end of Thomson Bay when this magnificent creature took a keen interest in what we were doing.

He loved the herring and tailor leftovers.

Would this happen on Bali? Methinks not.

Books that lecture you about what you have to do before you shuffle off the mortal coil are a major pain in the ass, and have no place on Rotto.

bliss

Back from five days and nights on Rotto.

What bliss! Howling winds, driving rain, spectacular sunsets and sunrises, dramatic rainbows, lots of drinking, eating and reading (books, magazines, papers), long walks, minigolf and airhockey, fishing, staring out the window, Scrabble and sunshine.

As well as speculating on the reasons behind cancelled ferries, watching planes touch-and-go at the airfield, and marvelling at the prices: $6 for a loaf of bread.

It was so sunny we saw people swimming in Fay's Bay on Wednesday and Thursday. They seemed refreshed after their dips.

The smell of the Rottnest pines...the sight of fresh quokka dung...the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks...

Five days was barely enough.

Time to get back into the swing of things.

Rottnest Sun and Lighthouse

Rottnest Sun and Lighthouse
Originally uploaded by Dave Curtis

To Rotto today for five glorious days.

The Sunday Times says the weather is set to be rough this afternoon, so hopefully we’ll be in our villa before the worst hits.

Good stuff, that wind, as Premier Carps said earlier this week, as he praised the wind power on Rotto:

‘Perth householders could soon be using the “Fremantle Doctor” to save energy and cut electricity bills.

‘Premier and Minister for Science and Innovation, Alan Carpenter today announced State Government funding for two projects that could lead the way to electricity being generated from small wind turbines on suburban roofs.

‘Mr Carpenter said WA was a world leader in the development of innovative, renewable energy solutions.

‘Other technologies developed in the State include…the wind-diesel technology installed by Verve Energy in remote areas of WA including Hopetoun, Coral Bay and Rottnest Island and now being considered for other parts of Australia and the world…’

good luck

Deep in the classifieds of The West Australian this morning is an invitation to apply for summer time on Rotto.

“Applications open at 9.00am today for the Summer 2007/2008 Ballot (27th December 2007 to 6th February 2008).”

How excitement. Start lodging today. Applications close Tuesday 17 July.

We like this yarn in The Age (fine paper) a fortnight or so ago about Rottnest: it verged on the purple made put some pertinent points:

“Rottnest Island floats above the glittering water on Perth's western horizon like an antipodean Avalon. Being within sight of the city's favourite getaway is a sore trial for jaded office workers during the week, forced to endure the views from the booming city's office towers.

"On any warm weekend swarms of people descend on the island and 'Rotto', as it's known to locals, is so popular during summer holidays that accommodation is allocated by ballot. During the week, though, outside of school holidays, it can very much feel like you have the place all to yourself."

The RIA says it expects to receive more than 5000 applications.

Will you be in Geordie from Wed 2 January to Wed 9 January? Or Thomson Bay South (aka Nappy Alley) from Friday 25 January to Friday 1 January?

Not everyone sees the popularity as a good thing. This blog called The Boomtown Rap (think Sir Bob Geldof?) pines for the olden days...

“Queuing outside popular restaurants, once unheard of, is now commonplace. Ditto Rottnest Island. The days of the spontaneous holiday on Rotto are finished. Holidays during school breaks must now be booked a year in advance, and even then, you have to queue to score a place in the ballot system that operates to ensure holidays at the island are not gobbled up by the same people time after time – some actually camp out overnight to guarantee themselves a spot in the ballot!”

to the lighthouse prancing

Rottnest Island
Originally uploaded by Miss Leaving

A wonderful image from Flickr, taken nine days ago: the sun is setting over the Basin...time to head back to the villa...hope we don't get savaged by quokkas on the way.
A mere five days until Rotto Bloggo is on the island...we'll be doing a Wadjemup lighthouse tour for the first time (although the lighthouse pictured is not Wadjemup, natch).
"The only Lighthouse to be open to the public on Rottnest Island, this is a unique opportunity to discover what goes on within the walls of a real lighthouse," ther RIA website clumsily says.
"From the top of Wadjemup Lighthouse you will see a distant mainland Australia to the east and to the west stunning vistas that will take your eye to the edge of the world." Goodness me! Purple Haze!
Anyway, if you're keen on the tour, call the Rottnest Island Visitor Centre on 9372 9732 and talk with one of their "enthusiastic Hospitality Officers".

the ptites betes de Rottnest

More translation fun courtesy Babelfish: here's a French tourist enthusing about Rotto...

'Beautiful Sunday on ROTTNEST After having magnifying glass my reveil last Sunday, this time it etait good, us here left for ROTTNEST ISLAND, a small island opposite Perth.

'When German decouvrerent this island, they transfer full with enormous "rats" ("Nest Rats" in German) of or the name..... But it did not etait Rats but QUOKKAS, these ptites betes so much familieres that one would want of in rammener has the house... but good I do not think that the customs officers are of the same opinion lol And then it is the only place in the world, and yes you read well in the world, or one can see these small creatures!'

(Hmm. Not sure how Frederick de Houtman and Willem de Vlamingh will feel about being regarded as German...)

'Other particularite of this island, if one wishes y sejourner during the Australian ete and well it is necessary to have gains its place has the lottery if not quenini!!! And yes too many people wish to go on this island during the ete...

(We love to sejourner during the ete!).

'Another dimension surprising of the island: there is enormously poisonous snake but by chance I do not have any crosses! OUfffffffff We thus travelled by our bicycle and veiled us left for one day decouverte on this marvellous island!! Alle now I let to you decouvrir the photographs, Ca will be much more interressant that words ah if a derniere thing, has the other end of the world I meet auvergnats of clermont! EXCEL!!!!!!!!!!!'

(No photos to be seen - never mind. What/who are the auvergnats of clerment? It's a mistoire...)

the weather started getting rough (tiny ships were tossed)

Goodness me it’s been belting down over there.

Yesterday Rotto Bloggo was driving down Stirling Highway and we couldn’t see the beautiful island because of the rain.

Rottnest had 21mm of rain in the 24 hours to 0900 today. It had 1.4mm in the half-hour until 1000.

And it’s been windier than Blazing Saddles. Gusts of more than 80kph earlier this morning, and a monstrous 111kph yesterday afternoon around 3.30.

We hope no quokkas were blown away.We can’t wait until tomorrow week, when we’re playing Scrabble and drinking while looking out at the wind-whipped water.

Rotto Rocky Rock

Rotto Rocky Rock
Originally uploaded by deadguru

A nice image from Flickr user deadguru of the (possibly) most-photographed bit of Rotto beach.
Only nine days until we're there.
If you're on the other side of the country you can see at least one Rotto image in a yartz exhibition.
'Working from an old garage at Crows Nest, four women have been making a big impression on the art of printmaking,' says the Mosman Daily.
The women are artists Tanya Crothers, Barbara Davidson, Helen Best and Janet Milton.
'...compare Davidson's colourful etching of the Wharf Theatre with the dark beauty of Crothers' lithograph and collagraph of trees on Rottnest Island, Western Australia.'

'Dead in Rotto'

An attention-getting blog headline from this Irish backpacker.

(But really, shouldn't it be: Dead on Rotto?).

Fluff, from Cork, gets a warning from a travelling companion...

""Turn around really slowly and carefully," Cat has just said, in a very low and cautious tone of voice. "And look at what's behind you."

"I mean, it's got to be the phrase that you least want to hear when you are in the Australian outback. There are other contenders, including "Oh look, we’re in Wolf Creek" and "That's not a log you're sitting on, mate, that's a crocodile" but in terms of sheer gut-wrenching I'm-in-the-place-with-the-most-poisonous-animals-in-the-world-and-they-all-hate-me terror, that one's got to win. That's it. My number is up. This time, I am going to die. And I haven't even seen a bloody quokka yet."

An amusing post follows. And she does get to see a quokka.

quokka rendezvous

More quokka sightings as we count the days until we’re on Rotto again.

German blogger Verena was on Rottnest a few months ago and liked what she saw.

(Although she seemed to wear the same clothes for the whole time she was in WA).

'For the following weekend I bought a ferry ticket to Fremantle, were I spent a great time till sunday. It is not far from Fremantle to Rottnest Island, were bikes can be hired to explore the small island by a quiet convenient way (as long as you get a good bike and don't mind cycling the whole day). Rottnest is famous for Quokkas (Tree Kangaroos), which were taken for rats by the first explorers of the island. So, the name of it. By the way, there I met my second australian snake.

Tree kangaroos? Hmm, not quite: tree kangaroos are macropods with long tails, but we’ve never seen a quokka in the trees.

Only 14 days until we’re on Rottnest: the bumf, including baggage tags, arrived today from the RIA.

quokka covered

There have been many fine books written about Rottnest. There have been books set on Rottnest (who can forget that marvelous Mills & Boon-style potboiler, Rottnest Island Romance?).

But until now we didn’t know there were books with small herbivorous marsupials in the title.

Yes, we refer to the quokka: we stumbled across a reference and link to the “absolutely delicious” thriller The Quokka Question.

Pardon me? It has as good a ring as The Bourne Identity or The Third Man or The Postman Always Rings Twice.

“Claire McNab's 2 other series feature Detective Inspector Carol Ashton (18 books) and Denise Cleever, an Australian Intelligence Organisation agent,” says this blog. Her Kylie Kendall novels include The Wombat Strategy, The Kookaburra Gambit, The Dingo Dilemma – and of course The Quokka Question.

“There should be something...for everyone to enjoy, whether it's hardboiled, humour, thriller or a bit of each,” says the blog.

Heavens! We went straight to McNab’s website to learn more.

“Think Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum blended with Crocodile Dundee. That's brash, enthusiastic Kylie Kendall, raised in the remote Outback of Australia,” says the author.

“She's familiar with perilous situations and dangerous animals. Even so, nothing has prepared her for the challenges Los Angeles provides when Kylie inherits a private eye business and decides to lob in and run it herself.

"Fair dinkum," she says, "how hard can it be?"

We went immediately to Amazon and ordered a copy. It will be the perfect addition to our Rottnest bookshelf.

Mind you, click on the large version of the book cover at Amazon and I’m sure you’ll agree with Rotto Bloggo the quokka looks more like a cross between a deranged Labrador and a raunchy kangaroo.

Ben and the Bearnaise

Rottnest Island was one of the key ingredients for a celeb chef’s success.

Rotto Bloggo is indebted to the Courier-Mail for this news: we just about fell off our chair when we read it.

Ben O’Donohue is the chef in question: he’s on the looming Foxtel show ‘The Best in Australia’.

(Former Jam Tart Sophie Gare also stars: good to see WA girls doing well).

“O'Donoghue's cooking career began one night in a busy kitchen in a little restaurant on Rottnest Island, Western Australia,” reports the C-M.

"I'd been hired as a kitchen hand and I got involved in a bit of food preparation but one night the chef ran out of bearnaise sauce and he told me to make some more," O'Donoghue told the paper.

"I said I didn't know how to do it but he said he'd talk me through it, which he did, and I made it! I ended up getting a job as an apprentice chef."

No word on when this was, or at what gourmet Rotto location this happened, but you can’t have everything.

O’Donoghue was also on Surfing the Menu, of course, and after finding this ABC page we discover Ben began rattling pots and pans at the tearooms.

Dedicated Aunty viewers will recall Ben and Co (including Luc Longley) going to Strickland Bay, snorkelling for lobster…paradise!

“When he's not filming TV shows or writing columns for food magazines, O'Donoghue's attention is split between his wife and two children who live in Hackney, east London and his new firm, The Great Australian Pie Company, which he set up with some partners in the UK last year,” the C-M reports.

"We sell pies at major sporting, art and music events around the country and we're planning on opening some pie shops across the UK soon too," he tells the paper.

What about a Rotto-inspired/named pie? We’d like to see that.

* Pic not of Ben, and not taken in the tearooms: instead it shows a cream mishap in a Thomson Bay kitchen.

the -oolie suffix

Schoolie, toolie, droolie (a person over 40 who pathetically hangs out with schoolies trying to be hip and cool) - we thought we'd heard them all.

Although we're still a bit confused about toolie: yes, the common definition is someone older, like in this dictionary: 'Perhaps related to tool ‘a stupid person’ by comparison with schoolie ‘a student celebrating the end of final year exams.’ Alternately, it could be influenced by tool v. ‘to drive (an automobile); to cruise (around),’ particularly given the predatory undertones of toolie'.

Don't even get us started on zoolie...lordy.

We liked this blogging from a cute young kid called Sarah (schoolie of the future?) at Hillarys Primary School. "Some of the places I've been with Hilarys Primary School are AQUA, the Perth Zoo, Rottnest, the beach and the Maritime Museum," she says.

"Our school treats year 7's with very great respect. Some of the things we have done so far is have a 4 day trip to Rottnest, go beach swimming, and have people from such high schools as Duncraig and Padbury tell us about the advantages of going there the following year."

Respec' is when your school takes you to Rotto!

"Our school is kept in a very clean and neat stage. Litter is kept to a minimum and the gardener keeps the bushes green. Grafetti is cleaned on with in the week that it was made and after school hours security cameras are turned on. Windows are repaired very quickly too, although the windows being smashed stopped in around 2004."

Nothing like that happens on Rottnest either...certainly bakers don't steal furniture...no no no!

doing some bird

'Bird watching on Rottnest Island is always a small adventure, and it can spring surprises with the sighting of a bird rarely seen anywhere else, or the experience of encountering a species that is common elsewhere but never before been recorded on the island.

'The Rock Parrot is the only member of this family to live permanently on the island. The Willie Wagtail, Grey Butcherbird and Brush Bronzewing all occur on nearby Garden Island but not on Rottnest.

'There are few observations of breeding on the island and those that do exist might be based on only one observation. In the last decade eight species have been added to the list of birds known to breed on Rottnest.

'The history of the birdlife of Rottnest Island is by no means complete, and all observations made on and near the island are useful contributions to the ongoing story of the birds of RottnestIsland.'

From The Birds of Rottnest Island, by Birds Australia WA Inc. Photo courtesy Flickr user happy crumblers.

"Rotto Inc": blast from past

From Hansard, 14 November 2000…
440. Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS to the Minister for Tourism:

(1) Was the minister accurately reported in The West Australian today in the article headed "Rotto hotel: Minister in dark" as admitting he had no idea what the proposed redevelopment of the Rottnest Island hotel site would be like?
(2) Was he accurately reported as saying about the proposal by the Swan Brewery, "I do know it meets what the vast majority of people want at Rottnest"?
(3) Does the minister know what is being proposed; and, if so, when did he find out?
(4) Why was a concept plan not put out for public comment?
(5) Will the minister assure the House that this will not be another case of changing the parameters of design and financing after the closure of the tender process, as he did with the convention centre?

Hon N.F. MOORE replied:
(1)-(5) The end part of the question is totally wrong; there have been no changes to the financing arrangements for the convention centre. I wish the Opposition would learn how these processes work. There are two ways to go about having a convention centre built or renovating the Rottnest Hotel. The first is that the Government could decide that this is what it wanted to do, have the government architect design it and then call for tenders to build it. The other process, which many Governments in other parts of Australia and the world have used increasingly, is to seek input from the private sector through architects and developers, and to call for expressions of interest. The Government outlines its parameters at the expressions of interest stage. People then make submissions based on those expressions of interest and the criteria contained therein. Governments then choose the proponents whose expressions of interest meet its basic requirements. It then goes through a request for proposal stage, when proponents are asked to refine their expressions of interest to a proposal document. From those proposals the Government chooses the preferred proponent. The preferred proponent is then given the opportunity to turn the proposal into a contract. At the end of the day, if the Government accepts the contract, assuming that it is based on the criteria the Government set out in the first place, it can agree to the contract. That is what has happened with the convention centre and what is happening with the Rottnest Hotel. The Rottnest Island Authority, being a statutory authority, is responsible for leasing all sorts of property on Rottnest. It is responsible for leasing the Rottnest Hotel to the previous lessee, who walked away with $957 000 of taxpayers' money about two months ago thanks to a contract entered into by the previous Labor Government.

Hon Greg Smith: How much?

Hon N.F. MOORE: It was $957 000. The Opposition is critical of a Government that is going through the proper processes to get a proper result. The people who gave us that hotel contract are now being critical. I cannot believe it!

However, in respect of the Rottnest Hotel, the Rottnest Island Authority put the proposition to me as minister that it would like to call for expressions of interest, have a request for proposals stage and then pick the best option from the private sector to develop and to run the hotel. I agreed to that process. During the process, it has informed me of what has taken place in broad terms; in other words, it has said that it has had 10 proponents and one has dropped off or that it had five at one stage but one dropped off. It has said who the proponents are. I have not been involved in any of the decision making. The Rottnest Island Authority is the decision-making body. It is proper that it should make the decision. However, it will come to me when it has a contract with the preferred proponent or somebody else. If the contract meets the Government's requirements and the requirements of the process, Cabinet will make a decision.

Hon Peter Foss: The Labor Party's minister would fix it up with his mates and then go to Cabinet.

Hon N.F. MOORE: That is exactly right. I am dying to know the intricacies of the previous 10-year lease on the Rottnest Hotel. In my retirement, I shall spend a lot of time looking at the documentation surrounding it. There is a serious scandal there. Added to all the other things I have told this House about Rottnest, somebody could write a very thick book called "Rotto Inc". It started in 1983 and finished in 1993. Since then the place has been straightened out and fixed up. We are going through proper processes. It is proper that the minister does not get involved in making decisions about who will get a particular contract. However, at the end of the day, Cabinet will decide whether it agrees with what the process has produced. I really hope that one day the Opposition will sit down and try to understand that this is a proper process which is used by many people.

Rottodollars

Fancy up to $5000?

That's what the State Government is offering if you have a good idea to keep young people on the path of righteousness later this year.

“The State Government wants not-for-profit groups and local government agencies to provide a range of initiatives during Leavers that maximise the safety and enjoyment of celebrations,” said Community Safety Minister John Kobelke.

We're sceptical - end-of-exam partying doesn't typically feature safety and enjoyment at the same time - but it's worth a try.

The Minister said (in his press release) he was particularly interested in initiatives that would target school leavers and their parents to help reduce binge drinking and other physical harm during celebrations.

Those binge-drinking parents! But at least they do it in the privacy of their Thomson Bay/Geordie Bay bungalows, and don't stagger about the streets playing 10,000 Maniacs at max volume.

Other plans (says the Minister's media release) included implementing ‘driver reviver’ stops en route to key Leavers’ destinations and continuing key strategies such as wristbands for 2007 school leavers, outreach services and diversionary activities by non-government groups.

“School leavers going to Dunsborough, Busselton and Rottnest will require photo ID to access activities and services, which should help eliminate the problem of ‘toolies’, or older non-schoolies, from gatecrashing and causing problems,” Mr Kobelke says.

Toolies! Schoolies! Hooley-dooley!

Rotto Bloggo's brillaint idea is to run craft sessions for schoolies manufacturing drinkmats that look like the genuine antiques pictured above so we can put them on eBay.

Start counting the money now.

The Arms and The Man

More news on Rotto’s hotel: ‘Quokka Arms upgrade in limbo’, said The West yesterday.

“The proposed $6.5 million upgrade of the Quokka Arms hotel is up in the air, with the Rottnest Island Authority failing to reach an agreement with Sandalford Wines owner Peter Prendiville after five months of talks.”

In the article RIA head honcho Laurie O’Meara is paraphrased as saying he was hopeful a lease deal could be done with PP in the new financial year, but don’t hold your horses.

The poor old hotel. There seems to be no end to the indignity the old gel has to suffer. Last year The West had an excellent story about foul-smelling liquid spreading across the floor of the bar during opening hours.

Of course the hotel was built as a summer residence for WA Governors.

As Rigby and Ward relate in the Rottnest Island Sketchbook, “…old-time Rottnesters can still recall the sight of a Government House butler in tail-coat and knee-breeches marching across the old Government House jetty to deliver, with his Excellency’s compliments, a billy of milk from the vice-regal dairy herd, to a visiting yacht which had brought Her Majesty’s mail over from the mainland.”

“The Governors usually spent up to two months each year on the Island, bringing over the butler, other servants and carriages. The last occupant was Sir Gerald Strickland, and the Island's stylish Vice-Regal days ended in 1912,” says the RIA website.

Some idle browsing led Rotto Bloggo to this treasure trove of information about alcohol tenders for the hotel.

Because it’s government-run, the hotel has to tender for the supply of booze, and they get in a lot over summer.

In the 21 days from 20 December 2005 to 10 January 2006, the Rottnest Island Authority tendered for $70,158 of booze.

20 Dec 05: beer $10,035 (winning tenderer: Carlton United Bev)
20 Dec 05: alcohol $16,442 (winning tenderer: Harbottle On-Premise)
22 Dec 05: beer $13,119 (winning tenderer: Swan Brewery)
28 Dec 05 alcohol $12,153 (winning tenderer: Harbottle On-Premise)
10 Jan 06: alcohol $18,409 (winning tenderer: Harbottle On-Premise)

And don’t forget the kegs: on 13 Feb 2006 the Swan Brewery won a tender for 99 kegs of beer: $14,742.

Booze aside, there was also a tender in January 2006 for ‘provision of marketing research services’. It was worth $118,000 and the winning tenderer was Markey Equity. The completion date was 11 January 2007.

Today’s image is from Flickr user Jodi and Jonny. Why get trashed at the hotel when you can spend time reading on the beach?

Western suburbs exam

It’s doing the email rounds again. In fact it’s never really gone away.

Like hoax virus warnings and the Mormons owning Coca-Cola, the ‘Western suburbs exam’ is as perennial as the grass.

We’re only mentioning it here because it’s hit our inbox again – for the 38th time – and reminded us it has a Rotto component:

14. Rick is finishing his TEE exams next week and is looking forward to leavers. Will he pick up more girls if he goes to Rottnest Island, where he can stay on his friend-of-a-family’s 52 foot Bertram moored in Thompson (sic) Bay, or should he put a P plate on his parent's Landcruiser and drive down to the family's two storey holiday house in Eagle Bay, Dunsborough?

Very amusing.

The latest Flickr image: another wonderful view of the beautiful island from on high.

Flickr user graveca took this photo three-and-a-half years ago, but only uploaded it last month.

Time to start counting: it’s 27 days until we’re on Rottnest again…

paradis sans voiture

The good Rottnest stuff on the Internet isn’t restricted to Rotto Bloggo. There are more Rottnest things on heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our philosophy.

Morwenna, a recent visitor to the beautiful island, has this constructive criticism of Rotto tourist literature here, and also wrote about it on her MySpace blog.

YouTube user TTTAPU (aka chris G) wrote to Rotto Bloggo asking us to mention his Rottnest video work.

“I have been enjoying your blog, and thought you might be interested in a couple of small videos I have made and posted about Rottnest in Youtube,” s/he says.

“Love to know what you think, I am passionate about all things Rottnest.”

TTTAPU, we think they’re first-class. One of the videos has a Lucky Oceans tune as a soundtrack

‘Rottnest Island in Winter’ is a succession of still images, and ‘Rottnest Ferry and bike hire’ has great footage of the road leading to the big lighthouse, the hero swimming with stingrays and then remarking “What a place.”

More video: there’s this brief movie of a quokka made by some Dutch people (NB: don’t feed the animals on Rotto!).

“Paradis sans voiture,” exclaims travelling blogger Dede, after visiting the beautiful island.

Although our French isn’t what it used to be, we can see Dede loved Rottnest.

We were intrigued by the mention of the Aussie term Tax File Number in his post, too, so we fired up Babelfish and got this translation, which creates as many questions as it answers:

“If not, although I smell myself well here, I will not remain indefinitely, if not, I would never take off... I am reflecting over the next days. I will not delay to leave in north and to leave behind month my small Perth and the small life to which I am accustomed very quickly...! Ca will be the business of a few days! I recovered my Tax File Number and my bank card thus now I do not have any more obligations. I have the impression that all the backpackers migrate towards North to the research of heat and that worries me a little bus if it is the case, I go can be to have evil to find job and/or a place where to sleep! Finally in any event, is necessary that I move myself!!!”

Pic shows thronging crowd on ferry to Rotto. Similar scene on one of TTTAPU's videos.

the shady avenue

More excitement in the Rotto Bloggo compound as we take delivery of a magnificent Rottnest artefact.

This pamphlet, which is more than 40 years old, is 22.5cm high by 14.5cm wide (good things come in small packages).

On the back it has general info on the island ("West Australia's premier holiday resort...three miles in breadth at its widest point"), lists four points of interest ("Swimming Basin - From the Moreton Bay fig tree near the grocer's shop proceed along the bitumen under the shady avenue of trees and past the tennis courts and school house...").

For more info you were encouraged to apply to the Western Australian Government Tourist Bureau, which was Hay Street, opposite Foys, phone number 212471.

The Bureau branch office in Freo was on Victoria Quay: phone number 53014.

But inside the pamphlet is more excitement.

There's a typewritten schedule of air and boat services, details about food costs and info on 'Trips Around The Island'.

Woods Airways has five flights a week: Monday, Wednesday, two on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Macrobertson Miller Airlines Ltd (there's a blast from the past) has five flights a week (only one on Friday).

A return adult flight on both airlines was three pounds eight shillings.

It was much cheaper on the Temeraire: 15 shillings for an adult return ("Day Excursion only").

You could have something to eat "Cafeteria Style" at the Tearooms, fork out 12/6 for a hotel lunch, or 7/6 to eat at the hostel.

"Prior arrangements for luncheon are not usually necessary," the pamphlet advises.

(As they aren't today: you just run like buggery towards Dome when you get off the ferry).

After lunch, the pamphlet suggests you take the 'Around the Island Tour': "A very comprehensive tour which gives the day visitor a good look over the island."

The pamphlet was issued on August 20, 1959.

a hole in the wall

An update on the Geordie Café for sale…

Rotto Bloggo called Robbie Doyle at WA Prestige Properties to have a chat about the business.

He’s a very personable Irishman who’s been in WA for seven years.

The café is sub-leased: lease-holder Emily is selling after six years.

“She’s an amazing young woman: she started the café from nothing, an empty space. It’s gone from a hole in the wall to a thriving foodie haven. She has leadership quality.”

(That’s what Rotto Bloggo hears: an island source told us recently that it’s the best place to eat and all the locals go there.)

Why is she selling?

“She wants to plan the next phase of her life,” says Robbie. “Her partner…works up north. She was only 20 or 21 when it opened.”

Emily called Robbie because she’s seen his name on a number of commercial listings.

“I went over there – I’d never been before – and I fell in love with the place (Rottnest). It (the café) works because of the simplicity, the cheap Red Dot plastic furniture – it’s a ‘build it and they will come’ thing.”

Isn’t it a bit surprising someone would sell, if the big Broadwater place will eventually be open around the corner?

“This is my own personal opinion: when a woman gets to 26, 27, 28, her biological clock starts ticking. She thinks ‘I’ve achieved this – I’m happy – I’ve found a good man’. I think her relationship is taking more of her attention.”

The property has been on the market for about two months. Robbie says he’s had enquiries from America, South Africa – and four from the UK in the past two weeks.

*Photo is not Emily. And it's in Thomson Bay, not Geordie. Never mind.

why make billions...

From the last RIA annual report:
‘The Authority is developing a tender to publicly advertise for a new Agreement to commence in
July 2007.’

And it was so: the Transfield job discussed this week on Rotto Bloggo is up for grabs. It cost around $6.1 million last financial year.

Company bugles are saying little. Liz Jurman at Transfield’s Sydney office said Transfield “don’t really comment about contracts coming up”.

The RIA’s Claire Wright said she couldn’t talk about it ‘cos it was “still in the process of tender”.

She also said “significant value…appropriate amount of time…if it takes longer…can’t say…”

Here’s what the annual report says about the Agreement:

‘Many of the day-to-day services provided and operational work undertaken on Rottnest Island, including baggage handling, building and fixture maintenance jobs, waste collection and utilities supply management are undertaken by Transfield Services under a Facilities Management Agreement is now in its final year.

‘The works and services provided by the Facilities Management Agreement amounted to approximately $6.1 million in 2005/2006 of which around $0.4 million was recovered from revenue from fuel sales, insurance claims and utilities sales. The main expense areas for 2005/2006 included:

· Management Fee - $1.1 m
· Fuel and gas supplies – $0.46 m
· Baggage handling for visitors - $0.8 m
· Waste management – $0.3 m
· Buildings, facilities and vehicle maintenance - $0.9 m
· Cleaning services (accommodation and facilities) - $1.0 m
· Power generation and supply services - $1.23 m· Water generation and supply services - $0.3 m’

beach and business

Here's another lovely photo of a glorious Rottnest beach.

It may well be that famous bit in Parakeet Bay (where Rotto Bloggo wet a line in January without huge success).

"Rottnest Island Perth : Amazing Beaches," says Flickr user jyeu.

The photo was taken on March 7.

Further to yesterday's post, we reckon the big job/40 workers needed that MySpace user was talking about is the Transfield Services contract coming up for tender.

"Rottnest Island, off the coast of Western Australia, is a popular tourist destination," says Transfield's website.

"On behalf of the Rottnest Island Authority, Transfield Services operates and maintains all power, hydraulic and waste management utilities. We also manage the maintenance of visitor accommodation and provide building and jetty maintenance and emergency services."

We'll give Transfield a ring to see what's what.

It has brilliant location

Young people today are so interesting!

Take MySpace user Silly silly Amy, for example: she’s 19, lives in Perth, likes “eating pineapple, chasing ducks and wasting time”, and had some recent strife on Rottnest.

“We started off just fine,” SsAmy says.

“It was boozy, cruisey and conviction-free.”

But then law enforcement – a policeman and two rangers – were suddenly in their “love den”, ordered against the wall and informed SsA and Co. were under arrest.

“It was fantastic,” sighs SsA.

There was a search in the love den (a tent? Villa? Caroline Thomson cabin?).

“When they'd gone through all our belongings, there were only four people left that remained under arrest.

“We watched as they were taken off in the paddy wagon.

“They later told us that they played rock/paper/scissors, took photos of each other and video taped themselves along the very short journey to the lock up.

“The police man (sic) didn't like that.”

It seems Ssa and the rest left the island on the next ferry.

“And Lewis will find out in a few short weeks if he's been banned for life from the island,” says SsA.

“The police man asked us all if we were happy with ourselves.

“My answer is yes. I am indeed.”

Young people!

In another Amy post, there’s another Rotto reference: in a post called ‘Short skirting my way to the top’, SsA says “random good looking man at work” might’ve offered her a job, and she dearly wishes she knew his name.

“This place might have a huge new contract with Rottnest. They find out in a few days. I've just been told that if they do win, they'll need 40+ more staff and that they'll 'definitely keep me in mind'.”

Goodness! Is it the Broadwater people? Rotto Bloggo might ask Amy.

It probably isn’t the ROTTO ISLAND DREAM BUSINESS that’s on WA Prestige Properties' site.

“IMAGIN RUNNING YOUR OWN RESORT ISLAND MONEY MAKING MACHINE..... THIS UNIQUE BUSINESS HAS BEEN CAREFULLY BUILT UP OVER THE PAST 6 YEARS BY THE SAME OWNER, IT ENJOYS A GREAT REPUTATION FOR FOOD AND COFFEE , IT HAS BRILLIANT LOCATION , SIMPLE SET UP , AND HEAPS OF POTENTIAL ..... WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR ????”

Better spelling?

It seems to be the Geordie Bay general store…Rotto Bloggo loves how the auto-generated map claims there are two train stations near Geordie Bay.

“THIS BUSINESS IS GEARED UP TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE HOARDS OF VISITORS, BOATIES , HOLIDAY MAKERS , AND RESIDENTS... TOO MUCH TO LIST HERE ..... PLEASE CONTACT THE AGENT FOR ALL THE DETAILS .......”

Hoards! Dear me…when you contact the agent, point him/her towards onelook.

board not bored

More ways of spending time on the island, both physically and imaginatively.

The Rottnest Society has organised two tree planting weekends: June 15-17 and August 10-12.

What a deal! Being on Rotto! Doing the environmental thing! A free ferry ticket! All it will cost you is $27 for accommodation (and what you have to spend on food, we guess).

"Rottnest Island pine, callitris preissii, and Rottnest Island tea tree, melaleuca lanceolata, seedlings will be planted, in areas fenced to keep quokkas out, once the winter rains have set it," says Post Newspapers.

Call Sue Folks at the Society on 9438 1413 or 0411 880 199 or email her at convenor@rottnestsociety.org.au

In other news, we’re sure you’ll want to put The Rottnest Island Game on your birthday/Father’s Day/Foundation Day public holiday gift list.

It’s on a website called Board Game Geek: Rotto Bloggo isn’t sure how it works, but here’s the blurb:

“This is an educational game, endorsed by the Rottnest Island Authority and (heavily) sponsored by Agfa Film. It’s a standard Roll and Move game with a single path and a start and end. The first half of the path is by boat from the mainland to the island, the second half is by bike on the island itself. The main theme, not surprising given the sponsorship, is photographing wildlife.

“As usual with these sorts of games, various points along the path cause things to happen, mostly drawing a card of some sort. You win by getting a photograph of a quokka and getting to the end of the path. There are a group of six quokka photo squares, such that you can't possibly miss it on the way through.

“The main educational content of the game is a small brochure with (tourist) information about the island.”

Sounds good to us. The pics of the game look great. But how do you get a copy?

that Rottnest colour

More Sketchbook gold: the island's early buildings and their origin.

"Nowhere else in Australia, except in Tasmania, will you find such a complete surviving colonial settlement as Rottnest. Yes, with its long, yellow-ochre sea-wall and squat, blockhouse like cottages overshadowed by huge, dark Moreton Bay fig trees, it looks more like a Spanish military outpost than anything of Australian origin."

This is, say the Sketchbook, thanks to Henry Vincent, a "tough old soldier from Wellington's wars" who went from being Fremantle Prison jailer to Rotto in 1839.

"Apart from the Hostel - completed in 1881 by a contractor for a European Boys Reformatory - Vincent built all the crude, picturesque old cottages, walls, buttresses, and stairways that give Rottnest its unique character."

Vincent's workers were, of course, Aboriginal prisoners. In one of his monthly reports to Government House he said they were: "Getten stan and lime, Belden barn, garden, cotten fier wood and fishen."

Readers of another great Rotto book, 'All The News In A Flash', will recall author John Moynihan quoting an excerpt from a Vincent letter to the Colonial Secretary's Office:

"Sir, I am out of flour non to issue to solgers nor men I served out the last of my one stock this morning I light one fire Monde night Wensde two fires..."

"Vincent's spelling and punctuation left much to be desired," Moynihan noted.

Vera, Celia and a duck

More gold from the Sketchbook.

And a Flickr image to go with it.

“From a first glance at a modern map of Rottnest it would appear that the Nomenclature Committees of the past have been influenced by the Isle of Girls fable, for many island features bear girls’ names.

“We find Mabel Cove, Marjorie Bay, Lade Edeline Beach, Charlotte Beach, Catherine Beach, Joan Island, Henrietta Rocks, Vera Rocks, Nancy Cove, Mary Cove, Celia Rocks.”

You bet Celia rocks. The Sketchbook hypothethises Sir Gerald Strickland (WA Governor 1909-1913, who had an eventful life) started the trend as he had plenty of women around him: his wife Edeline and daughters Mabel, Mary, Cecilia and Henrietta (poor old Constance seems to have missed out on having something named after her).

Mind you, names change, appear and disappear. The map in the Sketchbook drawn by Riggers shows King Head between Mabel Cove and Eagle Bay, but it’s not on modern maps. Likewise with Point Clune, just west of Longreach and Fays Bay.

The superb image is from Flickr user Sonja Rainer…in which of Rotto’s “63 beaches and 20 bays” (RIA) are we?

more Rottnest sketching

Kirwan Ward isn’t a glosser-over: he covers the sad indigenous stories about Rottnest.

“…for much of its recorded history it has been associated with extremes of human misery,” he notes on page 19.

“…in fact, the only glimpse of happiness we have, from the days the Rottnest Native Prison was closed in 1904, are provided by Mr L G Timperley’s accounts of the corroborees that used to be held in the prison yard.”

Timperly: a real Rotto name. So Rotto that a cottage is named after it.

“Timperley was a boy at Rottnest when his father, the late W H Timperley, ISO, was Superintendent there from 1883-1890, and he has left one of the best and most literate desriptions of life on this grim, penal colony…”

There were corroborees. But “…the commoner early sounds were the dragging chains of the work gangs, the coughing of the chronically sick and, in the early days, of the lash lacerating a naked back.”

Rottnest Island Sketchbook

Tremendous excitement on the weekend: Rotto Bloggo received a copy of one of the great Rottnest books.

Rottnest Island Sketchbook is by Paul Rigby (drawings) and Kirwan Ward (words).

It’s art and literature of the highest standard. It's hard to know where to start. The book is full of gems, insight, fact and nostalgia.

“In the course of my researches for this book I was shown – through the good offices of Mr Lewis Jones, superintendent of mapping in the Lands and Surveys Department – what is probably the oldest existing land map of Rottnest.”

The good offices! No-one says that any more (the Sketchbook was published in 1969).

And how about this: “A logical progression of Rottnest development will be the establishment of new settlements. The one on top of the Board’s priority list is that which is at present referred to as the Geordie Bay plan but which, in fact, will probably be more in the region of Longreach.

“The plan here is for a small settlement, dependent in some ways on the main shopping area, but with its own general store, and possibly a Board officer to act as supervisor. The programme calls also for a similar village complex at Stark Bay and Parker Point.”

*Pic from page 54 of the Sketchbook: Riggers lights up the pipe after a safe landing on Rotto.

the attractive Rotto reserve

The language of bureaucrats is a thing to behold.

Witness this verbiage from the Rottnest Island Authority's 2005/06 annual report...it's on page 22, under the heading 'Indigenous Heritage':

"Aboriginal people refer to Rottnest Island as Wadjemup. This year the impacts of the post colonial Aboriginal prison era have been proactively addressed in a sustainable manner by the Authority. The Authority created a new position to engage with Aboriginal Community from across the State in dialogue to develop a Strategy to go forward with the desired outcomes of repair of the Burial Ground physically and spiritually and development of quality Aboriginal Cultural ecotourism product."

Impacts...proactively...engage...dialogue...the language is dying! George Orwell (who knew a thing or two about islands) is thinking 'I told you so'.

Rotto Bloggo thought of this annual report perissology after seeing a media release from the State Government last week.

'People who obstruct Rottnest Island rangers from doing their job or refuse to leave the island will face higher penalties under changes to the Rottnest Island Authority Act,' it said.

"People value Rottnest as a safe, relaxed holiday environment - it is essential we ensure the Rottnest ethos is maintained," said Tourism Minister Sheila McHale (love that word ethos, too).

Obstructing rangers or refusing instructions to leave Rotto means you can be slugged $10,000 instead of $1000.

But this also caught our eye in the release:

Ms McHale said another feature of the Bill was the creation of the Rottnest Island Wadjemup Conservation Reserve.

“The new reserve is intended to raise awareness of the value of the A-Class Rottnest Island reserve,” she said.

“The name Wadjemup means ‘land across the water’ and highlights the indigenous history of Rottnest, and seeks to increase the island’s attractiveness to visitors and tourism markets.”

We're not sure how the new reserve will increase attractiveness: it's already there.

What is the Rottnest Island Wadjemup ConservationReserve?

According to the Act:

(3) In subsection (2) —
“Rottnest Island Wadjemup Conservation Reserve”
means —
(a) that reserve —
20 (i) as shown on Deposited Plan 52582;
or
(ii) on a diagram or plan notified under
subsection (4)(a); or
(b) a part of the Island declared under
25 subsection (4)(b) to be the Rottnest Island Wadjemup Conservation Reserve;...

But where exactly is it?

This from the Act's explanatory memoranda:

'The creation of a new conservation park in the area west of the settlement requires an amendment to the definition of the Reserve. The Rottnest Island Wadjemup Conservation Reserve is created in recognition of this area’s status as an environmental ‘icon’. The creation of a new conservation reserve is intended highlight the value of the reserve. This will make the Island more attractive to potential tourism markets assisting the Island’s drive towards financial self-sufficiency.'

There's that more-attractive thing again. Call Rotto Bloggo gormless, but we're still not sure exactly where the new Reserve is, or why it's needed, or what it really means.

sky spectrum...

...or a path between earth and heaven?

More great Rottnest images courtesy of a Flickr member.

delcond has a lovely selection of Rotto photos: we love 'A Part of the Rainbow'.

It seems as though the pot of gold is somewhere on Parker Point Road.

"After thunder, lightning and rain we got this view when departing from the island," delcond says.

"It's just beautiful."

Rotto Bloggo went to Wikipedia to remind ourself exactly how rainbows work, and we read this: 'Rainbow fringes can sometimes be seen at the edges of backlit clouds and as vertical bands in distant rain or virga.'

(Virga, of course, being falling rain that evaporates before reaching the ground).

delcond has some other excellent photos, including several of intense rain on the island.

medical procedure off Rottnest

This footy story with a Rotto mention caught our eye on the weekend.

Western Bulldog Ryan Hargrave told Adelaide Now a story about pulling staples out of his stomach using scissors while on a boat.

"It is cringeworthy and slightly mad but, in a way, it sums up the under-rated Western Bulldogs defender," AN said. "If you want to talk about toughness and defying the pain barrier, Hargrave is your man."

"I was having a few beers with mates just a couple of weeks after the operation and we were on a boat heading to Rottnest Island," Hargrave says.

"I had staples in my stomach and when I started to get sea-sick the staples were rubbing, so I got some scissors and took them out."

"The operation he was talking about was major surgery to remove an abscess the size of an orange from his bowel and have half-a-litre of puss drained from his abdomen", said AN.

(Rotto Bloggo is sure they mean pus).

Ryan Hargrave has played 102 games, kicked 26 goals, and been suspended by the tribunal for a total of six weeks.

Rottnest secrets

The admirable Subiaco Post has a front-page story today that mentions Rotto.

The main gist of the yarn is something about HMAS Sydney.

The protagonist, 86-year-old Julius Ingvarson, was a 20-year-old signalman in Fremantle in November, 1941.

“At that time he worked office hours, nine to five on weekdays, but all that changed after the Pearl Harbour attack on December 7,” the Post reports.

“He worked a straight 30-hour shift, and it was another long shift that saw him kicked out of signals after he fell asleep.

“He was later made a courier for top-secret documents between Fremantle and Rottnest Island, travelling on the ferry Zephyr.

“He recalls the Zephyr being held up in autumn 1942 by the anti-submarine boom between the North and South moles, and seeing a navy corvette dropping exploding depth charges several miles south-west of the harbour mouth.

"I was sizing up the distance I would have to swim if something happened to the ferry," he told the Post.

Secrets being couriered between Freo and Rotto! And on the Zephyr, no less.

There’s a picture of the Zephyr on page 140 of ‘All The News In A Flash’ (which is, as any fule kno, the second-best book about Rotto).

The pic shows a very small jetty, the Zephyr beside it, and passengers strolling to Rottnest Board of Control charabancs.

(The pic at the top of this post can be found in the island’s movie hall).

The vessel gets a few mentions in ATNIAF: one is it transporting techies to the island when the first PMG phone exchange was opened on 1 April 1936.

'Rottnest Morning - 53 x 82'

More Flickr fun about Rotto.

Seascape artist Julie Silvester has some Rottnest images here.

We especially liked ‘Rottnest Morning – 53 x 82’.

“I have been painting in watercolours since I was 30 and in 1999 changed to pastels due to their vibrancy, immediacy and the fact there was no drying time,” Julie says on her website.

‘Coastal Invite’ looks like Parakeet Bay.

A nice present for Mother’s Day.

Society speaks

The Rottnest Society has had a look at Rotto Bloggo's posts about FOR and emailed us.

"At this point we do not know a great deal about what they are planning to do except fundraising," says the Society's Sue Folks.

"We see this as a good thing, as Rottnest has been unable to access various grant funding because of the way it is constituted, so it would be very helpful to have funds raised for dedicated purposes in the area of environment and heritage works.

"However, as you have pointed out it is not clear how independent in its thinking this organisation will be from the RIA - although it is a separate organisation.

"The Society is also urging the Premier and the Opposition to commit to Community Service Obligations (CSO's) particularly to fund on a regular ongoing basis environmental and heritage conservation and maintenance, as well as a component of the cost of utilities. We believe that this is important for this 'A' Class Reserve if we are to ensure that it does not succumb to unsuitable development."

The Society does NOT oppose all development on Rottnest - "as anyone could discover by reading our website," Sue says.

"Indeed we kept an open mind about the Mt Herschel development until the concept plans were released by the Minister in January. Close inspection led us to believe that this would be a totally inappropriate development for Rottnest."

"We also discovered that the RIA had not done anything about amending the Rottnest Island Management Plan (RIMP) in several places (as they are required to do under the Act) to pave the way for such a development - which is why the RIA subsequently proposed a number of amendments to the RIMP (public comment closed 23rd April).

"We raised many valid questions about the development with the Minister, the Premier and the RIA - none of which have been satisfactorily answered to date. We therefore did encourage people to object to the proposed changes to the RIMP - and this is being interpreted in some quarters as opposition to all development, which it isn't."

The Society would be happy with some extra accommodation which catered for some of those Western Australian people who can't get accommodation in summe. It sees there's some call for "suitable accommodation" for singles and couples.

"We do not believe that Rottnest is the place for 'high-end' expensive accommodation with spa baths, swimming pools etc. We also believe that there are many, many people in the general population who care deeply about Rottnest and its future, many of whom do not want any development of any kind."

which way is the right way?

Let’s have a tiny bit of time-out from discussion over the demogorgon that might be FOR.

The latest nifty image plucked from Flickr (don’t say that too quickly) is a nice black and white shot of a sign on the beautiful island.

We can’t decide if the location is the end of Bovell Way, near the narrowest past of Rotto, or near the lighthouse in the middle, where Parker Point Road begins.

Flickr user ali3n_oz has nearly 50 Rottnest pics: also worth seeing are ‘no man’s land’, ‘Black&white visions’ and ‘Dead trees cemetery’.

Check out all his pics here.

Enjoy – and we’ll be back tomorrow with a RS comment.

clearer soup

Some progress made from where we left off yesterday...

Pat Barblett says she's been trying to get the FOR off the ground for a while.

She reiterated what it said in the Post: FOR is an offshoot of RIF, which was set up to raise money for environmental and cultural heritage.

"The RIA can't access Lotteries money or Federal funding, but we can," says Pat.

"Five hundred thousand people go to Rottnest every year: if 1000 of those pay $30 a year, we'd be laughing."

The FOR want to be like the successful Friends want to be like their counterparts at New Norcia.

What about RIA people being in FOR?

FOR is "absolutely quite separate", says Pat.

Pat says Janet Holmes a Court is the head friend, and Frits Steenhauer is her partner.

Yes, she was an RIA chairwoman, but only from 1991-1993.

Laurie O'Meara was just launching the FOR.

Lloyd Smith is chair of the RIF.

Yes, the Friends support the new hotel: the Rottnest Society don't.

"They just want no development on Rottnest and that just can't be," says Pat.

"We need another level of accommodation."

It's all about money for Rotto: "Think of a triangle," says Pat.

"At the top you've got big corporate donors, and at the base you've got mums and dads.

"The RIF has 50 paying members who pay $50 a year, but we want Friends to pay $30 a year."

Pat agreed there are a lot of organisations to do with Rotto: there're also the Winnits, the boaties..."there's a diverse group of people who think they know how to run Rottnest."

who's who in the Rotto zoo

The alphabet soup that is groups associated with Rotto just got thicker.

We had the Rottnest Island Authority (RIA), the Rottnest Island Foundation (RIF), the Rottnest Society (RS)…and now we have the The Friends of Rottnest (TFOR).

The RIA runs Rotto. The RIF is a bit mysterious but according to something on the RIA site, it’s “a voluntary organisation established to raise funds to to enable future generations to enjoy an unspoiled Rottnest Island experience”.

The RS is acting up about the Mt Herschel hotel development.

TFOR, according to an article in The Post yesterday, “supported the proposed hotel development at Mt Herschel and hoped people who stayed there would become members”.

Fair enough. Some people like the idea of the new hotel, and some don’t.

It’s who’s in TFOR which is curious. In a Post photo were Frits Steenhauer, Lloyd Smith, Pat Barblett and Laurie O’Meara.

Laurie is the chairman of the RIA.

Frits is listed in the RIA’s 2002-03 annual report as a ‘community representative’ on the Rottnest Island Marine Issues Advisory Committee.

Lloyd is a member of the Rottnest Island Interpretation Facility Stakeholder Group and was chairman of the RIF in 2004.

Pat is the chairwoman of FACET, or Forum Advocating Cultural & Ecotourism. She was on the RIA for 15 years, with three of those as chairwoman. FOR’s phone number is the same as FACET’s, in fact, and FACET grew out of a 1991 cultural event hosted by the RIA.

So…

FOR thinks the flash new hotel is a good thing.

FOR seems to have people in common with the RIA.

Is it reasonable to believe the RIA likes the proposed Mt Herschel hotel as well?

Maybe there’s nothing wrong with the RIA giving the stamp of approval to the development.

But why not just say so, instead of going through the palaver of setting up another Rottnest organisation?

We called the only P.Barblett and Steenhauer in the White Pages, but no answer. We left messages for the RS’s Sue Folks, too. We’ll try again tomorrow.

FOCUS on Rottnest?

We’re going to be overrun by travel agents later this year, and Rotto Bloggo is doing our bit to make sure the beautiful island makes the most of it.

About a thousand of “Australia's top travel agents and others involved in the industry” will be here in October, Tourism Minister Sheila McHale said earlier this week.

Travelscene American Express would hold its FOCUS 2007 conference at the hayshed.

But will they be making their way down the river?

“Apart from an expected direct economic impact of more than $3million, the State will benefit indirectly through the opportunity to show off to these key tourism vendors,” the Minister mused.

We hope so, and bugger the south-west or Wave Rock or the Bungle Bungles: what are authorities going to do about promoting Rottnest to these elite agents?

“The FOCUS 2007 conference will give delegates a 'true taste' of everything Western Australian," Travelscene general manager Leith Mills said in the Minister’s media release.

Everything includes Rottnest, so we look forward to seeing a Travelscene delegation landing in Thomson’s Bay.

Rotto Bloggo has written to Ms Mills at Travelscene just to make sure.

man overboard

Bad news from/near the beautiful island: efforts have resumed today to find a man who jumped off a ferry returning from Rotto.

From The West online: “The man, believed to be a 39-year-old Perth resident, fell from the ferry Star Flyte while returning to Fremantle from Rottnest Island, about 4.20pm (AWST), a WA Police spokeswoman said.

(This morning’s West says passengers were sure the man jumped.)

Two helicopters searched for the man without success – he went into the water about 4km west of North Mole.

"I believe we have recovered some clothing from the water but as yet we have not recovered the man," the West quoted a policeman as saying.

Fingers crossed.Not the first time the Star Flyte has been involved in drama: it helped save someone last October, as posted on Rotto Bloggo (see 'Rotto ferry saves man').

Shades of Blue

The days are getting greyer in Perth…the temperature drops…time to take an umbrella with you wherever you go.

Except Rottnest, of course.

The latest Flickr photo to appear on Rotto Bloggo is from Snoosan.

‘Shades of Blue’ was taken but a few days ago, at Parker Point.

Doesn’t it make you yearn for the beautiful island?

As a visitor to Snoosan’s page commented: “How gorgeous. Who needs Greece?”

Exactly.