all natural

Rotto Bloggo's new year resolution is to swim from thje natural jetty to Phillip Rock. How hard can it be? When you're standing there waiting for a garfish it looks half a hop away - a bit like the view from Cottesloe to the beautiful island.

We'd have to be watchful for Rottnest Express, the supply ship and a few other craft, but it would be a doddle. The island looks accessible once we're there.

These are shots from last week. The waves washing over the natural jetty, and nowhere to put bait, rods, caught fish etc, make the place a thrilling fishing experience. The creature featured is a Leopard Wirra.

memories

Can you believe the amount of Rottnest news? We can't. James Packer lunches at the hotel on Thursday, there's a boat missing north of the beautiful island, and Shazza spends a weekend in Thomson Bay.

It all happens there. We muts have just missed Packer: we caught the 1030 ferry back that day. We hope his meal was better to the last one we had there.

Memories of last week's four exquisite days on Rotto persist. One was of strange behaviour on the beach at Geordie. A bloke motored in from his costly yacht and cleaned and gutted fish on the sand. He was too close to the water. He was perturned by the gulls - at at one stage took up a karate stance, knife in hand, to confront the pesky birds. It went on for about half-an-hour. He seemed to throw a few cleaned and gutted fish into the water. Then he putted back to his yacht. Strange days indeed.

We trust it's not him who said in the mayday call: "I'm experiencing problems with electricals on board due to the actual taking on of water. Judging by the current flow rate into the actual vessel, I've probably got between 40 and 50 minutes before I'm going to have to abandon the vessel."

day 3 Geordie

Surrounded by sea: that is the exciting experience that is extreme fishing on Rottnest.

The fishing scenes on the beautiful island are varied. You can wet a line from a jetty, or rocks, a beach - or at Henrietta you can wade out on the reef and have the beach behind you.

But for water all around there is the natural jetty. You're so far out at low tide it seems like just a hop and a skip to Phillip Rock (but watch out for the ferries!).

The tide surges around you, the water is that deep Rotto blue, there's nowhere to put your bait and you have to be mindful of balance and footing - it is a satisfyingly extreme fishing experience.

We weren't disappointed today: herring, skipjack and a cod or two were landed.

At 1700 we also dropped in to our regular perch at the end of Geordie Bay: more herring and skippy were plucked from the water.

And we saw a snake on the just before the Geordie hill, the alarm went off at the (closed) Aristos, we had a (luke warm) coffee at Dome, the leftover roast from last night was still marvellous.

For lunch today we fired up the smoker. We spread a small amount of mallee sawdust/chips on the inside tray, laid our fillets on the rack above, lit the meths cup below - and left it alone.

After 60 seconds it was smoking like a thousand joss sticks. Eight minutes with the flame - then whip out the flame and let the fillets sit for five minutes, absorbing more smoky goodness.

It was the best smoked stuff we'd ever had: delicate, flavoursome, a hint of honey and spice. And not too fishy. You can even do vegetables in it.

We'll have smoked herring for breakfast, but tonight it's gently fried skipjack and garfish with baked potato and an apple crumble for dessert. And a few German beers.

smokin' & stirin'

The smoker was deployed at lunch: what a remarkable device it is.

A full report later of the smoker and our extreme fishing exploits at the natural jetty, but we couldn't let this worst spelling wait until then. Seen at the Geordie Bay cafe.

How sweet it is on Rottnest.

day 2 geordie

The first full day, and it's been sensational. Much fruits de la mer have been plucked from various locations around the beautiful island - some were thrown back.

We started out at Henrietta Rocks. It was satisfying to indulge in some extreme fishing (wading out in the surf on the reef) but the haul was not huge: we were casting into the teeth of a south-westerly. We're all highly sceptical of any Bureau of Meteorology forecast.

So we had a look out near the West End and settled on Mable Cove, on the other side of Rottnest. Conditions were a little better, but they were hardly jumping into the bucket.

By then it was 1430: we headed back to Thomson to eat (spinach and feta rolls for Rotto Bloggo). Bought the papers, back to the pad - until about 1700, when we were galvanised into action when we realised we'd have nothing to eat (the other three have a lamb roast on the go for tonight).

So we walked 500m to the rocks at the southern-most point of Geordie Bay, where we wet a line last night - and the difference was remarkable. The herring (and more than one skipjack) were in a frenzy and leapt onto the line. So Rotto Bloggo has ample fillets while the others chow down on their red meat.

While the lamb was in the oven Bealo knocked a few more pages of Middlemarch.

day 1 geordie

Mixed success on our first fishing foray. Your reporter caught four-fifths of fuck-all, but the other three hauled in the garfish, bait fish, herring and a magnificent squid. Those squid are full of ink. And they taste superb on pizza.

The ferry was late: we blame the Rottnest Island Authority. At least the ferry wasn't weighed down by Bealo's rods: he forgot them. Mind you we forgot the pizza trays.

Our plush Geordie Bay unit is absolute beachfront: the young worker who checked on our equipment was very efficient. She spotted we were light-on for knives and fixed us up.

It doesn't get any better than this. Some are whinging about how cold it is, but we are just thankful for the freshest air in the world.

A special thank-you to Rottnest police, who had a rod or two they could share - it meant Bealo didn't have to use the cheap and nasty handline.


Now we will make a dent in a carton of Coopers and plan our angling assault tomorrow.

offshore vibrance

We've got the good stuff: smoking sawdust for the fish smoker. It's mallee, and is "extra strong earthy flavour". We haven't seen the smoker yet: we'll collect it tonight. Hopefully it will fit the bill.

There is a fish out near Little Armstrong Bay swimming blamelessly, unaware it will be in a bucket this time tomorrow. We don't mean to sound bloodthirsty. Herring watch out.

We're keen to get to the beautiful island before the hoards descend. Rottnest has been featured in The (UK) Independent (Motto from a few years ago: 'It is. Are you?'). The Independent was Rotto Bloggo's paper of choice when we lived in London - and we're not disappointed with it today.

David Orkin goes around the usual suspects in his traveller's guide to WA. He claims Perth is "vibrant", and speaks sense about Rotto...

'Perth makes a great base for several excellent excursions. One of the most popular day trips is the short boat ride to tiny Rottnest Island (rottnestisland.com), which is just 11km long and 5km wide. A variety of boats leave for "Rotto" from Perth and Fremantle: the trip takes less than half an hour and costs from £32 return from "Freo" or £42 return from Perth with Rottnest Express (00 61 8 1300 467688; rottnestexpress.com.au).

'The island offers good swimming and diving: is virtually car free, so explore by bike – these can be rented from the island's Rottnest Bike Hire (00 61 8 9292 5105) from £5 per hour or barely twice as much for a full day.'

those stuff

Only two sleeps to go before we're on the beautiful island: 48 hours from now we may be blogging from the balcony of our plush beachfront Geordie Bay pad.

We can reveal that we're taking a herring smoker. Or we will be if all goes according to plan. It has to be collected from the father-in-law, for a start. And also it's alleged we need some woodchips.

Some readers of this blog will be aware of the cultural significance of smoking herring to Rotto Bloggo. We are excited it may be happening.

The good news about Rottnest continues to be communicated. This New Jersey travel writer has her facts straight: "The highlight of the visit was an excursion by local ferry to Rottnest Island (aka Rotto) where we rented bikes and rode around the approximately 7 by 3 mile island. Another transportation option, since visitors aren't allowed to bring cars over, is to take the bus that circumnavigates the island, stopping at any or all of the beaches."

Mary Altier (is she Californian, actually?) can't spell Fremantle, but never mind. It's pleasing that Rotto ranks with the Harbour Bridge, fending off crocs in the NT, yadda yadda.

And Mei Teng also liked her sojourn on the beautiful island - but had at least one concern: "Quokkas are herbivours and they rely on plant life as a source of water. As we were admiring and photographing those creatures, I noticed lots of dark brown droppings all over the grassy area. I was careful not to step onto any droppings as I made my way out of their shelter. Later, we were told not to come into contact with the droppings as those stuff have been known to cause illness."

the play's the thing

An associate has kindly reminded us about Waiting for Rotto, a Blue Room production that's now on.

We blogged about this island drama a while ago, and will endeavour to see it even though it's clashing with our next island sojourn: this time next week we'll be there.

Will the play mention the Angry Whopper?

You might think WfR is the first play to mention the beautiful island. You'd be labouring under a misapprehension: here are some of the plays that have...

Journey's End by R.C. Sherriff: a glimpse into the experiences of an obese American family as they cycle to the West End. Do they get there before evening, or will the seagulls peck them to death?

Setonix by Peter Shaeffer: a lonely Red Rooster check out chick embarks on a sexual odyssey as she investigates why a toolie blinded six quokkas with a West Coast Eagles stubby holder.

The Persian Rugs by Aeschylus: this laugh-a-minute comedy by the ancient Greek master features a bizarre attempt by Tony Sadler of Wembley to furnish all the island accomodation with colourful throws and kilims.

Cloud Nine by Caryl Churchill: the nuances and paralells between colonial and sexual oppression are explored in this innovative drama, which starts in a 1906 drunken orgy in the Governor of WA's party and finishes with a private schoolboy sodomised by peacocks wearing ranger regalia.

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf (adapted for stage by Harold Bishop): the Ramsay family and their visits to Rotto in between being the slum landlords of the popular TV soap Neighbours is a skilful manipulation of temporality and psychological exploration and tragedy of the highest order.

shame about the name

Shame about the name? So says a commenter on a blog that went to Rotto recently.

pantone801 spent a recent day on the beautiful island. Their YouTube is amusing, despite the cheesy background music.

"Rottnest is stunning, one of the most gorgeous places I have visited", they say.

We also liked this Flickr spread: Landscape Urban. From graffiti to lighthouses to signs that have fallen down, Rotto has it all.

whale of a time

Apologies for the absence. We were down south (and admiring the Rottnest-like clarity of the water at Prevelly) and then it was back into the vortex of the working week.

Things about the beautiful island kept happening in our absence. Troublemaking The Worst of Perth blogger The Lazy Aussie had an all-too-brief stay: these pics are his.

Our island-loving associate Fremantlebiz snagged a stay yesterday when one of his associates snuck down to the wharf. The first of the month is an opportunity for Rottnest lovers.

The RIA is plugging away on Facebook: Hey guys, check out the latest page on our website. Every Wednesday we will be updating it so you can see what days in the following two months still have accommodation remaining. Especially handy in the summer period! The days are ranked as having either 'ample', 'adequate' or 'some' accommodation. It makes it easy then to just call Central Reservations, tell them the day you want and see what we have available!

And then this, a few minutes later: Sorry guys, the below message should have read 'ample', 'adequate' or 'none'!


It's a mere 11 days until Rotto Bloggo is there. Four nights of bliss.

leaver$

Ouch: 'Rotto costs double for leavers' is the grim headline in today's West.

'Accommodation fees on Rottnest Island during this year's school leavers' week will almost double in an attempt to recover soaring costs associated with the annual celebration,' is the lead.

That's the rule in reporting: costs never creep up, or increase - they soar, or they've been hiked.

Ljiljanna Ravlich hit the commercial airwaves this morning: she said when she left Govo SHS in 1975 she hit the beautiful island with her friends, and even allowing for inflation it didn't cost as much as it does today.

'Leavers renting a four-bed premium unit at Bathurst for the three nights set aside for leavers' week will pay $1422 this year, of which $1022 is for accommodation. The same unit cost $564 last year,' the West says.

Does it cost that much to clean up after the kids?

sugar hit

Is it possible to cram a vanilla slice into your mouth all at once? Some people give it a red-hot go when they're on the beautiful island - Gemma Boyd's friend Alisha, for example.

Gemma and Alisha got up at 6am to get the ferry two hours later. After riding around Rottnest they dropped in at the bakery and Alisha battled the snot-block: see the pics on Gemma's RTW Trip blog here.

After her sugar inhalation Alisha was so pooped she had a kip on the boat back to the mainland.

We're amazed to see the Urban Dictionary lists snot-block: it's here, between snot blaster and snot bong (which is not what you might think).

Our pic is of an American consuming a snot block. At least she's not throwing up and being dive-bombed by rapacious seagulls.

arrrr

It's Talk Like A Pirate Day. Me hearties! While few buccaneers or corsairs have made people walk the plank in Thomson Bay, Rottnest hasn't been without pirate encounters. After all, the beautiful island is antipodal to Bermuda.

The best one was made up last year (and covered on Rotto Bloggo here): a fishing boat called Pirate supposedly caught a huge great white.

Then of course there was this ad for the Lodge earlier this year, which featured buried treasure under the (kinda small) island's lone palm. Arrrr.

And let's not forget the Purple Pirates. One of this motley crew, Bosun Grog, "...s known to have ventured on the wild ocean many times and can often be seen singing at the baarrgh on Rottnest Island while collecting bottle tops for his Laarrgherphone. 'Ee 'as a vast repertoire of sea songs tattooed on the inside of his eyelids which helps him to strum his guitaarrgh and sing with his eyes closed - enabling him to plunder the hearts and wallets of defenseless audiences."

Shiver me timbers.

"Rotto favours private schools"

This story published today is white-hot. It's in the POST, and we can't understand why a ball-tearer like this isn't on the front, above the fold.

'The Rottnest ballot is random and computer-generated, but students at Shenton College are asking why their school keeps missing out on Leavers' Week accommodation.'

Oh yes. A bright Shenton College teenager is wondering why Scotch has at least 25 houses, PLC has 24 and Hale 27 - when the guvvy kids at SC have a mere three.

Hmmmm.

The Rottnest Island Authority wheeled out the big bureaucrat to speak on this one: Laurie O'Meara said any suggestion that RIA staff or any other person can influence the ballot is false.

"There is no, and there never has been, a ballot council of parent representatives in existence or any other external interference in the ballot process," Lazza said.

Will this be known as the Bulgarian effect?

Americans abroad

How did Americans end up ruling the world? We asked ourselves this question after reading an account of some New Yorkers in Perth - and on Rottnest.

The hapless family's adventures are headlined 'The Worst Vacation Ever', which made Rotto Bloggo's bristles hackle.

After a quick read we were mollified: it was Worst due to the family's ineptness, weak stomachs and general pratfalls.

"We headed home to get ready for an evening boat cruise to Rottnest Island, have dinner, and return later that night. This is when the next round of trouble began...."

They liked the quokka, but interaction with other fauna wasn't so cheery.

"As my wife was chatting and enjoying a chip (French fry), she slowly went to put it in her mouth when I heard her scream and duck as if she had been hit. Well, she had! A seagull had come flying out of nowhere, knocked her head with its wing, and stole the chip right out of her hand as she was attempting to put it in her mouth!"

After more bird battles the family heads back to the mainland...

"About 10 minutes into the boat trip Sydney started to look a little green. Next thing you know there is an awful retching sound as she tossed her cookies…thankfully in a proper bag. Now the smell combined with the choppy waters brought on the gags for all of us. My wife was losing it, I was sweating so badly some had thought the boat had sprung a leak under my feet..."

Oh dear. We hope the sailors aboard those nuclear-powered aircraft carriers handle Gage Roads better than this mob. The rest of The Worst Vacation Ever involves sorry incidents with more seagulls, more vomit, hospitals and fast food.

Do you reckon these guys were fat?

hooked

Cute Rotto animal picture alert: here's a close-up of one of the island pelicans.

This is also from Geoff V, who sent in the pic of the cavorting kiddies in Thomson with Mr Percival close by.

There's speculation the scarring on this guy's proboscis is from a fish hook.

In other island news, Rotto Bloggo has a competitor! At long last someone else has taken up the Rottnest blogging challenge. Chuck's blog is here - he also has blogs called Perth Tomorrow and Bassendean Tomorrow.

Chuck's latest Rotto post calls for more accommodation on the beautiful island.

Only 27 days until Rotto Bloggo's latest Geordie Bay sojourn...the countdown has begun.

scrambled eggs

One of our favourite Rotto breakfasts: scrambled eggs with feta and topped with a chive or two. There aren't many better meals to have on the balcony of our plush Geordie Bay beachfront balcony. "Now this is living," we congratulate ourselves as we tuck in.

The POST has a story today about scrambled Rottnest eggs of a different kind...

RANGERS on Rottnest Island have been shaking seagull eggs in an effort to control their numbers.

The rangers go to gull nests, shake eggs so the embryos are destroyed, and then replace them.

Because the eggs aren't broken the gulls don't replace them by laying new eggs.

A Rottnest Island Authority spokesperson said there'd been a university research project aimed at manipulating gull nest sizes which used egg shaking.

"The project was supported by the authority and was done under full naimal ethic approval," the spokesperson said.
"However, this was a study and not a routine option for pest bird control."

The authority's pest management plan sees gulls caught with nets and then gassed.

The spokesperson said more seagulls were in Rottnest settlement areas because there was no longer a landfill on the island.

The spokesperson said if gull numbers increased, egg shaking might become another pest management method.

In other Rottnest fauna news, a number of peacocks have been removed from the island: Peel Zoo took 23 of the birds.

sinking

It's ferry tough on the choppy seas of the business world, trying to sail into the gale forces of the GFC (Global Financial Crisis).

There was a very good Beatrice Thomas story in The West last week once word got out about Oceanic Cruises' receivership. We filed a little story for the western suburbs paper The POST, but it must have been overtaken by events come Friday.

Today's pic is of the Shuttleworths and one of their boats in happier times: it was taken about two years ago, when Rotto Bloggo was one of the few elite reporters invited to the beautiful island for a Sheila McHale presser.

Begin spiked copy...

Rottnest ferry company Oceanic Cruises is in receivership with its assets up for grabs.

Receivers KordaMentha said Oceanic went into voluntary receivership on Sunday, 22 August.

Two days later the secured creditor, Esanda Finance, appointed KordaMentha.

“We're in control of all the company's businesses and assets, except the underwater explorer vessel,” KordaMentha's Cliffe Rocke said.

“We're in the process of commissioning an advertising campaign for the sale of the businesses and assets.”

The company is owned by Cottesloe couple Tim and Tammy Shuttleworth.

They bought the company in September 2007.

Ms Shuttleworth didn't return calls from the POST by press time.

Oceanic and competitor Rottnest Express were cost-saving during the slow winter period.

“We are carrying Oceanic's passengers because it's hard to make money in WA in winter,” a Rottnest Express spokeswoman said.

“It's by agreement and no different to any other year.”

The spokeswoman said when both companies were running ferries that were only 15-18% full, combining services was a “sensible business decision”.

guy II

Famous artist pays for Rottnest accomodation with art!

A dream headline about the beautiful island. Since our recent post about Guy Grey-Smith, we've been in touch with the late artist's family about his Rotto work.

"The story about Rotto I can share is that Dad won a prize of accommodation at the Rottnest Lodge, so we all went over, only to discover it was for one person only," a relative revealed to Rotto Bloggo.

"Dad persuaded Lesley Anderson, who was running the Lodge with her husband, that he should paint Lesley's portrait in payment. So he did a pretty modernist portrait which I am not sure she particularly liked! It is knocking around somewhere I think."

We have made it our mission to bring this portrait to you. In the meantime we are wondering: how many pictures of the beautiful island did Grey-Smith paint?

Snell has two: we featured the one on the cover in our first Guy post, and the accompanying image is the other.

A WA Museum operative says they have one in storage: is it this one?

"I don't know of any other paintings of Rotto that he did other than those two you know of," Guy's relative says.

Snell hints at a major work done in his Darlington studio, in addition to the "several painted studies" done on the island.

And here's Snell on that competition: "...the inaugural Rottnest Island Art Award, established by Leslie and Bill Anderson after they took over the Rottnest Lodge in 1953. The prize of a fortnight's holiday for the winners of the three sections lured many artists over to complete their entries. However the choices of the judge Charles Hamilton, especially the selection of Guy Grey-Smith's oil painting, was so unpopular with the sponsoring businessmen of the island that it was also the last award of its kind."

the five stages

There was a bit of Rotto rage last week as usually well-balanced people tried to lock accommodation in on September 1.

This tanty is from Shazza:

“I once loved the beautiful island passionately as you do. Both my husband and myself, having great childhood memories of Rotto, were hoping to share the love when our kiddies came along.

“Now, however, I find myself moving through Kubler-Ross' five stages of grief as I come to terms with the seemingly irrefutable reality that it is (almost) friggin’ impossible to find anywhere to stay, outside of tentland, on Rottnest.

“Denial: at first I considered the possibility that the accommodation checker on the RIA web page was faulty, thinking it couldn't possibly be true that I could not get a villa or unit in September or October for more than one night.

“Anger: waiting a few days and checking again. The same results. There is no room at the effin’ inn! I am even wiling to spend the exhorbitant prices charged by the Lodge at this stage.

“Bargaining: perhaps if I just call the RIA and ask instead of relying on the web page to find somewhere? Try that, get told they use the same checker, and can transfer me to bookings to discuss. On hold to bookings for 20 minutes then hang up. Outrage.

“Depression: the thought of having to enter the ballot again leads to a seething resentment which then leads to a depressing despair. Will we have to buy a boat and compete for moorings to be ever able to see my beloved Rotto again?

“Acceptance: never!”

We empathise, Shazza. The sight of a wild-eyes western suburbs woman clutching her phone and trying not to hyperventilate (hi Julie!) is distressing. But Shazza found that persistence paid:

“With perseverence I have managed to book something after all. Hey: no mention of the comedy festival they just held on the island?”

For some pics, Shazza, go here to Laura Is Hot (I kid you not).

fishing for compliments

Geoff V ventured south from the Kimberley to the beautiful island last week and experienced a dramatic drop in temperature.

Here's his delightful pic of the (rugged up) kids hanging out with Mr Percival at Thomson Bay while they fish. We love Mr P's wind-blown feathers.

What is the kids' secret? Even if we have fresh fish in hand, the pelicans don't want to know us. Perhaps they know we're a gerbalist.

It's perky on the mainland today, but we note the lowest temp on Rottnest today has been a superbly mild 11.8 degrees at 0530.

stuffed skinks

We really, really hope two shingleback skinks are back on the beautiful island and sunning themselves in a prime position on Geordie Bay.

This Perth Now yarn is about a Japanese tourist intercepted at Perth airport: he allegedly had 14 animals - including the Rottnest rodents - stuffed into his bag.

The 34-year-old Jap allegedly hid the beasties "in socks and small pet carriers".

If the terrible tourist is found guilty of this heinous crime, Rotto Bloggo volunteers to stuff him into a small pre-worn sock.

"The Rottnest Island shingleback is specially protected as a threatened (vulnerable) species in WA and is only found on Rottnest Island. Under the state’s Wildlife Conservation Act the maximum penalty for taking specially protected fauna is $10,000," Perth Now reports.

"The man has been refused bail and is due to appear in Perth Magistrates Court today."

whitebread

This golfing crowd buried the lead until the very last par.

The WA Open is at Cottesloe in October and the Rottnest Bakery will be there.

The event will be called The John Hughes Geely Western Australian Open as the golfers have "secured respected car dealer John Hughes as the naming rights sponsor". No word where the Geely comes from.

Would you believe previous winners - as opposed to future winners - include "legends of golf"? Would you believe a golfing worthy looks forward to seeing the event "cementing itself on the Australian golfing calendar"? Would you believe it will be "world class" golf on a "world class" golf course?

And: "On course marquees from Howard Park Wines, Ferngrove Wines, the Witches Cauldron, Frasers and the Rottnest Bakery, just to name a few, will be available to spectators..."

Bakery owner Ivan Rutherford must be a Cottesloe member. What will be in the marquee? Snotblocks, tank loaves and cheeseymite scrolls? Yum.

canola island

We've had a paint colour called Rottnest Orange, there's been Rottnest salt - and there's Rottnest canola.

Say what? It is for real.

"TWO Badgingarra farmers believe a decades-old European system of farming could become one of the most exciting developments in WA's agricultural history," says this Farm Weekly story - and there's a pic of one of them in a field of yellow Rottnest canola.

Rotto Bloggo is not terribly agricultural. We got a bit lost in the story's discussion of spading, coil packers and power harrows.

There's another pic here of blokes in a yellow field of Rottnest canola.

"Rottnest is an early to mid triazine tolerant (TT) canola with broad flexibility in terms of its ‘cut off’ finishing date," the release says.

"Rottnest has a 7.5 Blackleg rating, oil content similar to Beacon and yields in the order of 110% of Tornado and Bravo. It ranked third in the 2006 WA national variety trials (NVT) amongst the TT varieties and first in its maturity class."

Right. How about that Blackleg rating!

We don't have our own image of Rottnest canola. So we've taken this one from a Dept of Ag media release. It could be Rottnest canola, but don't quote us.

great guy

There's a bit of Crawley that's Rottnest for a few weeks: an exhibition at UWA has at least one artwork of the beautiful island.

Guy Grey-Smith's oil on canvas Rottnest is part of Conversations: 100 Artists in the UWA Art Collection.

Is this the greatest Rotto painting? Could be. It's in Snell, of course. It was done 1954-57.

No mention or reproduction of this image on GG-S's Wikipedia entry. He was born in Wagin and won lots of prizes and is regarded as pioneering modernism in WA.

The exhibition is in two parts: half will be on show until September 13; the second portion will be hung September 27 to November 15.

rotto boozo II

You'll recall our first exciting instalment on Greg Brimble's liquor license work: he got one for the Thomson Bay store in 1999, but couldn't trade on Sunday.

He seems to have been able to trade on Sunday from 2002, according to this,
which was a bid to extend the permit.

In the document Greg said Rotto had a resident population of around 500, and crime stats "are very low": 72 assaults from June 2004 to May 2007, compared to the riotous metropolis of Fremantle, which gets 118,000 visitors and had 1411 assaults in the same period.

Greg said giving him another extended trading permit would mean "...a much needed packaged liquor service required by the visiting public and residents on a Sunday during opening hours which the visiting public are used to", and contribute "...to the streetscape and atmosphere of the central part of town as it is also a meeting place where the majority of people do their grocery shopping".

As in 1999, the police objected. "Extended opening times can increase the risk of street drinking", they said, after pointing out you have to be out of your bungalow by 9am, and not book in to same until 2pm. They had to deal with 228 booze consumption tasks: noise, anti-social behaviour, litter, damage, burglary, assault et al.

"Intoxicated youth who historically gather on Pinky beach during peak times have indicated on several occasions that alcohol obtained by them was originally purchased by various means from the General Store Liquor Store," the police said.

"There is an established culture of excessive alcohol consumption by all age groups on Rottnest Island which is a concern to Police who believe greater access to alcohol does not serve the best interests of the community...the Nurse Manager and Senior Ranger support my objections in this case."

The executive director of public health, Dr Andrew Robertson, also didn't want Greg to be able to sell booze on Sundays.

But the director of liquor licensing granted the extension.

"I accept on the basis of evidence presented in the intervention of the Executive Director Public Health and based on my own knowledge of current issues, that alcohol related harm does occur on Rottnest Island. In this regard, action under the Act has been taken in the past in respect of all
packaged liquor outlets on Rottnest Island to ensure that harm is minimised, particularly during School Leaver's week each year and on New Year's Eve each year. The licensing authority has worked, and continues to work, closely with key stakeholders on the Island and with the licensee so as to implement cooperative and conciliatory strategies that minimize that harm. I am satisfied that those ongoing actions and initiatives are appropriate."

The permit expires 29 June 2013.

the turquoise liquid

We think legendary Middle Eastern reporter Robert Fisk has been reporting from the beautiful island.

This bizarre copy is bylined parliamentarian Fisk, and he reports: "An iconic pass instruction for Perth residents, with 70 per coin of visitors reaching for a period out, the whole island is separate as a nature jock and the near humour as a marine park."

He soon touches on two key elements of the Rottnest experience - booze and indigenous people: "the island is believed to be a locate of alcohol and is of meaning to the Aboriginal communities."

His prose transcends purple when he discusses the island's physical attractions: "The island is prizewinning explored by cycle as clannish cars are not allowed. The 24-km (15-mi) line around the get runs finished whatever of the most bonny scenery, expiration small, blonde beaches in private coves. The island has a amount of 63 beaches and 20 bays, whatever of the best in the world, and the turquoise liquid makes tearful here a must."

I wish someone would tell me what these sites are. Auto-generated blogs that grab copy chunks in the hope of luring Google users? Anyone?

door didn't fit

An acquaintance remembered our review of the food at the hotel and pointed us to this assessment of the rooms.

"...it was noisy, dirty, front door ill-fitting and the bed was far too soft", says AnnaB from Ballajura.

You would never describe the beds in the bungalows as too soft. We looked for other reviews of stuff on the beautiful island but didn't find much - not even an account on eatingwa of Aristos (which we liked).

Someone else mentioned that WA Business News had an item about a Leaf Tea House starting on Rottnest: that weekly publication doesn't let you look at its stuff for free, so we can't confirm.

We can confirm this tweet by The Worst of Perth: 'Brett Heady fights to keep his broken pinball machines on Rottnest. "People are happy if a machine takes their money if a former Eagle gets'

blue swimmers

Thinking of going on the Rotto swim in February? You'd better go to this confab tomorrow night.

The Rottnest Channel Swim Association is presenting a free information evening with a panel of swimmers who will discuss their experiences, mistakes, useful tips they have learned and answer any questions you may have.

The place is the Lecture Theatre at Challenge Stadium on Tuesday 18 August at 7.30pm.

Reservations essential: email admin@rottnestchannelswim.com.au to reserve your seat.

Here's a Malaysian woman who's done the Rottnest swim twice: she's tackling the English Channel next.

rotto boozo

Greg Brimble must be preparing his expression of interest so he can keep control of the Thomson and Geordie stores (see yesterday’s post).

Greg (who we think also has the Dewsons and servo at Canning Bridge) owned the stores 10 years ago, when he clinched the liquor licence for the Thomson Bay outlet (he already had one at Geordie) under his company name Maranel Pty Ltd. The decision of the liquor licensing director back then is an interesting read.

Unsurprisingly, the Lodge and the hotel objected to the application.

‘The applicant says the packaged liquor needs of…tourists are not being met by the two other packaged liquor outlets on the Island because the Rottnest Island Hotel is located at the southern end of the Thomson Bay settlement and the Geordie Bay liquor store is approximately 1.5 kilometres north of Thomson Bay. The applicant suggests that the Rottnest Hotel has a very limited range of packaged liquor, its prices are excessive and there is no separate browsing area where members of the public can examine and select their purchases of packaged liquor.’

Greg submitted 375 signatures from people who supported the application. He tabled a letter of support from the acting CEO of the RIA, John Mitchell, which said the RIA also supported the application as “…the Authority has a clear commitment to encourage the public to purchase much of their food and liquor requirements from businesses on the Island, so as to ease congestion on the ferries. The applicant also tabled 50 letters from individuals and companies supporting the establishment of a liquor store in Thomson Bay. Most letters expressed some dissatisfaction with the facilities at the Rottnest Hotel.”

Others came in to bat for Greg: Grant Garrett and Meredith Greay, and Linda Kenny-Castle and Kyle Surman: “Mr Surman, who travels to Rottnest on his own boat with his family, finds it convenient to purchase packaged liquor prior to travelling to the Island because of the difficulty of obtaining packaged liquor on the Island when they moor at Thomson Bay.”

A bit on how much booze people took over was surprising: “Mr Vince Kawiti, a clerk employed by Transfield Pty Ltd, a company that operates the Rottnest Jetty, gave evidence about the amount of packaged liquor that is included in the personal luggage delivered to tourist accommodation on the Island. In the opinion of Mr Kawiti between 20 and 30 per cent of all luggage is packaged liquor. This includes a substantial amount, which is delivered direct to resident holidaymakers from licensed premises on the mainland particularly Liquorland in Fremantle.”

The police had their say: “…the number of alcohol related incidents that occurred on the Island in the year 1998/99…street drinking was the most common incident and in the year 475 cautions and 27 infringements notices were issued in respect of street drinking.”

The LL director mulled this and other stuff over. He said there was a want for booze in Thomson Bay, and going to Geordie or the hotel would be inconvenient: “The distance by mainland standards is not great but peculiar circumstances of the Island where private motor vehicles are not permitted would amount to some inconvenience.”

The hotel had plenty of booze at reasonable prices – but its standards for buying booze “…do not adequately meet the contemporary standards now expected by the public when it comes to purchasing packaged liquor. In my opinion it is not appropriate that members of the public should be required to cross through a crowded public bar to purchase packaged liquor from a member of staff whose primary task is to serve customers for consumption on the premises. One can readily understand the concern of some women in having to enter a public bar and compete with other members of the public for service.”

In this regard the director had wine wankers on his mind: “The display of packaged liquor, particularly wine, so that customers can examine the product before purchase is now very much part of the contemporary scene and the absence of such facilities at the Rottnest Island Hotel in my view means that members of the public are put to inconvenience and difficulty when they attempt to purchase packaged liquor.”

The licence was granted and cost $105. Opening hours noon to 6pm, no trading on Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday or before noon on Anzac Day.

the business

The beautiful island is getting a buffeting: winds up to 100kph are screaming through Rotto on their way to the mainland, according to this ABC report.

Winds of change are on the way - maybe - for business on the island, too: this in today's POST Newspapers...

Business on the beautiful island is up for grabs.

The Rottnest Island Authority this week advertised new leases for six of the island's prominent businesses.

They are the Thomson Bay and Geordie Bay stores, the Geordie Bay cafe, the surf/clothing boutique in Thomson Bay, Brett Heady's Family Fun Park and the movie hall.

"All the leases will be available for renewal over a 12-month period commencing in October," RIA spokeswoman Joeley Pettit-Scott said.

"These types of leases have generally been held for a term of about five to 15 years and are subject to an open process for a preferred proponent when the lease is nearing conclusion."

After the September 17 closing date, "a number of respondents" would be invited to submit formal proposals.

horse over water

A western suburbs identity has slipped Rotto Bloggo this beguiling pic.

It was taken 72 years ago - before the identity was born.

It shows his mother on a horse, his dad on a bike, and three other known people of interest.

Where was the photo taken? So far our enquiries have been fruitless.

We love the bikes.

Did these inhabitants of the beautiful island ever imagine they'd have to wear helmets?

We've never seen a horse on Rottnest.

Have a look at this Flickr photo for bygone Rotto horse action:

'Between 1906 and 1926, a horse-drawn passenger tram operated on Rottnest Island between the Army Jetty, a kilometre south of Thompson Bay, through the Settlement to Tent City. It is seen here outside the General Store. Parts of this rail are still visible near the Army Jetty.'

another great meet

"Not another meeting?"

We hear you. But this one is worth putting in the Filofax: the Rottnest Society's annual general meeting.

It's this Thursday, the 13th, at 7pm at the Cottlesloe Lesser Hall.

An hour later there's a red-hot guest speaker: renowned naturalist Eric McCrum, who will talk about the birds of Rottnest.

"Eric has a well-deserved reputation as an entertaining and knowledgeable speaker on all sorts of topics related to the natural world around us," says the Society's Sue Folks.

Non-members are welcome to attend the AGM and/or the talk. There's food afterwards. No charge for any of this.

Let Sue know if you're going so she can organise enough food: convenor@rottnestsociety.org.au.