The Bribie Islander

Familiar old sayings such as “good as gold, cheaper than chips” have long been around in the Aussie vernacular but “beauty vs burglary” is not normally as common as maybe it should. The past 23 years living on our beautiful island, 14 of which have been on the waterfront, has shown the writer both the beauty and the beast of burglary by uncaring individuals who often cause havoc in the lives of the innocents.

Whether on water or not we all need to be watchful both day and night, but particularly in the dark hours when our homes are more vulnerable. The police have always done their best to round up these offenders, and having “Neighbourhood Watch” in our area is a bonus. It is up to the residents either singularly or in community groups to help us.

Bribie and its nearby areas like Beachmere, Toorbul and Donnybrook and the homes in Ningi and beyond need to look seriously at their security making sure that their homes are securely locked is a good start. Lighting is the best security available. Almost all waterfront properties have lighting available on their pontoons or waterfront gardens but very few take advantage of the effects that lights have on would-be intruders and the beauty that the lights create.

Locals have told me that electricity is too expensive or lights are just not necessary until they suffer the trauma of a break-in or even an assault. Many have lost their cars and household valuables and some have been hospitalised. Many homes have auto day/night switches fitted on their pontoon lights and others have beautiful rock garden and wall lights. The present low voltage high output and cost-efficient globes have a long life.

These globes help keep electricity prices down and security up. Solar security lights are also very effective. Irrespective of where we live thieves could be watching – double check your locks and turn on your lights. The writer has seen evidence of the trauma foisted on innocent residents by break-ins and everyone should be watchful.

Many locals are retired and enjoying the quieter life whilst others have young families…. our area has a wonderful smorgasbord of newly arrived and longstanding residents who need protection. Pontoons and front gardens often hold a multitude of toys – tinnies, kayaks, canoes, and jet skis, bikes and toys are left lying outside to be easily scooped up on the road front by quick-thinking opportunists.

We are so fortunate to live in such beautiful areas so we need to do our best to be safe, happy and secure. Let us help ourselves and aid the police with their overstretched workload.

A good slogan could be, “lights on and lock up for security.”

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https://thebribieislander.com.au/news/local-news-and-articles/school-watch-look-listen-report/

Bottle caps are fully recyclable. Unfortunately, as reported on ABC’s ‘War on Waste’, they aren’t being recycled. They get sent to landfill, they fall through machinery, and in worst-case scenarios, if attached to a bottle, they can explode and force expensive repacking issues. This overlooked waste product is almost entirely made from HDPE 2 (High-Density Polyethylene).

After considerable experimentation Envision Hands have successfully taken this plastic and extruded it to create functioning filament for 3D printers. Once they have the filament, they 3D print all the components that make up prosthetic hands and support people in need of these aids. The Bribie Island Bowls Club considers this to be such an innovative mission and has recently signed up to become a collection point for Vision Hands.

“We are in the perfect position to help,” said Kerry Muller, Treasurer, “If we can save the environment and aid in helping this amazing charity, then it’s an easy solution to become a collection point.” The Bribie Island Bowls Club is asking all the locals to get behind the campaign. Simply keep all your bottle caps such as water bottle, milk bottle, soft drink bottle lids, and caps and drop them into the collection container set up in the Reception area of the Club.

The Bribie Bowls Club will then ensure they are sent to Envision Hands located in Victoria. Any children/people within Australia who believe would benefit from the support of a mobility aid, please contact [email protected]

After seven years of hosting the New Year’s Eve markets and fireworks in Brennan Park, the BIDCA (Bribie Island District Community Appeal) team are ready to hand over the event to any organisation that would like to take it on.

BIDCA President Sharon Parsons has announced that she and husband Gary believe the event would benefit from a fresh approach. ‘Gary and I have been the main organisers of the New Year’s Eve Markets and we believe that it is time to hand over the reins,’ said Sharon. ‘We have enjoyed being able to provide such great entertainment for locals and visitors and with the last one being such a wonderful success with an estimated 25,000 people attending on the day, we will go out on a high,’ she added.

Sharon remarked that anyone who would like to organise the event is welcome to contact her for information on what is required. ‘As an established event, it will be relatively easy for another organisation to step in and take over.

We will offer them as much advice as we can,’ she said. As an organisation which is consistently active within the local community, BIDCA has been responsible for assisting many worthy causes with funding gained through the operation of a monthly market at Brennan Park on the third Sunday of each month. Anyone who would like to contact Sharon can call 0409 583 928.

It would seem that St Patrick never visited Bribie Island, or if he did, he had forgotten his Irish miracles. Now that the cooler weather has arrived and the snakes are snoozing, I feel I can recount a few snake stories without tempting fate. The first of my tales are not about a snake at all, but a magnificent lace monitor which was quietly minding her own business in the sun, half-way up a tree in our yard.

The recently arrived European grandmother from next door was attending to her flowerbeds when she looked up and saw this large reptile just above her head. Elderly though she was, she took to her heels crying “‘Viper, viper!” It took some time before she could be persuaded to come out again, and appreciate the beauty of this large lizard.

Loss of habitat and increased development in our area, has not removed our more venomous “pets”. The eastern brown snake is a common visitor, and in the summer months, we keep the yard mowed and watch where we put our feet. Even so, we have had our fair share of excitement. Entertaining friends at a B.B.Q. we took shelter in the shed from a shower.

An uninvited guest also decided to escape the rain and join the throng, and so we had the privilege of seeing twenty, or more, folk simultaneously levitate, with many a panicked squeal. Of course, there is always the skeptic that will claim your venomous Roughscaled snake is nothing more exciting than a harmless Keelback.

Identification can be tricky. Most snakes are a little shy when asked to roll over so you can count their ventral scales. Certainly, my husband Don did not wait upon such niceties before diving to snatch the bouncinette, complete with infant grandson, and placing both on a high outdoor table, as Joe Blake slid by. The tree-snakes in our yard can vie with the lorikeets as regards to their beautiful colouring.

The slender olive-green tree snake with its stunning yellow throat and belly set off with turquoise flecks that curled up on the chairs set out for our English visitors caused quite a stir. Romance is alive in Paradise. My neighbour and I were entranced at the sight of two snakes twisted around each other in a tight embrace apparently, amongst other things, dining together on an unfortunate frog.

We left them to their honeymoon. Finally, a tall but true tale. A few houses down from us, in an old-style fibro cottage, lived professional fishermen and their two dogs, one a poodle, and the other a large Alsatian. Around 11 pm we heard the dogs yelping and barking and the sound of shouting. A large carpet snake, a python, had the poodle in its coils and was squeezing the life out of the poor dog.

The big brave Alsatian was reduced to jelly, knees knocking. The owners rushed out and tried to unwind the snake and save the poodle, but without success. The python was not about to give up its supper without a fight, and, whilst not venomous, nobody was keen to risk a bite from the angry reptile.

Lateral thinking saved the day. The vacuum cleaner was brought out, the hose pushed over the snake’s head and the power switched on thereby immobilising the toothed end. Beginning at the tail end, the snake was forcefully unwound. This was no mean task. Eventually, our poodle friend was free, albeit with bruised ribs, and later made a full recovery. We trust the python also recovered from his ordeal. We never attempt to kill our serpentine friends.

Not only would that be illegal since Bribie is a Fauna and Flora Reserve, but it can be dangerous; being threatened with a large spade would no doubt bring out the aggression in you too. We give them the respect that we feel that they deserve as another fascinating part of our wildlife, and allow them to go on their way unmolested, whilst teaching our grandchildren to look, but never touch.