2011 Centenary Celebrations
100 Years
When: 16th October 2011
Time: TBC
Come and enjoy a picnic and school open day.
For sale are centenery glasses ($10) and school pens ($7) are available from the school office. Postage Extra.
Archive for the ‘Flinders Island History’ Category
Flinders Island School Celebration
Thursday, May 5th, 2011Three Peaks Race, Flinders Island
Friday, April 15th, 2011
Hi Everyone,
Please click on the link below and have a read of the Three Peaks Newsletter.
Its got loads of information about the Three Peaks Race.
Its worth having a look at!
Mutton Birding Flinders Island
Monday, March 28th, 2011Hi Everyone,
Just a quick reminder that mutton bird season is open from the 2nd April 2011 until 17th April 2011 on Flinders Island.
Just remember if you don’t have a mutton birding licence then please visit your nearest Service Tasmania Shop or their website to obtain one. A mutton birding licence will set you back $27.20 for a full fee or $21.75 of a concession fee. When purchasing a game licence you should be aware that all hunting season dates may be subject to change at anytime.
If you would like to know more about Mutton Birding then please click on the link below.
The Flinders Island Wave
Monday, March 21st, 2011It’s such an accepted part of our lifestyle, a simple thing, but a gesture, a signal that we are friends and are friendly.
Tourist find it strange to start with but quickly warm to it and often say how, when they return home they start waving to passing traffic, only to get a glare or a look saying,” did you see that fruit loop waving at us”.
As residents we have all done it ourselves when we pick up a rental car in the big city and drive off down the road. And yes we are sometimes guilty of leaving the rental car unlocked with the keys in overnight.
But what’s a Flinders Island Wave?? It’s a very demonstrative body signal. Check it out next time – here are the variations.
You are driving along, one hand on the wheel and you see an oncoming vehicle. The other hand goes on the wheel, so you can get ready to wave.
The busy truck driver lifts one finger. That’s good enough.
You like the person approaching, your right hand leaves the wheel and you wave horizontally with enthusiasm.
You haven’t seen the person for a while; the index finger is extended to point meaning its good to see you.
The truck driver in the older truck with the big steering wheel already has his arms outstretched, so the whole palm is raised in a flat sort of motion.
Two fisherman passing, both hands come off the wheel and the knee holds it in place whilst your two hands show the size of the salmon going up the river.
You had a big night at the pub with someone the night before, that’s a big thumbs up occasion.
You don’t like someone, all that is raised in the last joint of the index finger, hoping they really didn’t see it.
The “see you at the pub gesture”, that is the raised right had in the drinking motion.
Then there is the rapid signalling to one side, meaning STOP, I NEED TO TALK TO YOU!!
And what about when you pass, a sideways wave and then a wave in the mirror to make sure they saw it.
How about when both front seat occupants wave, which is really confusing isn’t it, after all isn’t it the prerogative of the driver to control the selection of wave style for the oncoming vehicle?
I am sure there are more. So, is a wave just a wave? Clearly not, think about it, its one of our most lasing memories for visitor. Maybe they need a guide in the etiquette of waving on Flinders Island. It’s all natural to us.
This article was published on the 17th December 2010 in the Island News.
There was no name published with this article.
I really enjoyed reading this article as it is a way of life on Flinders Island to randomly wave at passers by, but it is a unique way of life in its self.
It just goes to show a simple wave to a passer by is the gesture they will always remember when visiting Flinders Island.
Furneaux Museum Flinders Island.
Monday, January 31st, 2011Exhibition Gallery.
Next time you’re visiting Flinders Island take a leisurely drive to the Furneaux Museum, Emita. Take an extensive look at the Exhibition Gallery situated at the front of the museum. Walk in the door and be greeted by one of the locals who volunteer there time to be at the gallery.
Walking into the exhibition gallery you will find very old books that look so interesting that you will be dying to pull one off the shelf and immerse yourself in the pages.
If you’re interested in plants, animals or both, you can find a great deal of information on all of our native flora and fauna in the Exhibition Gallery. Did you know there are 19 mammals found in the Furneaux Group?
Find loads of information on local weeds and what damage they’re doing to the land and how to help prevent them from spreading.
As you are looking around the Exhibition gallery you may find a stuffed Cape Barren Goose and a Mutton Bird which also includes their eggs on display. This gives you a detailed look at the birds as if they were out in the wilderness.
Take a look at the very large hand drawn map of Flinders Island situated near the centre of the room. 14,000 years ago the Furneaux Group would have been the bridge that joins Tasmania to Victoria.
Have a look through Mrs Polly Coster’s feral cat’s photos. Polly went to the local parks and wildlife ranger back in 2001 to let them know there was a feral cat problem down Emita. They did not believe her so Polly took a photograph of every feral cat she had caught and euthanized. Polly took over 50 photos, some containing 2 cats or more, which proved her point that Emita did have a feral cat problem.
Have a sit down and watch the DVD presentation located on the left hand side of the gallery, watch presentations about Shorebirds, Estuaries and the Aboriginal Land Council.
When you’re leaving the exhibition gallery make sure you have a look at what’s on offer from our locals. You may want to buy some locally made soap and lip barm from Blue Rocks Soap and Essentials. You can buy some books about Flinders Island of if you need a calendar they are also available.
Cost of Entry is $4.00 per person, all proceeds go to maintaining the museum.
Flinders Island Adventures
Wednesday, December 29th, 2010Flinders Island Adventures are the island’s most comprehensive tour company with Four Wheel Drives, Mini Bus and Fishing Boat and trained guides that know the history and stories of the island like the back of their hand. Each year they regularly provide tours to groups and individuals including the passengers of the Orion, which cruise past Flinders Island anchoring at Trousers Point for a day during their Tasmanian Food & Wine cruise.
Orion Expeditation Cruise on Flinders Island
Hobart, Tasmania, Port Arthur, Wineglass Bay & Coles Bay, Launceston, Flinders Island, At sea, Eden, Sydney, New South Wales
Latitude: 40°3′S
Longitude: 147°55′E
This remote, windswept and starkly beautiful island off the north-eastern coast of Tasmania boasts rugged landscapes, granite peaks, pristine beaches and headlands of granite boulders encrusted with orange lichen. The best way to experience the isolation of Flinders Island is to take a hike. There’s an easy walk available from our landing spot at Trouser’s Point or for the fit take a hike in Strzelecki National Park. Wildlife is plentiful and includes wallabies, pademelons (sometimes referred to as the rufous wallaby), wombats, echidnas, and bird life that is rich and varied. Wybalenna on Flinders Island is infamous for being the site of the last colony of Tasmanian Aborigines and we’ll learn more of this sad chapter in Australia’s history.
- Flinders Island tour on location at Furneaux Museum
Orion Cruise Itinerary 2 for Flinders Island Tasmania
Orion Cruise Itinerary 1 for Flinders Island Tasmania
The Gem Shop Flinders Island
Thursday, December 23rd, 2010The Gem Shop is situated on the non public bar end of the verandah of the Interstate Hotel in Whitemark Main Street. Thelma Shaik, who owns the gem shop, has returned to Flinders after 20 years away and has searched and dug for “Killiecrankie Diamonds” for some time now. At the Gem Shop you can see the famous Killiecrankie Diamonds (topaz) both cut and uncut in all shapes and sizes as well as a variety of gemstones for sale and display. The Gem Shop also displays and sells Nautilus shells and a variety of shell jewelry including necklaces.
Browse at the sparkling Gemstones while you listening to Thelma tell you stories from days gone by. If you love diamonds but can’t afford the big prices Flinders Island Topaz is the perfect purchase to own your own diamond, or buy them as gifts for your friends and relatives. If you purchase an uncut or rough stone keep in mind they lose 2/3 of their size once cut for display. At present there are no large rough stones available for sale.
“Killiecrankie Diamond” or Flinders Island Topaz is considered a semi precious stone Topaz also being the birthstone for November and is composed of a fluorosilicate of aluminium, which occurs in association with highly acidic igneous rocks such as the granites and pegmatite’s of Killiecrankie Bay. Most stones are colourless, but pale ice blue and pink gold are occasionally found. The colour is the result of impurities of potassium and manganese, sometimes both in the same stone. The Killiecrankie Diamond is generally of very high quality and can be faceted into many different shapes to create very striking jewellery.
Killiecrankie Diamond Rings
If you enjoy fossicking for gem stones and finding a treasure why not go Diamond Hunting yourself, head up to Killiecrankie Bay – home of the famous Killiecrankie Diamonds and see what you can find. Comb the beaches at low tide, try digging and sieving the beach below the high water mark, best at low tide. A walk around to Stacky’s Bight should provide ample opportunity to fossick for treasure skimming out the dirt and sand, slosh through the rocks and mud until you uncover a thimbleful of gleaming bounty. Sieves and shovels can be hired or visitors can partake in an expedition to the Old Mount Tanner tin mines records of operation date back to 1876. Although the Mines were said have been first discovered in 1836. A track in is just past the west end road turn off and is a short half km walk. Off course the best stones are found diving in Killiecrankie Bay.
Thelma is very passionate about Flinders Island especially Tourism and hopes one day to see “100, 000 people walking the streets of town and visiting the businesses”.
For more information please phone Thelma or call in at the Gem Shop.
Patrick Street, Whitemark. Phone: (03) 63592160
Email: flindersisinfo@bigpond.com
If the Gem Shop is closed stones are available and on display from the Furneaux Gallery operated by Dawn Zelman and JJ’s on the Bay Summer Art Café open Jan to May 2011
Flinders Island Salted Mutton-bird
Thursday, July 1st, 2010After enjoying a large fat salted mutton-bird for lunch today Rowena can not wait to go mutton birding again, still 9 months to go. The mutton-bird or ”short-tailed shearwater”, is a yearly visitor to Flinders Island, Tasmania. Flying in around September the adult birds prepare their burrow, mate and lay their single egg in that burrow, in the many rockeries scattered around the 52 islands in the Furneaux Group. The official amateur mutton-bird season covers three weekends during late March to early April with the commercial season lasting slightly longer. Three generations of our Nicholls family head over to Little Dog Island each season to gather our mutton birds for the year. Mutton birding is Rowena favorite activity on Flinders Island, not just because of the delicious taste of a freshly barbequed bird (it’s an acquired taste) but the journey over to the island in the boat and the family working together as a team to catch, carry and clean the birds to take home. It is always a great day out and gives everyone a real sense of achievement. Mitchell had his first trip over to Little Dog Island when he was just 5 weeks old and hopefully over the years he will grow to enjoy it as much as the rest of the family.
ABC’s Compass progamme
Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010Flinders Island has been showcased on Sunday nights Compass programme on the ABC. Local residents Primo & Lisa Bergamin feature and there is some fantastic images of Flinders Island, Tasmania. Check it out
http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/586174
Link to Compass Series 24 Episode 21
Mt Strzelecki National Park & Walk
Monday, June 21st, 2010Mt Strzelecki National Park is around 4216 hectares in total on Flinders Island, Tasmania. The national park is home to a variety of diverse ecosystems and landscapes. Named in 1972 after the Polish explorer & scientist Count Paul Edmund Strzelecki, who in 1842 climbed many of the peaks on Flinders Island. Mt Strzelecki is the highest mountain peak on Flinders Island. The 3 km walking track to the summit begins about 6km down Trousers Point Road, the walk is listed in the “Great Short Walks of Tasmania” and has a sign posted with an interpretation board. Classed as a moderately difficult walk which takes about 4 to 5 hours return, it offers specatular viewpoints on the way to the summit and an exceptional 360′ view of the southern area of Flinders Island from the peak. It is advisable to carry drinking water, food and a rain coat. The climb is well marked taking you through wooded slopes and damp fern gullies over creeks and around granite boulders. With the mountain home to a range of trees including sheoaks, Acacia, Tasmanian blue gum, Oyster Bay pines, White gum and Smithton peppermints.The National Park contains 13 plant species that are classified as rare or threatened which include ground orchids.