robak (QLD) replied:

I find Australia Day always seems to bring out the idiot in a lot of people. Therefore we now prefer to postpone any Australia Day travels for a weekend or two.

wato35 replied:

You would think that most people should not have to be told how to act in the bush or in a city. People don't normally trash their our houses or interfere with other peoples things. But take them away and some leave their brains at home. A little common sence doesn't cost a thing.

Member - Beatit (QLD) replied:

Mark I agree with you but sometimes it is a losing battle! Don't have to go far to see litterers/laziness at work. It truly amazes me about something being so hard as to take your rubbish and dispose of it. I hope that they don't own (or are unable to own) a 4WD to trash the bush but unfortunately the closer destinations have become accessible and suffer.

Common sense and courtesy is not so common but fortunately the people here are making a difference.

Kind regards

Sigmund replied:

Some 4x4 drivers appear to be out there to 'conquer the bush'; make a racket with gennie's, run ghetto blasters and drop their rubbish.

Others are out there to enjoy the bush and take in the views, absorb the peace and relax.

As a longtime bushwalker I've come across both groups. When trudging up a 4x4 track it's a pain to have a convoy blast by raising clouds of dust. By contrast, sometimes the lead car will stop for a chat, apologise for the dust and ask if everything is OK. A simple courtesy that is much appreciated.

Well, there are bushwalkers too who drop rubbish, don't bury their crap, make a mess of huts and so on. This is typically in places more accessible to cities so over time you learn to go further afield.

Hairs & Fysh (NSW) replied:

Mark can confirm this, one of the first things I did when I got out of my vehicle to set up the camper, was to pick up a disposable nappy.
For heavens sake! why can't people take these things with them? It wasn't hard for us to take it out with us. After we left, the only indication to say we were there was the flattened grass, and it was a little cleaner thanks to our group taking out others rubbish. A couple in the group picked up rubbish from a camp fire after noon that was left hot.
Jeezes, What is wrong with people?

On your point Mark, of slowing when other road users approach, it was one of the first things I was taught when I first learnt to drive.
I don't understand the mentality of some that we came across. It was as if they had to travel as fast as their could and travel as far as they could in the three days. It was like watching a freight train running through the hills. How can their possibly enjoy the whole concept of traveling through this great country when you have to be somewhere at a certain time? Or you have a certain time to travel X amount of K's

My theory is, I don't encroach on or hinder you in an way, so please show me the same respect.

I think I will put my soap box away for now, besides it's not even Beer time yet. :(

It will be Soon :))

The Landy replied:

The problem is that the people referred to in this thread are usually unaware and worst still don't care......absolutely no concern for anyone else and they'll let you know that if you raise any issue!

For some, going into the bush is just an opportunity to party elsewhere without the need to clean up afterwards....tragic as that is.

Cheers

Member - DAZA (QLD) replied:

Hi Mark

Glad to see you all had a great weekend,and had no major dramas,
re: people leaving their rubbish lying around, it's getting to be a
National Disgrace, no matter where one goes these days, some
people are worse than animals, we see it all the time when staying
up the beach, National Parks provide large Industrial Bins at various
locations near the camping areas, but still people leave their rubbish
lying around and beer bottles ect and the dreaded White Tissue
Traps ect when they vacate the camp site, I reckon the Park Rangers
should be given more clout so they can issue on the spot fines if
they can prove offenders are the litterers, many a time I have
cleaned up a site before we set up, we allways take a few heavy
duty plastic bags with us and pick up other peoples mess, thats the
penalty we pay, for making sure we can use the camp sites in the
future.

Cheers
Daza

ajd replied:

Just got back from Moreton Island (loved it!!).

But was left flabbergasted when meeting traffic on one way tracks, we would back up, sometimes for nearly 100 metres and the oncoming cars would not even make eye contact let alone thank you.

I found it rather odd as it happened again and again.

(Don't get ma started on the rubbish we had to clean up when we arrived at our camp site - dissapointing.)

Member - Warfer (VIC) replied:

At least Quadruple the fines,Link the fines to there license points...
Use the fine money to put Rubbish Inspectors in the bush,and hopefully they'll nab a few of those bloody gutless firebugs.

They dont hav to be parks,Just like parking Inspectors...


Its no different to a license its not a right to own one its a privilege and so should being in the bush !


Cheers

Hairs & Fysh (NSW) replied:

Warfer
I know where the problem starts, it starts at school.
I have a bit to do with our local Primary school and it is not uncommon to see kids walk over or kick rubbish that is laying on the ground, even in front of a teacher. Now I'm not here to bash Teachers, But why aren't kids made to pick up their own mess.
This is where the laziness comes from, it's the "it's not mine, so I don't have to touch it" Or " someone else will get that"
I'm always barking at my kids to pick up rubbish, wheather it is theirs or not.

Rossco td105 replied:

G'day Mark,

There are still plenty of us left doing the right thing.

Went down the coast on Australia day with a mate, our little one and both dogs. All the people we came across were courteous and let us know convoy numbers/said G'day. I was a little dubious due to the drive from Wilbinga to Two Rocks normally being packed out on public holidays...

We had a great day, stopped in a little cove out the way of the beach for lunch/swim. We and our two Ridgebacks said G'day to some fellow 4WD'ers and their hound 50m from us, all good. Picked up rubbish, and put out smouldering log from previous nights campers (still some idiots out there), and headed home.

Only really disappointing thing we saw was young girl sitting on window sill of vehicle heading into the dunes at two rocks! I'm sure it was really safe and all, but still...

Like you say, if only we all did our little bit...

Happy travels,

Ross and Jo.

Member - Duncan W (WA) replied:

On the Sunday of the LWE did a run down Preston Beach to Mylup in a convoy of 20 vehicles. We stopped for a smoko and bunched up. Some clown flew past our group without slowing down. It would of been quite possible for somebody to of stepped out from between the cars straight into his path of travel.

I and all other vehicles in the convoy slowed right down and took a wide berth around all parked vehicles. Plain curteous and safe. Too many kids on the beach.

Similarly the amount of vehicles who pass you while driving on the beach or tracks who don't slow down or keep left.

Bloody idiots the lot of them.

Member - Warfer (VIC) replied:

Thanks guys who replied to my threads...Now speaking with a Parks Ranger on the Crooked River about 6-8 weeks ago now,he said its only about 1% doing the wrong thing (Hairs & Fysh)..But its still enough to cause pollution/damage to areas etc etc...

Oh good thread too Mark G...

Cheers

Flywest replied:

Tonights news they are talkin bout introducing a refund fee on all cans and bottles etc.

Maybe next Australia day a group of Exploreozers pick an area that needs cleaning up badly - and all pitch in to clean a favourite camping place.

All the funds raised from collected cans and bottles can be donated to a kids ancer charity or something worthwhile.

With donated 4wd vehicles, trailers & teams of collectors - It could be done Australia wide - that would be a REAL australia day celebration - maybe burn or bury all the paper/cardboard or something and dump the scrap metal at the metal recyclers.

Then some kinda nighttime celebrations a sheep on the spit and a singalong round the campfire.

Just an idea - One day of cleanup for a long weekend camping and fun!

Organise it online!

Cheers

Wayne David replied:

ImOwtaHere - Yep that smashing of glass business has me beat too. I mean there's lazy, there's filthy and there's dangerous. I just hope it's not one of them or one of their children that step on broken glass and need to be rushed to hospital.

Say I love that pic of your dog in the bag in your profile. Red healer is it? I love dogs, they are just such wonderful creatures. Mine is asleep at my feet as I type and I just bet that if I said "okay mate it's time for a swim" ...that he'd be up like a shot and ready to go.