Farmers are being warned to watch out for a big cat lurking on Illawarra Rd, between Carrick and Longford, following a sighting that caused a truck driver to stop in his tracks.
Ray Brooks, of Ulverstone, a truck driver for Booth Transport, was on his way from the Quoiba base to Cascade Brewery in Hobart when he slowly pulled out of the Bass Highway sliproad onto Illawarra Rd at 2am on Friday.
Powerful spotlights picked up the big black cat on the edge of the road – its size so unusually large that Ray pulled the Kenworth over to take a closer look.
“I’m talking way larger than normal, as big as my staffy cross dog and as black as anything, but it was quick to slink off into the nearby bush before I could get a photo,” Ray said.
This image is similar to the “big cat” spotted by truck driver Ray Brooks in the early hours of last Friday between Carrick and Longford.
So rattled by what he had seen, Ray pulled over at the Longford truck stop and asked the question on social media, had anyone else spotted it on the way through?
“There were several trucks in front of me and no doubt more coming behind so I was hoping I wasn’t the only one to spot it,” he said.
“I was so pumped up I couldn’t stop thinking about it all the way to Hobart!”
The former King Islander and experienced hunter reckons he is a good judge of wildlife, size and distance – and still he’s unsure of what he spotted.
However with lambing in full swing and a paddock full of sheep nearby, he wanted farmers to keep an eye out for anything attacking their stock.
Well aware of the occasional reports of big cats that are rumoured to be pumas or other exotic felines escaped from zoos or circuses, Ray is clear that it wasn’t as big as that.
“But it was some kind of huge feral cat, it looked as big as a maine coon, and I’d love to get a closer look!”
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A small ceremony was held on May 23 to mark the 150th anniversary of the sinking of the British Admiral on King Island shores.
Mayor Marcus Blackie spoke to those in attendance at the marble monument at the southern end of British Admiral Beach.
Students from King Island District High School, with the Historical Society, laid wreaths on the shoreline in remembrance of the tragedy and those who lost their lives.
“The British Admiral set sail on February 23 with 88 souls consisting of crew, 49 passengers, including 11 women and a number of children,” King Island Historical Society President Luke Agati said.
“Five of the crew and four passengers survived the tragedy. The wreck of British Admiral and the great loss of life on King Island’s shore was the catalyst for the erection of the Currie Lighthouse.
“Its construction finally put an end to the huge loss of life and major shipping disasters seen along King Island’s coastline before then.
“On 23 May, the British Admiral was under easy sail, as the crew were anticipating the Cape Otway light at around 2.30am. About 3am, a crew member on forecastle duty shouted ‘land ahead.’ It was then discovered that the British Admiral was ‘standing right on to King Island.”
The vessel crashed and sat fast on a reef not far from shore. Captain Taylor, ‘at once gave the order to clear the boats and call up the passengers’. The sea’s fury took everything and everyone on deck and within 20 minutes the ship slipped below into 7 fathoms of water.
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King Island Leo Club president Lilly Davis has won the Public Speaking section in the National Leo of The Year final, recently held in Darwin.
Competing against four other service-minded young people, Lilly delivered a perfectly prepared speech that captured the hearts of the 600 Lions and judges present.
“It was a great experience being able to go to Darwin as the Tasmanian Leo of The Year. Meeting other Leos and Lions, getting to know the clubs they are from and some of the projects they are doing,” Lilly said.
“I called my speech ‘The Butterfly’ because of my transition over the past years. Leos has given me experience with public speaking and opportunities to develop leadership through community service, all while having fun. I’m proud of my speech, club and community.”
Lilly was able to thank the Need For Feed team, in Darwin for the Lions national convention, including project leader Graham Cockerell at their convention Stall.
“I was happy to donate money to them as a way of saying ‘thank you’ for helping us on King Island,” she added.
“I would like to thank my Leo Advisor Linda Payne for always pushing me. And a big thank you to Lion Heidi Weitjens for being my travel chaperone”.
Lilly’s Leo journey continues when she and her fellow club members attend the International Convention in Melbourne later next month.
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King Island Council has come to the attention of the Tasmanian Audit Office due to its significant revenue from private works and the council’s challenges in adherence to established policies and processes.
The Tasmanian Audit Office released its review of councils’ processes for managing around $3.5 million of private works revenue in the 2021-22 financial year last week.
The report provides detailed analyses of how different councils handle private works, highlighting best practices and areas needing improvement.
Private works are services that some councils provide to individuals, community organizations and government entities at their request on a fee-for-service basis.
“I expected councils to have defined policies and processes, including for managing conflicts of interest, disputes, compliance, and competitive neutrality,” Tasmanian Auditor General Martin Thompson said at the review’s release.
Mr Thompson noted mixed results in managing conflicts of interest and disputes, and overall noncompliance with the requirements of the Local Government Act 1993 and the Competitive Neutrality Policy.
“The review found councils were not effectively managing private works because they had not established transparent and consistent processes or complied fully with relevant legislative requirements,” he said.
The review said that in the 2021-22 financial year, King Island Council engaged in various private works, recording significant revenue, about $1,500,000 – the highest among the councils reviewed.
This revenue included $910,000 from other government entities and $597,000 from private entities.
The review identified that:
The King Island Council lacked an established decision- making process for deciding on private works.
The council’s debt recovery policy, which required a 100 per cent deposit for works over $50,000, a 50 per cent deposit for works between $10,000 and $49,999, and no deposit for works under $10,000, was not adhered to for a project estimated at over $140,000, resulting in a financial loss of over $60,000.
The council’s Customer Service Charter mandates that complaints be registered, reported monthly, and complainants be kept informed if resolution takes longer than 10 days.
In a 2021-22 dispute related to private works, these requirements were not met: the complaint was not recorded, not reported, and the complainant was not kept informed beyond the initial 10 days.
The King Island council was not fully compliant with their conflict-of-interest processes.
The review found that the council disclosed related party transactions in its financial statements, but most transactions were not covered by the fee schedule, raising issues about how related parties were charged and the council’s conflict of interest management.
Council’s then-acting general manager Brian Barrett responded to the Audit office on behalf of the KIC and addressed these issues.
“It is noted that we are referenced at several locations in your report and that the scale of our private works activities gives us some prominence in your report,” Mr Barrett said.
“It is the particular circumstances of King Island that give rise to the council’s need to be involved in private works at the level referenced in your report.”
KIC’s interim general manager Dr Catherine Dale responded to the review’s report on its release.
“The Council has a positive working relationship with the Department of State Growth, who is the principal organisation to contract Council to undertake private works, namely on their own State Growth-owned road arteries,” Dr Dale said.
“We will continue to progress this cooperative approach when undertaking infrastructure projects for our community.
“As the report indicates, King Island Council received the highest revenue in private works in 2021-22. This is due to the fact that we are an isolated community and the engagement of our workforce is currently the most cost effective and efficient way for the Department of State Growth to deliver road works and other projects.
“While the report highlights recommendations for a number of councils, the disproportionate focus on King Island is largely due to the scale of our private works.
“Staff will continue to review the recommendations in the report and will work towards their progressive implementation.”
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RSL Tasmania CEO John Hardy recently announced the launch of VeteranHub, a new one-stop shop for veteran services in Tasmania.
VeteranHub offers a range of integrated services, including well-being support, social work, employment assistance, DVA compensation advocacy, and housing assistance.
Veterans and their families can connect with a VeteranHub Navigator for support either remotely or in person by calling 03 6154 0000 or visiting veteranhub.org.au.
The island’s RSL Sub Branch president Gary Barker is personally well aware of the challenges facing veterans and, just as importantly, their families.
Following a mental breakdown in 2012 from events that occurred 30 years earlier during his Army service, he was at life’s lowest ebb.
He had been widowed, his children knew something major was wrong but naturally thought it would soon pass. Their dad had always been there for them but no one was there for him and he continued to spiral downward.
It was through a GP’s referral to a psychiatrist that his life slowly improved. He remembered, “I felt shame with my weaknesses as it went against everything I had been trained to do, and this added to the burden.”
The psychiatrist, after diagnosing acute posttraumatic stress disorder, gave him a direction – get yourself an advocate to deal with the Department of Veteran Affairs.
In hindsight, this was the best advice he had ever been given but he did not realise it at the time. This was late 2012, and while the all-of-life medication was starting to work, the government bureaucracy hit him for a six – literally.
It was not until August 2013, following an appeal to the Veteran’s Review Board, that his Advocate’s case that Barker be recognised as a totally and permanently incapacitated veteran was accepted. He still has his dark times but since moving to King Island and being understood and cared for by his partner, Margaret Stansfield, he has found solace.
Over the last 12 years veteran suicides have continued, not helped by three different legislative Acts that relate to when a veteran served.
Gary Barker with his partner Margaret Stansfield.
Barker is pleased to see that the Veteran’s Hub is now open and is available to veterans and their families throughout Tasmania. He knows the biggest challenge for many will be to ring 03 6154 0000, but it will at least start the ball rolling.
As was shown on Anzac Day, the RSL Sub branch is still very relevant and will continue to quietly work with veterans and families to assist them.
Barker strongly believes that face-to-face contact on a remote Bass Strait island is critical to the process of moving forward, noting that some service damage can take years to control.
The mateship of veterans and their families will always be the cornerstone of recovery.
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Earlier this month, 10 Grand Lodge members from the Grand Lodge of Tasmania visited the Nugara Masonic Lodge, marking the King Island Masonic Lodge’s 106th year.
The visitors included Most Worshipful Grand Master (MWGM) Luke Wood, accompanied by his wife, Deputy Grand Master Right Worshipful Bro Phil Kline and eight other Grand Lodge Officers.
They were formally welcomed by Right Wor Bro Kevin Grave and Wor Bro Chris Grave. After settling at the King Island Hotel [Parers], they attended the Nugara Lodge in Currie for the installation ceremony.
Three visiting Wor Masters were admitted to be introduced to Wor Bro Dennis Nolan, our Wor Master, by acting Director of Ceremonies Wor Bro Chris Grave in the Saturday afternoon meeting. These were Master of Devonport Lodge R.
Bro David Loone, Master of Burnie Emu Lodge R Wor Bro Bruce Chamley and V. Wor Bro Graham Mee, Master of Mt Lyell Lodge. They were made very welcome before leaving the lodge room.
All the Grand Lodge team were then admitted, led by the MWGM. They were greeted and made welcome by Wor Bro Dennis Nolan and all Nugara members.
Following the National Anthem, Wor Bro Nolan asked the MWGM. to take charge of Nugara Installation. Bro Gordon Burley was presented to the MWGM. and invested as Nugara’s Master for the next 12 months and was congratulated by all Lodge members. The other Nugara members were installed in their offices for the next year.
Front row: V.W.Bro. Gerry McGlone, R.W. Bro Paul Tole, W.Bro. Gordon Burley, M.W.G.M. Luke Wood, RWBro. Kevin Grave ODS. Bro Corey Brazendale. Middle row: WBro. Dennis Nolan, WBro. Phillip Hofmann, WBro. Ron Crack, VWBro. Graham Mee, Bro. Greg Barratt, RWBro. David Greisbach PDGM, VWBro. Laurie Appleby ODS, RWBro. David Loone, RWBro. David Kay. Back row: RWBro. Bruce Chamley, W Bro. Chris Grave in the Nugara Lodge room after an Installation by Deputy Grand Master R.Wor. Phil Kline.
34 Lodge Members, ladies and guests enjoyed dinner at the King Island Hotel where the Acting D.C. Wor Bro Chris Grave took charge of the evening with a few toasts and speeches and thanked the waiters and kitchen staff.
On Sunday the visitors went to the Brewhouse for breakfast and were made welcome by Bro Corey Brazendale and his wife Sarah. They spent a very enjoyable couple of hours before travelling to the Cheese Factory for some local cheese and then on to the airport and farewelled by R WorBro Kevin Grave, his wife Shirley, and his Grandson Jaiden Rainbow.
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Although the Antarctic front passed through early on Saturday morning, Currie still gave North a frosty welcome in their first home game of the season.
North was short on players, with many from the Summers family in Port Douglas for a family wedding, however they managed to field 15 players with juniors Harrison Lincoln, George Freeman, and Seth Bowling – playing his first senior game with his uncle, Beau Mullin – along with Jackson Taylor from Grassy, stepping up.
Currie’s Tyler Smith and Dylan Beecroft and North’s Richard Sutton, Harrison Lincoln and Seth Bowling.
Currie also found reinforcements to don the black and red in Duncan Clemons, Dylan Beecroft and Doug Cox, so were able to field 15 players as well.
The sky was blanketed with cloud cover, but it wasn’t unpleasant. The afternoon cooled off quickly without a breeze, however the opening half of the match offered pristine outdoor viewing.
The game began with congestion in the centre and a few stoppages before Joel Williams got it forward to Duncan Clemons, who marked at the 50, but didnot register a score.
Harrison Lincoln received a free kick at the other end but missed from a sharp angle.
The ball stayed near North’s end until Keenan Fanning scored the first. Tyler Smith held steady at full-back for Currie, saving North’s next forward entry.
Matthew Button, seemingly unmarked by Currie, had a field day but his kicks fell short and Currie managed only one forward entry in the first quarter, after getting a free in the centre, but failing to penetrate deep into their forward line.
Charlie Raff intercepted and switched the play, but Lincoln got another free, and a 50m penalty, to line up for North’s second goal.
Jack Worrall, Ned Hunter, Beau Mullin, Keenan Fanning, and Matthew Button in the dance.
North also scored the next one, as Currie remained scoreless, but they didn’t have to wait long to hit back, with Campbell Keeler outmuscling his opponent to score Currie’s first, followed by another from Charlie Raff.
Currie quickly found another point and locked it in their forward area, with Raff scoring again. After a slow start, Currie ended the first quarter even with North at 20 points apiece.
The second quarter began with more congestion and a bit more intensity. Currie quickly opened with a goal. Cox then showed speed in the centre to get it forward to Keeler, but a slightly angled shot resulted in a behind.
Michael Laskey and Beau Mullin contest the ruck.
North responded through Richard Sutton, who was looking fit but needed to shake off some rust before scogin his first. Beau Mullin missed from a free and 50, but Mole retrieved and sent it forward again.
The game heated up with some fiery matchups. Currie gave away several 50s, and North capitalised with another goal.
However, Tom Graham scored soon after for Currie, followed by strong defensive play from Tyler Smith. Bailey Rainbow, aggressive and accurate, moved forward.
Cox kept it inside the forward area and Currie rushed a goal, quickly followed by another just before the half-time siren, putting them 2 points up.
The third quarter began with Currie walking languidly onto the field, five men short, perhaps a ruse as they quickly scored a goal through Williams in the first 30 seconds.
North replied with a behind, but Smith’s strong defence kept them at bay. Williams was everywhere, passing to Raff for another goal.
Keeler was then awarded a free and goaled from in front. Rohan bulldozed through the centre, but a turnover sent the ball back Currie’s way, only for Keeler to hit the post.
The dry, still conditions favoured clean marks and free-running play, resulting in less chaotic, congested footy.
Currie capitalised on free kicks, with Luke Day scoring late in the third quarter, keeping North scoreless and Currie leading by 42 points.
Junior’s Heidi Smith hard in pursuit.
The sun broke through in the final quarter, challenging those facing the Netball Court end. North scored quickly, but Currie responded.
Lincoln, playing well in his senior debut, scored multiple goals. Despite North’s strong last quarter, Currie’s defence held strong.
A clash in the centre briefly halted the game, but all players were upright. Currie won by 19 points, securing their second victory of the season.
Junior’s Curtis Harding leaps and he’s flying.
PHOTOS: King Island Football Association
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I am extremely proud of how the King Island community is dealing with current issues – the can-do approach, drive, determination to help each other and remaining philosophical about setbacks along the way.
As a community, we are currently impacted by a range of generational challenges, including our worst drought since 1903 and increased costs of living pressures. Frustrations are understandably high.
Recently I have been the target of personal attacks and unfair vilification in the media, just for standing up for the interests of our community. I thank The Courier for a chance to balance the ledger.
These current setbacks can be our undoing or can become our finest hour. People with courage and conviction stand firm and, as your elected Mayor, I am the first promoter and first defender of King Island.
It is my sacred duty to advocate on your behalf and, when required, take one for the team. I am a former soldier, not a politician, with no conflicts of interest and incorruptible principles.
To serve is to make sacrifices and I lead from the front, backed up by an outstanding council team. You deserve ethical, courageous, truthful and principled leadership through tough times.
You should trust that your Mayor and council will always fight the good fight on your behalf. We are an innovative and connected community and, right now, you also deserve encouragement and words of inspiration as we face these current challenges together.
It says in the old book, James 1:12, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial”.
I can assure you, our steely King Island resilience is being noticed by the whole country, as evidenced by the recent donations of hay for our struggling farmers.
As the resolve of our great island continues to be tested, again make no mistake, we will show the rest of Tasmania and mainland Australia that we pass these tests. Our island is strong.
We are the little island that can. Keep the faith, support each other and as a community, I know that we will emerge even stronger.
Together, we can turn the trials and tribulations of 2024 into our finest hour.
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The stars were out last week at the USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix – the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold track and field meet.
King Island son Stewart McSweyn shone with a new personal best of 12:56.07 in the 5000m, well under the entry standard for the Paris Olympics.
The race was a clash of global gold medallists. Eleven men registered sub-13- minute times. In the ‘Olympic A’ 5,000 metre section.
Ethiopian Selemon Barega, winner of the 10,000m title at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, stood on the podium after clocking a time of 12.51.60.
Fellow Ethiopian Berihu Aregawi, the world record-holder in the 5km road race finished second behind Barega in 12:52.09.
Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei, the reigning Olympic gold medallist in the 5000m, a three-time World Athletics Championships winner in the 10,000 and the world recordholder in both events, took third in 12:52.38.
Jacob Kiplimo, two-time gold medallist for Uganda at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships, finished fourth in 12:52.91.
Stewart’s time improved his Tasmanian record (previously 12:56.50) placing him number 2 on the all-time Australian 5000m list and closer to Craig Mottram’s Australian/Oceania record of 12:55.76.
Stewy’s splits 2:35.93 – 5:11.45 – 7:47.85 – 10:25.82 – 12:56.07. The 2024 Olympic Games will take place in Paris from July 26 to August 11.
The track & field portion of the competition will start on August 1 and finish on August 11.
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ONE of the largest support and logistical exercises in King Island’s history culminated on Sunday when the King Islander docked at Grassy Harbour with a cargo of more than 500 bales of hay and 200 pallet bags of pellets purchased by the Need for Feed organisation and shipped by EasternLine Shipping.
The Need for Feed truck convoy arrived at Port Welshpool about 8pm on Friday, having travelled across Victoria.
The volunteer teams, the wider Port Welshpool community and harbour staff, worked throughout the night loading the King Islander.
The weather was not kind during the 18-hour truck unloading and deck plan stacking, nor for the Bass Strait crossing, which had 40-knot westerly winds and three-metre seas.
King Islander captain Peter Dunbar was concerned about the increasingly bad weather. “About 2am it was pretty rough…a headwind slowed us down a bit, so we worked our way around the top and down into the island,” he said.
The King Islander travelled throughout the night and arrived at Grassy Harbour at lunchtime – without losing bales or bulka bags overboard, with few load shifts, a bit salty, but intact.
The King Island transport drivers and volunteers moved straight into action and unloading finished at 9.30pm Sunday.
Due to the transport costs, the planned initial shipment represented less than half of the Need for Feed allocation for King Island farmers.
There were unexpected changes and about 38 per cent of the allocation came in. The reduction meant many logistic and feed allocation changes.
“The process was constant recalibration including revising allocations and reorganising transportation and volunteers, coordinating with TasPorts, and staggering truck arrivals to avoid congestion,” TasFarmer’s King Island drought coordinator Deb Delaney said.
“Volunteers from the island assisted with phone calls to inform landholders of their allocations.” Ms Delaney noted overwhelming gratitude from farmers, even when allocations had to be adjusted due to supply changes and King Island community support.
Eastern Line Shipping owner Warren Dick said that the collaborative exercise was an “absolute monumental operation” and a totally different exercise to loading containers and cattle trailers.
“There were many more people involved due to the amount of hay that needed to be loaded on the vessel, the way it had to be loaded and the logistical side of things,” Mr Dick said.
Eastern Line Shipping provided shipping below cost. “It’s a very costly exercise, but we decided to help. King Island is a large part of our business.
We supported the destocking of the island’s cattle and have moved more than 26,000 off in the last four months,” Mr Dick said.
“When the King Island drought started back in September, I made a statement that I would stand behind the farmers of King Island, and I’m true to my word. We will continue to stand behind the farmers and King Islanders.”
It is estimated that the overall cost that will be met by Need for Feed for this feed allocation is about $400,000.
On Friday, Primary Industries and Water Minister Jane Howlett announced that the State Government will contribute $75,000 through a grant to Need for Feed towards the additional cost to ship the feed from Port Welshpool to King Island.
Lions Clubs in Victoria and elsewhere have supported through donations. Tasmanian Lions contributed about $60,000.
“Much more will be required throughout the winter months,” Lions District Governor for Tasmania Rob Batchelor said.
Gippsland Ports waived wharfage and channel fees and TasPorts waived wharfage fees and stevedoring costs.
Without the King Island Lions’ actions to assist Australia’s bushfire-impacted farmers through Need For Feed, by sending hay and $10,000 to the mainland four years ago, this rescue and event wouldn’t have happened.
“It’s wonderful to be repaid. We never expected it, but when Victorian Need for Feed heard we needed help, they were happy to return the favour,” Lion Linda Payne said.
“Other Lions Clubs in Tasmania, which we’ve helped during floods or other disasters, were also quick to offer assistance.
“It’s a great feeling—what goes around comes around.”
Looking ahead, Ms Delaney said that the focus will be on visiting farms to assess needs, coordinating with organisations like NRE and the Tas Farm Innovation Hub, and encouraging educational programs. Need for Feed is ready and willing to support another shipload of feed to King Island, but this is dependent on support from sponsors and government.
