Day 1 commenced with a  shotgun start from Brisbane with 6 cars arriving at Inskip Point for a good nights sleep and an early barge on Friday, most were there by 16:00 to enable a light scales overnight setup before the rain set in. Our last car for the day arrived around 21:30, just after the rain stopped. Three hours of rain resulted in an early night for all. 
 Day 2 started with an early pack up for those at Inskip Point and we were promptly joined by another two cars of early risers (Michael/Leighanne & Kerry/Chris). The sky was clear and the weather was on the improve. We all joined the barge queue, which had started building at 04:00, and were safely deposited on the island by 07:30 - Ben was given a wheel chock for the Landcruiser.  The clean-up commenced as soon as we landed on the island with Wayne finding a most unusual item. 
Our Safety Brief was conducted followed by a run up an ever decreasing beach as we challenged the tide.  We arrived without incident at Waddy Point just before lunch and set up camp.  Following the leisurely set up, and the top of the tide, we set off for Sandy Cape to spend the afternoon at the lighthouse.  Ngalla rocks provided little challenge as the recent rains had ensured the sand was firm.  Of course the usual shenanigans occurred and Debbie came back from her lighthouse walk to find her car was now sitting on its chassis; oh well, she did say she wanted to learn how to self-recover using her winch. Another easy run back down the beach and through Ngalla to end up back at camp late afternoon for happy hour and belated birthday celebrations with Leighanne. The campfire that night had lots of banter and the girls were all    getting Gobby!
 
Day 3 realised a sleep-in day and a late start.  We headed of to Platypus Bay around 10 am with a few stops for some still, and drone photography, along the way.  After a couple of relaxing hours on one of Fraser’s best beaches, we headed back to camp.  Ross and Steve went for a fish resulting in a tailor and a dart being landed. The dart was a bit small but the tailor added the surf to the turf meal. 
 
Late afternoon we were joined by the Bayside Off-Roaders for happy hour and some snacks and light refreshments around the campfire.   A good time was had by all and I am sure it won’t be the last time we meet Day 4 was the big day and the purpose of the trip; Fraser Island Clean-Up.  We had been allocated from North Indian Head to South Waddy Point as the Club’s area to clean which included the secluded beach at Waddy Point.  From our allocated area, the eight cars comprising 14 people picked up a total of 192 kgs of rubbish.  
 
In total a staggering 6,974kg was removed collectively by 730 willing volunteers in one morning.  The proof of how good the effort was became evident when we left the island on Monday, it was clean.  What was picked up?
 
*  741 cigarette lighters *  4,578 straws / cups / plates / cutlery *  2,367 plastic toys / ribbons / poppers *  43,701 plastic lids *  2,075 plastic bags *  6,442 plastic beverage bottles *  4,962 rope scraps *  20,674 plastic film scraps *  9,606 pieces of foam *  1,468 glass stubbies *  2,481 Aluminium cans *  4,382 pieces of aluminium wrapping *  1,569 thongs  *  7 toilets
 
The most alarming find was the 1,723 Cyalume Sticks used by fishermen to light up buoys at night and by beach partyers.  The most satisfying statistic was the removal of 131,350 pieces of hard plastic.  These are, or will become, the small bits that are dangerous to our wildlife and sealife. 
 
On completion of the clean-up we travelled down to Dundubara to register our rubbish, then down to Eurong for a well-earned meal at the bakery.  Although the thank you meal was being held at Eurong that evening, the majority of our members headed back up the beach to Waddy Point as some were heading off at 06:00 the next morning.  Ben and Laura, supported by Michael and Leighanne represented the Club at the dinner.  Our Club won the prize (an ARB Chair) for the most unusual item collected which will become part of the MDORC Christmas Raffle.  If you want to know what the unusual item was, ask the girls, they were pretty talkative about it. 
 
All in all a great day was had, the objective achieved and everybody tucked up in bed by 22:30ish. 
 
Day 5 began with some early risers; Jo, Andrew, Kerry, Chris, John, Lorraine, Michael and Leighanne all headed off around 0600 to beat the tide.  A rather uneventful trip with just one flat tyre realised by John.  With Mick, Kerry and Andy supervising,  John soon had that rubber donut replaced and they were back on the beach and off the island.  Debbie and Wayne left mid morning and were followed by the last three cars departing just before lunch.  It was a tight run down with Hook Point lapping at the dunes but with some timely runs between waves the last three cars got through. All of our crew were off the island by early afternoon and all participants arrived home safely.  
 
Once again a great time was had by all and thanks go to Ben and Laura for all the organisation.  It was a great trip and the club looks forward to being represented strongly again next year.  Put this trip in your diaries as it is a chance for us all to help keep one of our 4WD Paradises in pristine condition.
 

Tracey and I had an early start on Friday morning to catch up to the other club members who left Thursday afternoon to the Irish Pub at Clifton for their first night. We arrived at 8:30 am after a 2.5 hour drive from Kallangur for a 9am departure with the group. Our first stop was at Texas for morning tea. Texas is a small border town between Queensland and New South Wales – south-west of Stanthorpe on the Central Highlands. There are several good (and free) camp sites in the vicinity.  The most popular is along the banks of the Dumaresq River on the edge of town.   There is quite a large area set aside for camping as well as further spots along the river. Moree was the next stop to fuel the cars and have a quick trip to the Amaroo Tavern to view a DC3 plane where you could enter and see the wire zip line the Parachuters used during the war.   In 1975 the Australian Government converted A65 – 67 to a Civilian DC3. 
 
The road trip then continued to Burren Junction where Tiny and Leighanne ‘s caravan shredded a tyre, we were so close to Burren Junction we could taste our first wine/beer. Tiny had a unique way of changing his tyre, which I will remember. The second night camping for the group was behind the Burren Junction pub where we all had a great meal and three meats trays were won, two by Ross and one by Eddie.
When we arrived back to the camp site it was time for a camp fire, should I say looking at a yellow camp light – you had to be there. That night the temperature got down to 8 deg, great snuggling weather. The next day was a 9am departure, for a quick trip into Lightning Ridge. There was a stop at the information centre to get maps for our next adventure.  We arrived at the Out-Back Resort and Caravan Park around 11am to set up camp. After everyone was set up we headed off for some quick trips.  Lightning Ridge's answer to 'self-drive' tours are a great way to start your visit to The Ridge. The four tours are demarcated by colour coded numbered car doors. Along the way of the Red door tour we came across the Amigo’s Castle A life's passion...  this amazing hand-built castle was a labour of love from 1981 to 2001.  Amigo's was single handily built by an Italian born man who skilled himself in construction and lifted every stone into place with the aid of 44 gallon drums and wooden planks. The castle also features an art gallery by self taught artist Anita, who also took the time to tell Amigo's story to us. The next tour was the Yellow door where we visited the Chambers of the Black Hand. This involved a steep climb down many stairs to 40 feet underground to see an Egyptian chamber that has humorous hieroglyphics and is a replica of an Egyptian tomb. Atlas holds the world while Adam supports the roof of the entrance to the working mine - another feature of the tour. The Last Supper which took six months to complete and the pondering Nostradamus, which took five hours to carve, are depicted in magnificent detail and is testimony to the razor-sharp skill and patience of Ron. As the sun set on day 2, some of the group decided to go on the Green car door tour (sunset).  I stayed in camp to prepare the lamb roast with corn, mushrooms, potatoes, pumpkin and fresh garlic gloves. This was cooked in the camp oven on the fantastic fire Ross had lit. It was a pleasure to have Ross join Tracey and myself for the roast dinner and a few wines. The next day we all headed in different directions around Lightning Ridge to see what the town had to offer. Coopers Cottage is an authentic abode of the early miner, built in 1916. Its historical setting embraces the living conditions of the mining pioneer.  A trip to the Ridge would not be complete without a visit to the free Artesian Bore Baths. At the end of a hard day looking at the art gallery and exploring, there is nothing quite as therapeutic as a long soak in the naturally heated thermal baths. Allow the water to soothe your aches while you gaze at the starry night sky and enjoy the serenity. Bliss! After the visit to the thermal pool,  Tracey had time for a trip back to the Chambers of the Black Hand where she decided to buy the earrings she like the day before. What’s a trip to an opal mine if you don’t buy some opals. I must say they do look magnificent and well worth the climb back down and up all those stairs. 
We  left Lightning Ridge at about 12 pm on our way to Nindigully, we stopped at the famous pie shop in the town of Hebel. I had one of the best “Pepper Steak Pie”. It lived up to the repuation of the best pies around. Then despair happened again for Tiny and Leighanne, another flat tyre on their van about half an hour from Dirranbandi.  We all arrived at the free camp at the Nindigully Pub where there was a lot of grey nomads. This was the best camp fire of the trip and the saddest as it was the last night. On Monday we headed for home We had an early morning tea/lunch sitting peacefully on the banks of the Macintyre River at the junction of five major highways at Goondiwindi. It is a well-established border town. Its name was derived from an Aboriginal word Goonawinna meaning "the resting place of the birds" - and it's just the place to relax and rest a while.  This is where we parted ways, and we headed off to Toowoomba and down the range back to Kallangur. As this is our 2nd trip with the club, it has been a wonderful experience making new friends and sitting around the camp fire drinking a glass or 2 of wine. We would like to thank Simon the trip leader for organising this trip and telling the longest joke I have heard about a goat. Ha ha . Till next time.

 Hi all another month has passed what a whirl wind year we are having, a relatively quiet month with the Commonwealth games .Would like to thank all members and volunteers for all the help with the ARB North Lakes sausage sizzle . The members who attended Dawn Service at Bribie Island, followed by barbecue breakfast and a beautiful sunrise and a trip up the beach.  
 
We have a few members out on long distance trips Gary and Nicole out in central Australia . Campbell and Franki also out in central Australia we wish them a great trip and safe return home soon.
 
Special thoughts go out to Richard O’shea who currently is in hospital we hope the treatment is successful with a speedy recovery .
 
We have just had the clean-up Fraser Island designation and camping spot released, the club is staying at Waddy Point and will be responsible for cleaning up from there back down to  Indian Head, some parts of the beach are no access points By four-wheel-drive we have been granted permission for two vehicles to pick up rubbish on the day. I would like to thank everybody who is participating in this event and just remember we are on show as a club thank you. Keep the shiny side up !
 Tiny Grimstone President, Moreton Districts Off Road Club