Thread: For our military/ ex military members, Pandanus park

I mentioned Pandanus park in a previous thread, but the story of the Park is an example of what can happen when determined people make a stand on something they consider important , so to that end ;



The following history covers the events leading up to and beyond the formation of the Veterans Retreat now known as Pandanus Park. It demonstrates the resolve by some within the Vietnam War Veteran community to achieve a legitimate bush retreat for Australian Veterans.

Commencement and Location

The Pandanus project commenced in 2001 in response to a call for Vietnam Veterans to occupy a portion of land in the southern section of Kalpowar Station on the Normanby River adjacent to Lakefield National Park, on Cape York Peninsula. It was hoped that this land, known then to the veterans as the ‘Green-ant Block’, could be acquired from the Government for Vietnam Veterans to use as a retreat - a concept that was widely accepted within the veteran community. Normanby River viewed from one of the regular camp sites

Establishment Phase

With this in mind in May 2001 an advance party of nine veterans settled, squatted or camped on the ‘Green-ant Block’ constructing a rough frame of a ‘building’ as a proposed shelter and central meeting place. This structure became known as the Base Camp or HQ and indicated the veteran’s resolve for long-term occupancy or use of the area. At the same time the veterans established individual camp sites, explored the area and enjoyed the serenity of the location for approximately three weeks. Around this time they also began the construction of a simple concrete memorial to honour those who died in combat in Vietnam. This would become the focal point of the annual Long Tan Day or Vietnam Veterans Day memorial service.

The chosen section of Kalpowar Station was unallocated Government land with the EPA appointed caretakers of the area in 1996. Thus an unallocated slice of government land with no ‘owners’ seemed ideal for the veteran’s needs especially since Kalpowar Station had a considerable 'military ' history having in part been a soldier’s settlement block.

Kalpowar Station itself was large, covering an area of approximately 409,400 ha and measuring some 90 kilometres by 30 kilometres prior to its sub-division in 2005 when sections were allocated to the EPA, to the National Park, and to the Kalpowar Aboriginal Land Trust in response to a native title claim.

The initial concept of ‘squatting’ on Government land to establish a veteran’s retreat or reserve was strongly opposed by the government and others resulting in considerable confrontation and at times adverse publicity yet during these early years numerous individuals and groups continued to lobby the government for a veteran specific retreat whilst others persisted in occupying the ‘Green-ant Block’, albeit with support from within the veteran community and an increasing number of the general public.

Finally in 2004 the government accepted the call for a veteran specific retreat despite having first rejected the concept.


The early request by the veteran’s group for legal entry to occupy the land grew to include some veterans wanting a specific reserve and/or grant of ownership with consideration for a claim over the whole of Kalpowar Station. This wildly optimistic proposal was considered but rejected because:

• the land was already under native title claim,
• the government could not grant the land without a specific act of parliament which both the government and the opposition was not prepared to countenance,
• the veterans could not afford the many and varied costs associated with the grant of ownership of a property of this size, and
• property could not be granted to or owned by other than an individual without an incorporated body being established.

By early 2005 the aim of achieving legal access, grant or ownership of Kalpowar or part thereof had stagnated with continued adverse and at times confrontational publicity not helping the Veteran’s cause. Furthermore there remained division within the veteran community as to how best to proceed.
In the meantime the veteran’s use of the ‘Green-ant Block’ continued with the numbers camping thereon growing each year.


Chronology

2001 - The small group of ‘squatting veterans’ grew during the dry season until in the period June to August 2001, the first year of occupation, around 90 veterans and a few wives attended what eventually became known as ‘Pandanus Park’ with new camp sites being established, acquaintances made or renewed and the concept of a remote bush camping location for war veterans appreciated. A defacto committee was formed with a President appointed and tasked with acting as the coordinator for all on-going negotiations.

2002 - Pandanus Park was re-occupied in the 2002 dry season with veterans camping from May through to October and approximately 150 in attendance on Vietnam Veteran’s Day, the 18th August. Several other veterans passed through Pandanus Park, staying for days or weeks en-route to Cape York. The 2002 ‘season’ was also marked by a greater number of wives and partners attending with their veterans. The memorial was completed.

2003 - By the third and fourth year of occupation, that is 2003 and 2004 the area boundaries had been established and further camp sites identified to accommodate the larger influx of veterans and partners, which by now had grown to 350. Once again there was a welcome increase in the number of wives/partners attending Pandanus. Growing too were the camps which now included larger tents and camper trailers, an upgrade on the earlier swag and billy can or the back-of-the-truck camps.

2004 - By 2004 the numbers attending Pandanus resulted in the prime camping areas or established camp sites becoming congested or too close to each other with noise from generators, hygiene issues, lack of privacy and the general sustainability of the area becoming an issue. Clearly the ad-hoc approach to camping was becoming an issue so the 'Comittee' establsihed a few minor rules for the benefit of all.

2005 - In 2005 the numbers at Pandanus remained high with approximately 200 attending. Amongst this number were many regular attendees plus a large turnover of new faces. Caravans began appearing, possibly due to the slight improvement of the road from Laura to Lakefield, and the number of tents and camper trailers increased as the aging veterans opted for more comfortable camping. By the end of the 2005 season the signs were there that the Veterans may, at last, gain some form of legal right to access Pandanus Park.

Prior to 2005 the only organized activity was the Remembrance Service held on the 18th August, this being widely accepted as Long Tan or Vietnam Veterans Day. Though this service had been held at Pandanus since the very first August (2001) at Pandanus it was not until 2002 and 2003 that a basic memorial or monument was erected close to the base camp (Headquarters as it is now known). The monument, though somewhat basic in comparison to the memorials in Canberra and elsewhere, boasts construction and improvements created by the veterans who attend Pandanus. It is the veteran’s memorial to their mates and now stands proudly under a new flagpole overlooking the Normanby River near the original Base Camp structure.

The memorial was subsequently consecrated and is now protected by agreement with the Traditional Owners.
Despite these changes and apparent permanency the situation remained tenuous for the veterans who were still 'squatting' at Pandanus.


Progress

Finally, in October 2005, following a rally by veterans at Parliament House in Brisbane the government announced receipt of a letter from the Cape York Land Council requesting talks between the Aboriginal representatives and the veterans. Both wished to discuss Pandanus Park and Kalpowar Station. This was a watershed. It was the beginning of a breakthrough in the deadlock between the veterans, the government and the Aboriginal owners and their representatives. Not long afterwards a representative group of veterans met with the Kalpowar Aboriginal Land Trust to negotiate boundaries, tenure and a means of legal acquisition and administration of Pandanus Park.

As a result of these meetings the boundaries and tenure were agreed whilst a lease over the Pandanus area was considered. However the form of lease that was proposed would have involved considerable administration and other costs to maintain which was an impost beyond the means of the veteran community. Following further consultation a lesser form of a lease namely a Deed of Licence was agreed though this too required the Veterans to form an Incorporated Body.

Some three months later, in December 2005 the Land Trust, at a meeting at Cooktown, presented a formal agreement to the Veterans. This allowed for a passage of time before the licence could be offered. That was accomplished and in April 2006, the Townsville Branch of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia (VVAA) was approached to accept the licence under their Incorporation. However, that proposal was rejected though neither the Licence nor its contents were in question
Then followed the adoption of an alternative arrangement - the veterans would form their own Incorporated Body.

In April 2006 the assistance of the Queensland Government was sought for the preparation of the Licence, the Incorporated Body and negotiations with the Land Trust. The following month Pandanus Park Incorporated became the Incorporated Body and after several meetings agreement was reached on the licence conditions. This was followed by the official signing of the Deed of Licence by members of the Kalpowar Aboriginal Land Trust and representatives of the Veterans at Hopevale in May 2007. Pandanus Park was now a reality.

2006 - 2006 was the sixth year of occupation with over 200 veterans signing the visitor register. They were a mix of return campers and new comers and with that the future of Pandanus seemed assured.

Rules and Organization

The original concept was for Pandanus to be a no fuss, no rules camping area. The only rule as such was ‘just turn up, establish a camp, occupy it then leave your camp site clean when you depart’. There was to be no committee, no organization, no money, no rules and no facilities. Furthermore no one person was to be held accountable or responsible. For a while this worked, the concept was generally accepted and supported however many veterans believed that the project required a better approach if it were to progress further.


Clearly Pandanus Park was evolving quickly and doing so in a semi-controlled manner which for the present would have sufficed but with a growing number of campers some form of 'control' had to be instituted..

And so the Committee of Pandanus Park Incorporated was duly elected in 2007 with elections held annually thereafter. Though primarily responsible for basic administration and any issues or disputes arising from the licence agreement the Committee has, following requests from attending veterans, also taken on the responsibility for organizing some key activities and their prior arrangements as well as setting basic rules for the efficient operation of Pandanus Park. The Committee continues to act solely for the benefit of those who attend the retreat and is formed from veterans attending Pandanus Park with elections for all committee positions held annually at Pandanus Park immediately prior to Vietnam Veterans Day. The future of Pandanus Park was now assured.


Licence Handover

2007 - The negotiations with the Government and Traditional owners finally bore fruit with a Deed of Licence being signed on the 17th May 2007. This gave the Veterans (prdominantly Vietnam Veterans) the right to occupy the land for 15 years on a 5x5x5 year licence with all three terms paid up front. A handover ceromony was conducted at Pandanus Park this year and with tha the use but not ownership of the land was ceeded to the Vietnam Veterans. The existing committee was formalised with Noel Iszlaub appointed the President. Between May and November of 2007 approximately 300 veterans and their partners attended Pandanus. Once again the numbers were a mix of regular attendees and short stay veterans and by now a pattern was emerging whereby around 200 would be present at the service on Vietnam Veterans Day whilst many more would come and go in the period leading up to the 18th August. Though the Service of Remembrance on the 18th August was special the highlight of the 2007 season at Pandanus Park was the official hand over of what was now the Kalpowar Licence. This was conducted at Pandanus Park with Government, Kalpowar Land Trust and Veteran's representatives in attendance and with that, the right to legal access had been achieved.


The Latter Years

2008 - Ever since it was first occupied Pandanus Park has gone from strength to strength though the numbers attending appear to have stabilised which with the ageing of the veteran population was understandable. Nonetheless those that make the journey to Pandanus Park declare each year to be better than the preceeding one with the 2008 and 2009 seasons being acclaimed as the best ever. We now had an in-house camping guidelines printed and a social calendar provided detailing the functions and events that were established for those who wished to participate in organised events. For those who did not, Pandanus Park continued to provide the solitude for which it is renowned.

2009 - Once again this was a good year, well-attended with all the usual dinners, RAP gatherings and party's. The weather was kind, the fishing as good as could be expected and the Long Tan Day service well attended. Now came the six month wait for the next (2010) season.

2010 - This was another outstanding year with greater numbers passing through, mostly enroute to and from Cape York Peninsula and slightly more attending the Long Tan Day Service of Remembrance. We also had greatly increased numbers (75) at the Pig on the Spit which was donated by the Cooktown Sub Branch of the RSL.

2011 - Another memorable year with over 100 attending the service on the 18th August and a record number at the final RAP. the year was also noteworthy for the disease that hit the local fish population in the Cape region and resulted in hundreds of good size Barramundi dying and floating to the river surface.

2012 - This began as a quiet year which was not unusual but what was unusual was the late opening - 01 June - due to late wet season roads keeping all access roads closed. A small four man advance party entered with permits ten days earlier so that they could not only clear the tracks within Pandanus Park but locate them such was the height of the grass which in many areas was in excess of the height of the vehicles. This was a slow process with even the commonly utilised river front drive track being impossible to find without first walking the expected route. The long still very green grass was impossible to burn so heavy duty grass cutters had to be used to clear most regular camp sites. In time the grass was selectively burnt, sites and tracks cleared and by the end of July Pandanus Park was well and truly occupied with the numbers growing daily. Added to the longer stay campers were many who passed through to either look or stay overnight whilst en-route to and from Cape York. The usual nibbles, dinners, drives, BBQ's and RAP gatherings were held and we were graced with a welcome visit by the Lakefield Park Rangers for one dinner and again for the Long Tan Day service. For their presence and on going support we thank them.
2012 is remembered as one of the most enjoyable seasons ever but also one of our saddest. Long Tan Day 2012 began as planned with the normal service followed by the Gunfire Breakfast both being well attended with numbers matching those of the previous year. The visitors book recorded 132 campers but as is so often the case many campers, especially those remaining for one night to 'have a look' did not sign the book.
Sadly around mid-afternoon Jim Irvine collapsed and was driven to the Laura Medical Centre along with his partner Ruth and Di Morris, a trained nurse. Around mid evening and whilst at the medical centre Jim unexpectedly suffered a cardiac arrest. All that could be done to revive Jim was done. Jim passed away peacefully knowing that he had done his duty plus more. He would be remembered by his mates for his marching of the flag and the laying of a wreath at the memorial during the 2012 which, as fate would have it was Jim Irvine's final Long Tan Day Service. Jim Irvine was one of the founding group of veterans, campers and original negotiators for the right to occupy Pandanus Park so he served his country and his fellow veterans with honour and will be sadly missed. The flag at the memorial was flown at half mast on the 21st August as a mark of respect and for the efforts of all those at Laura and Pandanus the veteran community are most appreciative.

Later in 2012 and early in 2013 the Pandanus Park 'family' were to lose two more of the founding members namely John Shay OAM and Des Hunt. Both had served on the committee and had been instrumental in getting Pandanus Park to where it is today. Their efforts will be remembered for all time. To them we give thanks and honour their service.


2013 - Once again the wait for the clearance from Cook Shire to access the area seemed agonisingly long but with a very late season cyclone dumping rain on the roads we had no choice but wait.








The Green-Ant Block now known as Pandanus Park

NOTE: The name 'Green-ant Block' had been in place well before the arrival of the first veterans. We suspect it is indicative of the massive number of Green Tree Ants that inhabit the foliage of most trees at Pandanus Park. These ants are renowned for their aggressive climbing ability, scaling anything and everything they can find then forming nests in the folds and dark corners at the end of their climb.

For those closer to the Territory [ Gods country], you may find this interesting, Bob

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The Traditional Owners and Management of Elsey Station welcome Australia's veterans to

ROPER RETREAT
Home

Open 1st - 31st August annually

Vets are invited to rest by 60 km of the magnificent Roper River.
Camping is free, there is fresh water in the river, with lots of peace for regeneration.

ProtocolThe same as for Pandanus Park ie take only photos, leave only footprints, you are totally responsible for yourself and there is absolutely no liability for Elsey Station or its residents. Ensure that you have medical clearance, and that you bring everything you might need. BookingsPlease use the format as in shared files on the MC2 site re “Bookings for Roper Retreat” and email details to ROPER, or request a booking form by email.
If unable to successfully email phone Tony 0401 100 514 or Jimbob 0419 414 909 for assistance.CommunicationsLocal communications are UHF channel 6 Duplex using the local repeater. After establishing communications it is suggested vets move to another channel for general chit chaWhere is it? 31km east along the Roper Highway, Northern Territory. Turn north at the Elsey Station sign. 3km later you will pass the Manager's house, and just 5km later you reach the Roper. How much dirt getting in? Only eight km. Yep, you read it right. You don't even need a fourby.How's the fishing?There are plenty of barra, seratoga and black bream - all great eating - and even catfish,
if that's your fancy.Nearest facilities3km to the community clinic35km to Mataranka for groceries, fuel, doctor and hospital140km to Katherine for the dentist