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Eleanor Barbour's Pages
FOR COUNTRY WOMEN
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DEAR 'CHRONICLE' READERS—
Just more than a year ago I had a short trip
to Kangaroo Island and, as 1 told you at that time,
I had just enough to whet the appetite for more. 1
was indeed fortunate then to accompany the mail
man oh his bi-weekly round-the-hland trip, and
was captivated by what I saw, but naturally there
was. .no time to loiter and explore a little cove, or
a patch of wildflowers, or some other inviting attrac
tion. There were so many places, too, which I had
to try to imagine from the mailman's descriptions
when we passed a side road, with or without a sign
post. I was never backward at asking questions,
and he certainly hod more than his fair share of
them from me that day.
Some time in the future, I thought, I will go
to the island, wonder just where I want to go, and
move on just when I want to move on, but I did
not Think the opportunity would come so soon. It
did come, however, and o recent fortnight's camp
ing holiday, spent mainly along the 500-odd miles
of coastline, more than justified the response to the
island's silent coll. Those of you who enjoy
camping need not go interstate for interest and en
joyment and comfortable travel. Try Kangaroo
Island. The main expense is getting oneself, one's
vehicle, and one's passengers across from the main
land, so the longer the stay, the cheaper becomes
the holiday comparatively. A little over £8 return
was the cost of Our vehicle, and £2 12/6 for each
passenger.
By paying a higher unaccompanied freight
charge for the vehicle, one can take a return air
ticket for just over £4, fly across in less than an
hour and be in Kingscote when the boat arrives,
ready to drive away along the jetty with the car
and its camping equipment.. This might suit those
who do not like sea travel but the old Karatta was
very kind to us. Freicht charges, of course, would
vary with different types of vehicles, too. Another
important summer advantage, fey the way, is that
the temperatures on the island ore always much
lower thon those on the mainland. The weather,
like the boat, could not have been kinder to us.
Hanson Bay, Kangaroo Island, at die mouth of the South-West River. The two baby penguins were in the cave at water level in the foreground. Help
Hanson Bay, Kangaroo Island, at die mouth of the South-West River. The two baby penguins
were in the cave at water level in the foreground.
Driving, walking, bathing, fishing, delving into
the study of flora or fauna or rocks, or just lazing
under ideal conditions — which do you prefer? You
have them all on the island. Most of the roods
are lined with fresh-leaved native gums so wisely
left after clearing the land, or through virgin scrub,
and they yield continuous glimpses of picturesque
coast or highlands, so driving is pleasant. Smooth,
white beaches and easily traversed scrub country
are grand for walking, while for the more energetic
.there are hills to explore for extensive views, sea
side rocks to scramble over, cliffs to scale, caves to
explore. Bathers may have pounding surf or quiet,
caressing waves, rock pools of varying depths, or
rivers. The island abounds in rivers. I am
no fisherman, but ask anyone who is, and you will
heor the never-ending*stories of types and sizes and
weights, from both river and sea.
It was a little late for the ground carpefs of
multi-colored flowers in November, but there were
still enough of bright yellow varieties and masses of
tiny star-shaped blooms in shades through a range'
from white to deep pink to delight the nature lover.
Flowering gums arid many shrubs — thousands of
vivid scarlet hakeas or bottle brushes, lime-colored
proteas, titrees bearing the purest of white flowers,
and mauve blossoms unknown to me — were among
the colorful higher growth. Fauna abounds —
kangaroos and wallabies in all parts of the island,
wild pigs to the west, wild goats, opossums, koala
bears in the sanctuary, sea birds of many types, land
birds large and small, including many of the bright
plumaged parrots — but no foxes or rabbits.
In a cave on the shores of Hanson Bay we found
two baby penguins. At our camp in Flinders Chase
we had on echidna — or anteater or porcupine — :
which lived under the tarpaulin and buried himsqlf
defensively when it was lifted. Snakes? Only one,
brown in color, fat and more than three feet long,
which slid out of a shaken rug at 6 o'clock one morn
ing! A little too close, you think, but he was cold
and showed no animosity at that hour. I was told
later he might have been more energetic if en
countered in the midday sun ! There ore seals about
the coastline, too, but we did not see one. Almost
as interesting as the animals and birds themselves
were their footprints and, in the case of kangaroos,
tail prints, on isolated, unfrequented beaches. We
tried to interpret them but, except in the most ob
vious cases, were too lacking in knowledge to be able
to do so. ' ?
Then you must add to all these inviting
assets of Kangaroo Island the friendly welcome of
the people and their almost overwhelming coopera
tion. Nothing seems too much for them to do to
make one's stay enjoyable, especially in the 'out-
back' areas. Later I want to tell you of two women
who had interesting stories to tell of many years of
living 'far from the madding crowd,' and also 1
would like to give you some of our experiences -of
good camping spots. It is almost like looking for
needles in haystacks to find bad ones!
No more for this week. Best wishes to all -from
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