Lighthouses of Australia Inc

Volunteering at Sandy Cape Lightstation 2006-2007

by Aub Strydom, Ranger, Sandy Cape Lightstation

A successful Volunteer Program has been running since 1998 in the Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service, Fraser Island Northern Management Unit, at Sandy Cape Lightstation.

Free accommodation is provided in one of the three bedroom lightkeepers' cottages, which has full time 240 volt power and comprehensive facilities including furniture, crockery, cutlery, hot water, gas stove, fridges, washing machine, and local TV. 

Volunteers are required bring their own food, bedding, and mobile phone for private communication (only Telstra GSM and CDMA work here at the moment).

Work tasks include general maintenance around the lightstation buildings and precinct. Current projects include weed control, and boarded roadway & retaining wall reconstruction. The annual Sandy Cape Turtle Management Plan provides scope for participating in sea turtle nest protection, and monitoring impacts on nesting success.

Two general groups of volunteers are sought: 

1. Those without their own 4x4 vehicle can make their way to Hervey Bay, and come and do 9 or 10 day shifts working full time with the Ranger.
2. Those with their own 4x4 transport can come and get a taste of life as an isolated lighthouse keeper when the Ranger is off shift.

A team of at least two and up to six volunteers spend blocks of five or more days committing 4 hours a day to QPWS duties mostly around the lightstation precinct, with the rest of their time free for fishing, exploring, or relaxing. Currently a number of teams come between once and five times a year to do a week of volunteering, and a couple of teams come for three to four week stints. There is scope to spend between just under one, and up to twelve weeks at a time.

Participants undertake an initial three days training on site and then generally manage the lightstation without direct QPWS supervision. The Bureau of Meteorology pays about $35 a day for three basic weather observations, which these volunteers are taught to record and submit. Minimum qualification is that at least two members of the team must have current basic First Aid Training (funding for this is available).

For more information send your / the team’s basic curriculum vitae and contact details by email or post to:

Aub Strydom
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
PMB30
MS2173
RAINBOW BEACH QLD 4851