By Brad Praed
Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world, is a magnet for four wheel drivers far and wide but unfortunately it also attracts massive amounts of rubbish.
Due to the island’s location a large amount of rubbish is also washed up onto the 125 kilometres of open beach.
Seventeen vehicles from the Bundaberg 4WD Club joined in this year to lend a hand on what was the 19th annual clean-up.
Massive turnout to Fraser Island clean-up
More than 320 vehicles from 24 Queensland four-wheel drive clubs attended the Fraser Island clean-up, with the event organised by Four Wheel Drive Queensland with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.
A welcoming ceremony by the Butchulla people, the traditional owners of K’Gari (Fraser Island), was held at the Yidney Rocks Beachfront Units before the clean up took place.
The area cleaned reached from Hook Point to Ngkala Rocks and also covered some of the inland tracks.
A final wrap-up saw 1259 bags of assorted rubbish brought to the two central collection skip bin sites and saw just over seven tonnes of debris collected by the 750 participants, anything that could be recycled was sorted and taken off the island.
Island exploring
The opportunity to explore the world heritage listed site was available with drives to the various tourist hot spots such as Lake McKenzie, Kingfisher Bay, Eli Creek, and the Maheno Shipwreck to name a few.
Bad weather over the last couple of months has taken its toll on the exposed beaches of the island causing large sections of coffee rock, sand compacted and cemented together by organic particles, to become exposed along the beach, making progress slow.
A meal had been organised for those that had registered for the event on the final night at Cathedrals on Fraser.
The new venue proved popular as clubs based at the top end of the island were able to attend.
Lucky door prizes and raffles were drawn and it was good to see most clubs represented won a prize that had been donated by the many sponsors.
This Fraser Island clean-up is not possible without the support of its sponsors and this year saw over $40,000 worth of prizes up for grabs.
The platinum sponsor this year was Fulcrum Suspension.
The major prize in the raffle was one of their suspension kits valued at $2500.
Next year marks the 20th anniversary of the Fraser Island clean-up and we look forward to giving back to one of the most spectacular places we can go, so close to home.
To find out more on the Bundaberg Four Wheel Drive Club and activities we have on, contact us via email at bundy4wd@bigpond.com, on the net at www.bundaberg4wdclub.com or catch us on Facebook or Instagram.
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