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Babysitting
a unique island
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By
Ahmet Bektas & Melinda Lambourne
Head out to
sea for 70km south of Wilson's Promontory on the Australian mainland
and you will arrive at a cluster of islands called the Kent Group.
The largest of these is Deal Island, with it's cliffs of granite
towering dramatically over temperemental waters. It was here that
in 1842 - in one of the first major acts of interstate cooperation
- the highest lighthouse in the Southern Hemispere was built.
With the decommissioning of the lighthouse in 1992, the island
is now maintained as a Conservation Area by the Parks
and Wildlife Service of Tasmania.The Service runs a programme
of placing volunteer caretakers to help look after the island's
natural and historic heritage.
After being selected
as caretakers for Autumn 2001, we started to develop this site
to help inform interested people about this unique island as well
document some of our time here. It is a work in progress, and
as time permits, we will create new pages on the island's wildlife,
history and something of our time here. We would be delighted
to receive contributions and ideas by
e-mail. We will also attempt to create a discussion or visitors
page. Check regularly for updates.
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