A floating disaster

Most people growing up reading books would have heard of author “Mark Twain – The

Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn” , two kids living in and off the mighty

Mississippi River in the early part of last century.

My two youngest grandsons, Solomon (21) and Kale (18), anticipated a modern day

Australian version. As well as a possible present day version of my own commercial

“magic carpet raft” operation on the Murray in the 1990’s to early 2000’s. Well, the river

hasn’t changed all that much since my raft trips (previously written up in my books and

in this column) back then. But it seems that what the banks of the river have lost in soil

and biodiversity, they have gained massively in the other far less desirable B word –

Bureacuracy. As you will see.

Over the last couple of months, Magic Carpet IV, has been under construction here on

my property on the Fleurieu Peninsula. A more sophisticated (a word not normally

associated with “rafts”) version of the others. Of timber construction with 24 poly 200

litre drums. Built in two halves to make transport to the location possible.

The other rafts have been built on site or near the river. A mate, Vlad, an Engineer,

loaned me his self constructed adjustable trailer, a masterpiece that allowed the raft to

be legally transported – just! “Mates” are better than gold! Another one, Rolly, an

Earthmover, arrived with a bobcat equipped with forks. And the “vessel” , measuring 21

foot (6.4m) by 16 foot (4.8m) when joined was skillfully precariously, loaded on to the

trailer with a big sigh of relief from those present.

Leaving at 5.30am the next morning with Jeremy towing the raft trailer with a 4wd Land

Cruiser and me towing my boat/camper (Swamp Harrier) behind my 4wd, with most of

the gear required to launch raft (without mechanical help) and supplies etc for 8 days on

the river. Myself and Darren (of many 4wd and boat trip experience) would look at parts

of the Murray and Goulburn Rivers. At the end of the period we would locate a place on

private property to leave the raft after the trip. Another 3 of the boy’s mates would be on

the raft.

The road trip was uneventful, an organic farmer mate, Mark, met us north of Echuca,

and after much effort on his part a suitable location was found to launch and fit out the

raft. A very nice camp in Red Gum forest on the Goulburn River with its confluence with

the Murray.

Early next morning, with a rope slung over low branches, and the brains, experience and

muscles of the party (8), the two halves ended up in the river to become one. Rest of the

drums were attached and tyre buffers around the sides.This was a weekend and though remote there was other river traffic in the vicinity from

time to time. No apparent real interest, but then you could argue that there was not a

lot of “aligning” in the minds of raft travellers (cocooned in the sounds of silence), and

those that travel in wake boats, jet skis, etc … leaving room for exceptions which

thankfully there always are.

Bear in mind at this stage that all of this motorised traffic is legal, despite the fact that it

continually erodes the river banks (ie, wake boats), drowns out bird calls and silence

with loud doof doof canned music and continual engine noise.

At 9.30am “Magic Carpet IV” , which tows an inflatable dinghy with 5 horsepower

outboard, pushed off from the bank of the Goulburn River and drifted at walking pace

towards the Murray 200 metres away. A good sight.

Jeremy, Darren and I spent the day at the campsite before Jeremy headed back to SA

with the empty trailer. We were having problems with the outboard on my boat, so

loaded it back onto the trailer and drove in to Echuca to wait the Magic Carpet’s arrival

the next day. We had heard from the raft boys, who were travelling with a better than

walking pace current and experiencing that very allusive thing … FUN!

Around mid morning I had a call from Sol that they had been apprehended by the NSW

Water Police and had been ordered out of the river. The meeting went something like

this … as they drifted in to the outskirts of Echuca, the police boat approached and

pulled up alongside with a middle aged officer at the helm. His first comment was, “this

is a floating disaster!” while the other crew sat on or stood amongst the gear, Sol had a

polite, reasonable discussion with the river cop. To the Officers credit, once he

ascertained that it was just 5 young blokes having a river adventure, (not sure if he had

ever read the Adventures of Tom Sawyer), he became friendly and reasonable. He noted

their safety features on board and in other words - they were not irresponsible idiots. He

actually suggested that they wait until midnight and drift past the millions of dollars of

numerous watercraft which included paddle wheelers, through Echuca. Nothing in his

book of rules would have included a free floating raft and I think this sort of thing makes

bureaucrats nervous and uncertain. He just wanted them to disappear. He was a good

cop, and the boys reckon he was envious of their adventure.

All this changed rapidly as there was communication between him and his boss. His

boss said, “that the raft must be taken out of the river, dismantled and removed within

24 hours, otherwise fines would be imposed” . (a hasty new rule might have been

required for that!).

So that’s what happened, and what a sad example of the way our once free, exciting and

adventurous country is going (gone?). The boys managed to get permission to camp on

the raft that night … they had travelled 15km. Next day, in 37 degree heat we dismantled

the raft in to the original two sections. Rather than offer the timber (worth $2,500) atbargain prices to the local men’s shed or salvage firms I decided to give it to Mark, my

organic farmer mate, against his protestations, I might add. It was no easy job but the

whole outfit was loaded on to 2 trailers (definitely not legal) and transported 30km to

Mark’s farm. It would end up on his large dam providing a lot of fun for his family of

young kids.

So here is just another example where the bureaucracy is denying Australians, young

and old, what used to be our god given rights. No, they would reason – far better to have

young people glued to their F ….. phones, where they are much easier to control. And

we, the people, mostly sit back and let them get away with it. It seems that FUN is dead

or dying, in this once exciting and adventurous country.

The Brook Brothers, however, are not giving up on their pursuit of an exciting way of life.

Like their grandfather, they will just have to learn to become more devious. I know a

large part of the population will be on their side.

Published by various regional newspapers. Rex Ellis’s Outback books are available

online also Rex Ellis’s “Outback Travel Consultancy” www.safarico.com.au

rexellis@safarico.com.au 0400 854 358