The longer grey nomads travel, the more they tend to appreciate the stunning natural beauty and diversity of this incredible land, and the deeper they tend to connect with its amazing history and heritage. It is why most caravanners and motorhomers feel honoured to be able to travel here, and why they are so outraged when they see it disrespected and dishonoured.
Sadly, there are way too many examples of this disrespect. There is the litter at beauty spots and camping areas, the mindless graffiti on ancient rocks and historical sites, the tearing down of signs in national parks. Evidence of this sort of behaviour has become all too common, but no less inexplicable.
Unfortunately though it doesn’t stop there. In the past month or two there have been several incidents that simply leave you shaking your head in disbelief and disgust, and make you wonder just how low we can go.
Most shocking of all was the man who was filmed by giggling friends defecating on the Devils Marbles sacred site in Central Australia. The tradesman, who was working at a power station project in Tennant Creek, was promptly sacked by his company, and the Central Land Council now wants him prosecuted under the NT Sacred Sites Act. The maximum penalty for individuals who desecrate a sacred site is $61,600 or two years in jail. The traditional owners of the site, also known as Karlu Karlu, are understandably deeply distressed by the incident which they say demeans their culture. One elder, Sonny Curtis, is also calling for an alcohol ban in the area.
“The best thing would be for people not to have grog at all when they are at a sacred site,” he said. Â “Just enjoy the scenery, not drink grog because we all know grog brings lots of trouble.”
The shocking video from the Devils Marbles, which was posted online, follows on from the vandalising of a sacred Indigenous site by trail bike riders in Western Australia over Easter. The WA Department of Parks and Wildlife says ‘sensitive areas’ of a registered sacred Noongar site on the Blue Lake in the Mt Lindesay National Park near Denmark were badly damaged by trail bike riders who had illegally entered the area. The Department said the riders, who appear to have been doing burnouts, had caused “dire and long term consequences” for the area. This is far from the first such incident at Mt Lindesay, which  is an important area for rare plant species, with five declared rare species and 26 priority-listed species.
It was not plants but property which was targeted by vandals at Namadgi National Park near Canberra who, for some reason, thought it would be a good idea to trash the heritage-listed Orroral Homestead. The homestead was built in the mid-19th century, and volunteers and parks authorities have spent more than 10 years returning it to its former glory. The 29 smashed windows will cost hundreds of dollars to fix, but  ACT Parks and Conservation regional manager Brett McNamara said the vandalism would also cause “pain and anxiety” to the volunteers who have spent thousands of hours rebuilding the homestead.
And they all wonder if on their next visit, they and every one else will be locked out. My plan is to go to these places and enjoy them too without seeing what has been left by vandals and pigs.
Agree with you Mark.
Absolutely disgusting behaviour, makes you wonder what is in the heads of people like his. Why go there in the first place to see these wonderful things only to destroy them? Spoils it for the rest of us
Like I have said in the past, most of but all of the trash, destruction and bad behaviour is caused by the locals. They have lived there all there lives and cant see the buety of what they have. All motorbikes are banned from national parks. Employ more rangers. More fines and take their bikes away from them.
Really nothing that the human race does surprises me any more I’m dumbfounded and disappointed and ashamed in the human race
And a couple of pet hates we have. In our travels over the years and bush camped we are continually disgusted by the back packers from usually from overseas who will buy or rent a vehicle, camping gear, food,wine and fuel but don’t think to buy a spade to bury their “excrement” when after there morning dash to the nearest bush.
Also, it puzzles us why, when we visit free camping areas and find the remnants of a camp fire only a meter or two from a previously used camp fire.
There was one instance at Archer Creek in Nth. Qld. where we have camped several times, we had a campfire for a bit of warmth (yes it does get a little cool in Nth. Qld. sometimes), as well as cooking, only to return about six weeks later to find another 6 blackened camp fire sites within a couple of metres of the original site.
I commented to Cyclone (my wife), that it “won’t be long before campfires will be banned from this free camp site”. And sure enough, on our next visit some months later, there was the expected sign. “CAMP FIRES PROHIBITED”.
there are certainly some twisted minds out there I wonder how they would react if someone defecated on their doorstep, the guy caught recently should be dealt with to the maximum extent of the law.