Page 35 - Port Douglas Magazine 27

Loving A Low Isles

Sea Change

Daily commute getting you down? Tired of the hustle and bustle of the rat race?
Dreaming of another, more simplified life? It’s a question that was answered
without hesitation by Peter Nolan and Jane Macdonnell.

WORDS by Sharon Timms

For varying reasons, many people find themselves re-evaluating reef. Aboriginal people know these islands as Wungkun, and is
their choices sometime during their lives. Perhaps it’s the an important indigenous cultural site for both the local KuKu
discovery of more beautiful and relaxing locales whilst on holiday. Yalanji and Yirraganydji tribes.
Maybe it’s the desire to be contributing more to our global
The smaller of the Low Isles is a coral cay with a lighthouse
community. Perhaps it’s the chance to be someone other than
that has been operating since 1878. Located within the Marine
who we currently are. Regardless of the reason, the desire to National Park Zone of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park,
escape urban living is driving Australians to make a change with
Low Isles and its historic lighthouse were registered on the
startling frequency: Welcome to the world of Seachangers.
Commonwealth Heritage List in June 2008 in recognition of
A ‘seachanger’ is the popular term given to people who have made their place in Australia’s cultural and Indigenous heritage. They
a radical relocation, usually from the city or suburbs, to a coastal also fall under the protection of the Great Barrier Reef Marine
location. However, the term loosely covers any kind of move that Park Authority.
involves a significant lifestyle change, with both sea-changers and The larger of the two islands - Woody Island - is uninhabited
tree-changers being motivated by the same reasons, the central
unless you count the sizeable bird population, and is also a vital
notion being that somehow the change involves improvement in
habitat for many other bird species and marine wildlife. Part of
lifestyle and wellbeing.
the caretaker’s role on the island is to monitor these populations,
Imagine you were offered accommodation on an island in the reporting back to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Great Barrier Reef, a guaranteed two-year paid contract to (GBRMPA).
snorkel, beachcomb, liaise with tour operators and visitors and There are 150 different species of hard corals in the waters
occasionally undertake marine life data collection for research.
surrounding Low Isles, although these are dominated by 15
You’d think it was too good to be true, right? Well, not for Peter
species of soft corals. Living amongst the corals is a large variety
and Jane, the recently appointed caretakers of Low Isles, 15km
of fish, molluscs, sea cucumbers and other animals. Colourful
north east off the coast of Port Douglas.
blue, green and purple parrotfish are a common sight as well
With Jane coming from commercial law and Peter from as angelfish, damselfish, clownfish, trevally, sweetlip, and moon
hospitality management, the move - although a definite side step wrasse, just to name a few. As well, the island has a prolific turtle
from the familiarity of their urban life – was one that was taken population with underwater sightings common to snorkellers.
with no hesitation.
Weather data has also been gathered from the island since 1887,
“We’ve both moved from the Sunshine Coast where a deep love and still today remains the region’s primary point of weather
of the ocean and water activities occupied a great deal of our forecasting through the Bureau of Meteorology.
time, “ Jane says. “However, moving to a tropical island could still
be described as a sea change. The island’s, and indeed the area’s, A DAY IN THE LIFE
natural beauty was a huge drawcard for our move. We had been
The role of the island caretaker is quite a varied one, with the
to Low Isles on a number of occasions previously and had been
primary goal being that of environmental custodians. “We have
relief staff for the previous caretakers, so we were very familiar
the daily tasks of preparing the Island for the day ahead,” Peter
with this beautiful island already.”
explains. “We liaise with the tourist boat operators, educating
visitors on the regulations applying to the Island, and explaining
HISTORY OF THE ISLAND
why there are such regulations. There is unfortunately rubbish to
Situated just off the coast of Port Douglas, Low Isles is made be collected daily to stop it making it into the marine environment.
up of two small coral cay islands surrounded by 55 acres of
“There is also quite a bit of behind the scenes work, such as
reef. The two small islands are separate but share the common
PORT DOUGLAS MAGAZINE 35