The following history
covers the events leading up to and beyond the formation of the Veterans
Retreat now known as Pandanus Park. It demonstrates the resolve by some
within the Vietnam War Veteran community to achieve a legitimate bush
retreat for Australian Veterans.
Commencement and
Location
The Pandanus project
commenced in 2001 in response to a call for Vietnam Veterans to occupy a
portion of land in the southern section of Kalpowar Station on
the Normanby River adjacent to Lakefield National Park, on Cape York
Peninsula. It was hoped that
this land, known then to the veterans as the ‘Green-ant Block’, could be
acquired from the Government for Vietnam Veterans to use as a retreat - a
concept that was widely accepted within the veteran community.
Establishment Phase
With this in mind an
advance party of nine veterans settled (camped) on the ‘Green-ant Block’ in
May 2001 constructing a rough frame of a ‘building’ as a proposed shelter
and central meeting place. This structure became known as the Base Camp or
HQ and indicated the veteran’s
resolve for long-term occupancy or use of the area. At the same time the
veterans established individual camp sites, explored the area and enjoyed the
serenity of the location for approximately three weeks.
The chosen section of
Kalpowar Station was unallocated Government land with the EPA appointed
caretakers of the area in 1996. Thus, as unallocated government land with no
‘owners’, this section of Kalpowar seemed ideal for the veteran’s
needs especially since Kalpowar Station had a considerable history having in
part, been a soldier’s settlement block.
Kalpowar Station
itself was large, covering an area of approximately 409,400 ha and measuring
some 90 kilometres by 30 kilometres prior to its sub-division in 2005 when
sections were allocated to the EPA, to the National Park, and
to the Kalpowar Aboriginal Land Trust in response to a
native title claim.
The initial concept of
‘squatting’ on Government land to establish a veteran’s retreat or reserve
was strongly opposed by the government and others resulting in
considerable confrontation and at times adverse publicity yet during these
early years numerous individuals and groups continued to lobby the
government for a veteran specific retreat whilst others persisted in
occupying the ‘Green-ant Block’, albeit with support from within the veteran
community and an increasing number of the general public.
Finally in 2004 the
government accepted the call for a veteran specific retreat despite
having first rejected the concept.
The early request by
the veteran’s group for legal entry to occupy the land grew to
include some veterans wanting a specific reserve and/or grant of ownership
with consideration for a claim over the whole of Kalpowar Station. This wildly
optimistic proposal was considered but rejected because:
By early 2005 the aim
of achieving legal access, grant or ownership of Kalpowar or part thereof
had stagnated with continued adverse and at times confrontational publicity
not helping the Veteran’s cause. Furthermore there remained
division within the veteran community as to how best to proceed.
In the meantime the veteran’s use of the ‘Green-ant Block’ continued with the numbers camping therein growing each year.
Chronology
2001 - The small group of ‘squatting veterans’ grew
during the dry season until in the period June to
August 2001, the first year of occupation, around 90 veterans and a few wives attended what eventually
became known as ‘Pandanus Park’
with new camp sites being established, acquaintances made or renewed and
the concept of a remote bush camping location for war veterans
appreciated.
2002
- Pandanus Park was re-occupied in the 2002 dry season with veterans
camping from May through
to October and approximately 150 in attendance on
Vietnam Veteran’s Day,
the 18th August. Several other veterans passed through Pandanus Park,
staying for days or weeks en-route to Cape York. The 2002 ‘season’ was
also marked by a greater number of wives and partners attending with their
veterans.
2003
- By the third and
fourth year of
occupation, that is 2003 and 2004 the area boundaries had been established
and further camp sites identified to accommodate the larger influx of
veterans and partners, which by now had grown to 350. Once again there was a welcome increase
in the number of wives/partners attending Pandanus. Growing too were the
camps which now included larger tents and camper trailers, an upgrade
on the earlier swag and billy can or the back-of-the-truck camps.
2004
- By 2004 the numbers attending Pandanus resulted in the prime camping areas or
established camp sites becoming congested or too close to each other with noise from
generators, hygiene issues, lack of privacy and the general sustainability
of the area becoming an issue. Clearly
the ad-hoc approach to camping was becoming an issue.
2005
- In 2005 the numbers at Pandanus remained high with approximately 200 attending. Amongst this number were many regular attendees plus a large
turnover of new faces. Caravans
began appearing, possibly due to the slight improvement of the road from
Laura to Lakefield, and the number of tents and camper trailers
increased as
the aging veterans opted for more comfortable camping. By the end of the 2005 season the signs were there that the
Veterans may, at last, gain some form of legal right to access Pandanus
Park.
Rules and
Organization
The original concept
was for Pandanus to be a no fuss, no rules camping area. The only rule as
such was ‘just turn up, establish a
camp, occupy it then leave your camp site clean when you depart’. There was to
be no committee, no organization, no money, no rules and no facilities.
Furthermore no
one person was to be held accountable or responsible. For a while this
worked, the concept
was generally accepted and supported however many veterans believed that the project required a
better approach if it were to progress further.
This thought was
reinforced when a number of new arrivals
plus long term regular attendees began looking for a degree of organized
group activity beyond their own organized functions and events.
Furthermore with a growing number of attendees the unwritten or “no rules”
approach began to unravel with minor tensions having to be defused. To
counter this a veteran was appointed as the 'problem solver'. The
appointment of a so-called ‘Sheriff’ from amongst the
veterans at Pandanus helped and remains in place. However most newcomers began requesting
more detail on camping, boundaries and activities and whilst this was provided,
albeit verbally by the Sheriff, there was a need to commit much of this to
paper.
Clearly Pandanus Park was evolving and doing so in a semi-controlled manner.
Prior to 2005 the only
organized activity was the Remembrance Service held on the 18th August, this
being widely accepted as Long Tan or Vietnam Veterans Day. Though this
service had been held at Pandanus since the very first August (2001) at
Pandanus it was not until
2002 and 2003 that a basic memorial or monument was erected close to the base camp
(Headquarters as it is now known). The monument, though somewhat basic in
comparison to the memorials in Canberra and elsewhere, boasts construction
and improvements created by the veterans who attend Pandanus. It is the veteran’s memorial
to their mates and now stands proudly under a new
flagpole overlooking the Normanby River near the original Base Camp
structure.
Progress
Finally, October 2005, following a rally by veterans at Parliament House in Brisbane the government announced receipt of a letter from the Cape York Land Council requesting talks between the Aboriginal representatives and the veterans. Both wished to discuss Pandanus Park and Kalpowar Station. This was a watershed. It was the beginning of a breakthrough in the deadlock between the veterans, the government and the Aboriginal owners and their representatives. Not long afterwards a representative group of veterans met with the Kalpowar Aboriginal Land Trust to negotiate boundaries, tenure and a means of legal acquisition and administration of Pandanus Park.
As a result of these
meetings the
boundaries and tenure were agreed whilst a lease over the Pandanus area was
considered. However the form of
lease that was proposed would have involved considerable administration and other costs to
maintain which was an impost beyond the means of the veteran community.
Following further consultation a lesser form of a lease namely a Deed of
Licence was agreed though this
too required the Veterans to form an Incorporated Body.
Some three months later, in December 2005 the Land Trust, at a meeting at Cooktown, presented a formal agreement to the Veterans. This allowed for a passage of time before the licence could be offered. That was accomplished and in April 2006, the Townsville Branch of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia (VVAA) was approached to accept the licence under their Incorporation. However, that proposal was rejected though neither the Licence nor its contents were in question
Then followed the adoption of an alternative arrangement - the
veterans would form their own Incorporated Body.
In April 2006 the
assistance of the Queensland Government was sought for the preparation of
the Licence, the Incorporated Body and negotiations with the Land Trust. The
following month Pandanus Park Incorporated became the Incorporated Body and
after several meetings agreement was reached on the licence conditions. This
was followed by the official signing of the Deed of Licence by members of
the Kalpowar Aboriginal Land Trust and representatives of the Veterans at
Hopevale in May 2007.
Licence hand over
2007
- Between May and November of 2007 approximately 300
veterans and their partners attended Pandanus. Once again the numbers were a mix of regular attendees and short stay veterans
and by now a pattern was emerging whereby around 200 would be
present at the service on Vietnam Veterans Day whilst many more would come
and go in the period leading up to the 18th August.
Though the Service of Remembrance on the
18th August was special the
highlight of the
2007 season at Pandanus Park was the official hand over of what was now the
Kalpowar Licence. This was conducted at Pandanus Park with Government,
Kalpowar Land Trust and Veteran's representatives in attendance and with
that, the right to legal access
had been achieved.
The Future
2008 - 2009
- Ever since it was first occupied Pandanus Park has gone
from strength to strength though the numbers attending appear
to have stabilised. Nonetheless those that make the journey to Pandanus Park
declare each year to be
better than
the one before with the 2008 and 2009 seasons being acclaimed as the
best ever with in-house camping guidelines printed and a social calendar
provided detailing the functions and events that were established for those who wished to
participate in organised events. For those who did not, Pandanus Park
continued to provide the solitude for which it is renowned.
The
Committee of Pandanus Park Incorporated was
duly
elected in 2007 with elections held annually thereafter. Though primarily responsible for basic administration
and any issues or disputes arising from the licence agreement the Committee has, following requests from attending veterans, also taken on the
responsibility for organizing some key activities and their prior
arrangements as well as setting basic rules for the efficient operation
of Pandanus Park. The Committee continues to act solely for the benefit of those who attend the retreat
and is formed from veterans attending Pandanus Park with elections for all
committee positions held annually at Pandanus Park immediately prior to
Vietnam Veterans Day.
The future of Pandanus Park is now assured. 2012 and beyond promise to be equally memorable.
NOTE: The name 'Green-ant Block' had been in place well before the arrival of the first veterans. We suspect it is indicative of the massive number of Green Tree Ants that inhabit the foliage of most trees at Pandanus Park. These ants are renowned for their aggressive climbing ability, scaling anything and everything they can find then forming nests in the folds and dark corners at the end of their climb.