Last week our group split into two groups and embarked on separate CVA (Conservation Volunteers of Australia) journeys. My group, which consisted of Nick, Riley, Liv, Trace, Allie, Brett and our new team leader whose name was also Brett, camped and worked at the beautiful Cooloola Recreation Area, Great Sandy National Park for the week.
Our campsite was a short walk from the beach which was made up of warm but refreshing water and soft, fine, white sand. We spent our week outdoors painting and maintaining signs, picking up trash, and pulling invasive weeds around the park when the weather was on our side. For the day when the weather was not on our side and it was raining, we worked at the rangers station compiling packets of pamphlets for different areas around the park as well as fixing up some signs in the sheltered shop. While the rainy weather was not on our side in terms of being conducive conditions in which to paint signs in and keep our tents dry, we did enjoy the relief from the beating sun and sand flies.
Along with our relatively painless work week outdoors we also got a chance to see the amazing Carlos Sand Blow. After only about a 10 minute walk from our car we arrived to a huge valley of sand at the top of a massive dune along the coastline. We all had a fun time trecking up the steep incline on the side of the valley and then running (racing) down. The view off the edge of the dune was an expansive turquoise blue stretch of sparkling water that was completed with the most refreshing ocean breeze I have ever felt.
I think I can speak for our whole small group when I say that the hour or so spent at the valley of sand, splashing in the warm ocean waves and starting our work days off with playing Gangsta Paradise by Coolio off a scratched up CD Brett found in a parking lot were definitely highlights from the week. When Friday morning rolled around we felt eager to get to our hostel in Brisbane and wash ourselves and our clothes of the dirt, sand, sweat and overall damp smell created by the rain. We also felt proud of the contribution we made to beautifying the park and helping the wonderful rangers with work that would normally have taken them many weeks to complete. Overall it was a fantastic week of work! Our big group is now reunited and ready for a week at Chenrezig Buddhist Institute.
Sending love and hugs to all of our family and friends back home!! We’re all getting excited to see our loved ones in only 14 short days (or 21 for those of us staying longer).
-Diana Evans