Back in the Bay
I’ve returned to Port Stephens to work at DPI Fisheries. It’s totally crazy. All the old people are here, along with some new faces - which means that office space is limited, they’re stacked one-upon-another just like at JCU, maybe worse. I’m also back in the world of red tape; I mean, JCU was pretty bad, but it’s nowhere near as bad as a State Government super-department. In addition, I have been greeted by the news today that the Utilities Minister wants to put another dam in the headwaters of the Hunter Valley, on the Williams River - and I thought Beattie hadn’t got the message… I’ve taken a couple of days off to deal with it. It’s too much. I need to finish off my thesis and fill out the OH&S forms (there’s even one for using desktop computers). Please! On the bright side, it has been raining all afternoon. Well, storming and hailing. Kinda apocolyptic. Since I arrived in Sydney I haven’t seen any new birds, but I did see an unusual honeyeater (which I left for later), some Eastern Rosellas, a couple of Channel-billed cuckoos and a Rufous Whistler. I’ll post some pictures soon. For now, it’s all academic…
November 14th, 2006 at 6:36 pm
Hey Tom are you planning to do any trout fishing this season, let me know I’ll be keen to go down for a weekend or something.
cheers
Jac
November 14th, 2006 at 9:25 pm
Hmmm… yeah we might be able to organise something over xmas. I’ll have to get Zoe to bring the gear with her
November 15th, 2006 at 11:09 am
Very Cool that you have work even before you finfish your Thesis. Hope you have fun down there in Prot Stephens. If I have a present for you where would I send it to.
Cheers Lewis
November 15th, 2006 at 11:58 am
hi tom,
have you encountered any heated debates about the marine park going proposed in the bay?
what are your fishologist thoughts on it? as i have mainly heard the side of fisho’s (generally at the pub, so i doubt you will use such harsh language on the subject!)
good to see you are proving my theory that no-one ever leaves the bay for ever!
k
November 15th, 2006 at 12:29 pm
On account of the fact that I’ve just arrived in town, I don’t actually know anything about it really. All I’ve seen are the draft zoning maps which have now gone through the public submission process - so, by now everyone has had their chance to comment on the proposal.
Thing is, if you ask the guys if they would like to explain the association between the pictures hanging on the walls of the pub, that feature them and their forefathers holding up masses of huge, dead fish, and their complaints about how a proposed marine park is going to ruin everything, they usually tell you to “go and get f**ked”…