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LIGHT
WORK: LCDR Jonathon Ball, Mr Paul Fleming and Mr Gillis
Broinowski beside the entrance to the lighthouse. Note the
new roof and the safety eyelets and cable for those who
might need to work on the structure.
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Photo:
Colin Delap
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By
Graham Davis
A
“bravo zulu” (well done) has been flashed to the RAN’s 817 Squadron
for its work in helping restore the 120-year-old Barrenjoey Lightstation
in Sydney.
Last year, the National Parks and Wildlife Service was faced with
taking a bobcat to the lighthouse high above the waves at Palm
Beach.
There is no road access.
The Service received support from 817 Squadron which used one
of its heavy-lift Sea King helicopters to lift the bobcat and
tonnes of building materials and machinery from the beach carpark
to the summit.
The restoration of the lighthouse and its keeper’s homes along
with extensive vegetation removal, increased bushfire protection
and landscaping have been completed.
The project cost $650,000 of which the Vincent Fairfax Foundation
through the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife, provided
$51,000.
Much of the work was done by unpaid volunteers. Scottish-born
stonemason Colin Delap, under contract to the NPWS, spent five
months living on the headland as he moved stones weighing up to
250 kgs into place. On February 1, head of the NPWS Mr Tony Fleming
officially opened the restored site.
He applauded the Navy and 817 Squadron for its assistance before
presenting LCDR Jonathon Ball representing the squadron, with
a framed photograph.
LCDR Ball is attached to the Fleet Aviation Officer’s section
at Maritime Headquarters.
The
image showed the Sea King lowering the bobcat to a landing place
beside the lighthouse.
Mr Fleming presented another framed montage of images to the Mr
Gillis Broinowski, the president of the Foundation. Morning tea,
which had earlier been carried by rangers in rucksacks 1.5 kilometres
up the mountain, was then taken.
Around 30 people attended the ceremony and the later inspection
tours of the vital lighthouse and the attached cottages.
Up to 5,000 people walk to the lighthouse each weekend.
Mr Fleming described it as an “iconic destination.” The facility
is now on “automatic.”
