G'day, we've been travelling/prospecting North of Laverton W.A. for some 6 weeks and have had to return to Bendigo for repairs to the Caravan.
I now see Kiwijims warned of serious winds/storms predicted for Sunday 21st June in the Central Goldfields/Leonora/Laverton areas...Telstra may claim to cover Australia however I can vouch for the fact it does not cover north west Laverton....with no coverage we had no idea of the extent of the predicted storms and our camp in the donga was hit by ferocious winds...tearing my awning off the caravan completely and mangling the fittings in the process....my wife Julie <little trooper that she is> was holding onto the awning when the freakish winds hit, while I was out prospecting..she went up and on top of the van hitting her head <not seriously>....at the height of the winds....which hit first up..then a lull...and hit again with even greater gusto..double guy ropes with large spikes plus spikes into the awning arms did not help.....we would have rolled up the whole thing if we had any knowledge of what was to be on that Sunday..
My toilet tent is still missing in action as are my prospecting mates two gazebos..last seen travelling over Leonora I believe..others in our small camp suffered damage as well....the porta potty was quite full of political promises at the time yet thankfully it did not tip over......lol....
We free camped across the Nullabor and up to Laverton..Gwalia was a most welcome stop first night after our storm experience after the Leonora Caravan Park simply told us "they are full" when we phoned as we got close to the Town..water and red mushy mud was everywhere so most wayside stops were largely inaccessable.....Caravan Parks?...why bother...when are they really there when you need them most....so we drove on through the night to Gwalia free camp...<thoroughly recommended>.
Photos are worth a thousand words so I post a few photos of the trip....most are self explanatory before and after the storm....the comraderie around the camp fire each night...not enough gold found of course.....the main street of Menzies on a busy Monday morning....<they are laid back in the Goldfields>...our little pooch Pepe spent he whole time in luxury in the Seven Oaks Kennels in Kalgoorlie...<we thoroughly recommend them>....the current state of the 'Super Pit' Kalgoorlie...<they tell me they will stop digging when a chinaman sticks his head up through the bottom to see what all the ruckus is all about....>
My Doctor tells me when describing penal dysfunction that at our age it is more about the journey than the actual destination....I guess this puts our travelling/prospecting more into perspective these days........lol...it was an interesting trip through roads less travelled in Central W.A.........Hoo Roo
P.S. currently having new awning etc etc fitted to our Van at Marong Vic....
-- Edited by Goldfinger on Friday 17th of July 2015 07:13:25 PM
-- Edited by Goldfinger on Saturday 18th of July 2015 04:07:02 PM
Thanks for telling us your story Larry. Sounds like you had a very exciting time -and good on your little lady for trying to hold the awning down. She deserves one of those little nuggets on a chain for that effort, don't ya reckon??
Other forum members, Priceys, flew out of Kalgoorlie today, back to Melbourne. Sick car and caravan (not sick) are taking the longer scenic route on a tow truck. Not a good end to their holiday.
We also had Shekon and Frangipani travelling in your area while you were there - you may have come across them, and not known.
Wonder when we will get 99 - 100% phone and internet connections, without the great expense of a satellite phone. It's about time for better communication systems in this country. Love the place though!
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
"G'day, we've been travelling/prospecting North of Laverton W.A."
How can one wander around WA with a metal detector.Surely every square inch of the place is someones mining claim.
I assume you have to get a licence to prospect but how do you know if your on someone else's claim?
Or is it so isolated you just take the risk?
G'day Dean.....short answer...one can't just wander around WA with a metal detector. Huge fines and confiscation of all your equipment including vehicle can result if you are found by Mining Wardens or worse the Pastoral Lease Holders or worse again the Tenement Lease holders who are renowned for not having a sense of humour if you tell them you did not know where you were,.or that you were not aware you were encroaching.... if you are found where you should not be without the necessary approvals/permissions......Individual fines are $20,000 plus $2,000 per day.......up to $150,000!
You need a valid W.A. Miners Right for starters @$25 for life, upon proof of identity <drivers licence etc> If you Google : Gov W.A. Dept of Mines and Petroleum you will see clearly set out the permissions/approvals required and the fines....there is still some considerable Land available in W.A. for hobby prospectors...but you must do prior research and obtain approvals......Dept of Mines in Kalgoorlie is a great place to start to find out which Land is currently available, as it is constantly changing as new Leases are taken up.....
A decent GPS/compass etc are essential to show you where you are at all times to keep you from encroaching on areas you should not be... Topics set out clearly as hereunder:
1. How to obtain a Miners Right. 2.Rights of the Holder. 3. Obligations of the holder of The Miners Right. 4.Where can I fossick/Prospect? 5.Restrictions on the activities that can be carried out on Crown Land. 6.Entry onto Pastoral Leases. 7.Compensation. 8. Unauthorised access
I suggest for any Newbies the best course is to contact one of the 'Tag Along' Gold Tour Operators who will obtain all necessary permissions/approvals and hopefully put you onto gold bearing land....as the Detectors and coils become more sophisticated it is of course getting harder to find gold nuggets near the surface as they do not regrow like mushrooms...when they are gone..they are gone....I believe the next logical step for operators will be to obtain their own Leases and carry out a grader 'Push' to say one metre and then let the paying chooks let loose.....there will be substantially more nuggets likely three foot down in known gold bearing country. One of the photos above show a mate Darren Kamp operator of Gold & Relics Tours who conducts Tours in Victoria, NSW and W.A. and you can access the fields in his all terrain OKE 4WD bus..Google and you will obtain much information on Tours available..they show you how to correctly set up/use your detector or hire you one for the duration of the Tour....
Much better than playing Golf, you can see some amazing sights/country and can occasionally be rewarding...the occasional 'Retirement Nugget' is still turning up in most States..<Tax Free but you can't write off any expenses!>.... Victoria has thousands of acres of State Forrests where fossicking/prospecting is still allowed providing you hold appropriate Miners Right for Vic.... Trust this helps....Good luck......Hoo Roo
-- Edited by Goldfinger on Sunday 19th of July 2015 10:19:11 PM
-- Edited by Goldfinger on Sunday 19th of July 2015 10:20:19 PM
-- Edited by Goldfinger on Sunday 19th of July 2015 10:30:02 PM
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My Avatar photo: How my youngest granddaughter Brydie 8 sees her Pa through the lens of her 'Barbie' Camera......
'Without Going You Get No Where'....written across the rear of my Jayco Caravan.
