Interviewer: Vanessa Ryan

So Bob, what was your position here in Girraween National Park?

I was Ranger in Charge.

And when did you work in Girraween?

I came in 1980 and left in 1985. End of 1985.

Had you ever been to Girraween before you came here to work?

No, I don't think so, no.

Where were you before you were working in Girraween?

I was at Burleigh Heads. Ranger in Charge at Burleigh.

So it was a bit of a change between Burleigh Heads and Girraween?

There's a bit of a difference, yeah.

From the nice, warm coastal to the freezing cold...

Yeah. It certainly was.

How did you come about working at Girraween?

It was just a straight transfer from Burleigh. It was done like that, back in those days. They just said that, oh look there's a position here, we want you to go and fill it.

A few of the guys have said that. It was sort of like, that's what's done.

Yeah.

Who were the staff that you were working with?

Both the Goebels were here when I first came. Colleen Gravatt came after we came, I think. And there were a number of others that were put on for special projects. Ian was one of them and his brother, Stubbie. And there were a couple of others, but I can't remember their names.

Jan: There was, what's his name, Day?

Oh yeah, Kenny Day was another one. He was put on at the same time. They were put on for a particular project and then I think Ian and Stubbie both stayed on afterwards... [Maybe] Ian left for a while and came back? You'd have to ask him that, I can't remember.

What duties did you do, as a Head Ranger?

Oh, it included everything. There was a lot of time spent cutting firewood for the campers. Campground maintenance, a fair bit of time in the office... We used to do some Interp. programs back then - some slide shows and things. Things like boundary surveys, neighbour liaison stuff, fires, track work...

Jan: Pig baiting and that sort of thing...

Did we do that back then?

Jan: Uh ha.

Ok. You've got a better memory than I have.

Did you have much contact with the public?

There was a fair bit, yeah, because we had the Information Centre then. So people used to have to come in and get permits. And you know, you're always talking to people when you're around cleaning toilets and that sort of thing. Yeah.

What would have been your biggest achievement while you were here? What are you most proud of?

Oh, we did a fair bit of redevelopment of the Bald Rock Creek camp ground. That was a big project we had. We did some work on the toilets in the Castle Rock ground. Changed a few of the ways some of the things were done - the collection of firewood and that sort of thing.

Sort of everything you did, it was meaningful and it had to be done?

Oh yeah. It was, because that's why you did it. You wouldn't do it if it wasn't meaningful.

When you were here, did you experience any major fires or floods or other natural disasters?

We had a couple of fires, but not bad ones while I was here. We came down to some big ones after we left...

Jan: No, I can't remember any when we were here.

I've been to some big ones since. We did have one big flood while we were here. We had a couple of search and rescues, but not too many.

Ok, here's Jo's favourite question. Did it ever snow while you were in Girraween?

Yes.

Jan: [Laughs.] Yes!

It certainly did. Yeah. It was probably the biggest snowfall they'd had for... I don't think they've had one as big since then.

Jan: It was about... would it be '84?

Yeah, '84. I think it was.

I've seen photos of the '84 one. It was really thick.

Jan: It was very thick. The kids made snowmen and it was there for quite a few days.

Oh wow. So it actually lasted for a few days on the ground?

Jan: Oh yes.

Geeze, that's amazing.

Jan: It was quite thick.

So where did you live while you were working here?

We lived in what's now the Barracks.

That's Thomas' house?

Yeah.

You obviously had your family with you while you were living here...your wife. [To Jan.] What did you do when you were here?

Jan: I was a house wife and looked after the kids, basically.

You used to do a bit of craft work and painting in oil paints...

Jan: Oh yes. Oil painting... And the oldest child, at the end, I taught her school. She did school by correspondence.

That was what my next question was going to be about... [Your ] kids, where did they go to school?

Jan: Well, she didn't. She did it through correspondence. She did two years correspondence and then we moved to where we are now.

So that was primary school?

Jan: Yes.

Did you explore much of the park while you husband was out at work?

Jan: We did a bit of walking around, yes. I didn't drive then, I had a bicycle... [Laughs.]

Ok, that's one way of getting around...

Jan: We used to come through the back way, there.

You didn't go very far, though.

Jan: No. But we did as a family though. We used to go out.

Picnics and stuff?

Jan: Yeah... Walking around...

So, what was your fondest memory of working at Girraween?

Jan to Bob: I was just thinking of something that you did a lot of, that you didn't mention in the first bit. You made all the signs.

Oh, yeah!

That's a big achievement, making the signs.

Jan: Yeah! The signs they were talking about [before].

The ones with the routing?

Jan: Yes. He did all the routing.

Oh wow!

Not only for Girraween. I did them for all of south west Queensland, basically.

That would have kept you busy.

There was a fair bit of work in that, yeah.

And they're so neat! I was thinking, there's no way I could use a router to do such neat...

Oh, it was all done with templates. So it wasn't freehand.

Oh, there's me thinking you were doing it freehand!

No, you could never do that.

I don't know... My best memory. I suppose just the location probably. Oh, and some of the people I worked with here. You know, the Goebels and some of those. Old Hock was a great person to work with. A real entertainment on his own.

I've heard that a few of them were "larrikins".

Yeah, yeah.

Real practical jokers?

Yeah.

Were you ever the butt of a joke?

Oh, possibly at times. Yeah.

[All laugh.]

So what was your reason for leaving Girraween?

It was a bit like when I came here, you know? They'd set up a new base down at Warwick. And they said, well, there's a position there and it was a promotion to go there so... It was close to home, where we came from, so we built a house down there when we went there. That's probably the main reason for leaving, yeah. Oh, and school for the kids and that sort of thing, too, probably.

Has much changed since you left?

Oh, everything's been upgraded. There's been a change in the number of staff. There's a lot more staff here now. Probably better facilities, not only for the campers but for the workers as well. A lot more equipment, vehicles and that sort of thing. We had one vehicle when we were here. I think they've got three or four now. The availability of other machines that you can hire or get from other areas...that's a big change.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

[Laughs.] I'll probably think of it all later on. No, that's probably covered most of the basic stuff I think, yeah.

Well, thank you both very much.

Bob and Jan: That's ok.