If you know me well, then it’s pretty obvious that Tasmania is a big part of my life. It’s where I grew up from the age of 4-15.
So when I got to go on the South West Marine Debris Cleanup to the remote South West of Tasmania a couple months back, it was a dream come true. But to top it off, Patagonia got filmmaker Mick Waters to make a little “Returning Home” piece on me in Tasmania, which was a real treat.
This video is the result. I hope you enjoy it and share it around.
You might of seen Spindrift already, but I thought I’d share a few more personal words from the experience, and some additional pics (thanks Colin Page for his lens wizardry).
This was the second trip south to catch up with Chef Ben Shewry (checkout the first video we made Kobe and the Sea) and mold our creative thoughts and talents for Spindrift. We both like similar tones; dark, moody and emotional. So we get along great. The main subject this film was local Mussel farmer Lance Wiffin of Sea Bounty Mussels.
It was an amazing experience. In mainstream food production there is a massive space between supplier and chef, which was wonderfully bridged by the relationship formed between Ben and Lance. A respect for food and where it comes from.
Lance’s Sea Bounty Farm is located in Port Phillip Bay, 30kms away from Melbourne and can produce over 35 million, succulent and sustainable Mussels. To see this process with my own eyes was incredible, the way they grow the spat on the long ropes to maturity, the camaraderie between the fishermen, and the wonderful calming nature of the ocean was a treat.
I won’t go on, it’s all in the video. Enjoy the pics and if you want to find out more about Lance’s farm, it’s all here – seabounty.com.au
Thanks to Ben Shewry and Attica for letting me create this wonderful story.
Photos above the pic of me filming are with a Nikon D7000 using the 18-200mm and 50mm lenses.
Photos including me filming and below are taken by Colin Page using a Nikon D3S and a variety of lenses – mynikonlife.com.au
Pure Man and Woman to me exists in the face of adversity, in the essence of nature and wild places. It nurtures the animal within. The South West National Park in Tasmania is one of those rugged places that brings you face to face with your yourself… and it’s up to you what self it brings out.
“In the depth of Winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible Summer.”
Albert Camus
The South West Marine Debris Cleanup is an invitational cleanup initiative orchestrated by Marine Cartographer Matt Dell, and has been running for over 10 years. The SWMDC is currently run via fishing and charter boats, lead by skipper of the ‘Velocity’ Dave Wyatt, who has been Matt’s co-pilot for the majority of the cleanup’s history.
I was lucky enough to be invited through the cleanup’s principal supporter Patagonia for a second year, along with Patagonia‘s man of surf Glen Casey, filmmaker Mick Waters, and 12 other crazy wilderness fanatics in the cleanup experience.
The Southwest National Park is a 618,267-hectare (1,527,770-acre) national park. The park is Tasmania’s largest and forms part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. For the most part, this area of the world is one of the most remote and rugged on the planet, so it’s humbling to see the amount of rubbish that washes up on the beaches. Everything from rope, plastic, cans, buoys, lighters, bottles, pens, bait straps and many other man-made atrocities were the order of our days, in between being jaw-dropped by the awesomeness of the isolation and wonder of the South West.
On our first day trip around South West Cape heading for the West, we were blessed with a confused 3-4 Metre swell which had a few of the combatants aiming their sea-sickness towards buckets and toilets. To me getting sea-sick was a real initiation to the whole experience, and part of the process. I wasn’t thinking that whilst spewing into a bucket though.
After a good 8 hours of sea-initiations, we found ourselves at Nye Bay on the West Coast, where a select few surfers got a nice session at a remote right hand reef break, whilst the other gathered up 3139 pieces of rubbish. The team then zig-zagged the jagged and amazing triangular islands around Port Davey to the secluded Spain Bay, and to our biggest daily haul of rubbish on the remote Stephens Beach, which amassed a massive 11,253 piece total. The 45min bush walk to and from Stephens was a real stripe earner, on top of the 30+ bags we dragged 3kms up the beach. The daily pickup wasn’t to end with casual beers on the boat, no sir, that’s when the itemised count starts, so the team really earned those beers post count after the memorable Stephens Beach tally, and a good round of zzz’s for all.
From Stephens the troop swayed back around South West Cape to the lush scenic coves and beaches of the South Coast. The cleanup took a more casual affair at the majestic New Harbour, or as Matt Dell aptly puts it “Beer Can Bay” with a 406 singular total. There was also a nice dinner of Abalone thanks to Glen Casey and Richard White‘s dive attempt in the eerie depths of the outer harbour.
The Velocity’s Skipper Dave Wyatt‘s radio was a great stirrer for many of us, as a forecast of a 6-9 Metre swell loomed. Full steam ahead with an increasing swell on our coat-tails, as we found ourselves nestled inside Recherche Bay for the onslaught of a 35-45knot South-Westerly change. Dave’s boat also reached 21 knots surfing down a good 4-5 Metre howler around the South East Cape. Always as surfer no matter what the craft or perception.
The final cleanup day was a case of mental toughness, as the team cleaned Recherche Bay against sideways rain, 70-80km winds and a few beers hidden in those backpacks. At times we where like seagulls trapped in a motionless vortex of wind, before being catapulted. All-in-all it was a crazy day to remember, and an extra 678 pieces to the total, as we all said our goodbyes in different ways, shapes and beer-ridden forms.
The 2012 trip is monumental, it being the 100,000 piece milestone for Matt Dell and Dave Wyatt for the SWMDC. An amazing feat from it’s beginnings in 1999. This trip itself amassed a massive 27,317 piece total, and a welcomed invite to return next year. I can’t remember how many 1000 pieces of small plastic ‘Spikey‘ counted in one nights count but it was inspiring!
For me personally, this sort of trip is a once in a lifetime experience. Having grown up in Tasmania as kid (until the age of 15), I’d always romanticised when I’d get to visit this wild and beautiful jewel. I think I can speak on behalf of all of the volunteers that it was inspiring being a part of the South West Marine Debris Cleanup, and comforting to know that in between the laughs, the surfing, and the camaraderie that we probably aren’t changing the world, but we are the ones out there doing it.
In the words of Tassie’s great slogan…
“Stow it, don’t throw it”
Thanks to Patagonia for supporting and nurturing initiatives like the South West Marine Debris Cleanup – patagonia.com.au
If you want to do it yourself, Dave Wyatt runs trip to the South West through his business Southern Ocean Adventures – southernoceanadventures.com
Photos taken on a Nikon D7000 with the 28-300mm, 18-200mm and 50mm lenses – mynikonlife.com.au
‘Spindrift’ is the short story of acclaimed Chef Ben Shewry, who during a transitional time in his life, had the fortune of meeting Victorian Mussel farmer, the Sea Bounty‘s Lance Wiffin, through Ben’s late friend Jason Jurie.
The encounter formed a unique bond between Chef and Fisherman, the tale emphasizing the importance of sustainable food practice, compassion and friendship.
‘Spindrift’ is the second food based film from Ben Shewry and Filmmaker Johnny Abegg, following on from the success of their first short film together called ‘Kobe and the Sea’, which won the Chef Directory‘s “Best Internet Food Film” for 2011 – https://vimeo.com/30412588
http://www.attica.com.au/
http://www.seabounty.com.au/
The video was shot on a Nikon D7000, with the 50mm 1.4 and 18-200mm lens. The underwater was shot on a GoPro. Photos by Colin Page.
I’m really chuffed about this. Even though I know pretty much zilch about the cooking world. I can make a mean ‘jurry’ though. J instead of C. Get it?
Anyway, a few months back I made a film with acclaimed Chef Ben Shewry – of Melbourne’s amazing Attica Restaurant – called ‘Kobe and the Sea’. We explored three different story-lines, molding the film into one beautifully personal insight into Ben, his relationship with his son Kobe, the essence of living ‘simply’, and passing subtle commentary on the overfishing problem of Abalone in Southern Australian waters.
So when Ben notified me that we had won “Internet Food Film of the Year” according to The Chef’s Directory (the worldwide culinary hub), I was in surfing lingo “stoked”.
In the words of The Chef Directory‘s founder Chandos Elletson; “We’d love to mention our own films, some of which we are very pleased with this year, but we were put in our place by a little known Australian filmmaker, whose film with chef Ben Shewry about educating his son about the dangers of over-harvesting Abalone was simply outstanding. A masterclass in simple internet film production”.
A couple months ago I had the wonderful privilege of meeting Ben Shewry. He is a worldly acclaimed Chef who runs Attica Restaurant in Melbourne, with Attica recently being voted “Restaurant of the Year” in The Age Good Food Guide.
But, none of these accolades were noticeable when Ben invited me to Victoria to make a short film with him. A very modest and humble family man, we spoke of surfing, our past and the general questions in getting to know one another. Being invited to stay at his home in Ocean Grove was a real treat, and a new found friend had been found.
We drove off one morning to a remote location to film what was to become “Kobe and the Sea”, a very personal tale about Ben and his 7 year old son Kobe, as Ben educates him on the importance of being in nature, whilst passing subtle comment on the serious over-fishing of Abalone in Australian waters. It was a wild experience, very raw and beautiful.
On return home, I got to know more about this other side of Ben, the restaurateur side. He soon invited me to dine at Attica. I was a little overwhelmed at first, seeing this over side, but after a multiple array of wonder entering my palate, I was in food heaven. The fact that Ben hung up the Chef’s attire after course 3 (there are 10 courses) and joined me for the experience made it all the more enjoyable and sweeter.
Personally, I’m very proud of the outcome of such a wonderful experience and very thankful to have had the chance to make something so beautiful with Ben. We both hope you enjoy this video.
All photos by Colin Page on a Nikon D3S.
Video shot on a Nikon D7000 with the 35mm/1.8 lens.
I’m really proud of my garden.
It’s been about 6 months of growing for me and what an incredible learning curve. There is no better joy than sitting at your dinner table and eating the veggies (fruits) of your labour. I’ve so far been successful in growing kale, mizuna and rocket, spinach, silverbeet, coriander, basil, broccoli, dill, tomatoes, and most recently I dug deep and pulled out a few dutch cream potato’s, my favorite vegetable. Yum.
And with the spawning of Spring, I’m seeing flowers, and a new cycle of life, ending for some of my long-term guests, and the beginning for seedlings and consumption in months to come.
The greatest milestone was a few months ago when my first lot of seedlings got eaten by Caterpillars (White Moths). I was so unhappy that all my effort got eaten by my trusty little neighbors. I tried Garlic spray, picking them off daily, cardboard, but it was the wisdom of “Market Kieren”, my trusty Organic Seedling dude that came to the rescue. The flower Alyssum was the answer, and if you are looking for best seasonal seedlings to get you started in the garden, go visit Kieren at the Byron Farmers Market on Thursdays. He is the man.
For those interested, there is also an informational meeting on Thursday (October 6th), Woody’s Surf Shack (6pm), about the Organic Farm Share – Kitchen Table Talk, “Why Everyone Needs an Organic Farm“.
To get involved, book your place here – http://www.organicfarmshare.com
Another great source of information to get your veggie patch rocking, swing by Sustain Food – www.sustainfood.com.au
Next up… I’m going to try citrus, zucchini and pumpkin. Stay tuned.
Images shot on a Nikon D7000 with the 35mm/1.8 lens.
For more information:
wha-marinedebris.blogspot.com
patagonia.com.au
coastalcare.org
Have you ever dreamed of a place as a child that you always wanted visit?
I was lucky enough to visit South West National Park in Tasmania, chartering the South and West coast by boat for the annual South West Marine Debris Cleanup. Growing up in Tasmania from the age of 4 to 15, this is that place of wonder for me. A childhood dream realised.
Sipping on a warm cup of coffee in my comfortable abode in Byron Bay, I got the last moment call up from Patagonia to have a slot on the trip. I couldn’t believe it. Suddenly I was touching down in Hobart to familiar sights and surrounds, that only a childhood could breed.
The initiative has been running for over a decade, facilitated by Environmental Scientist Matt Dell from Hobart. The cleanup aligns itself with Patagonia‘s ethos of giving back to our planet, donating 1% of profits (grossing $40 million to date) to grassroots initiatives such as the South West Marine Debris Cleanup. Through Dell’s passion for the Tasmanian natural environment, a love for the South West (a World Heritage area), and with the support of companies like Patagonia, the trip is a very important endeavour in highlighting the facts, that even in the most remote and isolated areas of the planet, our influence is felt.
A group of 23 volunteers was orchestrated this year to aid Dell in the week-long cleanup (the biggest contingent in the cleanup’s history). Thousands of pieces of rubbish (some bigger than others) wash up onto these isolated shores with no access to the public. Chartering a group of fishing vessels, we were able to enter these wanderlust areas, doing our bit by collecting the debris, hauling them onto our boats, sorting the rubbish by night into categories, and getting to breathe and taste the remote wonder of Tasmania’s main jewel in it’s crown.
As an added bonus, we also got the chance to surf!
The might of the Roaring Forties is a constant influence on Tasmania, a world owned by Mother Nature. Radio is the only means of communication with daily forecasts of 3-4 metre seas bombarding portions of our trip, with fluctuating weather and wind, and the adjusting sea-legs for those in new territory. The empty white sand beaches and new footprints governed, we were explorers to a foreign shore. The serenity was shadowed by jagged ranges of mountainous teeth in our peripherals. The ying yang beauty was unfortunately desaturated by all the colours of the rainbow in plastic, bottles, rope, bait straps, fishing nets, beer cans and so much more.
Over the days, which turned into a week, the grand total of rubbish collected off six beaches was 18357 items, totaling around 3.5 tonnes. This is the biggest recorded haul in the Cleanup’s history. In material terms 93% of the rubbish was plastic comprised mainly of rope, bottles and miscellaneous plastic pieces, and 4.5% was metal mainly as aluminium cans. Small pieces of plastic, caps and lids continue to be found in increased numbers, and these along with small pieces of rope and bait box straps accounted for over 70% of the rubbish items collected.
This humbling figure came down to the team recovering 11,317 items in just five hours off a 1.5 kilometre length of coastline. A series of rocky coves were home to kelp riddled foreshores of cross thatched nature and garbage. An eyesore as far as the eye could see. The prognosis was no better in the opposite direction, where sharp rocks and cobblestones where home to an ambush of florescent, we had found Tasmania’s ‘Garbage Patch’. There is still more to obtain next year.
This year the team finally recovered ‘temples de rope’ – three huge rope balls weighing between 200-400 kg each that Dell had observed over the last few years. Their awe and size took at times 10-12 people to move the monsters, and hours of deliberation and digging. The rope was finally hauled aboard by a Hiab, lifting them from the water, and leaving the beaches beautiful.
The more unusual items found on the shore this year included a fridge, a bodyboard, a cold full can of beer and an assortment of toys including a still inflated party balloon. Once again there was rubbish from all corners of the globe including numerous Japanese, Chinese and Korean oil and food containers, fishing buoys and trawl nets.
A selection of the rubbish haul has been put aside to be displayed at Salamanca Market of the 7th of May 2011.
The trip was a dream come true for me. The South West National Park is like stepping into another world. A place where you can breath the freshest air, marvel at the wild country, and know that you as a human being are a part of Mother Nature. This is the lesson. To respect what we have, to find ways to sustain, and let places like this flourish and be wild, unmarked by man’s lack of accountability.
Thanks to Matt Dell for his continued passion, making the South West Marine Debris Cleanup happen annually. Thanks to everyone I got to meet and share such a wonderful experience with. For more information please visit this website – http://wha-marinedebris.blogspot.com
More photos here on the Common Ground Tasmania Facebook Page.
johnny... abegg 