Monday, January 26, 2009

THIS ANCIENT LAND

is not a soft and gentle place. Her "beauty and her terror" is evident today, Australia Day in this area.To walk on its soil one must be constantly vigilant, to swim in its oceans you take the risks, and this weekend a young man's life was tragically taken from him. He jumped from these rocks and never surfaced. The location known as "Valley of Diamonds" can only be accessed by foot. As I type police divers are searching for his body. The water is forbiddingly deep and an inky color and always did have a foreboding quality.

One of the retired Rangers told me caves are under the water and with the influx of water the direction of current could have caused this young persons body not to surface.When a diver was sent in years ago he would not explore this rock hole fully as was too deep and dark.

May he be at peace...and may the body be located for closure of family and those who loved him.

6 Comments:

Blogger diane b said...

What a sad story on Australia Day when we should all be celebrating, The poor family. The rock pool looks so inviting.

January 26, 2009 at 7:12 PM  
Blogger diane b said...

What happened to manicured backyard?

January 27, 2009 at 4:33 PM  
Blogger Oscar said...

That's sad Lizzie. SO many dangers lurking for those who let their guard down or fail to appreciate the deadly consequences of a simple jump into an inviting pool of water.

January 27, 2009 at 7:00 PM  
Blogger Artoholic said...

Danger and even death is always waiting for a chance slip of concentration. Makes it no less tragic though.

I read in our local paper today that they recovered his body. Just so sad.

You must feel it closely, and feel so helpless too I suppose.

Hopefully others will learn from this horrible event.

January 27, 2009 at 9:52 PM  
Blogger Julie Anderson said...

Beautiful pics!

January 28, 2009 at 3:46 PM  
Blogger Lizzie's Insomnia said...

Good Afternoon,
Diane, I should have thought a little more before publishing this on or about Australia Day...and I love this ancient land with a passion and believe we are the luckiest people on the planet....does the manicured back yard not show? as is still on my computer although have not been visiting for a few days, working nights.

Hi Tazar,

The locals tell me they have all jumped from this spot I thought perhaps they jumped from the other side of the waterfall but do not know how this happened...as was quite commom for them to jump from there I am told...my boys used to jump from the side you can see in the photograph. I hated it as I am not good with heights. He had jumped several times from the other side and took this jump a little too cheap and paid with his life. 30 metres is a high jump into a rock pool. This pool is very deep and has been a couple of deaths in recent years and perhaps debris could have come down with the flood waters i.e, a log etc.

There is talk that Parks and Wildlife may place a ban on swimming here and do hope it is only speculative rumour.

Hi Cindy,
I do not know the lad as was from a nearby city although the name is of a local family but does not detract from his death but when all is said and done young men are more at risk taking chances on the asphalt.

Thank you Sassy is a beautiful quiet and magical place.

January 29, 2009 at 6:32 PM  

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