This year marks the 20th anniversary of Friends of Tasman Island (FoTI); a group of volunteers dedicated to the restoration of cultural and natural values of Tasman Island.
The island, with its steep dolerite cliffs and light house built in 1906, is part of the Tasman National Park in the southeast of Tasmania.
The island is listed on the Tasmanian Heritage Register in recognition of the significance of the lighthouse and its associated buildings and features.
Working alongside Tasmania Parks and Wildlife (PWS), FoTI have made incredible strides in eradicating and controlling weeds and pest species on the island, as well as saving the island's buildings from falling into disrepair.
Over the past 20 years, the volunteers have successfully eradicated blackberry from the island, with the last plant found in 2018. However, a weeder's work is never done as additional weeds continue to keep them busy. Some of the usual culprits include wild radishes, yarrow, and Scarlet gladiolus. Also found in abundance are agricultural weeds such as sow and Californian thistles, which would have likely hitched a ride in with the stock feed for the many sheep, cows, horses, and pigs that once called the island home.
Thanks to FoTI's persistent thistle blitzes, these will hopefully soon be eradicated as well. The volunteers have a recorded an approximate 50 percent drop in Californian thistles from year to year.
FoTI also work alongside the PWS Historic Heritage team and Tasman Field Centre to maintain the three Lightkeepers' Quarters and an additional building known as the oil store.
The last lightkeepers left the Island in 1977, after the lighthouse became automated. The lighthouse has continued to be operated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. The Lightkeepers Quarters however, were mostly left untouched until FoTI began their first working bee in 2005.
Following a detailed heritage works program prepared with PWS, they wasted no time getting to work carefully restoring the buildings over many seasons and working bees.
Another milestone for FoTI hit this year, with the group undertaking their 45th working bee. Coinciding with International Women's Day, FoTI held its first all-women's working bee.
Eight volunteers, joined by PWS Volunteer Facilitator Emmalene Maher, rolled up their sleeves for more than a week's worth of weeding, mowing, painting, maintenance and laughter.
FoTI volunteer an average of 1000 hours per year. Days are long when you're trying to cram as much work as possible into them and Tasman Island can only be reached by helicopter, making it imperative that no time is wasted once the volunteers touch down.
Once every participant is suitably weary and dirty-handed, time is then allocated to take a leisurely stroll around the island to appreciate all their hard work.
A massive thank you to the Friends of Tasman Island and their 20 years of success!