Ferry Out Ferry In
Substitute Ferry take over
It’s the ferry you have when you’re not having a ferry. The replacement Daintree River Ferry hit the water this morning to allow the regular ferry to have important repair work carried out which involves removing a damaged ramp and replacing it with a newly fabricated ramp.
The Douglas Shire Council gave heaps of notice about this disruption and some regulars seemed to have made other arrangements or delayed their trips heading south or north. This reporter took a ride across to the Daintree side and back a few times and I must say it was quite a pleasant voyage.
The free replacement ferry is actually a croc tour boat and carries 50 people safely. No vehicles allowed I’m afraid. Skipper Jan Von Keyserlingk welcomed me on board at 5.59am and promptly set sail at 6am on the dot. By the way that’s Jan pronounced yarn and as someone who loves a good yarn, I felt very comfortable in the company of this good natured man.
Jan has been working these boats for 15 years for boss Dean, who also happens to be his brother-in-law, so his sister married well. Jan loves the river and the nature that abounds around and in it. He knows the local crocs by name and is always up for a discussion on local and federal politics. On our several trips across the river this morning, we solved our nations and indeed the world’s problems.
On our first trip north to south was young security guard Adam Falvey. 25-year-old Adam, who’s staying in Wonga, was keen for a kip after spending 12 hours guarding the car park on the northern side, which is full of emergency vehicles and tour buses. “I was there to make sure no one interfered with anything and keep a general eye on things” he said.
After we dropped a tired Adam off, we picked up Dennis Verri, from Mossman who was heading to his property on Cow Bay Road. He’s got a herd of around 130 cattle there and they were on his mind as he sat down. “I’m going over to worm my cattle and get the weaners off,” he said. Dennis has owned a block and raised cattle in the Daintree since 1978. While it’s an inconvenience to have to get a couple of mates to pick him up on the northern side, he understands things must be maintained.
“Everything needs maintenance, you wouldn’t get in an aeroplane that wasn’t maintained, would you? Well, a ferry’s the same, I want to get on a safe ferry” he said.
Meanwhile sparks were flying over at the real ferry and workmen in hard hats were welding, lifting, banging things and doing what fellas in hard hats do. They had no time to take in the sheer majesty of this river and the surrounding rainforest, which is particularly beautiful at first light.
As I made my final journey back to the southern side, Jan and I had finally sorted out who should lead the Liberal and Labor Party in a world without Albo and Scomo and what the Greens and Independents are really up to in this election. But, alas, any more debate needs to wait for another day as we tie up at the Daintree River Cruises wharf. Quite a morning and an insight into what goes on when most of us are asleep.
The standby ferry will operate between 6am and 6pm today Saturday 7 May and Sunday 8 May. The Daintree Ferry service will resume at 5am this Monday 9 May 2022.