Humpback Dreaming!

At the turn of the millennium, I made a life changing decision to retire from a career in the mining industry and start a business introducing visitors to the wonders of North Stradbroke Island.

North Stradbroke Island has been my home since the mid-1980s. My wife’s family had been raised here, as had their ancestors. Throughout the ages, we have all felt a deep affinity to this uniquely beautiful island.

In the 17 years since, I have shown thousands of people around most corners of Stradbroke; from whale watchers, to fishermen and kayakers, sand boarders to budding ecologists - even beach wormers. Every one of my clients has arrived with their own expectations and I have tried to meet them all.

There have been many memories along the way, but one stands out among them. Around three years ago, an elderly lady joined an afternoon whale watching tour. It was late in the winter, and the by now familiar spouts of the migrating humpbacks were peppering the horizon around Point Lookout. From the beginning of the Gorge walk, the backs of these beautiful mammals would regularly roll through the azure. Sometimes they'd get so close we could see their barnacles sparkle against the sunlight. The whites of their flippers and tails would contrast with the sea, drawing gasps from people sitting on the grass, or leaning against the rails.

But my client that day wanted a little bit more. She had never seen a whale breach. And when she asked me with plaintive eyes whether I could change that, I was determined to make it happen.

We started the tour at Point Lookout, where there was no shortage of whales frolicking half way to the horizon. None, however, wanted to dance. Not satisfied with blow spouts, we piled into the troop carrier and drove on to Main Beach. Flippers and tails taunted us over the breakers, but still nothing more.

We drove along the beach, eyes peeled on the horizon, tensions rising and the sun setting. Another flipper, another tail. Kangaroos were standing sentry all along the beach to our right. They too seemed to be looking for something. But not as hard as us.

It was now late in the afternoon, and the mid winter sun was dipping fast. A cool wind was scuffing the sand and I could almost see my client deflate as her dream for a glimpse of a humpback in flight ebbed away. She had a barge to catch, and I needed to get her there across the Causeway, which runs from Main Beach through the centre of the island to Dunwich.

The elderly lady wasn't the only one disappointed as the sun hit the horizon. No amount of good will, was going to make it happen for her, it seemed. Her dream would surely have to wait.

We approached the Causeway, and I leaned over to console her, with words that weren't going to make her feel any better. As I did, our eyes jointly fixed on the waves for one last time, to catch a magnificent whale leap from the sea just behind the waves, its enormous frame in full breach. Time almost stood still, before it returned to the ocean with an enormous splash.

The lady let out a gasp of delight. And I think I may have too!. With tears in her eyes, she looked at me and said: “Dave my life is now complete”.

We turned right on to the Causeway, then up and over the spine of Stradbroke, and made it to the barge on time. I still get emotional thinking about that moment. To me, it is what the past 17 years have been all about. I'd like to think that the whale answered her prayers that day. One thing I have learned in the years that I've been running Straddie Kingfisher Tours, is that this island often surpasses expectations. The harmony between history and present day, people and nature, works better than any other place I know.

It is my privilege to introduce people to what this island has to offer. I know there are many more dreams to be fulfilled down a track somewhere.