Above: From left … Christmas Island administrator Neil Lucas, Rotary District 9820 governor Ray Stewart and Rotary Club of Narre Warren president Ross Chudleigh.By Jim Mynard
CHRISTMAS Island administrator Neil Lucas said that in lots of ways he felt he and wife Margaret had not been away.
He said this was because they had received so many emails and videos since moving to faroff Christmas Island.
Mr Lucas was guest speaker at a Rotary Club of Narre Warren dinner held at Fountain Gate Hotel last week.
He spoke of an exciting time for he and Margaret since he was appointed to the position of Christmas Island administrator.
“During September last year we were in the Hunter Valley and my phone rang.
“A voice invited me to consider the position that involved administration of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.”
He said Christmas Island was 2800 kilometres from Darwin, 2600 kilometres northwest of Perth, and 480 kilometres from the Indonesian capital.
“We are 10 degrees off the equator.
“Christmas Island is 135 square kilometres and we live in the northeast point that provides us with a look out to the north and northwest.
“We have a pleasant aspect.
“The island is part of an undersea mountain range and 200 metres offshore the water is 500 metres deep.
“One kilometre offshore the water is one kilometre deep.”
He said 62 per cent of the island was national park and the rainfall was nearly 2000 millimetres.
“The rain comes in, pours, then suddenly stops and the sun comes out again.
“We have high humidity, but we easily live with that.”
He spoke of and showed photographs of sheer cliffs 300 metres high that went as far down into the water.
“Phosphate is mined and sent by conveyor to the port, where it goes via a counter lever to the ships.”
He said the Cocos Islands were 970 kilometres west of Christmas Island.
“The highest point is Mount Cocos, five metres above sea level.
“Clunies Ross established coconut plantations on the island and we still see lines of the trees.
“It became a protectorate of the British Empire, but residents later voted to become part of Australia.”
Mr Lucas said that although the land was only a little above sea level it was protected by a coral reef.
“You see pristine water and large turtles eating seagrass down below.
“Tiger sharks often hunt the turtles and the big sharks can crunch the shell of a turtle.”
He said warships called at the island.
“The captain calls to present his credentials and we invite him to tea.
“We in turn, dine on board with the captain.
“The Arunta came on one occasion and I noticed an Albert Namatjira painting on board the ship.”
Mr Lucas said one Christmas Island project was to allow children to act as guides for tourists.
“They do this in the English language and we ask English tourists to assist the students with the language.”
He said the Anzac Day ceremony was the only function to which he had worn a tie and the day also proved to be a moving experience.
He said that because of the climate collar and tie was off the dress code.
“I spoke at the service, but on the site where four soldiers were killed during the war.
“This was a moving experience for me.”
Mr Lucas said he was also responsible for the welfare of about 100 million crabs on the island.
“Every year Christmas Island crabs move just as the monsoon starts.
“They come out of the forest and will climb over anything to get to the cliff edge where they mate.
“The females then go down to the water where the young are born.
“Later the tiny newborn crabs also move back up to the forest.”
He said the crabs were channelled toward special road crossings and some of the crossings cost more than $70,000 each.
“However, we are having success with overhead bridge crossings that can be built for $20,000 each.
“Some of the birds are so large that the place can look like Jurassic Park.
“However, we also have some lovely tiny birds.
“We have kestrel, the large robber crab, geckos, feral cats, millions of feral chooks and a nasty centipede.
“A bite from the centipede and it’s off to hospital.”
He said the island surrounds abounded in beautiful corals, magnificent whale sharks were often seen and it had a nice golf course.
“Elephants have been brought to the island for a special breeding program,” he said.
