The Great Western Woodland by Mike Brockhoff

Photo: Mike Brockhoff

I went into the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and to see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.

Thoreau

Photo: Mike Brockhoff

When one only gets a small window of opportunity to have a break over Xmas you have to take it. Xmas 2009 was one of those times. Work finished on the 23rd, the last presents wrapped and labeled on the 24th, family time on the 25th and 26th then by 4 am on the 27th I was leaving Perth.

With trailer attached, safety preparations made I headed East thru Corrigin, Kondinin and Hyden for a week within the depths of the Great Western Woodland, on my own. Simplicity was the aim of this trip. Just me, my gas fridge, digital camera, laptop and charger, iPod with battery powered docking system, Blackberry freshly charged, 6 man tent with closed in annex and the new 880 page Stephen King book. I suppose one man’s essentials are another man’s encumbrances but my aim was to do what I love most, writing, photographing and reading surrounded by the natural beauty of the Great Western Woodland. I had decided to base my sojourn at Cave Hill and get there via the woodlines 4wd track accessed from Hyden.  

Photo: Mike Brockhoff

My holiday trips always have the same intent to get to my destination as quickly as possible, set up the tent, crank to fridge and be seated, bourbon in hand before the sun goes down. Sound familiar. By that time you are usually so bloody exhausted that the next three days are spent recovering from the effort to get there. This time I decided not to play that game. I wasn’t going to flash past a scene and think, Wow that looks nice and before my foot thinks of moving to the brake the potential photograph disappeared in my rear vision mirror. This time the journey was to be part of the holiday so when I went past the rabbit proof fence and noticed a wedge tail eagle feasting on fresh road kill I was ready.

Photo: Mike Brockhoff

When the map told me there was a lake somewhere I took the twenty minute detour to discover Lake Cronin, full of water and inundated with birdlife or Victoria Rock with its self discovery trail that provided relevant notes of the area and the geological significance of the outcrop. The only catch of taking this approach is that you’re on the road for quite some time so when it came to travelling the 58kms at 20kms along the rutted woodlines track, I was tempted to bypass some of the visually beautiful salt lakes, rocky out crops and the forest itself. But no, I wanted to absorb as much of this area as I could. I wanted to take home with me a part of this forest, her beauty, her solitude and tranquility.

Cave Hill made a fabulous location for a love affair with the Great Western Woodland. From the top, 456 metres above sea level, you have a 360° view of the surrounding area. Even better, within 15kms via numerous, if not somewhat rugged tracks, you can walk in the midst of her diversity and notice how she changes. Being a keen amateur photographer I wanted to capture her many faces at the golden hours of sunrise and sunset when the light brings out the colour of her eyes. I was not at all disappointed as many of the photos showed. I found the innocence of the Great Western Woodland endearing. She never hid her charms or withdrew on my approach but on the contrary I was invited to savor her elegance time and time again.

Photo: Mike Brockhoff

Like the lives of many beautiful areas the Great Western Woodland has seen many abuses, challenges and trials. My short stay saw firsthand the devastation of more frequent fires and how fire changes the structure and composition of many vegetation types within localized areas. As much as I would have loved to experience the dingoes in the area I was reminded of the other challenge the Great Western Woodland faces which is feral animals.

Photo: Mike Brockhoff

Photo: Mike Brockhoff

Wild donkeys seem very much at home and although are a wonderful novelty to a city bound professional they do pose a threat to the health of the area along with cats, farm dogs and foxes. The ‘control’ of the dingo seems to have precipitated an increase in these more destructive exotic species to the detriment of the many smaller native species that adorn the open timbered areas.

My time was far too short but appointments, emails, meetings and deadlines wait for no man and I returned from the Great Western Woodland with my heart full and my will determined to offer myself as an advocate for this area, visiting frequently, capturing her uniqueness and telling others of her ecological significance and of her immediate threats. I returned with a sense of urgency that what happens to the Great Western Woodland happens also to me. 

By Mike Brockhoff

Photo: Mike Brockhoff