INTRODUCTION

by: Alistair Scadden

Regional Director & Webmaster

About SITE O - and these Regional Pages:

SITE O Is an International, Internet based organisation of people - who share an interest in the history of Fortification and / or Artillery. Our aim, through Membership - is to bring together fellow researchers, writers and enthusiasts - via the "World Wide Web."

We are also keen advocates for the conservation, preservation and restoration of historic Military sites - and equipment. The retention of what remains of our "built Military heritage" is a cause that is deeply important  to most of our Members.

To these ends, we operate an International Homepage - and a number of Regional Web Sites, around the World. Members also receive a monthly e-mail newsletter from our Founder - and International Director, Joe Kaufmann.

Our Sites are also "portals" to other Web Sites and organisations, that are  likewise concerned with the history of Fortification and / or Artillery.

We warmly welcome new Members - and casual visitors to our Sites, alike!

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These Regional Pages have been established in order to introduce local content and relevance to SITE O - and hopefully stimulate more interest and participation from within Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific:

It is hoped that everyone from professional Historians to casual surfers will find something of interest in these Regional Pages - and find them a useful resource. Hopefully, those who are not currently Members will consider joining us - and contribute towards the better understanding of our history of Fortification and / or Artillery.

The Pacific Region is a vast and diverse cultural tapestry, where literally hundreds of different languages - and thousands of dialects, are spoken. (700 or so dialects, in Papua New Guinea - alone!) I am acutely aware of the limitations that result from these Regional Pages being published in English only.

For that reason, I would cordially invite anyone who may be interested in establishing a version in their own language to contact me. If you are willing to "give it a go", I will give you every assistance in getting started.

Rules of this Site:

As stated above, casual visitors to this Site are most welcome. There are however, a couple of limitations that should be noted:

• You must be a Member in order to submit articles, photographs - or other material, for publication.

• You must be a Member in order to use the Regional Notice Board or the Regional Forum.

------  Joining SITE O is easy - and free! - just e-mail:  ajscadden@paradise.net.nz   ------

Members contributing items for publication should also note the following:

• The Webmaster reserves at all times, the sole right to accept or reject any material submitted for publication. For any (or no) reason.

• International Intellectual Property Laws must be respected. Any material that is not your own must be duly acknowledged - and the permission of the Owner or Copyright Holder for you to use the material must be obtained, by you - prior to publication. The Webmaster and Officers of SITE O will accept no responsibility for your failure to do so. Legal liability for any resultant Fines or Damages will rest solely with you.

• No material of a political, ideological, racist, religious - or defamatory nature, will be considered for publication.

• You will not knowingly submit any material that is infected with "electronic viruses", "trojans" - or "spyware / adware".

Notes for Beginners to Historical Research & Writing:

Please don't be put off by the above. Historical research and writing can be immensely rewarding, but it's the old story - I'm afraid: "What you put into it is what you (and your readers) get out of it".

The following are a few tips that will help you "get off on the right foot":

• Do your research well. Use authentic documents from Government Departments, Local Bodies, Public Archives, Libraries etc...as your source material. Accuracy is all important, so try to avoid simply quoting previously published authors on a given subject. (It's all too easy to end up just "parroting" the errors of someone else's "less than thorough" research.)

• Avoid, like the plague: hearsay, rumour - and local legends. Treat with  caution what (you think) "late Uncle Fred" told you on his knee - 35 years ago, when you were 6!

• Quote all of your sources - and give file references etc...wherever possible. If your source is anecdotal or verbal, say so - and name and credit the person(s) concerned. Include a full Bibliography - and acknowledge any other assistance that you have received.

• We all have an in-built tendency to make assumptions, especially when we're frustrated - and can't find the "hard evidence" to back up our conclusions. Don't do it! At best, you may guess right. At worst, you'll simply get it wrong, fuel another local legend - and totally mislead your readership.

• Seek peer appraisal of your work. This is where SITE O can be especially useful to you. (It provides a source of contacts with others doing research in the same field.) There's a lot of experience out there - and most of your fellow researchers will be only too pleased to help. Make use of them! (With courtesy and consideration, of course.)

The constructive criticism of your fellow researchers and enthusiasts can certainly save you from the considerable embarrassment of "rushing into print" - with supposed facts, figures or opinions - that are demonstrably wrong!

Good luck!

Disclaimer:

While all reasonable care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information published in these Regional Pages, errors or omissions may occasionally occur. (Mistakes can - and do, sometimes happen!): 

Any errors or omissions on this Web Site are regretted, however the Webmaster and Officers of SITE O will accept no responsibility or legal liability whatsoever for any physical material loss or damage, or financial or other consequential losses - of any description, that may result therefrom. 

If you find errors or omissions, please let the Webmaster know! (They can then be corrected.)

Please remember: The research and opinions of individual Members are theirs alone - and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Webmaster or Officers of SITE O. Also, many historical matters are subjective in nature - and may be open to various interpretations. Please be tolerant of the differing views of others!

Furthermore:

These Regional Pages - and the many external Web Sites to which they are linked, detail the location of places you may wish to visit. This is at no time to be taken or construed as a recommendation from SITE O - or any of its Officers, that you do so:

By their nature, Military sites can be very dangerous places to visit. If you choose to do so, you must rely on your own commonsense to keep yourself safe. The Webmaster and Officers of SITE O will accept no responsibility or legal liability whatsoever for any physical material loss or damage, financial or other consequential losses - of any description, personal injury, illness, disability - or death, that may result.

Our advice is: "Unless you are properly prepared - and 100% happy with the safety and legality of what you are proposing to do, keep out!"

It's up to you!

Safety Tips for Visiting Military Sites:

Assuming you do choose to visit Military sites, here are a few tips that can help to keep you safe - and avoid problems with land owners - and the Law. These tips are by no means exhaustive - and they are not a substitute for the exercise of good judgement and commonsense. They are published subject to the above Disclaimer.

• Kids: Do not visit any Military site, unless you are accompanied by a responsible adult:

Sadly, the danger of the site itself is not the only thing you have to worry about. These places may also sometimes be visited by people who can be dangerous to you - as well. If you're not sure what this means, ask a parent or care-giver. It's important!

• Do your "homework". Research where you want to go. Find out about the topography of the area. Is legal access allowed? Are there obvious physical hazards with the site? What equipment will you need?
  

• Many sites are located on public land, but others are not. Don't Trespass! If the site you want to visit is on private or Government property - get the appropriate permission's first. (This is important: Quite aside from the legal ramifications for you, Trespassing simply "stuffs it up" for your fellow enthusiasts when they seek permission for access. It also gives the lot of us a bad name).

• Be aware, that with the prevailing World situation - Trespassing on Military (or other "security sensitive") land may be viewed much more seriously than in years gone by. What once may have earned a verbal warning, may now result in prosecution - and land you in a lot of trouble! 

• We rely very much on the goodwill of private and Government land owners in obtaining access to sites. "Abuse it, and you (and we all) - loose it". When you are granted permission for access to sites on private or Government land, a letter of thanks, following your visit - is appropriate.

If the site you are visiting is on farmland, remember to leave gates exactly as you find them: (Open, or closed - as the case may be.) Be careful not to disturb livestock - and don't walk over growing crops. If you have a dog, leave it at home!

• Don't ever be tempted to break into structures that are locked, sealed - or otherwise secured, in order to satisfy your curiosity. Doing so is an act of Vandalism (possibly also constituting Breaking and Entering) which is guaranteed to get you into trouble with the Law.

• Leave your spade at home, too! Any unauthorised excavation at historic sites can also cause you major problems with the Law. The penalties for unlawfully digging at protected sites are severe. They include fines of many thousands of dollars - and serious Jail time!

Ancient and modern Fort builders basically chose prominent headlands and hilltops as the sites for their constructions, for the same strategic reasons. Many "old" and "new" Fortifications therefore share the same space:

While the modern structures may be all that is visible today - there may be earlier ones, under or around them, that are of considerable importance to Indigenous Peoples - and Archaeologists!

• Make sure someone else knows where you are going - and preferably don't go alone. (Many sites are in isolated areas.) You need backup if something goes wrong. As stated above, these areas can also be magnets for "undesirables".

• Read all warning and information signs at sites that you visit - and obey the instructions on them! There are physical hazards that can hurt you: Crumbling masonry that can fall on you, exposed shafts  you can fall down - and proximity to sheer cliffs. (Don't under-estimate the latter. A number of people have been killed in New Zealand, by simply "slipping over the edge".)

• Never enter areas where there are warnings of the presence of Asbestos, PCB's - or other dangerous contaminants. (Some former Military sites found post-War uses as storage or dumping grounds for dangerous goods and chemicals, some of which are highly carcinogenic [cause cancer] - and may cause birth defects, or other serious health problems!)

• If you are going underground, take at least 2 light sources with you. Use electric torches, not naked flame. Don't light a fire underground, under any circumstances - and be aware that some deep underground complexes may have pockets of "bad air". If it doesn't "smell right" - or you start feeling strange, get out!

• Watch out for debris on floors, missing (or rotten) drainage hatch covers, open shafts and missing cable channel gratings. 

• Beware of corroded metal fixtures such as hand rails, ladders and gratings. Rotten wooden floors, roofs, stairs - and other fixtures, may also present a very real hazard. Check such items carefully - before you put your weight on them!

• Remember, your cell phone won't work underground - and the site may well be outside of the coverage area, anyway. Another good reason to "take a buddy" with you.

• Beware of flooded areas. The water may be only ankle deep, but is there a shaft in the middle of the room? - or an engine bed or cable channel that could trip you up? (The latter are really good for breaking ankles in!)

• UNEXPLODED MUNITIONS: -  Not a problem (usually) in Australia or New Zealand, but a real issue on many Pacific Islands that were part of the "War Zone". They are also a serious - and deadly hazard, in many other parts of the World. The rules are simple:

             A) - DON'T TOUCH THEM! - (ALWAYS treat ANY "old munitions" you find as: "LIVE!")

             B) - Get away from them - and warn anybody else in the area.

             C) - Report them to the Police (or, the local Military - if appropriate.) They can arrange expert removal and disposal!

Unexploded munitions are lethal. A rifle bullet can blow off your hand (or worse) - and anything bigger can literally "vaporise" you - and kill or maim anybody else, within a considerable radius!

• Finally, do not be tempted to take souvenirs. Removing artefacts from historic sites is a serious Criminal matter in most jurisdictions - and quite rightly so. "Take nothing but pictures - and leave nothing but footprints".

Good luck - and happy, lawful and safe exploring!

"I do hope you enjoy SITE O  - "Down Under". If you would like to contact me concerning the Site, or if you are experiencing problems with broken links etc.. - please e-mail me at: ajscadden@paradise.net.nz "

- Alistair Scadden

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Acknowledgements:

I would like to acknowledge the following people, without whose assistance these Regional Pages would not have been possible:

• Joseph (Joe) E Kaufmann (Co-Founder and International Director of SITE O.)

• My fellow Regional Directors and Officers of SITE O around the World.

• David J Bishop (For his professional IT help.)

• Andrew J Scadden (For his idea of establishing the [Online] "Regional Forum".)

• Allan J Scadden (For his impetus toward establishing the "Regional Photo Album".)

• Jon G Malek (For his advice and assistance in setting up the "Regional Forum" - and the "Regional Photo Album".)

• Jane E Scadden (For her forbearance, understanding - and assistance, during the creation and development of these Regional Pages.) 

"Thanks. Your contributions are all really appreciated!"

This Web Site is hosted by: PARADISE.NET.NZ

A subsidiary of: TELSTRA CLEAR (NZ) LTD

 This Web Site was built with MICROSOFT Front-Page software, for the Windows Internet-Explorer Browser. It was re-edited and re-uploaded in March 2009 - using MICROSOFT Expression Web 2 software. Accordingly, It may not display as intended - on some non-MICROSOFT Browsers. 

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