TOWNSVILLE METAL DETECTING CLUB CODE OF CONDUCT.
 
 

 
 
 
CODE OF CONDUCT   Section 1
 
1.    The TMDC code of conduct (CoC) is a voluntary club code formulated and complied with by the members of the club.  It encompasses the ethos of the club, and attempts to enshrine the politeness and humility with which club members and the club as an entity would like demonstrated when in the bush and when given the privilege of spending time on other peoples land, partaking of our hobby, enjoying each other’s company and respecting the rights and opportunities available to us as citizens of Australia.  The CoC also includes the constitutional by-laws of the club as detailed in the clubs Constitution at the time it was “incorporated”.
 
2.    The CoC, although self-imposed by the club, is strongly held and breaches will be investigated by the club, and may result in censure or in some cases expulsion from the club.
 
3.     The CoC is broken into sections and is detailed below:
 
Safety
  1. Every member of the club is a club safety officer.  If any member sees an activity which they recognize as being inherently dangerous, there is an obligation to bring that to the attention of the other members and where appropriate assist in making the activity safe.
  2. Know what to do in emergencies. Rescue operations often cause serious damage, so take care to avoid the need for rescue.
  3. Be properly trained in First Aid so you know how to handle illness and injuries.
  4. Carry clothing and equipment to suit the worst possible conditions you are likely to encounter.
  5. Always advise others (if possible the club appointed Field Officer for the activity) where you will be, and what time you anticipate returning to the camp site, before daily departure.
  6. Carry a mobile phone if you want to.  Be aware that in the majority of field locations visited by the club on trips, there is no mobile phone coverage, don’t rely on it.
  7. Club members use UHF 2 way radios for safety, both while traveling to and from sites and while prospecting.  Channel 16 is used and should be monitored when possible for both your and others safety.
 
Field Trips.  Field Officers and members attending field trips will:
 
a. from the landholder before each visit. The ETA
        and duration of stay must be supplied.
b.The area to be prospected must be specified and access route to be agreed by  
          consultation with land holder.
c.      Restrictions or refusal of permission to prospect an area will apply from time to time as
         property management dictates, this is to be respected and complied with.
d.     Campsites should be no closer than 400 metres from a fence or watering facility (i.e.
         dam or windmill).
e.      All excavations, no matter how small, must be back filled.
f.      Campfires, if permitted, must have adequate break and must be extinguished when
          unattended.
h.    Shooting is not allowed on fieldtrips, Firearms are NOT to be bought on trips.
   
i.   Domestic animals are not permitted on Club trips without individual prior arrangements
       being made with the property owner.  Be aware that most properties bait wild dogs and
       that this can quickly kill a domestic dog, animals can only be taken with permission and
       at their owners risk.
i.      Take all refuse on departure. Leave only footprints.
j.      Avoid entering or using access tracks when wet.
k.     Leave gates as you find them.
l.      Any land within 100 metres of a watering facility is out of bounds at all times.
m.     If an animal is found in distress or any other situation encountered that warrants the
         attention of the landowner, this is to be passed to the club Field Officer, along with a
         description of the situation and location for passing to the landowner at the earliest
         opportunity.
 
 
Do not disturb our bushland.  If you enjoy the pleasures of prospecting, camping and related self-reliant outdoor activities, you have a big responsibility to protect and preserve the natural landscape for the enjoyment of future generations. This guide will help you enjoy the bush without leaving your mark.
  1. Be self reliant.  Enjoy the natural landscape as it is, on nature’s terms. Carry with you the  
things you need for your comfort and safety, both while out prospecting and at your  camp site.
  1. Tread softly.    Become proficient at bush navigation. If you need to build cairns, blaze
        trees, place tags, break off twigs, or tie knots in clumps of grass to mark your route, you
        are lacking in bush navigation skills. Placing signposts and permanent markers of any
        kind is the responsibility of the relevant land manager (such as the Landowners or
  NPWS).
 
    c.     Pack it in, pack it out.  Don’t carry glass bottles and jars, cans, drink cartons lined with
            aluminium foil and excess packaging onto the diggings.   If you must, don’t leave them in
            the bush (you might end up digging them yourself as a target later on!!). Remember, if you can
            carry a full container in, you can easily carry the empty one out.  Remove all your rubbish
            including food scraps, paper, plastic, aluminium foil and empty containers.  Don’t burn or bury
            rubbish.  Burning creates pollution and buried rubbish may be dug up and scattered by animals.
            Carry a plastic bag for your rubbish.   If you find litter left by irresponsible people along the track
            or around a campsite, please remove it.  Show you care for the environment, even if others don’t. 
 
     d.    Be hygienic. Ensure you are at least 50 meters from campsites, creeks and lakes, when digging a
            hole for your toilet.  Bury all waste and toilet paper at least 15cm deep.  Carry out things that
            won’t easily decompose, such as used tampons, sanitary pads and condoms.   Wash cooking and
            eating utensils well back from the edge of and creeks so wastewater falls on soil where it
            will be absorbed.   Prevent soap, detergent or toothpaste from getting into natural water systems.
            Similarly, when washing cooking utensils, don’t allow detergent, oils and food scraps get into
            creeks or waterways.  Always swim downstream from where you get your drinking water.
 
  e.     Fire;  Remember at TMDC activities fires are only lit with the express permission of the
         landowner.  .Have a fire only when you are absolutely certain you can light it with safety. A fuel
          stove is preferable for cooking and thermal clothing is better for warmth.  Always use a
         fuel stove in places where even a tiny fire may cause permanent damage. Places where
         fire lighting should be avoided include many rainforests and all tableland savanna regions.
         Do not light fires: in hot, dry season conditions
           - in dry windy weather
           - in declared fuel stove only areas
           - when there is a declared fire ban.
          Always remember - Fire doesn’t destroy aluminium foil, and plastics release toxic gases
          when burnt. So carry foil and plastics out in your pack with all your other rubbish,
          including food scraps. Don.t use your campfire as a rubbish incinerator.
          If you must light a campfire, follow these rules - in popular campsites, light your fire on
          a bare patch left by previous fires. Don’t light it on fresh ground.  Light your fire on bare
          soil or sand, well away from stumps, logs, living plants and river stones (which may
          explode when heated).  Definitely don’t build a ring of stones as a fireplace. This is
          unnecessary and unsightly.  Dismantle stone rings wherever you find them.  Sweep away
          all leaves, grass and other flammable material for at least two meters around your
          fireplace. (Major bushfires have been caused by careless campers who didn’t take this
          precaution.)  Burn only dead wood that’s fallen to the ground. Don’t break limbs from
          trees or shrubs.  Keep your fire small - remember, the bigger the fool, the bigger the fire.
          Before you leave - Douse your fire thoroughly with water, even if it appears to be already
          out.   Don’t try to smother a fire by covering it with soil or sand as the coals will continue
          to smolder for days. Only water kills a fire with total certainty.  Feel the ground under the
          coals. If it is too hot to touch, the fire is not out. Douse it some more.  Scatter the cold
         charcoal and ashes well clear of your campsite, then rake soil and leaves over the spot
         where your fire was. You should aim to remove all trace of it.
 
Choose campsites carefully.  Generally, club members camp centrally in one area, chosen by   the Club Field Officer for that trip, to allow sufficient room for all and to minimize the impact on the land while allowing the best use of the existing conditions.  Should you choose to move away from the central area (to be near a patch, or for privacy etc);
  1. Think twice about using a popular campsite to avoid overuse. If possible, vary your route slightly so you can find an alternative site in a less frequented area.
  2. Find an open space to erect your tent so it is unnecessary to clear vegetation. In difficult overgrown areas, trample undergrowth flat rather than pull plants out of the ground. A trampled spot soon recovers.
  3. Use a waterproof ground sheet or tent with a sewn-in floor and you won.t have to worry about surface runoff in wet weather. Avoid the temptation to dig drains around your tent. This practice damages the environment and is not acceptable.
  4. If you have to remove branches or rocks to create a tent site, replace them before you leave.
    Leave your campsite pristine. After a few days it should be impossible to see where you were
    camped.
 
Protect Plants and Animals. Try not to disturb wildlife.  Remember, you are the visitor.  Give
snakes a wide berth and leave them alone.  They have more right to be there than you do.  Watch where
you put your feet.  Walk around delicate plants.  Don’t feed birds and animals around campsites or they
may become pests. Unnatural food can be harmful to many species.
 
 
Respect Indigenous heritage.  Many places have spiritual or cultural significance for our
Indigenous communities. Treat such places with consideration and respect.  Obtain permission from
the relevant land manager or owner or traditional landowners to visit sensitive areas.  Leave Indigenous
relics as you find them. Don’t touch paintings or rock engravings.
 
 
 Be courteous to others.  The sound of radios, CD players, mobile phones and similar devices is out
  of place in the natural environment (however the high pitched tone of a metal detector indicating a target is
  a sweet sound and to be encouraged).  Leave the  loud electronics at home. (See note under Safety
  concerning the acceptable use of mobile phones).   Ensure your behavior and activities don’t disturb or
  offend others.  Camp as far away from other groups as conditions allow. Don’t use another group’s
  campfire without permission.   Leave gates and slip rails as you find them. When you open a gate, make
  sure the last person through knows it has to be closed.  Respect the rights of landholders and land
  managers.  Don’t enter private property without permission. In national parks, abide by plans of
  management and encourage others to do so too.  Offer what is required to help others in need. This could
  be your Field Officer, who may be carrying group safety items, someone in the group who has injured
  themselves, or forgotten their billy, or had some equipment malfunction, or another group who may not
  have communications to summon emergency medical aid.  Recognize that some individuals may need your
  help but will never ask for it. Volunteer it. 
 
 
By-laws of the Townsville Metal Detecting Club
  • All members of the Club and of legal age are to comply with the Queensland Mining Act 1968-1983, as
       amended.
  • Verbal or written authority must be gained from the owners prior to entry onto any land for metal detecting and fossicking purposes.
  • All information on locations for the field trips and outings is deemed confidential to Club Members.
  • Members attending field trips are to report to the Field Officer upon their arrival and departure, and in his absence, to another Club Member.
  • Camp sites and working areas are to be left clean and tidy and as near as possible to natural state.
  • Members are advised to carry some form of medical kit and first aid equipment in their vehicles. A 40 channel two-way radio is also recommended.
  • Firearms are not allowed to be taken on field trips.
  • Members are advised pets are not permitted on Club trips without prior arrangements with the property owner.
  • Any damage caused to fences, gates, property, etc., is to be repaired by the offending persons.
  • Members attending any field trip, outing, meeting, do so at their own risk.
  • Parents and/or guardians are to accept full responsibility for all actions of their children accompanying them on field trips and outings.
  • Any breach of these By-laws are to be dealt with as soon as possible by all members of the Club
      Committee present and any Club Members, as deemed necessary Townsville Metal Detecting Club Inc.
 
 
 
Take nothing but happy memories, photographs, treasure our forefathers left behind and the gold that nature provides and that skill and good luck has allowed you to find - leave nothing but footprints.
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