By Sheree Hoddinett
Imagine losing one of your most prized possessions in the sand or water at the beach and no idea how to start looking for it. Deep down, you probably think it’s gone forever. Well, not all hope is completely lost. Enter Mark Pearson, the Island Detectorist, a Bribie local with a passion for finding items with his trusty metal detecting equipment.
Mark, who has lived on the Island now for five years, has always been a fossicker and had a keen interest in metal detecting. After purchasing his first detector three years ago, he started detecting along the sand and in shallow water, finding everything from bottle caps, pull tabs and other rubbish through to coins, relics and even personal valuable items. This fun little hobby (which he does on top of his everyday job and spending time with family) took a different path when Mark decided to help others after seeing posts for lost items online.
“The idea started when I responded to a woman that had lost her wedding ring while swimming,” Mark said. “I went to the location and was lucky to find it and return it. I then thought about creating a page where people could contact me to help find their lost items, my wife came up with the name Island Detectorist.”
So far, Mark has now been able to locate and retrieve 10 items for their owners, with most of the people that have contacted him losing their items while at the beach.
“I feel happy that I’m able to make someone’s day, especially when they have lost something that means something to them and I’m able to find it and give it back,” Mark said.
Although he is yet to receive any odd search requests (there’s still time!), Mark certainly enjoys the thrill of the find, with a keen interest in locating items with a bit of history behind them.
“I’ve actually found a few dozen bullets buried in the sand around the Island, which I thought was really interesting as I love finding war memorabilia,” he said. “I’ve also found an 1891 full sovereign coin set in a gold ring and an Australian Air Force ring with a tiger’s eye setting. It’s meant to be a blue sapphire, but I guess they lost it and replaced with a tiger’s eye instead.”
Once he’s contacted with a rough area to search for the lost item, Mark undertakes a grid search and then the real work gets underway with all his trusty tools in tow.
“I have two big detectors, one for in the water and one for on land, plus I have a pin pointer which helps when you are down on the ground searching in a hole,” he said. “I also have a handheld one for snorkelling, two sand scoops and a different shovel for each area I go, depending on the ground.
“I think it’s awesome that we also have Dan from the Camping Fishing Prospecting Bribie store who is very helpful and he stocks awesome gear. I’m hoping to go with him soon on one of his weekend tours to learn to use different equipment and how to read the land and find gold.”
Have an item that you think Mark might be able to find for you? You can reach him via the Island Detectorist on Facebook or phone 0401 338 184.
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