Cave Clan

infobox Organization
name = Cave Clan


caption = Modern Cave Clan Logo.
formation = 1986 Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/rn/streetstories/stories/2004/1193089.htm|title=Cave Clan|accessdate=2007-04-02|publisher=StreetStories|year=2004]
website = http://www.caveclan.org

The Cave Clan is a primarily Australian group dedicated to urban exploration.

History

The Cave Clan was founded on January 26 (Australia Day), 1986 by three Melbourne teenagers, Woody, Dougo and Sloth.Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/rn/streetstories/stories/2004/1193089.htm|title=Cave Clan|accessdate=2007-04-02|publisher=StreetStories|year=2004] The trio had started exploring together during the summer of 1985-1986. [John Jurgensen. "Urban Explorers Are Picture of Stealth. The Nation; bulldog ed. 20 May 2001, pg. A1]

Alf Sadlier, a worker for the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW), is often cited as an inspiration to the Cave Clan's founders. During construction on Melbourne’s drains in the 1940s and 1950s, Sadlier would leave his name and the date in tar paint before the last section of tunnel was put in place. After Sadlier was mentioned in an article in Melbourne’s The Herald Sun Fact|date=April 2008 his sister wrote to the Cave Clan explaining that her brother was in fact a "builder of drains", and not an explorer.

Membership and Activities

Cave Clan members explore natural or artificial tunnels and caves, along with rooftops and abandoned buildings. Their most frequent activities involve exploring underground stormwater drains, bunkers tunnels and forts. [ Live News Exclusive - Drunk Vandals or Intrepid Explorers?" [http://www.livenews.com.au/Articles/2008/01/21/EXCLUSIVE_Drunk_vandals_or_intrepid_explorers_] ", Retrieved on 8 April, 2008.] Each chapter of the Cave Clan has its favorite locations with each city having a different history and therefore different types of locations to explore.

Members of the Cave Clan come from various backgrounds including writers, students, scientists, and mechanics [About the Cave Clan and What We Do, " [http://www.caveclan.org/aboutus.html About the Cave Clan and What We Do ] ", Retrieved on April 07, 2008.] with the Cave Clan acting as a uniting group for people who are interested in urban exploration in Australia. Members have different interests or 'specialities' but are all interested in getting into places they shouldn't be. [BBC News Online: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/1822604.stm Subterranean Sydney] , "World: From Our Own Correspondent", February 16, 2002]

Safety issues

The Cave Clan does not advocate going into drains when it is raining, exploring alone, or removing a manhole from beneath if the above location is unknown. The golden rule of the Cave Clan is, "When it rains, no drains!". Cite web|url=http://www.caveclan.org/safety.html|title=Safety|accessdate=2007-04-02|year=2007]

= Controversy = As with urban exploration-related topics, by entering into locations or drains without permission, the members of the Cave Clan can be described as "recreational trespassers". In 2005 it was revealed that the NSW State Government had asked for the Cave Clan's help in finding tunnels that could become terrorist targets. [Cave Clan's Fortress, " [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/cave-clans-fortress/2008/01/21/1200764136972.html Cave Clan's Fortress - smh.com.au] ", Retrieved on April 07, 2008.]

Graffiti

The Cave Clan officially distances itself from graffiti, despite the historical practice of tagging. Drain tagging is discouraged, especially in historically significant areas. There are clear examples, however, of the Cave Clan members using graffiti.cite news| last = Heathcote| first = Christopher| title = Discovering Graffiti| publisher = Art Monthly Australia| date = 2000-09-00| url = http://www.melbournegraffiti.com/history_discovering_graffiti.htm| accessdate = 2008-04-02 ] cite news| last = Richardson| first = Owen| title = Stencil Graffiti Capital: Melbourne| publisher = The Age| date = 2006-02-11| url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/book-reviews/stencil-graffiti-capital-melbourne/2006/02/10/1139542386146.html| accessdate = 2007-04-02 ] The group also accepts leaving details of an expedition in a plain section of the drain, tunnel or cavity to mark the place and time. They also put up stickers, mostly above ground for promotional purposes.

ee also

* Urban exploration

References