Volume 49 Number 2 June 2012 National Parks Association of the Australian Capital Territory Inc

New approach to old ways

Celebrating Nancy Burbidge

Feral daisies rampant in Kosciuszko NPA Bulletin Volume 49 number 2 June 2012 Articles by contributors may not necessarily reflect association opinion or objectives. CONTENTS

President...... 2 After the drought, poem ...... 13 Rod Griffiths Gerry Jacobson

Federal Government abandons Environmental David Campbell, Poet ...... 13 Protection Act...... 3 Max Lawrence Christine Goonrey Thomas Shanahan and his JallaGillingong Run...... 14 Nancy Burbidge, Centenary of her birth ...... 4 Babette Scougall Sonja Lenz Book review: The Biggest Estate on Earth ...... 16 National Park push grows ...... 5 Max Lawrence Canberra Times article Report on a bushwalk: Mt Morgan...... 17 Ox-eye Daisy: yet another dreaded weed...... 6 Brian Slee Max Lawrence Report on a bushwalk: Mt Painter and surrounds ...... 18 Run rabbit run ...... 7 Kevin McCue

Report on a bushwalk: Bulgar Hill ...... 19 Aboriginal Land Management Workshop Brian Slee with Rod Mason at 'Garuwanga'...... 8 Christine Goonrey PARKWATCH...... 20 Selected by Hazel Rath Australian Aboriginal land management before and during the nineteenth century...... 12 NPA notices ...... 22 Fiona MacDonald Brand Meeting and speaker information...... 23 More dollars for koala research...... 13 Max Lawrence NPA information and contacts...... 23

From the President Dear colleagues, Look out for pig hunters in The NPA ACT continues to be busy, with many challenges Namadgi and opportunities on the horizon. For those of you who Probably the biggest challenge is the proposed changes to missed Brett McNamara’s the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity talk at the last general Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This is the key piece of meeting, a strong message the Commonwealth’s environmental protection mechanisms was the impact of pig under which many threatened species have obtained hunters on the pig control protection, the koalas in Queensland and New South Wales measures in Namadgi being the most recent example. However, this important piece National Park. Hunting has led of legislation is threatened itself, as proposals are put forward to illegal access to the park and the to water down its powers. A great article by Christine Goonrey disruption of the pig-baiting program which, on this topic is included in this edition of the Bulletin and I thankfully, continues to be successful despite these actions. urge you to read it and make your concerns heard. Brett, as the land manager responsible for Namadgi, would be keen to be advised of any incidences of illegal access to the Safeguarding Gungahlin’s grassy woodlands national park and has offered the following email address: On the local front, development continues to threaten vital [email protected] . Please use it for reporting illegal pieces of grassy woodland on Gungahlin’s northern rim. The access issues only, as other matters of management should be NPA ACT is pleased to be working with the Conservation communicated through the Visitor Centre or via Canberra Council and others to safeguard these important areas of high Connect. conservation value by lobbying for their reservation. Where reservation is not currently possible, such areas should be Sub-committees active managed in a manner that facilitates their continued usefulness It is great to see the NPA ACT sub-committees involved in a for conservation connectivity. Ultimately, these areas should be range of matters. The environment sub-committee has recently key parts of the NPA ACT’s proposed northern national park. (continued next page)

2 NPA BULLETIN − JUNE 2012 Federal Government abandons Environmental Protection Act The Federal Government intends to of its six priority areas for ‘major reform Government. hand over nearly all of its to lower costs for business’ was Do any of us really believe that environmental protection approval ‘addressing duplicative and cumbersome State Governments will put their own powers to the States and Territories. By environment regulation’. This is to be development and business interests December 2012 it will have negotiated achieved by handing over Federal aside to meet national standards that agreements with those governments and powers to the States and Territories.(See have no teeth? Do we really think the once the bilateral agreements are the full statement at http:// Victorian Government will refuse to signed, in the words of a senior www.coag.gov.au/ allow cattle back into the Australian bureaucrat, ‘The EPBC Act will have coag_meeting_outcomes/2012-04-13/ Alps National Parks simply because been turned off’. index.cfm ). they have signed a standards agreement Since 2008 members of the National The Federal Government claims that that will never be monitored? Can the Parks Australia Council including it is still protecting the environment Queensland Government refuse the NPA ACT have worked hard to because States and Territories will have temptation to increase mining and influence the debate on reforms to the to accept national standards before construction on the edges of the Great Environmental Protection and bilateral agreements will be signed. Barrier Reef because the Federal Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 However, there is no mention of setting Government might get a bit upset its (EPBC Act). In December 2009 we up auditing or monitoring mechanisms. standards are being ignored? thought a sensible compromise had Once the approval powers are handed We have had over a decade of a been reached between business and over to State and Territory governments national approach to environmental conservation interests when the there will be no way to ensure decisions protection. The Act has had its critics, independent Hawke Review was actually meet the agreed standards and but there have been significant released. It accepted a need to reduce no mechanisms to withdraw the achievements. The Federal ‘red tape’ but recommended offsetting delegation if the Federal Government’s Government is now returning us to the this by taking a more strategic approach standards are ignored. era of local interests prevailing over across the landscape; by establishing The Labor Government has not protection of our environment. better data and reporting systems; and approached the Greens to get the Bills Remember the Franklin River through greater public openness about passed in the Senate. It is working with campaign? Save the Daintree? And the decisions. the Coalition which has indicted it will blockade of Parliament which preceded The Federal Government didn’t support the changes. the National Forestry Agreement? agree. In June 2011 it responded to the So how real is the threat that States More of that is now ahead of us. Hawke Report by announcing it and Territories will use this delegation of It seems we will have to return to proposed stripping out all the ‘red tape’ Federal powers to pursue their own the local barricades and work on our but was refusing to accept any of the agendas? Here in the ACT the State and Territory governments on a public transparency, data and government will be making decisions on case-by-case basis because an monitoring measures. This view of the its own land developments in nationally unpopular Federal Government wants Act took concrete shape at the Council listed woodlands and grasslands with no to wash its hands of the whole messy of Australian Governments (COAG) involvement at all from the Federal business of protecting our environment. meeting on 13 April 2012. After Government. The clear conflict of Christine Goonrey consulting with the Business Advisory interest is obvious to some of us but Forum, COAG announced that the first apparently not to the Federal

From the President (continued) made a submission to the ACT Assembly This will be my last president’s report STOP PRESS standing committee inquiry into before the AGM and I would really ecotourism as well as continuing to encourage members to consider helping campaign for the new national park. The the NPA ACT though nominating for The NSW Government has publications sub-committee is busy with committee membership. The current announced that private a new insect book and the revision of the committee members are a great bunch of NPA ACT’s bird book, and the people who are able to achieve so much licensed shooters will be Scholarship working group has put but it is always good for an organisation allowed to hunt feral animals forward a proposal that would see the to avail itself of the wide range of skills NPA ACT funding a scholarship for embodied in its members. I would be in NSW national parks. For honours study over a three-year period. more than happy to respond to any NPA’s response, see the All NPA ACT members are eligible to queries you might have. join the sub-committees and their All the best. enclosed Media Release. convenors would welcome additional Rod Griffiths help. See the inside back cover for details of the convenors.

NPA BULLETIN − JUNE 2012 3 Nancy Burbidge, Centenary of her birth Our secretary, Sonja Lenz, was 18 months in 1939–40 working on promoted to the level of senior principal invited by the Woden Community Australian plants at the Kew Herbarium, research scientist at CSIRO; and due to Service Inc. to give a talk to a Royal Botanic Gardens in London. On her outstanding administration skills she gathering on 8 March, Inter- her return she worked in Perth on WA became director of the Flora of Australia national Women’s Day. She chose to plants and in Adelaide on regenerating project sponsored by the Australian pay homage to Nancy Burbidge, the native pasture in arid and semi-arid Academy of Science from 1973 to 1977. founder of the National Parks regions of South Australia. Then, in So, Nancy had a very distinguished Association of the ACT, the 100th October 1946, Nancy was appointed scientific career. anniversary of whose birth is being systematic botanist in the CSIRO celebrated this year. The following Division of Plant Industry in Canberra. Starting the National Parks is an edited version of Sonja’s talk. Association Nancy Tyson Burbidge was born on the Research science 5 August 1912 in Cleckheaton, But she was also an activist and a She was employed to provide an visionary. She belonged to a group of Yorkshire, England. She came to identification service, but she soon began Australia with her parents in 1913 when fellow-scientists and members of the organising and expanding the division’s concerned public who realised that the her father, a clergyman, was appointed to plant collection, and became the curator the Anglican Parish of Katanning in National Capital needed to preserve of the Herbarium Australiense. In 1953 natural spaces for the Canberra Western Australia (WA). Nancy went to she was seconded to the Kew Herbarium school in WA and later to the University community to enjoy and treasure. Their as Australian botanical liaison officer. agitation led to the foundation of the of Western Australia (UWA) in Perth, Here she photographed and indexed type where she gained her Bachelor of National Parks Association (NPA) of the specimens of Australian plants. She ACT in 1960. Nancy was the founding Science degree in 1937 and Master’s in returned to her Canberra job in 1954. 1945. Later, in 1961, she became the first secretary of this organization, which she Nancy published the results of her also led as president for two terms. She woman to be awarded by UWA the peak work in various scientific journals and in degree of Doctor of Science. later became the first Honorary Life monographs such as The Plants of the Member of NPA (in 1972), and in 1976 Nancy was awarded a prize of a free Australian Capital Territory (1963, with passage to England, and she spent she was appointed a Member of the Max Gray), A Dictionary Order of Australia for services to science of Australian Plant and the community. Genera (1963); From the beginning, NPA was Australian Grasses in committed to the establishment of a three volumes (1966, ‘National Park for the National Capital’, 1968, 1970); Flora of the but also worked on getting Tidbinbilla, Australian Capital Molonglo Gorge and Gibraltar Falls Territory (1970, again declared as nature reserves. Under with Max Gray); and she Nancy’s guidance members put together prepared the compilation all the supporting documentation for of Plant Taxonomic NPA’s submission to the government on Literature in Australia, a proposal for a national park — which was edited by including scientific surveys of fauna and A. McCusker and flora in the area recommended for the published in 1978 (after park. Sadly, Nancy never saw the fruits her death). of her and her fellow members’ work before she died in 1977. Gudgenby Public science Nature Reserve, approximately the area that NPA had put forward as a national But Nancy also wanted park, was declared in 1979 and — with the general public to additional sections of land — became know about Australian Namadgi National Park in 1984. native plants and she published two volumes on The Wattles of the A keen educator Australian Capital Nancy had a very human side to her: she Territory (1961) and The was a keen educator and she loved to Gum Trees of the lead people of all ages into the Australian Australian Capital bush on ‘nature rambles’ where she Territory (1963). Her would describe and explain the wonderful drawings have distinguishing features of local plants to led to many lay-people everybody in words that were understood being able to ‘see’, even by the very young. She realised that recognise and love our people had to know where and how to local native plants. look before they could learn to love the She was an outstanding Australian bush. She called it having botanist and was (continued next page)

4 NPA BULLETIN − JUNE 2012 National park push grows The following article by reporter government to urge the development of Commissioner for Sustainability and the Michael Inman appeared in the the park which would rebrand many ACT Environment Maxine Cooper, published Canberra Times, Sunday 11 March nature reserves as protected areas. in July, lent support to an investigation. 2012. It was accompanied by The proposed park, stretching from The association president Rod Katharine Griffiths’ photo of Mulligans Flat in the north to Wanniassa Griffiths said rebranding urban reserves Michael and Christine Goonrey in the south, aims to protect endangered as national park would afford the taking in the view from Red Hill. lowland grassy woodlands, particularly imperilled ecosystems greater yellow-box red-gum ecosystems. protection. The push for a new national park in The reserves are a stronghold for He said the proposed area was Canberra has gained momentum after a many endangered species, including the subject to planning pressures. local environment group petitioned the golden sun moth, button wrinklewort, “Along the northern border of the ACT government to fund an investigation superb parrot and grassland earless ACT there is the potential to maintain a into the proposal. dragon. magnificent crescent of land that would The ACT National Parks Association The idea was first pitched early last link up existing reserves and support used a budget submission to the ACT year and a report by the then ACT threatened grassy woodlands,” he said. “One of the key recommendations to come out of the investigation was about improving the condition and resilience of our nature reserves by improving connectivity between them. “Without the maintenance of biodiversity corridors that join them, our reserves become vulnerable islands,” Mr Griffiths said. “The creation of a new national park …. would be a major achievement for the ACT and would be recognised both nationally and internationally.” If approved, the bushland would be the ACT’s second national park. Namadgi National Park covers 46 per cent of the ACT and is the most northern park in a 1.6 million hectare chain of protected areas that form the Australian Alps national parks across NSW, the ACT and Victoria.

Nancy Burbidge, 100th anniversary 2012 (continued) ‘eyes or no eyes’; even somebody who other was the naming of a 1,720 metre Sources: started out as a ‘no-eyes’ person in the peak in Namadgi National Park in 1992 as NPA Bulletin 40th Anniversary bush could become an ‘eyes’ person, and ‘Mount Burbidge’, proposed by the NPA Supplement, March 2000 she would help them to get there. to commemorate a ‘person prominent in Website: Australian National Botanic One of NPA’s endearing mementos of the area’s development’ (a criterion in the Gardens Nancy is the series of drawings and naming of geographic features). Website: ANU Australian Dictionary of nature notes that she published in the The NPA of today is still committed to Biography association’s newsletter between 1963 protecting Australian flora and fauna, and 1971 under the title ‘Eyes or No natural features and cultural heritage; and Eyes’. The drawings and nature notes to educating the public about conservation were re-published in a separate booklet as of the Australian bush. We have continued a tribute to Nancy in 2010, the 50th Nancy’s tradition by publishing ACT field anniversary year of NPA*. guides to native trees, birds, orchids, and reptiles & frogs. And we are especially Commemorating Nancy proud of our publication Namadgi — A National Park for the National Capital. There are two memorials to Nancy * Some copies of Eyes or No Eyes, a Burbidge in the ACT: one is the Nancy T. limited edition publication, are still Burbidge amphitheatre in the grounds of available for purchase. the Australian National Botanic Gardens Sonja Lenz which was proposed by several organisations, including the NPA; the

NPA BULLETIN − JUNE 2012 5 Ox-eye Daisy: yet another dreaded weed control the spread of this weed. Ox-eye Daisy populations have also been found on private lands in the region. This pernicious plant invades grasslands and open woodlands aggressively, and native plants cannot compete. Dense populations of Ox-eye Daisy also produce more bare soil, which makes erosion more likely. Control methods include mowing to reduce seed production, pulling shallow root systems by hand, tilling to destroy roots and the use of herbicide. Ms Peach noted that many people find Ox-eye Daisy attractive when it is in flower, but it has negative impacts on the environment that must be taken seriously. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife At a recent field day, NPWS Ranger For us, as users of the Tantangara Service (NPWS) is targeting Ox-eye Elouise Peach said Ox-eye Daisy area and places that are as yet Daisy infestations in Kosciuszko (Leucanthemum vulgare*) has already unaffected by the weed, the message is National Park (KNP). This weed first infested parts of New Zealand, Canada clear — awareness of the problem, and came to my attention on Martin Chalk’s and the Kashmir Valley in India, well boot and equipment hygiene, are the January 2011 NPA walk in the beyond its native Europe. A single first line of defence against its Tantangara area, and it featured on the healthy Ox-eye Daisy can produce up to continuing spread. cover of the March 2011 edition of the 26 000 seeds, which remain viable for A more detailed article by Dr John Bulletin. At the time I innocently thought years, and this perennial herb also Benson on the extent of the infestation, it to be a pretty native wildflower. spreads using shallow, creeping roots or the growth and ecology of the weed, Wrong! rhizomes. methods available for controlling and/or The flowers of Ox-Eye Daisy are containing it, and directions for about 5 cm in diameter, with white petals research, is in the Autumn 2012 edition and a yellow centre. The plants are of NPA of NSW’s Nature New South single-stemmed, grow to about 1 m in Wales. height, and have spoon-shaped leaves, the * Also sometimes known as upper ones being narrower. Chrysanthemum leucanthemum. The northern section of KNP has had Max Lawrence an explosion of Ox-eye Daisy in the past Photos by author four years, notably in the Tantangara area, despite an extensive program to try to Young members sought The community group pushing for a new national park in NSW to the north-west of the ACT— the Murrumbidgee–Ginninderra Gorges National Park— has formed itself into an association, the Ginnin- derra Falls Association (GFA), and is actively seeking new members. Present membership stands at 41 and the association would dearly like more, especially young people, to join it. Contact Chris Watson, ph 02 6278 3079. By the time this Bulletin goes to press, the GFA will have given evidence to an ACT Legislative Assembly committee inquiring into current and potential ecotourism of the ACT and region. It will also have met with the ACT Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher, to press its case and urge active involvement of the ACT Government in the park proposal. In a further step, the GFA is planning another public meeting in early June, to inform the general community on progress towards achieving what promises to be an outstanding addition to the number of national parks in NSW. Graeme Barrow Ginninderra Falls Association

6 NPA BULLETIN − JUNE 2012 Run rabbit run In this article distributed to has trained the dogs to trot along up to February and we do expect that it will ParkCare groups last summer Peter 25 metres in front of him running take a few more short visits to get the Mills, Ranger-in-Charge, Mulligans backwards and forwards continually last rabbits and hares. While on the job, Flat, describes the use of specially watching Steve for commands. Steve not Steve trained the dogs to ignore our trained Springer Spaniels for only controls the dogs with silent and local lizards and echidnas. Rangers will eliminating rabbits (and hares) from audible whistle commands but is able to continue to employ all the usual the sanctuary area at Mulligans Flat indicate using his hands pointing to a trapping, spotlight shooting and baiting Nature Reserve [The heading and particular clump of grass, logs or rocks. methods. subheadings are ours. Ed.] He also uses spoken commands to encourage the dog. After a day, the dog About rabbits on Macquarie I am sure most of you were in withdrawal gets to know the areas that Steve wants last week (December 2011) as we had Island checked out and automatically learns to closed the reserve to go about the do so with no commands. We did learn from Steve that the rabbit intensive work of removing as many In some places the grass was so long program on Macquarie Island has been rabbits and hares as we could find. We we did not see the dog running about very successful at finding rabbits employed Steve Austin and his under our feet and this is where we see occupying penguin burrows. The dogs four-legged Springer Spaniels Bolt, Dina the name ‘Springer spaniel’ come to the live on Macquarie Island for at least and Jenny. Steve was heavily involved in fore. The dog springs up out of the grass 5 years until the island has been cleared training handlers and dogs for the rabbit with flying floppy ears, sees Steve and of rabbits and none sighted for 2 years. removal work on Macquarie Island World checks that he is still there. Steve also Every summer several dog handlers Heritage Area. knows where the dog is as it ‘springs’ up, travel back to the island and up the then it can be 2 whistles to go left or intensity of rabbit detection. They have Early starts, longs days in the 3 whistles to right or 4 to come back. All terrain difficulties with high grassy cliff- hunt for leporids the rangers got to know Steve and how he like slopes leading down to the sea in many places. Our days usually began around 4:30 am works the dogs to detect rabbits and hares. We also befriended the dogs and and ended at 8:30 pm and I apologise now … and feral cats further afield if we made too much noise. We very they are smart, learning to come and sit quickly developed a system with Steve on your feet for some well-earned We are confident that using dogs is and whichever dog was working. Two attention. another very useful method we can use rangers and Steve carried shotguns for in our rabbit and hare program. When euthanasing rabbits/hares that did not Follow-up campaign needed Bettongs are reintroduced into the immediately run down a burrow. One Looking back on this process of using sanctuary we are confident that the dogs other ranger followed in a quad bike with dogs to detect rabbits and hares, we know can be quickly trained to ignore their burrow poisoning gear. When a rabbit was that we covered most of the sanctuary smells in the same way the dogs ignore detected the dog immediately stopped and and likely left a few hidden burrows, sea birds, penguins or seals. Steve is off stared; if we could shoot the animal the rabbits and hares that were missed on the to the Mornington Sanctuary in the closest inline shooter would carry out the run. We have walked much of the Kimberley this week to hand over a task. I must admit the practice at the sanctuary in fine detail and are trained dog that the Australian Wildlife Sporting Shooter Range paid off here as reasonably well aware where a few may Conservancy has purchased to detect Steve was impressed at our accuracy. have escaped detection. Steve has been feral cats killing small mammals. invited back for 3 days sometime in late Dog detectives find hidden burrows The main purpose of using dogs for detection is to find isolated hidden David and the Minister burrows that the pesky little creatures On a recent walking escape to. Over the 5 days we found trip to New Zealand 60 hidden burrows that were poisoned NPA member David using ‘Phostoxin’, and 13 rabbits and Large had the good 2 hares were shot. Feral research tells us fortune to meet Kate that there is what one could call an Wilkinson, the NZ average number of rabbits living in each Minister for Con- burrow; we have settled upon about servation. The two 3 rabbits per burrow. All up, we can are pictured here at the opening of the approximate that probably about Anne Hut in the 150–180 rabbits were euthanased. Lewis Pass region of the South Island. Handler controls; dogs learn David will be During the week we estimate that we addressing the AGM walked about 12–15 km per day and the in August on the dogs ran about 40 km per day. It was quite subject of his walks amazing to see the dedication of the dogs in New Zealand and their enthusiasm for the work. Steve Photo by Tim Walsh

NPA BULLETIN − JUNE 2012 7 Aboriginal Land Management Workshop This two day workshop was held on 19 and 20 April 2012 at Geoff Robertson and Margaret Ning’s property ‘Garuwanga’, 15 km east of Nimmitabel. It was sponsored by Kosciuszko2Coast (K2C) and the Friends of Grasslands (FOG), and was the fifth in a series of workshops. Christine Goonrey had attended one of the earlier sessions along with local property owners and land managers, and she saw the value of having a session for NPA ACT members. The organisers kindly agreed to run an additional workshop mainly for NPA, and this was duly advertised in our Outings Program. Thirteen of our members eventually turned up for the event: Christine and Michael Goonrey, Sonja Lenz and Kevin McCue, Adrienne Nicholson, Fiona MacDonald Brand, Max Lawrence, Annette Smith, Barbara Edgar, Martin Chalk, Andrew Morrison, Chris Emery and Sabine Friedrich. A further four people attended, including local property owners, making a total of around twenty including those running the show. Indigenous man Mr Rodney Mason is the key to the project. Geoff and Margaret were generous hosts to our group, and they are also very active with K2C and FOG, as well as being keen advocates of Rod’s methods in managing their own precious ‘Garuwanga’ (Ngarigo for Dreaming) Rod Mason is a special man with unique qualifications in both traditional Aboriginal ways and ‘modern’ science. He is a Ngarigo elder based in Cooma, but with family history and connections extending even to central and northern Australia. His K2C bionote shows that he is one of a small group of people who have undertaken the Diploma of Natural and Cultural Resource Management (bachelor degree). He is a former Ranger with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, where he trained staff and visitors on traditional land management practices, landscape function and biodiversity. Christine took detailed notes at Rod’s workshop, and shares the main points with us as follows.

Introduction the central desert. Ancient camps his family are This workshop was designed to connected to go way up the reconnect people to the natural coast and out west. The oldest and cultural resources in our local camp is Birrigai; other region and to create a better important meeting places understanding of our going north include Menai, (Indigenous and non- Kurringai and Nattai. Rod’s Indigenous) shared culture/ families keep stories right heritage/biodiversity values. across these areas; e.g. part of Rod’s vision is to have his education was gaining Indigenous natural resource knowledge of the big management techniques underground caverns below adopted in farm and reserve Canberra. management. Stories come from family There are no straight lines in and tell you who you are, Aboriginal learning, no where you’re from. Rod’s hierarchal connections that can grandmother taught him all be followed sequentially. the places to camp, all the Learning is a large birds, all the plants and trees. interconnecting web of ‘This bush school is still experience and responsibility. open’, Rod tells us. But some Authority to teach comes from people have lost respect for connection to the land and the old country. They were from taking care of the land, Rod Mason (centre) with Christine and Michael Goonrey at the Garuwanga workshop. Photo Adrienne Nicholson taken away and forgot where not from structures. History is they came from. personal, spiritual and global, Wadbilliga: escarpment Families are more than the all at the same time. It is past, present Tidbilliga: Snowy Mountains immediate relationships. Knowledge is and future. Caring for country is Burrungubbugee: foothills. built up from uncles and grandfathers, embedded in familial relationships and Wadbilliga is the escarpment, which not just fathers and mothers. More stories that are both true and myth at the also contains the burial grounds. often, knowledge and authority comes same time. Tidbilliga is the spiritual place, the from members of the wider family church. Narrawallee is the living area group. In return, people have a wider Understanding the land where food and game is. All the areas are responsibility than just to their own Rod starts with the names of the linked and major features impact across a children and parents. significant features of the area because wide area. For example, the big The families had specialised roles knowing the land is inherent in managing rainmakers for this area are hundreds of spread throughout the groups. Some the land. One word can mean a lot of kilometres apart. were toolmakers, other made spears. things depending on context but the main There were judges, juries and policemen features of this country are: Family and responsibilities who enforced the law. The groups Nallaga: ridgeline traded with each other, sometimes Wallaga: coast Rod’s family, ancestry and across big distances, and marriages were responsibilities go from the coast out into Narrawallee: grassland (continued next page)

8 NPA BULLETIN − JUNE 2012 with Rod Mason at ‘Garuwanga’

arranged with neighbours. Culture comes from the land itself; the trees, the rocks, the bushes. Everything has a name, a dance, a story. Bull ants aren’t just bull ants; they don’t just sting. If you observe them closely you will see them dance. It is important to look closely; see things you’ve never noticed before; find your own values; understand more about it by working with the land. Rod’s people came from the desert out west and from the country way up north. They haven’t been in this south country long, only about 4 000 or 6 000 or 8 000 years. They didn’t live here before that because of the dangers in this area. One story is that big winds blew for many hundreds of years, no-one could live here. Then there were the Dulugar; big hairy men who lived in this country and killed and ate Aboriginal people if they caught them. For a long time the families didn’t come further south than the Clyde River. Then pressure of families growing bigger pushed them south. But they kept the connections with Field excursion at Garuwanga. Photo Max Lawrence the old country and Rod’s authority is good pathways to ceremonial places or and use of resources, plants and animals recognised out in the central desert as hunting grounds or to food camps. are grouped under these three laws. well as here on the coast and escarpment. Different sites are important because they • So there are wind birds (eagles etc.); He still goes back to the central desert have different purposes. They may be fire birds (e.g. Diamond Firetail regularly to look after country. All the campgrounds, gardens or resources; there Finch); and water birds (e.g. ducks places connect; joining the dots is where may be a particular ceremony or dance etc.). knowledge is. associated with the site; they may have • Grasses are wind plants; eucalypt is a Aboriginal people didn't just burial grounds or meeting grounds; or fire plant; casuarina is a water plant. passively travel though the land picking they may have a spiritual meaning in the • Three main colours denote the role or up what was there. They actively big story of the land. grouping of things: red/orange; blue; managed the country setting up food and Corroboree was an important part of and white. Colour is a guide to plant material for use when they returned. passing on the knowledge. Participation use. Over the centuries they brought plants went across family groups. For example • Three main kinds of trees are used: and animals into new country as they young men and older uncles would come acacia; eucalypt; melaleuca. travelled south and east. For example, to the same place every year for • Things belong together, e.g. three the Dharrawal people brought the ceremony often over hundreds of years. kinds of possums belong with the cabbage tree palm (a rainforest tree) with When people died they were buried in three groups of trees: sugar gliders them as they travelled south. They the country in which they were born. The belong with acacia; brush-tail belongs cultivated local plants and established dead were wrapped in bark and left in with eucalypts; ring-tail belongs with gardens at regular camping sites, so that trees. Some time later the family melaleuca. the site would be producing the things members gathered up the bones, wrapped Seasons are identified by what they needed when next they visited. them in bark and put them in special things appear in conjunction with each Everyone, even small children, have an places. For Rod’s extended family this other, e.g. ‘butterfly time’ means area for which they are responsible for was the caves and ledges along the butterflies bring birds; birds spread the rest of their lives. They have to keep escarpment, Wadbilliga. (Rod expressed a seeds and help the gardens grow. it healthy, keep its plants and animals wish to be able to visit these places where Ferneries come good in mid summer healthy. they are on private land. This is a classic when birds need refuge from the heat. As families got bigger, tracks became example of the long-term clash between Managing the land means enhancing more frequent. Tracks up from the coast the European notion of land ownership these relationships. to the mountains were spread across the and Aboriginal view of their role as land, going to different areas like grass custodians of the land, not its owners.) Learning the right ways country; stone country; and to food supplies like swamps and creeks. Aboriginal learning is done through Campsites were dispersed, a sister’s The laws of the natural world show and tell; trial and error; touch and group here, a brother’s there. There are three main laws or elements: taste. Rod’s teacher was his grandfather. Ridgelines and creeks were always wind; fire; water. Laws on management He spoke six languages but never wrote (continued on page 10)

NPA BULLETIN − JUNE 2012 9 Aboriginal Land Management Workshop … (continued from page 9) anything down. He used painting and mark-making to record what needed to be recorded. Rod showed us his father’s and grandfather’s ceremonial shields, which marked their authority in different parts of the country. The markings on the shields described specific areas and would be recognised by initiated men. ‘The country teaches you’. Managing the land Aboriginal people managed the natural world for what they needed. It’s the same as European farming but done with a different mindset. The bush has patterns. Use the patterns to manage for what you want to achieve. For example, we looked closely at a small rocky knoll with dead wood, weeds etc. hampering good plants and the small animals and birds that need to be encouraged. Fire can be used to carefully manage this area but first you have to look carefully at what is there and decide how to manage it. Rather than tell us what to do, Rod posed two questions: which is the most Demonstration of the land management use of fire. Photo Max Lawrence flammable plant here, and do you burn the most flammable first or last? The practice what you have observed. The remain. Mark out the area you want issue is not what are the right answers to idea is to get rid of rubbish and allow the burnt, prepare strategies to limit it in case these questions but how you observe and good plants to grow. These small fires a wind springs up. Start the fire with the learn the answers for yourself. He cover only a few square metres at a time wind at your back. Spread it across the suggested the way to do this would be to and it may take several weeks to burn the area with small ignitions, working it set a small fire and observe what area in a pattern that makes sure the across the area you want covered. If the happens. Then, over several weeks, go valuable plants and animals of the rocky wind changes, you change where you are on to set other small fires that put into knoll are not damaged. Burn and watch working, keeping the wind at your back it; come back; watch what is there; all the time. learn about it. Then don’t burn for a Areas that Aborigines didn’t go into few years; just observe and learn. were not burnt. Fire was a tool for Bring the pattern back. managing the places they used. There were types of vegetation they didn’t Fire as a tool burn, e.g. forests where the bark goes Fire is used to clean up country, right up into the canopy. Aboriginal look after the plants and trees. Use people had no right to interfere with small fires, spread across the area. lightning strikes. If a big fire came Use fire at different times for through, you left it, let it go. Don’t try to different purposes; for example, stop it, just get everyone out of its way. using cool autumn burns for grassy Don’t put out natural fires; country did areas. There are strict laws about that or another entity. Never interfere who can burn, and when. You can’t with wind, lightning, rain. burn someone else’s area; it’s their responsibility and you will get into Looking at the landscape a lot of trouble if your fire goes Rod encouraged us to look at the wider across into their country. Rod’s landscape around us. Look for particular people never lit a fire and left it, species that can indicate the health of an there was always a responsibility to area, e.g. banksia on a rocky knoll. Look make sure it worked the way it at the connections between ti-tree and should. rocky outcrops, between wet and dry For a cool autumn burn select the areas. We have to know when the birds area carefully, wait till there’s low and butterflies arrive in this part of the cloud, maybe mist on the hilltops. world; when the trees blossom; what’s You want the green underlayer to happening under the ground. It’s not just about the shrubs and trees Rod Mason with ceremonial shield and and things Aborigines use and eat. We boomerang. Photo Max Lawrence (continued next page)

10 NPA BULLETIN − JUNE 2012 Aboriginal Land Management Workshop … (continued from page 10) need to look after the whole of country. responsibility. Rod’s daughter, for Aborigines from Wilcannia were sent to Look for what’s missing as well as what example, is boss of orchids; his son is Coonamble; long way to get back home. is here. This country needs to get more boss of ring-tail possum. Rod’s of the small animals back; but to keep daughters collect seed pods and make Possible future actions them on country it needs the big emus to necklaces out of them, not to sell but to Rod would like to farm native grasses make them feel safe, drive away foxes act out Tjuppurra. Being in the bush, like lomandra; to use his country to and wild dogs. Smaller animals don’t making things, even toys, using the bush, produce commercial supplies of the feel safe without the big emus looking that is part of Tjuppurra. It doesn’t have herbs and seeds people want to buy. He out for them. We won’t get koalas back if to be serious stuff all the time. Rod wants some commercial tourism in the there aren’t any emus because the koalas showed us how to make little birds and area where the Aboriginal knowledge is won’t feel safe. Need a big feller and spiders out of feathers, leaves and seed respected and imparted to visitors. Visits some females to come and settle, lay pods, then how to play games with them. could include Tuross Falls, Lambie eggs; stay on country. Gorge and the mountains. Listen to what’s coming out of Politics country. Observe for yourself; carry out The problem for a lot of Aboriginal Final words: the task you’ve been given; come back to people is the big displacements over the the family and tell the old people what past 200 years. A lot of Aboriginal Be curious; make things in country; find you’ve learnt. politics like Land Councils are run on the your values, your story. Mission system: nepotism as opposed to Christine Goonrey Managing change the larger family network and To manage the land for which we have responsibilities; short-term interests as Notice of Annual General taken responsibility, we have to know the opposed to caring for country; hierarchy place inside out and know how the place instead of responsibility for country. So a Meeting changes in the story line. For example, Land Council member from the Thursday 16 August 2012 storytellers on weather have a long rainforest country could be making Business: Minutes of the AGM 2011 history of weather. They have been decisions about escarpment country. President's Report tracking climate changes for a very long That’s why that system doesn’t work for Financial Report time. Change happens, we have to adapt. Aboriginals. These are what Rod calls Appointment of Auditor During the recent ice ages, the land ‘new Aborigines’; people who have Election of Office-bearers extended out beyond the present coast. come into another country, without and Committee Rod’s grandfather told him stories of learning the ways of that place, and Any other business stone axes now in underwater caves in stayed on. Note: all office-bearer and committee Sydney Harbour but no-one listened till a These people don’t know where they positions become vacant at scientist found one, then they believed it. came from and they don’t know the right the AGM. stories; they don’t know how to behave. Nominations for the ensuing year are Tjuppurra They haven’t got their Tjuppurra; they’re welcome. not educated; never done ceremony; they ‘When we go home and go to sleep, Detailed notice on page 22. who’s looking after us: country. So we have no culture. Ceremony is secret; you have to look after country. Find all these have to swear to protect country. It’s family business, control and values, family values, personal values.’ Below Left. Rod making simple toys from Find out what is our Tjuppurra, our own responsibility. The family networks have to deal with it if it is disrespected. But nature. Photo SabineFriedrich story, our own special place and use it. Below. Showing off a bird made from seed Everyone has their own special family members are scattered, they’re stuck on reserves, off country. pods, nuts, leaves and feathers. Photo Max Lawrence

This 2.

NPA BULLETIN − JUNE 2012 11 Australian Aboriginal land management before and during the nineteenth century As a member of the NPA group who use of ammonia was apparently went to the two-day workshop led by known, for when the seeds were in Rod Mason to learn about the land use the scratched but still warm earth practices of the Aborigines of the south the little boys were requisitioned to coast and southern inland area of New damp them. South Wales, I learned much and recalled ‘Grass seed was gathered, a heavy information I’d read in Mary Gilmore’s kind, and I helped in this. When a book Old Days: Old Ways, first lot still in ‘the ear’ had been published in 1934. collected it was rubbed by hand and Mary (Cameron) Gilmore was born then by a turn the bark container in 1865 near Goulburn NSW, and died in into which it had been put was Sydney in 1962. Her youth was spent shaken, tipped right and left, and the near Wagga Wagga and the Riverina, grain lay clear at one end, with the where her father Donald Cameron, a husks in a little pile at the other.’ building contractor, had a great sympathy and admiration for the Mary also noted that individual seeds Aboriginal people who he considered from fruit that had been eaten were were being ‘wiped out’ by the European planted after first heating the earth by a settlers. He learnt the language of the small fire of twigs. Waradgery tribe, held long discussions ‘Then there was their usage in the with elders and was made a member of matter of the quandong tree. They Dame Mary Gilmore 1865–1962. Photo the tribe. looked to see which of the stones or nuts were male or female and from illustrated edition of Old Days: Old Donald and Mary Cameron noted and Ways, Angus and Robertson, 1986 discussed the ways in which the planted accordingly. But there was Waradgery managed their land. The more than this. When a grove was in ‘When the advance met the little following are a few examples of the flower they brought branches from islands of burnt grass it died there: land-use practices recorded in Old Days: another grove to fertilise the in the lanes between it was beaten Old Ways. blossom. I saw this done at out. The chief told my father that Yarrengerry … Earlier I had seen it unless fire was kept narrow and Chapter 29 ‘Fire and the planted done near what is now Bethungra. beaten out before it created a high seed’. When using fire to capture Often I saw the twigs left on the wind it was no use fighting it. Once animals ‘the system was by firing and ground under trees to show that the it created its own wind it was back firing so that conflagration could be work had been done and need not be invincible … stayed at any time and only sufficient repeated.’ ‘At this place the chief spoke fire let run to circle and drive the animals Mary gives the following clear bitterly of the white man’s to a common centre. If the fire was in carelessness in lighting bushfires, danger of getting away, the Aborigines description of fire control: ‘Having the confidence of habit saying that he lit and let them run would get small branches and beat out like a child that loved destruction: the fire with rapid arm movement. they allowed a fire freedom where it seemed least dangerous. In one such that such destruction was wanton; ‘It was here (after fires) I saw more the forest fires spoiled the fine or less extensive planting of seeds fire they concentrated on the sides, letting the centre flame run forward. timbers from which weapons were by the lubras. This was done at the made and bark taken for canoes; direction of the chief who when the But far in advance of this ran lubras hunkering down over their half yard that it took years for the forest to earth was cool enough to walk upon, come back to itself after being went first to one shrub and then wide flares. Behind the first row a second line was at work and behind burned, and the fire destroyed birds, another testing and examining the bees, seeds and animals. He was to burnt capsules and where these had this a third, each fire opposite the gaps between the forward ones. The learn later that fire, miles wide, been destroyed, directing the would be lit to burn him and his.’ attention of the women to them. The advancing tongues of flame having women gathered fresh ones from been kept narrow by attention to the Fiona MacDonald Brand untouched shrubs, and planted them sides draught was narrow, so a very where the destroyed ones stood. The wide front of fire was not necessary.

(Note that overnight numbers will be limited — six people per NPA ACT Art at Gudgenby Cottage. night). We plan to have another Art Week at Gudgenby Cottage For information and to express your interest in close to the spring equinox, end of September. This is a chance participating, contact: for members of NPA ACT to indulge their more creative selves Adrienne Nicholson on 6281 6381 or through painting, drawing, writing, photography, or other Christine Goonrey at [email protected] artistic endeavours; explore Namadgi from a base in the or on 6231 8395. Gudgenby Valley; share warm, comfortable and convivial Check Burning Issues for details when available. evenings. You can join in for a day, overnight, or several days.

12 NPA BULLETIN − JUNE 2012 More dollars for koala research After the drought At NPA’s February general meeting, ‘Across the Southern Tablelands study six days guest speaker Chris Allen spoke about area, koala evidence has been dis- without the sun research on koala conservation in south- covered at more than half of the sur- my heart sings eastern NSW. His talk was subsequently vey sites we have assessed east of this blessed La Nina — reported in the March edition of the Michelago and Cooma. During Bulletin. surveys, we record two hundred millimetres Since then it has been data including announced that a grant for koala droppings, all weekend $100 000 from the NSW chewed bark and walking in gentle rain Environmental Trust will animal sightings turning inwards enable Cooma–Monaro and we collect Shire Council (CMSC) to samples where to rainwashed thoughts proceed with plans to help possible. ’neath a goretex hood balance land management ‘Koala inbreeding issues with koala is a problem in after the drought conservation. some parts of Aus- I tread Earth’s soft carpet Office of Environment tralia, but through yellow box and Heritage (OEH) researchers at Syd- Koala Recovery Project ney University and blakleyi … Coordinator Chris Allen have so far identi- magpies and butcher birds reports that OEH, together fied two distinct with the Rural Fire gene pools and a spring rainfall Service, local volunteers relatively high level above average — and Sydney University of variability within researchers, has made great strides each in the Southern Tablelands koala our dams are full — understanding koala distribution and population. These genetic findings and I flush the toilet behaviour near Cooma. evidence of the extent of this popu- freely … emphatically ‘The 50 000 hectare region where lation are an encouraging sign and also OEH and the RFS have been surveying highlight the conservation significance koalas over the last 18 months lies within of Southern Tablelands koalas.’ Gerry Jacobson . Cooma–Monaro Shire Council, and this Max Lawrence grant will provide a great boost to this work’, Mr Allen said. He added:

David Campbell, Poet 1915–1979 The Heart of the Matter

In the March 2012 edition of the NPA Bulletin Klaus Hueneke Plodding physicists agree contributed an article of That matter equals energy; reminiscences prompted by a book Energy is sweet delight, he borrowed from Tim Walsh. The Says Blake, and puts the matter right. article was entitled Where the Ice- Trees Burn, and the book included Stars and singing birds rejoice letters written by the late David In their courses with one voice Campbell, a Canberra poet and land- owner who had lived at Wells And from the dreaming atom grows Station, and whose property The chain-reaction of the rose. included parts of Mulligans Flat and Goorooyarroo. Klaus noted there Matter would take fire without was a park in the suburb of Harrison The channelling restraints of thought where examples of his poetry were That lock wild ardours up in stone displayed. It has now come to our attention To lend his concepts flesh and bone. that Mr Campbell and his work are also represented in Garema Place, Canberra City, in the form of a bust mounted on a plinth which incorporates his poem The Heart of Stars and singing rejoice the Matter. He is flanked in this space by fellow poets Judith Wright and A.D.Hope, In their courses with one voice and a nearby sign proclaims Private Poetry: Trespassers Welcome. As well as being And from the dangerous atom grows a local landowner and much published poet, David Campbell was a Cambridge The thorny passion of the rose. scholar, a war hero pilot in the RAAF during World War II, a keen fisherman, and an accomplished athlete. A colourful Canberra character indeed. David Campbell Max Lawrence

NPA BULLETIN − JUNE 2012 13 Thomas Shanahan and his JallaGillingong Run Shanahans Mountain Track is described in a recent guide map as being a pleasant walk through snow gums to the summit of the mountain with rewarding views over Clear Range to the Tinderry Range. Some people, on the other hand, find the walk a little uninteresting. Perhaps knowing about the people after whom the mountain, the track, and also a creek, are named will make the walk of more interest.

Shanahan and Cotter; Irish exiles Thomas Shanahan arrived in the Colony of New South Wales in November of 1822 on board the convict ship Mangles, along with another 189 Irish convicts. He View from Shanahans Mountain. Photo Babette Scougall was a labourer from Tipperary, Ireland, aged 28, who was given 14 years for then unsurveyed mountainous region Squatting at JallaGillingong that now forms the southern part of having forged banknotes in his As early as 1837 Shanahan had also Namadgi National Park. possession when arrested. One of his squatted on a large block of unsurveyed fellow passengers was Garrett Cotter, land in the unnamed mountains to the then aged 18, a ploughman from Cork, Shanahan … ‘an honest, sober west of his Michelago farm. He chose who had been charged with insurrection and industrious person’ the Aboriginal name JallaGillingong for and firing on the King’s troops. He was Shanahan’s history was different. His it. This is the name entered on his first at first sentenced to death but, because of 1837 depasturing licence. Later, for his young age, the sentence was later first ‘master’ was Daniel Driscoll who, within two years, was so unexplained reasons, the spelling of the commuted to transportation for life. name was changed to Tallingillmang, the The social turmoil of Ireland at that impressed with his convict servant, describing him as ‘an honest sober and name used on later entries. The run time was extreme, with unemployment, abutted the southern boundary of James poverty, heavy taxes, famine and industrious person’, that he was willing to back him when Shanahan Booth’s Demandring Run and together starvation the lot of many. The suffering, they straddled the upper Naas valley. Its especially among the labouring classes, petitioned Governor Brisbane to have his destitute wife and children in southern boundary abutted that of was so bad that many had no choice but William Bradley's large Bullanamang to break the law to survive. By being Ireland brought out to the Colony so that he could provide for them. This Run. sent to the colony Shanahan and Cotter It was in 1839 that Henry Bingham, escaped Ireland’s most troubled years. request was approved and the family arrived the following year. Land Commissioner for the Theirs is a typical story that out of the Murrumbidgee District, arrived at the cruel repression of Ireland of the early The Convict Muster of 1828 finds Shanahan still in Airds, but with a new remote JallaGillingong Run as part of his nineteenth century came success and land survey. He found a small party of respect in the convict colony. master, Chris Coleman. By the mid 1830s, however, Shanahan was not three men in residence, looking after Both men were initially assigned to 560 cattle and 17horses on an estimated work for people in the Airds (now only a free man, he held land in the Monquedelan Plain (the now 3 840 acres. They appeared to have been Campbelltown) district, after which their there for some time. The superintendent paths diverged for some years. Michelago area) and had applied for and was granted a licence to run a of this primitive establishment was Cotter’s history is well known (see recorded as being Shanahan’s 23-year- Bruce Moore’s Cotter Country for his wayside inn, the Union Arms. The inn was next to the main dirt track leading old son, also Thomas, with two unnamed full story). Briefly, while on his first servants. It would appear that one of ticket-of-leave passport with Francis down to the newly opened Maneroo district and quickly became a them was Garrett Cotter, then on his Kenny at Lake George he was accused of second ticket-of-leave and therefore stealing a mare, so he absconded. Later convenient watering hole for all early travellers south. However, being on entitled to find his own employment he gave himself up, was brought before within the district, even though he was the court and as punishment was the outer edge of civilisation and the most southerly wayside inn at the still a convict. Shanahan in 1840 banished to the unknown territory unsuccessfully petitioned for a pardon beyond the Murrumbidgee River. He time, it was more likely to have been a sly grog shop where convict stock for Cotter while he was in his employ. survived this harsh exile only because of (Cotter’s conditional pardon didn’t come the help he received from the Aboriginal keepers, shepherds and runaways congregated. A police station wasn't through until 1847.) It was probably elder, Honyong. During that period of Cotter who ran this early establishment exile, Cotter became familiar with the established in Michelago until 1859. (continued next page)

14 NPA BULLETIN − JUNE 2012 Thomas Shanahan and his JallaGillingong Run … (continued from page 14) for the Shanahans. It may even have JallaGillingong been Cotter who guided Shanahan up to dispersed ‘Is it Tallingillmang Run or this mountain hideaway composed of should it be JallaGillingong Run?’ ridge after ridge of thickly wooded hills With only fragments of and deep unexplored gullies. Cotter information available What emerged while researching this story probably discovered the place and saw about very early squatting is the surprisingly large number of Aboriginal its potential during his period of exile. runs it's hard to piece names that are present in the records of this Landlocked gullies were essential in together a complete history early 1820s and 30s contact period. The early those fenceless days of early grazing. of JallaGillingong/Tallin- pioneers seemed to like to use the Aboriginal Apparently no-one permanently lived gillmang. It would appear words for their runs, even if they didn’t know on this squatting run. It was not a that it may have been left how to spell them. JallaGillingong [or particularly thriving run and appears to comparatively untouched Tallingillmang as it came to be called] is just have been used as relief country only. for some years. When the one example. The tragedy is that neither Bumbalong Station was version of that name now exists in the Park, Purchase of ‘The Briars’ taken up by Archibald while at the same time the Shanahan name is Peden, he added parts of commemorated three times— for the By 1843 Thomas had accumulated Shanahan’s squatting run mountain, the creek and the walking track. As enough money to purchase the large to his holdings. Also, the one of the first landholders Thomas Shanahan early grant belonging to William Cotter family later played a role in the Park’s history. He used the Balcombe called ‘The Briars’ in the acquired the neighbouring run from only about 1836–37 to the early Molonglo Plains (near present-day Demandering Run, as well 1840s; that is, for less than a decade. Rossi). After this, Thomas Shanahan left as blocks of land in the Aboriginals on the other hand were there for his interest in the Michelago district to Shanahans Falls Creek thousands of years, so we should not allow his brother David who came out to the valley. In more recent their words and place names to be forgotten. colony in 1840 with his family. ‘The years there was a paddock Adrian Brown has explained that there is Briars’ became Thomas Shanahan’s head on Colin and Daphne no 't' in the language of the Namadgi people, station and his family’s permanent Curtis’s Clear Station that so the earlier Jalla (also spelt Jaller) Gillingong residence, along with their outstation they called Shanaghan’s. spelling is the more correct one. ‘Hazel Dell’ at Long Swamp near Boro. Daphne always spelt and The Shanahan family grew and pronounced Shanahan with prospered there. By the time of Thomas a ‘g’. As it is now, you can senior’s death in 1874, he was a sit on the rocks at the prominent citizen and highly respected highest point on the Shanahans on this mountain together at least during member of the Bungendore– Mountain Track and see right across the 1839 to 1842 period, looking down Queanbeyan district, as was also his son. Shanahan’s run, and down below the on Shanahan’s stock below (or was it The graves of a number of these creek that bears his name and which theirs?). Did they ever sit there and Shanahan families are on the property. was at the heart of the discuss how they’d been treated since At one stage back in the 1840s, JallaGillingong/Tallingillmang their forced removal from Ireland, the Thomas Shanahan snr won local fame squatting run. It looks hardly touched land they loved? Did Cotter tell when he captured the bushranger now. Only the pale thread of a fire Shanahan how he managed to survive Holloway near Bungonia. Shanahan was trail breaks up the heavily timbered his extraordinary exiling to the west of on his way to Sydney with a horse team slopes of the ridges in the distance. the Bidgee? from his station on the Molonglo River There’s more to this walk than just when Holloway bailed up the party. gum trees. A walk in the footsteps of Shanahan was ordered to strip off his Babette Scougall clothes and empty his pockets, which he pioneers refused to do. Holloway fired at So the next time you do the Shanahan Shanahan but, fortunately for Shanahan, Mountain Track you may well be the shotgun was in bad condition and walking in the footsteps of the first misfired, giving him the opportunity to two white men who dared to venture drag the bushranger off his horse and, into this wild unknown territory — with the help of his men, tie him to the Thomas Shanahan and Garrett Cotter. cart and deliver him to the Police Post at There is a great possibility, more Bungonia. likely a probability, that they were up

Other place names relating to this story include: Michelago and its many early spellings — Micilogo, Mikilago, Mickilago, Micalago, Macalego Plain, Micalyn Plains are but a few. ‘Micki’ is said to mean lightning. The mountains to the west of Michelago were generally referred to as the Mickelago Ranges (a variety of spellings), but never Clear or Booths. Shanahan called his first farms ‘Micilogo’ (etc.) and ‘Nimytibelle’ (Nimmitbelle, Nimmitabel). They were said to be in the Monquetelan Plains (Monkedelan Plains), which became known as Keefe’s Plain after the Keefe family settled there.

NPA BULLETIN − JUNE 2012 15 Book review The Biggest Estate on European settlement much has been lost. environment and, broadly speaking, with Earth: How Aborigines This has not deterred Bill Gammage. each other. Just as clearly, it would seem Made Australia In the first part of his book he quotes the newcomers had much to learn from the original people, but they haven’t been Bill Gammage extensively from the records and diaries of early white explorers and settlers, and listening. Allen and Unwin, 2011 their descriptions of the landscape as In the third part of the book 434 pages, $49.99 rrp they found it. This includes Cook’s and Gammage details at some length the Banks’ 1770 observations on the extent various methods and techniques The central thesis of this weighty but of fires evident along the eastern coast, Aboriginal people used to ensure that very readable tome by Canberra the diaries of Charles Sturt, Ludwig their country supplied them with the academic and historian Professor Bill Leichhardt, Edward Eyre and other essentials of life, and even a few Gammage is that prior to European explorers, and the writings of numerous luxuries. This invariably involved the use settlement Aboriginal people used fire to pioneers. Even Abel Tasman is quoted on of fire to bring on particular plants, very carefully manage the entire his view of southern Tasmania as ‘pretty attract (and trap) animals and control Australian landscape. The result was a generally covered with trees …. unwanted growth. It also depended on a far more open panorama than we know unhindered by dense shrubbery or high level of mobility, with people today, more akin to the parkland estates underwood.’ This historical analysis is travelling over quite extensive tracts of held by European gentry in their northern then backed up by a very interesting country for which they were responsible, hemisphere homelands. Gammage pictorial comparison of early paintings and on which they depended. Even the maintains that once Aboriginal people and current photographs taken from resources of the deserts were open to were no longer able to tend their country, similar locations. These cover a wide them. The strength of the obligation to it became overgrown and vulnerable to variety of sites including some from this maintain their country is demonstrated the hugely damaging bushfires we now area (Lake George is one), and others by the example of the Aboriginal people experience. Importantly for readers of ranging over the whole continent. in Tasmania, who continued to use fire, this journal especially, he maintains that The second part of the book examines even though it would reveal their ‘what we think of as virgin bush in a the fundamentals of nature as they apply presence, and ultimately seal their fate. national park is nothing of the kind’. to Australia, and the extent to which The detail of such management The research effort put into this book European land use has disrupted these practices is examined for each of the is enormous. There are something like fundamentals, through such things as soil capital cities of Australia, including 1500 references in the bibliography at the compaction, increased water runoff, Canberra, by reference to historical back of the book, and just about every salinity and uncontrolled bushfire. records. The early explorers were paragraph in the text is footnoted. The Before ‘settlement’ Aboriginal people invariably interested in the potential of bibliography includes both historical and were able to manage the land, its water, the land they saw for sheep and cattle scientific references, with the emphasis plants and animals through judicious use grazing and, accordingly, they usually necessarily being on the former. of fire and a highly mobile way of life. described what they found in some However, Gammage has relatively little This existence was underpinned by a detail. to draw on in the way of direct records religious code embodied in the Dreaming For Canberra, Charles Throsby Smith from truly original sources — the and the Law, which had sustained a in December 1820 described ‘a beautiful Aboriginal people themselves. Despite remarkably stable culture and lifestyle Clear plain … as far as the Eye could having been in this country for 40 000 for millennia. Clearly, it would seem, reach all round … a finest Country as years or more their history was mainly Aboriginal people over a very long ever was seen’. Gammage goes on to passed on orally, and with the rapid period had worked out a very sustainable define a particular small plain in the depletion of their numbers following system of living in harmony with their vicinity of today’s Australian National University, and notes that ‘people burnt carefully to make this plain’. In undertaking this huge project Bill Gammage has of necessity been restricted to a somewhat subjective approach, something he freely admits. This is the nature of History. It could be asserted that much of the analysis is based on selected quotes set up to support his underlying hypothesis, and no doubt this is so. Gammage clearly feels somewhat vulnerable on this count, and has included an Appendix rebutting (continued next page)

Cover image: Joseph Lycett, c1775-1828, Aborigines using fire to hunt kangaroos, c1820, watercolour17.7 x 27.8 cm (Pic R5689, National Library of Australia)

16 NPA BULLETIN − JUNE 2012 Report on a bushwalk Lone Pine Trail is seriously steep; the creek. Here it really began to snow Walk: Mt Morgan, 13 May 2012. when you have 700 metres to climb it is and persisted for half an hour. Participants: Brian Slee (Leader), good that the toughest bit comes early. Morgan (1 874 m) is the second Bernard Morvel, Margaret Power, Margaret spotted the first snow patch at highest in the area after Bimberi and Max Smith, Mike Smith. the burnt-out alpine ashes and by the perhaps creates its own weather. As we Weather: Cold; breezy with low time we turned off to Bung Harris Creek descended, clouds were breaking into cloud at first; snow and strong for a break, small grains were falling. blue, Yaouk Plain was in sun, black westerly at altitude; briefly sunny Time to don extra layers. cockatoos conversed, and all again late in afternoon. The light dimmed. The footpad was seemed fine with the world. We were at Leader’s comments: Mt Morgan is smeared with fused snow and there was the car 3:15 pm. But as we drove out the visited for the views. We saw sufficient to enlace delicate leaves and mountain was dramatically enveloped by none. The peak was being blasted fallen trunks. As we rose so did the wind. a snowstorm. It pursued us briefly as from the west by stinging snow. A robin ‘redbreast’ (how do they rain; the light was beautiful. Forecasts had suggested this survive?) flitted by as we rounded iced No afternoon tea at Adaminaby (false wintry scenario. The condition of rocks and trees. We were in cloud on the advertising, sorry). Return was via the access road limits summit at noon, and in the wind we Boboyan Road where it had also snowed. opportunities to experience the could barely reach the presumed A pair of eagles were disturbed at a road mountain this way so we took a container of the visitors book (it was kill. Arrived Kambah 4:45 pm, total chance and had a memorable day frozen shut). The exposed rock face was distance 200 km (not 150 — another out. crusted with knobbly ice. error!). Mt Morgan was an annual Steve We hunkered down for lunch in a Hill event until 2010 — grand return We piled into Mike’s Pajero at surprisingly sheltered, but otherwise 2013? Kambah Village, departing 7:30 am unremarkable, spot. Some had wet socks Brian Slee and arriving, via Yaouk and Kennedys and were feeling cold; we were off Roads, at the entrance to Snowgum before 1:00 pm. The track was not (‘For Sale’) soon after 9:00 am. obvious as horse riders visit less often Kennedys Road had benefited from and, with the accumulating snow, the weeks of dry weather so the only track could not be found. So Mike and obstacles were four gates. Max used GPS and reunited us with it at

Membership fees and information survey In the last week or so you will have received a letter in the survey results, the committee will consider mail asking for membership renewals and donations. Part of making changes to the way we distribute the the letter is a printout of the details we store confidentially on Bulletin. our membership database and we are asking members to check Please take the time to check and correct (if necessary) your that the information we have (name⁄s, address, phone number⁄s, details, answer the survey question and send the whole form, membership type, joining date, your interests in supporting the with your membership dues, back to the office. NPA ACT, email address and an indication whether you want Thank you to members who have already returned their to receive our e-newsletter Burning Issues) is still correct. renewal form. There is also a survey question we would like you to answer: would you prefer to receive future Bulletins in printed Sonja Lenz, Secretary form (as usual), as a digital document through your email address, or as both printed and digital copy? Depending on the

Book review (continued) criticisms by some scientists. This reads a bit like ‘they say, I say’, so clearly both philosophy was destroyed by the whisper of regret. sides are capable of quoting selectively. completely unexpected, an We have a continent to learn. If My own feeling is that there is already invasion of new people and ideas. we are to survive, let alone feel at an impressive amount of science A majestic achievement ended. home, we must begin to included in the analysis and, together Only fragments remain. For the understand our country. If we with the presentation of the available people of 1788 the loss was succeed, one day we might historical evidence, this persuades me of stupefying. For the newcomers it become Australian. the value of the book’s conclusions. did not seem great. Until recently Max Lawrence The last two paragraphs of the book few noticed that they had lost bear repeating: anything at all. Knowledge of how This book interrupts Law and to sustain Australia, of how to be country at the moment when terra Australian, vanished with barely a nullius came, and an ancient

NPA BULLETIN − JUNE 2012 17 Report on a bushwalk Mt Painter and surrounds: birds, flowers, Indigenous artefacts and a B&B! Esther Gallant kindly put on a gentle walk in our backyard on Sunday 22 April; how could we miss it? Mt Painter and the Pinnacle were to be scaled, prominent ancient volcanic peaks in south Belconnen, but what eventuated exceeded our expectations of a neighbourhood stroll. Len Haskew, Deidre Shaw, Sonja impressive, an elaborate exclosure, a the family that has owned the complex Lenz and Kevin McCue set off with metal walkway, erosion control and lots since 1937 and then she asked if we Esther from a car park on Bindubi Street, of weeding and poisoning of briars, with would like to see through Rosebud through Canberra Nature Park to more ahead of them. Cottage which is let as a B&B! Surprise Mt Painter. The first thrill was a hardly describes my reaction but in a hovering Black-shouldered Kite and, in Views from Mount Painter and few minutes we entered a beautifully the same hunting space soon after, a fly- The Pinnacle maintained cottage, the slabs, as Deidre by of an Australian Kestrel. Not to be pointed out, had been expertly finished outdone, a flash of red, black and white Mount Painter (743 m asl; incorrectly with an adze. It had all the mod cons signalled a cruising male Scarlet Robin marked as 473 m on the current Canberra carefully set into the heritage cottage down in the gully. Those were the Nature Park map) has extensive views in interior, the four-poster bed more highlights for the bird watchers with every direction, weather permitting, redolent of a castle in the old country many other common species disturbed which it didn’t, but the vista from The than in a slab hut in the old Ginninderra by our passing. Pinnacle (709 m asl) is obscured by Village. some magnificent gum trees, which is Len explained how the builders Signs of abundant friendship probably why there are several survey rebated the slabs into a slot in a markers there, perhaps not so necessary Clustered pink triangular plant guards horizontal timber foundation slab, today with the development of GPS. The attested to a busy and successful planting preferably a termite resistant timber. old trig site on the summit had been program near the summit by the Friends Grateful for the hospitality and tour recently renovated. of Mt Painter; many contained flowering of this bit of the past, we left on the last On the walk, eagle-eyed Sonja or recently flowered chocolate lilies, leg of our 13 km walk. Arriving at the spotted several stone flakes left by the Hardenbergia and native grasses. The cars, feeling a little tired, we were Aboriginal inhabitants before European volcanics here produce a conspicuously revitalised with a hot fresh cuppa and occupation. We examined them with awe richer soil than that in nearby Aranda. home-made muesli slice whipped up by before returning them to where they had We continued on, skirting the Deidre in her immaculate motor home, been discarded who knows how long adjacent rural lease areas to the south. and then it was off home. ago. We noted some trees, shrubs and The weather forecasters promised Thank you very much Esther! forbs had become confused by the warm showers but they held off until lunchtime weather and were flowering again. Kevin McCue on the Pinnacle, and with a cool breeze on our backs we decided not to stay too long. We chatted amiably with a Rosebud Cottage grandmother, father and young son, local On the circuit back Esther led us around residents out for a short pre-lunch the side of Mt Painter through a narrow ramble to admire a large mob of weed-infested laneway in Cook. We kangaroos lolling in the long Themeda spied a farm complex which I, a grass just metres away, quite oblivious to Canberra native, had never seen before, us. slab huts and outhouses in a well-kept The effort put in by the local park ‘English’ garden. We were taking care group, Friends of the Pinnacle, was photographs when we were hailed by a woman walking purposely towards us. She introduced herself to our surprise as Maureen Tully, one of

Top. Mt Painter across to the Arboretum Left. Inside the Rosebud Slab Hut Right. The Rosebud Creamery Photos Kevin McCue

18 NPA BULLETIN − JUNE 2012 Report on a bushwalk Nungar Plain, for morning tea. From Trail, which was new to us all. It started Walk: Bulgar Hill, 15 April 2012. there we ascended west via the creek with the steepest climb of the day, Participants: (5) Brian Slee through park-like forest to featureless followed by another ridge. A protest was (Leader), Rupert Barnett, Phil Bulgar Hill (1 515 m), Rupert checking lodged but the committee failed to Anderson, Max Smith, John the coordinates to confirm we were convene. More magnificent eucalypts, of Kelly. there. Maybe it got named by graziers unknown variety, came into view. What Weather: Cool at first, warm by needing a reference point when moving great ruins they make when they fall, afternoon, partly cloudy, mostly stock between valleys. breaking mid-trunk. We were soon at still air. We continued west (wallabies Circuits Trail and back at the cars at Leader’s comments: A new 15 km crashing about), and a bit north of west, 3:10 pm. walk from Bugtown to Gavels so that we encountered Gavels Hut Trail At Adaminaby the Big Trout is under Hut via Bulgar Hill, mainly in where it crosses ‘Gavels’ Creek, adding cover during refurbishment: be ready for forest. 1 km to our route. A curious new sparkling pink scales and pouting lips. exclosure has been erected in squishy The bakery now closes at 2:00 pm We left Kambah Village at 7:00 am in ground, spanning the creek. Heading Sunday so we had hot drinks nearby at two Subarus, travelling via Boboyan south, three distant brumbies lined up to Snowy Cafe. From there we were on the Road (in good condition), Adaminaby face us but soon fled. road, with plenty of dust, reaching and Bugtown Road (4WD, but not a Lunch was at 12:15 pm in a grove of Kambah at 5:50 pm. Good day. No great problem) to get to Bugtown. As in shade trees on the north side of the hut excitements but lovely country. 2011, the cows were offended by our (which is in great condition). Lovely Brian Slee presence and impudently ‘barked’ at place to contemplate the world. A us like dogs when we stopped to open wagtail caught our eyes and treecreepers one of the six gates. our ears. A slowly circling wedgetail After a group photo beneath a made a late appearance before we eucalypt of mighty girth, we set off at departed at 1:00 pm. 9:20 am on Circuits Trail, climbing It was downhill on Gavels Hut Trail gently and then descending to the to Goorundee Rivulet (full and gurgling, ruins of New Hut, on the edge of as usual) and then east on Boundary

Ferals at Thredbo

Feral deer in Kosciuszko National Park, just across the Thredbo River from the campground at Thredbo Diggings, January 2012. Photo Sabine Friedrich

NPA BULLETIN − JUNE 2012 19 PARKWATCH National parks are national in parks becoming truly national by making ‘If we don’t manage our biosecurity their management a ‘trigger’ under the better, our children and grandchildren name only federal Environment Protection and might inherit an environment so poor it It is a peculiar twist of logic that we Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act can only support a poor society’, Mr elevate a handful of Australian actors to 1999. Some state governments, including DeJose said. be called national treasures, yet our Victoria’s, have responded negatively to Park Watch (VNPA), national parks struggle to make even B- this perceived attack on their rights. But No. 248 (March 2012) grade celebrity status. In truth, our can it really be claimed as a ‘right’ if a national parks are ‘national’ in name government abrogates its responsibility Needed – a conservation vision only. Largely the creation of state to care for a key area under its for Victoria governments, these treasures enjoy very jurisdiction? little national oversight or protection. The Federal Environment Minister After the conservation policy debacle Federal Environment Minister Tony stepped into Victoria’s cattle debate over cattle grazing in the Alpine National Burke’s recent decision to stop cattle because of the potential impact of Park, you’d think it would be a case of grazing in Victoria’s Alpine National grazing on the threatened Alpine Tree- ‘once bitten, twice shy’ for Ted Baillieu. Park illustrates the critical need to place frog. Alpine sphagnum bogs and fens are But the political masterminds who our national parks under federal also listed under national environment dreamt up the plan to give free grazing in oversight. When the Baillieu law. But the fact that the grazing ‘trial’ a national park to a handful of cattlemen Government made the decision to was in a national park was not in itself a are working behind the scenes to repair introduce cattle into a national park, it trigger for Federal Government. National the embarrassment in the River Red walked away from its responsibilities to parks are the most efficient and effective Gum national parks in northern Victoria. manage the state’s natural environment. way of conserving nature, particularly The Barmah Cattlemen’s Association, At a state level, the decision was widely threatened species. Now is the time to a small group of privileged landholders viewed to be politically motivated. At a recognise the importance of national who used to receive very cheap national level, it highlighted the parks to the nation as a whole by agistment for their cattle, is lobbying fundamental flaws in our national protecting them at a national level. local National Party MPs for a grazing legislation to protect these critical areas. Park Watch (VNPA), trial at Barmah. Local National Party MP In the past 12 months, the Baillieu No. 248 (March 2012) Paul Weller supports cattle grazing in Government has also exposed a number Barmah National Park. Following the of threatened species to logging by Plant pests threaten our natives 2010 state election, Mr Weller changing the Code of Practice for unilaterally announced in local media Timber Production. In effect, changes to Australia’s national floral emblem, the that the Baillieu Government would the code allow areas identified for Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha), could reintroduce cattle into the park. logging to be exempted from threatened fall victim to newly evolving plant pests Thankfully, this was categorically ruled species laws. from overseas, after the Australian out. However, Mr Weller has continued In the 1990s the states and the Government failed to deal with the to broadcast in local media outlets his Commonwealth agreed that the states recent invasion of Myrtle Rust. ‘aspiration’ for a return of cattle to would have responsibility for threatened ‘South African foresters are warning Barmah NP. species management in areas targeted for that new diseases attacking Australian The Department of Sustainability and logging under regional forest wattles grown in plantation in Africa and Environment (DSE), Parks Victoria and agreements. Hence, national Asia will reach our shores’, said Invasive the local Catchment Management environmental laws do not apply in Species Council CEO John DeJose. ‘But Authority have all recognised the logging areas, placing our threatened the Australian Government is yet to ecological impacts of stock grazing in species at the mercy of state-owned develop contingency plans for these and Red Gum wetlands, so much so that the logging interests. Since 1993, Australia other looming threats to our natural state government offers incentives to has been a party to the global Convention environment. These new pathogens have landholders to exclude stock completely on Biological Diversity. Under the evolved the ability to infect several from similar, but dwindling, vegetation Australian Constitution, the Federal wattle species, just as Myrtle Rust communities and wetlands on private Government is responsible for delivering ‘ ‘learnt’ how to exploit the weaknesses property. The Federal Government’s on international obligations for nature of our eucalypt species.’ Murray–Darling Basin Plan aims to protection, with states largely responsible Australia’s biosecurity system has no spend over $10 billion of taxpayers’ for land management. contingency plans to deal with these new money on putting environmental water Recently, Minister Burke proposed a pests and diseases, despite the ecological into the Barmah Forest and other regulation that damaging activities such importance of wattles. Myrtle Rust wetlands to improve their condition. as cattle grazing, mining and land arrived in Victoria in January 2012, So why all the fuss by the cattlemen clearing in national parks would be having taken less than 2 years to colonise again? The National Party has never referred to the Federal Government for most of Australia’s east coast. It may supported new national parks; it has a review and approval. This would be an prove to be one of the most calamitous policy to scrap VEAC, and supports important step in making national parks environmental pests of the century. logging, grazing, hunting and other national, and in restoring greater Australia’s wattles are nitrogen fixers, a activities in Victoria’s preserved areas. integrity to our magnificent network of primary source of scarce nitrogen in our The Liberal Party on the other hand, has national parks. Taking it a step further, ancient soils. No one knows how a proud and strong conservation history. the VNPA and other environment groups severely exotic pathogens might disrupt It established the Land Conservation this essential ecosystem service. are discussing the desirability of national (continued next page)

20 NPA BULLETIN − JUNE 2012 P ARKWATCH (continued) Council, created the National Parks Act, nuisance crocodiles, but a means of plants makes this national park a great introduced a permit system for firewood collecting money from tourists wishing place to see a range of butterflies and it collection and established numerous to obtain trophies from their hunting is also an important habitat for the national parks that protect Victoria’s expeditions. endangered southern cassowary. habitat and biodiversity. The problem HSI believes that allowing crocodiles Near Childers, 431 ha has been added really stems from a lack of any cohesive or any Australian native wildlife to be to Wongi NP, which features a string of environmental policies from the Baillieu hunted for trophies is outdated and beautiful waterholes fringed by Government either before or since the unacceptable, and will damage paperbarks and rushes, and surrounded 2010 election, and a government Australia’s eco-friendly reputation. HSI by eucalypt forest. The National department (DSE) that is increasingly believes that a return to trophy hunting Bicentennial Trail passes through the going along with feral community would be a return to the outdated attitude area, which contains hoop pine elements due to a government policy to wildlife from the last century. rainforest, open eucalypt forest and open vacuum. Crocodiles deserve to be protected and woodland with a heath understorey. So what’s the solution? The VNPA safari hunting poses considerable animal National parks in the Proserpine region does not believe that Ted Baillieu would welfare concerns. have been boosted by a total of 5,654 ha, want to repeat the Alpine grazing trial The NT Government has tried [including] an addition of 5,221 ha to the debacle. And we certainly do not think multiple times to get this proposal existing Conway NP. The new area of that the growing ‘anti-conservation’ through, and each time it has been Conway NP means almost the entire agenda emanating from elements of rejected, reflecting the public opinion of length of the 30 km Whitsunday Great government is in Victoria’s interest. Australians who are opposed to trophy Walk is now within national park National parks, and the state government hunting of our animals. HSI is once boundaries. itself, should be for all Victorians, not again opposing the introduction and is Remote Dawes NP near Bundaberg just the vested interests of a few urging the Federal Environment Minister has been expanded by more than commercial stakeholders. Likewise, to reject the proposal and the NT 3,013 ha to ensure the protection of an environmental policies must be governed Government to instead focus on endangered remnant of open forest. by science, not by commercial promoting eco-tourism areas. Tewantin NP near the Sunshine Coast considerations. What the Baillieu Humane Society International Newsletter has been expanded with more than Government lacks is a clear vision that Vol. 18, No. 1 (March 2012) 1,000 ha added from forest reserves. details how it will restore Victoria’s Finally, Pumicestone NP has been fragmented landscape, increase Recent national park additions increased by 312 ha, helping to secure protection for its rare and threatened the integrity of the western shore of the plants and animals, and give Victorians in Queensland Pumicestone Passage and the long-term confidence that their parks are in safe More than 100,000 hectares of precious protection of threatened habitats that hands. Only then will this government do and biodiverse land across the state has adjoin the Moreton Bay Marine Park. justice to our world-class system of been added to the national park (NP) NPA News (NPA Queensland) protected areas, and to the legacy of its estate in Queensland. In the far north, Vol. 82, No. 2 (March 2012) predecessors. more than 42,000 ha of land has been Park Watch (VNPA), added to the Daintree NP. Nearby Cedar Compiled by Hazel Rath No. 248 (March 2012) Bay NP has been renamed the Ngalba Bulal NP and now includes an additional Crocodile safari hunts back on 36,810 ha of land. Kuranda NP has now been granted the agenda full national park status. This park forms The Northern Territory (NT) Gov- an important wildlife corridor for a range ernment is once again seeking approval of animals, including the iconic to introduce a crocodile-hunting safari cassowary, and features both rainforest program. The government is seeking and open eucalypt forest. Eighteen permission to kill 50 saltwater hectares of unallocated state land has crocodiles, not as a means of controlling been added to the Dijiru NP near Mission Beach. The variety of potential food

Nominations for NPA office bearers and committee 2012/13

Nominations are sought for office bearers and committee members to be elected at the AGM on 16 August 2012.

We nominate ………………………………………………………….

for the position of …………………………………………………. in NPA ACT in 2012/13

Proposed by …………………….…...... …....……… (signature) Seconded by ……………….……………………….... (signature)

I accept the nomination ……………………………..…………….. (signature) Date ………………………..

[This form can be photocopied and used for nominations.]

NPA BULLETIN − JUNE 2012 21 NPA notices New members of National Parks Association Calendar the association June July August September The NPA ACT welcomes the following new members: Public holidays Mon 11 — — — Pam Morrison Liz Coates 2 (AGM) Robert Moore General meetings Thur 21 Thur 19 Thur 16 Thur 20 Tony Lawson Chris and Alison Ware. Committee meetings Tues 5 Tues 3 Tues 7 Tues 4 We look forward to seeing Gudgengy Bush Regeneration 1 Sat 9 Sat 7 Sat 11 Sat 8 everyone at NPA activities.

This Bulletin was prepared by Further details: 1. GBRG. Meet Namadgi Visitor Centre, 9:15am or Yankee Hat car park 10:00am Editor: Max Lawrence 2. Annual General Meeting. See notice below, check Burning Issues Sub-editor: Ed Highley Presentation: Adrienne Nicholson

Reminders. Some copies of NPA ACT’s Membership fees are due. Notice page 17 limited edition book August AGM. Nomination of office Eyes or No Eyes bearers, form page 21 Art Week at Gudgenby Cottage, notice our 50th anniversary tribute to our page 12 founding member, Dr Nancy Burbidge, NPA publications. Contact the office, are still available at members’ information page 23. price of $28.

Notice of Annual General Meeting All members of the association are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting to be held at the Uniting Church Hall at O'Connor at 8:00pm on 16 August 2012 Business: Minutes of the AGM 2011 President's Report Financial ReportAppointment of Auditor Election of Office-bearers and Committee Any other business Note: all office-bearer and committee positions become vacant at the AGM. Nominations for the ensuing year are welcome. Please use copies of the nomination form (page 21) to nominate members for office-bearer and committee positions for the coming year. Following the formal business and Guest Speaker, David Large, members are invited to the traditional AGM supper.

Cover photographs Pack for sale Front cover Alison Peters, an NPA member who has Main photo. Rod Mason, Ngarigo elder, demonstrating Aboriginal departed for an extended stay overseas, very traditional land management at ‘Garuwanga’ (page 8). generously donated three near-new back- Photo Sabine Friedrich packs to NPA for the auction at last year’s Christmas party. Two of these — a small Insets. Upper. New approach to old ways for managing daypack and a large travel pack — were the land (page 8). Photo Max Lawrence duly sold, raising $140 for our coffers. The Centre. Dr Nancy Burbidge (page 4). third is still available. It is a large blue Sea- to-Summit Echo model in brand new Lower. Feral Ox-eye Daisies rampant in Kosciuszko condition, suitable for overnight packwalks. National Park (page 6). Photo Max Lawrence It is for sale at the bargain price of $100 to a Back cover lucky NPA member. Contact Max Lawrence at 6288 1370, or High flow in the Numeralla River at ‘Garuwanga’ (page 8). email [email protected] Photo Max Lawrence

22 NPA BULLETIN − JUNE 2012 General Meeting Third Thursday of the month, (not December or January) 8:00pm, Uniting Church hall, 56 Scrivener Street, O'Connor Thursday 21 June Thursday 19 July Thursday 16 August Climate change in the local Sub-alpine New Guinea — Annual General Meeting region. as big as Tasmania and its own amalgam of Australian and Himalayan high Tramping in New Zealand — David, Clem Davis country. Tim and Ross in Hobbit Land. Visiting Fellow, ANU Climate Professor Geoffrey Hope David Large Change Institute, and formerly NPA ACT member Officer in Charge of the Visiting Fellow, Dept of Archaeology and Natural Canberra Meteorological Office History, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific Over the past five years, Done it all? Tassie and New Zealand walked to David, with Tim Walsh and Ross What can we learn from a death; visited the high mountains in the 'Stans Walker, has visited New Zealand study of long-term and China? Why not wander around our very several times to tramp some of observational records regarding own Australian Plate collision mountains and the lesser known tracks. Despite climate change and the discover the result of making tropical earthquakes and tornadoes, they influences of the El Niño mountains far from similar habitats in the have been able to enjoy the Southern Oscillation climate eastern Himalaya and Tasmania/New Zealand. spectacular scenery including pattern in Canberra and the A lost alpine fauna and miles of mud and soggy the Mountain of Doom! Snowy Mountains. grass plains, plus all kinds of mountains.

National Parks Association of the ACT Incorporated Conveners Inaugurated 1960 Outings Sub-committee Mike Smith 6286 2984 (h) [email protected] Aims and objectives of the Association Environment Sub-committee Rod Griffiths 6288 6988 (h) • Promotion of national parks and of measures for the protection of [email protected] fauna and flora, scenery, natural features and cultural heritage in the Publications Sub-committee Kevin McCue 6251 1291 (h) Australian Capital Territory and elsewhere, and the reservation of [email protected] specific areas. Bulletin Working Group Max Lawrence 6288 1370 (h) • Interest in the provision of appropriate outdoor recreation areas. [email protected] • Stimulation of interest in, and appreciation and enjoyment of, such natural phenomena and cultural heritage by organised field outings, The NPA ACT office is in the Conservation Council building, meetings or any other means. Childers Street, City. It is staffed by volunteers but not on a regular • Cooperation with organisations and persons having similar interests basis. Callers may leave phone or email messages at any time and and objectives. they will be attended to. The post office mail box is cleared daily. • Promotion of, and education for, conservation, and the planning of landuse to achieve conservation. Phone: (02) 6229 3201 0412 071 382 Office-bearers Website: www.npaact.org.au President Rod Griffiths 6288 6988 (h) Email: admin@n pa a c t . o r g . a u [email protected] Address: GPO Box 544, Canberra ACT 2601 Vice-President Vacant Subscription rates (1 July to 30 June) Secretary Sonja Lenz 6251 1291 (h) [email protected] Household membership $44 Single members $38.50 Treasurer Chris Emery 6249 7604 (h) Corporate membership $33 Bulletin only $33 [email protected] Full-time student/Pensioner $22 Committee members All the above subscription categories reduce to $11 if a donation of $100 or more is made. Sabine Friedrich 6249 7604 (h) [email protected] Advertising Christine Goonrey (Immediate Past President) 6231 8395 (h) The Bulletin accepts advertisements and inserts. Contact the Editor [email protected] for information and rates. George Heinsohn 6278 6655 (h) [email protected] The NPA ACT website is hosted by our Clive Hurlstone 6288 7592 (h) 0407 783 422 (mob) generous sponsor BluePackets. [email protected] NPA Bulletin Judy Kelly 6253 1859 (h) Contributions of articles, letters, drawings and photographs are [email protected] always welcome. Items accepted for publication may also be Max Lawrence 6288 1370 (h) published on the NPA website. Items accepted for publication will be [email protected] subject to editing. Send all items to The Bulletin Team, Kevin McCue 6251 1291 (h) [email protected], or the postal address above. [email protected] Bernard Morvell 0401 679 254 (mob) Deadline for the September 2012 issue: 31 July 2012. [email protected] Printed by Instant Colour Press, Belconnen, ACT. Mike Smith 6286 2984 (h) [email protected] ISSN 0727-8837

NPA BULLETIN − JUNE 2012 23 For information on NPA ACT activities, please visit our website http://www.npaact.org.au