The Link Volunteer Newsletter Issue 72

Welcome to this edition of the Link, DENR's electronic newsletter for volunteers!

Read on, especially for:  lots of opportunities coming up to get involved  Good news stories about what volunteers have been doing - well done 4WD clubs!  Congratulations to Tom Hands (Friends of Scott Creek Conservation Park, Adelaide Region), and Cristina Vicente (Volunteer Support Ranger staff member, Northern and Yorke Region) who recently received state awards for their contribution to parks and the community courtesy of the Rotary Club of Burnside  Opportunities for grants, including the SA NRM Community grants and the DENR Volunteer grants

Enjoy the last few beautiful weeks of autumn getting out and about.

From the team at the Volunteer Support Unit

VOLUNTEER SUPPORT UNIT NEWS

VSU WELCOMES SARAH VOUMARD

Hello I am currently working in the Volunteer Support Unit (VSU). I’m a graduate ranger and am based at Keswick until spring. Prior to joining the VSU I worked with the fire management branch and the compliance unit.

I was born in the mid-north of South Australia and grew up on a mixed farm. I have recently graduated from the University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of Environmental Policy and Management. Between school and university I worked initially as a Jillaroo on a sheep station in the North-West Pastoral country and then as a horse trek leader at Rawnsley Park station in the Flinders Ranges. For the remainder of summer I volunteered with Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA). CVA taught me a lot about flora species that are native to the Adelaide hills. Being a volunteer with CVA helped me to appreciate the hard work and dedication that volunteers and coordinators do to maintain walking trails through national parks and to control invasive weeds.

I enjoy living and working in regional South Australia, indulging in the environment that national parks conserve, and working with animals. After work you’ll usually find me playing sport.

Working in the VSU has taught me that in many cases volunteers are the core resource actively maintaining the health of our parks. I really appreciate the work that volunteers do and the way in which the volunteer support branch assists with the running of volunteer activities and events. I look forward to getting out into the field with volunteers and taking part in some environmental projects.

DEDICATION TO PARKS RECOGNISED A Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ranger and the president of a Friends of Parks group from the Adelaide Hills have been recognised by the Burnside Rotary Club for their dedication to conservation and national parks.

President of the Friends of Scott Creek Conservation Park (CP), Tom Hands, received the Volunteer of the Parks Award. DENR’s Executive Director of Regional Services, John Schutz, said Tom had been president of the Friends of Scott Creek CP since their inception in 1991 and had spent countless hours working with and for the group. “Tom’s hard work has led to success in the regeneration of many sites at Scott Creek,” he said. “Over the years, he has achieved many things for the park, including securing significant grants for regeneration projects and coming up with fundraising ideas such as a photographic calendar. He leads by example rather than directive and his positive focus in the face of daunting or repetitive challenges motivates others. We are proud of the work of all our Parks volunteers and Tom is a worthy recipient of the award.”

Clare-based Volunteer Support Ranger Cristina Vicente received the Leadership in Conservation Award, presented to a DENR staff member for outstanding service, positive impact on the parks system and support to volunteers.

Cristina coordinated a number of events, including the 2011 Innes Biodiversity Blitz and the area’s participation in the 100 Schools Initiative. “In just two years, she has tripled the membership of the local Biodiversity and Endangered Species Team (BEST).” John Schutz said. “Her efforts and commitment extend well beyond normal work hours. She does everything from setting up fauna surveys and social events to help bring the BEST group closer together, to easing the paperwork burden for volunteer groups by streamlining and re-wording.”

This is the 29th year that the Leadership in Conservation and Volunteer of the Parks Awards have been presented, with DENR staff and volunteers greatly appreciating the support of the Rotary Club of Burnside. “It is wonderful to be able to recognise the dedication, commitment and hard work shown by DENR staff and the thousands of volunteers who work with us to conserve some of SA’s most valuable landscapes, habitats and natural assets.

“These two awards are not only for outstanding service and positive contribution to our parks and reserves, but also for the nominees’ ability to help bring the community together as a team.” In attendance at a Burnside Rotary Club awards ceremony to recognise leadership in conservation were (from left) president of the Burnside Rotary Club Brian Wall, Member for Bragg, Vickie Chapman, president of Friends of Scott Creek Conservation Park (winner of volunteer of the parks award) Tom Hand, DENR volunteer support ranger Cristina Vicente (leadership in conservation award), Rotary district governor Bruce Richardson and DENR regional services executive director John Schutz.

NGARKAT CONSERVATION PARK WORKING BEE CHALKS UP 255 VOLUNTEER HOURS Volunteers donated more than 255 hours of their time to assist the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) with Border Track maintenance during the recent annual Four-Wheel-Drive (4WD) working bee at Ngarkat Conservation Park. Five 4WD clubs were involved in the working bee held last month, including the 4WD

2 Adventurers Club, Gawler and Districts 4WD Club, Muddy Pig 4WD Club, Riverland 4WD Club, and the Toyota Landcruiser Club of SA.

DENR Murray Mallee senior ranger Rebecca Pudney said the effort made by 4WD club volunteers was "amazing". "It was great to have so many volunteers give up their time to help DENR maintain these iconic and fragile tracks."

The work undertaken by the clubs is important to the management of the Border Track and the Ngarkat Conservation Park. The volunteers worked hard to close off illegal side tracks formed by visitors who widen the track over time and also used shovels and a tipper trailer to transfer 15 tonnes of rubble to clay holes that had opened on the centre track.

The Border Track attracts visitors from across Australia and overseas. It is a beautiful part of the world; the Border Track stretches across 50 kilometres of spectacular scenery through the imposing sandy dunes of Ngarkat Conservation Park and is well worth a visit. Track visitors are encouraged to drive responsibly and stay on designated tracks by letting tyre pressures down and travelling slowly. The Border Track is open outside of the fire danger season March 31 to November 1.

For information about Ngarkat Conservation Park, the Border Track or how to volunteer at DENR parks, please contact Murray Mallee Office on (08) 8576 3690.

GET INVOLVED

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

PLANT - A - FEAST DAYS Community Planting Events for the Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo The ‘Plant – A – Feast’ days are two half-day (10 am to 2.30 pm) planting events set to take place in May. The first will occur at Black Hill Conservation Park on the 12th of May and the second at Anstey Hill Recreation Park on the 20th of May. On both days participants will have the opportunity to plant seedlings, take part in bush care activities and enjoy short, informative guided walks. Lunch will be provided.

A joint, community based conservation initiative between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Natural Resources Management Board, Friends of Anstey Hill Recreation Park and Friends of Black Hill and Morialta Conservation Parks is underway to help conserve Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos (YTBCs). The project forms part of a larger public lands volunteer support pilot program called ‘Biodiversity Blitz’. We are calling for community members to take part in two conservation events and help plant native food plants for the YTBCs. Observations have been made of breeding YTBCs travelling some distance to find food and there is also a possibility that the species is becoming too reliant on introduced species such as Aleppo and Radiata Pines. The aim of the plantings is to provide native food resources close to YTBC breeding sites to help breeding pairs rear their young.

Participants will also have the opportunity to meet ‘Crunch’, the hand-raised Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo from the Gorge Wildlife Park, who will make an appearance at both ‘Plant – A – Feast’ days. Places are limited to 70 people per day so bookings are essential. To take part in the "Plant - A – Feast" Days at Black Hill Conservation Park on the 12th May, or Anstey Hill Recreation Park on the 20th May,contact DENR Senior Ranger, Volunteer Support Liz McTaggart - phone: 8336 0930 or email: [email protected].

COCKY TUCKER - HAKEA SEEDLING GIVEAWAY In addition to the "Plant – A – Feast" days, community members who live in a foothills suburb, south of Tea Tree Gully and north of Stonyfell, are being offered free Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo ‘food plants’ to plant in their backyard. The plant species on offer is the Erect Hakea, Hakea carinata, whose fruits are a favourite meal of the Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo. The Erect Hakea is a medium growing shrub to about 1.5 – 3 metres tall. The unique leaves and unusual flowers of the Erect Hakea make it an attractive and exciting addition to any home garden. Plant orders are ready to be taken now and will be available for pick up on the 16th of June.

Plants will be provided to people who meet the following criteria:  Do you live in a foothills suburb south of Tea Tree Gully and north of Stonyfell?  Is there a sunny spot in your front yard/backyard?  Do you have space to plant around five shrubs between 1 and 2 metres apart?

3  Are you prepared to leave the plants to grow for at least 10 years? People who think they meet the criteria to receive free plants or would like to take part in the "Plant - A – Feast" Days at Black Hill Conservation Park on the 12th May, or Anstey Hill Recreation Park on the 20th May, contact DENR Senior Ranger, Volunteer Support Liz McTaggart - phone: 8336 0930 or email: [email protected]. This event is supported by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Friends of the Urban Forest, SA Urban Forests - Million Trees Program, the AMLR NRM Board, Friends of Black Hill & Morialta Conservation Parks and Friends of Anstey Hill Recreation Park.

BEACH DAISY PROJECT May12 -13 Beach Daisy (Arctotheca populifolia) is an invasive coastal weed originating from South Africa. The West of the Peesey Biodiversity Group has been working to control it at Blue Bay (Gleeson’s Landing) and at Formby Bay where the infestation is already widespread.

Isolated plants have recently been found at BerryBay and were quickly removed, highlighting the need to survey and map the beaches on the southern West Coast so we can manage this weed before it gets out of hand. On the 12 and 13 of May we will survey and map more beaches, around Innes National Park with any small, isolated patches hand pulled. For information, contact DENR Volunteer Support Ranger, Cristina Vicente, on 08 8841 3446 or email [email protected].

ON-GROUND RECOVERY ACTIONS FOR THREATENED SPECIES POPULATION SPALDING BLOWN GRASS May 17 Spalding Blown Grass (Lachnagrostis limitanea) is a nationally endangered species endemic to the Mid-North of South Australia (Northern Lofty Bioregion). Only four populations of this species are known, one northwest of Tarlee, another southeast of Spalding (‘Yakilo’), the third is west of Riverton and the fourth northwest of Burra. ‘Yakilo’ has been subject to intensive and effective site management in the past by members of the Threatened Plant Action Group; however, this ceased in late 2008, and the site has been unattended since then.

There is an opportunity for interested people to participate in on-ground works here as part of the recovery of this species on May 17. For more information, contact DENR Volunteer Support Ranger Cristina Vicente on 08 8841 3446 or [email protected].

REVEGETATION PROGRAM & BATS AT BIMBOWRIE CONSERVATION PARK 22 – 24June Come and join this exciting new program. The Biodiversity and Endangered Species Team (BEST) volunteers will spend three days at Bimbowrie Conservation Park planning and doing some conservation activities in preparation for a planting trip. At night, we will conduct active monitoring for bats in the area; including workshops in how to use software to identify bat species by their echolocations calls. There will be also time to spot some Yellow-footed Rock Wallabies in the area!!

Bimbowrie Conservation Park is three hours from Clare and there is limited public access to the conservation park. This is an extraordinary opportunity to spend a weekend in one of the best-kept secrets in the Mid-North with a real SA outback feeling. The accommodation will be in the old homestead (a real historic experience) and food will be provided. For more information, contact DENR Volunteer Support Ranger Cristina Vicente on 08 8841 3446 or [email protected].

FOOD BAG PRODUCTION VOLUNTEERS – CLELAND WILDLIFE PARK Ongoing Assist with the production and bagging of food pellets. These bags are provided to park visitors to hand feed animals throughout the park. We will provide any relevant training to ensure you are able to complete your voluntary work safely and confidently. Food bag volunteers are rostered on for a minimum of one shift per month. For more information, contact Volunteer Coordinator, Cleland Wildlife Park on 8130 9008 or [email protected]

ANIMAL MANAGEMENT VOLUNTEERS – CLELAND WILDLIFE PARK Ongoing Animal Management volunteers work closely with the keeper staff at Cleland Wildlife Park helping with the care and husbandry of our captive native wildlife population.

While there is no direct handling of the animals, volunteering at Cleland can be a worthwhile and rewarding experience. Some of the tasks you may be involved in include food preparation and cleaning of the food prep area, cleaning exhibits and enclosures and creating behavioural and environmental enrichment tools.

4 Volunteers at Cleland Wildlife Park are rostered on for an allocated day a minimum of 2 days per month. For more information, contact Volunteer Coordinator, Cleland Wildlife Park on 8130 9008 or [email protected]

REPLICATING GREY BOX DAY IN THE NORTH OF ADELAIDE….THE UNDERSTOREY PROJECT…… In May 2009 the Grey Box Group held the first ‘Grey Box Day’ to celebrate and recognise this valuable plant community Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Woodlands is currently nominated for protection under the EPBC Act given their significance on a national scale. This event saw the Grey Box Group distribute 250 kits that contained 20 local indigenous understory plants to residents at a subsidised cost. So popular was the initiative that the plant kits sold out well before the event.

In 2012, Grey Box Day will be held once again as part of an NRM grant initiative. Following on from the success of this event, the DENR Urban Biodiversity Unit (UBU) sought additional NRM funding to recreate the event somewhere else in Adelaide. As Grey Box Day services the south of Adelaide, it made sense to extend into the north of Adelaide and from there ‘The Understorey Project’ was born. UBU, along with the support of the Gawler Environmental and Heritage Association and the Gawler Natural Resource Centre, have developed this event to increase the profile of the biodiversity of the vegetation associations surrounding the Gawler area. These associations include Mallee Box and Peppermint Box grassy woodlands, Native Tussock, and Iron grass grasslands. By re-creating the understorey, the birds, butterflies and lizards that rely on these plants for food and shelter will return and hopefully increase in number over time. Grey Box Day will be held on June 9 at Wittunga Botanic Gardens. Contact UBU on 8278 0600 or [email protected] to order your box of plants.

The Understorey Project will be held on June 17 at Gawler Natural Reserve Centre. Contact the NRC on 8523 7700 or [email protected] to order your box of plants.

EVENTS

FRIENDS OF PARKS INC AGM 2012 Monday 14 May This year’s AGM will be held in the Ted and Molly Hughes Conference Centre at Para Wirra Recreation Park. President, David Mitchell, is urging members to consider nominating for a position on the Board of Management of FOP. The Board is increasingly becoming a communication link between DENR and member groups, requiring members with a range of knowledge and skills. Meetings are held on the first Thursday evening of every second month at the DENR Keswick office. If you would like more information, call David Mitchell on 82511088.

FRIENDS OF BLACKWOOD FOREST COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING DAY Sunday 3 June The Friends of Blackwood Forest are holding their Community Tree Planting Day on Sunday June 3rd at Blackwood Forest Recreation Park, corner of Turners Avenue and Main Road Blackwood, starting at 10am. Please bring a spade, hammer and gloves. Homemade soup and rolls will be available following the tree planting. All welcome. Enquiries phone Jenny on 82788986 or visit www.coroalive.org.au.

BOTANIC GARDENS WALKS IN MAY Friends of the Botanic Gardens regularly lead guided walks through the Adelaide, Mount Lofty and Wittunga Botanic Gardens. Throughout autumn, a number of ‘special’ walks have been added to their weekly calendar. Contact the Guides' Booking Officer on 8226 8803 for more information.

History Month Mt Lofty Botanic Garden – Plant Hunters Adelaide Botanic Garden – A Tram Ride into the Monday 7 May – Sunday 13 May Garden Upper Car Park, 10.30am Thursday 10 May, Monday 14 May, Tuesday 15 May Wittunga Botanic Garden – Plant Hunters 2.00pm -3.30pm Thursday 17 May – Wednesday 23 May Meet at the Goodman Building, Hackney Rd. 10.30am from car park.

Planet Art Walks Adelaide, Mt Lofty and Wittunga Botanic Gardens 29 July 2012.

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LOOK OUT FOR THE SA ARID LANDS TEAM AT THE RACES The SA Arid Lands (SAAL) Natural Resources Management (NRM) Board and Department of Environment and Resources (DENR) will have a stronger presence at events this year with plans for a stall at a number of the local races.

The stalls will provide land managers and townsfolk with a convenient opportunity to share information to help with their local land and pest management and biodiversity conservation efforts. As well as being a good opportunity for a yarn with key staff, visitors to the stall can learn how to access funding to assist with pest and land management activities, and about the Ecosystem Management Understanding™ project, an informal approach to land management which is now running on 14 properties in the region.

With over 50 per cent of South Australia making up the SA Arid Lands region, there is a lot of ground to cover, so the chosen events ensure a broad coverage of the key districts in the region.  Oodnadatta Races and Gymkhana, 12 May  Nonning Gymkhana, 19 May  Marree Picnic Races, 9 June  Glendambo Gymkhana, 6 October  Blinman Races, 20 October

For information call Perri Carter, Community Engagement Officer, 8648 5300

GRANTS

DENR 2012 VOLUNTEER SUPPORT GRANTS The DENR Volunteer Support Grants are now open and close on Friday 1 June 2012. Last year the standard of applications was excellent with groups working very closely with DENR staff on their submissions. We look forward to reviewing another round of high standard applications. We encourage you to start thinking about applications, for funds to be received towards the end of July.

Please note each application requires the endorsement of your District Ranger/Unit Manager and the Manager of Public Lands for your region. Please ensure your application has been forwarded to your liaison person/Volunteer Support Ranger before the closing date to ensure it makes it to the Volunteer Support Unit on time.

All enquiries should be initially directed to your DENR liaison officer, or contact Pam Smith, [email protected] or8124 4784, in the Volunteer Support Unit if you have any further questions.

THE NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY GRANTS FOR 2012-13 ARE NOW OPEN The Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Paul Caica, has announced $2 million in grants to support community groups to undertake projects to protect natural resources in their local area.

The 2012-13 State Natural Resources Management (NRM) Program Community Grants are being made available to support land care, coast care and water care projects. Funding will be provided for a range of NRM activities such as sustainable land management, weed control, native plant revegetation soil protection, fencing watercourses, and habitat protection for native animals.

Small grants up to $10,000 and medium grants between $10,001 and $30,000 are available. The closing date for applications is 5pm Friday 18 May 2012.

Further information including how to apply is available on the NRM website at: http://www.nrm.sa.gov.au/Funding/CommunityGrants.aspx, and on the DENR website at: http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/Conservation/State_NRM_Program_Community_Grants

For enquiries relating to the grants please contact Liz Matthews on 8303 9712 or email [email protected]

2012 COLES JUNIOR LANDCARE SCHOOL GARDEN GRANT Round 3 Closes Friday 27th July, 5pm (EST) Since 2008 Coles has been providing School Garden Grants of up to $1,000 to schools and youth groups to help create gardens in their grounds or community, such as bush tucker gardens, water wise gardens or veggie gardens. These programs encourage students to learn about the environment through “outdoor learning” and interaction in developing their own school gardens.

For information and application forms visit http://www.juniorlandcare.com.au.

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WEBSITE Grant Guru Community is Australia’s largest free, searchable listing of nation-wide grants and funding programs for community based and not-for-profit organisations. Visit http://community.grantready.com.au to see what is available.

AWARDS

2012 BANKSIA AWARDS OPEN FOR ENTRY Let your outstanding environmental sustainability achievement be recognised by entering the 2012 Banksia Awards. There are countless benefits in entering,  Recognition  Increase awareness  Reward  An opportunity to review your progress Whatever your reason, the most important thing is to enter. Don't miss this vital opportunity to showcase your contribution to Australia's environmental sustainability. Do it, do it now for your people, your business, your future and ours…  Information Session - Adelaide: Tue 5 Jun 2012  Early Bird Entry Close: Fri 15 Jun 2012  All Entry Close: Friday 24 Aug 2012 For more information visit the Banksia Foundation website: http://www.banksiafdn.com/

TRAINING

LEARN HOW TO PROTECT OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT South Australia's respected environmental organisation, Trees For Life (TFL), offers people from all walks of life the opportunity to help restore and protect our State's native vegetation. Friends of Parks group members and other DENR volunteers can gain hands-on experience through TFL's Bush For Life program (BFL), initially by attending one of the bush regeneration workshops that are held throughout the greater metropolitan area each year. At workshops, participants will learn:  why the bush needs your help  the best strategies for restoring ecological processes  minimal disturbance techniques  how to work safely in the bush  how you can get involved as a Bush For Life volunteer BFL also holds advanced workshops that cover topics such as native plant and grass identification, advanced bush management techniques, brush cutting and more. To find out more about getting hands-on experience through BFL check the website http://www.treesforlife.org.au/getinvolved or call their office on 8406 0500.

The course is free to the participant as DENR has purchased a number of spots for DENR Volunteers, but bookings must be made via your Friends Group President or Secretary, to the Volunteer Support Unit. For those who were on the waiting list, you will need to submit a new registration form, together with a signature from your group’s President or Secretary. Course dates and venues are as follows:

Thursday 10 May Auburn Tuesday 14 August Aberfoyle Park Saturday 26 May Tea Tree Gully Saturday 15 September Murray Bridge Tuesday 5 June Strathalbyn Saturday 16 June Norton Summit Saturday 6 October Willunga Saturday 30 June Brooklyn Park Thursday 18 October Mt Barker

Thursday 19 July Elizabeth Tuesday 6 November Brooklyn Park Saturday 28 July Brighton Saturday 17 November Stirling

Saturday 4 August Tanunda

FREE WORKSHOPS THROUGH VOLUNTEERING SA & NT

Volunteering SA and NT run a range of useful workshops. To find out more information about Volunteering SA & NT workshops please visit their webpage http://www.volunteeringsa.org.au/training/ or phone 8221 7177.

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BITS ‘N PIECES

WOOD COLLECTION PROHIBITED IN WITJIRA NATIONAL PARK Visitors to the Witjira National Park, located 887 kilometres north-west of Port Augusta, are no longer permitted to collect wood for campfires after a decision by the Witjira Co-management Board to protect the park’s precious and fragile arid biodiversity.

The wood campfire is an iconic experience but years of firewood collection by visitors – including some irresponsible collection and use – has prompted the Board’s decision. Recruitment of wood-bearing shrubs and trees can take a long time, which can leave areas near visitor sites denuded of wood. Furthermore, some visitors choose to break off or cut down trees and shrubs, some of which may have cultural significance. Trees may look dead during drought but can be dormant and still green. Wood provides shade, shelter and homes for a variety of birds, mammals, reptiles and invertebrates while rotting wood provides organic matter and nutrients for another generation of trees and shrubs.

Wood fires are still permitted at designated camping areas. However, from 2013 wood collection and wood fires at designated camping areas will no longer be permitted within the Witjira National Park. In the South Australian Arid Lands region, wood fires are currently not permitted within Lake Eyre National Park or Wabma Kadarbu Mound Springs Conservation Park.

WARNING AGAINST ILLEGAL HUNTING The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is asking members of the public to report illegal hunting activity to police after native animal remains were recently discovered in a number of locations in the Upper South East, indicating unlawful use of firearms and possible cruelty offences. Eastern grey kangaroos were found with severe injuries that would have caused significant suffering before the animals died.

DENR works closely with the South Australia Police and other government agencies to identify and apprehend offenders illegally hunting within reserves which can attract a fine of up to $100,000 or two years imprisonment. This applies whether the animals are on a national park or on private land and there are additional penalties for taking animals on a park.

Residents, visitors and landholders, particularly those residing adjacent to parks, who observe any suspicious activity on their property or in their local area, are strongly encouraged to report it to the local police.

BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION SOUTH AUSTRALIA INC Butterfly Conservation SA presents an interesting series of public talks, listed below. For further information call secretary Jan Forrest 8297 8230 or visit the butterfly gardening website www.butterflygardening.net.au.

Whales and Dolphins in SA and how research at the Adelaide Moths SA Museum helps to conserve them Sept 4 June 5 BCSA Life Member Roger Grund has spent the Museum Researcher Dr Cath Kemper will talk about previous year investigating the moths in his the diversity of cetaceans in South Australia and backyard on the hills-face at Torrens Park. He will how data from studying dead animals are talk about those findings with images of a variety of combined with data from the sightings programme moths seen, including some early stage images. to learn more about these special mammals. Antarctic Peninsula January – March 2009: wildlife, Climate – Why does the rain fall and the wind blow? scenery and tour guiding July 3 Oct 2 Founding Professor of Meteorology at the Flinders Hon Research Associate at the SA Museum Dr Peter University of SA Emeritus Professor Peter Shaughnessy has studied marine mammals for over Schwerdtfeger has published over 100 papers and 40 years His talk will provide visitors with a glimpse authored two internationally published books. This into Antarctic life including, seals and seabirds. talk will be of interest to everyone. Bats – survivors in today’s world Native Bees Nov 6 Aug 7 Adelaide’s own batman Terry Reardon will provide Many of our native bees have remarkable and a fascinating insight into the habits of South interesting life histories; Museum researcher Dr Australian bats and how you can help to conserve Remko Leijs tells us about native bees, and explains them. what you can do to attract them to your garden.

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PLANT A TREE FOR MUM THIS MOTHER’S DAY Trees for Mum is a Mother’s Day memorial tree-planting event, originally created for members of the community whose mothers had passed away. The events have since evolved into celebratory tree planting events for all mothers and take place annually on the second Sunday in May – Mother’s Day in Australia.

Trees for Mum was created by Lauren Adlam and Deena Raphael in May 2002 as they had both lost mothers to cancer and were interested in doing something positive for other people who do not have mothers. Mother’s Day was chosen as the ideal time to pay tribute to mums who have passed away, as well as mums living. Planting a tree is a symbolic and reflective gesture which allows us to honour and remember our mothers while also doing something positive for the environment.

Since then, Trees for Mum has seen participation from a growing number of councils and environmental groups across Australia, with more than 20,000 having participated in an event to date.

While there are not any SA Trees for Mum events listed on their website there is no reason not to share in this celebration with your own planting - you can simply plant a native tree or flowers in your own garden. Visit your local garden centre to find your mum’s favourite native species or another variety suitable to your local conditions. To find out more about this initiative visit the Trees for Mum website, www.treesformum.com.

2012 VOLUNTEERS DAY CONCERT REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN Debra Byrne, one of Australia's most cherished artists will feature at this year's Volunteers Day Concert to be held at the Adelaide Festival Theatre on Monday 11 June.

A household name, since appearing on national television with Young Talent Time in the 1970s, Debra Byrne is an Australian icon long admired for her roles in many hit musicals including Mary Poppins, Cats, Les Miserables, Jerry's Girls and Sunset Boulevard.

Joining Debra on the Volunteers Day program will be Eden Espinosa, a vocalist of rich power and beguiling emotion. All the way from the USA, Eden will perform some of the biggest hits from Aida, Ghost, Rent, Sweeney Todd and Wicked for the volunteers of South Australia.

Bookings to this event reach capacity very quickly, so we urge you to register early for this year's celebration! Book your place now by going to the www.ofv.sa.gov.auand register online

Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we're not. In either case the idea is quite staggering. Arthur C. Clarke

Disclaimer While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the contents of this publication are factually correct, the Department for Environment and Natural Resources makes no representations and accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of the contents. Reference to any company, product or service in this publication should not be taken as a Departmental endorsement of the company, product or service.

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