May we get political for a moment? PAGE 2 September 2014 Volume 25 Three INDIGENOTES VOLUME 25 NUMBER 3 Epacris impressa, Common Heath. Photo: Brian Bainbridge President’s letter The vote for Victoria’s flora and fauna ICTORIA’S floral emblem, the Common Heath, election, and I search in vain for a specific policy relating to the is far more familiar than it’s faunal counterpart, the environment on the Coalition’s own websites today. Leadbeater’s Possum. But even common species have A number of bodies are pushing for positive environmental beenV made vulnerable by the actions of this government. policies from our parties. You can read about the Great Can I get political for a moment? Forest National Park proposal in this issue of Indigenotes and The current Victorian Government’s record on biodiversity Environment Victoria has a top ten list available on its website. matters has left a lot to be desired, that is, unless you are a Some key policies and issues IFFA committee property developer, coal miner or have a vested interest exploiting has nominated include: our natural resources. a review of recent changes to the Native Vegetation Environment Victoria’s report card updated in early August on • 1 Framework. Although it may be difficult to reverse all of the Victorian State Government , listing decisions and actions the recent changes, it is urgent that we stop the reliance on they deem have helped or destroyed the environment shows the ‘fairy-tale modeling’; anti-environmental actions outnumbering the pro-environmental • permanent removal of cattle from the Alpine National Park. actions by four to one. A crude separation of biodiversity from This includes an immediate halt to the ‘scientific grazing the ‘brown’ issues of energy, waste and water, (while recognizing trial’ at Wonnangatta Valley and other areas of our parks that these are intimately connected) makes the contrast even system; more stark. A mere 5 positive actions/announcements against • an immediate halt to the bogus ecological thinning project 34 negative relating specifically to biodiversity. A scan of the in our Red Gum National Parks, which is really just logging environment ministry’s media announcements on the Coalition’s in disguise; own website only corroborated this dismal record as compiled • a strong policy to protect National Parks from by Environment Victoria. Positive announcements, such as inappropriate development; the addition of 10,000 hectares to the state’s reserve system in • scrapping of the East-West Link that combines destruction 2011, are revealed to include offsets for clearances resulting from of grassy woodland remnants at Royal Park with increased bushfire protection measures. consolidation of polluting cars over public transport; But even this numerical comparison doesn’t tell half the story. • a call for evidence-based management of national and state Among the anti-environmental actions are some that have gutted parks, providing the baseline data we need to identify the environmental protection processes, expertise and resources, resource needed to secure these vital places for the future; arguably placing our entire biota on the ‘vulnerable’ list. Among • a commitment to restoring funding and staffing for parks the more serious: management. • January 2013 saw the government planning sweeping • a new project for State-owned Sugar Gum plantations to new powers for the Planning Minister to circumvent provide sustainable firewood for all Victorians. environmental approval processes, these were implemented late last year; Last year, Age writer, Tom Arup, summed up his report card on • Introducing sweeping changes to Victoria’s national parks environmental performance of the current Victorian Govenrment allowing for 99-year private leases in May 2013; for the Age with this statement; “Ultimately the Coalition has • Repeated job cuts and mergers of the agencies charged decided concern for the environment is not strong enough in the with managing national parks and reserves and of flora and electorate to swing significant votes”. fauna everywhere. I hope we can prove them wrong on this point. Whichever way you choose to vote in November, please seek out the policies of I’d like to compare the policies of the major parties contesting the parties (if you can!) and advocate to your local members for a the upcoming election in November, however, no formal better deal for our flora and fauna. platform was taken by the Coalition government to the 2010 Brian Bainbridge Environment Victoria “Their performance so far”, web page http://environmentvictoria.org.au/envirowatch/performance#.VAJIghccRD8 Accessed 30th August 2014 Saturday 11 October, 9.30am-noon Sunday 12 October, 11am-2pm Plant blindness Wedding Bush Festival Greenlink Sandbelt competition at the Grange Heathland Indigenous nursery winner Walking tours, free BBQ, free plant. Open day The winner of the Ricinocarpos pinifolius puts on most Cheap tubestock (most sourced competition in the March spectacular floral show in the sandbelt. from the Grange Heathland) issue of Indigenotes and the Grange offers four vegetation See how simple propagation can be, get is Chris Walker-Cook. classes in six and a half hectares. your hands dirty, sample the volunteer Congratulations Chris, Osborne Ave, off Westall Rd, experience. And the free BBQ. you win a year’s free Clayton South. membership. 587 Heatherton Road, Clayton South. Enquiries: Mick, 0403 587 611 Enquiries: Louise, 0488 004 012 2 INDIGENOUS FLORA AND FAUNA ASSOCIATION INC Vale Elizabeth Henry IFFA and the wider environment movement has lost a valued friend and committee member with the passing of Liz Henry, activist, advocate and passionate indigephile. IZ was born in July 1945, the third child of four Flora and Fauna Association (IFFA). She soon learned that in the Jenkin clan, with three brothers. Growing seed collected in an area should be used to revegetate that area, up in a Methodist family, her parents encouraged which was contrary to the practices at NRCL at that time. theL children to attend church and Sunday School. Liz Liz became an environmental activist and advocate. She took enjoyed the fellowship in the youth group and also singing on a role as a committee member for IFFA and volunteered her in the choir. She went on to develop an eclectic taste in time and knowledge as an Indigenous Nursery Representative music and enjoyed different sports, playing basketball and on the committee. Over the following years Liz regularly cricket. She also had a love of animals, particularly cats. assisted with activities and events, until she resigned last year. During the 1950s Liz’s dad would take Liz and younger Attending many seminars and workshops, often hosted brother, John, up into the Dandenongs for bush walks, by Greening Australia - Victoria, and some by IFFA particularly along the then disused Puffing Billy railway line. or Save the Bush, but all relating to flora and fauna, or Her dad had been involved in the timber trade and had learned environmental weeds, Liz prepared and presented talks for how to identify various eucalypts along with their botanical friends groups and school groups, passing on her knowledge names. It was here that Liz began to appreciate the natural and passion for sound environmental management. bush with it’s lilies, orchids and native heath, Epacris impressa. During the 1990s Liz also became actively involved in Also during the 1950s Liz’s family had annual summer the Skene’s Creek Advancement Society, collecting seed, holidays, renting a home at Skene’s Creek, near Apollo propagating and revegetating the local area as well as removing Bay. Her parents purchased the adjoining block and built a environmental weeds and contributing to the committee. modest holiday home in 1960. Liz would often go walking Her commitment grew: supporting local bodies or driving through the Otways. And so began some five including Whitehorse Council, City of Knox – Natural decades of involvement in local environmental learning. Heritage Working Group and Parks Wide and extending After she successfully completed fifth form her endeavours to the Colac - Otway Shire. (matriculation), Liz gained employment with the Bank Liz had a short contract with Operation Revegetation, of NSW in Collins St. Melbourne and became one of (the nursery arm of the Knox Environment Society). the first female tellers in the banking system. During Liz also prepared a workshop paper on environmental this time Liz met Peter and they married in 1970. weeds which was presented to members of interested Her next employer was a motor engineer who specialised friends groups. Liz then worked for a long period as in mini minors. This enabled her to buy her first car – coordinator at Bungalook Nursery, Whitehorse Community yes, a mini. Liz then worked a few more years in smaller Indigenous Plant Project, which supported many local offices in secretarial and book-keeping duties. environmental activities and plantings. Liz became a skilled Liz’s appreciation of the environment and horticulture and dedicated indigenous nursery worker. Her detailed developed during this period. She was passionate to pursue a propagation notes are a testament to her work there. career in environmental work and in 1987 enrolled with the Over two decades Liz also capably assisted her brother Australian Horticultural Correspondence School in Lilydale, John as an office manager and bookkeeper. She died at as the waiting list for Burnley College was too long. Liz her home in August. She lived a full and active life. started working at the Natural Resources Conservation League Liz has been an active and valued member of IFFA. (NRCL) nursery in Springvale, employed as a propagator, An enthusiastic ambassador for the environment, “pricking out” and “potting on” plants by the thousands! having strong conservation priorities and ethics. Liz joined two Melbourne-based environmental A truly passionate Indigephile! organisations: Greenlink Box Hill and and the Indigenous Michele Arundell IFFA’s Annual General Meeting 30 November, 2:30pm Hear Brian Bainbridge at Balwyn Library speak on Yam Daisies All members are invited to attend Microseris sp.