Volume 52 Number 3 Septe
VolumeVolume 5353 NumberNumber 11 March March 2016
National Parks Association of the Australian Capital Territory Inc.
Examining tree Leaf litter and Arctic wildlife scars little critters watching NPA Bulletin Volume 53 number 1 March 2016 Articles by contributors may not necessarily reflect association opinion or objectives.
CONTENTS NPA Outings Program, March – June 2016 ...... 13–16 From the Editor’s desk...... 2 Compiled by Mike Smith Kevin McCue Bushwalks From the Committee ...... 3 Goorooyarroo and Mulligans Flat nature reserves ...... 17 Rod Griffiths and Christine Goonrey Brian Slee Single conservation agency...... 5 Gungahlin’s ponds ...... 17 April Suen’s bettong study...... 6 Brian Slee Ed Highley Two national parks in north-west Argentina ...... 18 Protecting wildlife by containing cats...... 6 Rupert Barnett Larry O’Loughlin News of the Glenburn Precinct, Kowen...... 19 Looking at leaf litter...... 7 Col McAlister Ted Edwards Polar Bears and Belugas – close up and personal...... 20 Citizen Science observations Esther Gallant About scarred trees ...... 8 Book review. Bilby’s Ring – The Trilogy ...... 21 Rupert Barnett by Kaye Kessing Esther Gallant The Bush in our backyard...... 9 Kevin McCue Cut back on costs and the weeds sing ...... 22 Judy Kelly Half of Oz – a trip to Western Australia...... 10 Rupert Barnett PARKWATCH ...... 23 Compiled by Hazel Rath Whose country? ...... 12 Gerry Jacobson NPA notices...... 26 NPA ACT Christmas Party 2015, Orroral Valley...... 12 Meetings and speaker information...... 27 Photo montage NPA information and contacts ...... 27 From the Editor’s desk Welcome to the first Bulletin of 2016 Barnett (hope you recover soon) has three Philip Gatenby brought to you by the Bulletin working articles: a thoughtful one on tree scars, a will edit the group. This issue involved joint editor romp through half of the continent and a June edition of Sonja Lenz, subeditor Ed Highley and visit to national parks in Argentina. Gerry the Bulletin, layout designer Adrienne Nicholson. You Jacobson, rapidly becoming our in-house Judy Kelly the might notice a few changes; we are poet, confronts us with his contribution September edition; trialling the inclusion of the out- while Esther Gallant bravely brings us up- spot the differences ings program in the Bulletin close and uncomfortable with Polar Bears and contribute an article, proper. It is still green and in a national park far away. Thank poem, sketch or photo. If you would like can be removed from the heavens we have Brian Slee to bring us the chance to edit the December middle of the Bulletin and back to the ACT with a couple of his Bulletin, please contact one of us. stuck on your fridge as before. classic walk reports. You should read Kevin McCue, Editor The lack of a president has what the other Australian NPAs are doing allowed us to push the busi- by browsing Hazel’s choice of articles ness of the committee to the from their magazines in our PARKWATCH. top listing. There are stunning photographs by In this issue ACT lepidop- Max, Rupert and Esther and much more. terist Ted Edwards muses Be educated, amused, tantalised and most about leaf litter, or is it just of all inspired to contribute yourself; if I bushfire fuel? Rupert can, you can.
Contributions for the NPA Bulletin Contributions of articles, letters, poems, drawings and photographs are always welcome. If possible keep contributions to no more than 1,000 words. Items accepted for publication will be subject to editing and Deadline for the June 2016 issue: 30 April 2016. may also be published on the NPA website. Send all items to the Bulletin Team, email [email protected], or the NPA ACT postal address.
2NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2016 From the committee … News from NPA’s management committee and subcommittees on current activities, plans and proposals. Welcome to 2016 In October this year the ACT electorate situation exacerbated by the lack of an Things are will cast its votes for a new legislative overall strategy to ensure recreational changing within assembly. And sometime between now activities are catered for across the NPA ACT – as and November a federal election will be breadth of the ACT’s public and private well as man- called. What do these events mean for lands. The implementation of such a aging without a the NPA ACT? strategy would assist in reducing the president this year Our association will be involved in pressure on the ACT’s conservation (see article below), lobbying on federal biodiversity issues reserves. we are losing some of our through its membership of the National The ACT election also provides an stalwarts who have done so much for Parks Australia Council. Concerns about opportunity to raise concerns about the NPA over the years. Mike Smith, who the state of Australia’s National Reserve funding of the parks system. The area has long been our hard-working Outings System will be a key focus for lobbying under reserve has grown significantly Convener, is retiring; our general by that organisation. In addition, there is over recent years but the funding for the meeting supper provider, Adrienne a need for an overhaul of Australia’s maintenance and protection of these Nicholson, has passed on her tasks to a federal legislation on biodiversity. The reserves has not kept in step with the rostered group of members; and other NPA ACT will be a strong supporter of needs of the expanded estate. active members are signalling that they these campaign topics. The NPA ACT has been busy need a break. Here in the ACT, the October election organising and holding a series of family- All our activities rely on the work of means that the NPA ACT committee and friendly outdoor activities. These have NPA ACT volunteers and there are the environment subcommittee will be been run jointly with the Canberra always ways to become involved. The busy seeking commitments from the Bushwalking Club and are great fun. conveners of our subcommittees are various ACT political parties for the Keep your eye out for these activities in listed in the Bulletin, so please don’t protection of biodiversity in the ACT. the outings program. hesitate to contact them if you want to There are still key omissions from the The NPA ACT has reconfirmed our be part of the many opportunities arising ACT’s parks network, the reservation of Honours scholarship program with the in 2016. which would improve the network’s ANU Fenner School. The scholarship is long-term viability. now into its fourth year and has assisted Rod Griffiths and Christine Goonrey The ACT parks system continues to with research into some exciting bio- face increasing recreational pressures, a diversity and reserve-management topics.
Why don’t we have a president in 2016? For the first time in my memory the We have divided up the various tasks forever but every AGM in August 2015 elected a of the president among ourselves so that organisation committee to manage the affairs of meetings are chaired, representations needs leadership NPA ACT which did not have a made to government, work priorities are renewal at some president. This is highly unusual but the sorted and relationships with other groups stage and this is a committee would like to reassure and agencies are maintained. We think we key reason the members that quite a bit of thought has can work this way for a little while immediate past gone into dealing with this situation. without harming our service to the president hasn’t stood for another term. Over the past 55 years, NPA ACT has community. A long-standing committee can be established a system of voluntary Personally speaking, my time on the intimidating to someone looking from management and cooperative decision- committee has accorded me some of the the outside. It can look a bit making which has served us very well. most interesting and rewarding years of unapproachable to someone who might The current committee has a lot of my life. I joined the committee in the first otherwise think of offering their experience and skills including three ex- place only because Di Thompson told me services. presidents, a long-term secretary and to. I can now admit I was overawed at the Committee members thought it was various members whose service on the expertise around the table but people worth leaving the position of president committee would combine to over a were very open and supportive. It was vacant this year to signal that we believe hundred years in total. Meetings are never hard or embarrassing to ask it is time for members who might have effective, well-run and very convivial. questions, to have to have things an interest to take action and get The committee is supported by a explained; it was expected as part of the involved. We want to renew our number of very valuable subcommittees process of debate and decision-making. leadership team so NPA ACT can which manage outings and events, the Good leaders make it easy to learn and continue to be the effective organisation publications program, environment participate. it has been for the past 55 years. issues and heritage. We have a well- So the question remains: why no If you are interested in helping organised office support system managed president this year, why do it this way? Is NPA ACT in achieving this, now is a by a small group of volunteers and a the committee starting to crack up? great time to become involved. workparty program managed by Martin A hidden problem of a well-oiled Christine Goonrey Chalk. It all runs like a well-oiled machine is that people expect it to go on machine. (From the committee continued next page)
NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2016 3 From the committee (continued) Proposed projects – new and continuing The NPA management committee has tree book, reprint of bird book, new Cultural heritage: been discussing the NPA work plan for field guide to butterflies, publish four with KHA work 2016 and beyond. The following Bulletins per year, produce the Burning towards preserva- proposals are being put out to the Issues e-newsletter before general tion of historic membership for discussion: meetings and at other times as required, structures and conduct Honours scholarships: continue ANU promote NPA books. survey of historic graves; Fenner School scholarship and Work party support: provide continue support of The Friends of consider a similar scholarship for consumables and petrol subsidies for Glenburn activities. University of Canberra environmental drivers for NPA and GBRG work Environment: with the Conservation studies students. parties. Council and like-minded Small environmental projects: possible Outings: reimburse leaders for First Aid environmental groups (e.g. NPAC and partners include the ACT Government training/updates; promote NPA-funded state NPAs) lobby for environmentally (Parks and Wildlife Research) and TrailRider. sound park and reserve management and promote biodiversity. Mulligans Flat. Website: redesigning and testing. A printed draft of the work plan will Reach out to kids: provide ACT Administration: change office be presented to the membership at the primary schools with copies of the procedures towards electronic delivery March general meeting and published in Bilby’s Ring Trilogy by K. Kessing as appropriate; train office volunteers. describing the disastrous effect of feral Burning Issues. Members are General meetings and other events: animals and human activities on native encouraged to put forward their ideas. continue to provide speakers; plan animals; encourage kids to participate Discussion of the proposals will be special events including Art Week; in special nature activities. scheduled for the April general meeting. arrange annual exhibition at Namadgi Publications: continue the NPA Visitor Centre and other venues as Esther Gallant publication program – new edition of appropriate. A new membership category For some years now we have been membership category, so saving paper When member- providing digital as well as printed (fewer trees need to be cut down!), work ship renewal copies of the NPA Bulletin to members, to print and package the bulletins, and letters go out to all depending on their preference. Some postage. Of course, the vast amounts of members in June, members request a digital copy only, voluntary work by contributors and the you will be asked which is the most environmentally Bulletin working group remain the same. in what format you friendly means of staying abreast with A special membership fee of $22 want to receive the everything in the Bulletin. With the price already exists for full-time student and Bulletin – the options are: of postage having recently increased, the pensioner members and that will remain. • printed copy only management committee has decided to These members can still receive both a • digital copy only offer all those members who take only printed and a digital version of the • both printed and digital copies. the digital Bulletin a reduced Bulletin if they so wish. And those membership fee of $22 per year, the members who do not have a computer Please consider specifying digital reduction to apply from financial year and/or email will continue to receive Bulletin only for next financial year. 2016–17 onwards. We hope that more their printed copy every quarter through Sonja Lenz, Secretary members will decide to join this new Australia Post. Preferences for donations Donations are by far the major source of donation, to which the committee will profit and loss funds for our activities, from publishing give full consideration. For example, we reports against field guides to advocacy for our national already receive donations for the these preferences. parks to running our office. As donations Glenburn project and donations for our Please feel of $2 or more are tax deductible, the Tax scholarships. In the near future we will free to discuss any Office insists that all donations be spent publish a list of projects to which you details with me. entirely at the discretion of the may indicate a preference. This management committee. However, it is preference will be recorded in our Chris Emery, Treasurer possible for a donor to express a accounting system and the committee preference for the spending of their and general meetings will receive regular NPA ACT office joins the digital world No, our office already joined the digital our membership database with our mail- to receive training in the new ways. world in the form of computers, digital outs such as donation thank-you letters With a bit of luck and some hard work files and spreadsheets years ago, but we and receipts, and correspondence with on the part of all office workers, need to make more use of the paper-, and those members who have given us their including the members who organise postage-saving possibilities that present- email address. book sales, we aim to have new day office equipment can offer. With the That in turn means that our office procedures implemented in the new help of our really computer-savvy procedures will change slightly and the financial year. Keep your fingers treasurer (who is also our database procedure manual will have to be crossed for us! administrator) we will start integrating updated; and the office helpers will have Sonja Lenz, Secretary 4NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2016 Single conservation agency The ACT Government announced on 12 February Mr Mick Gentleman 2016 the creation of a single Minister for Planning and Land Management conservation agency. GPO Box 1020 Following the ministerial Canberra ACT 2601 reshuffle in January 2016, Dear Minister Gentleman Minister Gentleman was given The National Parks Association of the ACT (NPA ACT) lobbied for 24 years for the the task to create a single ACT creation of a national park for the national capital. Our association has long been a conservation agency (an item champion of the creation of a single conservation agency in the ACT and we congratulate from the Parliamentary you for your newly acquired responsibility for the creation of that agency. Agreement between the Greens The creation of Namadgi National Park required an agency to manage it for its and Labor for the current conservation values and so the Parks and Conservation Service came into existence. The Government). NPA ACT would particularly like to congratulate you on your ministerial responsibility for To achieve this ACT Parks the ACT Parks and Conservation Service. The Parks and Conservation Service plays an and Conservation Service will important role in the management of Namadgi National Park and the ACT’s other merge with the Environment conservation reserves, a subject that the NPA ACT knows you have always had a keen and Planning Directorate from interest in. 1 July 2016. There are many challenges associated with your new responsibilities. One key This will strengthen the challenge will be ensuring that the new conservation agency is adequately resourced. For ACT Government’s ability to years the NPA ACT has argued that funding for the maintenance of the ACT’s natural deliver good environmental environment has been eroding despite increases in the size of the area under reserve and outcomes for our parks, consequent increased challenges of weed and feral animal control. reserves, softwood plantations The NPA ACT would be keen to discuss these and other issues affecting the ACT’s and rural lands. reserves with you and potential mechanisms for us to further assist with reserve The Chief Minister has also management. signed new ministerial We wish you all the best in the administration of your new ministerial responsibilities. arrangements which will see Yours sincerely Minister Gentleman assume Rod Griffiths responsibility for ACT Parks Immediate Past President and Conservation Service with On behalf of the NPA ACT Committee effect from 13 February 2016. 16 February 2016
Recalling Henry Hatch
The December 2015 NPA Bulletin had a last-minute note about the passing of Henry Hatch. His funeral was on OOddee ttoo HHeennrryy HHaattcchh 3 December 2015. Henry was one of the NPA’s Wednesday Walk leaders. As most of you know, Wednesday Walks are Henry, conducted each week and are Lover of the bush and bush- attended by walkers from the walking, three major bushwalking clubs Real bushwalking, (NPA, CBC and BBC). Each Off track, through scrub, club in turn provides a leader. streams, rock, Henry was one such leader and Scrambling, was noted for leading good, Elusive peak. solid, off-track walks usually Navigation and judgment, involving scrub bashing and Spot on, Bruises, falls, scratches, wounds, rock scrambling. The following Friends NPA, BBC, and CBC, Prices you pay happily, Henry, is my tribute to Henry. I know Remember Henry, And your followers, that all in the Wednesday Walk Your walks, bushwalking community of the For the thrill, Rough and exciting. three clubs share my thoughts Reaching the peak. about Henry’s contribution. Rest in Peace, Henry, Adrenalin rush, Eric Pickering But continue, Esteemed leader, Sheer bliss for the converted! Walking, enjoying the timeless Henry in action. Not understood by others! Harmony of Paradise Photo by Philip Gatenby.
NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2016 5 April Suen’s bettong study We have all read about the loss of Genetic analysis of the introduced biodiversity here and around the world, population was the topic of the research primarily due to human activities such as conducted by April Suen, the 2015 land clearing, mining and introductions recipient of NPA’s scholarship for of invasive species of plants and animals Honours students at the ANU Fenner that overwhelm the native flora and School of Environment and Society. April fauna. spoke to members about her work at the Reintroduction and translocation are November 2015 general meeting.* two strategies used to overcome the The overall aim of April’s research demise of animal species. The former was to assess whether or not the involves bringing individuals from a reintroduction of Eastern Bettongs using place where the species still exists to mixed-source founders created a Robyn Shaw (science invariably builds recolonise a place where it used to exist. genetically diverse population in the ACT on science). The latter may entail moving individuals and was therefore supportive of The results of April’s research point from a place where they are perhaps successful establishment. The primary to a favourable outcome for the under severe threat to a more benign target of her research was the Mulligans reintroduction program. The introduced habitat. Flat introductions. bettongs have high genetic diversity and Neither strategy is without problems Collection of data by trapping is part are mating randomly, with no and, indeed, there have been more of the ongoing bettong management plan; correlation between matings and failures than successes, primarily due to there have been 10 trapping events since collection location in Tasmania. The inadequate long-term management after the project began. During April’s research overall conclusion is that the the introduction and lack of attention to she took a biopsy – a 2 mm circular tissue introduction of Eastern Bettongs to the aspects of the genetic fitness of the punch from the ear – from each trapped ACT has been successful in creating the incoming animals. As regards the latter animal. foundation for a genetically diverse and issue, the aim should be to ensure initial The samples collected were the source sustainable population. Ongoing and continuing genetic diversity, the lack of DNA for analysis in the laboratory. monitoring and management of the of which could lead to inbreeding and a The very large amount of data amassed population will seek to confirm that loss of vigour in the newly establishing was first ‘filtered’ to manageable size conclusion. population. then subjected to various advanced Most readers of the Bulletin will genetic and molecular biological Ed Highley know that a trial to reintroduce the techniques, including comparative * April’s written transcription of her Eastern Bettong into the ACT is genetic analysis, principal component talk, edited and elaborated by Max underway. Between July 2011 and analysis, analysis of molecular variance Lawrence, is available on the NPA September 2012, 60 Eastern Bettongs (AMOVA) and spatial analysis. A website at
6NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2016 Looking at leaf litter This is an edited version of a paper chemicals. The moth written by lepidopterist Ted larvae have to be able Edwards published in the December to survive and thrive 2015 issue of Fronds, the newsletter on this uninviting of the Friends of the Australian food. National Botanic Gardens. Let’s concentrate on the family What role does leaf litter play? It Oecophoridae or protects the soil from erosion and mallee moths. Not that provides some barrier to weed invasion. they have any It also protects the soil from desiccation particular affinity for and is the major source of nutrients mallee as plants or returned to the soil and perpetually communities but it is recycled. It protects and nourishes all the at least an Australian living organisms which feed on it and name. Of about 6,000 which in their turn nourish all the plant A fallen branch showing leaves skeletonised by world species of moth larvae. Photo by Ted Edwards. and animal life of the forests, woodlands mallee moths over and plains. 5,000 are Australian. As Australia dried and Scatocresis feed within possum Most familiar to us is the dry litter of out in the Miocene, eucalypts, grasses scats but live in the soil beneath the eucalypt forests, woodlands, mallee and and acacias came to dominate many of scats. grasslands. Here it is too dry for fungi Australia’s plant communities and flora, In the absence of all these insects and bacteria, and they and crustaceans and the mallee moths went with them. Australian dry leaf litter would build up, can operate only in seasonally damp Many hundreds of species feed on each as it does in California, but here there is conditions and even then they are of these plant groups. Mallee moths are a balance if nature is let be. effective only when the litter is already quite small, usually with a 1–3 cm partly broken down. wingspan. They come in an absolutely Who starts the breakdown process? bewildering variety of colours, patterns This is the responsibility largely of and behaviours. insects. Many insects may be involved – There are hundreds, perhaps termites, cockroaches, some grass- thousands, of species of mallee moths hoppers; some beetles and many moths which feed in the leaf litter and break it feed on the dry leaf litter. In the case of down. Heliocausta larvae tie green gum moths it is the grub or larval stage which leaves together and feed within the breaks the leaf litter down. Of the moths shelter so formed until half grown when several groups are involved. they cut the petioles, float to the ground Moths in leaf litter breakdown and continue to feed on the desiccating Telanepsia stockeri larva on an animal scat. leaves in the litter. Others spend all their Photo by Marianne Horak. Have you ever had the bone dry leaves lives in the leaf litter making silken on the forest floor scrunch under your tunnels (species of Coesyra for example) Negative effects of prescribed feet in summer? These leaves are the or tying leaves together or making neat burning greatest challenge for insects to break cases of dead leaf which they cart around down, but moths in the families (species of Garrha). What happens when the bush is Pyralidae, Erebidae, Tortricidae, Then there are some that are more deliberately burned with the intent of Depressariidae, Lecithoceridae and specialised. What is a koala scat but reducing the amount of leaf litter or so- Oecophoridae all play a part. Feeding neatly packaged eucalypt leaves? The called ‘fuel load’? All the fauna that may occur at night when there is some scat moths, Telanepsia, feed in possum breaks leaf litter down is wiped out in dampness from dew. The dryness of the and koala scats. Oxythecta feed on grass the process. This is but one of the many litter is by no means the only challenge. giftwrapped by wombats, wallabies, and aspects of prescribed burning that is not Many dead leaves are full of oils, kangaroos. Ioptera feed on kangaroo, considered nor has it been adequately phenols, tannins and other noxious pademelon and tree kangaroo deposits researched. What about the huge loss of nutrients through smoke and run off? What about the natural selection for rapid-growing weed species through frequent burning? What about the extinction of plants and animals from a too-frequent burning regime? A lot of research is still needed on these and other aspects of the biology of leaf litter and the impact of burning. Ted Edwards
Gharra sp larva with its case made of dead Gharra zonospila. Photo by Paul Zborowski. leaves. Photo by Ian Common.
NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2016 7 Citizen Science observations About scarred trees We guessed that it and a similar one (now dead) on the other side of the trail might have been cut to mark a boundary or hut site. The stump we’d looked at had an average of five growth rings per centimetre, so with a diameter of 120 cm the tree was about 300 years old and, in 1860, would have been about 60 cm in diameter. These observations proved useful when we saw other scars, and especially those on a tree (Photos 3 and 4) near Venables Hut in the Goobarragandra 1 River valley. It was (I think) a Grey Box, about 130 cm diameter, with an area of Many of us have seen scarred trees; that bark missing on each of its southern and is, trees on which bark appears to have eastern aspects. been removed intentionally. We’re usually Both scars started below ground level most interested when it was done by and narrowed to peter out about 2 m up. Aborigines as part of their tribal life, or Neither showed any of the shapes typical 2 by early settlers. The 1950s marks the end of Aboriginal uses such as canoe, of that period, although in many areas of coolamon or shield, though the slabs south-east NSW, including the ACT, might have been useful in making a traditional Aboriginal practices would shelter. The encroaching side-growth is a have ceased in the 1860s. little thicker than that shown in Photo 2, A number of extant scars are widely suggesting these scars might be older. recognised as having been cut by Again, however, the faces show little Aborigines, and they’re protected of weathering even though the heart has course. They include the ‘canoe tree’ at been burnt out. Lanyon Homestead south of Canberra and We concluded that the scarring on this the tree from near Dananbilla Nature tree was most probably due to a natural Reserve, near Young, shown in Photo 1. cause like fire. That could also explain an In November 2015 David Lindley and unusual feature of this tree – a live I walked the Horseshoe and Stokes fire buttress 25 cm thick that rose from the trails on the western slopes of Kosciuszko ground (and presumably healthy roots) to National Park. We saw a few trees on join it above the scars. It appears that which bark appeared to have been after the fire(s) a strip of unburnt intentionally removed, and discussed sapwood had remained between the two possible reasons. areas, and as this continued growing it Photo 2 shows one with sapwood split away from the trunk and curled 3 about 6 cm thick spreading onto it. If around to meet itself. thickening has been at a similar rate to A number of authors and others have that shown in a nearby stump, then the explained much about scarring, and our scar is about 30 years old. The face shows little weathering. (continued next page)
Photographs 1. Scarred tree, near Dananbilla Nature Reserve. 2. Scarred tree, Horseshoe Fire Trail. 3. Grey Box near Venables Hut, Kosciuszko National Park – scarred south side. 4. Grey Box near Venables Hut, Kosciuszko National Park – scarred and hollow east side. 5. Hovell Tree, Albury, carved 1824; photo 2015, with a replica on the plaque. 5 Photos by Rupert Barnett. 4
8NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2016 The Bush in our backyard The sound of twittering Silvereyes and there by Ian Falconer. Some things it is an anxious Koel greeted me as I walked best not to know. They didn’t lay eggs in onto the deck thinking about this article. the nest so why go through such a A pair of colourful white-cheeked labour-intensive exercise? Some things Eastern Rosellas flew into our trees, we just don’t know. barely 10 m away. A most unusual In the course of preparing the next sighting was a nesting Satin Bowerbird edition of the NPA Field Guide to the with chicks on the Aranda Bushland Native Trees of the ACT we have looked boundary in mid January, a female. Not a at many photos of trees, some of them male in sight nor a bower closer than adorned by human hands. Max Lawrence Black Mountain. In more than 20 years I sent in a photo of a large Yellow Box on have not seen bowerbirds in the Aranda Mount Taylor with very unusual scars. Bushland. Must have been something in They were high on the tree, not around a the water as soon after we photographed branch stem and not the usual shapes. a Channel-billed Cuckoo from our deck. One has nearly ringbarked the tree. On The cockatoos and currawongs made a another visit a Galah was seen nibbling huge ruckus drawing Sonja’s attention to at the edge of the scar. It is surmised that Kevin McCue and Sonja Lenz with the the strange shaped bird. the Galah’s rather larger cousin the freshly scarred tree in Aranda Bushland. People walking through the Aranda Sulphur-crested Cockatoo is responsible Photo by Rupert Barnett. Bushland or on Black Mountain over the for the art work. Perhaps the bark past year or so could hardly have missed provides some essential minerals not pictures when we visited the site a few a pair of young Wedge-tailed Eagles easily found elsewhere, but the damage months later on another quest to gliding about. Friends of Aranda was done in just 2 years, as Max’s earlier distinguish man-made scars from other Bushland (FoAB) members noticed them forensic photos revealed. Koalas chew features and to estimate their age (see constructing a nest in a tall eucalypt on bark as we have seen on camera, at least Rupert’s article in this Bulletin). Bindubi Street. This was soon down on Dierk and Rosemary von So all in all it has been exciting abandoned when they found a far Behren’s place on Black Ridge east of walking our backyard in an effort to superior tree with no traffic in the Bredbo, so we shouldn’t be surprised convert me from Nancy Burbidge’s no Aranda Bushland, not 5 km from that birds do too, but what mineral are eyes to her eyes. Parliament House. they after? Kevin McCue What specialities do they eat in the Closer to home, members of FoAB National Capital you might well ask? A were surprised to come across signs that photo by Roy McAndrew details a rather someone had been busy on two Red spiky dish, an Echidna, for the young Stringybarks in the Aranda Bushland, eagles, but eat it they did, throwing out removing a large shield and a coolamon- the skin a month or so later to be found shaped specimen of bark. This was done well into the Anthropocene, perhaps as recently as the previous few weeks. They were obviously experts with a chainsaw, forsaking traditional tools and did so with permission. Rupert took some
An Echidna in a Wedge-tailed Eagle’s nest near the centre of the Bush Capital. Photo by Roy McAndrew. The tree at right, on Mount Taylor, is in the process of being scarred. It has been almost ring-barked by cockatoos. Photo by Max Lawrence. About scarred trees (continued) observations appear consistent with that the age estimates above would be date into a wide face on a tree in theirs. Of note are the studies of: too long. Formal measurement would be November 1824. Photos taken on the • Josephine Flood, particularly her Moth needed to get an accurate figure. centenary of the visit show the sides of Hunters of the Australian Capital In the Aranda bushland there are a the face partly covered but the lettering Territory: Aboriginal traditional life in couple of trees about 35 cm in diameter still clear. Now, almost another century the Canberra region, 1996 that had bark removed in mid 2014. The later, the scar is largely closed over • Andrew Long, Aboriginal Scarred scars have a scab of dried sap sealing the (Photo 5). This tree is a River Red Gum, Trees in New South Wales: A field edges, and new growth is starting to and its average growth rate may be manual, 2006 (available online at wrap over the wound. different to the stump we dated on the environment.nsw.gov.au). There’s also an old and well-known Horseshoe Fire Trail, but it does show In his comprehensive review, Long scarred tree in Albury that can be dated what pre-1860 scarring by Aboriginals or notes that callus regrowth may thicken accurately. The explorer William Hovell early settlers can look like now. faster than the average growth rate, so recorded his arrival here by cutting the Rupert Barnett
NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2016 9 Half of Oz – a trip to Western Australia We live in a wonderful land and from a young age I’ve felt a strong wish, even a sense of duty, to get a working familiarity with it. It’s my country. Last year it was time to return to Western Australia. My route took me through NSW onto Queensland’s gas- field roads, past lots of iconic names to the Kimberley, then south through Perth and back across the Nullarbor. I set out in mid-August 2015 and returned 7 weeks later with the car coated in red and 17,000 km Eastern side of Mount Bruce. Photo by Rupert Barnett. older. Leaving Canberra generated the Gregory National Park and Timber startled by two figures – men in space excitement of a big trip. But it was Creek. Here the lookout to the Victoria suits? They reminded me of drawings subdued – by the end of the day I’d River also had memorials to a WWII from the nearby coast described by Observer Unit and their Aboriginal George Grey in 1838, in attire that’s replaced the green hills of Boorowa th with the brown flats of the Lachlan, but support crew, so not forgotten. A little been likened to 16 century I’d hardly reached the Western Plains further and a carved tree by the river Portuguese: the first Europeans? yet. I had a long way to go. records where the explorer Gregory There’s no expert agreement on this A mix of roads led to Broken Hill, camped in 1856. though, so were they Wandjina ancestral beings? then Tibooburra, with a surprise – in a Keep River and croc country picnic ground was an upturned boat, The Pilbara high on four poles. It’s a replica of Keep River National Park abuts the NT Sturt’s whaler of 1844, but the sculptor border with WA. It is an attractive area From Port Hedland I drove west to reminds us that Sturt’s belief in an with high red ramparts, domed hills and Roebourne to view the old jail, then inland sea was empty. The rounded hull fire-selected top-end vegetation. I was south towards Millstream National Park does reflect this granite land though; the particularly interested in the walk along through spinifex-greened hills that also name means Place of Rocks. the Jimumum (Jimium) Valley.The river had extensive exposures of rock the here was a scatter of shallow pools – colour of rich chocolate. That suggested Cooper Creek and the Channel it’s croc country. Then a recess a high iron content, while the internal Country developed under the nearby cliff, with a crystalline structure indicated an panel of Aboriginal rock art, then more. igneous or metamorphic origin. The The dirt roads of the next 2 days had They continued almost unbroken for a southern Pilbara has vast iron ore started as a tenuous network linking half kilometre, and for most of the deposits of course, but I recalled they remote stations and mines, but now also distance I was on a midden terrace were sedimentary in origin. services the hydrocarbon exploration that’s over a metre and fifty millennia Subsequent research showed I’d occurring over much of the area. They deep. Many of the images were been in the East Pilbara Craton, one of were generally in good condition, recognisable: hand prints that connect the two oldest pieces of the Earth though it was a long day from Sturt to country, great serpents of the known (3.5 billion years). Despite their National Park in NSW before I finally Dreamings, the prey of the hunt. Others age, parts of the craton have petrified bedded down in Innaminka, in SA. were new and intriguing, then I was micro-structures (stromatolites) suff- Beside me was Cooper Creek and iciently intact to attest the memories of Burke and Wills. earliest recorded form of life: Next day, back in Queensland, bacteria. What’s more, they’re I passed the road to the Dig Tree still being made just down the and onto the undulating sand and coast, at Shark Bay. stony deserts of the Channel Karajini National Park is a Country, where the main place to explore. My first stop excitement was the sudden was at Hammersley Gorge. I’d appearance of a roo, emu, bovine heard of it decades ago – or occasional vehicle through a asbestos, iron? I’d assumed it cloud of driven dust. Birdsville, at was a big, rough place, but here 37°, offered even less – until night it was treed, cool, a little stream fell, when the bare floodplain of cascading over people the Diamantina became enlivened swimming, behind them a rust- by the scuttles of bright-eyed coloured cliff of folded strata. spiders, 10 cm centipedes, sneaky Next morning the road psyllids. wound over an undulating So to Mt Isa, then the Barkly, Aboriginal rock art in the Jimumum Valley, Keep River plateau with little to indicate Stuart and Buchanan highways to National Park. Photo by Rupert Barnett. (continued next page)
10 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2016 Half of Oz – a trip to Western Australia (continued) there was more to the Stirling Ranges proved see. Then at the car to be also ‘full’ of flowers park photos revealed and on this showery day a dendroid of looked rugged. Happily the narrow gorges. With next day was fine as I others I descended ascended its highest peak, into Weano and it Bluff Knoll. was fun to find our Then to Fitzgerald River way through its National Park – here are twists and narrows, 1,400 different plants. Many hop over pools, eye of them are endemic, some the ochre cliffs. make attractive garden Then a handrail specimens despite being caused unease, ‘difficult’. Then near muffled grunts, then Norseman I lunched a sense of relief as amongst the ruins of we settled in a Douglas; that gave me an sinkhole of hour in the largest area of watercolour washes temperate forest remaining and water washing in the world, yet only 7 per colours and a Hammersley Gorge, on the way to Karajini National Park. cent of the original remains. dragon peering. Photo by Rupert Barnett. So as I sipped a hot choc that The park’s night I thrilled when a big visitor centre was imaginative, the provenance. Striking blooms stopped me bird stepped regally by – a bustard. It’s pictures of water and strata cool. I often so my progress was slow but now rare in the south of its range. continued to Dales Gorge with enough rewarded, and that continued when I time to walk it, and the softening light turned into Kalbarri National Park and The run home spread shimmers of gold, shadows of its broad Murchison River valley. Two It was another day’s drive to Eucla and purple, cool. I’d planned the trip with a days later I’d turned inland to Malawi/ the historic signal station. Then I entered rough list of things to do. One of them Pindar and found a new range of inland SA, and no, there wasn’t much to see on reached back to school days when flora, including the dainty wreath flower. the Nullarbor but that made its long and Mount Brown, 1,234 m, was WA’s The Capes were on my list, not the misty sea cliffs the more impressive. It highest mountain. Next day an four-day walk between them but first, was another 500 km to the ‘border’ interesting pad took me up and I could Cape Naturaliste. The windswept scrub checkpoint though, at Ceduna. To its look south-east at ranges that included behind it was no surprise; a tall Diuris south, at Point Labatt, was the largest sea the usurper – by 15 m, Mount Meharry; orchid and whales breeching just off- lion colony on Australian coasts; it’s a but who’s going to walk up its road? To shore, was. Cape Leeuwin had its protected place on which dozens of them the south was another list item, a Pilbara flowers too, and history: the Dutchman lounged, with fur seals. iron-ore mine; the long trains crawling Nuyts in 1626 deviated here from the There were still many kilometres to were expected but not the irrigation of usual route to Batavia and explored the go to reach home but I would be in big paddocks of green and yellow, nor south coast as far as Ceduna; Flinders in familiar country – the gentle Flinders the gambol of colours in its hillside 1801 passed by on his circumnavigation Ranges, Broken Hill’s new solar farm, workface. and later naming of the continent. empty lakes at Menindee. It’s been good Hamelin Bay is the super-saline end In the Porongurup Range a steel to experience more of my country. of Shark Bay, with a scatter of black- walkway hung off the airy tors of The topped humps around its edge. They Castle. Inland was another line of peaks; Rupert Barnett could have been rocks, but these are the structures resulting from mats of microorganisms – stromatolites in the making. Out on the middle peninsula of Shark Bay the village of Denham faces Dirk Hartog Island. It was named for the captain who made the second known landing by Europeans on the Australian continent, in 1616. WA floribunda and the southern capes Photos of flowers tell much of the story of the following fortnight; driving south towards Geraldton the roadsides were uncleared and connected to reserves preserving this special botanic
Wreath leschenaultia, Leschenaultia macrantha, Carnarvon Road, Pindar. Photo by Rupert Barnett.
NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2016 11 Whose country? it’s 5.30 empty shells fading day kookaburra cackles litter the sandhills and cloudy sky our long dark night mussel … oyster quiet land is coming to an end nothing else left and lonely our dancing day approaches for us who inherit brooding hills of Gunnebah
smoke beside welcomes us to country the forest track whose country? carcasses whipbirds ... creek murmurs of ancient utes Gerry Jacobson gravel pricks my feet rust silently in the rain
NPA ACT Christmas Party 2015, Orroral Valley
1 2
1. Rod Griffiths has the attention of members during lunch at the picnic ground at the site of the for- mer Orroral Valley Deep Space Tracking Station. 2. Some party-goers were early enough to go for a walk to explore around the Orroral Homestead site. 3. Maria and Kathy about to create ‘Simon’s Mohawk Mistake’. 4. Annette and Mike. 5. Rupert and Dave 6. Jacqui and Esther. Photos by Max Lawrence. 3 4
Observant readers will spot the red hair and beard high- lights which spread through- out the gathering. Of course 5 highlights are most effective on actual hair! 6
12 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2016 NPA outings program March–June 2016 Bushwalk Grading Guide Distance grading (per day) Terrain grading 1 up to 10 km A Road, fire-trail or track E Rock scrambling 2 10km to 15 km B Open forest F Exploratory 3 15km to 20 km C Light scrub 4 above 20 km D Patches of thick scrub, regrowth Day walks Carry lunch and snacks, drinks, protective clothing, a first aid kit and any required medication. Pack walks Two or more days. Carry all food and camping requirements. CONTACT LEADER EARLY. Car camps Facilities often limited. Vehicles taken to site can be used for camping. CONTACT LEADER EARLY. Work parties Carry items as for day walks plus work gloves and any tools required. Work party details and location sometimes change, check NPA website, www.npaact.org.au, for any last minute changes. Other activities include ski trips, canoe trips, nature rambles, and environment or field guide studies. Wednesday walks (WW). Medium or somewhat harder walks arranged on a joint NPA, BBC (Brindabella Bushwalking Club) and CBC (Canberra Bushwalking Club) basis for fit and experienced club walkers. Notification and details are only emailed to members registered for WW. Only NPA hosted WW are shown in this program. For WW email registration, contact the Outings Convener. Transport The NPA suggests a passenger contribution to transport costs of forty cents per kilometre for the distance driven divided by the number of occupants of the car including the driver, rounded to the nearest dollar. The amount may be varied at the discretion of the leader. Drive and walk distances shown in the program are approximate for return journeys. NPA ACT members undertaking walks or other activities in this program are advised they should have PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE or, at least, AMBULANCE COVER in case of an accident requiring evacuation by ambulance or helicopter.
Points to note Please help keep our outings program alive by volunteering to lead outings. New leaders are welcome. The Outings Convener is happy to suggest locations suitable for a walk if you do not have something in mind yourself. Feel free to send in suggestions for outings with a suggested date to the Outings Convener by email to [email protected] All persons joining an outing of the National Parks Association of the ACT do so as volunteers in all respects and as such accept responsibility for any injury howsoever incurred and the National Parks Association of the ACT, its office bearers and appointed leaders, are absolved from any liability in respect of injury or damage suffered whilst engaged in any such outing. In voluntarily participating in these activities conducted by the NPA ACT, participants should be aware that they could be exposed to risks that could lead to injury, illness or death or to loss of or damage to property. These risks could include but are not limited to slippery and/or uneven surfaces, rocks being dislodged, falling at edges of cliffs or drops or elsewhere, risks associated with crossing creeks, hypothermia, heat exhaustion and the risks associated with any of the Special Hazards listed on the Atten- dance Record and Risk Waiver Form provided by the leader at the activity. To minimise these risks participants should endeavour to ensure that the activity is within their capabilities and that they are carrying food, water, equipment, clothing and footwear appropriate to the activity. Participants should advise the leader if they are taking any medication or have any physical or other limitation that might affect their participation in the activity. Participants should make every effort to remain with the rest of the party during the activity and accept the instructions of the leader. By sign- ing the Attendance Record and Risk Waiver Form participants agree that they understand these requirements and have considered the risks before choosing to sign the form and waiver any claim for damages arising from the activity that they might have against the association, the leader or any other participants in tort or contract. Children under 18 years of age are welcome to come on NPA ACT activities provided they are accompanied by a parent, guardian or close relative. Parents or Guardians will be required to sign a specific Risk Waiver for a Child form.
6 March Sunday Walk Rocks campground and wait for the 12 March Saturday Work Party MCMAHONS HUT SITE group to return. Continue on the Austra- GUDGENBY BUSH REGENERATION GROUP Map Williamsdale 1:25,000 lian Alps Walking Track to Bushfold Contact Michael Goonrey, 6231 8395 Grading 3 A Flats and then to the former site of [email protected] Leader Margaret Power McMahons Hut for lunch. In the after- Contact 0418 645 303 or noon proceed via Reads Hut (aka Bush- Meet at Namadgi Visitor Centre at [email protected] fold Hut) to the Mount Tennent summit 9.15 am. Work will include weeding and spraying around Eleanor’s Grove and Walk from Honeysuckle campground to fire trail and continue to Apollo Road. Car shuffle involved. Hospital Creek. Tools provided. Booroomba Rocks for morning tea. Any- Car pool: drive 80 km, $10 pp. one not wanting to make the climb up Meet 8.30 am Kambah Village Shops. Booroomba Rocks is welcome to have Drive 75 km, $30 per car. their morning tea in the Booroomba
NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2016 13 NPA ACT Outings program March–June 2016 (page 2 of 4) 14 March Monday Walk Leaders Gary and Di Thompson growth forests, gorge, Alexanders Hut, MOUNT TANTANGARA Contact 0401 590 046 or lookouts. Easy exploratory pace. Dry Map Denison, Tantangara 1:25,000 [email protected] weather 2WD roads. Limit of 12. Grading 2 A/B/C See the great and interesting write-up in Drive approx 500 km. Leader Brian Slee the Spring NPA Bulletin by Judy Kelly. Contact 6281 0719 (h) This is right up NPA’s alley, and an area, 5-8 April Pack Walk Depart Kambah Village shops 7.30 am. together with the SE Forests, that many PRETTY PLAIN Drive to Adaminaby and follow Snowy members have fought to protect for Maps Greg Greg, Toolong Range, Mountains Highway to Alpine Creek Fire decades. Jagungal 1:25,000 Trail. Walk north on trail through forest For full details see http:// Grading 4 A/B/C to Boggy Plain and climb Mount Tantan- www.eastgippsland.net.au/forestsforever. Leader Brian Slee gara (1,745 m), mostly on brumby tracks. As the site says, camp with like-minded Contact 6281 0719 (h) Continue north 1km to unnamed peak for people, tour with expert botanists. The Leave car at Tooma Dam and set out views of frost plains north of Kiandra. Goongerah camp site is large. Make your 3.5 km further west at Snakey Plain Fire Descend to Tantangara Hut for lunch. In own bookings and associated payment(s). Trail. Hut destinations: Day 1 Wheelers; afternoon, walk through open country to Let us know if you are interested please. Day 2 Pretty Plain; Day 3 Patons. ridge further west for views of Jagungal Drive 600–800 km. Approx 40 km, partly on fire trails. and Tabletop. Return via Mount Tantan- Daily minimum 4, maximum 8. Contact gara. 15 km, but can be shortened, 30 March Wednesday Walk leader before 30 March. depending on preferences of group. JOINT NPA / BBC / CBC ACTIVITY Drive 500 km, $200 per car. Afternoon tea Adaminaby. Leader Philip Gatenby Drive 250 km, $100 per car. Contact 6254 3094 9 April Saturday Work Party Details are emailed to those on the GUDGENBY BUSH REGENERATION GROUP 19 March Saturday Work Party Wednesday walks email list. Otherwise Contact Michael Goonrey, 6231 8395 or HONEYSUCKLE AREA contact the leader. [email protected] Leader Martin Chalk Meet at Namadgi Visitor Centre at Contact 6292 3502 1–3 April Car camp with day walks 9.15 am. Work will include weeding and In May 2015 we removed a number of SNOWY PLAIN, KNP spraying around Gudgenby Readycut exotic plants from this area. Cut and dab Maps Kalkite Mountain 1:25,000, Cottage and towards Peppermint Hill. equipment will be provided but suggest Nimmo 1:25,000 Tools provided. you bring gloves and your favourite bush Grading 1 A Car pool: drive 80 km, $10 pp. saw. Leader Graham Scully Meet at Kambah Village shops at Contact 6230 3352 or scully- 10 April Sunday Drive/Walk 8.30 am. Drive 90 km, $36 per car. [email protected] HERITAGE FESTIVAL – GLENBURN The trip will feature Henry Willis who is PRECINCT, KOWEN 20 March Sunday Walk seeking volunteers to retrace and GPS the Grading 1 A/B MOUNT PAINTER AND THE PINNACLE original stock route he followed in the Leader Col McAlister Map Canberra Nature Parks grazing period from Kalkite Gap to Lake Contact 6288 4171 Grading 2 A/B Jindabyne. Henry has been a major source The Glenburn Precinct is a new ACT Leader Esther of historical detail on Snowy Plain and its Heritage Place. It contains several early Contact 0429 356 212 or people and continues to contribute with European relics from a once vibrant, [email protected] his recollections and stories. small rural community that is no more. Walk off track to Mount Painter (100 m Whilst the caretakers of Botherum We will visit several sites and learn climb) for views over Lake Burley Plain Hut carry out some maintenance, about what, when and who. Only a small Robert Green and others, (see Graham Griffin and Molonglo Valley and then on amount of easy walking. Meet at to The Pinnacle for lunch with a view. Scully’s article on Exploring the Jagungal Canberra railway station, Kingston at Several historic sites are along the way. Wilderness, page 21), will introduce par- Return along the south edge of Cook. ticipants to the multitude of sites, ruins, 9.00 am. We should be back by 3.30 pm. Meet on the Aranda side of Bindubi stockyards, graves, gold workings, sluic- Drive 50 km, $20 per car. Street under the HV powerline (about ing lines, sawmills and historic tracks and 1 km from William Hovell Drive) at routes in this most fascinating area. 16–17 April Pack Walk 9.00 am. Detailed directions will be emailed to par- BROKEN DAM AND TABLETOP ticipants as well as a comprehensive set Map Mt Selwyn Ski Touring Map 23 March Wednesday Walk of GPS coordinates. Grading 2 A/B Joint NPA / BBC / CBC Activity Leader Steven Forst Leader Mike Smith 4–7 April Car Camp Contact 0428 195 236 or Contact 0412 179 907 SOUTH EAST FORESTS, NUNNOCK SWAMP [email protected] Details are emailed to those on the Map Touring Map Snowy Contact leader by Wednesday. A walk Mountains Wednesday walks email list. Otherwise from Mount Selwyn ski area to camp at contact the leader. Leaders Gary and Di Thompson Contact 0401 590 046 or the Broken Dam Hut site. Back out the 25–28 March Easter Car Camp [email protected] next day with a side trip to Tabletop FORESTS FOREVER ECOLOGY CAMP Camp at Nunnock Swamp 2–3 nights, Mountain, a total distance of around ERRINUNDRA PLATEAU possibly Six Mile Creek Rest Area third 24 km. The walk traverses alpine grass- Map Rooftop’s Cann River– night. Grasslands, frost hollows, old lands and forest hollows but is mainly Orbost–Delegate Adventure Map
14 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2016 NPA ACT Outings program March–June 2016 (page 3 of 4) on track. There are views south to Mount some old graves, ruins and huts. Those 8 May Sunday Walk Jagungal and beyond as well as north to who prefer to visit without camping over- DEVILS GAP – GIBRALTAR ROCKS – night are also welcome. Expressions of TIDBINBILLA RIVER the Bimberi Peak. interest to Graham please. Map Tidbinbilla 1:25,000 Drive 300 km, $108 per car. Grading 3 A/B 1 May Sunday Walk Leader Margaret Power 17 April Sunday Walk MOUNT CLEAR Contact 0418 645 303 or 6253 0131 MOUNT TAYLOR WITH A DIFFERENCE Map Bredbo. 1:25,000 or [email protected] Maps Tuggeranong and Canberra Grading 3 A/D/F The walk will start from Flints picnic 1:25,000 Leader David Dedenczuk area in Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. Grading 1 A/B/D/E Contact 0417 222 154 or Walk up to Devils Gap then descend Leader Steve Hill [email protected] down the other side, from where we’ll Contact 6231 9186 (h) Meet at Kambah Village Shops 8.00 am. follow a fire trail around to Gibraltar This walk can be as easy or tough as the From the Mount Clear Campground in Rocks. We’ll take the foot track up onto group likes. Apart from visiting the the far south of Namadgi National Park, Gibraltar Rocks. After a break we’ll summit, the idea is to explore off-track we commence walking on the Mt Clear descend towards Birrigai and continue some of the rugged features of Mount fire trail. Leave the fire trail to head on to the visitor centre. From here we’ll Taylor. Meet at ‘car park’ Sulwood Drive cross-country up ridges to the summit of follow a walking track to Tidbinbilla adjacent to Mannheim Street at 10 am. Mt Clear. There will be some scrub of River and then return to the cars, via varying calibre to contend with on the Dalsetta. 23 April Saturday Work Party climb, but this will be compensated for Meet at Park and Ride car park, east PINE ISLAND SNOW GUMS by nice views. Return same route. Around end of Kirkpatrick Street (off Cotter Leader Martin Chalk 17 km and 500 m climb. Road) near the RSPCA at 8.30 am. Contact 0411 161 056 Drive 160 km $60 per car. Drive 60 km; $24 per car plus reserve This is a continuation of the work we entry fee. started in February 2015. The task 2–6 May Car Camp consists of pine control in the northern WEDDIN MOUNTAINS 14 May Saturday Work Party end of the Pine Island Reserve Snow Leader John Brickhill GUDGENBY BUSH REGENERATION GROUP Gums. Please bring gloves, bush saw Contact 0427 668 112 or Contact Michael Goonrey, 6231 8395 or and/or loppers. Meet at Kambah Village [email protected] [email protected] at 8.45 am. Drive 25 km, $10 per car. A five-day trip camping at Ben Halls Meet at Namadgi Visitor Centre at campsite in Weddin Mountains National 9.15 am. Work will include maintenance 28 April Thursday Activity Park for two nights and Boginderra Hills of the Gudgenby Track towards Hospital NO-WASTE TOUR, VISIT THE TIP Nature Reserve (no facilities) for two Creek. Tools provided. Leader Esther nights. Travel to Weddin Mountains will Car pool drive 80 km, $10pp. Contact 0429 356 212 or [email protected] be by stock routes and leafy back roads, visiting Monteagle cemetery on the way. 15 May Sunday Walk Learn how recyclable waste is sorted and Walks to be attempted at Weddin will be RED ROCKS AND MURRUMBIDGEE processed during a one hour visit to SCENES the Black Spring trig circuit (about Mugga Landfill. There will be an Map Tuggeranong 1:25,000 educational presentation and a short bus 15 km) and to Eualdrie trig, (6 km) and Grading 1/2 grade negotiable tour of the recycling facility. We will short walks to historic Seatons farm. Leader Steve Hill meet nearby at 9.30 am as parking is At Boginderra Hills Nature Reserve, Contact 6231 9186 (h) base rocks are granite in contrast to the limited at the site. Afterwards we will A day enjoying the quite beautiful sedimentary rocks at Weddin so expect return to our meeting point for morning sculptured scenes offered by our river as different plants. A walk to the summit of tea at local cafe. it drops from Tuggeranong Creek to the this small reserve with a circuit return, all Contact leader for meeting place ‘rapids’ past Red Rocks. We can pop up off-track with some scrub bashing details and to reserve your place by Urambi Hill for views, too, if so desired. expected. 25 April. Group limited to 20. Fence hopping skills helpful. Meet at Return to Canberra will include visits ‘car park’ near the bottom of Learmonth to Flagstaff Memorial Nature Reserve 30 April–1 May Family Car Camp Drive about 150 metres from the and Jindalee National Park. MOUNT CLEAR CAMPING GROUND Athllon Drive traffic lights at 9.30 am. Leader Graham Scully Round trip of about 550 km, about one third on gravel roads. Contact 6230 3352 or scully- 15 May Sunday Walk [email protected] MOUNT YARARA 3 May Tuesday Work Party This camp is designed to be family Map Michelago 1:25,000 GLENBURN PRECINCT, KOWEN friendly and members are encouraged to Grading 3 A/D/F Leader Col McAlister bring along their children or grand- Leader David Dedenczuk Contact 6288 4171 children to enable them to experience Contact 0417 222 154 or nature in and around Mount Clear. Tasks to be negotiated with the Parks [email protected] Service. Meet at Canberra railway Botanist Isobel Crawford will show us Meet Kambah Shops 8.00 am. Parking station, Kingston at 9.00 am. some of the secrets of plants, swamps near to Caloola Farm, walk south down Drive 50 km, $50 per car. and wetlands as well as birds. Graham the Naas Valley fire trail. At a certain will take us on short walks to the site of point, leave the trail, ford the Naas the smallest school you will ever see and River and then climb cross-country up
NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2016 15 NPA ACT Outings program March–June 2016 (page 4 of 4) ridges to the summit of Mount Yarara. Village shops at 8.00 am. 11 June Saturday Work Party There will be some scrub of varying Drive 80 km, $32 per car. GUDGENBY BUSH REGENERATION GROUP calibre to contend with on the climb. Contact Michael Goonrey, 6231 8395 or Return same route. 29 May Sunday Walk [email protected] Drive 104 km $42 per car. BLACK MOUNTAIN AND THE ARBORETUM Meet at Namadgi Visitor Centre at (via Aranda Bushland and 9:15am. Work will include mapping of 22 May Sunday Walk Dairy Farmers Hill) rabbit warrens in Ranger selected areas HUTS AND RUINS OF SOUTHERN Map Canberra Nature Parks of the Gudgenby Valley. Tools provided. NAMADGI Grading 3 A/B Car pool drive 80 km, $10pp. Map Yaouk and Shannons Flat Leader Esther 1:25,000 Contact 0429 356 212 or Grading 3 A/B [email protected] 19 June Sunday Walk Leader Steven Forst LOWER ORRORAL LOOP Walk starts in Aranda Bushland on the Map Rendezvous Creek 1:25,000 Contact 0428 195 236 or way to the top of Black Mountain. We [email protected] Grading 2 A/B will then enter the National Arboretum Leader Steven Forst Meet at Kambah Village shops at through the Cork Oak plantation Contact 0428 195 236 or 8.30 am. A day walk of about 18 km (morning tea) and continue on to Dairy [email protected] visiting Westermans, Waterhole, and Farmers Hill for great views over Brayshaws huts and the ruins of the southern Canberra and lunch. Return to Meet at Kambah Village shops at Boboyan homestead. A walk up Naas cars by way of the Himalayan Cedars and 8.30 am. A walk from the Orroral Valley Creek valley over the ridge and down Frost Hollow Snow Gums. Meet on the Camping area along the valley to the Back of Grassy Creek along the Settlers Aranda side of Bindubi Street under the ruins of the Orroral valley tracking Trail. Mainly on track but with some HV powerline (about 1 km from William station. Morning tea at the historic cross country following animal trails and Hovell Drive) at 9.00 am. Orroral Homestead in which the NPA tracks. was involved in its early preservation Drive 160 km, $60 per car. and restoration. Drive 95 km, $33 per car. 5 June Sunday Walk 25 May Wednesday Walk MOUNT MCDONALD, URIARRA JOINT NPA / BBC / CBC ACTIVITY Map Cotter Dam 1:25,000 Leader Barrie Ridgway Grading 2 A/B Contact 0437 023 140 Leader Brian Slee Details are emailed to those on the Contact 6281 0719 (h) Wednesday walks email list. Otherwise Depart 9.30 am Cooleman Court car park contact the leader. (Liardet Street, just south of McDonalds) and drive to Brindabella Road car park, 28 May Saturday Work Party just north of Cotter Reserve. Climb FENCE REMOVAL GUDGENBY VALLEY through open forest and on track to Leader Martin Chalk Mount McDonald for views over Cotter Contact 0411 161 056 Dam and Brindabella Mountains. In 2015 NPA and the Gudgenby Bush Descend west to Uriarra Settlement for Regeneration Group started removing lunch. Return on lower level trails near the remaining stock fencing that criss- the dam. 11 km, one steep climb. crosses the old Gudgenby Station. This Afternoon tea Sakeena’s, Cooleman will be a continuation of that task. All Court. tools will be provided. Meet at Kambah Drive 30 km, $12 per car.
Mike Smith has retired as Outings Convener. Mike has used his strength, enthusiasm and extensive knowledge of walks in the ACT and beyond to produce NPA’s quarterly Outings Program for 10 years. He and Annette (both Life Members of the association) have also extended their hospitality to walks leaders meeting at their home. NPA thanks Mike very sincerely for his great contribution to the association.
16 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2016 Bushwalks Goorooyarroo and Mulligans Flat nature reserves Date: Sunday 19 July 2015 to the summit for the now famous view, grassy slopes and through open forest Participants: Brian Slee (Leader – propped up as it is by the ruin of a giant until we found a lunch tree – one of its replacing Steve Hill), Allen Bills, hollow tree. massive twin trunks had died and Kerri Bradford, Michaela Popham, Descending from there to the CC we dropped logs for seats. Wattles were Margaret Power, Tim Walsh were blocked by the first of numerous about to flower. Delightful place. Weather: Mostly clear sky; cool; hardly fences but none were to prove difficult. At 12.45 pm we continued down the any breeze. Magnificent white-trunked eucalypts slope, found the trail, turned west and Since Goorooyarroo NR was established, occupied a hillock. We left the trail, passed through the gate into fenced off NPA walks in the area have been circuits contoured around Gecko Hills, climbed Mulligans Flat Sanctuary. Frogs from Horse Park Drive. Now that to the NSW border, then steeply north to croaked, roos fled, but bettong burrows Canberra Centenary Trail (CC) bisects Old Joe Hill (813 m), where we parked evaded us. Experimental exclosures the reserve, however, through traffic has our bottoms on a rocky outcrop for everywhere, as were small blue flags developed. Going with this trend, our elevenses. Steve’s absence was and green flags, signifying what? At the walk began in Goorooyarroo but after the commemorated with white choc Tim reconstructed woolshed people were three main peaks had been climbed, it Tams. Mt Gingera, on the southern gathered but surprisingly, we had seen connected to the CC and continued west horizon, was snow covered. A distant little through traffic, walkers or cyclists. to Mulligans Flat NR, ending after 10 km eagle circled. We were at the car at 2.30 pm and in Forde. Another kilometre north was the next after shuffling around, reuniting bodies So having gathered at Horse Park peak, Gooroo Hill (766 m), with its stone with internal combustion engines, we Drive and positioned a vehicle in Amy trig (and discarded bottles). Allen had adjourned to Da Nunzio at Yerrabi Pond Ackman Street, Forde, we set off for photographed a beautiful ancient for coffee and delicious pastries. Burnt Stump Hill at 9.50 am. A minus 5º eucalypt on the way. A kookaburra Brian Slee frost was still burning off as we plodded laughed. From Gooroo we ambled down
Gungahlin’s ponds Date: Sunday 10 January 2016 manicured golf course. Negotiating bridges for brunch at Da Nunzio but it Participants: Brian Slee (Leader), Peter passage across the privatised land is a was closed. So we continued south, Anderson-Smith, Allen Bills, convoluted exercise. Near Gungahlin across Mirrabei Drive, and after being Mike Bremers, Esther Gallant, Drive, concrete paths festooned with ‘At shouted at for daring to walk in shade Steve Hill, Max Lawrence, Julie Your Risk’ signs wend close to playing next to the golf course fence, diverted to May, Michaela Popham, Margaret areas. However, gravel service tracks, in the parallel cul-de-sacs and back to The Power trees away from links, exhibit exclusion Valley Avenue, arriving at noon. Seven Weather: Blue sky, very warm, some signs. Abandoned golf balls litter water of us repaired to ultra-modern Crace for cool breezes. channels. lunch at the district (pub + food). El Niño, where is thy sting? Canberra It was getting warm, so once west of Should the walk be repeated? On the was promised the worst drought in the golfers we climbed past lovely current route only if led by someone decades but on this walk we found clear eucalypts to Hill Reserve’s cool breeze with knowledge of how locals deal with ponds, flowing water and greenery. and all-round views. A pair of cute crossing the golf course. I thought I had Plenty of waterbirds but, oddly, no puppies were happy to be waylaid. After worked that out in three recce walks but ducks – maybe they were flying to Lake ambling the ridge we descended to am left wondering why clear rights of Eyre. Crinigan Park and gambolled briefly at way were not established in such a This walk of 8 km connected The the hut ruins. Next stop was cold drinks central location from the outset. Valley Ponds, Gungahlin Pond and from Ngunnawal IGA: we could not wait Brian Slee Yerrabi Pond, all impoundments of and gulped them in the courtyard Ginninderra Creek and its tributaries. We outside, not at the next departed 8.30 am from the Scout Hall at lake. The nearby The Valley Ponds. This set of three platypus sculpture was recently created pools have different too hot to straddle for water levels designed to encourage the more than one photo. growth of different vegetation and attract Yerrabi Pond is the a variety of birds. A novelty is the Goldilocks among the outdoor classroom. An area of great lakes, neither potential, it is already infested with neglected nor overly weeds. Wild oats dominate the adjacent pampered. No. 1 with native grassland. Needs a ‘Friends of’. coots and swans for A short walk west under Gundaroo sure, and local Drive into Ngunnawal took us to the residents. We followed northern end of Gungahlin Pond. It is the path up the western surrounded by a pretty but exceedingly side and crossed the On the hot seat platypus at Ngunnawal. Photo by Max Lawrence.
NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2016 17 Two national parks in north-west Argentina Argentina is a large country, as long as Australia is wide. Many of us have enjoyed walking its grand Patagonian mountains, but perhaps without knowing that other regions also offer much to the visitor. So in February 2014 a few of us spent a week in the north-west provinces, where the main centre is Salta. To its west, the ranges build up to the 6,000m peaks of the Andes; to the east great plains stretch with little interruption to the Atlantic Ocean. Salta is a modern city of over half a million people that nevertheless retains some of the rich and ancient heritage of its region, and an easy style. Local agriculture includes extensive areas of sugarcane, maize and grapes on the plains and, on the high plateau, the farming of llamas – all are now Los Cardones National Park. Photo by Rupert Barnett. domesticated. The mountainous areas can reveal in-your-face geology that ranges that exceed 3,000m. This and a Surrounding the plain were high makes for startling scenery; of the five high rainfall give the park habitats that ranges, some topped with a layer of designated national parks we visited two range from jungle-covered foothills cloud or carrying a sheen of fresh snow. – Calilegua and Los Cardones. through rain and montane forests to Beneath those to our north was a sparse alpine tops. They sustain 300 bird shallow valley, apparently dry, but with Calilegua National Park species and many animals, including an area of multi-coloured ‘badlands’ From Salta a 2-hour drive north-east on jaguars, ocelots, pumas and the tapir. The hillocks. good highways brought us to the turnoff road continues north to isolated villages into Calilegua National Park. The side from which the rugged ranges beyond Los Cardones National Park road to the camping area was short could be scaled, while a number of But we needed to camp, so continued to though rough but the camp, under a walking tracks wander through the park’s Los Cardones National Park. This is also canopy of rainforest trees, was clean, forests. Wouldn't it be wonderful to see a almost the size of Namadgi. The signs cool and quiet. A committee of bright tapir! said ‘no camping’, but we were blue birds with the deserved name of Leaving Salta once more we drove fortunate the road runs across its narrow Plush-crested Jays welcomed us, and just west, initially through fields of maize north end so we were soon beyond the below the camp a channel of the San and sugarcane. Hours later we were still boundary and in low bare hills that gave Lorenzo River glided by. going west, mostly by going north, then shelter from a cold wind. The park, almost the size of Namadgi south, north, south … as the road tacked Most of the region’s mountains have National Park, is bisected by the river. up the wall of a great valley. Finally it been raised in the formation of the It’s at an altitude of 450 m and drains turned between low hills where a sign Andes Mountains, and those upheavals pointed us to a nearby lookout, the ‘Eye also resulted in volcanoes that have left of the Condor’. We started the walk with a scatter of massive cones built from enthusiasm, but soon slowed down – we ejected rock, lava and ash. Over time, were at 3,000 m. changes in the chemistry of the source A wide plain spread out before us – magmas have resulted in different alpine desert, its vegetation sparse. coloured rock strata, and next morning However, dotted across it were tall cacti some were highlighted here, along with called the cardon. They were reminiscent a few adobe ruins and the parade of the of those in western movies of old, some cardons. North of Salta the Humahuaca metres in height, up to 40 cm thick, Valley is famed for its vivid slashes of fluted and often branched, and covered colour; here the pallette was of gentle in sharp spines many centimetres long. pastels. The name presumably comes from a We drove back to the park to check spiny-leaved European plant, but they’re its information boards. The first one told unrelated. Before us the cardons faded us the gravel track we were walking had into the distance like shapeless, tall origins that go back at least to the Incas Easter Island statues. (C12–C16) – their expansion was in part achieved by a system of good roads that Plush crested Jay, Cyanocorax chrysops, enabled communication, trade, regal in Calilegua National Park. Photo by Rupert Barnett. (continued next page)
18 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2016 TrailRider at Heritage Festival On 4 April, NPA and ACT Parks will again be cooperating to demonstrate the TrailRider off-road wheelchair to the community, this time during our Heritage Festival. With the support of the Arboretum, the demonstration will be in the Himalayan Cedar section. It is pleasing that usage of this device has gradually increased and we are hoping for expanded interest this coming year. Volunteer ‘sherpas’ will again be needed and if you can give a couple of hours during the day please contact Graham Scully on 6230 3352 or at [email protected] News on the Glenburn Precinct, Kowen As mentioned in the December 2015 Colin Schofield on a drive to several of precinct, and the first one was issued in Bulletin, the ‘Glenburn Precinct, Kowen’ the historic sites. In the coming months, February 2016. Anyone who wishes to has been placed on the ACT Heritage Colin and I will give him detailed be included on the distribution list, Register. This action significantly briefings on what we believe should be please contact me on increases the status of its early European included in the CMP for each site. [email protected] relics and places an obligation on the The CMP is expected to be finalised The Friends of Glenburn work ACT Government to protect and in October 2016. It will provide a parties continue. In December 2015 the conserve the precinct for the benefit of blueprint for all future protection and post-and-rail fences at Glenburn future generations. conservation work in the precinct. Homestead and the Colverwell Graves It should make it easier for the ACT With the changes to the ACT were sprayed and painted with a mixture Parks and Conservation Service to Ministry announced by Chief Minister of linseed oil and turps to help protect obtain resources to carry out work in the Barr on 22 January 2016, I wrote to them. Unfortunately, because of rain, the precinct. Over the past 7–8 years they Shane Rattenbury and Meegan Fitzharris work party scheduled for 2 February had have done a marvellous job, with some congratulating them. I also thanked to be cancelled. financial assistance from NPA and much Shane Rattenbury for his past support for The next work party is on Tuesday help from volunteers. But much more the Glenburn area. I asked Meegan 3 May 2016. The main activities will needs to be done. Fitzharris if one of her staff could relate to the construction of the Phillip Leeson Architects will contact me when things settle down a bit Glenburn Heritage Trail for walkers and prepare a Conservation Management so that I could brief the staff member on cyclists, including the erection of route Plan (CMP) for the precinct for the the precinct. I also invited her to visit the markers and an interpretative sign at the Parks Service with the help of an ACT sites. intersection of Charcoal Kiln Road and Heritage Grant to the NPA. David Hobbs I decided to relaunch The Friends of the Kings Highway. All welcome. You has started work on the CMP and, on Glenburn Newsletter because of the will have fun. Guaranteed. 19 January, he accompanied ranger many requests for information on the Col McAlister
Two national parks in north-west Argentina (continued)
progress and dominance. If possible, their roads were straight; we could look along this, the Tin Tin Royal Way, and see where modern engineers had merged their construction onto it – straight as a plumb line over this plain and the next. Other tracks walked us through forests of cardons. The air was sharp, the mountains clear, parrots darted. Around us the cardons stood waiting, spines shining. Rupert Barnett
Humahuaca Valley zig-zag slopes. Photo by Rupert Barnett.
NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2016 19 Polar Bears and Belugas – close up and personal
land and stay until freeze-up the next Large flocks of Snow Geese were seen flying autumn. Although they are closely over the tundra. Photo by Esther Gallant. related to Grizzly Bears, they cannot On another day we watched a female and digest the abundant tundra berries as her two cubs playing in the water – Grizzlies do. Some may fast for their climbing on rocks and jumping off with several-month stay on land, and we saw much splashing and play wrestling. What some very thin bears. There are tens of a privilege to watch Polar Bears doing thousands of Snow Geese nesting along normal bear things at close range. the coast, and Polar Bears are known to There were numerous other feast on the eggs and goslings. Some attractions: very tall Sand Hill Cranes bears have reportedly learned how to and many other birds, Sik-Siks (Arctic stalk and kill Beluga Whales (small ground squirrels) living under the lodge, white whales, 5–6 m long). wild flowers with colourful berries, and ‘Bob the Bear’ is frequently near the ancient Inuit habitation sites. However, lodge and quite accustomed to people, the second most exciting thing was although we always stayed a respectful ‘swimming’ with the Beluga Whales. Imagine putting on your hiking boots distance from him. From the lodge we This was accomplished in a dry suit with and walking out to see Polar Bears! That watched him chew on a Beluga Whale snorkel and mask while towed by our is exactly what I did for 6 days at the carcass for most of a day until he could feet behind a Zodiac. The curious whales fly-in Seal River Lodge on the shore of no longer stand. Then we walked out for came within arm’s length and sometimes Hudson Bay. The trip started with a a closer view of the immobilised bear. At much closer. We could hear their high- 60 km small-plane flight north from least two other bears also fed on the pitched songs and appreciate why they Churchill, Manitoba, Canada – ‘the whale. It was not known how the whale are named the canaries of the sea. Tens Polar Bear Capital of the World’. Rather died. of thousands of Beluga Whales migrate than looking at bears in Churchill from Bears were not enticed to the lodge. each year from the Arctic Ocean to these the safety of immense tundra buggies, About a dozen simply wandered by ‘warmer’ waters for calving. From the we were going to meet them on foot, while we stayed in our fenced compound Zodiac we also saw several Polar Bears. accompanied by watchful guides with with furiously clicking cameras. One They are excellent swimmers using only big guns. We saw bears from the rustic bear actually settled for a nap in some their huge front paws. lodge compound, from boats and on scrub only a few metres distant. The real Endangered Polar Bears: In some hikes – 29 bears in total including six highlight for all of us was a very elegant other areas Polar Bears come ashore with cubs. mama bear with two 2-year-old cubs that when the ice melts but most of the The Hudson Bay Polar Bear wandered by. Mother stopped long world’s population depends absolutely population is 500–600 animals. In the enough for her cubs to have a very good on the Arctic ice pack – staying there and winter they live on the pack ice and hunt look at the tourists and vice versa – less feeding on seals year round. Polar Bears seals by snatching them from their than a metre from our feet. WOW! As can apparently swim 200–300 km or breathing holes. When the pack ice in they departed our guide called out float on icebergs and floes and so reach the bay melts in summer, bears swim to ‘thanks Mama for bringing your cubs’. (continued next page) Left. Two guides always walked out with us after first scanning the very flat tundra for bears. They have never shot a bear. Right. Bob the Bear fed on whale carcass until he collapsed. Remains of whale tail are to bear’s right – note the bear’s bloody snout. Photos by Esther Gallant.
20 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2016 Book review Bilby is the quiet Bilby’s Ring – The Trilogy thinker and planner. Book 1 Out of the Spinifex Chuditch is the fierce Book 2 Across a Great Wide protector of the group – all others being herbivores Land and/or insectivores. These Book 3 Into the Bowels of two are joined by Mala the Biggest City (the Rufous Hare Wallaby) by Kaye Kessing who jumps high to help Kaye Kessing Productions, 2015 choose the route, Sticky (the Stick-nest Rat) a Price $53 for three-book set at the clever problem solver and Australian National Botanic Numbat a grumpy but dedicated Starvation threatens as they cross lands Gardens bookshop, or $45 plus follower. Along the way The Five seek munched bare by cattle, sheep and goats shipping from www.kayekessing.com advice from an old Pink Cockatoo, a and when crossing extensive one-plant wise Golden Mole and others. Many (but paddocks with only toxic (to them) Bilby (the Pink-eared Bandicoot) and not all) native animals and a few ferals golden seed plants. Sadly some of the Chuditch (the Spotted Quoll) are both help with the journey. Foxes, feral cats, animals helping The Five are killed at the last of their kind in their home rats and wild dogs chase and attack the paws of feral and even native ranges on the sundown side of the great them. Great eagles patrol their route to predators. land. What to do? Set out on a quest, of protect them from these predators. The Other endangered native animals tell course. And so begins an epic adventure Five are poisoned by crop dusters and them of their troubles. The Five come to as a band of five endangered native chased by humans with barking dogs. appreciate how complex and mammals (‘The Five’) heads across the Danger and adventure are around every complicated an issue they are facing and great wide land to the biggest city by corner. debate the best solutions. Along the way the endless sea. There they hope to find There are sections of pure joy, such we learn a bit about the geography of humans with kindness in them who will as the bursting forth of life when the this land and about the creatures that influence the decision-makers in the great white lake is in flood. Beauty inhabit it. We also learn of the many and house on the hill in the coldest city to abounds as they float through extensive varied negative impacts of our kind. protect all native animals. Places are not bird-filled marshes and wind their way Books suitable for ages 8–80 and specifically named but those who have through majestic blue mountains. In definitely worth the read. travelled across this great wide land in contrast, ugliness surrounds them in person or vicariously will recognise Esther Gallant horse- and pig-damaged wetlands. most.
Exploring the Jagungal Wilderness This small book summarises the work maps which show them, are included in ebook and a sample can be seen at done by many people in recording the the book, along with their GPS Amazon.com by searching the eBooks hut ruins, graves, mining and other relics coordinates, enabling people to follow section for Exploring the Jagungal which became visible in Kosciuszko them today. Wilderness. National Park following the 2003 fires. Klaus Hueneke, author of Huts of the Robert Green at rvhgreen@ Of particular interest was the redis- High Country and Kiandra to Kosciusko outlook.com or on either of 6282 2667 covery of historic dray and bridle tracks, describes the book as ‘The most detailed or 0402 647 040 can provide further which had been used by graziers, miners coverage of track and hut sites in the information. and Snowy Mountains Authority Jagungal Wilderness ever compiled’. Graham Scully personnel. Those routes, and the old The book has been published as an
Polar Bears and Belugas close up and personal (continued) distant land when their patch of ice around Iceland, there is no way they can melts – or not. go back to hunting seals on the ice as Recently there was a great outcry Polar Bears are meant to do. The only when two bears were shot in Iceland. large animals in Iceland for them to hunt When I was visiting there several years are humans and domestic animals. So ago, I learned that they are automatically they are shot. Presumably other Polar shot. They have floated and/or swum a Bears don’t reach land and perish at sea. very long way to reach Iceland and are Esther Gallant extremely hungry and thus extremely dangerous. Since there is no ice sheet
An elegant bear with two 2-year-old cubs walked by the lodge. The very cute cubs inspected us through our ‘cage’ at very close range. Photo by Esther Gallant.
NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2016 21 Cut back on costs and the weeds sing The ACT Government’s funding for Budget figures can slip and slide complete the next phases of the weed management under the Territory between different categories and Conservation Effectiveness Monitoring and Municipal Services (TAMS) has components, giving misleading Program’. fallen dramatically, from an average of impressions. To persuade the ACT Legislative $2.3 million for the five budgets The ACT State of the Environment Assembly to allocate funding to an between 2009 and 2014 to $1.5 million Report 2015 was released on Friday 19 appropriate level for weed control and in the 2015–16 budget. The dedicated February and is available online or at monitoring so that such a recommen- work of Parkcare groups over many public libraries and at the Conservation dation can be implemented, please years will be reversed unless funding is Council’s office. Under its Biodiversity send an email message or write a increased to more than the previous Report Summary 10.1.4, ‘What are we short letter as soon as possible to the level of $2.3 million. doing and what effect is it having? Main ministers because budget considerations Invasive weeds compete with native findings’ we read: for 2016–17 are nearing completion. plants for space, nutrients and light, Although strategies and plans are in Ask for a realistic recurrent annual altering the ecosystem, frequently to the place for the management of pest budget allocation for managing weeds in detriment of native animals, birds and animals and weeds, their impact on the ACT, otherwise the dedicated efforts insects. biodiversity is not monitored. Improve- of volunteers and Parks staff will be The ACT’s nature reserves and ments in monitoring and reporting on negated. You could also add the points national park are threatened by weeds outputs and outcomes are planned and raised in paragraphs 2 and 3. that grow and proliferate at their will improve the management Mick Gentleman, Minister for boundaries and within. ‘Between 2009 effectiveness of biodiversity con- Planning and Land Management, and and 2014, fifteen new incursions siderably. The impact of fire on Meegan Fitzharris, Minister for occurred in the ACT, most being biodiversity is being considered, but it Transport and Municipal Services, now environmental weeds of great concern’ is yet to be determined if processes in share the responsibility for weeds and (Conservation Council Weeds Officer, place will deliver the positive outcomes have replaced Minister Rattenbury. Geoff Butler). anticipated. Write to the ministers at: Geoff Butler also pointed out that How can strategies and plans for the ACT Legislative Assembly ministerial media releases showing a management of pest animals and weeds GPO Box 1020 rise in ‘base recurrent weed funding’ are be implemented when funding has been Canberra ACT 2601, incorrect because ‘the Minister included dramatically cut and when there is no or email: weed funding for biodiversity offsets, monitoring? After fires, areas are catchment restoration, road and [email protected] and vulnerable to weed infestation but the [email protected] infrastructure maintenance (primarily ‘impact of fire on biodiversity’ is only mowing), fuel reduction and agricultural being ‘considered’. Judy Kelly lands as part of base recurrent weed Recommendation 8 of the Report funding. These items should be separate suggests ‘That the ACT Government funding allocations’. provides the necessary resources to
Climate march last November World Environment Day The World Environment Day dinner is on again on Saturday 4 June 2016, celebrating our environment and the people who work to protect it. This is the Conservation Council’s flagship social event that supports all of their work. Put this date in your calendar and join our NPA table. Further details will be in Burning Issues closer to the date.
The 2015 Environment Day dinner was held at the 29 November 2015. Photo by Adrienne Nicholson. National Arboretum. Photo by Sabine Friedrich.
22 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2016 PARKWATCH Edited extracts from recent issues Remember on this adventure you are The Cradle Coast Authority believes of journals and newsletters, and not a tour guide or a teacher, but a fellow that tourism in the Tarkine region has the online sources. explorer! potential to create 1,100 jobs and Neck of the Woods ebulletin generate $58.2 million annually by Getting kids into national NPA Qld, Issue 24, 18 January 2016 2017. We sincerely hope that the parks protection and promotion of this special Whether the idea of taking your children The Tarkine destination as a world-class ecotourism out into nature fills you with a sense of area will overcome the lure of short-term The Tarkine, the second largest cool excited anticipation or nervous dread, profits. The Bob Brown Foundation is temperate rainforest on earth is currently one thing is certain – today, more than currently garnering support for the at risk from mining and logging ever, we are well aware of the benefits of Tarkine to become a 450,000 hectare proposals. The region is home to ancient childhood contact with nature: national park. Bob Brown himself says untouched forests, Aboriginal heritage • positive mental outcomes ‘go and see it for yourself and then you sites, wild rivers, a windswept coastline • physical health benefits will want to fight for it’. of big swells and surging kelp, vast • enhanced intellectual development Nature NSW, Vol. 59 button grass plains and coastal • a stronger sense of concern and care No. 4 (Summer 2015) heathlands. Despite meeting all of the for the environment in later life. natural and cultural values necessary to Please don’t let your expectation of have the region listed and protected as Creature feature – the Mistletoe what should happen as you embark on a World Heritage, the federal and Bird bush adventure prevent you from truly Tasmanian governments are both against experiencing and enjoying what does The Australian Mistletoe Bird, Dicaeum listing because forestry logging coupes hirundinaceum, is found through happen. Here are some tips, ideas and and mineral exploration leases cover the activities to help you along the way. mainland Australia and north to Papua bulk of the area. New Guinea. It is more common in • Be prepared: Choose your walk wisely, The Tarkine is named after the pack a backpack with a first aid kit, woodland and forest ecosystems. The Tarkiner Aboriginal clan which lived in male Mistletoe Bird is 9–10 cm in water bottles, snacks and any materials and managed this area sustainably for at for genuine ‘Bush Explorers’ e.g. map, length. The female is duller in colour least 40,000 years. The ancient complex with grey back, white breast with a grey magnifying glass, compass, pen and rainforest include giant Celery Pines, paper. streak, and dull red undertail. ancient Huon Pines, 40 metre tall Mistletoe Birds feed predominantly • Lead by example: If you are genuinely Antarctic Beech and Leatherwood trees, engaged and enthusiastic, your on fruit of various native mistletoes all icons of Australia’s largest temperate (including Ameyema spp.). They also eat children will discover with fresh eyes, rainforest here in Tasmania’s north west. respond in the moment and invite insects when feeding their young. The The abundance and diversity of native female builds a pear-shaped nest of curiosity through your words and species, of which 60 are listed as rare, actions. crushed plant material bound together threatened and endangered, equals that of with spider web, and lays 3–4 eggs. • Get smart with your smart phone: Be nearby regions already carrying World clear with your ‘Bush Explorers’ that Both parents are involved in feeding the Heritage status awarded to protect their young. The gut of the Mistletoe Bird is your phone may be used as an unique values. Motion detector cameras Explorer tool to navigate and capture very simple, with no gizzard for placed deep in the wilderness and crushing food. As a result the berries of memories. maintained by researchers associated • As you walk: Vary your pace and the mistletoe plant are digested very with Tarkine Trails have captured images quickly (between 5 and 45 minutes after select a walking stick as all children of healthy Tasmanian Devils, Spotted love carrying sticks in the bush. ingestion) with no damage to the seed. Quolls and the Tasmanian Wedge-tailed The droppings containing seeds are • Move silently: Bush exploring can be Eagle. very noisy, but switch off your voices sticky and the bird scrapes them along Tourism and ecotourism have been tree branches. and you will find your senses become growth industries in recent years but ‘hyper-alert’ like those of a bush Nature NSW, Vol. 59 mining and logging still provide the lure No. 4 (Summer 2015) creature. Agree on a length of time or of easily made big profits. Following a set distance and then try a ‘silent walk’ brief gold rush in 1881, mineral Securing an Australian icon during which you may only exploration has revealed economically communicate without using words. viable quantities of tin, silver and The Great Koala National Park (GKNP) • Find a bush seat: It’s fun to find good osmiridium as well as gold. These was born out of serious concern for sitting spots as you walk and it can deposits are close to the surface making Australia’s most iconic species. Once provide a much needed moment of the area ideal for open-cut mining. abundant, koalas have declined sharply – rest. Stop to try out each bush seat and So far the area has been able to avoid to the point that, in 2012, the koala don’t forget to take a photograph! the loggers despite the occurrence of the populations of NSW, Qld and the ACT • Find your favourite stories: Engage the ancient Gondwanan relic, the Antarctic were listed as vulnerable under imaginations of your ‘Bush Explorers’ Beech, Nothofagus moorei, known by the Commonwealth legislations. In NSW, and spur them on by linking their loggers as red myrtle. The wood remains koala numbers have fallen 30% in just experience to their favourite stories or highly sought after, bringing a premium 20 years. On that trend, koalas will be movies. Find a leaf that reminds you of price to timber getters. As the timber is extinct in NSW by 2055 if nothing is Nemo and swim him through the slow growing, planting is not seen as done! forest, locate the perfect ‘Faraway tree’ viable, putting extra pressure on Causes of decline are varied. or spot a home for a Hobbit! naturally occurring trees. Drought has had a serious impact, with (continued on page 24) NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2016 23 PARKWATCH (continued) koala populations in the Pilliga Forest contributions to conservation will We have welcomed comments from crashing from tens of thousands to just continue to inspire and influence for Environment Minister Lisa Neville that hundreds. On the coast, koalas compete decades to come. We extend our respects her government is reinvesting in national with humans: the more fertile soils on to Dane’s family at this difficult time and parks to improve their facilities and the coastal flats provide good koala honour him for his tireless dedication to management. A recent survey habitat, but most humans live there too. conserving NSW’s natural heritage. commissioned by the VNPA showed that Unfortunately, our planning system has E-newsletter NPA NSW, 96% of Victorians recognise the been unable to marry the needs of koalas December 2015 importance of national parks for and development. The Pacific Highway conserving nature and protecting native is a huge barrier to east–west koala Hawkweed alert! wildlife, and 81% support increasing movement and fragments populations. Authorities have been on alert after a funding for protecting nature. Victoria’s Logging is a major threat. Koalas don’t patch of a highly invasive weed, Mouse- national parks draw 35 million visitors require old growth trees or hollows, but ear Hawkweed, was discovered in every year. The parks system generates they do require food trees, shelter trees Kosciuszko National Park last year. If $1 billion a year through tourism, and well-connected habitat. uncontrolled, this noxious weed has the $330 million in water services and Concern about koalas led to several potential to overrun the region’s alpine $180 million in avoided health costs. groups developing the GKNP proposal. ecosystem and impact on the grazing and At www.vnpa.org.au, It was felt that the koala is so special a agricultural industry. NPWS has been accessed 24 January 2016 symbol of Australia that it deserved a working with Greening Australia and dedicated reserve – similar to the Canberra Bushwalking Club to monitor The case of Portsea’s approach taken by China to protect the the outbreak as part of the Alpine Weeds disappearing beach Giant Panda. The GKNP proposal would Project. If you are out walking in The Portsea Beach has vanished, a victim combine 140,000 ha of existing reserves Kosciuszko and see a plant that you of the Port Phillip Bay Channel with 175,000 ha of state forest. It think might be a weed please take Deepening Project. The Victorian stretches from the Chelundi area, NW of photos, record the location (GPS GDA Government and the Port of Melbourne Coffs Harbour, south to just inland of Zone 55) and report your weed sighting Authority might choose to disagree with South West Rocks. This area is likely to to the nearest NPWS Office or to that assessment but studies by scientists become even more important as climate [email protected]. and the observations of local experts lay change pushes koalas eastwards. In E-newsletter NPA NSW, the blame squarely at the project. essence, the GKNP is designed to December 2015 After the Port Phillip Heads was encompass the maximum number of dredged in 2008 to deepen the shipping koalas in the smallest area. Our parks in trouble if Parks channel, tidal currents increased, wave In order to maximise the tourism patterns changed and the Portsea Beach potential of the GKNP, the NPA (NSW) Victoria doesn’t get serious began its disappearing act. along with the Bellingen Environment injection of funds Years and millions of dollars later the Centre, commissioned drawings of a The management of Victoria’s national beach is covered in giant sandbags in a visitor centre to be located on the Pacific futile attempt to halt the erosion – Highway, south of Coffs Harbour and parks and nature conservation reserves is in serious decline and can be rectified according to the CSIRO the sandbag wall adjacent to Bongil Bongil National Park. is part of the problem. New solutions The centre would also house a koala only through a major boost in long-term funding. Since 2010 state government being proposed include groynes and hospital which would care for animals artificial reefs, but each of these will infected with chlamydia and those funding to Parks Victoria has fallen by almost a third from an already low base. create its own environmental issues. It is injured by dog attacks or vehicle strikes. time the government and the Port of We will be working to persuade both As well as being hit by these massive funding shortfalls there have been staff Melbourne Authority came clean on the local and state governments that issue, admitted the cause of the vanishing reserves, especially the GKNP, are the cuts, placing serious stress on those that remain. There has also been a reduction Portsea Beach and established an best tools we have for securing the future inclusive, transparent and scientifically of koalas. We need to keep the pressure in the skills needed to manage the many threats Victoria’s parks face, and funding robust consultation process to explore on our MPs. As our patron Tim Faulkner future options for the beach. said ‘it is public pressure that will make for a number of weed and feral animal programs has been cut altogether. At the time of the channel deepening the GKNP happen. Visit the website project the Port of Melbourne Authority
24 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2016 PARKWATCH (continued) fire managers are free to manage the Group as well as encouraging the species habitats represent the last state’s fuel loads strategically. The participation of others. This review is not remaining 100,000 hectares of independent monitor of the Victorian intended to change the policy quintessentially Australian landscapes. Bushfires Royal Commission’s fundamentally, but does aim to improve Their listing under the federal recommendations had already pointed it in practical ways. government’s Environment Protection out serious problems with the target. And The government is stating that there and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999 early last year, Victoria’s Inspector- are links between the Native Vegetation and NSW law will also further protect General of Emergency Services had policy review and the review of the other threatened species. advised moving to a ‘risk-based Biodiversity Strategy and Flora and We have also financially supported a approach’. Fauna Guarantee Act, under which Tasmanian Supreme Court case brought The official line is that burns will decisions around larger policy change by our colleagues at the Tasmanian remain much the same for now, with will be made. The Victorian review is Conservation Trust against a land owner ‘risk-based’ planning taking hold in mid taking place at a time when we are who wants to destroy nearly 2,000 2016. What is missing so far is the seeing weakening of native vegetation hectares of woodland. Protected under complete assessment of fire management protection laws around the country under national law (thanks to a nomination by that the release from the 5% target conservative governments. HSI many years ago), this area is critical allows. It’s time for complete NSW is about to abandon its Native for the survival of key endangered reassessment of the whole spectrum of Vegetation Act in favour of a biodiversity species. fire planning and mitigation activity, so conservation Act that will result in Humane Society International, we can most effectively allocate our reduced protection for native vegetation. campaign report 2015. expertise and resources. We should look SA is considering adopting some of the at the need to reassess Victoria’s elements of Victoria’s ‘streamlined’ Marine and coastal update planning regulation, at mandating policy, and Queensland under the We continue to await the release of shelters in existing houses in fire-prone Newman Government opened up large planning processes for the Point Nepean areas. And we should look at a range of swathes of the countryside for clearing, a Quarantine Station and the Moolap options for controlling fire ignition policy which the Palaszczuk Government coastal wetlands. There are also only points. has not yet reversed. Victoria is the most scant details of progress on the Anglesea We should also look at fuel reduction cleared state in Australia but the others Heathlands in the Great Otway NP. It is burns in that broad fire management are catching up. hoped that Parks Victoria will conduct a context – what gives the best bang for At the recent Biodiversity and summertime consultation process on the the community’s buck, in each very Climate Change Symposium, we heard draft 2010 Point Nepean master plan for different part of Victoria. Only then can about the devastating changes that are what the government refers to as a we be sure we are doing our best to look already occurring within our landscape, ‘refreshment’ of the plan. At the time of after our communities. And in that and the importance of refuge areas for writing there were no details. process we might also manage a burning wildlife. We also know of the importance For Moolap, the first stage of the regime for Victoria that supports our of conserving native vegetation for planning process will be for 12–15 overstressed native ecosystems. myriad benefits to people, agriculture months and cover the wetlands and also Park Watch (Vic. NPA), and the environment. The review of the the closed Alcoa smelter and adjoining No. 263 (December 2015) clearing regulation is due to provide Alcoa land further east. This should give some draft policy recommendation in the flexibility needed to get the right Native vegetation laws: are they early 2016 with adoption planned by mid level of protection for the wetlands, a 2016. conservation reserve that also offers enough? Park Watch (Vic. NPA), passive recreational opportunities for No. 263 (December 2015) The Andrews Government’s review of Geelong residents. Victoria’s native vegetation clearing The population of Hooded Plovers in regulations is on track to deliver some Going, going … saved! the Mornington Peninsula NP is results within the government’s first While our national and state environment threatened by disturbance and attacks by term. This review, the result of an laws are under immense threat from leashed and unleashed pet dogs. There is election promise, comes after the mining companies and conservative now a strong local campaign, Baillieu and Napthine governments governments, this year has still seen new spearheaded by state MP Martin Dixon, undertook their own reviews and or additional legislative protections given to have dogs banned from the national introduced regulations which aimed to to seven endangered ecosystems, thanks park. The VNPA supports this campaign streamline the permitted clearing to HSI’s scientific nomination program. and spent some time meeting with process, with a focus on using the offset These often critically endangered Martin in late November to talk about market to regulate clearing. ecosystems include the first ever national this and other conservation issues on the Their policy moved away from listing for the Seagrass Meadows of the peninsula. valuing large old trees and threatened Manning–Hawkesbury Ecoregion, the Park Watch (Vic. NPA), vegetation communities. It also protection of Cooks River–Castlereagh No. 263 (December 2015) introduced the use of computer models Ironbark Forests, Central Hunter Valley and flawed mapping products for Eucalypt Forests and Woodlands, fundamental decision-making. The Castlereagh Scribbly Gum and Ages Compiled by Hazel Rath VNPA was a strong advocate for a better Bank Woodlands, Hunter Valley policy in the past review and is now in Weeping Myall Woodland and Shale the current review, and is participating as Sandstone Transition Forest of the a member of the Stakeholder Reference Sydney Basin Bioregion. These critical-
NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2016 25 NPA notices National Parks Association Calendar New members of March April May June the association Public holidays Fri 25–Mon 28 Mon 25 — Mon 13 The NPA ACT welcomes the following new members: General meetings Thurs 17 Thurs 21 Thurs 19 Thurs 16 Suzy Watson, Russell Whitewood and Sue Committee meetings Tues 1 Tues 5 Tues 3 Tues 7 Robinson, 1 Gudgengy Bush Regeneration Sat 12 Sat 9 Sat 14 Sat 11 Peter and Jeanette Johnson Glenburn work party 2 — — Tues 3 — Kate Waghorn.
Further details: 1. GBRG. Meet at Namadgi Visitor Centre 9:15 am or Yankee Hat carpark at 10:00am. and Kerri Bradford has rejoined. 2. Friends of Glenburn meet at Canberra Railway Station, Kingston at 9:00 am, or at the locked gate off the Kings Highway at 9:20 am. We look forward to seeing everyone at NPA activities.
VISIT THE TIP Honorary Life Membership 28 April Thursday Activity The committee is again calling for nominations for Honorary Life Membership. Learn how recyclable waste If you think that a member has done something very special for our association and is is sorted and processed worthy of this recognition, please send a confidential nomination to the secretary Sonja during a visit to Mugga Land- Lenz by mid-April (signed by yourself and another member who seconds the nomination). fill. There will be an Further information on what to put into the nomination can be found on the NPA website educational presentation and or by contacting Kevin McCue on 6251 1291 or email [email protected]. a short bus tour of the recycling facility. We will meet nearby at 9.30 am as Vale Thelma Hunter NPA AUTUMN ART WEEK parking is limited at the site. A death notice in the Canberra Times brought 8-15 May Gudgenby Cottage Afterwards we will return to our meeting point and have back memories of a past member of the National Contact Christine morning tea at a local cafe. Parks Association of the ACT. [email protected] Dr Thelma Hunter was known for her work as Group limited to 20. See an academic and feminist whose research interests The Parks Service has accepted our Outings Program. For included women’s issues and social policy, health request for an additional Art Week at meeting place and to reserve policy and Indian politics. Thelma Hunter did her Gudgenby Cottage this your place please contact MA, Dip. Ed. in Political Economy and Politics at year, in autumn; book Esther by 25 April on the University of Glasgow. She arrived in soon to secure your place. 0429 356 212 or Australia in 1958 where she held the position of Further information in email [email protected] Lecturer, Department of Political Science at the Burning Issues and on the Australian National University (ANU) during website. 1965–79. She completed her PhD in Political Science – Cover photographs The Politics of National Health – at ANU in 1969. Between 1991 and 1994 she was a Visiting Fellow Front cover at the same university. In 1999 she published Not a Dutiful Daughter: the personal story of a Main photo. Hammersley Gorge, folded ironstone migrant academic. rock strata (article page 10). . Photo by Rupert Barnett. But for some early members of our association in the 1970s she was a lively bushwalking Insets. Left. Galah at tree scar, Mount Taylor (article page 8). companion with a Scottish accent and very dark Photo by Max Lawrence. eyes that came from her Italian heritage. One Centre. A tiny moth Oxythecta sp of leaf litter (article page 7). member vividly remembers her from a car camp Photo by Paul Zborowski. at South Durras when there was no Murramarang Resort there, and being invited to her home for a Right. Hudson Bay Polar Bear (article page 20). spontaneous dinner of pasta and pesto – an Italian Photo by Esther Gallant. meal in those days quite unknown to many Australians. Back cover Thelma Hunter died at the age of 92 on Critters come in all shapes and sizes, but the photo scale does matter! 9 January 2016. Photos by NPA members. Various sources, including NPA members Key to back page photographers: Kevin McCue (KM), Tim Walsh and Judith Webster Max Lawrence (ML), Adrienne Nicholson (AN).
26 NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2016 General Meetings Third Thursday of the month, (not December or January) 8:00pm, Uniting Church hall, 56 Scrivener Street, O’Connor Thursday 17 March Thursday 21 April Thursday 19 May Krakatoa Where the Murrumbidgee’s flowing Polar Bears – endangered Kevin McCue and Sonja Lenz … from the mountains to the sea Esther Gallant NPA ACT members Barrie Virtue NPA ACT member Raconteur Awe-inspiring Polar Bears are very Few national parks worldwide have From the river’s source in the threatened by climatic warming. had their genesis in a massive Snowy Mountains to its junction The bears of Hudson Bay, Canada volcanic eruption as did Ujung with the Murray, we trace some of come ashore in summer and can be Kulon National Park in Indonesia – the history of the Murrumbidgee’s seen at close range even on foot. Krakatoa 1883. Kevin and Sonja exploration by Charles Sturt, and the We watched bears for 6 days will talk about their recent visit, interesting connection Sturt had to learning about bear behaviour and with surprising Australian our region. why they are so endangered. connections.
Conveners National Parks Association of the ACT Incorporated Outings Subcommittee Vacant [email protected] Inaugurated 1960 Environment Subcommittee Rod Griffiths 6288 6988 (h) Aims and objectives of the Association [email protected] Cultural Subcommittee David Large 0428 914 837 (mob) • 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 Subcommittee Kevin McCue 6251 1291 (h) Australian Capital Territory and elsewhere, and the reservation of [email protected] specific areas. Promotion and Engagement Vacant • Interest in the provision of appropriate outdoor recreation areas. Subcommittee • Stimulation of interest in, and appreciation and enjoyment of, such Bulletin Working Group Kevin McCue 6251 1291 (h) natural phenomena and cultural heritage by organised field outings, [email protected] meetings or any other means. NPA Work Party Co-ordinator Martin Chalk 6292 3502 (h) • Cooperation with organisations and persons having similar interests [email protected] and objectives. Glenburn/Burbong Work Col McAlister 6288 4171 (h) Parties [email protected] • Promotion of, and education for, conservation, and the planning of landuse to achieve conservation. The NPA ACT office is in Unit 14 / 26 Lena Karmel Lodge, Barry Drive, Acton, together with the Conservation Council. It is staffed by Office-bearers volunteers on an irregular basis. Callers may leave phone or email President vacant messages at any time and they will be attended to. The post office Vice-President Christine Goonrey 6231 8395 (h) mail box is cleared daily. [email protected] Phone: (02) 6229 3201 (mob) 0410 875 731 (if urgent) Secretary Sonja Lenz 6251 1291 (h) Website: www.npaact.org.au [email protected] Email: [email protected] Treasurer Chris Emery 6249 7604 (h) [email protected] Address: GPO Box 544, Canberra ACT 2601 Facebook: www.facebook.com/NationalParksAssoc Committee members iationOfTheAct Esther Gallant (Minutes Secretary) 6161 4514 (h) Membership subscription rates (1 July to 30 June) [email protected] The new subscription rate is $22, which includes a digital copy only Rod Griffiths (Immediate Past President) 6288 6988 (h) of our Bulletin. [email protected] If you want to receive a printed copy of the Bulletin, the subscription George Heinsohn 6278 6655 (h) rates are: [email protected] Household membership $44 Single members $38.50 David Large 0428 914 837 (mob) Corporate membership $33 Full-time student/Pensioner $22 [email protected] Note: All the above subscription categories reduce to $11 if a Kevin McCue 6251 1291 (h) donation of $100 or more is made. [email protected] Advertising Quentin Moran 6288 9840 (h) The NPA Bulletin accepts advertisements and inserts. Contact [email protected] the NPA office for information and rates. Mike Smith 0412 179 907 (mob) Printed by Instant Colour Press, Belconnen, ACT. [email protected] ISSN 0727-8837
NPA BULLETIN − MARCH 2016 27 KM
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For information on NPA ACT activities, please visit our website http://www.npaact.org.au and follow us at www.facebook.com/NationalParksAssociationOfTheAct