RGSQ Bulletin ISSN 1832-8830 Vol 47 no 11 December 2012

Published by The Royal Geographical Society of Inc, a nonprofit organisation established in 1885 that promotes the study of geography and encourages a greater understanding and enjoyment of the world around us.

capacity as Patron of the National people, related to the National Trust In this issue Trust of Queensland, to celebrate the responsibilities and the work of • Africa Revisited first year anniversary of the Currumbin Sanctuary was • Membership Renewals Currumbin Wildlife Hospital assembled. • Christmas Party Foundation and in support of the • Volunteering for Geog Comp Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and It was most informative to hear of the • South of the Border Trek Community W ildlife Hospital. work of the National Trust at • Peru Trek Currumbin and to realise the scope • Christmas Close Each was attended by large number of the public support required and • Vale Rolf Roduner of representative from kindred given to this organisation. organisations, businesses and Local Authorities. The very pleasing nature The information about wildlife From the President of these receptions was the preservation, outlined by the Writing as President of our Royal exchange of information and the Governor, and in the response to the Geographical Society in the last two "networking" promoted by the Governor's address by the Chairman months has been something of an Governor. of the Fund Raising Committee, Dr outline of my past activity and Bruce Cook OAM, was a further interests in geography and the The first of these Receptions was example of valuable communication. Society – now some comment on attended by myself as President, my more recent happenings. wife Kathryn (also a Member) and Mr It is my impression that our mass Keith Smith, the Society Business media techniques for reporting, in Two Council meetings and the Manager and now retired Secretary. print, radio and television, do not October and November Lectures The Governor and her Husband manage to present the essence of have passed since the Annual welcomed Guests at the entrance to the real work of these types of General Meeting and Committee the Drawing Room. In welcoming organisations, in the manner activity for 2013 is underway. For all Keith Smith, as he entered, the achieved at these gatherings. my previous time with the Society, I Governor specially acknowledged his have not fully appreciated the recent retirement as RGSQ Thanks and appreciation to Her strength and extent of the Committee Secretary after twenty six years, with Excellency for recognising and work within the Society, especially in a suitable comment. including our Society at these the way that the current activities are functions. enabled within the modest financial The outline of the work, and people resources available. In achievements and plans of the the role of President, I have had to Agriculture Industry by Her Patron: H.E. Ms P Wensley AC, become more aware of the scope Excellency was presented in her Governor of Queensland and time involved. usual informed and erudite manner. President: Mr David Carstens The Minister for Agriculture, Hon During October there have been two John McVeigh responded with The Royal Geographical Society invitations from our Patron, Her appreciation and the promise, maybe of Queensland Inc Excellency Ms Penelope W ensley, a little political, of the ongoing 237 Milton Road for the Society to attend Receptions support of the Government for the Milton Qld 4064 at Government House. The first was farming community. to a Reception with the Minister for Tel: (07) 3368 2066 Agriculture, the Honourable John On the second occasion, Kathryn and Fax: (07) 3367 1011 McVeigh, to recognise and promote I represented the Society. A Email: [email protected] the importance of Agriculture in completely different selection of Web: www.rgsq.org.au Queensland. The second in her The programme of Lectures and South of the Border Trek Activities for the Society in 2013 has A trek suitable for families and been formulated over the last couple people who prefer not to camp, as of months and I am sure you will well as campers, has been arranged appreciate the contribution of the for the school holiday period after Committees who have constructed You Easter 2013. The period involved is the programme as the year & your from 1 to 11 April 2013. Participants progresses. will meet at Stanthorpe, where we friends are will spend 2 nights, visit wineries, and As this is the December Bulletin, on invited to view local scenery. behalf of the RGSQ, I wish all the Society’s Members "Happy Christmas and a Then travel via Moree (1 night) to Challenging New Year". Coonabarabran (2 nights) and visit Christmas Party the Warrumbungles and local David Carstens Observatory. 7.30pm Tuesday 4 Dec 237 Milton Rd, Milton Next to Armidale (3 nights), for waterfalls and national parks, art Africa Revisited Drinks, nibbles and galleries, museums and a local tour. You are invited to a multi-media good company provided presentation on both of the RGSQ Finally to Yamba (2 nights) for some 2012 Africa Treks. This will be held Come along to meet old beach, surf, and visits to nearby at the Society on Thursday 31 friends and make new ones centres, such as a ferry trip to Iluka January 2013 at 7:30 pm. Light for lunch. refreshments will be served. The formal Trek will finish at Yamba Preliminary information on the Peru on 11 April, but people may elect to Trek later in 2013 will also be stay on, or visit other beachside available. places like Lennox Head on the way home. This is the Society's first activity of Can YOU Help? the year, is free, and is open to ALL As most members would realise, our The itinerary has been planned on MEMBERS. For catering numbers, Society organises the Australian good roads, and with caravan park/ please advise the office by Friday 25 Geography Competition. motel accommodation every night. January if you are attending. Approximately 80,000 secondary The Easter/school holiday period school students entered the 2012 may make bookings difficult, so Enquiries to: Competition. We need to call on our please advise the office of your Kay Rees generous members again for their interest as soon as possible. Let us [email protected] help. We will be packing the initial know of your accommodation needs, mail-out to schools on Thursday 17 caravan, tent or cabin, etc. W e will January, and maybe finishing off the then contact caravan park venues, last bits on Friday 18 January. and circulate a firm itinerary. 2013 Renewals Society members who need to renew In this mailing, all schools get the Members will be required to make their subscription for 2013 will find a same so it's relatively straight- their own accommodation bookings, renewal form enclosed with this forward – no matching codes nor after we advise the venues. Bulletin. W e hope that all of you will counting large numbers involved! (I decide to renew to support the work can even do it sitting down, though The Treks and Activities Committee of the Society and/or take advantage some people prefer to stand.) If you is really desirous of having a good of our interesting programme of can't help on those dates but can fit number of children/grandchildren lectures and treks. in some time earlier in January, you along on this trek, so please could help prepare the mailing encourage the "young ones" to come If you'd like to change to receiving envelopes. Other jobs come up in along and enjoy RGSQ hospitality your Bulletin by email, please fill that March, April and May. and our interesting and informative in on the renewal form. Members treks. who already receive the Bulletin by If you can give a few hours of your email and who are due to renew will time, please ring or email me in the A registration fee of $25 per be sent a renewal form in the post. office and let me know you can help individual or $50 per family, is in January, or later in the year. payable before 28 February 2013. Thanks very much. Enquiries to: Kath Berg Brian Mealey 3379 2783 [email protected]

RGSQ Bulletin Vol 47 no 11 December 2012 Page 2 PERU TREK 2013

The magazine ‘International Traveller for Modern Explorers' regards South America as having some of the ‘hottest destinations of the world's most seductive continent'.

Like , South America is a huge continent and it's impossible to see it all in 22 days. However, Peru offers a microcosm of what's on offer in South America, and a magnificent display of the physical and human geography in this part of the world.

Think of the Amazon and Machu Picchu for starters – doesn't that sound exciting! Then add Santiago, Valparaiso, Lima, Cuzco, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, and Lake Titicaca. Combine that with a heady mix of food, wine, colour, music, markets, and some exceptional history of the Spanish conquest of the New World and the Inca civilisation.

I invite you to join us on tour and once again promise a very rewarding geographical experience in 2013 when The Royal Geographical Society of Queensland, in conjunction with Travel Concepts, travel to Peru.

This RGSQ group will depart for South America on 12 October 2013.

Cost all inclusive $10,990 per person Deposit $1,200.00 per person

For further information regarding a detailed itinerary or to book, contact Mel Haycock at Travel Concepts, ph 07 3368 3733 or email [email protected], or for information only phone Leo Scanlan on 07 3343 4398 or email [email protected].

Bookings will be taken on a first-come basis and numbers are limited. Don't delay if you're at all interested, as our last RGSQ trek overseas to Southern Africa in 2012 sold out in the first couple of weeks.

Leo Scanlan

Christmas Close Vale Rolf Roduner Queensland/NT Border The Society’s office will be closed for Members will be saddened to learn Peter Saenger, who was one of the Christmas from 21 December, of the death of Society member Rolf researchers at Pungalina, has reopening 2 January. Roduner on 7 November, after a published a book entitled short illness. Rolf was a key member Queensland's Western Afterthought, Please note that the Society does not (in charge of catering) of the about the 1862 shift of Queensland's publish a January Bulletin. Next Pungalina Scientific Study volunteer western boundary from 141°E to year’s lecture and trip programme team and will be missed by his 138°E, from to will be sent out with the February friends at RGSQ. Several members Poeppel Corner. Bulletin. were able to attend the scattering of his ashes at one of Rolf’s favourite Peter is concerned that the important Keith, Kath and Hayley wish you and spots on Stradbroke Island. anniversary of this action – 150 years yours a safe and joyous Christmas ago – has passed unnoticed in this and look forward to a productive year The Society extends its sympathy to State. Without this re-positioning of for the Society in 2013. Linda, Mark and family members. the boundary, our State's geography

RGSQ Bulletin Vol 47 no 11 December 2012 Page 3 and economy would have been very Local Website The site is very much a work in different, with the Queensland towns I am not affiliated with the progress, but the pages I have of , Bedourie, Boulia, geographical society, but I walk past created to date cover topics such as Cloncurry, Camooweal, Mt Isa, your headquarters every day on my the history of Gregory Park, John Burketown and Karumba being way home from work. I live in Oxley's visit to the area in 1824, and situated in the ! Rosalie, and have created a website how the floods remind us where all – www.oncewasacreek.org – that the old creeks were. I am currently The book, thoroughly researched delves into the environmental history working on one about the early and with an extensive bibliography of the Rosalie/Milton/Auchenflower/ settlement of Milton. and detailed index, is available from Rainworth area. It looks at the the publisher Tankard Books, PO natural environment and hydrology of I'm not really sure where the website Box 5098, East Lismore NSW 2480. the area, as well has how it has been would fit into your members' The retail price is $48 (postage changed as people settled in and interests, but I thought it would be included), and order forms are developed the suburbs. It certainly worth sharing it with you. available from Heather McGrath, relates to geography, but on an phone 07 3378 5960. intensely local scale. Part of the idea Angus Veitch is to get people attuned to the Heather McGrath 'geography' that is part of our daily lives.

RGSQ December 2012 Bulletin Volunteer Days, Thurs 17 & Fri 18 Jan For: Australian Geography Competition Trek Show, Thurs 31 Jan 7.30pm Members’ Meeting, Tues 4 Dec 7.30pm What: Africa Revisited What: Christmas Party Lecture Meeting, Tues 5 Feb 7.30pm Christmas Close Speaker: Jeanette Covacevich When: 21 Dec to 1 Jan Subject: Big Lessons from Small Islands

The Royal Geographical Society of Queensland Inc 237 Milton Road, Milton Q 4064 POSTAGE PAID AUSTRALIA