Wambaliman SPRING 2015

The newsletter of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland Bundaberg and Fraser Coast Branches, members and friends THIS ISSUE: annual branch reports Central Branches Get-together coming events Wildlife FC recent activities Jamella on K’gari Contributions from FIDO,WBBEC and FCRC CEP wildlife rescue for all species of native wildlife WILDLIFE RESCUE FRASER COAST Phone : 4121 3146 anytime SPRING 2015 WAMBALIMAN, since July 1967 In the language of the Kabi Tribe which occupied the land from Maleny to Howard, including Fraser Island and all the territory drained by the Mary, Burrum, Mooloolah, Maroochy and Noosa River systems, “wambaliman” means simply “carry”. Editor's Note Please buy some tickets in our raffle. The beau- tiful prize has been donated and we want to make the most of this fundraiser. See page 24. WILDLIFE PRESERVATION There is always plenty to do at the markets - SOCIETY OF QUEENSLAND selling t-shirts, tulle bags, cards, raffle tickets known as and collecting signatures on petitions, setting WILDLIFE QUEENSLAND up a display and advertising our activities. Anyone want to help? BUNDABERG BRANCH PO Box 1215 Bundaberg, 4670 Vanessa mentions in her report for the FC that the “new” executive (of Wildlife FC) looks President: much the same as the “old”. Well, yes it does. Maureen Schmitt Sara is president, Vanessa is secretary and Vice President: Carol treasurer, (although their titles here Leeann Evans don’t do justice to what they really do for the Secretary: group). And, how lucky are we to have such a Ann Jarman 4159 1931 competent and committed executive? Of course Treasurer: we have another dozen people always willing to Phil Jarman 4159 1931 lend a hand. Our group is truly in a wonderful position right now. FRASER COAST BRANCH I had to hold over some contributions this issue PO Box 7396 Urangan, 4655 as I couldn’t fit them in, sorry. Jenni President: Sara Gerdsen 41295789 Vice President: Vale Peter Duck 41221998 Secretary: Juanita Johnston Vanessa Elwell-Gavins Juanita was a long-standing 0428624366 member of Wildlife Fraser Asst Secretary (minutes): Coast who was active in Ruby Rosenfield 41234765 many facets of our work. Treasurer: She had many great Carol Bussey 4129 5979 strengths, some of which were her humour and her Asst Treasurer: humility, her passion for the Linda Idiens 41242913 environment, the ability to give wonderful moral support to the rest of us, ask questions, partici- WAMBALIMAN pate in discussions, explain her points of view Publisher: Wildlife Qld FC patiently, clearly and politely to people who did Editor: Jenni Watts 0400656325 not necessarily agree with her, and to face Production: Jenni Watts adversity with quiet courage and inner Additional writing: strength. I know I speak for many in the socie- Carol Bussey and Jenni Watts ty who will miss her very deeply.Vanessa Proofreading: Andrea van Kampen 2 NOTICE BOARD REGULAR ACTIVITIES Spring 2015 Contents Nature in the (Hervey Bay) Library Talks Third Friday of the month Annual Reports Ring Sara for more information 41295789 November - Frogs Wildlife Fraser Coast ..4 Wildlife Bundaberg ..6 Monthly Community Nature Outings First Saturday of the month Ring Carol for more information 4129 5979 FC Branch Activities ..8 November 7- Wongi Waterholes (see below) Central Branches Get-together..10 December - There is no walk. Join us for our Sustainable Schools’ Day ..12 branch break-up Threatened Species ..13 Social Gathering for members & friends Ring Dianne for more information 41283992 Planning Schemes (comment)..14 Monthly talks on local community radio Koalas ..15 Contact Audrey Sorensen 41256891 Dr Michael King’s talk ..16 Case for Visitor Centre (comment)17 November Nature Walk and Jamella on K’gari .18 (optional) Campout November 7, 2015 Meet at 7:45 am Wongi Meet Casey (WBBEC) ..20 Waterholes (30min north of Maryborough) FCRC CEP ..21 The walk will be short and relaxed because the weather will be warm. Bring togs if you Monthly Walks..22 wish to swim in the waterholes. Fires are not allowed but dogs on leash are permitted. Raffle ..24 There is a camping area at Wongi Water- holes. You need to book with Queensland We welcome contributions from WPSQ Parks and Wildlife Service if you wish to camp. Book online by just googling “wongi members and supporters. Send contribu- waterholes camping” or book by phone on tions by email to [email protected] or 13 74 68. Barring unforeseen circumstanc- post to The Editor, Wambaliman, PO BOX es, I hope to set up camp on Thursday, 7396 URANGAN 4655 November 5. I will bring my spotlight. Last time all we saw was a possum! Submissions for the next WAMBALIMAN If you wish to go on the walk please notify are due by mid January 2016 me, Carol on 41295979 Opinions expressed in WAMBALIMAN are not necessarily those endorsed by the Wildlife Preservation Society Queensland, Bundaberg and Fraser Coast Branches FC Wildlife unless specifically attributed to them. “end of year break up” Saturday 5 December See WAMBALIMAN in colour Lunch at Café Balaena on Wildlife FC’s webpage in Hervey Bay RSVP Vanessa 0428624366 http:/frasercoast.wildlife.org.au 3 Wildlife Fraser Coast Branch Annual report The year 2014/2015 has executed with various local Youth Education been a busy year once environmental groups who Youth education is also an again. We have enjoyed an organized display stalls and important activity for our increase in membership and children’s activities. Local branch. We have performed we continue to do our best to State MP Bruce Saunders our Say No to Plastic Bags implement WPSQ’s objec- and Cr George Seymour pantomime for 5 school clas- tives. Koala habitat rehabili- both attended. Unfortunately, ses and 2 children’s holiday tation has occupied much of despite extensive publicity, events. Diane helped a our time as well as educa- attendance was poor and group of Tinana School stu- tional activities. less than 40 children came dents present the panto- with their families. mime for Schools Sustaina- Working for Koalas bility Day and with Carol’s In October 2014 we conduct- Public Education help, a second group orga- ed a “phone-in” koala count. Our second major project nized the Developer Game Currently Koala habitat in has been public education. as part of their presentation Tinana is being reduced as Monthly Library Talks about Koalas. For World more development occurs. Environment Day we visited With the help of a State Gov- A series of monthly talks about Fraser Coast flora and Pialba School and presented ernment Everybody’s Envi- 3 flying fox activities for the ronment Grant members fauna at Hervey Bay Library have been presented. The grade 5 students. Gwen and have worked to revegetate Carol have fine tuned the Woocoo Park in branch would like to thank Cr Seymour for organizing this mircobats games and they Maryborough as koala habi- went over well. The teachers tat. We have put in 135 as well as the library staff who produce the flyers and have already booked us plants and shrubs to date again for 2016. and as well we have staked provide the nibbles. To date topics have included bats, volunteers (natural regenera- Other Activities birds, snakes, preserving tion of local natives). With a Many of our members con- wildlife memories in poetry, regular team of “waterers” tinue to participate in on- Hervey Bay corals, koalas, most have survived. We are going environmental pro- and wildlife photography. also devising signage for the jects. These include work at Hopefully these talks will area. Several different com- the Fay Smith Wetlands continue in 2016 as we have munity groups helped with (Maryborough) and Arkarra many more speakers who the planting. In January a (Dundowran), working at the are willing to share their local scout group joined Council propagators nursery, knowledge about local flora branch members and local presenting workshops about and fauna. residents to re-establish how to set up a wildlife vegetation in the area near Monthly Nature Walks friendly garden, producing the dam. This event included Our hard working treasurer, and distributing our maga- presentations about the im- Carol, with assistance from zine Wambaliman and main- portance of wetlands as part Jenni and Peter, has contin- taining our Branch Blog (part of the scout’s nature badge. ued to arrange nature walks. of WPSQ’s website). A big In May and June members These are advertised in the “thank you” to editor Jenni . and local residents planted local press and attract many We also maintained our reg- koala feed trees. In July, nonmembers some of whom ular spot on local community three grade 4 classes from then decide to join our radio thanks to Audrey. Writ- Tinana School continued the branch. For members for ing submissions is also an planting for National Tree whom such activities are ongoing activity. Often we Day. A celebratory event For rather physically demanding, are astounded by the places National Threatened Species Diane has organized social where developers want to Day was well planned and get-togethers at local parks. bulldoze to create building 4 Branches Get-together it is always reassuring to get together with like minded people and share disappoint- ments and successes. More than 30 people attended John Sinclair’s talk (18 WPSQ members and 14 nonmembers) and 2 of these have applied for membership. My thanks to all the members who helped over the weekend. Next year we will continue working at Woocoo Park. No doubt we will need to write more submissions to try to stop further habitat destruc- tion. There will be more edu- cational programs and nature walks. Council elections will be held next year in Still going strong….

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