Rainforest Study Group

Home , Celastrus, Eupomatia laurina, Gmelina leichhardtii, McIlwraith Range

ASSOCIATION OF SOCIETIES FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PUNTS RAINFOREST STUDY GROUP

NEWSLETTER NO, 23 JANUARY 1994 Group Leader - ISSlJ 0729-5413 DAV l D JENKl NSON "BOOYONG" RMB 155D ; Annual Subscription $5 BYABARRA 2446

" We are not masters of the environment - we are dependant on it " WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS We trust that the following people who have joined the Group over the past few months have a long and happy assocfation, learn a lot and perhaps contribute some of their experiences to their fellows. Grahame Duibidge 13 Dlxon St Seaham 2324 ' Steve Sinclair 3 Biscayne Dr Mt Waverley Vic 3149 Leon Radunz 46 Caber C1 DuraJ 2158 David Thomas 4 9 Miriam Rd Oenis,tone 2114 Lyndsay Simpson 80 Dawson st ~epceraQ. 4054 -'Mark Williams 20 Henson St Summer Hill 2130 . Trfsh p.illiams 32 Lambert St West Ryde 2114 .- .. r . .. :' :: ... T .'. --.. ... -. I.. - r APOLOGIES FOR THE GREMLIN IN OUR LA~TNEWSLETTER I managed to get 2 activities wrong, so Geoff, I trust you didn'i lose any starters on your ,trip to LORD HOWE ISLAND'S Rainforests and that nobody ended up on Norfolk ! Jeremy's weekend at Gap Creek was in DEC- EMBER, so those turning up in November would havebeen in for a long wait:Sorry'fellows. .'. A SURVEY OF OUR SYDNEY - NEWCASTLE - WOLLONGONG MEMBERS ONLY As you will be aware, Jeremy Trahair has arranged some local activities, but some were not well attended. In order to' find out whether city members are interested in outings and activities and their requirements, it will assist in planning these if you would complete the attached summary. Preferably return them direct to Jeremy rather than to me. His address is 56 Forestway Frenchs Forest 2086. As well'he'would like to organise day trips and walks to ROYAL NATIONAL PARK (BgLA CREEK) - ROBERTSON - ILLAWARRA ESCARPMENT - GOSFORD AREA. Would anyone'familiar. with: these. areas please phone him on (02) 451 5086 to assist 7

THIS ISSUE WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH LATER WITHOUT ANNA WENKIS ASSISTANCE Due to competition from' competing needs, a string of visitors, Xmas etc. I'd been contlnually putting off its preparation. HoweverrAnna offered to type up the Newsletter, so that forced me to get it.under way, just a little late. Thank you uery much Anna for your help and encouragement. OUR SEED BANK - NEWS AND PROCE5 URES Esther mentions that much of the seed held is getting old, and no doubt some will be totally unviable; some of course should be OK (the drier varieties). Maybe those of you who are keen propagators could contact Esther and ask that she send you a selection and that you conduct viability trials ? Other points that came up during our discussion were (1) Members should order / offer~seedin advance via the Newsletter, paricularly species with fleshy fruits or of known short viability - donors and seekers could then come to an independant mutual arrangement for supply and receival. (2) Those seeking seed of particular species not listed as being in stock should also do it through the Newsletter to have a better chance of obtaining it. (Not all of us think to send seed to Esther automatically) (3) For the benefit of newew members - seed is free of charge but a stamped SAE should be included with your request, and of course donations of any rainforest species is always welcome. Seed Bank is c/- Mrs Esther Taylor 74 Francis St Raymonds Hill Ipswich 4305. SEED GENERALLY STILL AVAILABLE Abrophyllum ornans Alpinia caerulea Araurcaria cunninghamli Archotophoe- nis alexandrae Barklya syringifolia BraZhychiton bidwillii B. ruestrus Buckinghamia celsissima Canthium coprosmoides Celastrus subspicata Cissus antarctica Commersonia bartramia Cordyline ptiolaris C. stricta Decaspermum humile Elaeocarpus grandis Ehretia acuminata Euodia elleryana Eupomatia laurina Ficus hi11 ii F. racemosa F. virens Flindersia austral is F. xanthoxylon Gmelina fasciculiflora Hernandla bivalvis Hibiscus .heterophyllus Jagera pseudorhus Mallotus phillipensis Melia azederach Morinda jasminoides Mackinlaya macrosciadia Nauclea orientalis Notelaea microcarpa Pandorea jasminoides P. jasminoides bhite form) P. jasminoides (pink form) Peltophorum pterocarpum Pittosporum revolutum P. rhombi- folium Psychotria loniceroides Sarcopteryx stipata Scolopea braunii Stenocarpus sInuatus Synoum gland- glandulosum Tasmannia lanceolata T. stipitata Toona australis Tristania laurina. Some seeds are limited so maybe you should request an alternative or two when ordering. THE NSW ANNUAL WILDFLOWER SHOW IS BACK IN 8USINESS.WILL BE HELD 23RD P 24TH JULY , Venue will be the Nursery Industry Association Site at Annangrove Rd Rouse Hill. The organisers have written "The.plan 1s to encourage the growfng and care of native plants and to show their relationship to the environment.:'Your display would help to promote the public interest and the Society would appreciate your supportH Further Information will be available shortly, but If any of you would help to arrange a display and/or to assist at that time.please contact Betty Rymer 48 Annangrove Rd Kenthurst 2156 Tel. (02) 654 1831 or Marle Spicer 12 Everett P1 Annangrove 2156 Tel. (02) 679 1439 NEWS FROM OUR MEMBERS It was the big move by LEON RADUNZ. from Ipswich to Sydney and we trust that he will have as g d an impact on his new area as he did in Qld. He mentions that he established several Rainforests in schoolf around Ipswich. Been busy down south too, planting out the 400 trees that they brought down with them.' bitof S6Q .inNSW ? &little *; * 5. Another. member that has also been overseas ts GARY DALY who has wri tten a shoi-t note on hls trip to Sumatra - Indonesia. There are some great ralnforerts, especfa1 7y the montane forms. They saw great fauna - horn bJPls, sfpiang monkeys, white headed gibbons, trugans and many species of Ranfd frog* The most accessible places to see goad primary raqnforests are Bukit Iawang &. Kerlnchi National Park - Mt.' Tuju. These dipto- carpus forests are quite diverse - but still pale compared to some in Peru. Gary mentioned a string of not- able plants and added that we could st111 get a gri on things on the other side af Wallaces Llne where regrowth is often dominated by Macaranpa (trf to1la?!,~mal anthus, and apparently a Commerronia. Generally the famlltes Saplndaceae and W~raceaeare common and He even found a Trfstanla B Agathis species. But all is not rosy - every area 1s under threat from trans-rnfgratlon, illegal loggfng and Sancfonal conces- sions. (Ed. Is that brfbery 1) Near Ht. Tuju the extenslve government tea plantattons show a sad reminder of the forest habitat that has been cleared to provide us with tea. The rows of tea plants have huge rotting logs of the rainforest giants that stood a few years previously. Population granth in Indonesia is obviously the greatest threat to thefr rainforests - thereare ~80,000,000 people and Is fast growing. Gary ffnished on a porItiue note suggesting that we see it now before it 3s all gone 1

The Bola Creek area contained the best R F in the Park, and indeed in the Sydney area, as it survived due to its pratettfon wrthln the world's second declared Hational Park (Yellowstone was the first). Alas, acc- ordlng to news reports it is totally lost, gone maybe for ever. The fire in this park was almost totally devastating, wfth a reportedc98% burnt out:An Initial comment on the Rfls loss by a NP&WS expert, was "that It w111 take probably 250 years for,,lt* to have some semblance 04 its former condition; and maybe it will never return to its pre-1994 condition One of our nearby members reports that much of Royal was deliberately burnt out to protect some properties that may have been threatened by the fire, which was probably started either deliberately, or by a thought- less act by a useless member of our community. FURTHER RESULTS ON PROPAGATING THE WHITE BEECH - GMELINA LEICHHARDTII Soon after reading Fran Guard's suceess at growing the species from seed (see N/L 20) I was fortunate in being able to collect fruits from a nearby property, and tried out 2 methods of treatment prior to sowing. Using 300 fruits in each trial and planted in a foam box, using strai ht compost, the first were treated by soaking in water for 5 days and the flesh removed prior to sowing ?on 20 th March) ** The first seedling appeared on Nov 6th. By now (mid Jan) more than 100 plants have germinated. The second batch was soaked for 3 months, and the water was never changed (a mistake?) and sown 30th June. The first seedling was up on 27th Nov, although only 14 have appeared so far. Not a good result as yet. ** From the first few seedlings I potted on 8 plants, using a fairly rich mix that I make up for growing food, and which includes lime, wood ash, Dynamic Lifter with blood and bone, rock dust and some cow manure. After about 10 days 5 of them had died, though the other 3 are doing very well. I tried another 20 using mix with little enrichment; asyet, after about 4 weeks, all have survived. ANGIOPTERIS EVECTA - THE KING OR GIANT FERN This is a huge fern with fronds sometimes reaching 7 metres long, and perhaps 4m wide. It is a magnificent fern, growing naturally in moist soils near streams and ponds. For the gardener, they require shade, good drainage. deep mulch and plenty of water. Our Mrst sIght OF these fern3'Aasrat Carnarvon Gorge N.P. In 1988, growing in a sheltered narrow gorge on the banks of a small stream, and were duly impressed by their size and beauty, as well as their great age. So it was somewhat distressing to see an ARC TV on the 14th Dec. that there are only 2 colonies left fn the nIld - the 15 plants at Casnarvon {that are not reproducing) and a number on Fraser'Island. It is thought that all the other previously known plants in Rafnforest sjtuations have been wiped out, mainly through the ever-jnereasing clearing of land to grow even more sugar cane, a product that is oversupplied on the world markets and is therefore a very Ion value export. THE N S W JANUARY FIRES -- A DISASTER AND A TRAGEDY What a dreadful experience these have been? A tragedy tn the loss of human Ilfe, though It was amazing that so few were kllfed or injured. We sympsthlse wfth those who are sufferfng the trauma of the loss of their homes, and property of high personal importance and value, but agaln such losses were merctfully low. Due credit and deep thanks must go to the many professional and volunteer flreffghters and to those who so wf lllngly supported them Fn the fleld. Many RFSG members 1 jve fn areas where the danger was severe; some were even forced to evacuate their properties. Our special thoughts go to those members. The dlsasler ISof course that so much of our wonderful bushland has been destroyed, or perhaps permanently modlffed. The t'PTT of anlmals was horrendous, virtually none of the land animals or reptiles would have beeti able to survlve the infernos. Hany birds and bats were unable to escape - one estimate was that one mflllon blrds were killed. A huge loss of bi~logicaldiversity has occured, as well as the vertebrates there would have been billlons of Insects fncinerated, the loss of so much flora, and so many ecological communit~es, wtped out. There is much more that could be said and it will be of Interest to see the results of the enquiries that will be set up. In the meantfme I trust that the vitriolic attacks by the extremt members of society who hate any undeveloped areas and are sov~~ictiveto their perceived scapegoats - GreeniesWand the National Parks Service cease,at least until proper investigations are carried out and the true facts are obtained and published. Only then can a balanced judgement and se~dbledectsions~~.; be made. Those rednecks who have been so critical are merely proving what so many know - they have big mouths, brains of an inverse size (tiny) , little knowledge and no common sense. Many politicians in country electorates stand condemned by their recent actions, for despite their wild tirades against environmentalists and even -.heir.own land management organfsations, they were deathly silent on any mention of those who started 70% ~f those fires, many by arson deliberately, some by stupid acts of carelessness by idiots. sinally, as most fires are started by people, let us have an end to such stupid media pronouncements that 'fire has broken ~ut",~'erupted~',"exploded" etc. Make them use correct terms, e.g. "the fire was started (etc)" : 'tt was caused by arson8','The fire was deliberately lit", "it was caused by a land clearing fire whfch got ~utof control", and similar, truthful statements. 01 TEE ROAD WITE JEREMY L SUE high and grows in elevated rainforest areas from -- NSW Northern Coastal Ranges Bulahdelah in northeast NSW to southeast 5. Queensland . An enjoyable week of camping and bushwalking was had by the Newling and Trahair families; 4 adults The following palms occur, in Queensland and the and 5 children under 10 years old! Northern Territory: First stop was Blackhead near Taree where a half Archontophoenix alexandrae - Alexandra Palm. hour walk through littoral rainforest (python This tall graceful palm with a single trunk grows trees e feature) led to the beach .and an to 20-25M high. There are several forms of this enjoyable paddle for the children. palm one of which was farmefly known as A.beatricae. This species grows in rainforest After two says enjoying David and Beryl'a company areas chiefly on marqins and gullies and occurs and hospitality at "Booyong" , we made our way to from southeast Queensland to the top of Cape York Werrikimbe NP, which lies north of the Oxley Peninsula from sea level to about 1200M. Highway betwean Waleha and Wauchope, It contains many vegetation typea; coal, warm and subtropical Arenga australadica - A clump forming feather rainforestn, spectacular hmath conmrunities and palm with a number of sterns 10-15M high. It New England Blackbutt forest. We enjoyerl many occurs in lowland rainforest Erom Innitfail in walks in Werrikimbe, but Ehe two enjoyed most northeast Queensland to the tip of Cape York were in Flora Reserves adjoining the park. Peninsula. FenwLcks Scrub is on the western side of the park Calamus aruensis - A feather climbing palm with and has been preserved for its magnificent apf ny leaf bases and long flexible extensions relatively unlogged coachwood forest. Floyd from the Leaf bases armed with hooked spines. It atates that the canopy la 98% coachwood. A 30 occurs on Cape York Peninsula north of the minute trail has been marked which is,well'w#rth Jardine River to the top of Cape York. walking. Turn off Fenwicks and travsl 900 meters 3 down Careys Trail. Stop at the. red tags and C-australia - Layer Cane, lairy Mary, Wait- enter the forest an the north dide of Carers a-while Palm. R climbing feather palm with Trail. The tags return to Careys Trail 200 numerous fine spines at the leaf bases with a meters down hill. % long flexible extension with hooked spines and grows along water courses in lowland and elevated The Toonunbia Trail ie' in Banda Banda Flora rainforest to about lOOOM in northeast Reserve near the eastern edge oE Werrikimbe. The Queensland. trail is an old QwD road (now closed) that passes ,\ throuqh a majerttic farest dominated by nothoCagus C.earyotoides - Piah Tail, Lawyer Cane. A with coachwood, sassafras, red and yellow climbing feather palm with alender stems with carrsbenn also prqsent. A feature of the walks leaf bases armed with spines and slender flexible through the beech forest was Dendrobium extensions from the leaf base armed with fine Palcorostrum in full flower. hooked spines. Leaflets are wedqe-shaped with cut-off ends. It occurs in lowland and eLevated we camped at Brushy Mountain Rest Area (near rainforest in northeast Queensland. Banda Bandal which has good facilities. It has a large open area surrounded on one side by a C.muelleri - see under NSW palms. shallow creek that is clear and xefreshing. It was explored -for many hours by the childran aa C.radicallfs - VLeious Rairy Mary. A climbing they Looked for gold and treasure. feather palm with numerous spines on the leaf from Jeremy s Sue Trahair bases, leaves are rather large. Occurs in lowland and elevated rainforest to about lOOM in northeast Queensland. AUSTRALIAN RAItiFOREST PALUS byyec Blomberry C.moti - Yellow Lawyer Cane. A climbing feather Although the majority of Austra Ian rainforest palm with groups of yellowish spines neatly palms occur in rainforests chiefly in the arranged an the leaf bases, leaves numerous and northern coastal areas of Queensland and with large. Occurs in elevated rainforest in aame in the Darwin area of the Northern northeast Queensland. Territory, all of the other species although growing in arid condLtions only occur where there C.hollrungil. - A climbing feather palm with stout is a constant supply of water, for example stem and armed with spines on the leaf bases. seepage in crevLces of rock faces and often in Occurs in lowland rainforest from Tully in swampy areas. Species such as Livistona northeast Queenaland to the McIlwraith Range Cape australis occurs in wet soils adjoining wet York Peninsula and also extends to New Guinea. scherophyll forest areas. In northern Australia there are patches of rainsorest in gullies around C-warburgii - A climbing feather palm with stout Damin, Kakadu and Arnhem Land. stems and large leaves with numerous leaflets, the leaf base armed with spines with 8 flexible The following is a list of rainforest plants many extension from the apex of the leaves armed with of which are endemic to Australia. large black hooked spines. Occurs in lowland and elevated rainforest to about lOOM in northeast In NSW 'there are three species of palms: Queengland and also extends to New Guinea.

Archontophoenix cunninghamiana - Bangalow Palm Carpentaria acuminata - A tall graceful single (Piccabeen Palm in Queensland). A tall graceful trunked feather palm which grows to about 20M single trunked EeaCher palm 20-25M high and tall. This beautifsl palm ocaura in amall occurs in sainfora~fs from Batsmads Bay NSW to patches of rafnforemt along smell water courees coastal areas of southeast Queensland on the edge fed by permanent springs and la found in a number of rainforests. of small patches of rainforest around the Darwin area, Northern Territory, Calamus muelleri - Lawyer Cane, Wait-a-while Palm. A climbing palm with a number of slender Caryoto rurnphiana - FistaiL Palm; An. interesting stems with the leaf bartes covered by sp1,nes and feather palm having hipinnate fronds and the with a number of long flexible extensions from leaflets are wedge-shaped with the ends the leaf base armed with hooks which assist palms presenting a cut-off appearance. This species to climb. It also extends to southeast occurs in lowland rainforest north of the Queensland and grown in more elevated rainforest mcrlwaith Range Cape York Peninsula, it also areas of northeast NSW. extends to New Guinea. . Linospadix monostachya - Walking Stick Palm. A Gulubia costata - A tall single stemmed feather small single stemed feather palm to about 2M palm 25-30M high and resembling a coconut palm but has a.crown shaft. This species occurs in the top of Cape Yurk Peninsula and also extends lowland rainforest near the top of Cape York to New Guinea. This palm fs widely cultivated in northern parts of Queensland and the D~rwinarea peninsula, Queensland and also extends to New and overseas tropical Guinea and the Aru Islands. areae, In addition the Australian Hydriastel wendlandiana A clump forming feather to 'the palins' on - mainland them are species in the rainforeats of , palm with -. three to four slender stems fringed with suckars. This 'species grows chiefly in Lord Bawa Xsland and Narfou. Island. On Lord ! lowland rainforest north of .Tulley northeast Bowa Xslaad there are twc species of Ilowea (often Queensland. It also occurs in association with :called Xenti a Palms, both species are widely Carpentaria acdnata in the Darwin area Northern cultivated). Territory. Eowea balmoraana - Curly palm, Belmore Sentry Palm. A single Crtlnk feather palm 10-15H high Laccoapadix australaeica - A single stem to multi-std feather palm to about 3H tall. and uucurs in rainforest tmra ~ealevel to about j This species grows as an understory rainforest 50OH elevation. palm and in elevated rainforest of the northeastern tablelands of Queensland to an Kowea Forstcrtiana - Thatch Palm. A single trunk feather palm to abut ISM high and occurs in pure elevation of about 1000M. stands and rainforest from sea level to about . Licuala ramsayi - A usually single stemmed fan 250M elevstian. i palm with an unusual blade to the leaf, the narrow wedge-shaped leaflets radiating from a Rydyseepe canterburyana - Umprella Palm, Big ' central point in a circular outline and grows Mountain Palm. A single trunk feather palm to about 6M high and occurs in rainforest from about from 5-12M h'igh. This species grows in lowland 300M to the peaks of and commonly covered rainforest from tully hi northeast Queenslpnd to 875M is the top of Cape York Peninsula. in mist. .-r 8 Linospadix- - This group of palms are small Lepidorrhachis moreana - Little Mountain Palm. feather palms with a small crown of fronds with h dwarf Leakher amto about 1-5M high and broad to narrow leaflets and grows from 1- occurs in the mountain mist rainforest from about I 2M high .. 700M to the peaks at 87SH, L.aequisegmentoea - This small species with There is one species on Norfolk Island: slender stems is considered by A.K.Irvine of Atherton Queensland to be a form of L.palmeriana Rhopalostylis baueri - A single trunk feather and occurs in mountain rainforest areas of palm 6-1251 high and grows in lowland rainforest northeastern Queensland. to elevation of 318M. L-microcarya - A small feather palm with slender stems and occurs in lowland and elevated rainforest areas about llOOM in northeastern Queensland.

L-minor 2 A very slender feather palm which is widely distributed in rainforest in North Phil LkWE of Balgowlah NSW adds further details Queensland. on this subject: "My awn limited experience with qrowing palms is that they like lots of organic L.monostachya .- see under NSW palms. material, must have moisture and shelter, and/or warm positions. " Praa FhLl, rWme who might be L-palmeriana - A small feather palm similar to able to give sane growing tips: L.aequisegmentoea, which appears to be confined to the rainforest of the high parts of the (1) Paul Anderson, Past President jellenden Rex Range above 800M in northeastern Palm & Cycad Soc of Aust. (Sydney Branch) PO Box 2, EMPIRE BXY NSW 2257 Queensland. Phone: (043) 691 422 Normanbya normanbyi - Queensland Black Palm. A solitary trunked feather palm which grows to (2) Don Morris, Member of SGAP about 20M high. In the early stages of growth c/o Bunter Region Botanic Gardens. the leaflets are long Predge-shaped which divide (Don has written articles for AP and PACSOA) into a number of segments as the palms become (3) Peter Hind, Fern Study Group Leader, mature. This species occurs in lowland to elevated rainforest north of Cairns in northeast 41 Miller Street Queensland. MT DRUITT NSW 2770

Oraniopsis appendAcurata (syn Chania -*) ANIMAL LIFE ON A RAINPOREST AT A solitary trunked feather palm to about 12M high MEERSCHAUM in 1993 and occurs in dense rainforest along watercourses VALE and the adjoining Slo-~r extending to the This has been the year of Cuckoos. As Austral- tablelands welrt of Innisfail and the Atherton ians know, we have a lot Cuckoos and none Tablelands northeast Queensland to about 1200M. of of them makes a sound like the English one. Most days aince they arrived here from the north, we Ptychospenna bleeseri - This rather rare feather have had up to six different sorts calling round palm has a number of slender stems to about 8M us. We have had very good and ErequanC aiqhtings high and is confined to a few small rainforest of five of them, but I rtill havan't aean a Brush area8 in wet roils with permanent water from Cuckoo, although one woke me up very early one springs and occurs' south of Darwin, Northern morning with its distinctive loud call outside Territory. the bedroom window. By the the we got: outside with our binoculars it was sway in the distance. P.elegans - Solitah* Palm. This scrlitary But we have seen the Fantail Cuckoo many times- trunlced faather palm grolrs from f-8~high and it seems to call at night 3ometfmes.and the grows in lowlaad to elevated rainforest areas to exceptionally noisy Channel-billed Cuckoo, which about 6OaM from Praser Island to the top of Cape has woken us up just at dawn frequently. The York Peninsula. This palm is widely grown in Xoel has one of my favourike calls, very Miami, USR. evacative of Summer In this area, but. is quite a difficult bird to see, in spite Of being large, P.Macarthurii - A clump forming feather palm with and the Pheasant CoucaL never comes into our a number of slender stem to about 5M and occurs clearfng, but we hear it calling in the fields inlowland rainforest from the McIlwaith Ranges to nearby. Most interesting was seeing a young Shining Bronze Cuckoo being fed by a Brown that it held at eleven. We didn't see them in Thornbill in a Brush Box tree. The Thornbill was the box after the end of anel but still see some flying around looking for food, closely followed flying around the clearing at dusk sometimes. by the nearly full grown Cuckoo, constantly begging for food. : Apart from those interesting sighkings, we have had the usual ones.. Whipbirds close to, in and At O'RmEIly's this year in Bird Weak, the first out of the bird-bath, Noisy Pittas and Rose talk was about Cuckoos, with some excellent Robins visiting us in May, .the latter collecting slides from Glen 'Phcalfo. During the talk we insectaoff the windows and perching alongside us learned .that: there fs a lot of survey work into on the rail during breakfast time, Regent and the pesibility that Cuckoos lay the egg Satin Bowerbirds visiting, the fomcr mainly for somewhere outside the ne.gt, carry it in their the bird-bath and the latter for ~ersooniaseeds. beak and deposit 'it in the host nest. Rfter all, A .ffrstn was a pair of White-throated many of the host nests would have far too small Treecreepers, who built a nest in one of our 'A' an entrance for a Cuckoo to fly in to lay the egg line birdboxes. The parents collected what there. looked like bark and "teasedu it against the tree trunk and side of the box until it was right and This year we have been feeding posaums during the then they put it in the nest. When we arrived evening. . They were stripping our passion fruit back from Bird Week at O'Reillyls, a baby was vines of everything, even the new leaves, so we looking out of the hole and being fed constantly. guessed they must be hungry. We give them our There could have been two there, we weren't sure. fruit peelinqs and accaaionally vegetable On the following day we went shopping and when we peelings. The latter are not always popular returned they had all disappeared, hopefully the though. During January, we saw a mother with baby or babies fledged, not eaten. Ort very hot, baby and nor in December, we have another. We dry days we are visited by a flock of Grey- thought there might be one around as Mum had crowned Babblers. They had a baby with them this become much more secretive, visiting later at month. At nights we still hear the White- night than usual, This little onehtravela quite throa*d Nightjar in the distance. Also the a bit on its Mum's back still. -They're Short- Owlet Nightjar. While walking up the hill with a eared Black Mountain Possums o ' "Bobucks" (as friend, we heard an Albert's Lyrebird recently. they are called locally). Yery beautiful A pair of Spotted Pardalotes has nested in the Brushtails. Bill has learned to prq-tect his paw- mound again and the usual Variegated Wrens have paws from them by putting a cage round each tree, brought a family up along by the track. close against the trunk at the top and bellied out at the bottom. Seems to work. from Alison Siliakus & Bill Tubbenhauer A'. , We have had Koalas around all year. We can just about guarantee to show visitors our Koalas. Some COMMENTS ON SEED GERMINATION Most of them. appear to be healthy. While we were away one time the neighbours found a dead one on Jeremy and Sue TRAHAIR have had success with the the ground. An autopsy indicated that it had following: possibly broken its neck falling out of a tree. It was a male and otherwise perfectly healthy. Dysoxylon fraserianum - 3 months Goannas we also have around and although we fear Cryptocarya glaucescens 3 months for our Sugar Gliders, we are not as neurotic as - Acmenia smithii - 3 months (-' 100 seedlings) we were when we had Tawny, (a frogmouth unable to Mellitea megasperma - 6 months fly). Braehychiton discolor - 6 weeks (ex Seed'Bank) Citrobatus panciflora - 6 weeks We finally decided that we really couldn't look Hymenosporum Flavum - 3 months after Tawny now we are away so much, so have lent Rhodosphaera rhodanthema - 3 months the cage to a group of Animal Carers and taken (casing cut to reveal kernel) Tawny to Fleay's Fauna Reserve on the Gold Coast. From the moment he arrived there !p was spoiled, Nan Nicholson recommended cutting away the easing particularly by the Aboriginal rnterpretational to help germinate schizomeria ovata. I have some Officers, one of who used to carry him around on seeds in but no success yet. I use a heat board his shoulder, while he was working. He is the with an fql-above to aid germination through the favourite there, as he doesn't mind people at all cooler months. Its good, but two words of and appears to react with interest to situations. warning. (I) L had to replace one heaC board His photo has appeared in the press twice; he after it burnt out and then gave me a slight seems to be chosen to be presented to important shock (caused by water entry and paor sealing of visitors while they pose for the camera. He has the board). (2) An unexpected hot day can cause the company of about four other Tawny Frogmouths the precious seedlings to be dried to a crisp. too, whi~his gO~drwe think. I've lost a few plants this way. We've only actually seen one Python close to home this year, and that was the day my brother John A GARDEN WITB A DIFFERENCE--Karalee near Brisbane arrived. ,He found it somewhat unusual, but coped. Judith BRASS sends details of the situation On her property: "Sorry about the long delay in This year, we haven't had the same good views of writing but f took on a fairly heavy study load Sugar Gliders as we are used to. They seem much this year (I anticipate a simtlar load in the shyer than they used to be. Maybe too many of coming year). With exams out of the way I am them have been eaten by Pythons, Goannas and beginning to catch up on other tasks including Kookaburras, We did see them emerging from three gardening and correspondence. boxes in "June and saw them round about September quite a bit, when my grandchildren were staying I have done little planting this ynax doe to here. At the same. time, we saw Fireflies spending all my available time watering. It is nightly, particularly down by the creek. still very dry here, but relief is in sight a stom has just broken and it is raining at last! In April we were visited by tiny insectiverous The soil here is sandy and dries very quickly in Bats. We couldn't identify which sort they were. this heat. The rainforest area is well mulched We were having lunch one day, out on the verandah (-30cm deep) , which helps to keep the moisture, and heard a movement in the tiny little house, but it does mean that a lot more water is which my son sent me from Bong Kong. ~t'smade required to reach the soil beneath. of bamboo, SO we put it under cover as protection.. We could see a little bat nose Since my exams finished I have started to install inside the hole. That night we saw three bats a couple more ponds, ' X have a small steep sided leave at dusk. Four days later, the number had pond which was good for frogs and' plunge bathing increased to eight, ten the next day, and after woody. can be eaten raw or cooked. This X,sp. honeycatera, hut did not allow easy access for could easily prove to be a better food plant small bird8 to drink. I installat! one pond using than the exotic I.batatae [sweet potato) . Some the mid-year break and it is very popular with a of my time is also spent in a bit of plant variety ~f birde. It fa made from thick 'black breeding (Syzygium spp.), This includes plarrtic uaad double. The bottom has been dovered chromosome doubling With some early interesting with aand to pt-ckact it from W light. Xt is results only 30cm deep at the *deep end* tapering off to . nothing st the ahallow end. It has been bnilt up Waraa~fs~8Vanity~,~~ on a steep 83ope above the original pond ao that 2.30po & 5.3- (6 daye). Oliver L ta it looks aa if Lt proulcl flow into the lower pond. hEnraRFSGmerlxwQLtlhif Eheyamhinthe.Ym It: actually Elows out into a bog garden at the my tlmt OLfm apecialk in Syzygim ad side. It is planted with cunjevoi (Alocaaia Ued gglua, a mil as edible OZ rahFm plants. maerozrhiya), a walking stick ,palm (tinospadix "mmmze axlbllnsR is a amplee mysCery to m. f rnenostaehya) and farna. The two new ponds will whethec Oliver ar saneb3dy else amid urite a brief extend the rsinfocfst sweam. One only has a d.esm3ptia-t of what ie frtwlved in this? Rl. surface area of b! and is abut IS cm deep. ft is already proving popular with Figbirds as it 3.8 under a sandpapar fig tree. The other one is DAVID THOMAS describes a Bush Regeneration about 3M long, LM wide and 30-Om deep. I only Project west of Sydney: filled it la-t month. Both need rocks around the edges, same soil fill and planks around them. For the last four months I've been involved at work with revegetating four hectares of forest So much for the rain, it has almost stopped but red gum - grey box woodland at Prospect there does appear to ba another storm on the Resetvoit. With two others, I'm supervising 73 horizon. I can always hope." [originally 961 students, employed in a Govk/Water Board L.E.A.P. project (Landcarer Butterfly of the -nth - ORANGE PA%DART Envir&ment Action Program). They do two dayslweek reveg. work, two daya/week study at ~Jvar~Btasa~d,f*~~havemlMittee University of Western Sydney IXnvironmental itenrs for this setf-. As no Inf-ticn had cme inr Technology Certificate - 6 months) and one day Jdth hea aqah taloenttmTxluble~prepareafewrmre per fortnight at TAFT (Bushland Weed Control). descriptions. Species she &scribes occus in hec gardm and Wore -isa -flies camm Zn SE Qld, Although aome of the participants lack interest I ~~Emrmchrrnra~l. and enthusiasm the field work is progressing ataadily. The work includes week control (mainly CfUUGE PAIM ISRT aaggecda, !Id. fksperiidae. Afrf-caL Olive, Lantana and Privet) and planting This is a small brown and orange butterfly which tubestock {about 10,000 1 . The plants are local flies in a rapid, jerking manner. It tends to speciea, mostly grown from local propagules . hold its wings at an angle when at rest. Most We've had to mulch most of the area to suppress gardeners do not welcome it, as the larva can new weed growth unyl the plants have occur in large numbers. They roll the segments established. About 200M of Themada (kangaroo of the fronds from the underside. The grass) has been transplanted from a proposed cylindrical shelter is held together with silk. canstmction area. So far it looks to be They stick their heads out to graze on the end of establishing well. the leaf. extending the shelter downwards as they eat it from the top. Large numbers may be As you'd guess. there's not much rainforest on present giving the palm a ragged appearance. Prospect Hi11 - but the scattered mesomorphic They are partfculaxly fond af AEchontophoenix species include dry rainforest/wet sclerophyll cunnfnqhamiama and Livietonia australis. forest types such as Clerodendrum tomentosum, Ref: Common & Waterhouse 1972. Butterflies of Rapanea variabilis. Notelaea ovata, Euatrephus Australia. Angus s Robertson, Sydney. latifolius, Pittosparum undulatum and Cayratia Clematidea. Marsdenia sostrata occurs nearby.

Newcomer STgPE SXNeLAUI would now be back from a bush walking trip to N. Qld, and hopefully has hoplognathas aeneua - nl. Scarabaeidae. collected .fern spores ta germinate in due This beautiful metalic greed 'Chrisbnas beetle" course. X hope that Steve sends a summary of is about Jlcra long nnd is found mainly in his experiences and tells of the highlights of rainforest. Nothing is known of its life his holiday. history, but the larga (for beetles) eggs are probably deposited on the ground. The larvae are probably typical 'C' shaped scarab larvae. Like HARK WILLIAMS of Summer Hill who also is a nost members of this family they probably eat relative newcomer to our group has sent a rotting wood or plant roots. 'Phe adults eat species list at Gap Creek Reserve, Watagan Leaves. ,Hawkeswoad (1987) lists them as being Mountains (see N/L No 11 "Walking Track") and a rare. I have only found one in my garden. It bibliography of Rainforest Studies north of tell into a small pond which la overhung by a Royal National Park. ?ink bloodwood, a Buckinghamia and a sandpaper fig, I do not knw which of the three it was feeding on. Although kept very busy leading her oun Study Zef: Hawkeswood, T. 1987. Beetles of Australia. Group (Wallom) BARBARA HgtPDERSOH has a two year ingus a Robertson, North Ryde. old rainforest, which despite all the dry weather at Samsonvale, Qld. has grown well. Barbara puts It down to the good soil on the >LIm CARTER of Teawoomba writes of his latest site - ex banana plantation. She knows Oakland8 'Manna Nursary" Nawnr Nursery (U/L No. 22) well, doing some weeding and learning each week and says that John is : spand all the time poaaible at the nursery and most enthusiastic and that we should all call in !kill can only get of khQ jobs I want to do there if visiting the district. lone. Eneloeed ia a recently produced plant ist. There are other plants not on thia liat, rut are already in the 'pipe linen. There are a ALEX a BlWDT P- have been on an .overseas 'ew exotic add a lot of native food plants which trip and say that Portugal is as close as they'd am still t~yfngto get, such as the Yam Daisy come to familiar surroundings, gums everywhere 'ioscorea hastifoLla (from WA), Ipomoea costaka, and planty of wattles as well. They are .sp. (discovered and named only thia year I interested in finding out more on Eue.po~tugaliL hink) from Central. Australia. This one grows or is it (E.globulus). They aaw many other o one foot across (the tuber) and never gets countries and by all accounts had e great time- THAT TREE -ELAEOCARPUS SP MINYON Davidsonia pruriens DPploghottia eunninghamii - or is it RALPHS TREE? *ElaeocarpuS reticulatus *Euexyphia ntooreii Ficus coronata Oefssois bentharnii 50 you want a brief outline on the TREE - *Grevillia robusta *8ymenosporum flavum well hers we go1 It waa first, and :only, Livistonia australia Lophosternon confertus collected in 5930 in the Minyon area. ThaC was Planchonella ausfralia ,Oreocallis wickhamii the location the specimen gave. Since then John Podocar elatus . Prumnopitya ladei Hunter Erom NSW National Parks & Wildlife Syzygium australe S .paniculatum Service and Gordon Guyrnet from Queensland S-wilsonii Waterhousea ssp cryptophlebium Herbarium have spent many fruitlegs days *Lomatia arborescens *Tasrnannia insipida searching for the txee in the Minyan Falls area. Araucaria (all 3) Millettia meagasperma Toona australia *Cissus antarctica while clearing new areas in the regeneration Cordyline stricta Rubus rosafolius process, beyond the spillway at the Rocky Creek Dam near Lismore, I found a tree that I couldn't I am interested in trying more species from cool identify. Af tar pasaing it around local and high altitude areas, shrubs and ground botanists without any clear results as to what covers and species from associated genera it was, a specimen was sent to John Williams at especially. Armidale University. Be had no relevant specimen to identify it with but was sure it was Edible fruits are also an interest and I am in the Elaeocarppa family and sent ft on to the seeking Syzygium oleosum at the moment. authority on Elseocarpus at Queenaland Nesbarlum, Gordon Guymer . Having the original Our southern cool temperate rainforest ~0dtains specimen on hand he waa ahLe to identify it. a relatively limited number of species compared Elaeocarpus Sp. Minyan. to the warm temperate and tropical areas and so can seem repetative. The understory is often WOW, f 've found the long lost tree! ~eelii~sof ferns and fungii where the canopy is tall and elation - the last of Che species originally climdte has restricted the stte to deep gullies, collected in the Big Scrub,-thought to be but particular sites can surprise. extinct, hut now its found. ." Wacko, Woapee Doo 1 1 ! ! Bnt alas Rous County Council, who owns Some plants from associated genera are: the land that the tree standa 06. intends to Tasmannia laneeolata; AtistoteLia peduncularis; raise the dam by two metres and this wi 11 flood Northofagus cunningharnii: Eucryphia lucida: the tree. E.milliqanii; Lomatia polymorpha; Trochocarpa cunningharnii and from famsies Phyllocladus; Well after much soul searchfng, and looking at aspleniifolius; Cenarrhenes . nitida; Richea it in the Light that if I hadn't been employed pandanifalia: Microstr~bos niphophilus. by Rous County Council the tree would never have been found and probably would have been Are any other members interested in the cool bulldozed in the dam raising. Rous needs credit. temperate rainforest? Being the longest running regeneration project funded by a local authority in relationship to the environmental enhancement. SOME QUESTIONS TO THE GROUP, and COMMENTS from RHODA 6 HARRY JEAVONS So the situation is this, there is in place an embryo cloning operation at Gattan lorticulture What is the single surviving specimen on the College, using seed collected last year. From Rocky Creek Dam Wall? This is the Elaeocarpus sp this we should have a thousand trees ready for Minyon. See Ralph's report this page. planting fn the 1995 summer/auturnn period. These will be planted at several locations with a What about a segment in the Newsletter on the similar habitat to where the tree now stands. specific needs oE some species for successful The proposed dam raising is scheduled for 1997 seed raising? I have found out the hard way about so hope fully these trees will besstablished and light sensitivity and we have a batch aE growing on before the fateful day comes. hoop pine, now tubed up, of whieh I lost a lot through not: knowing of their peculiar way of Rous intends to try and move the tree to a place discarding their woody seed eases. above the new high water mark. With care I think this can be done, but, and its a big but, as na No White Beech seed up yet. The Python Tree and one has any experience at moving such a tree, others from "B~oyong" are doing well, but not the risk will be great. The tree is but the exactly huge yet - Streblus has done best-its spark for the greeter issue of development on about double in size. the North Coaat and the loss oE qualfty of life that development bring^. This type of situation Our cabinet timber patch continues to thrive. will occur more and maze in the years to come. The Flinderaia brayleyana just a year old are Ts developmenk the right direction to head? mostly over my head. fa there anyone from whom we can get information about tree growth, This ia great nw fmn rremiber RA1[PA m,and a diseases, ete? I have written to U.N.E, ba:Wt Em. Sharme thia unique tre dyhas a ahart C.S.I.R.O. and we went to Lismore, but couldn't life -cy - ktE: then so many canplete prpulations find anyone to answer our questions. Perhaps we of wies are khg vim cut kr. the nam of progress have a member who could run a Question and and aur supposed "+Andm& at the planet. m. Answer Section in the Newsletter? Our questions their Answers. As an example, a few of the Flindersia have had a sort of stem rot, which I SOME LOCAL BACKGROUND FROM OUR TASSIE MEMBER have Created by cutting them back hard, but . . PHIL PARSONS what ilr the disease? How do we prevent it?

My intereat is in southern cool temperate 1994 9eAP xainforeert as wall, as warm temperate and aub- "Flora oE the Scenic Rim" tropical Australian species that will gtow here. I have a -9'~ in my asea (although coastal This is to be held at take Marrxxl, in the Bmrah regim Tasmania has a .higher minima) and what: I; am fran 31sC Wch to 4th Wrfi, hosted by Ql-5 FWim and growing may be of interest. Most of my plants Ipswich Branch. Ihe Scenic is of mean ere sourced from Terania Creek Nursery. Those including nregnificent mhfofe9i: on the ranges ararnd the marked * were not. tGW/QtD bxrrda and the topics that will m doubt be *Acmena rmithii minor A-brachyendra cavered at the conference wculd be of great eestto "Backhousia myrtifolia *Macadamia tetraphylla my REG cmrkers. Tb-1 full tenn accamodation is Agathis robusta Callicema serratifolia $120, plus a regisktatbn ftse of $45 for a 4 night/3% Qy Ceratopetalum apetaturn 'C.guimmiferum prid. FbF furtshet enquiries and boo- contract: BILL PILGRIM, PO BOX 403, IPSWICH, QLD. ENVIKUNfltNl t'Alit NORTH qLO.IiAS 3EEN8bIN~~THENEWS LATELY.. The big story was the continuing saga of STARCKE of Cape York fame where our old friend Quaid has been trying to make a few more bob out of the area by trying to flog off a quar ter million hectares of prime environment overseas. What does he do wi th all his money anyway ? ~ll sorts of threats and promises were made by Goss and Kelly, but I'vegot seen any announcement of actual protection being made as yet. Has anything been done to..ensure that'is rightfully kept in either public or Aboriginal ownership 1 A Further south, around Tully-Mission Beach,, 'war has been declared on the numerous feral pigs that are affect- ing the Cassowary population particularly, .but are also damaging the en'viron.ment generally and causing economic lass to local agricultural interests. A special transportable trap has been developed to capture plgs that will then be exported as game meat to Europe. They will join the k million Tasmanian Possums that will be killed, processed and sent overseas to gourmets * and others*. who take pleasure In eat!ng wild animals. THE ( NSW ) NORTH EAST FqREST ALLIANCE NEFA is a network of 1ndivid;als and community forest protectlon groups working to protect the old-growth forests. rainforest, endangered species, wllderness and high water quali ty:o'f N.E. NSW. They are an unin- corporated association of like minded people, worklng together as a volunteer, decentrallsed alllance drawing on economic, ecological, legal and other expertise to pufue their alms. They recently sent us a full explanation of NEFA and thetr campalgn, and which Is in the Group files. Many people think that NEFA has done a great Job in drawing attention to so many destructive activities in our forests, and in taklng out legal challenges that have been astonishly successful in preventing some acts of official vandalism and in ensuring that some of our 6ovt. Instrumentalities actually obey the law ! Naturally they haven't gathered too many congratulations from the exploiters and second rate deciston makers around the place. They have had a number of.successes in protecttng areas of old-growth and associated rainforest of high conservatlon and s'cientific value.and In stopping the logging of the North Washpool rainforest. (That area represents the largest warm temperate Coachwood rainforest wllderness remaining on the planet). It is pretty bad when a group of private citizens has to take the Forestry Commission to court to stop them breaking the laws of their own government! STILL IN N S.:W --- IS OUR FORESTRXCDMMISSION UP FOR SALE 7 It was recently corporatfe~given a new name and had an estimated value of $ 100 millton placed on it. At the time it was said that there were no plans. to sell it off, but you can well imagine that there would be a long queue of interested buyers of so much prime Australian real estate. After all, this government has sold much of what was not nailed down - its Insurance office, cleantng services, hospital grounds and many other smaller assets, and soon its Bank as well as that 2 million hectares of land previously commented on. Thelcc.wil1 be huge costs associated with the 2000 Olympic Games, so every penny available will be wanted so it will be most unlikely that any reasonable offer for anything at all would be refused, however short- sighted the deal would be. And I don't know if anyone could trust the people Ingovernment, recently there has been almost a.~continuouslyrevolving door of Inept and/or criminal members resigning from this State. Pity political party preselection committees are unable to find candidates who are generally reasonably honest. No wonder the environment and economy are fn such a mess; and you must believe me, it affects everyone so don't criticise me for drawing -attention to such disgusting behaviour.

N 3 W WILDERNESS DECLARATIONS THE REDNECKS ARE IN A FRENZY ! They are even lashing out at fellow government members and are threatening to in effect, leave the Party and bring dow~the State Government. Don't hold your breath though because they would not allow the oppos- ition to take over. Even so, they are particularly dangerous because of the 800,000 ha no;inated, only 350,000 were initi-ally promised - now you can guarantee-that "In the interests of balance some of thls wlll be reneged:;on. The initial announcement trumpeted "a Xmas gift from the State govt. to the eople of NSW and their descendants". Even that "gifff gave us very 1lttle, because 95% of the areas were already in National Parks and therefore well protected. It seems that the Messrs. Red of our world are Infuriated that "vast tracts of the country will be locked up". Vast tracts indeed, If the 350,000 ha does go through, it will, together with the few wilderness areas currently gazetted, total 1.2% of NSW.-! So having only a bare 98.8% of thls state available for access and exploitation means we'll "all be roonedu. Says Hanrahan.

OUR INCREKSING POPULATION , - WHAT IS-IT GOING TO. DO TO OUR FORESTS AND OTHER BUSHLAND ? Australias population is increasing faster than any other country in the OECD. There are forecast to be an increase of a.million people in S.E. qld in the next 20 odd years, nearly as many in the Sydney region, an 85% increase on the NSW north coast. The leading non-thinker in the Northern Territory recently called for a huge increase in the number of people in his State - he would like to see a total o-f 18 mlllion'lthere alone, equal to the present to..tal population of Australia. Those 4 areas menttoned have already seen the loss of huge areas of Rainforest since white settlement commenced, and there is no doubt that so many extra people will require further large areas. to be cleared, control burned etc. causlng siltatlon and pollution of the few good watercourses remaining, as w611 as the degradation of the bulk of natural areas not developed for residential, agricultural, industrial and recreational uses. Just thlnk about it for a moment. An annual 2% increase in our populatlon, a 4% Increase in gross domestic product merely to prevent unemployment rising from its current hlgh level wlll result in a daubllng of our consumption within 17 years. So in that time our use of forest products, amount of garbage dumped, number of dams needed, addl tional roads, pollution produced - everything wlll double. Just Imagine, twice as many semi trailers (a sore point wlth us because of their continual accidents causing death, injury and chemical pollution) to put up with every time you venture on to the roads. There is a group called Australians for an Ecologically Sustainable Population based in Canberra that speaks a lot of common sense and presents well researched information on the stupidity so often preached by people wRo should (and probably do)know better Til'tHUfr tij'nstant calls for continued development and growth. Per- haps they nred reminding that In the human body. growth is often called cancer, and that malady frequently causes the death of the victim. Will continual, increasing growth cause the demise of planet Earth 7 Or even that great country Australia ?

WOODCHIPS AND RAINFOREST. 3h= Commonwealth Government met a lot of criticsm when it recently approved another year of woodchip exports and even allowed an increase in tonnage to 5.5 million tonnes. Little of the product comes from sawlog residue as it was inltlally meant to be, because that Is a most uneconomlc source at the current $7 per tonne that the Japs delgn to pay us. That wouldn't cover the cost of labour, transport processlng and fuel let alone give the forest owners (us) any return on the maintenance of the forests, access roads, adminis- tration etc. We even ship them from north of Coffs Harbour to Newcastle by road - around 500 km one way. And often they don't arrive, for they end up on the side of the road or in a gully somewhere after a crazed driver loses control and his truck "runs off the road". We lose Rainforest during the timber exploitation because much of the logs for chipping comes either from clear felling, or selective clearing of our old growth forests. Last Uecember the Industry stated that it would have to close dow; if prevented from logging old growth forests in NSW or Victoria- a sad state of affairs indeed. pERHAPS TElIS GROUP NEEDS A CHANGE OF Dmm

and therefore A NEW LEADER?

I have ,been advise3 that there is a degree of criticism and objection to a perceived over-emphasis .on envk~mtal/conservation issues in . the , Newsletter. This * &f bk .-so, - and :'prohbly arises ' .frcin' olmwts on the third-rate qwironmentaZly dense politicians we blindly elect to govern. our co~try. Bowever,'klI f& mindd people would accept these criticisms,and my:.choose to agree or disagree an them, but never object to' their incl~~sion.After all., few would rarely agree to 100% .of the hformation supplied to us, how* highly regarded is its source ."-' '

I ham. attempted to do , several things : increase &rs enthusiasm for rainforest generally; to cover as broad a range of topics as pssible; to mintajn ' hiterest and further encourage mle to enhance the& - howledge of specific interests frm other sources and, to make you think! My job as leader is surely to pass on information, ideas and merit and all of you should interpret it as you wish, At present, I have to contribute an average of five hours a week of scarce and valuable time. Even so, I am unable to be all things to all people. Fbr is it feasible to try to please everyone,' because on this -'3asis one ends up by pleasing no one at all.

Trying to decide how to handle this mtter is the main reason that this Newslettq is later than usual. The short answer is that I do feel mst uncomfortab.le in a conflict situation, and whilst I have never desired to alienate any member (we aYl pay money to belong to the Group) I am net prepared to invest my time in writing items that some of you are not ht=l-r:sted in, or else autcmatically disaqree with bcause df a particulaz partisan ou'. look.

An alternative is - we split the Gmup. I am well aware that mymembers are exclusively gardeners. There is also a large n&r of members, who like mel have a very much wider interest, and the growkg of plants is of minor importance, (eg I have about five surviving RF plants in the garden, but then I have the luxury of about 40 acres of natural rainforest, and other members are in a similar situation). Should we therefore consider forming, say, the "Rainforest Plants in Horticulture Study Group" to be led by an enthusiast with a green thumb, and a "Rainforest - Botany sr Ecology Study Group"' led. by someone with a wide spread of interests, some howledge and useful reference source, or even by me? I'd ke prepared to continue to be involved in something like that, -ecause then I would not have to feel embarassed, as I sometimes have ken, in aringing in plitical and econcanic .matters relevant to current environmental/quality of life issues and howing that some people would be off ended.

After all, we are the Wiety for Gr&g Aust Plants, and not an environmental or pressure group - aren't we? That is the reason why the aiety has a decreasing membership, currently made up of nainly people of "advancing years", and why many younger people just don't continue to turn-up to meetings after their initial attendance, or fail to renew their membership. And why, I estimate, that 70% of the RFSG members below the age of 40 are not financial members of a SGAP Region! And, the reason that this Groups membership*has been ~owinqover the past four years is because of its emphasis on conservation and enviromtal matters.

WHAT DO YOU TH'INR? - -- I WOULD EXPECT MOST OF YOU WILL REPLY AFTER DUE CONSIDERATION OF

THE POINTS MADE, BUT PLEASE KEEP IT FAIRLY BRIEF, AS ALL COMMENTS

SHOULD BE PUBLISHED.