Newsletter No. 52 – November 2020

River Conservation Society ‘Caring for the Avon Catchment’

Newsletter No. 52 FB: York River Conservation Society www.riverconservationsociety.org

Spring 2020 Issue

“ Caladenia integra (Smooth-lipped Spider Orchid)

Image by Maryanne Crook

River Conservation Society Inc. PO Box 846 YORK WA 6302 | [email protected] | www.riverconservationsociety.org

for the assistance that the RCS has provided to the Shire during

From the chair…. the redevelopment of the park. Welcome to the Spring 2020 edition of the River Conservation Society newsletter. I hope you are all well and are taking the I would like to thank the Shire of York, Westgrow Farm Trees, time to enjoy our beautiful environment. donors to our Gift Fund, our sponsors and all those who have It has certainly been an interesting six months since our last supported the RCS over the past six months. I look forward to newsletter. Covid-19 has been a sobering experience and I am continuing to work closely with the Shire and the York com- sure it has made many of us grateful for the lifestyle we are munity in the future to protect and restore the Avon River and able to lead here in WA. Since the easing of restrictions in the local environment. June, RCS members have been busy catching up with work that I would especially we were unable to carry out in the previous few months, and like to thank all planning and putting into action our planting and weeding pro- our members for grammes. supporting the Some of our members had a great time sliding around in the RCS both finan- mud planting shrubs, trees and reeds in the RV Park, and later a cially and with couple of us took to the river in the RCS boat to plant reeds the hours of hard along the water’s edge in Town Pool. - we are not called the work that they River Conservation Society for nothing! RCS members assisted have put in to with the York Cemetery clean-up day and in turn received great support from the York community when we held our planting carry out our pro- day in the new Avon Park. The RCS has worked closely with jects and to plan the Shire of York with the revegetation, not only in the park but our future devel- also along the Avon Walk Trail between the Swing Bridge and opment. Monger’s Crossing. Meanwhile the dedicated members of our busy bee crew have continued to monitor and spray African Box Thorn and Bridal Creeper and whipper snip and spray John Crook Wild Oats and other weeds to reduce the competition for our seedlings and reduce the fuel load in the revegetated areas along the Avon River in York. In this issue… Page RCS members have completed the refurbishment work on the From the Chair 2 signage along the Avon River Walk Trail and are now starting to install the new signs on the RCS managed reserves. Also we 28 years of RCS 3 are now the proud owners of a new trailer mounted toilet. A big thanks to Grant Morrell for routing out all the lettering in the Avon Park Opening 3 signs and to Kevin Smith for the fantastic job that he has done 4 mounting the toilet in the RCS trailer. UWA Archaeology Field School In July we held our AGM at White Gum Farm where our com- Snake Bite Treatment 5 mittee for the 2020-2021 year was elected, followed by a very enjoyable lunch. The following week members of the Environ- ISHAR Women Visit York 6 mental Centre Committee had an informative trip to the Naragebup Environmental Centre in Rockingham where we VALE Walter King 7 were given a comprehensive tour of the facility. This will be Protecting Mt Bakewell’s Flora 8 very helpful when planning our own centre. We are still work- ing hard to make our new RCS home a reality. The Australian Magpie 9 In late July Westgrow Farm trees generously donated about 8,500 reeds to the RCS. Thanks to a great effort from our mem- What’s In a Name? 10 bers and help from the community, we were able to plant these in Pitt Brook on our Tanjinn Well reserve at Mt. Hardy and in Additions to the RCS Herbarium 11 the old clay pits (Baker’s Lake) on Avon Terrace in York. Yellow-billed Spoonbill 12 Some of these are thriving and some have succumbed to the harsh salty environment into which they were planted, but I Local Hero Grants 12 think every plant that survives in a revegetation project is a bonus. Containers for Change 12 Audrey and her dedicated team continue to work on the Flora 13 Project, gathering and collating information for our Regional Tanjinn Well Reserve Herbarium and a future York flora website. Flashback—Joy Fleay 14 On 16th September members of the York Garden Club and the RCS visited the conservation reserve on top of Mt. Bakewell. Reserve Signage Renewal 14 This precious reserve never fails to impress with its diverse and botanically important range of flora, and I feel that the RCS RCS Committee contacts 15 should make every effort to protect this important botanical Dates for your diary 15 asset. With summer fast approaching and the river level dropping, I Membership Form 16 will be deploying our wildlife cameras along the Avon pools again in the hope of collecting more information on the Rakali, so if anyone would like to join me on the river, please let me know. I was pleased to accept an award from the Shire of York on behalf of the RCS at the opening of the revamped Avon Park

River Conservation Society Inc. PO Box 846 YORK WA 6302 | [email protected] | www.riverconservationsociety.org

28 Years of RCS The River Conservation Society was founded in 1990, but became a fully incorporated society in 1992 and as that significant 30year anniversary comes closer, I have been researching the RCS his- tory. The chore fell to me as the committee felt I was the member with the longest association, but Audrey Sole was ducking her head in order to hide. Casting my mind back, I believe she might have been a member before I joined. And my research has revealed that Adelphe Kng was a member right from the beginning. Nevertheless, the RCS Inc began in 1992. The first newsletter I can find is 2page description of the activities of that year, including the drafting of a con- stitution and a successful application for incorporation. The stated aims were to preserve and restore the riverine flora and flora along the Avon and its tributaries, and to create a network of wildlife cor- ridors linking the river, via its tributaries, to surviv- Avon Park Opening ing stands of remnant bush. The RCS set themselves up to share a meeting room with the LCDC and combine some activities. There were successful applications for grants – the Gordon Reid Foundation, Plants for Conserva- tion (ALCOA) and Greening Australia. A small reference library was established, the herbarium was begun with the collection of plants from remnant bush on private land. The main projects were establishing a small dam for stock as an alterna- tive watering to Gwambygine Pool, fencing and ripping in preparation for planting, a workshop on plant collection and processing of specimens and planting. By the time of that newsletter RCS The official opening of the revitalized Avon Park on had fenced 7. 5 kilo- Saturday 10th October was a great success. The metres between Bev- RCS was delighted to receive an award from the erley and York on the Shire of York for our contribution towards the de- river edge. The Gwambygine Pool Reserve was a velopment of the park. focus during this period. The founding Chairperson RCS volunteers were kept busy cooking a delicious was Cecily Howell (pictured sausage sizzle provided free by the Shire of York to right) and she remained in a everyone attending the opening. This also provided leadership role until 2013. It a fundraising boost to our bank account. Well done was her vision, dedication and to all involved, we have a beautiful park to be proud relentless research that gave of, now to get the Avon River returned to health and the RCS the foundation that looking as good as the park! allows it to move forward today. Story and images by Maryanne Crook. Helen Green

River Conservation Society Inc. PO Box 846 YORK WA 6302 | [email protected] | www.riverconservationsociety.org

reported finding a range of artefacts, including frag- UWA Archaeology Field School 2020 ments of ceramic, brick, glass and hessian. York Convict Depot Archaeology students from UWA visited York th The oldest section of the York Residency Museum on the 28 September for a week long Field building was constructed around 1852 as housing for School. Two excavation sites were selected, the the Depot Superintendent and is now the last remain- Gerald Mission near Mile Pool and the York ing part of York’s Convict Depot. In the 1860s the Residency Museum grounds. cottage was occupied by the Medical Officer at- Before excavation work commenced, a smoking tached to the Depot Hospital and later by the Resi- ceremony was held at the site of the Gerald Mis- dent Magistrate in 1867. The building then served as sion by Ballardong Elders Kevin Fitzgerald and a maternity hospital as part of the Old York Hospital Phillip Bateman. The elders welcomed the stu- complex which was constructed in 1896. It remained dents to Ballardong Country and spoke about the as a maternity hospital until the current New Hospi- significance of the area. They were very support- tal was built. ive of the archaeological work that was about to The Field School students revisited the York Con- commence and wished the students success in the vict Depot rubbish midden where some excavation research project. Approximately 40 people took work had been done in 2019. The excavations this part in the ceremony, including members of the year yielded many interesting finds including bot- River Conservation Society. tles, clasps, oyster shells, bricks, all kinds of glass and ceramics, a Cutty pipe bowl and fragments, but- tons. During this year’s excavations, the York Residency Museum team showed the students a selection of artefacts from the Museum collection including chains and clay pipes. It was exciting to know that finds from this Field School’s excavation would be making their way into the Museum's collection too, to add to the story of the site and region.

The students acknowledged the Ballardong Tradi- tional Owners, Shire of York, York Residency Mu- seum team and many others who supported and helped make the Field School an outstanding suc- Gerald Mission Site The Gerald Mission site is north of York on the east bank of the Avon River. The mission was established in 1851 when the government granted land to the Wesleyan Reverend John Smithies to relocate the Wanneroo Native School to the York area. After only a short time, in 1854, the government took over the administration, and in 1855 Gerald Mission was closed. The Field School opened up a total of four excavation trenches at the mission site. The students

cess. Many interested visitors were welcomed to the excavation sites during the Field School and were invited to join the students “in the trench”. The archaeological techniques demonstrated included sur- veying, careful and systematic excavation, sieving and recording. The attributes of an archaeologist surely include being methodical, patient, careful and a strong back! Well done and thank you, UWA School of Archaeology. Further details of the field trip can be found on the UWA Archaeology Facebook page. Ken Graham

River Conservation Society Inc. PO Box 846 YORK WA 6302 | [email protected] | www.riverconservationsociety.org

SNAKE BITE TREATMENT firm wrap from fingers/toes all the way to the armpit/ groin. Rob Timmings The bandage needs to be firm, but not so tight that it Kingston/Robe Health Advisory Council Inc. causes fingers or toes to turn purple of white. About the pressure of a sprain bandage. • 3000 snake bites are reported annually. Step 3 • 300-500 hospitalisations Splint the limb so the patient can’t walk or bend the • 2-3 deaths annually limb Average time to death is 12 hours. The urban myth Do nots: that you are bitten in the yard and die before you Do not cut, incise or suck the venom. can walk from your chook pen to the house is a load Do not EVER use a tourniquet. of rubbish. Don’t remove the shirt or pants – just bandage over While not new, the management of snake bites (like the top of clothing. a flood/fire evacuation plan or CPR) should be re- Remember movement (like wriggling out of a shirt of freshed each season. pants) causes venom movement. Let’s start with a basic overview. DO NOT try to catch, kill or identify the snake!! This There are 5 genus of snakes that will harm us is important. (seriously). In hospital we NO LONGER NEED to know the type Browns, Blacks, Adders, Tigers and Taipans. of snake, it doesn’t change treatment. All snake venom is made up of huge proteins (like 5 years ago we would do a test on the bite, blood or egg white). When bitten, a snake injects some ven- urine to identify the snake so the correct anti venom om into the meat of your limb (NOT into your can be used. blood). BUT NOW… we don’t do this. Our new antivenom This venom can not be absorbed into the blood neutralises the venoms of all the 5 listed snake genus, stream from the bite site. so it doesn’t matter what snake bit the patient. It travels in a fluid transport system in your body Read that again – one injection for all snakes! called the lymphatic system. Polyvalent is our one shot wonder, stocked in all hos- Now this fluid (lymph) is moved differently to pitals, so most no longer stock specific Antivenins. blood. Your heart pumps blood around, so even Australian snakes tend to have 3 main effects in dif- when you are lying dead still, your blood still circu- fering degrees. lates around the body. Lymph fluid is different. It Bleeding – internally and bruising. Muscles para- moves around with physical muscle movement like lysed causing difficulty talking, moving and breath- bending your arm, bending knees, wriggling fingers ing. Pain. and toes, walking/exercise etc. In some snakes severe muscle pain in the limb, and Now here is the thing. Lymph fluid becomes blood days later the bite site can break down forming a nas- after these lymph vessels converge to form one of ty wound. two large vessels (lymphatic trunks) which are con- Allergy to snakes is rarer than winning lotto twice. nected to veins at the base of the neck. Back to the snake bite site. When bitten, the venom Final tips: not all bitten people are envenomated and has been injected into this lymph fluid (which only those starting to show symptoms are given anti- makes up the bulk of the water in your tissues). venom. The only way that the venom can get into your blood stream is to be moved from the bite site in the lymphatic vessels. The only way to do this is to move the limbs that were bitten. Stay still!! Venom can’t move if the victim doesn’t move. Stay still!! In the 1980s a technique called Pressure Immobili- sation Bandaging was developed to further retard venom movement. It completely stops venom/ lymph transport toward the blood stream. A firm roll bandage is applied directly over the bite site (don’t wash the area). Technique: Three steps. Keep them still. Step 1 Apply a bandage over the bite site, to an area about 10cm above and below the bite. Step2 Then using another elastic roller bandage, apply a

River Conservation Society Inc. PO Box 846 YORK WA 6302 | [email protected] | www.riverconservationsociety.org

SHARING OUR COMMUNITY AND FUND RAISING

On October 30, RCS played host to a group of nearly 100 migrant and refugee women with their pre- school children, visiting from the Ishar Multicultural Women’s Health Services in Mirrabooka. Ishar provides services for these families to ease their adjustment to the Australian way of life. One of our members, Helen Green, is a volunteer English teacher at the Centre. (She inherited this role from Jan Schekkerman, another York resident.) When an excursion was suggested, Helen suggested a visit to the historic town of York. Most of the women had never ventured beyond Perth, or their local sub- urb. In a non Covid year the women would have had several excursions, but like the rest of the State they were in lockdown.

The group travelled in three buses to the Avon Park, where they were met by RCS members and interested town folk. RCS created a dessert box of Aussie food including scones, jam and cream, laming- tons and ANZAC biscuits. They were also given a savoury box of spicy rice with salad. The children were given a snack bag with sandwich, banana and watermelon. The group relished the new play- ground, lawn and shaded area of Avon park.

Members of the RCS donated food, monies and time to create the food, for which the Ishar Centre paid. The RCS was able to raise some money, due to the sterling effort of the members to produce 200 boxes and 50 snack bags of food.

River Conservation Society Inc. PO Box 846 YORK WA 6302 | [email protected] | www.riverconservationsociety.org

Walter Murdoch King 5th January 1932 - 15 th September 2020

Walter was a gregarious man who loved his fellow people and was always there to lend a hand to anyone in need. He loved to be part of any team of Doers and was always in the fray with drill, hammer, whipper snipper or any other appropriate tool. He spent many weeks on our previous farm at Watheroo helping with the latest development, from the chicken house for our daughter to raise hens and sell eggs to fund her travel bug, to the extension to our house and any shed or fence needing repairs, any trees to plant. We moved to York as a direct consequence of being bombarded with real estate advertise- ments from Adelphe and Walter (which we took to be the big hint it was) and both he and Adelphe spent many days helping us create everything we have on Eagle Ridge today. Even at the onset of his dementia, Walter was helping me drill holes in the house bearers, be- moaning the fact that he used to know so much more about the tools we were using. Water and Adelphe, during their decades in York, developed a barren over-cleared paddock into 10 acres of many different gardens, with something always in flower and the overall effect of lovely greenery. They built the house which Walter fitted out. Being very proud of his heritage and equally sentimental, he used the front door and beautiful jarrah panelling from the house of his grandfather, Sir Wal- ter Murdoch. We also have some of this panelling in our own house at Eagle Ridge. Walter did not merely build and create for himself. The list of his achievements in York is amazing to say the least. He drove the tour bus, worked in Craig’s gift shop, the Shire Library, Tipperary Garden. He was instrumental in moving the Tipperary School Building into town. He created the moulds for the mud bricks, and helped in building the Mud Brick House on Balladong Farm with the LEAP Scheme. He worked in the Courthouse, the Tourist Bureau, the Residency Museum and tirelessly for the Holy Trinity Church, including representing York at the Anglican Synod. They emptied the Anglican Recycle Bin in York and took everything down to the Depot in Midland. He was a Life Member of the York So- ciety, was part of the River Conservation Society, they grew hundred of trees for Men Of The Trees (and for our farm). Walter and Adelphe were in the Garden Club, the Croquet Club, the Film Club, they made Welcome Packs for newcomer to York and surrounds and were often the first locals the newcomers had met. They drove everywhere and recorded everything for the creation of the “Wildflowers around York”, the “Birds around York” and the “Self-Drives around York” tourist brochures and helped with walk trails on Mount Brown, the Golf Links and Town Heritage trail. Walter was passionate about all things York, would only shop in York by choice although at a pinch, if something could not be found in York, he would buy in Northam. Any new shop, business, B&B or any enterprise could count on their support immediately, I am sure they have stayed at almost every B&B in the Avon Valley! Walter was the best loving, caring, supportive husband a woman could hope for, the very best step-father to Peter and step father-in-law to Sarah. Sadly he and Adelphe had to move away from their beloved York and Jarvisfield in 2017 to be closer to the support which he was requiring. On the last two visits to our farm when he was already very confused by dementia, he walked in our front door, stopped and gave a deep sigh and said “I feel like I have come home”. Yes, Walter, you have indeed come home.

Sarah and Peter Smith

River Conservation Society Inc. PO Box 846 YORK WA 6302 | [email protected] | www.riverconservationsociety.org

Protecting Mount Bakewell’s Flora

On the 7th of August 1830 Ensign Robert Dale of the British Army's 63rd Regiment accompanied by William Mount Bakewell Visit In September RCS volunteers were delighted to show a Locke Brockman, Private Terence Sheridan and a num- group from York Garden Club the wildflowers on Mt. ber of other soldiers sighted a "remarkable stream" Bakewell Reserve. which was subsequently named the Avon River. After several days exploring and naming the Dyott Range, Here are three of the orchid species we found: Dale and his companions climbed to the top of the range. In his journal Dale says, "This being the most conspicuous hill of the range, I propose to name Mount Bakewell, in compliment to a friend." We now know and understand that the "remarkable stream" and the "conspicuous hill" had been named way back in time by the local Ballardong Noongar people, Gogulgar Bilya - Avon River and Walwalying - Mount Bakewell. Mount Bakewell is internationally known by botanists as the type location for 5 flora species. Botanists across the world may not have heard of York WA, but have heard of Mount Bakewell, and some have actually visited. The first known Botanist to explore Mount Bakewell was Ludwig Preiss in September 1839, only 10 years after settlement of the Swan River. He collected at least 26 species here, 5 of which are now known as type specimens, this means that the specimen is nominated as the benchmark or standard for the name given to the new plant. Type specimens are of particular importance to a herbarium and many Australian and international herbaria have special "Type Rooms" for storing these Cyanicula gemmate Blue China Orchid scientifically and historically important specimens. Over the years since Preiss collected on Mount Bake- well many other botanists have ascended the "conspicuous hill" and added to the flora collection, including York's own Oswald Sargent, Charles Gardner, Fred Lullfitz, Alex George and Susan Patrick. During the period 2004 to 2006 the River Conservation Society carried out flora surveys on Mount Bakewell and over subsequent years more flora specimens have been collected by the RCS. The York Regional Herbarium currently holds 256 native flora specimens collected from Mount Bakewell whose identity has been verified by botanists at the WA Herbarium. Additional species have recently been collected and are waiting verification. Na- tive flora found on Mount Bakewell include two Priority 4 species (P4: Rare, near Threatened or in need of moni- toring), Hemigenia platyphylla and Caladenia integra. Around 60% of the native vegetation of the Avon River Basin has been cleared since European settlement (Department of Agriculture and Food) and an average of Elythranthera emarginata Pink Enamel Orchid ~2500 hectares have been approved for clearing per year since 2010 (Department of Environmental Regulation). The RCS aims to protect, enhance, enlarge and connect bushland remaining in the Shire of York. Mount Bake- well’s species richness, along with its areas of relatively undisturbed vegetation, make the Crown Reserve on Mount Bakewell a valuable botanical resource needing conservation and protection. References: RCS Submission to Shire of York, The Future of Mt. Bake- well, Dr. Cicely Howell & Dr. Neville Marchant, 2006 Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management https:// www.nrmstrategy.com.au/remnant-bushland, accessed 14 October 2020 Article and images by Maryanne Crook Prasophyllum elatum Tall Leek

River Conservation Society Inc. PO Box 846 YORK WA 6302 | [email protected] | www.riverconservationsociety.org

The Australian Magpie

When we first moved on to our farm 26 years ago, there were just 2 bare paddocks. We started building a shed and later a house, in the middle of a magpie territory. They just fitted in and continued with their business. It was quite a large group and we noticed males and females and sometimes juveniles, but I have to say we rather took them for granted. They were always around. Wherever I have lived, interstate and in (Above) Female magpie WA, there have always been magpies. Coming home to SA for the holidays from boarding school in Mel- bourne and waking in the morning to their beautiful (Left) Male carolling was such a great joy. Images by Bryn Watkins Well, just a few months ago, probably sometime in the middle of the lockdown, I started to notice that I only ever seemed to see 3 white backed males. This went on for some weeks. I was missing them all and I started to take more notice of what was going on in During the last week there have been 2 episodes of a fal- our magpie world. I couldn’t help wondering what con being energetically and noisily pursued by 5 mag- had happened. pies. There seems to be an extra male that has joined the group. They are very much on guard in the branches and As a result of this I started reading The Australian trees near the nest. A larger group would certainly be Magpie book by Gisela Kaplan. As well as being a more efficient in defending a territory and raising young. magpie carer she is a Professor of Animal Behaviour and has done ground-breaking research into vocal Magpies have adapted well to human habitation. They learning and cognition in birds. The magpie society is form breeding groups in inner city areas and relate in quite complex. They are highly intelligent birds, and a various ways with humans. When we lived in Manning lot is not known about their behaviour. Groups can the elderly neighbour fed our resident group with steak break up for a variety of reasons. The reason that every morning and the dominant male would stand on seemed most likely to me in the situation here was our veranda mimicking the sounds heard around the that the female had died. They can live from 26 to 30 neighbourhood e.g. other birds and motor noises. We years. Groups are usually made up of a breeding pair, used to call him King Kong. In busy places the constant who bond for life, and other members who help in flow of strangers in their territory may lead to swooping defending the territory, nest building and feeding behaviour which may sadly lead to removal of the of- young. There can be up to 20 members. These extra fending bird and the breakup of the pair bond. Magpies members don’t normally breed and follow a strict recognize familiar, benign people but in places where code of behaviour. The young magpies may be forced they are teased and disturbed too often trouble may start. out or they may be allowed to stay. A large percentage This is not aggressive behaviour but territory defence of the young do not survive. Many magpies never and defence of the nestlings. We need to understand this have the advantage of being a part of a territory and and protect ourselves with some kind of head protection may never breed. These birds usually don’t live as if needed, although I have to say I only remember being long. Magpies have various alarm calls, but the carol- swooped once by one group of magpies - when I was a ling is a group bonding exercise and part of territory child. They were in a paddock distant from the farm- defence. The repertoire of the song varies and is spe- house and were not used to children running around. cific to the group. To quote Gisela Kaplan in the caption under one photo- So I continued to watch the males who were left. Then graph in the book - “Beautiful magpie: understated, ele- we noticed the night time soft carolling I have always gant, sensitive, intelligent and courageous.” Again quot- heard where there are breeding magpies. It can go for ing Gisela – “According to one Dreamtime story the half the night. Then one evening I looked out of the (clever) magpies were holding up the sky (so the other kitchen window and in the half-light I saw 3 magpies animals were not restricted by the sky being too low) - feeding on the ground. One of them looked darker. I the least we can do is save a few trees for them and treat couldn’t see the white back. I grabbed the binoculars them well.” and quickly identified the bird as a female with a dark Now we await the arrival of some baby magpies. We back. How exciting!! Then my husband saw a magpie have already seen off 3 young Willie Wagtails who grew flying into a nest between the house and the chook up in a nest under the veranda. pens. A few days later I identified the female again feeding on the green grass behind the house. After a Enjoy the bird breeding season. week or 2 we were seeing her sitting on the nest. Penny Mossop How a breeding pair meets and becomes established, no-one knows. Where she came from is a mystery.

River Conservation Society Inc. PO Box 846 YORK WA 6302 | [email protected] | www.riverconservationsociety.org

Lechenaultia hortii). What's in A Name ? Taking the time to understand the meaning in a plant name helps us to understand this 'foreign lan- The RCS flora volunteers have been steadily com- guage' and cement it in our ever-aging brains. If piling research enabling us to release a website on you are interested in learning more there is a fabu- every species of wildflower found in York. lous text - 'Plant Names and their Meanings ' - new Part of this research involves the 'etymology' of each edition by Alex George available from Boffins plant name- a word which did alarm me at first. The Bookshop in Perth or on order from Barclays Books etymology of a name provides us with an under- in York. standing of how and why it has been chosen and most often has been derived from the early Latin and Audrey Sole Greek languages. Most of us have an instinctive understanding of these 'long forgotten' languages which have been applied to our current day English. Many names include the terms - folium (leaves), sperma (seed), or flora (flower) and have a descriptive term added re- ferring to the plant’s appearance. Examples of these may be multi (many), tetra (4), depressa (depressed) or purpurea (purple coloured). Some names refer to plants found in Europe prior to the colonisation of Australia eg. Oleo (Latin for ol- ive) as in the genus Olearia or the species olivacea. Others may reflect the local Aboriginal term for the species such as wandoo as in Eucalyptus wandoo. Eucalyptus comes from the Greek 'eu' meaning well, and 'calyptos' meaning covered. This refers to the unique buds found in all Eucalyptus species called an operculum. This protects the flower as it develops then falls off as the stamens burst into full flower. Many genus or species names refer to early profes- sors of botany responsible for studying, classifying and naming species such as Robert Brown (Acacia browniana), Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles Darwin (Darwinia), or early mariners and explorers such as Joseph Banks (Banksia) and Cap- Western Australian Plant tain James Mangles (Anigozanthos manglesii). Other Names and Their Meanings botanical collectors and botanists who were active in the mid to late 18th century are reflected in local A Glossary 3rd edition by F.A. Sharr & WA species - James Drummond (drummondii & A.S. George Drummondita), Baron Von Mueller (muelleri or muelleriana), Baron Von Huegel (huegelii and hue- Sharr's popular Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings, explaining the sci- geliana) and Ludwig Preiss (preissii or preissiana). entific names of all native and naturalised In recent times important botanists who have also plants in the State, has been out of print for some years. This third edition brings it up-to- dedicated much of their lives to studying and col- date with the names of some 2000 plants that lecting native species are reflected in names such as have been added to the State's flora since the hislopii (Mike Hislop- taxonomist with the WA Her- previous edition of 1996. A new section in- barium), thieleana (Professor Kevin Thiele - now cludes the names of subspecies and varieties. President of the Wildflower Society of WA) and A feature is the inclusion of the genus for each marchantii (Dr Neville Marchant- now retired who specific name, or more when the same name held a special interest in Drosera). has been used more than once. In total the book explains some 1623 generic names, 5718 Special tribute is also paid to those involved in citi- specific and 896 intraspecific epithets. zen science projects who volunteer with the Depart- Having studied Latin to tertiary level, and hav- ment of Parks and Wildlife such as long-time volun- ing studied the flora for 60 years, Alex George teers Jean and Fred Hort (Stylidium hortiorum or is well-placed to prepare this new edition.

River Conservation Society Inc. PO Box 846 YORK WA 6302 | [email protected] | www.riverconservationsociety.org

Additions to the RCS Herbarium

Many of us have been venturing out on our local reserves having 'fun' while we work, observing the amazing diversity of wildflowers. All our 'hard work' is paying off with many new finds in the Shire of York for 2020. New records are being lodged at the WA Herbarium providing specimens, descriptions and loca- tions which often extend the distribution areas where species are found. Recording little known or threatened species is vitally important to their management and protection. Well done RCS!! Identifications are still to be confirmed officially. Some of our recent finds are photographed below. Text and images by Audrey Sole

(Above left) Anigozanthos bicolor subsp. exstans

(Above) Eucalyptus loxophleba x wandoo

(Left) Cyanicula ixioides subsp candida

(Above) Stylidium exappendiculatum

(Left) Lechenaultia tubiflora

River Conservation Society Inc. PO Box 846 YORK WA 6302 | [email protected] | www.riverconservationsociety.org

Yellow-billed Spoonbill Platalea flavipes grows to CONTAINER DEPOSIT SCHEME between 76-92 cm and has a wingspan of 1.3 m. Its white body may be dirty. It has short, stiff, white Containers for Change aims to be the most suc- plumes on its breast and small black plumes on its cessful Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) in the upper wings. Preferring freshwater habitats, the world. In our joint mission to reduce litter and spoonbill walks through water swinging its long yel- increase recycling in WA, the network’s goal is low bill from side to side to sift for food. The sensi- to have over 85% of eligible containers returned tive bill tip allows the bird to feel food without see- by 2023. ing it. The new CDS will be rolled out across WA from This species may form small to large groups. Nests October 2020. As some of you may know, I have are built in trees over water. The mode of flight is been appointed the Container Site Attendant. with neck stretched out and steady shallow wing- The York CDS refund point is currently being beats, soaring high. prepared at the Shire Depot on Maxwell St. The Scheme will allow you to return eligible bever- age containers to the York refund point to receive a refund of 10c per container. The facility will be open for 4 hours on a Wednesday and Saturday between 10am-2pm. Paying a refund via a scheme I.D. is a win-win for customers and operators offering a contactless way of cashing in if used at a bag drop off or at a drive through depot. A customer may wish to donate their containers to a registered community group @Charity Look- up.com, and supply the operator with the registered scheme I.D. For bulk returns of 1500 or more containers, a signed Refund Declaration Form must be completed. How to sign up for Scheme I.D.: Yellow-billed Spoonbill on the Avon River. Image by Rosemary Parker. Visit www.containersforchange.com.au Visit Activation Link LOCAL HERO GRANT Cash in We were very pleased to receive a Local Hero Grant It would be very helpful to the operator if the from Hon. Mia Davies MLA. The grant will go to- customer pre-sorts their containers into material wards the reconstruction, fencing and informational types (eg glass separate); removes all lids; or re- signage on the historic well in our Conservation Re- packs into 24 pack cartons. serve (proposed name: Tanjinn Well) at Mt Hardy. Peter Newman

River Conservation Society Inc. PO Box 846 YORK WA 6302 | [email protected] | www.riverconservationsociety.org

Tanjinn Well Reserve The River Conservation Society holds management over a small reserve in the old Mount Hardey Settle- ment on the York – Quairading Road. So as to distinguish it from the nearby Mount Hardey Nature Re- serve the RCS proposes to call it Tanjinn Well Reserve, as it contains a large number of Hakea preissii, whose Noongar name is Tanjinn. The Reserve also contains an historic stone lined well.

Tanjinn Well Reserve lies along the railway reserve accessed by Wrights Road. It is cut through by the Pitt Brook, which creates a saline, marshy area at the western end and a saltpan at the eastern end. A large pro- portion is seasonally inundated. First impressions of the reserve are of a saline, eroded, weedy and badly degraded remnant clay wetland and wheatbelt woodland, however where the land rises from the brook into sandier areas and some loamy soils, impressions change. Members of the RCS have been conducting a flora survey since June 2020 and have encountered some very pleasant surprises. The spring wildflowers were actually quite colourful and reasonably diverse. Rather than set up quadrats, I decided to do opportunistic sampling as the species were quite scattered. Some 77 native species have been identified so far. Not surprisingly, the weed load is high – some 18 inva- sive species have been identified. The usual ‘favourites’ are there - Guildford grass, sour sob, oxalis, wild oats, rye and barley grass, capeweed and so on. But hidden among these horrors are some real gems. Seven different orchids presented, including the smallest leek orchid, Microtis atrata, the Swamp Mignon- ette Orchid, a spider orchid and the Fringed Mantis Orchid. There were also several species of Drosera, a Lomandra, Burchardia, Dianella, Dampiera and Sowerbaea.

The main trees represented are Eucalyptus loxophleba (York Gum), Eucalyptus wandoo, Eucalyptus salmo- nophloia (Salmon Gum) and a recognised hybrid of the Wandoo and York Gum. It is very promising to observe young specimens of all four of these species growing on the reserve. There are also tall specimens of Hakea preissii, Acacia acuminata, Acacia lasiocar- pa var. sedifolia, Allocasuarina campestris and Casua- rina obesa. The shrub understorey features Melaleuca scalena, Melaleuca radula, Cryptandra nutans and Ericomyrtus serpyllifolia. Caladenia footeana

On one of the visits we were delighted to find a small circle of a Priority Kangaroo Paw, the diminutive Anigozanthos bicolor subsp. exstans which has been forwarded to the WA Herbarium. One of the earliest flowers of the wildflower season is the aptly named - Early Nancy. We found three species, which have been sent to the Herbarium, Wurmbea tenella, Wurmbea drummondii and a hybrid Wurmbea tenella x drummondii. There are native grasses still to be identified and more annual paper flowers and the such. Despite the first impressions it is amazing to see the resilience of our native species and marvel at the diversity that still exists in the midst of this degraded area.

Wurmbea tenella x drummondii Story Helen Green & images by Audrey Sole Hakea preissii

River Conservation Society Inc. PO Box 846 YORK WA 6302 | [email protected] | www.riverconservationsociety.org

Flashback….. This is a picture of Joy Fleay—an original member of the River Conservation Society— taken with her sister Patricia and mother Nita on Oakover Farm around 1957-8.

RESERVE SIGNAGE RENEWAL HAS BEGUN The first of the new signs have been installed. Thanks to IGA Community Chest Grants (York Co-op) and our industrious RCS refurbishment crew.

This newsletter is published biannually, in May . and November.

It is intended to be a means of sharing information with those who have an interest in the health of the Avon River Catchment.

If you have something you would like to contribute to future issues, please contact Kathy Boladeras [email protected]

Deadlines for contributions are: 15th April 15th October

River Conservation Society Inc. PO Box 846 YORK WA 6302 | [email protected] | www.riverconservationsociety.org

Office Bearers of the River Conservation Society Inc. 2020-21 Chairperson: John Crook Email: [email protected] Phone: 0429799450

Vice Chairperson: Kevin Smith Email: [email protected] Thank you to all our sponsors Phone: 0412 390 334

Secretary: Ken Serls Email: [email protected] Phone: 0419 920 284

Treasurer: Maryanne Crook Email: [email protected] Phone: 0407 833 356

Members Register: Sharon McDonald Email: [email protected] Phone: 0419 016 967

Committee: Audrey Sole - Publicity & Events Co-ordinator Email: [email protected] Phone: 0418 378 446

Kathy Boladeras - Newsletter Editor Email: [email protected] Phone: 0437 455 994

Helen Green Peter Newman Jenny Smith

RCS DATES FOR YOUR DIARY  General meetings for the remainder of 2020 and for 2021 will be held on the 4th Satur- day of November 2020, and March, May, July (AGM), September, November 2021. Place and time to be advised.  Christmas Party – tentative date Saturday 12th December, to be confirmed  Busy Bees are held every Thursday from 9am to 11am, variety of activities, if you would like to join in phone John on 0429 799 450

All of the above dates are subject to change, all details of changes will be emailed to members and/or posted to our Facebook and Webpage.

Facebook: York River Conservation Society

Webpage: riverconservationsociety.org Queries regarding any of the above can be emailed to John Crook [email protected]

River Conservation Society Inc. PO Box 846 YORK WA 6302 | [email protected] | www.riverconservationsociety.org

Membership Application/Renewal Single Membership

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MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION & PAYMENT DETAILS (Please circle) Single $15 Family $20

Electronic Funds Transfer: Please make cheques payable to: BSB: 633 000 River Conservation Society Inc. Account: 118 624 899 Please post to PO Box 846, York WA 6302 Please use your Surname as your reference.

The River Conservation Society Inc. is a not for profit volunteer organisation, our goals are to study, preserve and restore the flora and fauna of the Avon Valley and Avon River eco-systems.

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Photo Consent River Conservation Society Inc. respects the importance of protecting your privacy, we may take photographs and videos of you to use for the purposes of promoting the RCS via our RCS webpage, RCS Facebook page, printed publications and fundraising. Please indicate if this is acceptable to you and your family members:

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Please note: it is a legal requirement of the Associations Incorporation Act 2015 that your name and nominated contact information can be made available to other RCS members on request.

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The River Conservation Society would like to acknowledge and thank the York Community Bank for their sponsorship of this 6 monthly newsletter.

River Conservation Society Inc. PO Box 846 YORK WA 6302 | [email protected] | www.riverconservationsociety.org