The Link Volunteer Newsletter Issue 65

VOLUNTEER SUPPORT UNIT

DIRECTOR’S UPDATE

Dear Volunteers,

There has been a lot happening since the last "Link". I have just had a few weeks away visiting our parks in the Simpson Desert. I was very impressed by the work that has been done by the Friends of the Simpson Desert Parks at Dalhousie Homestead to assist with the removal of the date palms and to re-fence the site. This was a huge undertaking and it has made a significant difference to the ongoing conservation of this special location - well done.

I also met up with Campground Hosts at Dalhousie Springs and was given a tour of the site and the on ground issues. The campground was full beyond capacity and the professionalism and dedication of Colin and June Chandler during this very busy time made an enormous difference to the visitors’ experience. I was also lucky enough to have with me copies of the new Strangways Springs Walks Brochures developed by the Friends of Mound Springs. This information and the onsite upgrades to the walks at the Strangways Historic site greatly added to my experience and knowledge of this wonderful area. Thanks to Colin Harris for sending these to me for my trip. It was evident that visitors were using the newly defined walking trail and therefore experiencing the best of the site while minimising the impact of their visit. Once again thanks to all involved - Friends across the state contribute in so many important ways and are really making a huge difference.

Last weekend, I attended the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Friends of Black Hill and Morialta Parks Inc. It was wonderful to hear about the achievements of this group over many years and their dedication is outstanding. It was also very exciting to hear that the group is beginning to use new technologies to communicate and engage with next generation. I am looking forward to hearing updates on how this progresses as I am sure that there are lessons we can all learn along the way. Thanks to President, John Fleming and the Friends for their hospitality, and for including me in this celebration.

I have just arrived back from an outstanding weekend at the Friends Forum in Kimba. The Friends of Kimba District Parks, lead by John and Sue Grund, inspired the whole town to host a truly friendly and interesting event. I learnt about the geology and ecology of the Kimba area and came away with lots of inspiration and ideas after meeting with many Friends from across the state. David Mitchell spoke positively about the future of Friends of Parks, inspired us to embrace the challenges and highlighted that the Friends of Parks are in an ideal position to maximise future opportunities. David also clearly outlined how the Friends of Parks Inc would focus their efforts over the next two years to support the organisation to grow and prosper.

I look forward to working with David and the Board to support Friends of Parks to grow and to work with DENR to as we endeavour to establish a landscape approach to natural resource management based on engaging the community as partners in the way ahead.

I must congratulate the nominees and winners of the awards that were presented at the Forum dinner. Congratulations to Cathy Potts, Friends of Kaiserstuhl Conservation Park, Region who was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award - Individual Contribution and to the winners of the three Outstanding Achievement Award - Volunteer Group Project Awards; Friends of Shorebirds SE; South East Region, Friends of Southern Parks, West Region, and the Friends of Parks, KI Western Districts, Region.

Congratulations also to the winners of the Friends of Parks Inc Awards. The Friends of Parks, KI Western Districts for the Best Biodiversity Project and the Adelaide Gaol Preservation Society who received the Friends Group Achievement of the Year, and congratulations also to Peter Wilkins, liaison ranger on the Eyre Peninsula who received the Most Supportive Staff Member award.

Finally a special thanks to the Friends of Parks Inc for recognising Pam Smith from the Volunteer Support Unit with a Special Appreciation Award. Pam is still celebrating and was thrilled and surprised by this honour. I am looking forward to the next Forum at Naracoorte hosted by the Friends of Naracoorte Caves - thanks to Allen Attwood for inviting us all to attend. Mark your diaries for the first weekend in October 5th - 7th 2012.

Anne Sellar, Director, Volunteers and Visitor Services, Regional Services Directorate

27TH FRIENDS OF PARKS FORUM - KIMBA The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Volunteer Awards and the Friends of Parks Awards for 2011 were presented at the Friends of Parks Forum at Kimba on the Eyre Peninsula. DENR Chief Executive Officer Allan Holmes said Friends of Parks volunteers worked across the state to help make South ’s national parks and reserves such wonderful places to visit. “There are several thousand volunteers belonging to more than 130 groups, doing everything from controlling weeds and pest animals and revegetation to guiding, education and actually living at camp sites during holiday periods to act as camp hosts to ensure visitors have a comfortable stay,” Mr Holmes said. “Without these dedicated volunteers and the hard work they do, week after week and year after year, our parks would be very different places. “ has more than 300 parks and reserves covering close to a fifth of the state and each one holds a special place in the heart of its community.”

DENR VOLUNTEER AWARDS Four DENR volunteer awards were presented at the Forum by Executive Director, Regional Services, John Schutz. The winners were:

Outstanding Achievement Award - Individual Contribution:

Cathy Potts, Friends of Kaiserstuhl Conservation Park, Adelaide Region Cathy has been an active volunteer with the Friends of Kaiserstuhl Conservation Park for 21 years, a Board member of Friends of Parks Inc and its working parties for 8 years, and a Friends of Parks Inc delegate to the Conservation Council for 6 years. Cathy’s dedication, leadership and experience has been highly valued by Friends of Parks members and the local community. Cathy’s willingness and passion for landscape conservation is demonstrated by the thousands of volunteer hours she has engaged in over the last 21 John Schutz & years. Cathy Potts Outstanding Achievement Award - Volunteer Group Project Awards

Friends of Shorebirds SE, South East Region The Friends of Shorebirds SE have worked on a project to monitor the 2011 Banded Still Breeding Event at Lake Torrens. The project’s main goal was to gather ecological information on the Banded Stilt, a rare endemic wading bird, to assist with its long term conservation management. Many community volunteers and land managers played a critical role in achieving the projects goals. The efforts made by volunteers demonstrate that they play an important role in assisting DENR in the conservation management of an important native fauna species.

John Schutz & Dr Jane Cooper Friends of Southern Eyre Peninsula Parks, West Region The Friends of Southern Eyre Peninsula Parks have been working on a project over a two year period to produce a brochure called “Birds in and around Lincoln National Park”. The Friends of Southern Eyre Peninsula Parks spent many hours on the production of the brochure. All material used in the production was completed in collaboration with various artists from , South Australia and Birds WA. Printing of the brochure was assisted by a grant from the Nature Foundation of SA.

John Schutz & Shylie O’Brien Friends of Parks, KI Western Districts, Kangaroo Island Region The Friends of Parks, KI Western Districts, have been working collaboratively with DENR and the KI NRM Board to support the KI Goat Eradication Program. The aim of the project was to eradicate goats from KI in the areas of Flinders Chase National Park, Ravine des Casoares Wilderness Protection Area, and Kelly Hill Caves Conservation Park. The Friends have spent many hours assisting DENR and the KI NRM Board with the labour intensive task of tracking and monitoring of feral goats. This assistance has been vital in the total eradication of feral goats in the parks and wilderness protection areas. John Schutz & Deb Davis

Congratulations and thank you to the people of Kimba and the Friends of Kimba Parks for a most enjoyable weekend.

2 FRIENDS OF PARKS AWARDS These awards, together with the DENR volunteer awards were presented at the 27th Friends of Parks Forum at Kimba during the annual presentation dinner on Saturday 2nd September. David Mitchell, Friend of Parks Inc President reports:

“Friends of Parks Inc. is once again indebted to the Nature Foundation of South Australia for its sponsorship and support of its awards. The Foundation has been a long term supporter of the organisation and in no small part this is due to Dr Barbara Hardy, AO, a founding member and one of our valued Patrons. It’s interesting to note that the Nature Foundation celebrates its 30th anniversary in October as does Trees For Life whilst Friends of Parks will be 30 next year. The early 80’s were a time of great community activity here in South Australia with Barbara one of the movers and shakers of that movement. Similarly Friends of Parks also recognises the support of another activist and current Patron, Jean McLaren and her family. This is permanently reflected in the McLaren Shield which is awarded for the Friends Group Achievement of the year.

Best Biodiversity Project award recognises a Friends of Parks member group that has made an outstanding contribution to biodiversity conservation. In collaboration with the local NRM Board and DENR staff the Friends of Parks KI Western Districts contributed to the eradication of feral goats from Kangaroo Island. The Friends contribution was to provide project support in monitoring a number of Judas goats in a number of parks using radio tracking equipment. Nominated by liaison ranger Deborah Davis the Friends of Parks KI Western Districts has contributed to the overall goal of eradicating feral goats from Kangaroo Island and is adjudged a worthy winner of Best Biodiversity Project 2011. Dr Barbara Hardy, AO, Deb Davis Most Supportive Staff Member award & David Mitchell recognises an individual who has provided exceptional support to their local Friends group or groups over a sustained period. As liaison ranger for the past six years Peter Wilkins has been instrumental in assisting the direction and implementation of effective strategic planning for the Friends of Southern Eyre Peninsula. His quiet demeanour underpins his well-researched knowledge of, and comprehensive vision for the natural landscape of Lower Eyre Peninsula. Always friendly and respectful of the experience and capabilities of Friends, Peter is readily available in times of need, open to ways of working together and genuinely enjoys and values the company of volunteers. Accordingly Peter Wilkins, nominated by the Friends of Southern Eyre Peninsula Parks, is Dr Barbara Hardy, AO, Peter Wilkins & considered by Friends of Parks Inc to be an experienced and versatile David Mitchell ranger and a worthy winner of the Most Supportive Staff Member award.

Friends Group Achievement of the Year (incorporating the McLaren Shield) recognises a Friends of Parks group that has excelled in a project or other activity that has contributed significantly to the conservation of our natural and built environment and heritage. The Adelaide Gaol Preservation Society (AGPS) is adjudged the worthy winner of the Friends Group Achievement of the Year and recipient of the McLaren Shield. Nominated by the local manager, Bryn Troath, the Society has developed the shop, provided and developed information for the delivery and history of ghost tours and continues to promote the Gaol to the community. AGPS members provide a professional guide service to the public by both night and day making the Adelaide Gaol a premier SA heritage site. Success of the Tour Dr Barbara Hardy, AO, Penny Projects is mirrored by the increase in Wilkinson & David Mitchell public attendance, school visits and revenue generation.”

In addition to the above a Special Appreciation Award was made to the wonderful Pam Smith for her outstanding contribution to the Friends of Parks Board and the Friends movement across South Australia over many years. I had special pleasure in handing this award to Pam who continues to play such a tremendous role in a range of administrative support activities. Quite simply we would not be able to survive without her and on behalf of you all I thank her most sincerely.” Pam Smith & David Mitchell David Mitchell, President, – Friends of Parks Inc

3 SAFETY ALERT

DRAFT OHSW VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK (OHSW VMF) AVAILABLE FOR CONSULTATION. In response to a 2009 Workcover report that found DENR to be non-complying regarding volunteer safety, the Volunteer Support Unit has been working on a developing a system for improving and standardising how volunteer OHSW is managed across DENR.

A draft system has been developed and will soon be available on the DENR volunteer webpage for comment and feedback. http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/Work_With_Us/Volunteering_with_DENR/Volunteer_news

The main points to the OHSW VMF are:  It is an 'activity initiated management system' ie a volunteer activity registration triggers an associated risk management process.  It consists of an overarching DENR volunteer policy and 4 associated procedures, 3 of which involve activity management and the associated risks.  It provides a standardised approach to managing volunteer safety across the agency.  It provides a minimum benchmark position against which DENR managers are able to assess and endorse other volunteer risk management forms and processes that are currently in use.  Each activity management procedure uses the same 3 steps ie 1) activity planning and endorsement 2) on site risk management 3) activity closure.  The same forms and checklists are associated with each activity management procedure and are mostly single sided A4 'tick the box' formats.  It provides an auditable system of paperwork for each DENR endorsed volunteer activity that is filed in regional/district/business unit offices until such a time that an IT software and platform is available regionally. DENR is about to commence a 7 week consultation stage, so the draft OHSW VMF will be placed on the volunteers' site of the DENR volunteer webpage later this week. It will also be posted onto the Friends of Parks web site.

We want to speak to as many people as possible so regional visits to volunteer groups and staff to discuss the OHSW VMF can be organised through contacting your DENR liaison officer/Volunteer Support Ranger/unit manager, or the Volunteer Support Unit Project Officers' Ian Radbone on 8124 4838 or Lynn Newman on 8124 4841.

At the end of the day, the objective of the OHSW VMF is to ensure that all aspects of volunteer health and safety are managed effectively and consistently across DENR business.

USE OF STAR PICKET DRIVERS A recent incident resulted in injury to an employee’s hand when the person was in the process of driving in a star picket using a Star Picket Driver (or so-called “dropper knocker”).

Details: The employee was driving in a star picket with a picket driver. As the employee was setting up for a forceful blow the employee lifted the picket driver too high and subsequently slipped off the star picket during the downward motion. This resulted in a deep cut to the palm of the hand when it impacted on the sharp picket top. To avoid this type of incident occurring again it is recommended that:  All personnel are advised to use a larger number of smaller blows rather than very few forceful blows when driving in star pickets to avoid lifting too high.  Personnel involved in such work should also ensure the picket driver is held near the top of the handles to minimize the risk of over-lifting the tool.  All personnel are to be reminded to use work gloves when undertaking this type of activity. As part of standard precautions personnel are also reminded to wear earmuffs or earplugs when engaged in this activity.

GET INVOLVED

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

FOOD BAG PRODUCTION FOR VISITORS- CLELAND WILDLIFE PARK Assist with the production and bagging for food pellets. These bags are provided to park visitors to hand feed animals throughout the park. We will provide any relevant training to ensure you are able to complete your voluntary work safely and confidently. We require an ongoing commitment to be rostered a minimum one shift per month. Contact Allys Todd, 8130 9008 or email [email protected]

4

THE BIODIVERSITY AND ENDANGERED SPECIES TEAM (BEST) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DENR The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Biodiversity and Endangered Species Team (BEST) is happy to announce the 1st edition of the Biodiversity Blitz in the Yorke Peninsula.

The Biodiversity Blitz is an initiative of the DENR and BEST to undertake strategic biodiversity projects, within a short time frame. The project involves the monitoring of threatened species in the southern Yorke Peninsula. The projects aim to (i) undertake necessary on-ground works to improve habitat condition for several threatened species and (ii) collect baseline ecological data, to enable an assessment of habitat management strategies (e.g. prescribed burning). Over a period of seven days from the 8th to the 14th of October volunteers and partner organisations will undertake eight different high priority projects on southern Yorke Peninsula:  Beach assessments for the Hooded Plover and Fairy Tern (vulnerable)  Control of Weeds of National Significance in Western Whipbird (vulnerable) habitat  Bird and reptile surveys in mallee habitat scheduled for prescribed burning  Surveys for threatened flora species  Indigenous cultural awareness workshop  Heritage works and support of Friends of Innes NP  Active and passive monitoring of micro-bats  Population monitoring for the reintroduced Mainland Tammar Wallaby (extinct in the wild)

Volunteers are welcome for a day or two or for the whole lot. Nevertheless we will prefer volunteers staying the whole week. Food and accommodation at the beautiful Innes National Park are provided as well as lot of other surprises (guest speakers, spotlight activities, trivia night, kid activities…). Kids (under supervision) are welcome to most projects. Previous experience is not required. For more information and to obtain a registration form please contact Cristina Vicente on 08 8841 3446 or email: [email protected] .

BIRDS AUSTRALIA - WADER AND TERN ID WORKSHOP, ROBE: SAT 17TH SEPTEMBER Learn about threatened waterbirds plus more at this full day workshop presented by Birds Australia. DENR will also talk about small terns in preparation for upcoming surveys that you could participate in! For further information contact Cath Dickson, DENR: 8735 1177.

SOUTHERN OCEAN COASTCARE AND DENR BEACH CLEANUP AT BROWN’S BAY: SUN 25TH SEPTEMBER Meet at Browns Bay Car Park at 10:00am with a sausage sizzle lunch to follow! For more info contact the Coast and Marine Officer, DENR: 8735 1177

FRIENDS OF MOUNT GEORGE CONSERVATION PARK 3RD MONSTER WORKING BEE AND BBQ BY CANDLEBARK With the Friends of Mount George 25th September, 2011 Come to help continue the fight around Evil Vale – an area full of gorgeous Stringybark and Candlebark forests at the foot of Mt George. When: Turn up around 9.00am, Sunday, 25th September Where: Picnic Ground, Mt George Cons Park (south end of Mt George Rd, off Muller Rd, Mt George – FOMG will meet you there. What to bring: Be ready for action – work gloves, appropriate clothes and footwear for cool, sunny conditions or if we are unlucky maybe wetter or colder conditions. For Beginners - Hand-pulling weeds only and we will show you how. Expert FOP & bushcare workers can bring their own gear for Cut & Swab if you wish. FOMG will provide careful supervision of work & all volunteer workers with on- spot training as needed. FOMG will provide a barbeque lunch 1.00pm - meat, bread, salad, tea & coffee BYO snacks, extras, wine & water as required and don’t forget your chair! Queries and further Information Contact FOMG: Janet Pedler: 8339 3658, Melissa Mayman: Ph 8370 1979 or Anna de : 8339 4491 For catering purposes it would be great if you could let us know you are attending by contacting us on one the numbers above. Note the event will go ahead whatever the weather with BBQ in shed if very inclement. Why should you be there? Warm your bones & your heart in a beautiful patch of towering, white Candlebark and Stringybark trees. Glimpse spring flowers, incredible fungi, native ferns, maybe a wren, a koala, a Scaly Mountain Thrush. Hear snippets of bird song, frogs calling, insects humming, water tinkling, bandicoots rummaging and know you are doing something very special for our natural world… and then there is the free BBQ lunch... Anyone who has helped before in our work to rehabilitate Evil Vale will be amazed to see the changes, and anyone new is guaranteed to enjoy the experience.

5 A WALK IN THE PARK AND PLANTING FOR THE FUTURE … Join Friends of Onkaparinga Parks for a 60 minute (easy) or a 90 minute (little harder) walk in the wonderful Onkaparinga River National Park, and then plant a seedling to help revegetate the Park. When: Saturday 25th September, at 10.00am Where: Gate 12, Piggott Range Road (maps 287 and 288 Gregory’s 2011 Adelaide street directory). What to bring: Please wear appropriate clothing including sensible shoes. For more information call Ray Rogers on 8383 0374.

FRIENDS OF THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN WHALE CENTRE The Friends of the South Australian Whale Centre is a Community group dedicated to supporting Marine and Whale Conservation in South Australia. The group engages in a number of fun, social and worthwhile activities to raise funds and awareness for current research and conservation efforts. People interested in joining the group are invited to visit their website for more information http://www.friends.sawhalecentre.com

GLIDER SPOTLIGHTING NIGHT: WEEK OF 11TH-16TH SEP South of Mt Gambier with Bryan Haywood, ForestrySA. Survey for threatened Yellow Bellied Gliders and see what else you find! Limited spaces! To register contact Bryan, email: [email protected] or phone (08) 8724-2765. Further information upon registration as the activity is weather dependent.

HELP THREATENED BANDICOOTS AT GOWER THIS OCTOBER! DENR in conjunction with Conservation Volunteers Australia and staff from Kraft invite you to come along and help restore habitat for the nationally endangered Southern Brown Bandicoot by removing woody weeds at Gower Conservation Park on Wed 5th October, starting at 9am. Come for the morning, afternoon, the whole day - whatever works for you! BYO lunch, snacks, water, appropriate clothing and footwear, and if you have them, weed tools such as a pruning saw and/or loppers. Gower Conservation Park is approx 33km (30 min) North-West of Mount Gambier, 15km (10-15 min) South-East of Millicent and 6 km east of Tantanoola. Access is off the Princes Highway. For further information, directions and to register your interest, contact Oisín at DENR Mt Gambier on 8735 1177.

TAKE PART IN THE FAIRY TERN CENSUS! NOV 2011, FEB & MAR 2012 The Fairy Tern (Sternula nereis nereis) is a threatened coastal bird that has recently been listed as Vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and is Endangered (Schedule 7) under the South Australian National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. The dramatic declines in the Coorong population threaten the species in South Australia and the species as a whole. In the Coorong, nesting failures and the current age of individuals e.g. 10-years indicate that without a successful breeding season in the next 1-2 years this species is facing local extinction in the Coorong. We need your help to cover our large and beautiful coastline! We would like to gain a better understanding of where our birds are and how many are left through a systematic survey of known and potential breeding sites. You may already be heavily involved in bird surveys or perhaps you would like to try it out - this is a great opportunity. If possible we'd like to cover most of the SE coastline in the first survey to assess where to put our effort in the following two surveys. In the South East Maureen Christie and Jeff Campbell will be our co-ordinators, however, initially register your interest with Cath Dickson on [email protected] or 8735 1184.

EVENTS

THREATENED SPECIES ANNUAL FAMILY DAY- Sunday 18 September, Naracoorte Caves, 11am-3pm Come join in the fun at this jam packed day with the theme for this year being ‘Forests, Flight and Flora! On the Wing: A bird’s eye view of our catchments’  See the amazing birds of prey flight show with Full Flight Conservation Centre  Get up close to other wildlife including owls, raptors, scorpions, bearded dragons and snakes!  Hunt for bush treasures and dig for fossils  Go on a guided nature walk  Cave tours (costs apply)  Special guests talk on waterbirds and the globally significant Mosquito Creek and Bool Lagoon.  Meet 'Karak' the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, 'Ollie' the Orange-bellied Parrot  Kid's craft, face painting  Sausage sizzle available, with great coffee and tucker also available at the Caves Café.  Displays plus more! Cool prizes to be won, including lucky door prizes when you register on the day. Entry: $2 ea or $5 per family Stick around until 4pm for a trip out to Bool Lagoon for a guided walk with Birds Australia experts, with a focus on the nationally endangered Australasian Bittern. For more information contact Becky at DENR on 8735 1177.

6 SPRING IS COMING … Join the Friends of Scott Creek Conservation Park for a morning's guided walk to discover its hidden treasures! Scott Creek Conservation Park, Sunday 18th September 10am Meet at Park's Gate 3 - southern end of Scott Creek Road, about 350m south of the Park's northern boundary. *Please note: no facilities in the park Walkers will have the opportunity to look for the local birds in their new brochure and visit the intriguing twisted chimney! BYO morning tea, chairs, binoculars & family and friends. Contact Tom Hands 8388 2150, 0417 869 349 for more information. Also you may like to take the time to check out their informative website at: http://www.users.on.net/~dld/Friends%20of%20scott%20creek/Website/index.html

JOIN THE FRIENDS OF PARA WIRRA FOR A FUN FAMILY DAY Free entry for all Bring along a Picnic Lunch and enjoy the outdoors! See the Wildlife, discover Bush Walks for all ages. Face Painting, Nature Touch Table, Sausage Sizzle, Coffee, Tea and Soft Drinks and more! Parra Wirra Conservation Park - Sunday October 16th from: 10 am to 3.00 pm Contact Friends of Para Wirra for further information: Colin Winsor on 8281 8136 or Leonie Hobbs on 8523 3557.

FRIENDS OF STURT GORGE SHOWCASE Saturday 24th September 2011 Join the Friends of Sturt Gorge as they showcase their major projects in the Park. You can meet them at all or any of the sites for a guided tour. A moderate level of fitness is required, so don’t forget sturdy shoes and remember to be sun smart. FOSG will provide afternoon tea so please RSVP by September 19th for more information email [email protected] or phone 7120 6340. 1pm Bushland Drive* (50 mins) Over a decade of weed control has been undertaken in the grey box grassy woodland here, as well as regeneration of an arson site, and the recent treatment of ash and olive trees along Magpie Creek. They will take a short walk down the hill to see the Magpie Creek ruins which they capped to protect the remaining stone walls. Meet opposite no. 21 Bushland Drive, Bellevue Heights 2pm Horner’s Bridge Trail* (30 mins) The new Horner’s Bridge trail has been developed by their trails team to link the existing riverside trail with the Sturt Linear Trail upstream of the bridge. The project has included slashing and poisoning of blackberries, benching and the development of rock steps. Meet SE of Horner’s Bridge, Murrays Hill Road, Coromandel Valley 2:40pm Broadmeadow Drive* (25 mins) This beautiful area of grey box grassy woodland with a large number of threatened understorey plants is one of their highest priority sites in the whole park. They have been undertaking weed control here for 10 years. Meet at Broadmeadow Drive opposite Gorge St, Flagstaff Hill 3:10pm Renwick Street (35 mins) One of the most intensively worked areas at the moment; this area has had extensive areas of boneseed removed, as well as ash and kikuyu treated along the creekline. Revegetation along the creekline is in progress and the trails team have upgraded the walking track. Meet at Flagstaff Hill Kindergarten, Renwick Street, Flagstaff Hill 3:50pm Western Link Trail (35 mins) This new trail, which took a year to construct, provides the missing link at the western end of the park. The Western Link trail, along with the Horner’s Bridge trail, allows hikers to walk the park end to end. Built sustainably, this trail is estimated to be worth $40,000. Meet at Edgar Street, Bedford Park

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF OLDER PERSONS 2011 – Celebrating a generation of experience! The Department for Families and Communities extends an invitation to you and your family or friends to attend the 2011 International Day of Older Persons celebration. Older people contribute to our state with a lifetime of skills, knowledge and experience and this event is a great opportunity for the whole community to recognise their achievements and ongoing contributions. Peter Goers will return as MC and there will be information stalls. Entertainment will include a musical theatre medley, well loved songs and dancing. This is sure to be a great event! When: Friday 30 September 2011 Where: Adelaide Festival Theatre Time: Arrive at 9.30am for morning tea and information displays Show commences at 10.30am Registration is essential and tickets are strictly limited. To register online at http://tinyurl.com/IDOP2011gn or phone 8207 0522 for enquiries.

7 EARTH STATION FESTIVAL- 21-23 OCTOBER 2011, Womad EARTH STATION is a unique festival exploring our relationship with the planet alongside extraordinary music from around the world. With nineteen groups and 90 artists drawn from around the world, the GLOBAL MUSIC ranges from ancient traditions to contemporary dancehall. The festival weekend will also incorporate a series of talks by leading scientists, academics, writers and thinkers as part of THE PLANET TALKS program. Follow the link http://www.earthstationfestival.com.au/ for more information.

HELP OUT THE SA NATURE FOUNDATION SA Nature Foundation is looking for volunteers to help out on their Walk for Nature event on Sunday 16th October. If you can spare the time to assist as a marshal, on the registration tent or to cook the BBQ, please contact Patrick Mentzel on 8340 2880.

BROOKFIELD @ THE EDGE SUNSET TOURS – CONSERVATION VOLUNTEERS AUSTRALIA Discover Brookfield Conservation Park’s hidden wildlife and history and join the tour ‘From Sheep Station to Conservation Park’. Learn about wildlife in the Park including the Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat & Community Science Research Program. Visit the Woodcutters Hut & charcoal pits, turn of the century homestead & the scientific research camp and enjoy an evening BBQ in the bush. Departs 1pm – Returns approx 9pm, on a choice of dates Cost $20 for BBQ – donations are most welcome for those who really enjoyed the experience! Includes return travel from Adelaide City Centre – 130 Franklin Street To reserve your place on one of these tours contact Conservation Volunteers Australia, Adelaide 8212 0777.

GRANTS

Don’t forget, if you are applying for a grant to assist with your volunteer work with DENR, you need to discuss your application and have it endorsed by your DENR liaison ranger / office. They can assist you in developing the grant submission, ensuring that it will be supported by the Department.

Friends groups that are not incorporated requires endorsement from the President of ‘Friends of Parks Inc’ for grants requiring sponsorship by an incorporated body. Incorporated member groups do not need to seek the President of Friends of Parks Inc endorsement.

BE NATURAL LANDCARE GRANTS The grants are open to any community, environmental volunteer group that falls under the Landcare umbrella including Bushcare, Dunecare, Rivercare, ‘Friends of’ groups, and groups of farmers that embrace sustainable farm management. Applications will close on 10 October 2011 For further information visit the Landcare website http://www.landcareonline.com.au/news/archive/be-natural-landcare- grants-now-open/

COMMUNITY GRANTS WEBSITE Australia’s largest free searchable listing of nation-wide grands and funding programs for community based and not-for-profit organisations. Visit. http://community.grantready.com.au/ to check out what grants are available.

NRM COMMUNITY CARE GRANTS WINNERS Congratulations to the 15 Friends Groups who have successfully applied for NRM Community Care grants. Between them, these groups have won an amazing total of $190,485. Below is a list of successful grants received by Friends of Parks Groups, under the sponsorship of Friends of Parks Inc:

Friends Group Application Title Friends of Mutton Cove Restoration at Mutton Cove Conservation Reserve Friends of Coffin Bay Parks Native Plant Revegetation Project Friends of Aldinga Scrub Conservation Park Selective veldt grass control in Aldinga Scrub Cons Park 2012 Friends of Belair National Park Woody Weed and Periwinkle Removal in Belair National Park Friends of Mark Oliphant Conservation Park Restoring Bandicoot habitat through Erica control in the park Friends of Shepherds Hill Recreation Park Restoration of Eucalyptus macrocarpa – grassy woodland Friends of Ferguson Conservation Park Stonyfell Creek restoration project Friends of Kenneth Stirling Cons Park Wottons Scrub Biodiversity Action Plan – Year 4 Friends of Anstey Hill Recreation Park Biodiversity Management Action Plan for Anstey Hill Rec Park Biodiversity & Endangered Species Team Biodiversity Blitz

8 Friends of Mylor Conservation Park Woody Weed Control in Mylor Conservation Park Friends of Deep Creek Conservation Park Tapanappa Road roadside weed management project Friends of Cobbler Creek Recreation Park Coolatai grass control in Cobbler Creek Recreation Park Friends of Moana Sands Conservation Park Strategic Vegetation Management Moana Sands Cons Park Friends of Dudley Peninsula Parks Protecting KI’s Little Penguin Colonies

Congratulations!

AWARDS

WORLD WETLANDS AWARDS Take this opportunity to get our fantastic Australian wetlands recognised internationally!! Especially in this lead up year to the Ramsar Conference next year, when the Awards Ceremony will occur. Go on the World Wetland Network website http://www.worldwetnet.org/awards/and register your favourite wetland under the Blue Globe award for great conservation, management or sustainability efforts OR under the Grey Globe awards for wonderful wetlands that are under threat. Closing date 31 March 2012

THE JILL HUDSON AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION The Conservation Council of SA is now seeking nominations for the annual Jill Hudson Award for Environmental Protection. Do you know someone who made an outstanding contribution to environmental protection over the last 12 months and deserves recognition? Now is the time to nominate them for this prestigious award! The Jill Hudson Award for Environmental Protection began in 1998 and aims to recognise the efforts of South Australians who make a stand for the environment. The award is in memory of Jillian Hudson (7/09/48 – 9/08/97), a local primary school teacher with strong concerns for the environment. Jill aimed to pass on to her students the important message that: "Life is an opportunity and its purpose is to stand for something and to make a difference" This year’s winner will be announced at an Awards Ceremony on 3 November 2011. The winner will receive a cheque for $1000. Nominations close 5pm, Friday 14 October. More information and a nomination form is available at the website www.conservationsa.org.au

TRAINING

INTRODUCTORY BUSH REGENERATION WORKSHOPS – TREES FOR LIFE Bush regeneration means looking after the bushland we have left, using minimal disturbance strategies and techniques to help it repair itself. It can be extremely rewarding lending the bush a helping hand and seeing the native vegetation spring back. The one day workshop covers topics such as the values of and threats to remnant native vegetation, strategic approaches to bush restoration, maximising biodiversity outcomes, and practical minimal disturbance techniques.

2011 One Day Workshops: 9 am – 4.30 pm - classroom and 1-2 hour field trip:  Elizabeth Saturday 17 September  Brooklyn Park Saturday 8 October  Goolwa Tuesday 25 October

For more information on what these workshops cover and who they are targeted at, please see details on the Trees for Life website: http://www.treesforlife.org.au/getinvolved or call their office on 8406 0500.

These workshops are free for DENR volunteers (as DENR has paid for several places), but your booking must be made via your Friends Group President or Secretary, to the Volunteer Support Unit. For more information and registration forms please contact Pam Smith - 8124 4784 or email [email protected]

GREAT ENVIRONMENTAL COURSES AT GLUEPOT RESERVE - WAIKERIE If you're up the Murray way checking out the river and all the water why not drop into attend a course at Birds Australia's Gluepot Reserve. 190 bird species have been recorded at this reserve including 9 nationally threatened species. They have courses on bats, bird watching, photography, reptiles and more! For more information visit http://www.riverland.net.au/gluepot/courses.html

FREE WORKSHOPS THROUGH VOLUNTEERING SA & NT To find out more information or to register for Volunteer SA & NT workshops please phone 8221 7177 or email [email protected] or phone Southern Volunteering on 8384 9202 or The Hut 83394400

Tues 13 September 6:00 - 9:00pm Skills for Committee & Board Members South Gawler Football Club Rooms

9 Thurs 29 September 9:30 - 12:30 Working in Teams Nailsworth at "The Cottage", 1 Thomas St Wed 19 October 6:30 - 9:00 Developing Grant Applications Brighton Civic Centre, 24 Jetty Rd Volunteering SA & NT gratefully acknowledges that these FREE training workshops are funded by the Government of South Australia, Office for Volunteers.

CONGRATULATIONS

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS! On Sunday 28th August Friends of Black Hill and Morialta Parks Inc celebrated a major milestone - turning 25 years! The dedicated group couldn't have a day off, holding a working bee in the morning, followed by lunch and a native wildlife show and tell. The day attended by past and present members, family and friends, along with Anne Sellar, Director of Volunteers and Visitor services and Janine Kraehenbuehl, District Ranger Northern Lofty District, who presented members with their 10, 20 or 25 year badge. The have contributed an outstanding level of restoration and pest plant management within Black Hill, Morialta and Horsnell Gully Conservation Parks. The group has led the way in new initiatives particularly the young Friends Group Program along with numerous school projects over the years. Today the group continues to look forward and utilise current technology such as Face Book and Twitter to engage the wider community in caring for our environment.

Well done to the Friends of Black Hill and Morialta Parks Inc and all the members over the last 25 years, as well as other Friends of Parks groups celebrating a milestone this year, and thankyou for your excellent volunteer work. It is very much appreciated by the community and staff and wish you all the very best into the future.

AWARD WINNING PARTNERSHIP SECURES THE FUTURE OF SA’S ENDANGERED WARRU A program that is helping black-footed rock-wallabies bounce back from near extinction in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, as well as bringing a range of employment and training opportunities to the local Aboriginal community, has won the 2011 NAIDOC ‘Caring for Country’ award.

The award was presented to the Warru Recovery Program Team at the National NAIDOC Week Ball in Sydney in July, and acknowledges the positive environmental and social changes the program has achieved.

Known as warru by Anangu (the Traditional Owners of the APY Lands), the black-footed rock-wallaby is one of South Australia’s most endangered marsupials, with only 150 animals thought to be left in the wild. Elder Anangu women first brought this decline in warru numbers to the attention of DENR, the Alinytjara Wilurara NRM Board and APY Land Management around ten years ago. And in 2007, a working partnership was formed to deliver a warru recovery program.

According to Trevor Naismith, Alinytjara Wilurara Regional Manager, while the recovery of the warru was the main focus of the program, increasing access to employment and training opportunities for the Anangu was also an important aspect.

An interesting captive breeding process forms part of the program, where warru young from the APY Lands are transferred to the pouches of yellow- footed rock-wallaby foster mothers at Monarto Zoo. This enables the warru mothers to raise another young in the same season; effectively doubling the number of offspring produced each year. The baby warru’s are returned to the APY Lands when they are old enough to escape predation.

After the first transfer of warru young to Monarto, work began to select a suitable site for a 100-hectare predator- proof enclosure, or “pintji” (Pitjantjatjara word for fence), that the warru could be returned to in the APY Lands. Matt Ward, Regional Ecologist and Chair of the Warru Recovery Team, said this was another area of collaboration between Anangu, DENR, the NRM Board and APY Land Management.

“The Recovery Team combined the traditional ecological knowledge of Anangu with contemporary scientific methods to determine the preferred site from a potential 25 sites,” Matt said. The warru pintji was constructed and is maintained entirely by Anangu, with the workers receiving mentoring from a professional fencing contractor during construction so that they have the skills to maintain and repair the fence. “The beauty of this project is it reinforces the strengths of partnerships. “People working together can achieve much more than they can alone,” Matt said. The recovery program has been so successful that Anangu involved in the project have developed a new Tjukurpa (dreaming) for the warru that have been raised in captivity. “Those that have been around for a while say it’s the first time they’ve seen dreaming developed in a contemporary context,” Matt said. “It represents

10 an important aspect of the recovery program, which is about fulfilling a promise made to the Anangu that the warru entrusted to our care would be returned to the region.” The ABC recently covered the Warru Recovery Program on 7:30 South Australia. Watch the video here: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-07-29/community-pitches-in-to-save-endangered-wallabies/2816812 In 2007, a working partnership was formed between Anangu, APY Land Management, DENR, the Alinytjara Wilurara NRM Board, the Australian Government’s Working on Country Program, Conservation Ark/Zoos SA, Ecological Horizons Pty Ltd and the University of Adelaide to deliver the Warru Recovery Program.

BITS ‘N PIECES

PEST PLANTS PROFILED ON FILM The AMLRNRM Board has released the second series of weed information videos on its website and YouTube channel. These three new videos focus on Blackberry, Caltrop and a video on How to Handle Chemicals Safely. This is in addition to the Olive video already up.

Each video gives a brief overview of the issues surrounding the plant, its biology and a description and demonstration of the most common and suitable techniques for its control commonly used in the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges region. The next series of videos will be on Cape Tulip, Gorse, Broom (Cape and English), Bridal Creeper and Willows. Visit the AMLRNRM website to view these videos. http://amlrnrm.sa.gov.au/Publications/Videos/Pestplantvideos.aspx

2011 KI PLANTING FESTIVAL During the three days of the festival (and additional work by a Conservation Volunteers Australia group in the days leading up to it) a team of volunteers managed to plant an amazing 120,288 plants over a massive 51.94 hectares. That works out at being a planting rate of over 100 plants per minute!

In size, that is the equivalent of planting the whole of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, including Botanic Park! Or planting the whole of Granite Island twice! I’m sure you’ll agree that’s a pretty amazing effort. This set new records for the number of people helping, the number of seedlings planted and the area of land restored.

A quick fact to finish: if you wanted to cover all of the land that volunteers have just restored with sheets of A4 paper (I’m not quite sure why you would, but bear with me here) you would have to use 8,327,722 sheets of paper! Placed end to end, this line of paper would be 2473km long which, if you started at Cygnet Park and headed north, would stretch right across Australia and end up in the Gulf of Carpentaria!

Once again the Kangaroo Island Planting Festival has shown that bringing together a large number of people in an organised way really can make a significant difference and produce positive, landscape-scale environmental change. Thanks to everyone who contributed from everyone in the Kangaroo Island Nationally Threatened Plant Species team. Hope to see you again next year!

FREE E-MEMBERSHIP FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS Want to get updates on the latest in weed management?!!! The Weed Management Society of SA is offering free e-membership to community groups - so join now to get their quarterly magazine WeedWise and be the first to hear about workshops, seminars and conferences. For more information visit their website at http://www.wmssa.org.au/membership.htm or email [email protected]

PASSAGE OF CFI LEGISLATION The way forward is now clear for rural communities to benefit from the Australian Government’s Carbon Farming Initiative. CFI legislation has been passed by Parliament (23 August) to establish a regulated carbon offsets market in Australia. Farmers and other landholders will be able to access international and domestic carbon markets. Increasing carbon in soils or vegetation, or lowering emissions from livestock or fertiliser use creates the potential to generate carbon credits for landholders that can be sold to companies who wish to offset their carbon pollution. Scientists, industry and rural communities are working with the government to find more carbon farming possibilities, such as manure management, fertiliser management, savannah burning and managing methane from livestock. Later this year the Administrator for the Carbon Farming Initiative will begin operating and eligible projects can backdate credits to 1 July 2010. More information on the carbon farming initiative can be found at www.daff.gov.au/climatechange/cfi

11 UPDATE ON ARRANGEMENTS TO SUPPORT ESTABLISHMENT OF LAND SECTOR PACKAGE New arrangements are in place to support the establishment of the Land Sector Package, which is part of the Clean Energy Future initiative announced by the Prime Minister in early July. The Land Sector Taskforce has been established to manage the design and implementation of the four elements of the Land Sector Package:  the Land Sector Carbon and Biodiversity Advisory Board  the Biodiversity Fund  the Indigenous Carbon Farming Fund, and  Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change. The Land Sector Package is being designed to complement the Australian Government’s existing natural resource management activities through Caring for our Country and I will continue to oversee the implementation of the National Wildlife Corridors Plan and the Caring for our Country Review.

Claire Howlett will act as First Assistant Secretary of Australian Government Land and Coasts for the next three months and will be responsible for the day to day operations of AGLC. More information on the Land Sector Package is available at www.environment.gov.au/cleanenergyfuture/index.html

THE LINK Contributions for The Link are always welcome. Please send your information/report/request or any comments to Lynn Newman, Project Officer, Volunteer Support Unit: [email protected] or 8124 4841

"What you are is what you have been. What you’ll be is what you do now." – Buddha

Disclaimer While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the contents of this publication are factually correct, the Department for Environment and Natural Resources makes no representations and accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of the contents. Reference to any company, product or service in this publication should not be taken as a Departmental endorsement of the company, product or service.

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