FRIENDS OF INC.

NEWSLETTER NO. 40 NOVEMBER 2019

1. INTRODUCTION Our contact Ranger Kirsten Phelan has moved to a different area within Parks during 2019, as did Jo Durrant the Community Liaison Ranger. Both these Rangers have been replaced and we were excited to have Adam Van Baalen and Gabby Browne join us for the AGM.

A number of our activities on the plateau had to be cancelled during 2019 due to bushfires, both fires that threatened the northern end of the park and others fires in that necessitated Parks Victoria personnel attending those fires and as such no one was available to manage our projects.

The AGM and Committee of Management meetings were held on Thursday 19th November 2019 at the Parks Victoria Offices in Traralgon. The AGM commenced at 2:00 PM and was immediately followed by the Committee of Management meeting. As is our normal practice, a new committee was elected and activity program developed.

2. AGM Elections for a new committee were conducted by Adam Van Baalen, Ranger, Parks Victoria. The following office bearers were elected for 2018-19: President: Peter Maffei Vice President: John Sunderland Secretary: Ben Aalbers Treasurer: Tim Clarke Committee Members: Darold Klindworth and Eileen Laidlaw

Thank you to the new committee, returning members and retiring members.

A special thanks to Eileen who led two groups of visitors to the Baw Baw National Park in February. The visiting groups were the Australian Plant Society – South Gippsland Branch and the Victorian Nature Photography Group. This was a wonderful contribution by Eileen as the Australian Plant Society group had 20 participants and the Nature Photography Group had 30 avid photographers.

3. COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT A meeting of the just formed Committee of Management followed on from the AGM. The major item of discussion was the program of activities for the coming year. The program will include all the old favourites and hopefully a few new activities: ➢ Blackberry culling ➢ Guided wildflower and ecology walk ➢ Major track maintenance (note a date change to hopefully move it away from the fire season). ➢ Water bar clearing ➢ Track signage replacement (subject to funding) ➢ Leadbeater possum project (Adam Van Baalen to investigate the next steps) ➢ Guided snowshoe shuffle

The finalised program is included with this newsletter.

The reports from each of the activities conducted throughout the year are attached below.

Guided Wildflower and Ecology Walk Date: 12 January 2019

On Saturday, 12 January 2019 the Friends of Baw Baw National Park conducted their Annual Wild Flower Walk. The publicity this year was aimed at attracting first time visitors to the National Park. We were very successful in achieving this with approximately 70% of the participants being newbies. We had 36 walkers on the event.

Our leaders were botanist Dr John Davies and ecologist Dr Greg Hollis who interpreted the sub alpine environment, identified and discussed the plants and animals that we saw, and those we didn’t, namely the Baw Baw frog. We were also grateful for Darren Hill, Ranger Team Leader, Central Gippsland District, Parks Victoria who warmly welcomed and addressed the group before we headed off.

Both John and Greg delivered their messages in an understandable, entertaining and enjoyable fashion. Our walk for the day was from the Mount Saint Gwinear car park to the Rock Shelter and return. Allowing everyone to claim they had walked a bit of the AAWT.

Members of the Strzelecki Bushwalking Club added their expertise to the group ensuring that the number of participants we left with was the number we returned with. A special thanks to Bill Johns for his co-leadership and keeping a group of predominantly unknown walkers together and safe.

At the end of the day we handed out further information regarding both the Friends of Baw Baw National Park and the Strzelecki Bushwalking Club in the hope of encouraging further interest in our respective organisations.

Guiding of Visiting Groups to the National Park Date: February 2019

Eileen provided guiding services to both the Australian Plant Society – South Gippsland Branch and the Victorian Nature Photography Group during February.

Australian Alps Walking Track – Track Clearing Date: March 2019

Event cancelled due to fires in surrounding areas of Gippsland. Fires were still burning and staff not available for the reserve date.

Project Possum – Nest Box Carry Date: 16-17 March 2019

We had 2 members join with the Project Possum team to carry 45 nest boxes out onto the Baw Baw plateau. The nest boxes weighed 11 kg so this was not a project for the faint hearted. The walk (read hard slog) involved a 10-15 km hike on both Saturday and Sunday. The track taken was along the resort feeder trail to the Walking Track then northward. The upside was that volunteers were able to stay at the Baw Baw Resort Friday and Saturday nights. Expenses for accommodation and some meals were covered by Parks Victoria. Thanks Bill and Darold for participating.

Friends of Baw Baw – Snow Shoe Shuffle Sunday 18 August 2019

Sixteen shuffler took part in this years snow shoe walk. Wearing my Friends of Baw Baw hat I would like to thank those members of the Strzelecki Bushwalking Club who joined us and mentored the first time shufflers. Also, a thank you to Martin and Robert who assisted a member of the group who suffered a slight knee strain.

Unlike last year, or even the previous week, conditions on the day were excellent. We made it to the rock shelter for lunch and a photo opportunity of Roberts’ thermos (of the jumbo size). What was not so pleasing were the dangerously deep holes left in the snow by people trudging through the snow without snow shoes or skis. Those deep foot holes in the snow caused a few skier incidents and damage to ski hire equipment.

Erica Ski Hire and Parks Victoria again assisted in providing the snow shoes, many thanks Matt and Darren. It was Matt’s excellent advice that led us to decide cancelling the event initially planned for the previous week, when the road to Mount St Gwinear was closed by Vic Police early in the morning.

For a group containing several first timers the walk went surprising smoothly and everyone made good progress to the lunch spot and return to the carpark. It might have been the smell of coffee and hot jam donuts from AJ at the Mt St G Food Van that spurred everyone home.

Also thanks to Parks Victoria and the Mount St Gwinear Ski Patrol who made contact with us during the afternoon to check on us.

Track clearing and water bar maintenance, Mushroom Rocks Date: 16 October 2019

We had eleven hardy volunteers join us for this activity. The large number of volunteers allowed us to split into two groups, one clearing the track to Mushroom Rocks from the Erica carpark and a second group concentrating on the Beech Gully Nature Walk. Both jobs were completed on the day, thanks to many hands making light work.

Parks Victoria have had a follow up activity after this event to clear a number of trees across the track to Mushroom Rocks. Two members were able to attend. Given the snow falls we are experiencing (10 November 2019) we may need to return soon.