Australian Alps Walking Track II Weeding Lord Howe Island U L L E TIN Volume 32 Number 3 September 1995
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September 1995 NATIONAL PARKS ASSOCIATION (ACTj INCORPORATED Australian Alps Walking Track II Weeding Lord Howe Island U L L E TIN volume 32 number 3 September 1995 CONTENTS Skis on the Brindabellas 5 Weeding Lord Howe Island 18 Len Haskew Eleanor Stodart The Australian Alps Walking Track project 6 Tidbinbilla—the 1939 koala enclosure 22 Frank Clements Matthew Higgins Australian Alps World Heritage Nature-based tourism 23 nomination 11 A tour of African game parks 26 Len Haskew Eleanor Stodart Coree conundrum 14 Reg Alder Cover The Camargue—conflicting land use 16 Elizabeth Smith Photo by Reg Alder The mountains of Namadgi from the Gudgenby Valley National Parks Association (ACT) Subscription rates (1 July to 30 June) Household members $25 Single members $20 Incorporated Corporate members $15 Bulletin only $15 Inaugurated 1960 Concession $10 For new subscriptions joining between: Aims and objects of the Association 1 January and 31 March—half specified rate • Promotion of national parks and of measures for the pro 1 April and 30 June—annual subscription tection of fauna and flora, scenery, natural features and cultural heritage in the Australian Capital Territory and Membership inquiries welcome elsewhere, and the reservation of specific areas. Please phone the NPA office. • Interest in the provision of appropriate outdoor recreation areas. The NPA (ACT) office is located in Maclaurin Cres, • Stimulation of interest in, and appreciation and enjoyment Chifley. Office hours are: of, such natural phenomena and cultural heritage by or 10am to 2pm Mondays ganised field outings, meetings or any other means 9am to 2pm Tuesdays and Thursdays • Cooperation with organisations and persons having simi Telephone/Fax: (06) 282 5813 lar interests and objectives. Address: PO Box 1940, Woden ACT 2606 • Promotion of, and education for, conservation, and the plan ning of land-use to achieve conservation. Contribute to your Bulletin Contributions of articles (news, descriptions or fiction), Office-bearers and committee black-and-white photographs and line drawings are President Eleanor Stodart 281 5004(h) keenly sought for the Bulletin. Please label photographs Vice-president Clive Hurlstone 288 7592(h); with the name of the subject, the name of the 246 5516(w) photographer and the date. Leave contributions at the Immediate office or phone the editor, Roger Green, on (06) 247 0059. past president Beverley Hammond 288 6577(h) The editorial fax is (06) 249 7373. Secretary Max Lawrence 288 1370(h); 272 2032(w) Articles by contributors may not necessarily reflect Treasurer Mike Smith 286 2984(h); Association opinion or objectives. 248 3624(w) Deadline for December issue: 1 November 1995. Committee NPA Bulletin is produced by Green Words for the Stephen Johnston 254 3738(h); 264 2100(w) National Parks Association (ACT) Incorporated. The 264 2364 (fax) NPA Bulletin was produced with the assistance of funds Phil Bubb 248 6769(h); 275 8028(w) made available by the ACT Government under the Len Haskew 281 4268(h); fax 281 4257 1994-95 ACT Heritage Grants Program. Colin McAlister 288 4171 Printed on recycled paper by Koomarri Printers, Belconnen, ACT. ISSN 0727-8837 A word from the president Winter has seen members of NPA's Namadgi. Once a news leak made As well, Nicki has prepared committees and our research officer, it apparent that government responses on our behalf to a request Nicki Taws, putting in some extra considered the management open to for submissions from the Assembly work responding to several events change, we felt we should speak up committee on ecotourism and to the which look as though they may lead for the present management and for Price Waterhouse report on the ACT to a reduction in wilderness in the need for any management to Tourism Strategy. We hope that our Namadgi National Park. recognise that national parks are submissions will help balance the I have been impressed with how primarily established to conserve enthusiasm for money-making with readily we have been able to get valuable natural features. a little recognition of costs, together a series of teams to meet Altogether we have spoken to Gary particularly the longer term ones. Humphries, Michael Moore, Lucy local politicians to put forward our Eleanor Stodart view on the management of Horodny and Paul Osborne. Volunteers in Parks are Very Important Persons In these days of economic extremely diverse and the list given been successful in securing rationalisation and diminishing ' is just a sample: volunteers. budgets to be spread over existing • work at information desk Once selected, VIPs are given and new parks, it is becoming • present living history training in their specific tasks and increasingly necessary that some demonstrations in period costume to acquaint them with the park. services are initiated or continued • write or design visitors' brochures Volunteers are required to be in with the use of volunteers. In past • serve as camp-ground host reasonably good health and for some years there have been objections by • • build fences, paint buildings jobs a paid-for medical examination unions and management to the use • take photographs or work in a may be required. Disabled of volunteers but generally these darkroom individuals are encouraged to have been overcome and now there • give guided nature walks volunteer. are many groups of Friends of There is no payment for working National Parks and others under a • assist with the preservation and in the park but in some parks, if number of diverse names. treatment of museum artefacts • design computer programs for there are sufficient funds, some out- During a recent visit to a national park use of-pocket expenses such as local park in the United States I acquired • conduct oral history interviews travel costs, meals and uniforms a pamphlet under the title of may be paid. A formal agreement is • patrol tracks on foot or on Volunteers in Parks. It described drafted setting out duties and horseback how those who serve with the responsibilities, work schedule and • demonstrate arts and crafts skills National Parks Service come from conditions of the working • organise photograph and slide a very diverse group of park arrangement. files neighbours, college students, retired The theme of the September issue • inventory underwater resources couples, business managers, of RANGER—A journal for farmers, engineers, scientists, such as shipwrecks found on conservation managers, produced by teachers, lawyers, architects, diving expeditions the Australian Nature Conservation doctors, artists and anyone who • assist resource managers and Agency, is volunteer programs in might feel that they have a skill that researchers by making wildlife national parks and conservation is needed at the park where they counts, planting trees and taking areas. I have submitted an article could volunteer. Persons under 18 part in other projects. 'Working with Volunteers' in which years of age may become volunteers Quite a list! Far beyond the scope I describe the work a Service needs with the official permission of then- of work I have known volunteers to to undertake to successfully employ parents. undertake in our parks. I did not the full services and time available have the opportunity to check the The suggested jobs that from a volunteer group. range of tasks for which they have volunteers could undertake are Reg Alder Fiona Macdonald OAM All members of our Association will Association for 25 years, serving on she is always concerned that its be delighted to learn that Fiona's the main committee in the positions requirements receive the highest commitment and dedication to the of secretary, membership secretary priority not only from members of cause of conservation was suitably and editor of the Bulletin, and also the Association but also from those rewarded in the Queen's Birthday serving as a committee member. She who manage the park. She is an Honours List when she was awarded is also a long-serving member of the active participant in work parties an OAM 'for service to conservation Namadgi subcommittee. While and in any other activity that and the environment through advances the Association's the National Parks aims and objectives. Association of the Australian Her concern for the Capital Territory'. environment has been Fiona has championed recognised by bodies other conservation and than our Association. Her environmental causes all her colleagues in the Labor Party adult life. Her interest was have also recognised her kindled while she was at commitment and she has been Balmain Teachers College in branch representative on the 1952. There she met Alan Environmental Policy Strom AM who encouraged Subcommittee of the Labor his students to become Party of the ACT. In 1992 she members of the Caloola Club, was appointed by Bill Wood, an organisation which sought the Minister for Environment, to imbue in student teachers Land and Planning, to the an ethos of environmental Environment and protection which they would Conservation Consultative pass on to their pupils. There Committee which advises the can be no doubt that the minister and acts as a point of principles of the Caloola Club liaison on issues relating to the were readily assimilated by environment and its Fiona. Not only did she protection, park management, appreciate the environment nature conservation, urban herself but also throughout park management and her teaching career she outdoor recreation in the ACT. willingly undertook the Also she has been a member voluntary duties of patron of the ACT Natural Heritage and organiser of the Gould Standing Committee. The League (an organisation Museum of Australia has devoted to interesting pupils made an oral history recording in the environment) wherever of her involvement in the Fiona clears out the hole left after removal she was teaching at the time. conservation movement and, of the stump of one of the corner posts at It is of interest to note that in addition, has acquired some the Orroral Homestead restoration.