Newsletter of WildCARE Incorporated Community Partnership Section, Parks & Wildlife Service GPO Box 44A Hobart 7001 Ph 03 6233 2185 Fax 03 6223 8308 E-mail: [email protected] WildTIMES Wild wildlife andtheir culturalheritage? their conservation of theirland, are Tasmanians aboutthe and how concerned the work itdoes, Parks and Wildlife Servicehave for justhow muchsupportdoesthe So, ifwearetodo iteffectively. together, that undoubtedlyweneedtobedoing fortheworld. A bigjob, in particular, the caseof World Heritage Area andin State for asawhole, natural andculturalvalues ofthe also have anobligationtoprotectthe onbehalfof Tasmanians. We things, the careandmanagementofthose and Wildlife Serviceischarged with heritage. And itis yournaturalandcultural reserves, forthegoodofyour community, focus. A partnershipwith Service. An inclusive community thinking fortheParks and Wildlife part ofanew way ofworking and Wild of ournaturalandculturalheritage. forthesake and anecessarychange, conference. A changeforthebetter, recognise andgraspduringthis forusto bearing asignificant change, autumn breezehereatFreycinet is It iseasytoimaginethatthegentle support. projects undertaken withcommunity talking aboutsomeofthegreat willbe the informationRanger, andStephanie Van derSchans, times, what hasbeenhappeninginrecent Park willbeenlightening usabout Ranger hereatFreycinet National theSenior happening. Mike Garner, always somethingexciting National Park —becausethereis It isalways greattovisitFreycinet historic event. being theinauguralhostsforthis staff ofFreycinet NationalPark for Wild as theirway ofsupporting providing thevenue freeofcharge, thanking Freycinet Lodgefor Meeting. Iwould like tobegin by conference and Annual General What aspectacularsettingfor a meeting. conference andannual general first Good Morning andwelcometothe to the Max Kitchell —PWSDirector’s Address CARE CARE CARE Wild andcongratulatethe , CARE Incorporated Incorporated isamajor has demonstrated that yours Wild — theParks CARE Conference 1999 lfsrpie,composttoilet cliffs repaired, existence of benefited greatlyfromthe infact have east coastreserves, andthe Freycinet NationalPark, …allaroundtheState. projects, …real donated tojointprojects, and$22,000 provided byvolunteers, Well over 10,000hourshave been heritage. caring forournaturalandcultural community groupsdedicatedto one ofthelargest andmostdynamic and isnow conservation intheState, community groupsupporting has beenthefastest growing December 1997.Duringthattimeit the organisation sinceitslaunch in with800peoplejoining these things, there ishugecommunityinterestin dniyn sus andindeveloping identifying issues, ensure thatmembers getinvolved in local Rangers and SeniorRangersto collaborative relationshipwiththe groups willdevelop a truly reserves. Itishopedthatthese beginning toformforspecific Action inReserves groupsarenow and Adopt a Track. Community CommunityEducation Response, OilSpill WhaleRescue, Wildlife, for suchactivities asCaringfor within thegreaterorganisation — Networks needtobedeveloped sure thispartnershipiseffective. tomake Parks and Wildlife Service, Wild work tobecompletedwith There isstillalotofdevelopment detail duringtheday. projects willbespoken ofinmore weeds eradicated.Someofthese visitors ledandeducated campsitesupgraded, removed, birdhides trackscreated, installed,

CARE SNAKES ARTICLE PAGE 9 and changes withinthe , Wild CARE —with , ae ok n ie somuchmore andlife, makes work, very goodforourmorale —which the Parks and Wildlife Serviceis committed supportforthework of Knowing thatthereissuchrealand your help. never have beencompletedwithout andtheprojectswould wonderful, actual physicalwork hasbeen the Parks and Wildlife Service. Your for and supportyouhave provided, for thework youhave undertaken, I congratulateandthankallmembers certainly proving tobeso. anditis Parks and Wildlife Service, defining momentinthehistoryof December 1997Idescribeditasa Springs onMt Wellington in At thelaunchof and implementingsolutions. community partnershipprogramsare local/operational levels. But District/Strategic and State/Policy, involvement networks at community consultationand The Servicenow hasinplace morale too. work withyouisgoodforyour that theServicewants tolistenand enjoyable. Ihopethattheknowledge • And More… • MakingTracks • Snow Pole Project • • Snakes • IN THIS ISSUE IN THIS Issue No4May1999 Wild Wild Newsletter insert Waterfall and AGM CARE Warden at CARE Warden CARE conference Wild CARE at the 2 still developing, and our relationship other in pursuit of our common goals. now recognising that we all have with you, the community, will also I hope that you find the presentations something we can contribute to continue to develop. If we are to be today interesting and inspiring. I conservation, and we need each other for it to be effective. We need to do it successful in implementing this shift encourage you to participate in together. Going it alone may be in the way we work and think, it is discussions openly and tempting at times but it is like playing essential that you, the community, are enthusiastically. This time is here for willing to get involved. patience with an incomplete pack of you to participate in developing the cards — it goes along OK for a while, If we are to each benefit from a more direction of WildCARE, and but then goes round in circles and is co-operative approach, we all need to ultimately the way in which never finished. listen, state our case honestly, be WildCARE works with the Parks and The principle of partnership is one of willing to share concerns and make Wildlife Service to conserve mutual benefit and support. adjustments, recognise and respect ’s fantastic natural and Partnerships operate in the area where our differences, and support each cultural assets. interests overlap. You don’t have to be the same as me, just share some common objectives. It’s about Andrew Smith — Chairperson’s conversation, not conversion. Spend address WildCARE Conference and enough time in the area of common interest and the size of the overlap will AGM 1999 grow. Almost two years ago, the Community It’s a pretty well accepted fact that sustained and these programs are as Partnership program was created at to have sustainable conservation the much about cultural change within Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania community needs to be actively community, and government, as they with the objective of creating involved in conservation activities. are about environmental change. It has community partnerships at all levels It’s all about government not seeing been demonstrated, time and again, of decision making and across all the public as the problem, but that funding science/government activities and responsibilities of the rather as part of the solution. And alone will not achieve the long term Service. We now have community it’s about the public recognising cultural changes necessary for a engagement programs in place at the their role and responsibilities, and sustainable environment. State, District and local levels. We seeing themselves as part of the Tasmania’s ability to meet manage the Bushcare Tasmania solution. environmental threats is inextricably program, Land for Wildlife program, There are a number of programs linked with the priority it places on Coastcare in the south, consultative around that use this principle of effective environmental education and committees at State and District community partnership very community involvement. One of the levels, are working on Good effectively, particularly Bushcare, real joys of my job now, after 15 years Neighbour Agreements and Coastcare and other NHT programs, of being involved in environmental developed, and now support, the Land for Wildlife and of course education, is working with those community action program WildCARE. This is not an people who understand the issues and WildCARE Incorporated. WildCARE automatically recognised principle now want to be actively involved in Incorporated is not original in its bits for some scientists and public getting the job done. and pieces, but I think it is very servants. Some have real A community which understands different in its scale and scope and the problems with NHT environmental issues and has way it is put together. I believe we programs, for example, opportunities for direct personal have been able to create an because the money is action reduces the sense of organisation that incorporates the best being delivered to the helplessness which might emerge in of many of the programs operating in community rather than the face of environmental challenges. the community, in National Parks, government. That is It means that the necessary zoos and botanical gardens here and in missing the point. behavioural changes occur, within other parts of the world. Conservation community and within government. It WildCARE was launched in depends on means that a whole lot of essential December 1997 and incorporated in social and work is completed which otherwise August 1998. It is a membership- cultural would not have been. paying organisation ($20 pa) with change if it Partnership is about interdependence, members receiving a range of is to be not dependence or independence. We benefits, including a $20 discount on have been through the stages of Annual National Park Passes. government organisations believing Since its launch, membership has they know it all and telling the grown to 800, spread right around the community to leave it to them State. That’s around 1 in 500 people “Depend on us”, and where the across the State are members. community says “well if you won’t • It has been incorporated, talk to us we will do it our way, • holds its own interest bearing bank independently” — which of course is account, the basis for lobby groups. We are • has its own Board of Management, WildTIMES May 1999 WildTIMES 3 May 1999 • has its own volunteer insurance, • Translocating endangered workers comp insurance and public Tunbridge buttercups at Township liability insurance. Lagoon • Members have contributed well in • Revegetation of a wildfire site at excess of 10,000 hours of volunteer Bagot Point (Dolphin Sands) work to projects on and off reserves, • A week long expedition to remove for nature conservation and for gorse bushes from Schouten Island cultural heritage conservation. • Hut repairs and cleanup at Cradle • and the WildCARE Fund has Mountain donated $22000 cash to joint • Delivering a Minimal Impact PWS/Community projects. Bushwalking education program The organisation is made up of 4 through a Hut Warden program on Branches — Nature Care (with a sub the over the branch called Botanical Guardians), summer months Community Action in Reserves • Billetting lecturers for the Plant (CARes), Heritage Care and Conservation Techniques course WildCARE Office. (See Structure • Planting white gums on Bruny chart). Members register their interest in volunteering on the membership Island to extend habitat for the form which is databased as a contact endangered forty spotted pardalote register. • Building a track to Victoria Falls in the central highlands As can be seen from the volunteer register (see information box) there • Collating walker registration are a number of organisations within information the branches of WildCARE. • “Babysitting” Deal Island For example: • Collating information for the Threatened Species Unit Whale rescue volunteers number 143 and therefore are perhaps equivalent • Building visitor information booths to Project Jonah in other States. at Port Sorell Conservation Area and Mt Direction Historic Site Caring for injured and orphaned Botanical Guardians. WildCARE has • Campsite improvements and cliff animals has 95 members and therefore supported a number of NHT Bushcare is probably the equivalent of WiRes in care at White Water Wall (Freycinet applications made by community National Park) other states. groups and also submitted • Carrying out cultural inventories at Adopt a Track has 165 members and applications to NHT as primary Twilight Tarn Hut and Adamsfield is moving towards being equivalent to proponent, jointly with Parks and • Leading Park visitors on walks and stand alone organisations for track Wildlife Service. It is currently giving talks maintenance. preparing an application to Coast and These three registers, Oil Spill Clean Seas for a community trainer • Carrying out visitor surveys Response which has 135 volunteers for whale rescue response. throughout the State • And spending time hunting for a fox registered, and Community and Whenever real life Parks and Wildlife which came into Burnie under the Visitor Education which has over 300 Service work comes up, WildCARE cover of incompetence. volunteers registered, are presently volunteers who have registered for beginning the process of creating that activity are telephoned, direct- regional and local networks and mailed or notified through the developing training programs. quarterly newsletter WildTIMES. It is The Botanical Guardians branch is a simple process which ensures that also effectively the community involving volunteers creates very little component of the Tasmanian Region additional work for the officer for the Australian Network for Plant wanting assistance. Conservation and has 433 To date we have had volunteers registrations for field collection, assisting with: monitoring, plant surveys and propagation and replanting, • Sperm whale rescue on the west particularly for threatened plant coast, and north west coast and pilot species. WildCARE, the PWS and the whale rescues at Marion Bay and ANPC together ran a successful 8 day Rheban beach. 400 volunteers were National Plant Conservation involved at Marion Bay over several Techniques course just before days. Christmas. Students included people • Removing unlicenced hunters hides from New Zealand, Queensland and from Moulting Lagoon Hong Kong. They came from • Rescuing and relocating endangered government and community seastars from Midway Point organisations including members of causeway during roadworks 4

As an incorporated organisation, an annual budget of just a few hundred assisting with implementation. The WildCARE holds its own dollars to maintain the coastal projects which call for volunteer independent, non government bank reserves. WildCARE provided $2000 assistance are real projects. The Board account called the WildCARE Fund for a single project in a single coastal of Management for WildCARE and by the end of the first membership reserve at Mayfield Beach. Add to that includes staff and volunteer members. year we had $22,000 available from the volunteer assistance provided free Today we will be electing a Vice membership fees and sponsorship. of charge and it’s obvious that a Chairperson and a Treasurer (see Our Gold sponsor for last year was mountain of work has been completed information box for election results). Paddy Pallin, who provided $10,000. that would not have been possible Each President of a CARes group, Malcolm Murchison donated $1000 without WildCARE. elected by their membership, last year and the same amount for this We have provided training for automatically has a seat on the Board year. The Australian Trust for volunteers and staff, in partnership of Management — at the moment that Conservation Volunteers donated 4 with organisations such as Coastcare, means Richard Porch from the Mt weeks of volunteer time (equivalent to Understorey Network, and the Direction Historic Site group, Ann $8000) to projects nominated by Australian Network for Plant Stocks from the Cradle Mt group WildCARE. In August last year we Conservation including: (Melva Trechanas actually attends on called for submissions for project • 2 day environmental education Ann’s behalf) and Susan Henry from funding. We funded a number of techniques the Tasmanian Trail Association. projects from the WildCARE Fund, From the Parks and Wildlife Service which were submitted jointly by Parks • 1 day trip leaders’ course 1 we have me as Chairperson, Stephen • 6x /2 day whale first aid and rescue and Wildlife Service staff and Johnston as Secretary, Sharon Sinclair courses WildCARERS. (See information box Hannocks, (who is Manager of the for project list) • 2x 6 day Facilitation Skills courses PWS Nature Conservation Branch and Although a couple of thousand dollars • 8 day National Plant Conservation the Northern Region of the State), and for a project may sound small, I Techniques course. Don Ranson the Manager of PWS should point out that the Ranger on Each of these courses had community Cultural Heritage Branch the east coast has volunteers and government staff One of the lessons for PWS from attending, in order to build and WildCARE is that if you have a real strengthen links between the two, project, you can find the right people back in the field. willing to help as volunteers. We are working on developing Recognise volunteers as real people training for wildlife care and and you get real results. WildCARE is rehabilitation, in partnership with teaching PWS not to use volunteers, Help for Wildlife organisation in but rather work with and support them Victoria and Brighton council, and and in return they will work with and through submissions to the NHT support you. WildCARE is also programs, hoping to develop training showing the community that they can for whale rescue, oiled wildlife rescue be involved, and need to be involved. and rehabilitation, and trainer training. WildCARE brings enthusiasm, We are now entering the phase of dedication, a wealth of knowledge, developing the Community Action experience and skills and provides Reserves groups for specific reserves. benefits far in excess of the effort When you register under CARes you required to ask for assistance. can nominate any reserve within the Whenever staff think “I can’t do that state as a preferred work location. because I don’t have the resources or This has created a number of sizeable the expertise”, they need look no reserve registers (see information further than WildCARE for a solution. box). was the first Similarly, the community should no such group to form and has a longer be saying “This needs doing, registered membership of 42. PWS should be doing that”, but rather Other Rangers are now calling we should all be asking how do we go meetings of volunteers registered for about solving this together. their reserves. These groups will be It has been easy to show the benefits Friends of style groups providing gained from WildCARE to all those community input, opinion and action bean counters. Ten thousand volunteer at the local level, working directly hours at $10 per hour is $100000. with the Rangers at those sites. $22000 were donated to projects. Partnership between the PWS and the That’s $122,000 in its first year of community underpins the WildCARE operations. The Parks and Wildlife program. Submissions for funding Service spent around $20,000 must be made jointly. CARes groups including staff time to establish and will work directly with rangers, run the program for its first year. identifying issues and solutions, That’s a heck of a benefit. But its not discussing works programs and the total benefit, — probably the most WildTIMES May 1999 WildTIMES 5 May 1999 valuable contribution WildCARE is Moulting Lagoon project — removed making is the development of an unlicensed duck hunting hides. inclusive, co-operative and positive Community Education Volunteers relationship between the Service and and Friends of Freycinet the community. That is invaluable and Summer program — provided will assist the conservation of natural voluntary interpretation program and cultural heritage well into the assistance. future. Pete Lingard (Ranger Swansea) Projects funded by Habitat Care and Botanical Guardian Volunteers and ATCV WildCARE Schouten Island project — now Mayfield Beach CR revegetation and carried out twice (’98 and ’99), a one campsite improvements — $1160. week expedition to Schouten Island to WhiteWater Wall trackwork, remove gorse (15,000 plants removed) installation of a composting toilet — Mayfield Friends and Park $2000. Management Volunteers Rehabilitation/replanting in the Peter Mayfield Beach project — Murrell Nature Reserve — $2000. Campground planting and beach Directional signs for the Tasmanian access tracks. Trail — $1000. Botanical Guardians Volunteers, Coastcare members Construction of visitor information booths at Mt Direction Historic Site Bagot Point Project — replanting and Port Sorell Conservation Area wildfire site on dunes. — $1850 each. Waterloo Point project — replanting. Walker education program on the John Cowburn — Senior Ranger Overland Track — $2000. Oral history training course for Adopt a Track and Tasmanian Trail volunteers — $330. volunteers, 4WD Club and Cycle Tasmania members Construction of the Victoria Falls Victoria Falls Project. walking track — $1850. Andrew Napier — Senior Ranger Development of Wildlife Carers Tamar training courses — $2000. CARes Mt Direction members WildCARE Volunteer Various projects and funding Projects submissions. Strategic Planning The following projects have been Walking track to summit (with undertaken by WildCARE volunteers, Greencorps). since December 1997, in partnership with Parks and Wildlife Service staff David Montgomery — Ranger and other community groups. Asbestos Range Asbestos Range National Park Projects are initiated and co-ordinated volunteers and Rubicon Landcare by a Parks and Wildlife Service staff group member. Volunteers are notified by direct mail, according to the Port Sorell Conservation Area project categories for which they have — construction of information and registered. They RSVP directly to the interpretation panels. responsible officer. Henk Schinkel — Senior Ranger Cradle Valley Field Centres Cradle Mountain and Community Stephanie Van der Schans Education volunteers, general call (Freycinet National Park) Formation of CARes Cradle Mt. Friends of Freycinet and Habitat Overland Track Hut Wardens project Care volunteers — volunteers stationed in walking hut Whitewater Wall project — at Waterfall Valley to provide Minimal constructed composting toilet, Impact Bushwalking education walking tracks and campground program and maintain hut during planting. summer. Cruise liner visit — provided guiding Kathi Van Dulleman — Ranger services to cruise ship calling at Coles Cradle Mt Bay. ATCV free time Habitat Care Volunteers Snowpole placement around Lake 6

Dove. volunteers train for recording oral Volunteers staff the island for periods Grant Hall — Senior Ranger histories. of around a month. Wellington/Derwent Administrative Assistance Volunteers Community Visitor and Field Peter Murrell reserve volunteers and Provided assistance with design and Services Coffee Creek Landcare group production of notesheets. Peter Murrell Reserve project — Visitor Education Volunteers Ben Rheinberger — Wilderness rehabilitation of construction site Three day visitor survey, Cradle Mt Recreation Research Officer within reserve — Still to be Visitor Centre. Data Records and Administrative completed. Gary Willmott — Planning Officer Assistance Volunteers Walker registration data collation. Bernard Edwards — Ranger Bruny Northern Region Island CARes Cradle members Tourism and Recreational Visitor Surveys. Threatened Species Assistance Visitor survey and information during volunteers and Botanical Guardians road closure at Cradle Mt. Stephen Johnston — Forty Spotted Pardalote white gum Stuart Dudgeon — Senior Ranger Administrative Assistant Community Partnerships replanting — habitat creation (2500 Mt Field National Park seedlings planted). Mt Field Volunteers, Habitat Care WildCARE Office volunteers Mailouts, member records. Cathie Plowman — Interpretation volunteers and Education Officer North Hut maintenance. Andrew Smith — Manager Community Education Volunteers Weed control projects. Community Partnerships Summer interpretation program at Greg Peters — Ranger Mt Field Chris Hannocks — WildCARE Penguin site. National Park volunteer Developing the caring for injured and Oral history training project — Adopt a Track Volunteers Track work volunteers. orphaned animals network in partnership with Brighton Council, Alan Coates — Ranger Strahan WildCARE volunteers, Help for ATCV free time Wildlife (Vic) and the PWS. Work on the Sir John Falls Hut. Cultural Heritage Branch Nature Conservation Branch Angie McGowan — Cultural Nick Mooney — Wildlife Biologist Heritage Officer Whale Rescue volunteers Heritage Care Volunteers Assisted with whale rescues at Twilight Tarn inventory project. Strahan, Stanley and Marion Bay. Adamsfield inventory project. Raptor Records Volunteers Raptor Survey project — recording WildCARE Training juvenile to adult ratios of wedge-tailed courses eagles. WildCARE Incorporated, in Stuart Blackhall — Wildlife partnership with the Parks and Biologist Wildlife Service and other groups, Wildlife Survey Volunteers offers training for members and other Bird census at Moulting Lagoon. volunteers. Courses are attended by Hunters hides removals Moulting Parks and Wildlife Service staff, Lagoon. WildCARE volunteers and other Naomi Lawrence — Threatened community groups, as students. The Species Botanist following courses have been offered Botanical Guardian Volunteers since December 1997. Ranunculus prasinus plant out at Whale First Aid and Rescue 1 Township Lagoon. Techniques Courses — 6x /2 day Sally Bryant — Threatened Species courses in partnership with Parks and Zoologist Wildlife Service. Threatened Species Assistance Trip Leaders Course — 1 day course Volunteers in partnership with the Understorey Seastar rescue and relocation at Network. Midway Point during roadworks. Environmental Education Data Records Volunteers Techniques Course — 2 day course Slide collection collation. in partnership with Coastcare. Facilitation Skills Course — 2x6 day Conservation Strategies courses in partnership with Coastcare Branch and Parks and Wildlife Service. Anne Wessing — Planning Officer National Plant Conservation Deal Island volunteers Techniques Course — 8 day course WildTIMES May 1999 WildTIMES 7 May 1999 Board of Management Mt Field NP 47 Andrew Smith — Chairperson, Rocky Cape NP 12 Richard Hammond — Vice Seven Mile Beach SRA 14 Chairperson (elected 10th April Southwest NP 12 1999), Stephen Johnston — Tasmanian Trail Assoc 45 Secretary, Treasurer and Public Walls of Jerusalem NP 15 Officer — vacant (to be filled from Adamsfield Reserve 9 membership), Sharyn Sinclair Adamson Peak 2 Hannocks — Nature Care, Don Ben Lomond NP 8 Ranson — Heritage Care, Ann Bruny Island 9 Stocks — President Cradle Mt CARes Cape Deslacs 2 (Melva Truchanas represents Ann), Central Plateau 5 Susan Henry — President Tasmanian East Risdon NR 3 Trail Association, Richard Porch — Franklin/Gordon NP 3 President Mt Direction CARes. Hastings Caves SR 5 Kangaroo Bluff 2 Member Registrations for Lillicos Beach CA 3 each WildCARE volunteer Lime Bay NR 2 category (10th April 1999) Marine Reserves 2 Administration Assistance 39 Mayfield Beach CA 2 Adopt a Track 165 9 Archival Research 40 Mt Roland 3 Caring for Injured Mt William NP 6 and orphaned animals 95 Notely Gorge NR 2 Community Education Botanical 45 Peter Murrell NR 5 Community Education Heritage 33 Port Sorell CA 4 in partnership with the Australian Community Education Nature 98 Trevallyn SRA 9 Network for Plant Conservation and Data Records Nature 74 Tamar Island NR 5 Parks and Wildlife Service. Data Records Heritage 33 Tasman Peninsula 9 Visitor Survey Skills Course — day Enterprise development 76 Truganini NR 6 course pre-project training. Field Collection Botanical 109 Western Lakes 4 Archaeological Excavation Sponsorship and the Assistance 53 General Reserve management 130 WildCARE Fund Habitat Care 159 PAR AVION The Gold Sponsor for 1998 was Historic Site Conservation 58 Paddy Pallin (Hobart, Launceston Members Records 25 WILDERNESS TOURS and Sydney) with a donation of Monitoring Botanical 70 For Enquires & Bookings $10,000. Newsletter Production 44 In-kind sponsorship came from the Oil Spill Response 135 PH (03) 6246 5390 Australian Conservation Trust for Plant Propagation 73 Volunteers in the form of 4 project Raptor Records 97 FAX (03) 6248 5117 team weeks of free labour (value Replanting 101 Flights, Cruises, Camps to $8000). Historic Site Recording 56 Tasmania’s South West National Special Events Assistance 69 Malcolm Murchison donated $1000 Park — A World Heritage Area. Plant Surveys 80 x2 (98 and 99). Threatened Species Assistance 174 Early French explorers The donations and membership fees Visitor Education 110 regarded South West Tasmania are deposited in the WildCARE Fund Whale Rescue 143 as the world’s end. and made available in August for joint Wildlife Surveys 187 WildCARE/Parks and Wildlife Award winning PAR AVION Service projects. Written applications Member Registrations for each can take you to this pristine and for such projects are sought, with the remote region, allowing you the field centre/reserve (10th April opportunity to experience WildCARE Board of Management 1999) Tasmania’s inspiring wilderness. deciding which ones will be Community Action in Reserves supported. Tours range from half day World (CARes) Branch Heritage Flights to overnight camps and luxury cruises aboard WildCARE vital statistics Asbestos Range NP 36 Cradle Mt 42 M.V. Southern Explorer. (10th April 1999) Freycinet NP 27 1995, 96, 97 Membership — 800, Formed — Hartz Mt NP 13 December 1997, Incorporated — 16 Tourism Award Winners August 1998, Annual membership Maria Island NP 18 10% discount fees — $20 (individual/family Mt Direction HS 12 to WildCARE members membership/group affiliation). Mt Wellington PA 28 8

Full Partner Organisations (all Affiliated Organisations Derwent Valley Horseriders. members pay annual (group joined as individual Trail Riders Action Club. membership to WildCARE) membership — $20pa) North Forest Products. Coffee Creek Landcare group. Tasmanian Trail Association Inc. Rubicon Landcare group. Friends of Bibbulmum Track. Mt Direction Semaphore Station Launceston Walking Club. Tasmanian Mountain Cattlemens Restoration Committee Inc (CARes Bridgewater Anglers. Association. Mt Direction). Burnie Field Naturalists. Hobart College.

Wildcare Incorporated Profit and Loss WildCARERS for the year ended 31 March 1999 Qualifications INCOME $ Bal Brought Forward 18400.00 –Bush leadership –Bat Sc –MSc Interest Received 11.10 (all sorts) –Medicine –Computing Memberships and Donations 5528.00 –Bapp Sc (all sorts) –PhD ————— Total Income 23939.10 genetics, aquaculture, fisheries ————— –Dip Ed –Cert Hort –Coxswains EXPENSES Cert –Remote First Aid, GIS Bank Charges 24.49 –Bach Economic –Grad Dip Formation Costs 1926.00 Cultural Heritage –Mountain Insurance 1000.00 Medicine –Bach Architecture –Sports Administration –Dip Merchandising 1198.75 Emerg Management –Bach Park Newsletter Production 5820.00 Management –Bach Commerce WildCARE Projects –Chef Diploma –Masters Social ANPC Course 1000.00 Research –BA – Professional Freycinet 2118.00 writing –Dip Public Health –Deg Liawenee Field 1850.00 Horticultural Science Oral history 155.00 Overland Track 3200.00 Languages ————— Total Expenses 18292.24 –Japanese –Indonesian –German ————— ————— –French –Dutch –Italian Net Profit 5646.86 –Africaans –Mandarin –Danish ————— –Polish –English Occupations –Psychologist –Farmers –Teachers –Pilots (fixed and heli) –Doctors –Veterinarians –Stonemasons –Navy –Army –Mechanics –Trout fisherman –Civil/Struct Engineers –Pharmacists –Enviro Economist –School Groundsman –Arboriculturist –Nurses –Chainsaw operators –For Wheel Drivers –Horse riders –Profess Divers –Lawyers –Artists/Graphic design –Kayak Instructors –Tourist Operators –Chefs –Social Researcher –Plumbers –Ski instructor –Ambulance Officers –Boilermaker/welder –Driving instructor –Dietitian –Electronics Technician –Chartered Accountant –Landscape Gardener –Librarian –Botanical consultant

WildTIMES May 1999 WildTIMES 9 May 1999 faint yellow to cream bands. White-lipped (whip) Snakes Generally, the belly is pale snake “He that has humanity, forwarn’d yellow, white or grey. The Whip-snakes are dark tread aside, and let the reptile live” head is broad and blunt. It olive green to a green- W D Hudson can be difficult to grey on the back with a The very thought of snakes fills some distinguish the tiger snake pale grey under-surface. A people with terror, whilst others are from the copperhead since thin, white line runs along fascinated by these enigmatic size, habitat preferences, the upper border of the creatures. Through the ages, humanity and behaviour overlap mouth. The eyes are small has been obsessed by snakes in myths, somewhat. and the head small and legends and superstitions. For example Adult length: 1 m to 1.8 m. rounded at the front. the northern Australian aborigines Chappell Island sub-species Sadly, they are often the believe that the creator of life was a up to 2.4 m. target for pet cats living giant snake, the Rainbow Serpent, Habitat: Wide ranging near bush areas and so which caused lightning and storms. from dry rocky areas to wet may be brought inside Sadly, snakes have been endlessly marshes and grasslands. homes. persecuted through of fear and Prey: Solely vertebrate Adult length: 0.25 m to superstition. Australians have often feeders — small mammals, 0.5 m. been guilty of killing snakes for no nestling birds, lizards, Habitat: Dry forest, reason other than fearing them. It may smaller snakes and frogs. where they shelter under come as a surprise to learn that snakes Behaviour: A slow, careful leaf litter, logs or dead are not habitually aggressive and hunter which may stand its branches. venom is used primarily to secure ground if surprised, relying Prey: Very small lizards. food and not as a defence. In the on its impressive threat breeding season they become Behaviour: Very quick display for defence. This territorial. Where humans are and shy, sometimes species makes a sudden concerned, snakes are actually shy nocturnal. They can ‘bark’ sometimes as a animals preferring to move away and forage in winter on fine threat. hide or lie still in the hope of being days since their small size overlooked. Their natural camouflage Fangs and poison: Large, allows them to heat up generally makes them inconspicuous. front fangs; highly toxic and large quickly. amounts. Fortunately, attitudes are beginning to Fangs and poison: Small fangs; moderate toxicity but small amounts. change and people are learning to Copperhead respect these marvellous creatures. No known human deaths. This snake has large prominent eyes So, before you reach for a stick, and narrow, somewhat pointed head, calmly assess the risks. You may even Fascinating adaptions scarcely distinct from the neck. The begin to admire snakes — certainly Locomotion: Movement is by belly colour ranges from coppery red- you should respect them. muscles and scales which grip the brown or deep brick-red through to surface beneath them. Most snakes Tasmanian Snakes slate grey or black on the upper climb well but they can not jump. surface and usually, grey-white on the Apart for rarely recorded sea-snakes, Their fastest pace on flat ground is underneath. Some adults have a about a fast human walk. Snakes swim only three species of land snake prominent orange/red to brown streak inhabit Tasmania, the Tasmanian tiger well and can stay submerged for underneath. This has led some people considerable periods. snake or Notechis ater, copperhead to the mistaken belief that the species Austrelaps superbus, and the white- is a red bellied black snake. Temperature: Snakes are cold lipped whip snake Drysdalia blooded (poikilothermic) and control coronoides. The most reliable Adult length: 1 m to 1.5 m. their temperature by behaviour. To distunguishing feature is the middle Habitat: Typically the forest edge on warm up they sun-bask and to cool head scale — something hard to see wetlands but occasionally in open, they use shade or water. Large snakes safely in a wild snake (see diagram). grassy areas. Although it is a fairly take longer to warm and longer to cool. All are widespread in Tasmania and at shy, retiring snake, it can be very A snake’s ability to digest food and least tiger snakes are found on most defensive if disturbed. remain active is dependent on its body large offshore islands. Prey: Mainly frogs, lizards, smaller temperature. The dark colour of many snakes and tadpoles. Grasshoppers Tasmanian snakes is an adaptation to a Tiger Snake rarely. cold environment, enabling them to The Tasmanian tiger snake is one of a Behaviour: An active, alert hunter absorb light and heat better than light group of closely related species. that is very shy with humans. They are coloured snakes. By doing this, they Distinctions between mainland and considered inoffensive and retiring, can raise their body temperature other island forms is currently preferring to retreat when disturbed. quickly and become active, even in undergoing revision. The markings are However, copperheads have extremely overcast conditions. Low highly variable and should not be used quick reflexes and can operate at a environmental temperatures generally in isolation to identify snakes. Colour lower temperature than tiger snakes limit snake activity to the warmer forms range from yellow/orange with (16 0 C compared with 18 0 C). months between October and March. grey bands to sandy/grey with no Over winter they become inactive and bands. Typical forms, however, are of a Fangs and poison: Large front fangs; can go for many months without food. black snake with either no bands or moderate toxicity and amount. 10

are tough, to withstand moving across the ground and preventing water loss. Sloughing is a hazardous time for snakes because they become vulnerable to predators and therefore during this time they need to find a warm, sheltered spot. Snakes continue growing and sloughing their skins all their lives.

Fact and not fiction The forked tongue is not poisonous but is actually a sensing organ used to Encountering snakes smell prey. Snakes may be seen in the most Snakes do not have external ears and surprising places (including cities) Breeding: Tasmanian snakes have cannot hear sound. Instead they detect especially when water is in short novel ways of breeding to make the sound by vibrations passing through supply. It is best to leave them alone or most of the short summer for raising the ground. watch them from uphill. If they must be disturbed do it from a distance. young. Females store sperm in their Snakes’ skin is not slimy and normally oviducts over winter so that as soon as it is dry. Although most will be just passing spring arrives, the eggs are fertilized through, snakes do occasionally take up Snakes are not attracted to milk and develop inside the mother. Young residence in suburban yards. During beyond the fact that it is wet and easy snakes are born live from late summer prolonged dry periods, they are to find by smell. The venom toxicity to mid-autumn. All Tasmanian snakes attracted to gardens in search of water of a juvenile snake is the same as that bear live young (viviparous). There is in rubbish, dog bowls, fishponds, of an adult although the quantity they no maternal bonding between the swimming pools etc. Properties near give is much less. Less than 10% of young and adults. In fact, some species scrubby creeks are especially prone to newborn snakes survive to adulthood. have been known to be cannibalistic. serpentine visits. To minimise such Most are eaten by natural predators, presence in your garden keep: Poison: none of the Tasmanian snake mainly birds, feral cats and humans. species can truly inject poison, relying • Grass mown. instead on its flowing down a groove In Tasmania the presence of the blue- • Garden debris to a minimum. in the fangs. However, in old snakes tongued lizard is no indication that • Wood heaps away from the house, the groove overgrows may form a snakes are absent. and/or elevated 0.5 m above ground hollow tooth. Tiger Snakes make up Tasmanian snakes will not attack level. for this poor delivery system by people unless they feel trapped or • Under the house well sealed or very having a large quantity of very threatened. It is easy to mistake a clear and dry. powerful venom. The venom of the snakes’ bluff or an attempt to reach • Standing water and wet spots to a white-lipped whip snake has never shelter, for an attack. minimum. been recorded as causing death to a • Seal cracks in concrete which may human. Tasmanian snakes cannot bite Roles and values shelter lizards. Rockeries are a through shoe leather or gum boots. Like other natural predators, snakes major attraction for lizards. Eating: Snakes swallow their prey are important in regulating • Have a well maintained paling whole and can digest large meals populations of their prey. Without fence. because of the elasticity of their such predators, prey species tend to If you like snakes and want to digestive tract. This is assisted by their overpopulate, leading to starvation encourage them it is easy to create skull and jaw being modified to allow and disease. attractive habitat. them to open very wide and swallow • Because Australia has few diurnal large prey. The lower jaw is made up mammalian predators, birds and Avoiding bites of two halves which are joined by an reptiles are very important. In Snakes are naturally shy animals and elastic ligament at the centre front. Tasmania we do not have large their first form of defence is to move The lower jaw can dislocate from the goannas and therefore snakes are away from danger. Contrary to upper jaw. By moving the left half and the most important reptile predators. popular belief, they will not then the right half, snakes seem to • Snakes are an important food source deliberately chase humans, but if ‘walk’ the prey in with their jaws, for a number of other animals such provoked or cornered they may bluff helped by a flow of saliva. They hold as birds of prey. or even attempt to bite. their prey with palate teeth. To allow • Snakes eat introduced rodents and the snake to breath when swallowing birds. large prey, the windpipe is positioned Snakes have other values. Many to the front of the lower jaw. No people enjoy watching them. Some Tasmanian snakes eat whole eggs. In populations, because of their long- nature, no snakes eat carrion. term isolation, are excellent subjects Skin-shedding: For a snake to grow, it for the study of evolution and must shed (slough) its skin and grow a competition. new one. A snake’s skin is not elastic Like all native species they have a and continuously renewing like ours. right to exist. Tasmanian snakes are They have evolved with scales which protected by law in all State Reserves. WildTIMES May 1999 WildTIMES 11 May 1999 “WildCARE Warden at Waterfall”

Several times walking the Overland Track I have said to myself that Waterfall Valley would be a great area to spend a few days and radiate out from there. It came about through Wildcare. When I read about the Track Warden idea in WildTIMES, that was ‘it’ for me. Telephone calls were made, interviews were had and an itinerary drawn up. My initial thought was to become a reality. I had arranged to walk the , with friends, in early January and the last week of that month was reserved to take friends through the Overland Track. They had never experienced bushwalking before. After that, I was free. I suggested to Cathie Plowman of Track Warden Bill Forsyth carrying a pack belonging to a sick lady. PWS that, I could do fourteen days in and fourteen days out of the extreme case. It was suggested to park, and that is what happened. Track Warden (right) talking to overlander. people without the proper gear that to continue was unsafe and to turn back. Some would do this. This reduced the likelihood of the Track Warden being alerted to some mishap and using his radio to communicate details with Cradle Base. When walkers knew that a radio was on hand they felt secure, so they told me, when in the area. My area covered Waterfall, Scott-Kilvert and Windermere Huts. During my first stint in February, I received a hand written message, brought into me by a young UK couple from Windermere. The message reported a woman in distress further out the track. She was taking a course of blood pressure tablets and she was an asthmatic. She carried a puffer. She had woken from their walk the previous day, from

Bushwalking friends of mine, each Campers at Waterfall Valley preparing to pack their tents away. time, assisted me in carrying in food required to sustain me the fourteen days or so. It has been a marvellous experience. I hope that WildCARE can find the funds to continue this service to the bushwalking public each year from now on. I will tell you why. A track Warden is a fellow walker. He has contact with walkers on their first night in the park. Most walkers walk from North to South. He can observe those unsuitably equipped. One walker did not have a stove. All he had was a loaf of bread and a pot of jam! His main aim, I suggest, was to reduce his waistline and not to experience the wonders of the Park. This was an 12

Whale Saving Volunteers on the North-West Coast are being sought to form a first-response team to rescue beached whales. The whale rescues at Stanley, Marrawah and Ocean Beach last year attracted large numbers of volunteers and identified a need for a trained team to be available immediately to start the rescue. The team would undertake an intensive two-day training course and the new . which would involve whale , seriously ill. I relayed the rain recently, so, somebody may have identification and biology, first aid message to Cradle Base. Low, misty left the tank tap dripping. The and rescue techniques. The team cloud from the east had been the siphoning of water from the Tarn was would be provided with kits needed weather for several days. Using a easily fixed by priming the line after for whale rescues. helicopter to bring her out was not making sure the intake at the Tarn was WildCARE incorporated chairperson possible. I went to Windermere and in plenty of water. All taking less time Andrew Smith said those living stood by until she felt able to walk than it would take a Ranger to walk in near the ‘hotspots’ were without her pack. She was delivered from Cradle. Some walkers are encouraged to volunteer. The most safely to Waldheim, slowly over two oblivious to the hut code. Therefore, a recent rescue was 150 pilot whales days, with an overnight stop at Track Warden on the job can ensure beached at Marion Bay. There were Waterfall Valley Hut. A track warden each hut doesn’t become untidy with 400 volunteers and 110 whales in the area, and a radio to keep Cradle wet clothing, food and gear left behind were rescued as a result. Mr Smith Base informed, made this possible. and garbage left in the hut and around said it was through the ‘amazing commitment’ of volunteers that the Another assistance to Park personnel it outside. A hut clean inside and clean rescue was such a success. is maintenance of huts and toilets. A outside creates a good impression. report came to me that there was not Comments, personally and in the hut (Published in the Advocate after the conference) tank water at Windermere. We had log book, bear witness to that. Another

frequently asked question of the Track Events Calendar Warden is about the safety of the Landcare Education Calendar water for drinking. Walkers were satisfied when told that samples of water were taken and tested often in 28 May–3 June the Waterfall Valley area. In any case Reconciliation Week, contact Aboriginal Education 6233 7968 those with sensitive stomachs received suggestions to boil water, if in doubt. 5 June So, it can be seen that a Track Warden World Environment Day Environmental Education Expo, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, contact Tania Stadler 6226 2838 in position along the Overland Track can be of assistance to Park personnel 15 June in reporting, but importantly to ensure Landcare Award Nominations close, contact Lynn Stein 6336 5270 walkers have an enjoyable, safe stay in one of the worlds’ best Parks. 17 June Having experienced, being a Track World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought Warden this walking season, talking to people from all walks of life and from 8 July all parts of the world and contributing Teachers Seminar: Wetlands to Waterways, to making the Overland Track as safe contact Margaret Stedman 6234 5566 as possible, I would thoroughly recommend to any Wildcare member, 17 July who has the time available, and the Landcare Breakfast Seminar for Teachers, experience, to be a part of the Track Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery contact Roberta Poynter 6235 0753 Warden program. What better chance for any one to be in this sacred place. WildTIMES May 1999 WildTIMES 13 May 1999 Snow Pole Project

ATCV — WildCARE Snow Pole and Track marker Project Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park staff have instigated a joint project with Australian Trust for Conservation Volunteers. The project was made possible by securing an in- kind grant of $4000.00 from ATCV. The project involved the upgrading of snow poles and track markers on the Cradle Summit Track, the first section of the Overland Track and the Dove Lake Circuit Track. The project ran from the 4th to the 15th of January 1999. Ted Wilkin was the supervisor Above: The whole crew, from left, Ted, of a crew of five volunteers. The Helen, Rebecca, Duggie, Miles and following tasks were completed by the Chris at Kitchen Hut having lunch. January 1999. volunteers and Ranger Kathy Van Left: Upgrading snow poles on the Dullemen: Crater Lake- Pool Circuit. • Despite a daily two-hour walk into January 1999. the work site, the group had to Bottom middle: Helen and Chris upgrading old snow poles on the Crater Lake — maintain a high level of motivation. Wombat Pool Circuit January 1999. • All safety gear was available and Below: Miles upgrading snow poles on the Crater Lake — Wombat Pool Circuit Miles, Chris and Rebecca on the Plateau January 1999. putting in new snow poles. January 1999. 14

Miles upgrading snow poles on the Crater Lake Wombat Pool Circuit January 1999.

worn by individuals. • An introduction was conducted at the start of each day, discussing the hazards and techniques of the job at hand. • Putting in the snow poles on the Cradle Summit Track involved distributing the poles along the track on foot then, using a petrol driven jack hammer / drill to secure them into the rock and using a resin to secure the poles in place. • The snow poles along the plateau section of the Overland Track had to be secured through driving a steel rod into the ground and sliding a pole over the top of the rod. • The track markers on the Dove Lake Circuit Track consisted of steel star Miles, Rebecca and Helen on the Dove Lake Circuit, dropping off snow poles. January pickets driven into the ground with 1999. orange plastic caps placed on top for excellent time, during and after hours, The Ranger staff would like to thank visibility and also to hide sharp including near record sightings of edges. ATCV and WildCARE for making Tasmanian wildlife. If such a project The project was completed to a high this project possible. of similar status can be organised for standard. We received positive visitor Kathy Van Dullemen feed back and a write up in the local next financial year, I would be pleased paper. All individuals who to provide options and possibly Ranger participated in this project had an funding. Cradle Mountain Field Centre. WildTIMES May 1999 WildTIMES 15 May 1999 Port Sorell conservation Area WildCARE Project 1998–99

Project: To build two timber information bays for the Port Sorell conservation Area. Funding: WildCARE allocation $2000.00. Structures were made from treated pine with colorbond steel roofing and heavy duty perspex display front. All accounts paid trough PWS, Asbestos Range National Park Community contribution: • Construction of two pre-assembled units • Crane and truck to move units • Labour provided to install units • Bag of cement, some extra timber • Total approximately $2000.00 Total time to construct both units was one week. The units were both pre- assembled and moved by truck with a crane on January 7th 1999.

The units were installed with a combination of Parks personnel and Landcare members and place at two sites. Completed unit situated in the Squeaking Point Section of the Port Sorell Conservation Area.

If you have a product or business related to natural or cultural sites… why not advertise with WildTIMES. For information or booking contact Andrew Smith 6233 2185 16 Renew your WildCARE registration Tassie’s Trees and membership White gum The following activities and programs Data records (computer) Eucalyptus viminalis will benefit from volunteer assistance. If Community education White gum is a tree with many you are the type of person who likes to forms. It can grow to over 90 roll up your sleeves and get on with the Botanical Guardians — the Botanical meters tall in the Evercreech job then tick the program and activity Guardians is a joint program with the boxes that most interest you. Your name forests near Fingal in the north Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens and contact details will be registered on and is the Tasmanian branch of the east, but it is usually found the Volunteer Register and project Australian Network for Plant growing among black officers will contact you when your peppermint in drier eucalypt assistance is needed. Some activities Conservation. Most of the work is forests. White gum is a major will require training which will be therefore related to threatened species. species in the open woodlands provided by WildCARE during the year. Monitoring Survey of Tasmania. Replanting Propagation White gums generally have a CARes — Community Action in Field collection wavering trunk, often breaking Reserves Community education into branches at low levels. Its Which Reserve would you like to be usual mature height is around 40 registered with? ...... Heritagecare — conserving meters, with a diameter of about ...... Tasmania’s cultural heritage 1.5 metres at the butt. Its bark is It is not necessary to register with almost wholly smooth with a While a lot of cultural heritage CARes if your interest is specifically in white or yellowish colour. At the conservation is carried out within reserves, wildlife or cultural heritage there is also a great deal of work needed upper levels of the trunk, long conservation (see Nature care and outside reserves to assist the Parks and ribbons of bark frequently remain Heritage care registers below) If there is hanging from branches. Leaves a CARes group for your Reserve we will Wildlife Service to properly protect and are about 16 cm long and 1.5 cm pass your name onto the President. understand Tasmania’s cultural heritage. wide. They have a pronounced Otherwise your details will be available Please note that archaeological excavations stalk. to the Park Ranger at that Reserve. are rarely undertaken by the Parks and The species occurs in a wide What kind of work are you Wildlife Service and so opportunities to be variety of forest and woodland particularly interested in? involved in that activity may not arise. types, but is generally absent General management assistance Site recording from mountainous areas and the Adopt-a-Track Program Data records (computer) wetter parts of the west and south Enterprise projects Archival research coasts. It grows between sea-level Visitor Education Excavation assistance to about 600 metres altitude. Caring for injured/orphaned animals Community education The timber is brittle and doesn’t Historic site conservation* tolerate exposure, but it provides Habitat Care a useful hardwood for internal *Any particular site? ...... Naturecare — conserving fittings. It polishes well and in Tasmania’s plants and animals panels resembles English ash. WildCARE Incorporated Office Wildlife rescue and research activities You can see white gum in the 134 Macquarie Street. listed below generally occur outside north at the Evercreech and reserves Help support the supporters. There is a Hollybank Forest Reserves. lot of work needed in the background to Whale rescue Oil Spill response Taken from Forestry notes keep the networks going. Raptor records Wildlife survey Special event assistance Threatened species assistance Administrative assistance Member records Newsletter production

Please return completed form along with annual membership payment to: The Manager, Community Partnership Section, Parks and Wildlife Service, GPO Box 44A Hobart 7001.

Enquiries ph: (03) 6233 2185 fax: (03) 6223 8308. Email [email protected] WildTIMES May 1999 WildTIMES 17 May 1999 WildCARE INCORPORATED REGISTRATION FORM Community action for natural and cultural heritage conservation Surname ...... Given names...... Address ...... Postcode ...... Telephone (W) ...... (H) ...... Fax (W) ...... (H) ...... email (W) ...... (H) ......

$20 WildCARE Annual Membership (1 September–31 December in the following year)

Special discounts on Annual Park Passes are available to WildCARE members. Please complete an Annual Park Pass Application form and attach. Please Note: If you already hold an Annual Park Pass simply quote your WildCARE Card number to receive the WildCARE discount rates when its time to renew your Annual Park Pass. $22 Optional WildCARE Discount Annual Park Pass. or $14 Optional WildCARE Discount Concession Annual Park Pass.

$. . . . .Total amount enclosed (please make cheques and money orders payable to WildCARE Fund)

Visa Mastercard Bankcard Name on card ...... Signed ...... Expiry ..... / ..... / .... Your membership fees will be used to publish the quarterly newsletter and to support the volunteer activities of WildCARE. Your membership entitles you to receipt of the Newsletter “WildTIMES” and discounts at various stores and events around the State. See attached list and watch for updates in the Newsletter. In addition… You may like to register your interest in volunteering. There are many opportunities available. First fill in the section about your skills and experience, then indicate where and how you would like to be involved. Skills and experience What skills do you have that you would like to use in your volunteer work? Accounting First Aid certificate Research Art Graphics Sign language Bushwalking Horticulture Skiing Zoology Librarian Supervision Botany Landscaping Teaching/education Carpentry Map reading/navigation Word processing Clerical Mountaineering/rockclimbing Writing Databases Photography Public speaking Drafting Drivers licence GIS Second language (which?) ...... Other skills — not specified above...... What qualifications do you have that may be useful to your volunteer work? ...... 18 Roll On a variety of past roles. However his first love is the Facts from Summer ’99 environment (well second after his Amidst the glorious summer of 1999 wife Kavinah and new baby Miranda) Parks four dedicated Summer Track and likes bushwalking and snow S Rangers continued their progressive skiing. On his bushland property he The weather recorded at Lake interaction with park visitors. The enjoys studying scats, native plants, St Clair gets an honourable Track Rangers were located at the and managing a rather cheeky goat mention with the driest January Walls of Jerusalem, Freycinet, South and grumpy rooster. ever recorded and a very wet Coast and on the Overland Track. February with 100ml falling in Many management issues that were Education Items considered highly controversial by just 2 days! It all evens out in APRIL 1999 DELM staff (now DPIWE — Available the end! Department of Primary Industries, There are currently 2 free brochures Water and Environment) have, or are explaining the Track Management now becoming, widely accepted by Strategy and the Science behind it! 30, 100 and 500. Regular park visitors. This is attested to by the Educational videos have also been measurements will be taken from all broad support for the extension of the produced, many groups and schools lanes to examine impact and recovery FUEL STOVEONLYAREA. After have purchased these to use as part of for each treatment type. This will spending a few minutes speaking with their curriculum! allow comparison between over time Track Rangers walkers begin to The Welcome to the Wilderness and all at once trampling and indicate understand that regulations can minimal impact bushwalking whether PWS management should enhance wilderness experiences, as brochure is being reprinted — a free consider ‘resting’ walking areas. well as assist in protecting the resource for use by all! environment in a sustainable way, for To order any publications contact the By Nicki Chilcott everyone’s future. Tracks Team or visit Park’s homepage For more information please refer at www.parks.tas.gov.au to the PWS Science Behind the Strategy brochure.

By Ted Mead, Trampling Trials TEAM NEWSLETTER. Track Ranger, In January 1999 Parks and Wildlife The Esperance staff and volunteers established W ORLD G TRACK walker impact trials at Tim Shea, South West Tasmania. The aim of WIDE Maps Info these trials is to investigate whether there is any difference between WEB Roger Ling is an Information trampling all at once and trampling Watch this space for updates — Technology Trainee who has been

over time. GEMENT working in the Track Management including an easier link from parks’ Team for the last 12 months. The treatments established are 0, 30, home page! (www.parks.tas.gov.au) Specialising in the use of GIS 100 and 500 passes. The “at once” software (MapInfo) Roger has trampling occurred in January. The Track Team Information? Go to produced maps relating to walking “over time” lanes are being trampled www.parks.tas.gov.au/manage/tracs track and recreational issues. weekly from January until April when trat/trkteam.html Projects have included mapping the the total number of passes will equal entire track network in both World Trampling Trials in Jan. 1999 at Tim Shea (in fog). Heritage and State Areas, plotting of CK MANA Phytophthora infections, campsite Track locations, and the 450 monitoring sites established for the Track Education TRA Management Strategy. Roger’s work The new Track Education also includes production of maps and 3-D images for the parks website — Officer is Jennifer (Jen) Fry. you can see these first hand on She started working in the field MAKIN www.parks.tas.gov.au under the of community relations, in visitor’s guide section. Canada, with the Grand River In addition to his Land Management Conservation Authority. After qualifications he has wide experience moving to Queensland she in computer programming/support in then worked with the Wet 19 Tropics World Heritage Area as a Track Works Great Bushwalks and 60 Great Short Community Education Ranger. (She Walks. also moonlighted with the Great 98/99 The vision for Tasmania’s Great Walk Barrier Reef Marine Park, as an Track works have taken place in the Strategy is to offer a world class undercover officer!) following areas: PEC (Priority walking destination by providing a Erosion Control) at Pelion West, diversity of walking opportunities, by Since moving to Tassie Jen has Southern Ranges, Barn Bluff ascent, enhancing quality experiences of the continued her bushwalking habits. She and on the Mt Anne circuit. A reroute natural and cultural heritage and by x 44A is a competitive dancer and loves of the Southwest Cape track between achieving sustainable management touch football! New Harbour and Hidden Bay is in practices in Tasmania. progress and includes trials on She is so taken with Tassie that she Planning is well underway for this rehabilitation techniques on the old project, we are now just waiting for

.au has decided to make it her home. Jen route. Hardening on the ascent to the v recently bought a block down in the final funding to start implementing GPO Bo Cirque from Rodway has completed, the Great Walks Strategy across

. Margate and enjoys walking and and Pine Forest Moor to Pelion Creek Tasmania! riding her bike on her 40 acres of track hardening is being completed Limited copies of the Strategy are paradise. this summer season. available through the Parks and vice A new suspension bridge crossing the .tas.go Wildlife Service Tracks Team or on near Lees Paddocks has the internet. been erected with the aid of volunteers. Many thanks must go to e Ser Stats on Tracks those devoted vols who gave up their We’ve been experimenting with a time for the benefit of all walkers in Need More datalogger on the Overland Track this area. However it is disturbing to over the past year, and have note that there are already signs of Info? ks@dpiwe obtained some interesting results. motorbikes being taken across the Wildlif Remember our Email on In July there were as many passes bridge! [email protected] by animals (judging by the time of These are just some of the works that night they wandered by) as there the dedicated Track Work Rangers were passes by walkers heading have undertaken this summer! south (46 animal passes and 45 walkers). Tracks in the area suggest

Email trac that are the culprits! This arks and Great Walks a

P counter has also developed the skill of counting raindrops. On Easter Statewide Tuesday there were 6552 raindrops recorded! Project

eam. The Tasmanian Walking Track Two volunteers have made valuable T Strategy is a joint initiative of Tourism contributions to the stats gathered. AS 7001. Tasmania, the Department of Primary

T Mike Austin has been helping out Industries, Water and the

t with Hartz walker registration, in Environment, and Forestry Tasmania. 97/98 there were 3162 walkers (of The Statewide strategy is concerned

ement these 15 were overnight). From with all walking tracks in Tasmania g Keith Brown’s work on the Overland Track (Cradle Mountain) that occur on Crown Land — about Hobar there were about 6100 registrations 3100 kilometres of tracks! (1600 for overnight walks other A fair few of these kilometres are than the Overland Track). Taking being designated as “Great Walks”. In order to operate within the World k Mana registrations at Lake St Clair into account (and the proportion of Heritage Area Walking Track Strategy walkers who don’t register), we only certain walks will be promoted as rac estimate that there were about 8000 “Great Walks”, leaving the remainder T Overland walkers in all. to be managed for their natural and recreational opportunities. By Susan Rundle, Research Officer Examples of Great Walks include (Statistics). Lake Dove Circuit Rainforest Walk, Email [email protected] Wineglass Bay Freycinet Peninsula Walk, Hartz Mountain Walks, and the Overland Track. There are a total of 8 20 Thankyou! Wildcare wishes to thank the following sponsors for their support of the WildCARE Fund Gold Sponsors ($10,000 plus) Paddy Pallin Adventure Equipment stores Category 2 sponsors ($5000–$9999) Australian Trust for Conservation Volunteers (in kind) Category 3 sponsors ($1000–$4999) Malcolm Murchison And the following WildCARE member-discount sponsors Snowgum equipment 10% discount Par Avion Wilderness Flights 10% discount Eaglehawk Neck Backpackers ($1 discount on a $12 night) Moonpads 5% discount (To claim your discount, simply present your WildCARE member card.)

We are looking for other sponsors, both for the WildCARE Fund and as discounters. Know someone who you think might be interested? Why not have a chat to them and suggest they contact Andrew Smith at Parks and Wildlife Service for more details (Ph 6233 2185 — GPO Box 44a Hobart 7001).

Tasmanian Trail Guidebook – Tasmanian Trail This essential guide will give walkers, bicyclists and Fascinating snippets of information on the natural and horse riders all the information needed to travel all or cultural features you will discover along the trail are part of the unique Tasmanian Trail. liberally spread throughout the book. Detailed trail notes cover each stage of the journey, If you are contemplating a full traverse of the state or providing concise directions and information on access, just a day trip, this book is a must. campsites and facilities. Distances are given for trips Recommended Retail Price: $15.00. Order through the in either direction, while each stage is supplemented WildCARE Office, GPO Box 44A Hobart 7001. Please with detailed maps. make cheques payable to The Tasmanian Trail Association.

Planning, safety and environmental issues are all aphic Plus 1399

thoroughly covered. ISBN 9 318923 009651 Gr

WildTIMES May 1999