Hobart Group News March 2019

Perhaps we’ve taken the abundant autumnal flowering of the hundreds of Sunshine Wattles (Acacia terminalis) in and around HGN HQ too much for granted for almost 18 years. Without fail, sometimes as early as lateish February, the fluffy, creamy flowers have added to the enjoyment of our morning walks with their gorgeous fruity smell. Certainly, every mid- March they’ve been close to their peak of perfection. Now it’s almost April and perhaps four or five bushes have a few struggling, discouraged-looking flowers on them. It’s been disappointing, almost shocking to have been so let down by Mother Nature. Little dark brown buds had appeared, but maybe the fierce, hot summer, maybe the weeks of smoke-filled air, had blunted their ability to do anything. Or so I thought. But yesterday there was a change, the buds are swelling, paler and several seemed to have a tiny trying to force its way out into the light. We may have our flowers yet, and I wonder whether, because of the unusual conditions, some of the bushes might produce pink ones. This has happened only once before and I’d love to see it again. To console us for our lack of flowers, grey butcherbirds sing their exquisitely melodious songs to us on our walks. But two of them have been attacking our brown falcon when she comes for her morning meat, which has lowered them in my estimation. One morning the very unmelodious yellow wattle birds joined them in chasing her through the eucalypts. Luckily she can outfly them all and squawk even more unmelodiously at the same time.

New Constitution On March 15, two days after the Hobart Group’s AGM and General Meeting, members received three documents about the proposed new APST Constitution outlining “what has changed and why”. The State Annual General Meeting, which will consider whether the

1 changes will be accepted, will be held on Saturday March 30 in Launceston. Because there’s been too little time to organise a Hobart Group meeting to discuss these complex matters, below are two articles for your consideration. If you’d like to raise any points you feel are important or that concern you, please contact Hobart Group President, Sib Corbett, who will be delighted to hear from you by Friday evening at the latest, so not much time – phone 6239 1688 or email [email protected]

The Proposed New APST Constitution David & Jenny Boyer At the Hobart Group Meeting on 13th March, there was some concern expressed that the proposed new constitution will not adequately protect the interests of the Hobart Group. As Jenny and I were briefly involved in the preparation of the document, we would like to convey that at no time was there any consideration of changing the existing relationship between Council and the Groups. Michelle Swallow, a lawyer with considerable experience in preparation of constitutions for not-for-profit organisations like the Australian Society Tas, was asked to prepare a contemporary constitution using the current one as a guide. At this, the final meeting held in preparing the constitution, each clause was considered carefully and at no time was there any feeling that what was being proposed would adversely affect the Groups. There is one clause which some members may be concerned about, and that deals with the requirement for the President of each Group to be on Council. This clause has been included to clarify the relationship and the line of responsibility between the Groups and the Council. The Groups have always been sub-committees of Council and this proposed clause just clarifies this. However, other members in the State have expressed concerns with the clause, and whether it and the new constitution are accepted at the AGM remains to be seen. If any member has any concerns about the proposed constitution, we would be happy to talk, and take on board any that cannot be satisfied. David and Jenny Boyer - Hobart Group Delegates on Council.

The Proposed New APST Constitution – Some Critical Comments Sib and Keith Corbett

APST members are being asked to accept a new Constitution at the forthcoming AGM on 30 March. Some members of the Hobart Group strongly oppose this action for the following reasons:

(I ) 14 days since its publication, with no opportunity to discuss the matter at a Group meeting, is too little time to consider the implications of a whole new Constitution.

(2) The proposed Constitution contains significant changes to Council and Group responsibilities. It refers to a Terms of Reference (7.8g) but this document was not made available. We understand it may be the same document as the ‘Policy on Group and Council Responsibilities’ referred to in the current Constitution, and given to Council members, but this has not been made clear. There are important contradictions between this guiding document and the proposed new Constitution.

(3) Aspects of the new Constitution are unacceptable in that they do not reflect the actual nature of the Society and give no assurance as to how Group funds are to be managed. Here is some background: Groups have always been the heart and soul of the Society, where the actual activities related to plants happen. The Groups were formed well before the Council was set up to co-ordinate and integrate their activities, and Groups remain the most active and essential parts of the Society. There is no way in which Groups should be regarded as “subcommittees” of the

2 Council. The new Constitution treats Groups poorly and gives virtually all power to the Council, as below.

A new section of the proposed Constitution under 9.DUTIES OF OFFICERS states:

9.2 “The Council (a) shall control and manage the business affairs of the Society; (b) may exercise all powers and perform all the functions of the Society; (c) has power to do anything that appears to the Society to be essential to the proper management of the business and affairs of the Society; and (d) may delegate any of its powers to the subcommittees consisting of such members of the Society or such person or persons as they think fit. Any subcommittee so formed shall in the exercise of the powers so delegated conform to any directions that may from time to time be imposed on it by the Society” (our emphasis). Note the interchange of ‘Council’ and ‘Society’ as though they are the same.

The functions and responsibilities of Council and the Groups are currently detailed in the ‘Policy on Group and Council Responsibilities’ document referred to in the present Constitution, but this is a separate document printed in the Council Handbook. In summary it states the Council is to ensure compliance with statutory requirements, manage insurance and membership matters, look after national and State Government matters, and publish the State newsletter. The Council is to co-ordinate the activities of the Groups but to limit its activities to necessary administrative functions (our emphasis). This is how most of us understand the role of the Council. We see a contradiction between the absolute powers granted to Council in the new Clause 9.2a and the reasonable outline of responsibilities given in the ‘Policy’ document, and this needs to be resolved before a new Constitution can be accepted.

Perhaps our greatest concerns are with the Ownership of Group funds, which needs to be clearly spelled out in the Constitution itself, rather than in a separate document somewhere. These funds, raised by the Groups through their own activities, should remain the property of the Groups, to be used as they determine (giving due regard to any Conflict of Interest issues). The ’Policy‘ document states that the Groups are to be self-sufficient, with no suggestion the Council has ownership of any Group funds.

We urgently believe that Groups, particularly Hobart Group, need more time to consider and discuss this new Constitution. We accept that we should have had more input into its formulation, but we must have time now to properly consider this new draft and all its implications.

Forward Program Carmen Walker, Bruce Champion & Sib Corbett 30 March, Saturday - APST Inc. AGM and Council Meetings - 11.00am at Windsor Park Community Centre, Riverside, Launceston. The meeting will discuss amendments and possible ratification of the ‘new’ Constitution, followed by the election of office bearers for the Regional Council - ALL members are invited to attend and vote. Then the March Council Meeting will be held and members are invited to observe. 31 March, Sunday - Walk - Big Bend Mt. Wellington to Mt. Connection and return. Join us for a moderate alpine walk close to home. We begin on the rocky Fire Trail, crossing through subalpine woodlands and moorland then climbing gently round the northern face of Mt. Connection. It will be a good chance to see how the highland vegetation has fared through an unkind summer. We don’t expect too many flowers, but the should offer some colour. Return to Big Bend the way we came. Meet in the Thark Ridge/Big Bend carpark up the road from the Big Bend Trail at 9.30am. Weather can always be a bit iffy on the mountain and may lead to changes in plans, so contact Sib and Keith Corbett if you would like to come. Ph. 62391688 or email [email protected]

3 3 April, Wednesday - Kingborough Day Meeting - discussion on display table plants. 6 April, Saturday - Propagation - Sorting plants for the Plants Sale and weeding plants. 10 April, Wednesday - Hobart Group General Meeting - Guest speaker, Phil Sumner – ‘Travelling Tales. Australian National Parks.’ Flower of the month – Christine Howells - Veronica perfoliata. 13 April, Saturday - Plants Sale - Kingston Primary School Sandbox Shelter, Hutchins Street entrance 9.00am to 1.00pm; setup 8.00am, help required; pull down 1.00pm, help needed, PLEASE! No garden visit this April due to Easter. 1 May, Wednesday - Kingborough Day Meeting - to be announced, see April HGN. 4 May, Saturday - Propagation - desperately needed potting up of seedlings and cuttings; setting new cuttings of species in flower next April. 8 May, Wednesday - Hobart Group General Meeting - presentation by John Fisher of the City of Hobart on the summer bushfires. Flower of the month Bruce Champion - autumn . 22-24 November – Get-together, St Helens. For details see page 13 of this edition. Hobart Group meetings - Kingston Primary School library, Church St, Kingston, 7.30 pm; Kingborough day meetings - Centacare Rooms, Balmoral Rd, Kingston Beach, 2 pm; Hobart Group propagation sessions - in the Group’s Nursery at the rear of Kingston Primary School, 1.30pm June, July and August - Where to??? In past years the Hobart Group has, because of very poor attendances, opted to have day-time excursions, and a daytime meeting at Kingston Primary School during the July school holidays, in lieu of evening meetings in winter. We have had excursions to places such as Inverawe Native Gardens, Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, Kingston Wetlands and Lauderdale Salt Marshes. We are looking for suggestions for our winter program this year. So, if you can suggest a place for an excursion or would like to revisit one of these places, please contact Bruce Champion at [email protected], mobile 0408 146 041 or home 6294 6970. Would you be interested in a Group subsidised bus trip to Launceston to visit the Heritage Tasmanian Garden and the Northern Group’s Windsor Community Centre nursery? What about a identification session in the Kingston Primary School library in July? Suggestions very welcome, so please contact me.

Bushcare Bruce Champion The Friends of Knocklofty members worked in the 2Ha 193 Forest Road on the 1st Thursday of March, cutting and pasting regrowth gorse on some poorly treated large stumps of the huge spread of plants tackled in 2017. Then on the 3rd Sunday, with Gabrielle of the CoH Bush Crew more GPS plotted gorse seedlings were pulled and cut and pasted in the area ~70m uphill from the Sandy Spit Track. Misty rain prevented work in the Reserve on the 3rd Thursday. Next month FoKL Members will work on pruning plants in the Salvator Rosa Glen beside Salvator Road on the 4th April, and do roving gorse weeding well down the extension of Forest Road on the 18th April. No activity has been scheduled for Easter Sunday.

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Propagation Bruce Champion During the summer break three of us spent most Thursdays working in the Nursery. Sue Newman set cuttings then potted up and weeded pots, Christine Howells weeded paths and garden areas and Bruce set up overhead sprays over plant benches on the two lower level terraces. The overhead sprays provide wider coverage of the plant benches and replace the side sprays which failed to cover the far sides of the benches and caused many plant losses, especially newly potted up cuttings if they were unfortunately placed there. It was very good to have other people working in the nursery while the construction work was being done and Sue and Christine were very helpful with lifting the spray bars into position. Sincere thanks to them for their help and support. We have many new punnets of cuttings, many bins of weeds that have been disposed of, and excellent overhead spray systems. With the overhead sprays providing better coverage, we realised that if the tall benches were butted together, we could fit at least one more bench along the bottom terrace and Heather Clarke arranged for her son Tom to build us a new one. It is a very well-constructed bench and, with the removal of the side mesh wall between the benches has given us much more tray space for our plants. Plants growing on these benches have superior growth rate compared to plants on the ground. Therefore, the low benches on terrace 4 are now being raised to the same height at the tall one on terrace 5. This also helps ergonomically as members can work at a more comfortable height. On Saturday 2 February we had a good number of members setting cuttings, potting up struck cuttings and seedlings and potting on plants. It was pleasing to see that the new overhead sprays were providing good overall watering coverage. Thank you to those that attended and, thank you members and Committee for providing the funds to improve our watering systems. On Saturday 2 March we had a very good turnup of propagators and they concentrated on weeding those pots that haven’t been weeded and potting on some of the well rooted plants. A few more struck cuttings and seedlings were potted up. Meanwhile Bruce continued with the task of

Photo: Bruce Champion raising the low plant benches on the 4th terrace to the same comfortable level as those on the bottom terrace. Christine Howells kindly supplied timber and fasteners to help with this work. Only a couple to go. Thank you propagators for a beaut afternoon.

5 The task for Saturday 6 April will be to sort the plants for sale into their classifications, coastal and sunny dry, climbers, ferns, grasses and tussocks, ground covers, hedges and wind breaks, rainforest, and shady and moist. This will help with taking the trays of plants around to the Sandbox Shelter on the following Saturday 13 April for our Autumn Plants Sale. So, on 13 April from 8:00am we need as many members as possible to help move plants, put out signs and set up the Sandbox Shelter for the 9:00am to 1:00pm Plants Sale. Then, we need more help to move the signs and other equipment and left-over plants (if any) back to the Nursery. So, please come along and help, then spend some time talking to customers and selling some plants, it is a most enjoyable task. See you at the Nursery!

Christine Corbett and Alan Pegg Garden Visit, 23rd March Heather Clark Approximately twenty enthusiastic members were warmly received into the garden of Christine Corbett and Alan Pegg in Fern Tree on Saturday afternoon, 23rd March. Coats and umbrellas were only temporarily needed for our newly arrived autumn weather.

Photo: Christine Corbett

The former home on the site had been destroyed in the 1967 bushfires, leaving a small block of concrete which is now surrounded by low-growing plants, and used as a garden seat. The four corners of the approximately 0.8 acre block are undeveloped and retain the original bush – Eucalyptus pulchella (white peppermint) heathy forest. This contains Diplarrena moraea (flag iris), Bedfordia linearis and B. salicina (Tasmanian blanket ), Pultenaea juniperina (prickly beauty) and Hibbertia species (guineaflower) amongst others.

Now surrounding the house that was rebuilt in 2011 is a garden which Christine and Alan landscaped, creating garden beds with rocks and wood, gravel paths and a frog pond. The landscaping was started after two 20m absorption trenches were emplaced, dictating the design to some extent.

The mainly circular garden beds each contain plants from specific areas of and slope downhill from the house to overlook South Arm and the Tasman Peninsula. The garden themes include East Coast heathland, with Kennedia prostrata (running postman), West Coast quartzite, including Baloskion tetraphyllum (tassel rope rush) and an Athrotaxis selaginoides

6 (king billy) grown by Bruce Champion, and Cape Pillar gardens featuring crassa. A clipped hedge of Cassinia aculeata (dollybush) borders the carport, and as most gardeners find, was a feature that presented itself rather than being sought.

The privately owned bush behind the property perfectly complements the garden, and Mount Wellington behind that rises beautifully, visible from the track through the bush at the back of the property. Back on the eastern side, garden visitors were happy to be out of the rain, underneath the carport, looking out to the view and enjoying the wonderful afternoon tea provided by members.

Kingborough Day Meeting 6 March Carmen Walker Eight members attended the discussion on , and Iluna, Kay, Norma and Pam all brought cuttings which extended the scope of the discussion. There was material from Cennarhenes nitida; Nothofagus cunninghamii; Pittosporum bicolor; Huon pine; Eucalyptus caesia; longiflora; venusta; decurrens; Rhodanthe sp. Olearia argophylla. Some of the offerings from the display table were – Acacia elata; canei; ; Eremophila denticulata; ; H. salicifolia; H. veruccosa; Hardenbergia comptoniana; Melaleuca wilsonii; M. fulgens; M. linarifolia; M. diosmifolia; Goodenia ovata (prostrate); Spyridium vexilliferum; S. parvifolium; Dodonea viscosa; Crowea saligna; Phebalium ‘Limelight’; Leptospermum ‘Copper Glow’; ‘Dusky Bells”. The next meeting will be on April 3rd and the discussion will centre on display table plants.

Display Table Hobart Group Meeting 13 March Heather Clark Our admirable and generous gardener members brought in a happy table of delightful cuttings for us to share this first month of autumn. Thank you very much. New members particularly are encouraged to take home any cuttings to either propagate or learn from.

Bellendena montana Mountain rocket E was shown to and briefly discussed by the general meeting.

http://www.utas.edu.au/dicotkey/dicotkey/PROTS/gBellendena.htm

Tasmanian Plants: Allocasuarina crassa Cape pillar sheoak E; Aristotelia peduncularis Heartberry Elaeocarpaceae E; Baloskion tetraphyllum Tassel cordrush Restionaceae; Bright ( form) Proteaceae; Banksia marginata Silver banksia; Billardiera longiflora Purple appleberry E; Boronia anemonifolia Stinky boronia

7 ; Carpha alpina Alpine strawsedge Cyperaceae; Cassinia aculeata Dollybush Asteraceae; Chrysocephalum Syn. Helichrysum apiculatum Common everlasting Asteraceae; Coprosma nitida Mountain currant, orange fruit, Rubiaceae; Correa alba White correa Rutaceae; Correa lawrenceana Mountain correa, green form; Cyathodes glauca Purple cheeseberry E; Dianella tasmanica Forest flaxlily Hemerocallidaceae Syn. Liliaceae; Eucryphia hybrid Cunoniaceae Syn., Eucryphiaceae E; Eucryphia milliganii Dwarf leatherwood E; Gaultheria hispida Copperleaf snowberry Ericaceae; Hibbertia prostrata Prostrate guineaflower ; Hibbertia riparia Erect guineaflower; Lagarostrobos franklinii Huon pine female Podocarpaceae E; Leptecophylla oxycedrus Syn. L. juniperina Common pinkberry Ericaceae; Nothofagus gunnii Deciduous beech Nothofagaceae Syn. Fagaceae E; Pentachondra involucrata Forest frillyheath Ericaceae E; Pimelea nivea Bushmans bootlace Thymelaceae E; Pittosporum bicolor Cheesewood Pittosporaceae; Richea milliganii Nodding candleheath Ericaceae E; Spyridium parvifolium Coast dustymiller Rhamnaceae; Spyridium vexilliferum Helicopter bush; graminifolium Narrowleaf triggerplant ; Tasmannia lanceolata Mountain pepper, female in fruit, Winteraceae; cunninghamii Straggling purpleberry Ericaceae E; Trochocarpa thymifolia Thymeleaf purpleberry E; Botanic and Common Names: Tasmania’s Natural Flora, Second Edition. http://www.utas.edu.au/dicotkey/dicotkey/key.htm

Mainland Plants: Brachyscome multifida ‘Break of Day’ Asteraceae; Correa ‘Dusky Bells’ Rutaceae; baeuerlenii Chef’s cap; lawrenceana var. grampiana, red form; Crowea exalata ‘Southern Stars’ Rutaceae; exalata; garden seedling; Grevillea ‘Bronze Rambler’ Proteaceae; ‘Ivanhoe’; ‘Splendour’ Syn. ‘Ruby Clusters’; garden seedling (occurred under Grevillea ‘Royal Mantle’); juniperina ‘Gold Fever’; rhyolitica ‘Deua Gold’; X semperflorens; Leptospermum petersonii Lemon-scented teatree Myrtaceae; Westringia sp. Lamiaceae. Botanic and Common Names: http://www.redbreastplants.com.au/plant-list and Google

Notes from Committee Meeting – March 13, 2019 Christine Corbett Meeting opened: 6:35 Present: David Boyer, Mark Geeves, Sib Corbett, Bruce Champion, Christine Corbett, Pam Green, Heather Clark, Christine Howells, Jenny Boyer No apologies. Also attending; Kay Geeves, Melva Truchanas, Jeanette Hyland, Rose Pennington, Tony Green.

Previous Minutes; passed subject to the suggested corrections being made.

Business Arising and Actions from Previous Meeting 1. Conflict of interest action from last meetings; Mark has created a standard form, to give the organisation applying for a donation a chance to provide further information. This was circulated by email today. Call for feedback by next meeting. 2. Advertising APS Hobart meetings; Jenny tried to put ads into the papers. The Mercury did not print it. Kingborough Classified did not print it. Kingborough Chronicle did print an ad but they got the message wrong i.e. every week for Kingborough Group meeting. Jenny will try again for first Wed of next month. Melva; put in Carmen Walker’s contact details for Kingborough Group. Kingborough Chronicle will put in an ad every month. Best to put details of the upcoming meeting to try to attract people.

Correspondence

8 Mail in: Updated membership list (email from membership officer), Tasmanian Herbarium Review of Activities 2017-2018, Hobart Horticultural Society Journal No 126, (membership renewal – should have gone to Region PO box, passed on to David B). Action: Christine C to send membership lists (Tas and Hobart Group) to Maria Honey, send out to all HGN emails and ask people to please check for corrections. Out: nothing.

Financial Report for February: statement sent out via email yesterday.

Statements and income: in circulated spreadsheet. Two term deposits created in December. One falls due in April. Accounts for payment: $157.43 to Bruce for nursery expenses, plus $39.40 for more recent nursery expenses, $205 to Post for renewal of the post box (not approved - see later discussion), $69.30 to Christine Howells for TNF commission. Motion that these accounts be approved for payment moved Jenny, second Christine C, passed by the meeting.

Other business: 1. AGM - who is nominating whom? We determined nominees and nominators and seconders for all committee positions ready for tonight’s AGM. Jenny asked do we need committee members if everyone is invited to all ‘business meetings’? Committee members are obliged to turn up, may be a problem getting a quorum (half plus one, what is half if no committee?). Mark is not nominating for president. We will ask for nominations from the floor. Bruce will not be a delegate to the Region. We will ask for two people to volunteer as delegates. 2. Continued discussion about post box; there is not much mail coming to it now. We have been talking about closing the box for years. Is this address on the website? No but if it is we could take that off. The Hobart Group contact address is different. Action; secretary to cancel the GPO box and get the mail redirected for six months to her address. Can write to those organisations still writing to us and say we will be closing the box. 3. Bruce; rapid approval and payment of expenses for the nursery between meetings. Bruce wants faster payment than monthly on some occasions when there is a high value of expenses that he has paid for out-of-pocket. Bruce does not want a float. Previously we approved payments for the nursery up to an agreed amount. Bruce is authorised as a payment officer signing cheques. Could we set up accounts for and Horticultural Supplies and the laser printer labels company, as these are the most common accounts for payment. Action: Bruce to try to set up accounts with the relevant companies that he uses regularly. 4. Bruce’s request from Kingston Primary School for help purchasing some large sandstone blocks and their installation in front of classrooms for students to sit on and as a sort of barrier between the lawn and the pathway. They require 6 blocks at about $220 each plus installation. Bruce; offer to donate $800 towards those blocks. We took $1,600 at the October plant sale. We usually give the primary school half the takings, so this is in-line with that. Bruce explained to Melva the range of interactions between APS, mostly Bruce, and the primary school. Jenny; there is no connection between sandstone blocks and the Society’s aims. Bruce; we have previously given money for non-plant things and it is now difficult to plant more plants in the school grounds. Motion that we approve $800 to go to the primary school moved Bruce, seconded Sib, passed by the committee meeting but we will need to take it to the general meeting for approval.

9 5. Member survey; Bruce has converted Alison’s questionnaire into a Word document, with revisions, for us to discuss and amend then either send out as a word or PDF document or convert to an on-line questionnaire, for Hobart members. Need to allowed detailed answers. Jenny; clarify what events people are attending and when. Move this discussion to next meeting. Members of committee to comment on the questionnaire. 6. New constitution for APST Inc; we need to go through this, preferably with the rest of Hobart Group, some time. When? Should have come in an email directly from Margaret Killen, 6th March, to all members. By Friday there will be another document emailed out detailing the differences between the current and new/amended proposed constitution. Sub-committee have not looked at this yet, but it will go out at least 14 days before the Region AGM. Sib; any provision to propose amendments? This should be possible. To amend needs a motion to go out 14 days before the Region AGM and to get on to the agenda. We will keep the current constitution for the next year even if the new one is voted in. We should check that our members that only receive printed HGNs did also get a printed copy of the constitution. 7. Letters to the Editor in the Mercury by Phil Sumner re all the weeds that will invade areas that were burnt this summer; ask Phil to speak to this at the general meeting. 8. Bruce; Alan Gray has agreed to do a talk on three groups of Eucalyptus for May 8th general meeting. Action: Christine C to ask John Fisher to be guest speaker at a later general meeting. 9. (Two other items moved to another meeting; forward program ideas and report explaining membership attendance at committee meetings).

Meeting closed: 7:31

ELECTION OF NEW EXECUTIVE AND APPOINTMENT OF OTHER POSITIONS: President Sib Corbett Vice President Bruce Champion Secretary Christine Corbett Treasurer Jenny Boyer Committee Heather Clark, Christine Howells, David Boyer. Immediate Past President Mark Geeves

Non-Committee Positions: Council Delegates: David Boyer Contact Officer: Bruce Champion Nursery Co-ordinator: Bruce Champion Program Officers: Bruce Champion, Sib Corbett Name tag producer: Anne McKenzie Conservation Officer: Christine Corbett Hobart Group Newsletter: Maria Honey Data projector wrangler: Bruce Champion and Tony Green Display Table recorder: Heather Clark Supper Supplies: Heather Clark Sign-in book supplier: Anne McKenzie General Meeting - Opened: 8:13, number of people: 24.

New President Sib Corbett addressed the meeting by saying that we will continue with what has been successful in Hobart Group for example the garden visits. We will receive the proposed new constitution shortly. Please could everyone look at this and consider whether

10 there are any dangers for Hobart Group? She thinks the new proposed constitution needs to go to a general meeting of Hobart Group for discussion.

Guest speaker: Sib Corbett on the special places of Cradle. With beautiful slides, Sib talked about Cradle Valley, Mt Kate memorial cairn, Mt Campbell, Hansons Peak, Pencil Pine Gardens, east face of Cradle Milligania densiflora, Swan Lake past Lake Rodway and Crater Lake fagus. Sib spoke of the enormous changes almost moving the Corbetts out of Cradle Mountain, in particular the large crowds. When Kate and Gustav Weindorpher lived there, 60 people a year would visit. Last year there were 280,000 visitors to Cradle Mountain. It is so crowded, and crowded with people who do not care about the place.

Melva Truchanas; Tourism Tasmania wish to put the number of visitors to Cradle up to 400,000 by 2020.

Display table plant: Mountain rocket Belendena montana rocketing with red seeds, from Sib’s garden.

Correspondence: Updated membership list (email from membership officer), Tasmanian Herbarium Review of Activities 2017-2018 featuring Christine Howells, Hobart Horticultural Society Journal No 126. The membership list will be sent to all members through the HGN email list.

Accounts for payment over $500: Bruce has a request from Kingston Primary School for sandstone blocks for the children to sit on. The quote was about $220 each. Previously the Society has given the school half of the takings from plant sales. Our last plant sale made $1,600, so could we give them a donation of $800? Keith Corbett; could we give them more? Bruce; talk to the treasurer. Bruce listed all the things that the school provides for the Society, including free space, power and water for the nursery. We have given the school donations previously. Motion that we give them $800 moved Bruce, seconded Keith Corbett. Approved by the meeting.

Finances as of the end of February: $2,000 in the working account, $55,000 and $20,000 in term deposits, $5,000 in another account. Jenny will leave the spreadsheet copy out on the table. David Reynolds; any tax implications? Jenny; no, relates to turn-over and we are below the threshold for registering for GST. Bruce; we now have a draft application form for grants and donations. We will be discussing this at the next meeting. Sib; there is a difference between granting money to an organisation and giving a donation to an organisation by choice. Our approach needs to be clarified. Melva; could we give money towards fire recovery? Phil Sumner; found Spanish heath spreading rapidly along roadsides, and those areas have now been burnt and the Spanish heath will regenerate more rapidly than the natives. Timing is important. Christine C spoke on the difficulties of weed control when multiple land management agencies are involved but also of the Derwent Catchment NRM Group who work with all landholders on the Central Plateau, and they could accept donations. Melva moved that we investigate giving a donation, 2nd Sib, assist weed control in burnt areas. Action; Christine C to investigate with Derwent Catchment NRM whether we could give a donation. David Reynolds; a fire went through Woodvine and the Spanish heath came up very thickly. But volunteers have been working on it once a month for years. You have to make a long-term commitment. We should donate in an on-going way.

Business arising: 1. Members are welcome to come to committee meetings. Quite a few came tonight. There has been discussion about whether we have ‘committee members’, it needs sorting out. Everyone is welcome to come to the 6:30 meeting.

11 2. Sib; I think we need to discuss the new constitution but we do not have time for a general meeting of Hobart Group before the Region AGM. She thinks we should attend the Region/State Council AGM and try to put off the vote. Jenny Boyer; an expert in incorporated volunteer organisations has drawn up a new constitution for us. There are some things that people are not quite happy about. The state body is the legal entity. Hobart Group and all groups are sub-groups of the state body. This has always been the case. The new constitution says that the president of each group should be on the State/Region Council. The state president should have their term extended to three years. Alison; what does “should” mean? Jenny; in this case it might say “one delegate will be the group president”. Bruce; Council has the power to do anything to (further the Society). Should say ‘anything legal’. Jenny; another change; the people attending the Council AGM vote for the president, treasurer etc. Under the new constitution, eleven people are to go on to the committee and then the committee decides who fills the roles. Five elected to go on to council, six as two delegates from each of three groups. You do not nominate to stand for any particular role. So at the AGM you vote for members of the executive. The AGM will be under the current constitution. Everyone should have received a copy of the draft constitution via email last week. Please let David Boyer know if you did not receive it. There will be another email with the current constitution, the new constitution and a table of changes. At the Region AGM, nominations can be taken from the floor. If the new constitution is not accepted by the membership, it will be reworked. You need to attend the AGM later in March to vote on the new constitution. Some of the changes are needed to bring the constitution in to line with current legislation.

General business quick reports: Walks: SC; boat trip this Tuesday was cancelled due to bad weather up the East Coast. Great walk to Mt Field East previously. There will be a garden visit to Christine C’s in March in 1.5 weeks. Call for flower of the month volunteers for the general meetings before and after winter. Publications: DB; Poo Flip $6.50, not any left now but he can get more tomorrow and make arrangements. Field Guide to the Fungi of Tasmania. Tasmanian Roadtrips book available. Conservation: CC; no report. Nursery: BC; Thank you to the eight people who came to the last propagation session. We got most of the plants weeded. Next session – finish weeding and maybe pot up and pot on. 13th April will be plant sale. Please could people put up posters, to come out via HGN. Bruce can post some to you if you can. Could people come at 8 am to help set up for 9 am start on 13th April. Region matters: DB/ BC; AGM Saturday 30th March, Jenny and David (members of the Council and David is Hobart Delegate) will be in the Solomon Islands, could they have a proxy? Pam Green? Accepted by the meeting. Bruce and Sib will also be attending the AGM. Action; Christine C to let Region Council know who will be proxies for Hobart Group.

Any other business? 1. Proposal to nominate a new Honorary Life Member. Could Hobart Group support taking the suggestion to the Region. Bruce moved that a proposal be taken to the Region. 2. New constitution for APST Inc coming. 3. Member survey coming. Please respond.

12 Where I’ve been, what I’ve seen: Heather Clark went to Platform Peak today and saw wonderful seeding prolifically. Janet Stevens has a Kunzea baxteri in a pot and three tiny Richea gunniis have seeded into the pot. Need help to separate the Richeas. Rose Pennington has just been to Flinders Island. It rained every day.

Forward program: 24th March 2pm – garden visit to Christine Corbett and Alan Pegg’s garden, 129 Summerleas Road Fern Tree. 30th March APST Inc Region AGM – 11am Windsor Park Complex, Riverside, Launceston. 3rd April Kingborough day group meeting. 6th April Nursery. 10th April Hobart Group General Meeting. Guest speaker, Phil Sumner – ‘Travelling Tales, Australian National Parks.’ Flower of the month – Christine Howells. 13th April Plant Sale 8th May general meeting; John Fisher on green firebreaks. Sun 29th September – Friday 4th October Blooming Biodiversity ANSPA Conference in Albany, Western Australia program available now.

Meeting closed: ~9:45.

APST Get-together St Helens Roy and Louise Skabo At our northern meeting we decided to hold our get-together on the east coast based at St Helens and on the weekend 22,23,24 November. It is early days but we thought we would give people as much notice as possible so they can get in early and book accommodation as it is a popular place for tourists from that time of year. We have sketched out a programme (which will quite possibly change somewhat) taking particular note of the fact that some members are not keen on long walks, so all activities can be achieved with minimal walking and most of the walking will be on flattish ground.

2019 MEMBERS' GET-TOGETHER PROGRAMME (DRAFT) APST Inc. calendar has no other activities scheduled for those dates and the flowers should be good at that time. 1. Friday 22nd arrive at accommodation (NRMA St Helens Waterfront Holiday Park, 8 St Helens Rd) . Drive and stroll around heathland south of Georges Bay from, say, 3pm onwards . Get together for soup and sandwiches from about 6 pm (at the Waterfront Holiday Park restaurant) 2. Saturday 23rd : visit to Winifred Curtis Reserve and possibly visit a nearby private garden for lunch. Afternoon, drive to Mariposa Beach south of Falmouth to look at two beautiful threatened species growing in the beach sand just above high tide level and lots of other photogenic species. Get together for dinner at say 6 pm at the Hol. Park restaurant. 3. Sunday 24th : check out of accommodation and drive to private property just east of Conara (on Esk Highway). Drive and stroll around property, have lunch and depart for home some time in the early afternoon. People who want to book at the NRMA St Helens Waterfront Holiday Park should visit their website: nrmaparksandresorts.com.au or phone: 1300 414 448 (Mary Rose Kapigeno). If they mention the APST they will be given a 10% discount.

If you don’t want to receive the HGN please let us know

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