Use of fire by Aboriginal people Results of member survey NPA BULLETIN Volume 33 number 3 September 1996 CONTENTS NPA responds to Boboyan rehabilitation .. 6 Use of fire by Aboriginal people 18 Eleanor Stodart John Carnahan Canberra Nature Park 8 Rabbit calicivirus update 21 Reg Alder Len Haskew Don't you worry about that! 22 Parkwatch 12 Len Haskew Compiled by Len Haskew Orroral Homestead 14 Cover photo Reg Alder Stephen Johnston points to Urambi trig, 15 km distant, on his walk from Mt Stramlo. The Murrumbidgee River A burning issue - a response 16 and the Bullen Range are in the middle distance. Photo Stephen Johnston by Reg Alder. National Parks Association (ACT) Subscription rates (1 July to 30 June) Household members $25 Single members $20 Incorporated Corporate members $15 Bulletin only $15 Inaugurated 1960 Concession $10 For new subscriptions joining between: Aims and objectives of the Association 1 January and 31 March—half specified rate • Promotion of national parks and of measures for the pro­ 1 April and 30 June—annual subscription tection of fauna and flora, scenery, natural features and cultural heritage in the Australian Capital Territory and Membership inquiries welcome elsewhere, and the reservation of specific areas. Please phone the NPA office. • Interest in the provision of appropriate outdoor recreation areas. The NPA (ACT) office is located in Maclaurin Cres, • Stimulation of interest in, and appreciation and enjoyment Chifley. Office hours are: of, such natural phenomena and cultural heritage by or­ 10am to 2pm Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays ganised field outings, meetings or any other means. Telephone/Fax: (06) 282 5813 • Cooperation with organisations and persons having simi­ Address: PO Box 1940, Woden ACT 2606 lar interests and objectives. • Promotion of, and education for, conservation, and the plan­ Contribute to your Bulletin ning of landuse to achieve conservation. Contributions of articles (news, descriptions or fiction), black-and-white photographs and line drawings are Office-bearers and committee keenly sought for the Bulletin. Please label photographs President Eleanor Stodart 281 5004(h) with the name of the subject, the name of the Vice-president Clive Hurlstone 288 7592(h); photographer and the date. Leave contributions at the 246 5516(w) office or phone the editor, Roger Green, on (06) 247 0059. The editorial fax is (06) 249 7373. Immediate past president Beverley Hammond 288 6577(h) Articles by contributors may not necessarily reflect Secretary and Max Lawrence 288 1370(h) Association opinion or objectives. outings coordinator Treasurer Mike Smith 286 2984(h) Deadline for December issue: 1 November 1996. NPA Bulletin is produced by Green Words for the Committee National Parks Association (ACT) Incorporated. The Len Haskew 281 4268(h); fax 281 4257 NPA Bulletin was produced with the assistance of funds Stephen Johnston . 254 3738(h); 264 2100(w) made available by the ACT Government under the 264 2364 (fax) 1996 ACT Environment Grants Program. Robin Miller 281 6314(h); 201 2191(w) Printed on recycled paper by Koomarri Printers, Belconnen, ACT. ISSN 0727-8837 NPA BULLETIN President's foreword Who'll be Father My most important and most pleas­ techniques and the formulation of a ant duty is to thank all members who procedure to prevent damage to Christmas? responded so generously to our ap­ Aboriginal cultural sites. When several members of the peal for funds. Every year some The most urgent action by commit­ committee met recently to dis­ members make a monetary contribu­ tee members in the last quarter oc­ cuss the NPA's 1996-97 budget, tion, particularly those who are not curred in response to the grading of they considered various ideas able to give of their time, but this tracks on O'Connor Ridge to form for raising funds. year, in response to our special ap­ full-scale roads with potential for ero­ Ever since voluntary commu­ peal, members have contributed over sion of the gutters. Some upkeep of nity organisations first began, $4000 to date. From the donor view­ fire trails is obviously necessary, but people have been trying to work point this is quite a large sum, par­ this work seemed to be particularly out ways of raising the most ticularly in Canberra's uncertain out of sympathy with the area, and economic climate, but unfortunately funds with the least effort. Raf­ out of sympathy with the O'Connor that same uncertain economic cli­ fles, cake stalls and chocolate Ridge Park Care Group. However, as mate makes our call for donations an drives have a long history in a result we did have the opportunity essential part of our aim to protect this regard and still seem to to comment on maintenance plans natural areas. have many dedicated and re­ for other parts of Canberra Nature lentless supporters; but we For the 1995-96 financial year, Park and we have made contact with thought that they might have NPA recorded a loss of $8000, even park care groups, which should help less appeal to the thrifty and with the good response to the appeal, in the future. diet-conscious members of the and for 1996-97 we anticipate an We have received a copy of the gov­ NPA. Two other activities were even bigger loss. We have the re­ ernment's response to the Legislative suggested: an auction of do­ serves to carry these losses tempo­ Assembly's inquiry into the expan­ nated outdoor and bushwalking rarily while we are responding to sion of nature-based tourism in the gear, perhaps at the NPA's draft management plans for ACT ACT. It is a relief to see government Christmas general meeting; parks, but we need to work at in­ agreement on some of the points that and a quiz trivia night, perhaps creasing our income to turn our bal­ NPA put forward, particularly that at another general meeting. ance of payments around and then 'ecological attractions should receive These were seen as being more to replenish the reserves. Increasing a higher profile and take into account relevant to cravings for the membership numbers will be a nec­ the needs of conservation as well as essary basis for increasing income. bush and wild intellectual ex­ tourism' with the government stat­ citement evident from our re­ A second pleasant duty is to thank ing that a key element of its 'ap­ cent survey of members. members for returning the survey proach to raising the profile of the form. We had a very good response, bush parks has been a continuing As much of the work already and you will find a summary of the commitment to conservation of these involved in running the NPA— results on page 4. One significant areas'. apparent from the pages of this finding is that most members The ACT Government has received Bulletin — falls to a fairly small learned about NPA from friends. an award from the World Wide Fund number of people, we are ask­ That throws the main thrust of our for Nature for the Best New Reserve ing a few other members to of­ membership drive into your court! If for 1995 for the native grassland re­ fer their help by organising each member could bring in one new serve on the former site of the these fund-raising functions for member we would double our mem­ Gungahlin town centre, and at the the NPA during the next bership. presentation Kate Carnell promised 12 months. Work on rehabilitation of the to do better next year. However, the Boboyan Pines area continues. Our WWF's report card for the ACT noted So how about it? response to Parks and the downgrading of services to the Conservation's proposal should have parks, which is something we are all Please ring Diane on 282 5813 been returned by the time this too aware of. However much we ap­ with your ideas and offer to or­ Bulletin is out. At the last work party plaud new reserves, we know that ganise a fund-raising function at Namadgi, members marked rabbit they cannot be effective if not given for the NPA and a member of warrens within wooded areas around adequate resources, as the unsuper­ the committee will get in touch the Gudgenby valley so that the vised grading of tracks on O'Connor with you to discuss details. warren destruction teams will be Ridge and ploughing of grassland at able to find them quickly and Gungahlin demonstrate. efficiently. This work party saw a demonstration of warren destruction Eleanor Stodart NEWS We were very pleased with the re­ number heard about it through walks, but also more challenging sponse to the survey and thank other clubs or through displays such walks and particularly more walks those members who took the time as at ACT Alive. This show's that the with information about plants, ani­ to return the form. In a voluntary committees ability to increase our mals or geology. And we evidently organisation, satisfying members' membership is limited - it is up to need to make more of an effort to needs usually depends on other each and every member to encour­ welcome new members. This effort members giving their time and age their friends to become involved. needs to be made by all members, knowledge. A first step is to identify If every member could bring in one particularly at meetings when com­ the needs. The response to the sur­ new member we would double our mittee members can be tied down vey has confirmed to the committee membership! by the need to look after the speaker that the effort in preparing the Bul­ There were a range of reasons for or make certain contacts.