The Clematis Summer 2007/2008 Issue No 74 BAIRNSDALE POSTAGE Victoria 3875 PAID Quarterly Newsletter of theBairnsdale & District Field Naturalists Club Inc A0006074C 24 1 BAIRNSDALE & DIST FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB INC. A0006074C Collections List of Office Bearers for 2007 The Club’s collection of Victorian Field Naturalist journals was handed over to President: Pat McPherson ph. (03) 5152 2614 [email protected] the library at Forestech on permanent loan on 7 March. Secretary: Pat McPherson Treasurer: Margaret Regan ph. (03) 5156 2541 On receipt of a gift of Clematis Newsletters from Cyril and Zena Bowden (including two copies of the original newsletter dated 1962) Librarian, Dot Prout, Correspondence to: has undertaken to put together a complete set of Clematis for posterity. The Secretary, Last year the Club received a prestigious Banksia Award in recognition of years P.O. Box 563, of monitoring endangered species of orchids in East Gippsland. It is now seeking BAIRNSDALE 3875 photos of these orchids from members to set up a photographic collection for pos- Web Site: www.eastgippsland.com/bdfnc terity. General meetings take place at: Calendar Noweyung Centre, 84 Goold Street Bairnsdale The Club resolved to print a calendar for 2008 highlighting the flora and fauna of 3rd. Friday of the month at 7.30pm sharp. No meeting June, July, August East Gippsland. Funding was received from the East Gippsland Catchment Man- agement Authority and the task was ably undertaken by Jennifer Wilkinson and Committee meetings take place: Thursday of the previous week Pauline Stewart. before the 3rd. Friday of the month at members homes except June, July, August when held on field excursions if required. Thanks . I would like to record my thanks to: Group Co-ordinators: the management of Noweyung for the continued use of their building Botanic Group: James Turner Ph. (03) 5155 1258 for our general meetings Fauna Survey Group: Jenny Edwards Ph. (03) 5157 5556 DSE for the publication of the Clematis newsletter Bushwalking Group: Noel Williamson Ph. (03) 5152 1737 all the officer bearers and Group Co-ordinators and members for their Plant Study Group: Heather Oke Ph. (03) 5156 3231 support and contribution to the activities of the Club which has made Newsletter Editor: Pauline Stewart Ph. (03) 5152 1606 2007 another successful year. 80 Bengworden Rd. Bairnsdale.3875 email: [email protected] Pat McPherson All articles for Autumn Clematis must be in by March 1st. President STATEMENT OF PURPOSE 1. To further the study of natural history in all its branches, promoted by periodical meetings, field excursions and other activities. 2. To observe and strengthen the laws for the preservation & protection of indigenous flora and fauna and habitat and important geological features. 3. To promote the formation and preservation of National and State Parks and Reserves. 2 23 Peoples Review of Bushfires since 200 and spoke to it at a meeting at RULES TO OBSERVE ON FIELD TRIPS: Bruthen on 9 May. 1. Excursions are cancelled on days of TOTAL FIRE BAN. Government Inquiry into the impact of public land management practic- 2. Participants to keep a visual on the car in front and behind. es on bushfires in Victoria and spoke to it at a meeting in Bairnsdale on 3. When making a turn, give signal, and stay at intersection until 31 July following car has also turned. Proposed Management plan for Red Bluff on 5 July 4. If separated from other cars, stop, and stay with your car. to Ross Trust for seeking grant for B&DFNC calendar (Unsuccessful) Other members will return to find you. to East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority for funding for 5. Car pool passengers should offer a donation to the driver for fuel costs. publication of a 2008 B&DFNC calendar (Successful - $6.600) to Round 9 of Australian Government Envirofund for a Smoky Mouse search in the Cobberas area in 2008 (Successful - $5000). SUBSCRIPTION FEES Networking The Club became an inaugural member of Habitat Network East Gippsland Family membership $30 (HNEG) and the President has agreed act as a patron to facilitate further develop- Single membership $20 ment of the network in the new year. Mid-year fee (new members only) $10 The Club participated in a joint meeting of all environmental groups auspiced by Gippsland Environment Group to discuss damage caused to the Mitchell River National Park by post fire rehabilitation works authorized by DSE. Responsibility for the accuracy of information and opinions expressed in this This was followed by a letter to the Bairnsdale Shire Council seeking a public newsletter rests with the author of the article. meeting to expose and discuss the process (declined) and by a delegation of Club members to Mr. K Giblin, local DSE Fire Management Officer, to voice our con- LIBRARY INFORMATION - Librarian - Dot Prout Phone: 5153 1303 cerns. • Books are generally borrowed for one month - however you can write on the sign-out sheet if you wish to have it longer. The Club was represented at the celebrations at the Bairnsdale Scout hall to com- • Should any library materials need maintenance, please make me aware of memorate 100- years of scouting in Australia. same. • If you wish to recommend a book, this can be done by writing a short The Club, along with a number of other local environment groups, set up and recommendation for the Clematis. This information could be from our li- manned a display at the East Gippsland Field Days in April. brary books or from other books that you believe our library could look at purchasing. Governance issues The name of the Secretary was submitted to the Australian Taxation Office as a CONTENTS Club contact person on the Australian Business Register. This is in addition to that of the Treasurer. Program January to June 2008 5-6 Permits to handle protected flora Type 1 under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act Orchid Hunt - Colquhuon, Canni Creek & Clifton Creek 7-9 1988 are current and held by eleven members of the Club. Blond Bay Sun Orchid Annual Count 10-11 Subscriptions have been raised for 2008 to $30 for family membership and $20 Loch Sport 12-17 for single membership. Amazing Moments in Nature 18 Smoky Mouse Searches 18-19 Because of the increased price of petrol members agreed to car pool as much as President’s Report for 2007 20-23 possible and that passengers offer a donation to the driver. 22 3 CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS and email address’s for meetings mond and Greenhills Nature Reserve at Gillingall. and field trips. James also conducted special excursions to survey and photograph orchids which Andrew Bould 5156 6494 [email protected] were blooming prolifically at Bally Hooley, Canni Creek, Moormung and Cann Jenny Edwards 51575556 [email protected] River. Heather Oke 5156 3231 [email protected] The annual survey of Metallic Sun Orchids at Blond Bay went ahead but the or- chid survey at Marlo aerodrome was cancelled because of bush fires. Elden Marshall 5157 9134 Pat McPherson 5152 2614 [email protected] Additional excursions were organized by: Wendy Parker 5152 2615 [email protected] Jenny Edwards to Mt Hotham to hear researcher Dean Heinz explain the Margaret Regan 5156 2541 effects of the 2003 bushfires on the Burramay (Mountain Pygmy Pos- Jeremy & Nina Stewart 5153 0216 [email protected] sum) population and to visit their habitat at Dinner Plain Pauline Stewart 5152 1606 [email protected] Robyn Grant to Mitchell River National Park to inspect damage caused James Turner 5155 1258 [email protected] by the post bush fire rehabilitation program carried out by bulldozer Noel Williamson 5152 1737 [email protected] contractors on behalf of DSE Andrew Bould to Goongerah to survey fungi in a patch of rain forest in Erinundra National Park. DEGREE- OF DIFFICULTY FOR BUSH WALKS Andrew Bould to Raymond Island where Alan Scrymgeour conducted a geological survey of the lake bed. Easy Flat, good firm track. Moderately easy Mostly flat, track in good to fair condition Bush walks Moderate May be undulating, track in good to fair condition Walks to Hospital Creek Track, Lee Creek, Harveys Track, Store Creek, Billy Mod. difficult May be some steep sections, track may be rough in Goat Bend, Boggy Paddock, Bruthen Walking Track and Knockers Track were places ably planned and led either by Pauline Stewart, Jeremy & Nina Stewart or Noel Difficult May have long steep sections, track may be non Williamson. existent at times Walks vary in distance from 6 to 14 km. Camp outs Contact the leader of the walk for a rating if it’s not included in the The January camp out was cancelled because of the bushfires as was the Novem- program. ber campout at Limestone Creek due to lack of numbers. Campouts at Limestone Creek and Omeo went ahead as planned. Fauna Survey In April, Jenny Edwards, Fauna Survey Coordinator, conducted a survey at Please take note of safety procedures in your Bairnsdale & District Mitchelldale, a newly acquired property that now forms part if the Mitchell River Field Naturalists Club Inc. ‘RISK MANAGEMENT POLICY’ National Park. booklet. Plant Study groups This year the Club introduced a new activity; plant study groups, the purpose of which is to facilitate members in building up their knowledge of indigenous flora. Our club members would like to extend their best Armed with books, hand lenses etc they have met monthly, throughout the region, wishes to Beth Isakson, Marie Wade and Avril to collectively and collaboratively work on plant identification. Yates all of whom are very unwell at present. Submissions During the year the Club made the following Submissions: 4 21 BAIRNSDALE & DISTRICT FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB INC PROGRAM - JANUARY TO JUNE 2008 Reg.