NATIONAL PARKS ASSOCIATION (ACT) INCORPORATED Tidbinbilla and the Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby recovery Termeil Coastal Reserves A pox on all pests NPA BULLETIN Volume 36 number 1 March 1999 CONTENTS From the President 3 Namadgi-Tidbinbilla: High Country History and Clive Hurlstone Heritage 11 Bush Christmas party held indoors 3 Walking in history makes a good change 12 Graeme Wicks Graeme Wicks A pox on all pests 4 Tfermeil Coastal Reserves 13 Eleanor Stodart Reg Alder Draft Alpine Region Strategy 5 Parkwatch 14 Timothy Walsh and Neville Esau Len Haskew Tidbinbilla role in Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby Some thoughts about the PALM report 15 recovery 6 Syd Comfort Geoff Underwood Book reviews 16 Obituary: Dr Robert Story 7 Car camping 1930s style IV Fiona MacDonald Brand Olive Buckman Morton and Budawang National Parks Draft Where I come from 18 Management Plan 8 A new member Neville Esau for the Environment Sub-committee Australians for an Ecologically Sustainable Rural Residential Development in the ACT 10 Population (Canberra Branch) 19 Syd Comfort Phyl Goddard A winter escape to far north Queensland 11 Calendar 19 Betty Lewis General meetings 19 National Parks Association (ACT) Incorporated The NPA (ACT) office is located in Maclaurin Cres, Chifley, Inaugurated 1960 next to the preschool and is staffed by Dianne Hastie. Office Aims and objectives of the Association hours are: 9am to 1pm Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays • Promotion of national parks and of measures for the Telephone/Fax: (02) 6282 5813 protection of fauna and flora, scenery, natural features and Email: [email protected] cultural heritage in the Australian Capital Territory and Address: PO Box 1940, Woden ACT 2606 elsewhere, and the reservation of specific areas. " Interest in the provision of appropriate outdoor recreation Membership areas. New members are welcome and should enquire through the • Stimulation of interest in, and appreciation and enjoyment of, NPA office. such natural phenomena and cultural heritage by organised Subscription rates (1 July to 30 June) field outings, meetings or any other means. Household members $30 Single members $25 * Cooperation with organisations and persons having similar Corporate members $20 Bulletin only $20 interests and objectives. Concession $15 * Promotion of, and education for, conservation, and the For new subscriptions joining between: planning of landuse to achieve conservation. 1 January and 31 March - half specified rate 1 April and 30 June — annual subscription Office-bearers, committee and convenors President Clive Hurlstone 6288 7592(h); NPA Bulletin 6246 5516(w) Contributions of articles, line drawings and photographs Immediate including colour prints are welcome and should be lodged with the office or Syd Comfort (02) 6286 2578. past president Eleanor Stodart 6281 5004(h) Secretary Max Lawrence 6288 1370(h) Deadline for June issue: 1 May 1999. Treasurer Mike Smith 6286 2984(h) Articles by contributors may not necessarily reflect Association opinion or objectives. Committee members This bulletin was produced by the NPA Bulletin Working Group Yvonne Bartos 6231 5699(h) with assistance from Green Words & Images. Funds provided Len Haskew 6281 4268(h); fax 6281 4257(h) by the ACT Government under the ACT Environment Grants David Pfanner 6247 7572(h) Program assisted in the production of this issue. Timothy Walsh 6285 1112(h) Printed by Copy-Qik Printers, Canberra, ACT on recycled paper. Convenors ISSN 0727-8837 Environment Sub-committee Neville Esau 6286 4176(h) Cover: The late Robert Story on a ridge south of Orroral in Namadgi Outings Sub-Committee Max Lawrence 6288 1370(h) National Park in 1992preparing for one of the annual walks he led for Bulletin Working Group Syd Comfort 6286 2578(h) the Canberra Alpine Club. Photo Reg Alder. From the President It is with sadness that we mark the who may be interested in joining us. While in the area you could take passing of Robert Story, a founding The Gudgenby Valley Bush in the new exhibition at the National member and past president of the Regeneration Group has begun its Library called "Birds", where some Association. Over a long period, 1999 program after a summer of the library's rich and extensive Robert contributed greatly to the break. Come along and get some collection of illustrations and books NPA and to the environment and hands-on experience of gardening is on display. outdoor scene in this region. On on a really large scale. Eleanor The NPA is reprinting its behalf of the Association, I extend Stodart, phone 6281 5004, has the wonderful bird guide, "Field Guide our sympathy to his wife, Sybil, details. to the Birds of the ACT'. The book, daughters Judy and Muriel and The NPA will again have a display first printed in 1993, has sold 5000 other members of the family. at ACT Alive on the lawns at Old copies and is highly acclaimed as a Interleaved with this Bulletin is Parliament House on 15th March great local guide. If you don't have the new NPA pamphlet and and helpers are needed. After one get one fresh off the press, and membership application form. This helping out you could look at the remember it makes an ideal new form has been designed to grab wide range of other community memento of Canberra, the Bush attention, so pass it on to someone interests on display. Capital (still), for visiting-friends. Clive Hurlstone Bush Christmas party held indoors Caloola Farm turned out to be an inspired choice for the association's 1998 Christmas party. Probably all members were looking forward to a day in the bush - almost a tradition after the parties at Nil Desperandum - but in the heat­ wave conditions of December 13 nearly everyone who went was happy to stay indoors. The original plan was to have the party at the Oldfield homestead, a few hundred metres down towards the river from the main complex of buildings and sleeping cabins. With A Bush Christmas indoors at Caloola. Photo Barbara Comfort. its enclosed yard, the old house Despite the heat, numbers were agricultural prospects are also being offered an atmosphere that was both nearly the same as in recent NPA explored. historic and countrified. But when Christmas parties, and, as in past Local historian and NPA member temperatures around 40 degrees years, this was another occasion for Matthew Higgins spoke of the were forecast, it was decided that a good, happy get-together. Aboriginal peoples who were the Caloola's high-ceilinged meeting and Members caught up with old friends, first human inhabitants of the Naas mess hall was the best option. met newer members and swapped Valley. He gave an overview of its The big hall meant there was lots of news and plenty of Btories. settlement by Europeans and the plenty of room for the 65 members Some slightly formal proceedings families whose names are part of its to enjoy their Christmas fare under gave an added interest. history - finishing on a sensational cooling overhead fans while taking Max Lawrence called the party to note with a story about a murderer in a view across drought-stricken order and after a few well-chosen on the run and a siege at the paddocks to the Naas River and the words introduced Caloola Farm's DugganOldfield homestead in the 1960s. hills beyond. manager, Peter Duggan, who We had another fine NPA Some of the more determined souls welcomed members and spoke about Christmas party, and the organisers took their car fridges, picnic baskets the property's recent history. He and those who helped deserve our and folding chairs into the open air described how it had been operated thanks and congratulations. And and enjoyed the same view from the as, successively, a church-sponsored thanks are also due to Caloola Farm shade of an old gum tree. A few even drug rehabilitation centre, then as management for the use of their went out in the midday sun and a youth training centre, and most facilities and the welcome walked down to the Oldfield recently as a recreation and tourism members received. homestead, or as far as the parched facility catering for individuals and river, and back. special-interest groups, while new Graeme Wicks A pox on all pests English Broom Drawing by Eleanor Stodart English Broom, Cytisus scoparius (also called Scotch Broom or just Broom), is widespread in Victoria and has been declared a regionally controlled weed in a number of districts. It has the potential for being an enormous problem in Namadgi. Stored seed remain viable for 80 years, an incredible number are produced, and unlike many other weed species, English Broom does not need disturbed ground to become English Broom, Cytisus scoparius established. Seeds are considered (also known as Scotch Broom or Broom) toxic to stock if eaten excessively, and Shrub to 4m, usually 1-2, with a stout taproot, distinguished by stems may also be toxic to native animals. with five aides and pods with hairy margins. Leaves with three leaflets Thickets increase fuel loads in areas (singly on tips), short stalks. Flowers - yellow pea about 2cm long, of native vegetation, burn intensively, sometimes with red markings in centre. Pods hairy on margins, green but fire can stimulate germination so at first, then brown or black when mature, 2-6cm long. unfortunately does not rid us of the problem. However, the potential for serious Pine, briars the past, to the extent that several invasion has been recognised in the members said "no more" to work Parks and Conservation Service Two well known and often lamented party coordinator, Len Haskew. You (PC&S) which has established a pests are pine wildings and briar will be pleased to hear that other monitoring program.