PREZ SEZ July 2023
Welcome to this edition of the FOGG Newsletter and a well done to the editors for their work to publish items relevant to Grampians Gariwerd along with summaries of our activities. As you will read further into this
newsletter, we had some hiccups getting our contribution to Clean up Australia Day underway. However, all went well in the end and many thanks to the small team who cleaned up Reeds Lookout and surrounds.
We have pretty much established a calendar of activities for 2023 although as we have seen there can also be some flexibility as the year progresses. Your committee is always open to suggestions for topics to be covered or perhaps working bees if our age group allows. Just contact a committee member if you have an idea. In particular you may have a suggestion for a location/activity for a Christmas function. Normally the day is
one of fellowship with perhaps a walk which will occur on Saturday December 9th 2023. Suggestions for a location are welcome and the committee will then decide.
Our June activity was presented by one of our members, ben Gunn. Ben, who has vast expertise on aboriginal rock art, took us through the subtle changes in the art forms as they vary across Australia. I think while this is work for ben, the landscapes he has visited across Australia made most of us jealous. We are so fortunate to have such expertise within FOGG’s which was evidenced by the visitors we hosted to hear and see this presentation. Thanks ben!
We were also favoured by a presentation in June by Kailee Savoia PV, Coordinator of the Grampians Ark project. (Refer to report in this newsletter) Kailee was also supported by William (Bill) Playne PV Ranger – Visitor and Community. It was great to host some of our PV staff and the presentation by Kailee was most informative. Kailee and Bill responded to some queries by members and we thank them for their time to prepare and present.
In my endeavours to seek presenters for activities I contacted Fabian Douglas, the well-respected moth and butterfly expert. Unfortunately for FOGGs, Fabian is no longer able to offer presentations of his work on local moths and butterflies. I did however, enjoy having a catch up after having helped facilitate his identification
of a sun moth species around Walpeup perhaps thirty years ago. As part of my discussions with Fabian, he
told me about his endeavours to record a species known as the Bright-Eyed Brown Butterfly (Heteronympha cordace). Fabian explained that he had in previous years recorded this butterfly around the range to the east of Ararat and around the streams and swamps to the east of the Grampians. More recently he has recordings around the range east of Ararat, Buangor, but has not been able to record it along the eastern flank of the Grampians. I therefore pass on his request for those who live in these locations or frequent these areas to keep an eye out for the Bright-Eyed Brown Butterfly. A google search quickly brings up a good description and photograph which will do far more justice to a description than I could relay in this newsletter so check it out. If you do happen to observe this butterfly Fabian would love to hear about it and I am happy to put you in touch with him.
Bright-eyed Butterfly (from the web)
Bright eyed brown butterfly Heteronympha cordace
In the coming months we have some interesting activities, so I urge you all to attend to expand your knowledge and support the activities of FOGG.
STRUM (President)