from the editor.
As I write, Late Summer (KOOYONG – season of eels) is merging into Autumn (GWANGEL MORRON – season of honeybees ) and it is just so scarily hot and dry. December was very hot – particularly from Christmas to New Year, but then we had some beautiful heavy showers and a cool January & February and thus an uneventful fire season, But the last couple of weeks it is back to hot and so dry. It’s not too late for lightning strikes. Much of the bush is looking stressed. The summer flowers continued their dramatic display until late February, but there’s less to see now.
Any of you who have photos to go up on the web site, we have unlimited space. Just email them to me – hooray for broadband! – and I’ll upload them if you haven’t access. And a gentle reminder to those who did the training with Frank, you need some practice before you forget.
FOGGS HISTORY
We are still looking for a volunteer to help us with our archives.
DONATIONS
We are grateful for the donations we receive from members and friends and don’t normally acknowledge them in the newsletter. However I make an exception for this one:
Hi Stan,
I got your contact details from Graham Parkes in Halls Gap. I have produced a CD of natural soundscapes from the Grampians, and each CD that sells I have pledged $1 to non profit organizations that work with flora fauna and environment in the areas where I recorded the cd. I have sold 80 so far and would like to donate $80 dollars to FOGGS. The CD is called “gariwerd six seasons” -It is purely natural sounds from the Grampians that are mixed to give an indication of the flora fauna and environment based around the six different aboriginal seasons. The CD’s wholesale for $15 and retail for between $25 and $30
Would you send me the details and I will forward on the cheque. Graham mentioned you were planning to support the purchase of a microscope for the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby program.
I hope this little bit will help.
Bryce Grunden
GRAMPIANS WILDFLOWER SHOW
October 2 to 5, 2008.
We have made a couple of changes this year. The show is now a four day event, Thursday to Sunday. There will not be any art for sale, though we may have good art on exhibition. We will still be selling cards, books etc.
The layout was due for a change and will be totally different.
We need more volunteers, particularly orchid enthusiasts, as several of our regulars will be away.
Please contact Anne Dempster 5356 4426 or
HALLS GAP BOTANIC GARDEN OF GRAMPIANS FLORA.
A lot has been happening in the gardens of late. I know it is not a FOGG initiative, but almost all the committee are FOGGs and the aim is in line with that of FOGG i.e. to promote an appreciation of the flora of the Grampians and help to preserve and protect it.
Money has been committed and plans are underway to fence the area. A work – for – the dole team has been engaged to help erect the fence and do general maintenance, locals are being encouraged to adopt a bed, and plans are being drawn up to get it back to a sustainable project.
We were delighted and encouraged by a visit from the Friends of Cranbourne Botanic Gardens, who assisted in bracken removal, tidying of fallen branches, plant ID and layout ideas. All very useful.
More information is available from Margo.
BEYOND THE SMOKE BOOK
As stated last issue, the project is now in profit, which is wonderful. The committee decided at the beginning that should we make a profit – which depended on whether we could sell enough books – then we would divide it between the non-government agencies who had contributed to it. 70% would go to the SHARE Appeal of the Uniting Church who gave $8,000 towards the book and more to the activities, and 30% to FOGG who instigated the project and provided much of the labour force.
I am pleased to report that so far we have sent $3,500 to Share who have put it towards their Disaster Relief fund and $1500 to FOGG who have used some for the BTRW microscope and some will probably go for the Red Gum Walk interpretation material. Money is still trickling in so there will be further distributions. Copies of the book are still available, either over the counter at Brambuk, or direct by mail as a special offer to FOGG members for $20 or $27 including postage charges. Please phone Margo direct on 5356 4524.