Over the passed couple of months the committee have been engaged in discussions and meeting with Parks regarding the future of the FOGG’s sponsored disabled person “Red-gum Walk” in the upper Victoria Valley area of the Grampians National Park.
This whole area of the Victoria Valley was altered completely by the January 2006 “Mt Lubra” wild fire and the recovery will be a long time period. Nearly all the predominant large flora features have been destroyed or removed.
After a lot of deliberation, your committee has decided that part of the original walk be reopened. There is no other place in the GNP where less-abled people, especially those confined to wheelchairs or walking frames can have an opportunity to spend quiet quality time in a bush surround, appreciating the wonders of our native Flora and Fauna.
At present we are meeting with Parks Vic re the removal of the burnt trees deemed dangerous so a small area can be reopened to the public. Then it is back to Working Bees to clear the gravel pathway, restore a couple of seats etc. We will be calling on you our member and other groups to achieve the reopening of “The Red-gum Walk”.
On a lighter note, while on the tour and inspection with DSE and Parks of the 07 – 08 fuel reduction burns, I observed a clump of Allocasuarina paradoxa (Shrub Sheoke) where there was a male plant in flower beside a female plant in full bloom. In the Northwest and Northern Grampians there is a mixture of A. paludosa (Scrub Sheoke) and A. paradoxa (Shrub Sheoke), The species are determined by the bract forms at the junction of the branchlets.(Flora of Victoria – Vol 3) To confuse the matter there are two other species of Allocasuarina’s similar in form and growth patterns to the above that are also found in the Grampians area.
Pollination is approximately 85 % wind born.
Stan Parfett