Activity Report – Friends of Grampians Gariwerd

Tail of the Squirrel Gliders night survey report

On Monday evening, Friends of Grampians Gariwerd members and Project Platypus Elia and Lee ventured along the roadside vegetation to survey the area for Squirrel Gliders. We gathered at Mt Drummond Road, equipped with thermal imaging scopes and red light torches, tools crucial for spotting nocturnal wildlife. As the sun disappeared and darkness enveloped the landscape, the bushland seemed to come alive around us.

Our night began with some remarkable sightings. Almost immediately, a Brush-tailed Possum appeared in our sights, its distinctive, bushy tail illuminated in the soft red glow. Not long after, we caught sight of a Ring-tailed Possum navigating its way through the canopy with remarkable grace. These initial encounters reminded us of the importance of roadside vegetation with its mix of trees and understorey of wattles and set an exciting tone for the survey.

The real stars of the evening, however, were the Sugar Gliders. Not long … Read the rest

Special General Meeting – 2nd March 2025 @ 1pm, Meeting Room, Centenary Hall, Halls Gap

Welcome: Vice President Geoff Stratford took the chair and expressed thanks to Catherine Carlyle, Wendy Bedggood and Alison Bainbridge for their work leading up to calling this meeting.

Alison Bainbridge was minute secretary for this meeting.

Attendance: Geoff Stratford, Rod Thompson, Judith Thompson, John Minchin-King, Alan Bedggood, Wendy Bedggood, Neil Macumber and Alison Bainbridge

Apologies: Catherine Carlyle, Clive Carlyle, Elia Pirtle, James Maino, Andrew Cunningham, Sue Cunningham, Darren McClelland, John King, Jocelyn King, David Steane, Leigh Douglas, ben Gunn, Cindy Thompson

Motion: Apologies be accepted

Moved: Alan Bedggood Seconded: Judith Thompson Carried

All apologies registered their proxy in favour of all motions as foreshadowed in the Notice of this Special General Meeting.

Reason why a special meeting was called: Chair invited Wendy Bedggood to provide a brief outline of the why and how we have reached the position where Friends of Grampians Gariwerd (FOGG) could take the action to … Read the rest

Clean up Australia Day 2025 Meeting report

Sunday 2nd March Pines Plantation campground.

The day went well. The weather did us proud, nice morning. A dozen members participated and although the camp ground looked pretty clean at first glance we collected up a good eight bags of rubbish and some extraneous items over a bit more than one and half hours, which we thought was good hunting, so we didn’t do the quarry. Park Ranger Nick called by just after I arrived to set up and thankfully he offered to call past in the afternoon and collect the rubbish if we left it behind the toilets. Thanks Nick and thankyou to all our volunteers.

Another successful team effort. Photos to come!… Read the rest

Winter Blooms Walk Mt Stapleton July 2024

Saturday 13th July: Neil Marriott and Neil Macumber
9:45 Meet at Mt Zero Car Park

10:00 Walk to see the Winter Blooms on the way to Mt Stapylton via Flat Rock and Taipan Wall.

Chance to check out the vegetation in the north of Grampians/Gariwerd
BYO Picnic Lunch

An enjoyable day with a stroll up Flat Rock seeing Acacia stricta, Leptospermum turbinatum, Melaleuca decussata and many more plants.

We even made it to the top to see the Zieria oreocena – the Grampians Zieria – an endemic only found in the northern ranges.

… Read the rest

Clean Up Australia March 24

Clean Up Australia Event on Saturday 16th

Margo Sietsma Farewell

Margo has been a member of Friends of Grampians Gariwerd for many years and has written the newsletters for many years, been park of the Grampians National Park Advisory Committee and a member of the Halls Gap Community for many years.

Clean up Australia Day

Stum has picked up the equipment from ParksVic for Clean up Australia day event. There are Hi-Vis vests, gloves, safety glasses and bags for rubbish. There are only a few pickup sticks so if you have your own it might be best to bring it along with you.
This event is up on ParkConnect. If you are able, it would be great if you could register your intention of attending this Saturday’s event. If you are unable to access ParkConnect I will register you manually.
Even if you cannot be part of the Clean-up Aust

… Read the rest

FOGG Events 2023

OUR EVENTS: Clean up Australia Day May
The event set for 5 March had to be cancelled due to high fire threat and postponed till 15 April as astronomy night that was cancelled due to cloud. But the clean-up was again cancelled at the last minute due to predicted damaging winds at Reid’s lookout with a wet and very cold front due to pass across the State. However: Finally! Finally we were able to undertake a clean-up day in lieu of our contribution to Clean up Australia Day. As most would know we avoid the designated clean-up day as it falls on the long week end in March so we allocate the following Saturday. All good on Friday morning, so I collect the pack of gloves, bags, high vis jackets etc from PV and complete the necessary paper work only to be informed soon after that the Saturday was just … Read the rest

11th February	Welcome back Lunch at Zumsteins from 1130am	Work on 2023 program and depending on weather a walk to Fish Falls or short walk around historical site
5th March Sunday	Clean up Australia Day	TBA
4th April Friday or April Saturday	Astronomy – Night with Gil Hopkins	Look & learn—the stars
13th May Saturday	Australian Indigenous Art with ben Gunn	Educational talk on Indigenous Rock Art of Australia
17th June Saturday	Traditional Burning Damien Scurrie	Talk on traditional burning.
7th July Friday OR 8th July Saturday	Evening Talk/Dinner Parks Update