Category: Activity Report

Australian Network for Plant Conservation (ANPC) are presenting a workshop on 26th and Field trip 27th of May. The workshop will be held at DSE Nicholson street Melbourne and is aimed at people involved in, or who would like to be involved in the planning, approval or implementation of a translocation project for threatened flora. Cost for non ANPC members is $165 or $145 concession. Further information and registration forms are on the ANPC website or contact Noushka Reiter of Horsham DSE 0400041365.… Read the rest

Austral Pipewort
Survey

Please join interested volunteers in
surveying for this federally endangered
plant between Woohlpooer and Mereek on

Saturday the 12th
of March 2011
Meeting at 9.30 am at Cherrypool roadside restrooms
Please bring snacks, drinks, sunscreen, at lunch,
mosquito repellent and gumboots.

Yes it has re-emerged after two decades!

For further information please contact
Noushka Reiter: 0400041365
David Pitts: 0408565541 … Read the rest

February 11, 10.30 am: meeting with Dave Roberts at the Park Office, then lunch. All members welcome.

February 25, 10 am start: Insects of the Grampians excursion. 13 Emu Court Pomonal. RSVP Denis 5356 6106

Other dates may be added later.… Read the rest

Please bear in mind that changes may need to be made, and that the TSG calendar for June to December is yet to be scheduled. Changes will be put up on the website.

Saturday April 17
Grampians Pincushion-lily Survey (Borya mirabilis)
Meeting Time:  10:00am
Meeting Place: Brambuk Visitor Centre
Area of survey:  Wallaby Rocks
Noushka will have one 4WD and can transport up to 4 people.  If others had a 4WD that would be fantastic.
Please Bring:  Lunch, hat, sunscreen, sturdy shoes. Please RSVP by Thursday 15th April to Noushka Reiter at  

Saturday May 8
History Walk: Heatherlie and the old railway track.
Meet at Heatherlie car park 10 am. RSVP to Kathy McDonald. 5356 4679

Wednesday May 12
Visit to the orchid propagation lab at DSE Horsham, Grains Innovation Building, Natimuk Rd 10.30 am at reception. RSVP Wendy Bedggood 5382 5830

Saturday June 19 (to be confirmed)
Geology … Read the rest

Proo, Kathy and I attended a planning meeting of the TSG recently. As well as Parks, DSE and the botanists, three long term Field Naturalists from Stawell were there and their knowledge was so impressive. It was a good reminder of how valuable the work of “amateurs” is. Compared to the “professionals” who seldom spend a lifetime in one area, the “amateurs” have years of learning. The trick will be: how to capture that knowledge for the future? e.g it may be vital for input into fire plans etc. That’s where groups like the TSG, FOGGS, Field Nats are so important in making that knowledge available to DSE and Parks. That’s why it’s important that we keep records and don’t throw them out. The herbarium collection of the Stawell Field Nats is now housed in archival boxes in our volunteers’ room, but some other stuff needs careful cataloguing and archival … Read the rest

Did you know that 2010 has been nominated as the International Year of Biodiversity – established by the United Nations to increase worldwide awareness of biodiversity and its importance, and to engage more people in its conservation?

h2. Saturday 9 th January 2010.

10 am Annual Ptilotus erubescens (Hairy-tails) Count.
Meet at the car park in front of the “Cooinda Burrong” Camp. The gate will look closed but will be unlocked. Please close it behind you.
If the day is classified as extreme, The count will be moved to another day. Please contact Stan on (03) 5383 6349 to advise your intention to attend, so that you can be advised of any change of date. Don’t forget he would appreciate some help a couple of days beforehand.

h2. Tuesday 2nd February

World Wetland Day
Activities likely to be arranged by the CMAs.

h2. Sunday 6th March

Clean up Australia day. … Read the rest

September 12 Saturday 10 am: Spring picnic and our AGM. Meet at car park on Mirranatwa Gap. If it is wet (we remain hopeful!) we will organise a local indoor spot for lunch and meeting. Do please come along to enjoy the spring display of wildflowers after this damp winter. It should be very interesting. And do please consider joining the committee. New blood is both necessary and welcome. And it’s not a huge load. Or perhaps you’d like to represent us at the state-wide Friends Network Biennial Conference at Grantville from 11 to 13 September.

October 1 to 4 Thursday to Sunday. Grampians Wildflower Show Halls Gap.
Once again FOGGS will be supporting the Community Organisation of Halls Gap with this long running environmental showcase. In addition to the flowers (picked under license plus from nurseries and private property, all “unimproved” local varieties) there will be displays on the … Read the rest

July 18 Saturday 10 am: Fungi Frolic.

Meet at Zumsteins picnic area near toilet block to then travel to a site which will be decided according to rainfall. 

Contact Ewen: 5383 6294 … Read the rest

• June 27 Saturday 10 am: Red Gum Walk working bee. Contact person: Stan 5383 6349
• July 1 Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the proclamation of the Grampians National Park by walking from Wonderland car park to Halls Gap via the brand new Pinnacle to Halls Gap track. Contact Parks on 5361 4000.
• July 18 Saturday 10 am: Fungi Frolic. Meet at Zumsteins picnic area near toilet block to then travel to a site which will be decided according to rainfall. Contact Ewen: 5383 6294
• August 22 or 29 (to be confirmed). Another Red Gum Walk working bee to install new signs. Contact Margo closer to the time. 5356 4524.
• September 12 Saturday 10 am: Spring picnic and our AGM. Meet at car park on Mirranatwa Gap. If it is wet (we remain hopeful!) we will organise a local indoor spot for lunch and meeting. Contact Stan 5383 6349. Unfortunately this

… Read the rest

(From the CMA newsletter but covering several of the activities FOGG members have helped with.)

Wimmera Threatened Species Officer Pauline Rudolph compiled a list of achievements after ‘a year to remember’.  Ms Rudolph said the flora team had ‘significant’ achievements during the year. “There are certainly more things worthy of mention, but 10 is a good take-home message,” she said. “Many of these achievements wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of our plant-enthusiast volunteers.”  Ms Rudolph said the top 10 achievements were in no specific order.

The State Government funds the Wimmera Threatened Species program through Wimmera CMA. The top 10 achievements were: 

1. A new location of the Tawny Spider-orchid, Caladenia fulva. 
2. Creating collections for the Millennium SeedBank project with the Royal Botanic Gardens.
3. Extending the population of the Grampians Bitter-Pea, Daviesia laevis in the Grampians. 
4. Roadside-plant studies north of the Little Desert, updating numbers and health for

… Read the rest