Category: Grampians National Park

3 New tricks for old dogs …the benefits of environmental volunteering for older people
Dr Mardi Townsend, Associate Professor in the School of Health and Social Development at Deakin University and a speaker at the forthcoming Inaugural Healthy Parks, Healthy People Congress in Melbourne, writes especially for FriendsNET on the benefits of involvement with Friends Groups for older persons.
There’s an old adage that says ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’, but is it true? Is it possible that we could, in fact, encourage additional older people to join our Friends groups and become active environmental volunteers? I turned 60 in 2009, and therefore fall into the category of ‘older people’. Although recent research on volunteering has classified older people in a range of different ways (over 55, over 60 or over 70), the categorisation of people over 60 here in Victoria as ‘seniors’ suggests to me that … Read the rest

2. Volunteering and climate change – a birds eye view
Don Saunders, past Director of National Parks, now Conservation Coordinator with Bird Observation & Conservation Australia (BOCA) spoke at the recent Friends Network Conference on volunteering and climate change. Here is a summary:
• Climate change now unequivocal, higher temperatures, more storms, greater fire danger.
• Many species will be unable to adapt, there will be some winners, some losers.
• Introduced species are likely to be advantaged.
• Much of the data available on changes in bird communities is the result of long-term data collection by amateurs.
• Pied Imperial Pigeons have extended their range south and are no longer migratory in some areas.
• Kookaburras are seen at higher altitudes.
• Sacred Kingfishers and Rainbow Bee-eaters are staying longer in the south.
• Grey Crowned Babblers have bred to a smaller body size compared with historic size. This … Read the rest

I have been deluged with articles on volunteering, from a variety of perspectives. Enjoy!

1. Biodiversity White Paper Securing Our Natural Future – the State Government ‘White Paper for land and biodiversity at a time of climate change’ has been released. Reference is made to Friends groups in the Glossary defined as ‘Volunteer groups who work on projects to help conserve and protect our natural environment’. Among the many policy statements is: The Victorian Government values the work of community based natural resource management groups and environmental volunteers. The Government will continue to support groups and networks to improve their ability to achieve outcomes and to capture the enthusiasm of their local communities.… Read the rest

As a member of the Friends of Grampians Gariwerd you can help to conserve and protect our natural environment and enhance the visitor’s experience of parks and reserves. Joining a Friends Group has many benefits – for example providing an involvement in conservation, meeting like-minded people and receiving informative newsletters.

There are numerous volunteer opportunities within the Grampians National Park (GNP). Individuals or groups can choose to participate in a number of projects including the Halls Gap Botanical Gardens, the Grampians Walking Track Support Group, Parks Victoria’s Campground Host Program and Conservation Volunteers Australia – Park Champions, and Naturewise Holidays.

h3. Halls Gap Botanical Gardens

The Halls Gap Botanical Gardens is a native garden maintained by volunteers and local community support. While not the responsibility of Friends of the Grampians Gariwerd if you would like to volunteer to assist with the gardens please “contact FOGGs”:mailto:

h3. Grampians Walking Track Support … Read the rest

Since early April a team of around eight to ten people employed under the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority’s Drought Employment Program have been assisting Parks Victoria staff. They have undertaken a variety of tasks in the last three months.

Their first assignment was to cut and paint Sallow Wattle seedlings along Roses Gap Road, near Smiths Road, in the area burnt in the 2006 fires.  Sallow Wattle (Acacia Longifolia var. longifolia) was declared a weed in the Grampians National Park based on historical research. It is thought that it was brought to the Grampians around the early to mid 1800s. It has invaded a significant area of open box woodland and heathlands to the detriment of other indigenous species, and Roses Gap is the site of a major infestation. It was important to remove the seedlings that emerged after the 2006 fires before they could also produce seed, … Read the rest

Over 191,000 hours of voluntary work in over 160 parks and reserves were recorded in 2007- 08.

• Last year’s figure was 177,000 hours.
• Over 50% of the volunteer hours were contributed by 127 friends groups across the state.
• 63.8% of the volunteer contribution focused on natural resource management projects;

• 28.2% on visitor service related projects; and
• 8.1% on cultural values management.

… Read the rest

!http://home.vicnet.net.au/~gariwerd/boronia%20cliffs.jpg!

The Grampians National Park is situated in Western Victoria, about 3½ hours drive from Melbourne. It is 100 km’s from North to South and 50 km’s from East to West. It contains three mountain ranges which rise majestically from broad plains: Mount Difficult Range, Sierra Range and Victoria Range.Within the Park can be found the largest collection of Aboriginal Art Sites in Victoria, an abundance of native animals and birds, and amazing wildflowers.

Halls Gap is the busiest tourist town with accommodation also available in Pomonal, Dunkeld and Wartook.

The major local towns are Stawell, Hamilton and Horsham.… Read the rest