Category: Meeting Report

The AG has met twice since the last newsletter. As I put this together, it is sobering to realise how much will need to be revisited with the enormous changes to the park of this summer’s events.

h3. October Meeting

The October meeting (for which I was an apology) discussed the proposal we had brought back from our visit to Wilson’s promontory to get some youth representatives on to our group. All agreed on the principle, but the mechanics are harder to implement. They also decided to follow up on the need to ensure that natural values education be a core ingredient in the services delivered by Brambuk in the new agreement currently being negotiated.

Ranger Andrew Roach spoke to the group: Storm and Flood damage and assessments have been the core function of teams over the past 6 weeks. Extra resources and staff were called in to assist. Major … Read the rest

Under the auspices of the Victoria Naturally Alliance, FOGG were invited to join a local reference group that includes members from community groups and from organisations that work with conservation groups locally and may host volunteers themselves from time to time. Basically the idea is to strengthen our groups so that we can better attract and retain new volunteers. There are many people out there who are more or less interested in the environment, but don’t actually do much about it. The alliance has funding for recruitment campaigns. But before then, most of us need help in thinking through what we would do with a flock of new volunteers. The purpose of the group will be to advise the alliance on project design and to ensure that it is relevant to the groups in their local area. We also plan for the reference group members to gain some new skills … Read the rest

Our room is now furnished with large desk, computer, printer, bookshelves, map-file for posters etc. We have inherited several herbarium collections, two of which need classifying. We still need to have a rail for hanging posters etc, a portable hard disk for photos etc, more storage boxes and so on. We really need a working bee to work out what to keep and how.… Read the rest

The AG met on 2 March. We discussed Code Red days, the proposed long distance walk, other group walks and plans for a bike riding workshop, were updated on the Brush-tailed Rock wallabies and monitoring of other small mammals, fox control (33 foxes trapped since Christmas, in addition to those killed by baits), met two new staff (Andrew Roach Team leader Visitor Services, and his partner Jacinta who will be working for DSE out of the Halls Gap office). However the bulk of our time was spent discussing a strategy for bush camping. How do we ensure that bush camping in vulnerable areas is restricted so that it doesn’t damage the park values? And how do we do this without alienating the camping community? There are at least 275 identifiable informal camp sites, many of them in inappropriate areas or of inappropriate size.
Our next meeting is a visit to … Read the rest

Meeting held at NP 15/1/10 with Graham Parkes and Prue Daley,and subsequent discussions on 6/2/10 at Cooinda Burrong.

1. Query: How can we find out what research projects are being conducted. FOGG would be interested in procuring any information available in order to arrange for speakers on research matters. Being aware of projects in the pipe-line also helps our group to know what is going on. Answer: Research projects are co-ordinated in Melbourne. There is no formal list of projects, however researchers do need local permits so we will enquire from Mike or Tom as to what students/research may be coming up in the Park. Have advice that 2 Deakin Uni. Honours students have started work already.
2. Deer – what research is presently being undertaken in the Park? PhD student Kathy Roberts has nearly completed her thesis – to be submitted March 2010. After research has been written up … Read the rest

As reported at the AGM we, along with other Friends Groups were offered free training in chemical handling, chainsawing, 4wheel driving and first aid . We saw this as an excellent way to make our working bees more effective. Unfortunately so did all the other friends groups. PV had totally underestimated the interest. So we did get funding for first aid and chemical handling – dates yet to be announced. But chainsaw accreditation and 4 wheel driving (which would allow us to drive a PV vehicle and trailer) will have to be applied for again next year.… Read the rest

# Donation to the Mammal Survey Group, who have lost all their equipment in the February bush fires. Moved that we donate $1,000 to the group. Also to inform them that member Proo Pyke is willing to donate them sets of bird books to sell for fundraising if they are interested.
# Frank van der Peet to be congratulated on our excellent website.
# FOGG PHOTOS . We decided to purchase a portable hard disk to be kept in our volunteers room on which we can store members’ photos from events. Budget of $200. Frank to be requested to source it.
# A list was made of items we need to discuss with Graham and Mike (including progress on the volunteers room, follow up to Mike’s small mammal research, deer research, the proposed Long Distance Walk, Brush tailed rock- wallabies ….)
# PROGRAMME FOR 2010. Mostly on the 2nd Saturday … Read the rest

VENUE; Picnic Area Mirranatwa Gap, the same place as the inaugural FOGG meeting in 1984.
PRESENT: Eleven members.
Apologies: Five members, including our president due to ill health. Thus no President’s report.

ELECTION OF OFFICE BEARERS
There were no changes this year, but it was agreed that there would be next year, as we do want to encourage some turnover.

President: Stan Parfett
Vice Pres: Proo Pyke
Secretary: Frank vd Peet
Treasurer: Kathy McDonald
Editor: Margo Sietsma
Public officer: Kathy McDonald

TREASURER’S REPORT.
Summary. Our closing bank balance is $5,424 . Income over the year has been mainly membership and donations totalling $1095, with some money still coming in from the sale of Beyond the Smoke books. Other donations have come in from Auswalk and from the company selling the soundtrack of the Brambuk installation. Outgoings mainly postage and donations to bushfire affected rangers ($500) and to the VNPA’s Jenny … Read the rest

The AG has met once since the last newsletter, on Dec 1. Our main discussion was about the bush camping strategy as Graham indicates above. How do we balance public expectations with the environmental concerns over clearing, human waste issues, illegal fires and safety considerations?
We also congratulated Sylvia on her promotion and wished John Harris well on his retirement.
Our next meeting is the too-often deferred trip to Wilson’s Prom NP in February. We hope no fires this year.
I also represented the AG at the reopening of the Pines Plantation campground, which marked the end of all the fire recovery work.
I also attended a pre-fire season conference with Parks, DSE, CFA and Police. Stan was there too as FOGG representative. We looked at some of the autumn burns and some of Mike’s survey sites and discussed some of the issues. As the AG convenor I was there … Read the rest