Category: Miscellaneous Snippet

The AG has met twice since the last newsletter.

In June we learnt that the park was to receive $1 million dollars for upgrades: Rosea Lookout and Redman’s Lookout top priority and then McKenzie Falls walk, from Fish Falls to Zumsteins. Visitor services have also received extra money for the replacement of toilet blocks and picnic tables. Buandik Campground is to receive a minor upgrade.

The Dunkeld walk over the June long weekend was very successful and may become an annual event. Heatherlie – A management plan for the site was completed a few years ago. Staff will be working with Janet Witham to look at future external funding.

We then travelled out along the Mt Zero Rd. At the edge of Halls Gap, Dave Handscombe provided an overview on the Halls Gap township protection plan, explaining the different fire protection techniques that DSE and PV are involved in. At … Read the rest

Along with our Fungi Frolic (see later) we held a committee meeting.

Briefly: we decided to make a donation of $1000 to the Poola Foundation (based in Hamilton & endorsed by VNPA) for Fire Ecology & Community Work. Poola Foundation has offered to match donations through VPNA. We also passed on a donation we had received to the Brush-tailed rock wallaby project, to assist in the cost of batteries for remote cameras etc.

It was agreed that Margo follow up the purchase of a ‘hard-drive’ storage space for FOGG files and also that we purchase appropriate office items for our room at GNP administration area. An amount of $500 was agreed upon.

Plans were discussed re gathering at Redgum walk for dedication of the new Red-gum table. National Parks staff who were involved in installing the new table will be invited, as well as some FOGG members and Stan Parfett’s … Read the rest

Mike Stevens has moved on, and will be greatly missed for his enthusiasm for protecting the Park’s biodiversity and the need for research. His position has been advertised, but there’s no news yet of a replacement. We wish him all the best in his new position – which is truly a new position as he is the first person in this role. I hope that once he is settled in he will be able to explain what it entails.

A note from Mike…

bq. Dear all, ==
==
I have accepted a position with Parks Victoria as Manager, land and seascape-scale conservation which presents an exciting opportunity for me to follow my passion in conservation across the state. After 8 years, my final day coordinating the Grampians Natural Values Management Program will be on Friday 25th June and I will take two weeks holiday before starting my new job on … Read the rest

Welcome to Jacinta Williamson who has been appointed as park planner (previously Sylvia’s position). Jacinta moved to Halls Gap from Melbourne in March this year and was previously working with DSE as a Policy Officer in the Parks and Protected Areas Unit. She worked with DSE for four years and commenced with Parks Victoria as Park Planner, Grampians in August. She has a background in applied science and is
passionate about the environment and looking forward to working with FOGG. As are we!… Read the rest

A big welcome to David Roberts, our new RIC. I’ve asked David to tell us a bit about himself………

bq. David Roberts comes to the Ranger in Charge position at the Grampians with a varied background in park and public open space management. David commenced with Parks Victoria as a Horticulturalist in the Dandenong Ranges Gardens after completing a Bachelor of Applied Science (Horticulture) at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley College. After 5 years as a team leader of the National Rhododendron Gardens, David took the opportunity to move into the area of conservation management with a move to the Box Ironbark parks around Bendigo, Heathcote and Inglewood. These landscapes provided important experiences in land management issues, including fire management, threatened species management, visitor experiences as well as working with a range of different communities and community groups. For the past 3 years, David has been Ranger in Charge of … Read the rest

Last issue I asked for poems to supplement the historical collection. I’m delighted to report a response from one of our members.

‘These have I loved…’
Bold mountains oranged by a virgin sun
with calling currawongs still dark as night.
Swift water spilling down by rocky paths; run
as it will, it cannot race the light.
Fragrance of bushland after showers,
soft scarves of mist around peak’s rugged brow
rare winter orchids, bright native flowers
and Koori paintings, faint as wind that soughs
like voices out of range. Loud needle points of rain,
groaning of frogs as evening steals the light,
kangaroos carrying young down to the plain
and kookaburras raucous morning flight.
Meeting with strangers, whose conversation shows
They also care about this land of ours.

Jean Sietzema-Dickson… Read the rest

This had been scheduled to be a visit to the orchid propagation lab at DSE Horsham, but we postponed that to fit in with the availability of equipment to install our new table.

Long term members will remember that back in in 1997 we applied for a grant to erect a table at our already established walk for the less-abled. Member Bill Neve constructed a magnificent table which had seating along the sides and wheelchair access at the two ends. A real work of art, and appreciated by both able and disabled picnickers. To our delight the table emerged from the 2006 fires unscathed (as did the handpainted sign by member Sue McInnes). Imagine our disappointment to then discover that someone with a chainsaw had come in and stolen the table and the seats!

Stan, Bill, John and Ewen resolved that it should be replaced and the new table is … Read the rest

This was a much better attended activity as FOGG member and historian Janet Witham taught us so much about the site and its history on another beautiful day. Plus some wonderful fungi. See photos on the website soon.… Read the rest

It was a very small group (2) that turned up to join the TSG staff, and we didn’t find any Borya, but it was a perfect day for exploring a beautiful corner of the Park (Asses Ears). We did find a flourishing population of Downy Star Bush, some beautiful Correa reflexa and common heath and various other plants in flower. See photos on the website soon.… Read the rest