Grampians staff will soon convene a working group to review the delivery of the Grampians Ark fox-baiting program so we can learn, adapt and improve the program into the future. This includes representatives from research institutions, DSE, DPI, and local Landcare. The four year funding source for the program is now complete. The good news is the State Government has committed to fund pest plant and animals programs across public land within Victoria on an ongoing basis. We are hoping this review will help us obtain a slice of these ongoing funds.
Grampians staff recently re-located some historic graffiti within a cave close to the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby release site. The graffiti had peoples’ name or initials and the date ‘1879’ inscribed below. Although the significance of this site is yet to be determined, this highlights that there are still many hidden cultural treasures within the Grampians. Updating our information about … Read the rest
Category: Articles
PRESIDENT’S PIECE SPRING 2011 Proo Pyke
This last week has felt as if Spring has arrived with warm still days and the wattles in glorious profusion. The creeks are running and the lakes and water holes full and the nights full of the sounds of frogs.
It should be a glorious spring in the Grampians and with the road recently opened from Halls Gap to Dunkeld much more of the Grampians is open to visitors.
Our AGM is on Saturday the 10 September and is to be combined with an interesting investigation in to water bugs and what they can tell us of the quality of water. I do hope to see many of you there.
There are many Threatened Species activities throughout September October and November. So for those of you who enjoy exploring the bush feel free to join us, we always find something interesting if not often the species we are after.… Read the rest
FROM THE EDITOR SPRING 2011 – Margo
The Big Wet Continues:
The season of Larneuk – nesting birds has just finished. Its description starts with Bleak mists, freezing winds and rain. Well, for the second year in a row this was true until the last two weeks when it has been just so beautiful – sunny and warm at last. And masses of wonderful rain, continuing to fall. Read the article by Leigh on what the water has meant for her. One not so good result has been that the strong winds are still bringing down so many trees, stressed from the drought and now in waterlogged soft soil.
As at 25 August, Bellfield Reservoir is at 90% full, Lake Lonsdale is 100%, Wartook is 94%, Moora Moora is 90%. Even Rocklands is 66% up from 3% last year. Overall in the Grampians Wimmera Mallee water storages are now at 70% compared to 18.5% last year, 18.7 … Read the rest
Mainly flood pictures
CALENDAR DATES
Please bear in mind that changes may need to be made, Always check in with the listed organiser.
FOGG DATES FOR THIS QUARTER:
Saturday July 16: Note change of date!
Fungi Frolic in the Wartook valley. Meet at the Wander Inn at 10 a.m. Then we’ll car pool from there to sites. Return to the Inn to buy our own lunch and look at some specimens, while warm and dry. Last year it was a wild and woolly day but the indoor session was excellent. Please bring any interesting specimens from your place as well. Contact: Ewen Johnson 5383 6294.
Friday 12 August: 10 am. Meeting with Dave Roberts and other staff to discuss: the new fire zones and this year’s proposed fire operation plan, Jill Reid’s work on fire and the environment, update on the proposed long distance walk, and suggested projects for us. To be followed by lunch … Read the rest
WEB SITE OF INTEREST
The Victoria Naturally Alliance is a coalition of environment groups that want to see concerted action taken to protect the state’s biodiversity from a range of threats including climate change, habitat fragmentation and species extinction. Their website has snippets of news from all over.
… Read the rest
ART ACTIVITIES IN THE GRAMPIANS
We have received flyers for several workshops to be held in Halls Gap.
Grampians Brushes 10 to 15 September
“a unique opportunity for artists to develop their passion of expression in one of Australia’s most beautiful natural environments”. For more information: www.grampiansbrushes.com.au
or ring 0428 825 971
Grampians Wildlife Arts Festival
August 30 – September 4, 2011, Halls Gap, Victoria.
“The Grampians Wildlife Arts Festival is a workshop-based event for artists and lovers of nature and art to experience and study Australia’s unique environment, its plants and inhabitants with unprecedented intimacy. Renowned orchid specialist Gary Backhouse will also present a public lecture. Visit www.gwas.org.au for details, information about flora and fauna and special artists’ tips.”
Grampians Texture 25 February to 1 March 2012
“ a myriad of workshops ranging from felting to printing, stitching to dyeing, jewellery to box making are offered under the inspiring direction of local, national and … Read the rest
RESEARCH PROJECT Social attitudes towards dingoes and wild dogs in Victoria
Kathleen Kean
NOTE: (2012) This research project has now moved into its next phase. It’s too late for any of us to take part in the survey. We look forward to hearing about it when Kathleen has finished her work.
FOGG members are invited to have your say in this research to help provide a better understanding of the social attitudes towards dingo and wild dog management in Victoria.
The survey will take you approximately 10 minutes to complete and all respondents will go in a draw for the chance to win a $50.00 book voucher. Attitudes towards dingoes and ‘wild dogs’ vary considerably across and within different land uses and sections of the Australian community. A current lack of information regarding these views and their implications precludes effective management of dingoes and wild dogs, and therefore, our ability to ensure maximum simultaneous biodiversity, cultural and economic benefits.
A growing … Read the rest
Fogg’s “Landslide Talk”……..Ross Cayley
On Friday 3 June FOGG and PV welcomed geologist Ross Cayley from the Geological Survey of Victoria to talk about the recent landslides in the Grampians. We all learned a lot and greatly enjoyed the day .We were most appreciative for the effort that Ross had put in to the preparation for the talk. He even updated it with reference to the minor earthquake just two days previous.
About 29 members, visitors and PV staff were present for the activity.
Ross started his presentation by placing the Grampians in a national and international context with regard to landslide frequency. He made the point that landslides occur with much greater frequency and intensity in many other regions of the world and indeed in Australia. New Zealand and the Otways are good examples. In fact he said that the Grampians landslides would be hardly noticed in NZ!
He showed us a series … Read the rest
Venus Baths Walk May 27
Dave Roberts led a group of us to have a look at the damage at Venus Baths. It was a new experience to be invited to climb over a closed gate. We walked up on the south side, where the track is hardly affected, until we reached where the bridge used to be. It is now metres downstream. We gazed at the sight above us where so much rock and mud had come down from the road above. We then gingerly crossed over the ford to the baths themselves. They are hardly changed, except for the sandblasting they received. Apparently straight after the event they were pink; now the lichen is coming back slowly. The path on the northern side is damaged, but not hugely. (Upstream towards Wonderland there is quite a bit of damage.) But for now the reason access to the Baths is denied is the danger of … Read the rest