Category: Articles

Meeting report on Parks Talk by Sarah Cole in February 2025 about the Fires

Parks Victoria Meeting 

Date: February 7th Location: Brambuk, Halls Gap The National Park and Cultural Centre

  1. Brush Tailed Rock Wallabies
  • Population: 60 animals across two sites in Victoria
  • Reintroduction: Since 2008
  • Recent post fire Feeding Operations:
    • 5 aerial operations using helicopters
    • Drone attempts were unsuccessful
  1. Deer and Pest Control
  • Animals Controlled:
    • 10 foxes
    • 30 red deer
    • 3 out of 4 Sambar
  1. Feeding Programs for Other Animals
  • Heath Mouse
  • River Blackfish:
    • Depend on hollow logs in rivers for spawning and hiding
    • Relocation Efforts – farm dams
  • Agile Antechinus
  • Long nosed Potoroo
  • Southern Brown Bandicoot
  1. Shelter Pods:
    • Purchased by DEECA
    • Monitored by Deakin University
    • 160 installed across two sites (80 pods per site)
    • Clusters: 16 pods × 5 locations
    • Monitoring: 2 cameras per cluster
  1. Small Mammal Trapping Program:
    • Conducted by Dr John White (Deakin University)

Funding: Possible funding for a team dedicated to fire recovery

Pest Plants

  1. Sallow Wattle:

Issues :

  • Regenerates
… Read the rest

Invite to February 7th 2025 Meet Sarah Cole, Parks Ranger for an update on current Fire Recovery Actions

Meet Sarah Cole, Parks Ranger for an update on current Fire Recovery Actions

Details: Join FOGG and Parks Ranger Sarah Cole to find out about the Grampians Fire Recovery Actions as they are being rolled out during the current bushfire emergency within the Grampians Gariwerd National Park.

Sarah will talk about this in the place of Joe Terry, the Grampians Ark Coordinator.  Joe is currently running a new aerial feeding program for a newly discovered colony of Brush Tailed Rock Wallabies within the Asses Ears area.  Joe is also involved with sling loading supplies to the current colony at Moora Moora to start ground feeding operations.

Followed by Dinner at Spirit of Punjab, 161 Grampians Ark Coordinator, Halls Gap from 6.30pm.

RSVP for dinner Text 0428399441 or email … Read the rest

29th January 2025 Grampians Park Update

Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park – Bushfires Update 29.01.2025

Full Park Closure Amendment – Partial Reopening

 

On Tuesday 28th of January 2025, the State Control Centre declared Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park closed after a series of bushfires started following lightning strikes in the central and Victoria Range areas of the park. This was to ensure visitor/community safety and to support the firefighting effort. These fires are not yet under control.

 

The full closure declaration was amended on Wednesday 29th of January 2025. It now entails partial re-openings of visitor sites and walking tracks in parts of the park that are safe and unaffected by the current bushfire situation.

 

Visitor Sites and Day Walks – To Re-open

 

Central Grampians, Wonderland Range and Halls Gap local walks

 

  • Brambuk the National Park & Cultural Centre and nearby walks
  • The Wonderland Loop Walk, including The Pinnacle, Venus Baths, and Grand Canyon Loop (either
… Read the rest

Winter Blooms Walk Mt Stapleton July 2024

Saturday 13th July: Neil Marriott and Neil Macumber
9:45 Meet at Mt Zero Car Park

10:00 Walk to see the Winter Blooms on the way to Mt Stapylton via Flat Rock and Taipan Wall.

Chance to check out the vegetation in the north of Grampians/Gariwerd
BYO Picnic Lunch

An enjoyable day with a stroll up Flat Rock seeing Acacia stricta, Leptospermum turbinatum, Melaleuca decussata and many more plants.

We even made it to the top to see the Zieria oreocena – the Grampians Zieria – an endemic only found in the northern ranges.

… Read the rest

Clean Up Australia March 24

Clean Up Australia Event on Saturday 16th 

Margo Sietsma Farewell 

Margo has been a member of Friends of Grampians Gariwerd for many years and has written the newsletters for many years, been park of the Grampians National Park Advisory Committee and a member of the Halls Gap Community for many years.

Clean up Australia Day 

  1. Stum has picked up the equipment from ParksVic for Clean up Australia day event.  There are Hi-Vis vests, gloves, safety glasses and bags for rubbish.  There are only a few pickup sticks so if you have your own it might be best to bring it along with you.
  2. This event is up on ParkConnect. If you are able, it would be great if you could register your intention of attending this Saturday’s event.  If you are unable to access ParkConnect I will register you manually.
  3. Even if you cannot be part of the Clean-up Aust
… Read the rest

FOGG Events 2023

OUR EVENTS: Clean up Australia Day May
The event set for 5 March had to be cancelled due to high fire threat and postponed till 15 April as astronomy night that was cancelled due to cloud. But the clean-up was again cancelled at the last minute due to predicted damaging winds at Reid’s lookout with a wet and very cold front due to pass across the State. However: Finally! Finally we were able to undertake a clean-up day in lieu of our contribution to Clean up Australia Day. As most would know we avoid the designated clean-up day as it falls on the long week end in March so we allocate the following Saturday. All good on Friday morning, so I collect the pack of gloves, bags, high vis jackets etc from PV and complete the necessary paper work only to be informed soon after that the Saturday was just … Read the rest

AGM 2023 September

AGM 2023 Friday 8th September

Unfortunately the Mural room at the Parks office had been double booked and we had to find an alternate venue. We met in the back room at ‘Barneys Bar and Bistro’ in Pomonal. It was a bit chilly and the acoustics were unfortunately, not very good. We had an exciting time though – no, not the AGM, but the weather: heavy driving rain caused a power outage, so arctic-cold and super-dark. The staff did a magnificent job of finding candles, and cooking on very limited heating facilities. Eventually we had a welcome and warming meal – thanks Barneys!… Read the rest

Newsletter Spring 2023

FROM THE EDITORS
Spring has arrived and nearly gone, but the flowers are still outstanding; it’s interesting watching the progression as early give way to late flowerers. Nestlings are transforming into very demanding fledglings, then teenagers.
Please refer to Strum’s Prez Sez for info on our FOGG website. We’re all grateful to Darren McClelland for setting this up and taking on the ‘maintenance’ and updating of information; and of course incredibly grateful to Frank for his years of support and work – some of us in awe of that sort of knowledge!
Hoping you can all get out and enjoy some nature, whatever the weather …. And wishing all a safe-from-fire season.
Note: unless credited otherwise, photos are by Leigh and ben

 … Read the rest

Meet with Grampians Chief Ranger : February 24

Meet with Charlie Richardson Chief Ranger.

Followed by meal at Halls Gap Hotel.

When: Thursday Feb 8, 2024 ? 5pm – 6pm (Eastern Australia Time – Melbourne)

Location: Brambuk the National Park & Cultural Centre, 277 Grampians Rd, Halls Gap VIC 3381, Australia

An informative Evening we learnt what was happening in the National Park.… Read the rest

FROM BILL PLAYNE AT THE PARKS DESK June 2023

Parks Victoria – Update – Spring 2023:  William Playne – Visitor/Community Ranger
Thank you for the opportunity to connect, contribute and share vital information about the park. I hope you enjoy the range of brief reports/project updates. They certainly provide understanding and comprehension concerning the diverse range of ongoing tasks needed to manage the scope of Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park.
In the past month, it was exciting to see the pulse of the park rise as perfect spring weather drew large numbers of visitors. The Mackenzie Falls track counter topped the popularity stakes with 590 visitors per day over the two weeks of the school holidays! Zumsteins welcomed many picnickers and day walkers headed for Fish Falls and beyond. Out on the trail, Grampians Peaks Trail Rangers met good numbers of walkers, with many journeying over the full 12-day experience. Each with their own personal take on the challenge and … Read the rest

Friends of Grampians Gariwerd