Category: Articles
Brush-Tailed Rock Wallaby News
October was a busy month for those involved with Brush-tailed Rock wallabies. Camera work has proven useful in monitoring our first wild born pouch young Shadow’s progress. Photos showed him hopping in and out of his mother’s pouch and exploring while his mother feeds.
Only half of the population was trapped in our Autumn trapping trip so that there was no risk of trapping Shadow. Three females and a male were trapped. They were all healthy and a little male pouch young was found in animal 118’s pouch. He was about a month old at the time and a very good sign that the population is settling into their new home.
On the 20th of October five more wallabies were released into the colony. Two males and three females joined the 13 animals already at the Moora Moora creek site. The animals were fitted with GPS collar with a VHF … Read the rest
Activity Reports – September 2010 to January 2011
h3. Saturday September 11: AGM and orchids.
_Meet at Cherrypool, on the Horsham – Hamilton Rd._
It feels so long ago, but it was a great day. Wet, of course. We had intended to go to the Black Ranges but had to settle for the Glenisla end of the Victoria Valley. We didn’t find the Brilliant Sun-orchid we were looking for, but plenty of others. We then went and looked in an old cemetery nearby, and it was just so hard to leave there was so much to see. We elected a new committee, as you will see below. It was good to see some hard working people able to retire and fresh ones take on their roles.
A brief verbal report was given by Proo remembering the important contribution that Stan Parfett volunteered over the years both as his time as President and member of FOGG. He is greatly … Read the rest
Redgum Walk and Table Dedication Photos – 15 October 2010
Redgum Walk and Table Dedication – 15 October 2010
The dedication ceremony for the installation of the Red-gum picnic table went off without a hitch this time. Rain & attendance inabilities seemed to mar each date, but sunshine, a good group & happy memories made up for it all.
Ewen Johnson gave a speech recalling past President, Stan Parffet’s enthusiasm and determination to see another table/seats installed at the Red-gum Walk. Some of Stan’s family were in attendance & nephew Allan responded on their behalf.
A plaque dedicated to Stan has been attached to the under-side of the table while a small information board & post stands to the side. This plaque acknowledges FOGG members both past & present who have volunteered their time and effort to maintain the track and keep it open. Sue & Ivan McInnes were mentioned as too Margo & Kees Sietsma, Bill & Hennie Neve, whose project it was to create a walk that … Read the rest
A SLICE OF HISTORY from Kathy
h3. THE GRAMPIANS ROAD
bq.. O, you who follow the Grampians Road
Will leave all care behind,
Cramping worry and grief’s gray load,
And be one with the wild free wind.
If your feet once turn to the Grampians way,
Your heart will lift wild and free,
Like a wild bird flown from its cage away Soaring in ecstacy.
You will find Peace come in the blue twilight
Like a kind hand in yours prest,
Healing steal out of the starry night
To bring to the restless, rest.
O, you will sleep well in a dreamless sleep
If you follow, the long day through,
The valley road, or the hill path steep
That climbs to the cloudless blue
O, you who follow the Grampians Road
Will leave all care behind,
Weariness ,worry, and grief’s gray load,
And be free as the mountain wind.
p. Taken from The Caravan of Dreams … Read the rest
Update from Prue Daley – 18 January 2011
*Grampians National Park is Closed*
The Grampians National Park is closed and Parks Victoria has begun assessing damage following significant storm and flood damage following heavy rain and strong winds. Considerable damage has been caused by flooding, landslides, and fallen rocks and trees.
Parks Victoria is working with other agencies and authorities such as VicRoads, to provide access to the park as soon as possible, but visitors should be aware of the magnitude of the task.
Visitor safety must be the highest priority and it will be some time before Parks Victoria is able to assure the public that areas have been made safe and can be opened.
However, we are working very hard to get several tracks and visitor destinations open quickly, particularly with Australia Day next week. Some walks close to Halls Gap, destinations north of Roses Gap and walks in the southern area of the Grampians will … Read the rest
David Roberts – Ranger In Charge Jan 2011
_EDITOR’S NOTE: Dave sent this to us in early December, and it has been overtaken by subsequent events. I haven’t the heart to ask him for an update yet, as he is so flat out with recovery works._
The tail end of 2010 has sped past at a rapid rate. The Grampians National Park, like most of the state, has received good rainfall, resulting in a fantastic Spring flowering display and a refreshed and rejuvenated landscape.
Since I commenced in the Ranger in Charge role in August 2010, the park has experienced a number of significant weather events namely severe storm damage and flooding. The team has been busy reinstating access to the majority of the park but unfortunately the overall standard of our walking tracks and 4WD road network has suffered with these weather events. The park has been negotiating a flood recovery plan and insurance funds have been … Read the rest
THE BIG STORM
We have never seen anything like it. Around 300 mm of rain were recorded at Mt William over three days, with 200mm of that on one day ( 13 January). It could have been more on the Wonderland Range. All the FOGG members who live locally are safe, but all affected in one way or another, evacuated, or isolated or very wet or lost their drives. Halls Gap, Wartook, Dunkeld all were deluged. All of us I think still needing to boil drinking water.
But it is the Park which is of great concern. The damage is enormous. Currently the whole park is closed.
To give you a preliminary sketch:
* Mt Victory Road will be closed for weeks. It has boulders the size of buses across the road, and large sections elsewhere have subsided. The track to Venus Baths is still dangerous with unstable boulders rolling down. The road … Read the rest
FROM THE EDITOR, JANUARY 2011
Welcome to the summer edition of the FOGG newsletter. Apologies for its late arrival and brevity. First I was traveling overseas, then the Christmas rush, and now the devastating storm.
There will not be any diary of planned activities yet, as until the extent of the damage is known, we won’t know where we can go or what is most useful for us to do. I would urge you to keep an eye on the website as we try to bring you news of what is happening.
Some of the articles which were submitted prior to Christmas have been overtaken by events, but I will endeavour to add updates. Some will be held over until the next issue so that we can get this out promptly.
Best wishes from sodden but still beautiful Gariwerd,
Margo… Read the rest