Articles – Page 73 – Friends of Grampians Gariwerd

SCIENCE SEEKS ANSWERS TO POST FIRE SURVIVAL

At the first Advisory Group meeting Mike Stevens (Natural Values Manager) talked to us about his studies. Mike is so determined to find out more about the impact of the Mt Lubra fire, that he has gone back part time to University to do this research. We congratulate him. It is so important to document and learn from an event like this. This is the report he prepared for Parks Vic for National Science Week.

A unique scientific experiment in Grampians National Park is studying the survival of small animals during and after major wildfires. The project is the only one of its kind in Australia; A specific long term project, set up after a major fire, to investigate the impact on small native mammals. Most previous post fire research has been limited to prescribed burns, where the scale and severity of fire is limited and controlled. Parks Victoria is … Read the rest

ADVISORY GROUP NEWS AUGUST 2008

While the last issue was being printed the new AG was announced, and has held two meetings already. I am again appointed convenor, and there is a good mix of experienced and new members.
The first meeting was mainly an introductory session. Discussion of our roles and responsibilities and an overview of who does what in the GNP, what projects are underway etc. Even for those of us who’d been there before it was a lot to take in.

The second meeting dealt mainly with two issues.
We had an update on the immanent release of the Brushtail rock wallabies into the wild, and were asked for our feedback on how best to protect them as they settle in. The AG was unanimous that the welfare of the animals had to be the sole priority. So we wholeheartedly agreed that the Rosea Track remain closed for as long as necessary, … Read the rest

MORE ON THE RED GUM WALK

As Stan notes in his “Mutterings”, the Committee has decided, and PV have agreed, that we will restore the short loop and a spur up to the huge fallen tree. An anonymous donor has offered to rebuild us another picnic table to replace the stolen one, and Parks will help source suitable legs for it. Parks will also clear the dangerous trees, provide a “Wishing Well” Information Shelter, and help pay for further signs along the track. FOGG will work on the contents on the boards and signs, which will need to go through the official process before going up. Some ideas have been floated and will continue to be worked on. The signs are unlikely to go up until next year, so there is plenty of time for people to put forward suggestions. We are also discussing what to call the track, having lost the most dramatic of the … Read the rest

FROM THE PARKS DESK, AUGUST 2008

Staff News

We are fortunate that the Grampians attracts talented staff who make a long term contribution to the Park. Congratulations to Ken Lever and Graeme Hughes who have both provided 40 years of service in the Grampians. Ken and Graeme were originally employed by the Forests Commission and more recently by Parks Victoria. They both provide other staff with valuable insight into many aspects of Park management, especially in the areas of road and track maintenance and fire suppression.

This week Ken has announced his retirement and is looking forward to spending more time with wife Marie on their Halls Gap property. We wish them well for a long and happy retirement. The Park is planning a farewell function in October.

Fire Recovery Works

Funding has been finalised for remaining Fire Recovery works. This financial year Parks Victoria will be undertaking works on the Pinnacle to Halls Gap, Mackenzie … Read the rest

LAST QUARTER’S ACTIVITIES

Saturday June 21st Fire Operations Plan sites inspection
The exact time of the winter solstice this year was 9:59am on June 21. One minute before the planned meeting time at the corner of Roses Gap Rd and Pohlners Rd., in the Northern Grampians. Here we were to meet with Graham Parkes and Glenn Rudolph to get an insight into the effectiveness of the planning and execution of the Fuel Reduction burns for the 2008 Autumn season. Most of us were there to observe the solstice pass with no effect, however, Kathy’s guidance system was severely disrupted and had to be over-ridden before she was able to finally home in on the rendezvous.

Graham outlined the difficulties of planning the burns, the effect of the fickle weather at that time of year, and was able to show the meticulous observations and record keeping that is necessary not only for the planning … Read the rest

More on the Spring Calendar

1. AGM Sunday September 7th.

Thank you to those of you who are now up to date with your membership fees. Please check your label if you are unsure whether you have paid.
At the AGM all committee positions are available. Please seriously consider whether you can take a bigger role. It is not good for an organisation to keep people in jobs for too long. In particular, it would be good to give our longserving treasurer and secretary some rest. The jobs are not onerous, and if FOGG is to remain a useful organisation new blood is very desirable.
Please bring along photos from the Red Gum Walk. We are working on having some “before and after” photos in our interpretation displays.

2. Threatened Species Group Activities

This time of the year is the busy season for looking for our rare plants. It is always most enjoyable, even when … Read the rest

President’s Mutterings Aug 08

Over the passed couple of months the committee have been engaged in discussions and meeting with Parks regarding the future of the FOGG’s sponsored disabled person “Red-gum Walk” in the upper Victoria Valley area of the Grampians National Park.
This whole area of the Victoria Valley was altered completely by the January 2006 “Mt Lubra” wild fire and the recovery will be a long time period. Nearly all the predominant large flora features have been destroyed or removed.
After a lot of deliberation, your committee has decided that part of the original walk be reopened. There is no other place in the GNP where less-abled people, especially those confined to wheelchairs or walking frames can have an opportunity to spend quiet quality time in a bush surround, appreciating the wonders of our native Flora and Fauna.
At present we are meeting with Parks Vic re the removal of the burnt … Read the rest

August 2008 Editorial

Larneuk – season of nesting birds. As I walked this morning a female wood duck was boasting on a low branch of a stringy bark, a couple of cockatoos were squabbling and the wattlebirds are getting edgy. The blue wrens are frantic and the pardelotes are inspecting the banks. Halls Gap has continually been damp, misty and cold. It is lovely to see how green it looks, and the gentleness of the rain and the many fogs mean the water is at last soaking in. But the totals are still not high. Mt William is good, 513mm from May 1 to Aug 24; Stawell is also above the average, but not hugely, receiving 201 mm over the same period; Horsham however is still below average. Lake Bellfield is still at only 16% compared to 22% this time last year and over the whole Grampians Wimmera Mallee system storages are at … Read the rest

Spring Calendar

Sunday 7th Sept Annual General Meeting
Meet at Wartook Pottery café (note change) for lunch at 12.30, then our AGM. Please bring along photos and ideas for the Red Gum Walk. (See p 2 & p 6)

Thursday Sept 25th TSG Small-leaf Wax-flower Survey (Philotheca difformis
subsp. difformis)
Assist searching for this species endangered in Victoria around the Mt
Difficult area. Contact Sylvia on 5361 4001

Wednesday 1st October TSG Grampians Rice-flower Survey
Assist searching for nationally vulnerable plant around the Mt William
area

Thursday 2nd or 9th October (Date TBC) TSG Ornate Pink Fingers Survey.
Assist searching for this Nationally Vulnerable plant around the Golton
Gorge area.

Thursday October 2nd to Sunday 5th Halls Gap Wildflower Show. Please note that this year the show is shorter. It starts on Thursday morning and runs to Sunday.

Thursday 30th October TSG Grampians Bitter-pea Survey.
Assist searching for this nationally Vulnerable plant … Read the rest

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