Margo Sietmsa
Despite the best of intentions, there has been a delay in appointing the new AG. This was in the main due to uncertainty over changes to responsibilities of different indigenous groups. However this morning i received news that the new AG has been appointed and that I am re-appointed convenor.
In the interim, the retiring Advisory Group members have continued participating in forums and otherwise acting to bring issues to the attention of PV, and informing the public of the work being done by PV.One such forum was a recent workshop on bush camping (at which Stan also represented FOGGs). Another activity I undertook in was in April. It was an outcome of the visit in November of the Wilson’s Prom AG to us. I went down to the Prom to look at the research being done by a volunteer group on fire, both planned and unplanned. The … Read the rest
Category: Articles
RRECONCILIATION CEREMONY AT BRAMBUK.
Dot Hoffmann
During the week set aside for the commemorating of reconciliation, people gathered all around Australia, yet the news featured the uproar on fuel prices ad-nauseum and very little was reported on the reconciliation events staged in our communities. On the morning of May 28th the reconciliation process was highlighted at Brambuk. About 40 people gathered to mark the occasion with a flag raising, an excellent summary of the reconciliation process to date, a personal story from one of the stolen generation and ended with a movie about the Prime Minister’s apology.
Sandy Hodge presented a timeline of milestones in law changes and human rights issues. He made important links between legal changes such as the overwhelmingly positive 1967 referendum which gained the vote for indigenous people. The “Mabo” land rights outcome destroyed the notion of ‘terra nulla” and recognized that the indigenous people have indeed an “ownership right … Read the rest
PICNIC AT FLAT ROCK (crossing)
Ben Gunn
On a lovely grey, not-so-cold day in Autumn, us mob of eleven intrepids took to the hills in search of cultural heritage and a good time. First a quick run to the top of Paddy’s Castle, well ideally, but not so quick for us eleven….it being quite a bit steeper than we remembered, and there’s a wee step just before the crest…But once atop the view was stubbornly spectacular…well, that bit that lay out below the low belly of a rain-promising blanket. And indeed it was soul lifting Then, trying to remember a short-cut that didn’t end in a vertical cliff, we sauntered down like well-trained kangaroos heading for water. Slip, jump; and there we were at the grille of the Scrubby Creek 1 art site. A little explanation of what was to be seen (it definitely needs interpretation as it contains the greatest quantity of hard to … Read the rest
RED GUM WALKS DISCUSSION PAPER
by Margo Sietsma
Parks has received the arborist’s report, and it presents us with some dilemmas. Eleven trees would need to be felled on the short loop, and a further 37 on the long loop in order to re-open the walk. Sylvia has done some VERY rough and fairly conservative estimates for the tree work. The cost would depend upon whether we could do the work with an internal crew like the summer fire crew or if we contracted it out to a company like Skyrider. Over the past 2 years PV have used a combination of both types of resources. We would need Skyrider for some of the trees as PV do not have the equipment to be able to trim a tree that is 45 metres high. Sylvia’s estimate is at least $3,000 for the short loop and the rough estimate for all trees would be around $15,450 … Read the rest
Red Gum Walks table stolen
It is with great sadness that I bring the news that some unknown person has stolen our beautiful table and seats. They have sawn the legs off at ground level, scuffed the gravel around to hide the fact, and made off with the table and seats. It was first discovered on May 15 by a group from the HG Wildflower show who were out on a plant study excursion, and confirmed a couple of days later by Stan, Proo, Sylvia and myself who had already arranged an inspection of the walk to consider the arborist’s report (see below). We held out a faint hope that it had gone for repair or some such, or that the heavy post fire regrowth had disoriented us; but alas it has been stolen. It has been reported to the police and articles written for the Stawell and Horsham papers, but of course it could … Read the rest
From the Parkes’ Desk June 2008
Graham Parkes
Staff
We congratulate Emily Bedggood in her appointment as Ranger to support the Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby (BTRW) project. Emily will be helping Tony Corrigan to prepare for the re-introduction of BTRW into the Grampians national park, and will also be assisting with post release field monitoring.
The new financial year will see Lockeah Sabbo move from the Visitor Services team to the Natural Values team. Locky will be assisting Jake Goodes with Pest Plant and Animal control works within the Park.
We would also like to welcome Adam Tribe and Kyle Hewitt to the team. Adam and Kyle were previously part of our Fire Recovery team and have since been appointed to Field Services Officer positions provided through the Public Land Fire Initiative.
We would also like to take this opportunity to give our sincere thanks to all those staff who have contributed to the fire recovery works … Read the rest
President’s Mutterings June 08
Stan Parfett
The loss of the Red Gum Table from the Red Gum Walk. (See separate report)
In my opinion this sad event was a well planned operation by people who knew of its location. With the regrowth after the fire and no directional signage left to indicate the Walk area it was hard to find. They really had to have known the area.
The Autumn Fuel Burns 2008 inspection 21st June 2008.
There have been a lot of different views on the need for, and the results of, these fuel reduction burns again this season. Many of us have differing opinions about the use of these DSE and Parks Victoria activities from NO Burns to TOTAL Hot burns that sterilise the soil (and open the way for wind born weed seeds to colonize these burn areas). With a lot of varying opinion on the degree of burns in between.… Read the rest
From the Editor June 2008
Chinnup – season of cockatoos – and is it ever! I saw an enormous flock of long billed corellas in a paddock at Pomonal this week. Strange to think that not so long ago they were listed as rare and maybe threatened. But we also have the sulphur crested cockatoos around the towns, while the black and the gang gangs are more in the hills at this time of year. It is also the season of common heath and the display in the burnt areas is so colourful this year.
I am writing this on a beautifully damp morning. After a scarily dry few months we had a good rainfall in Halls Gap about a month ago, although the Northern end once again had less. And now this week we have a good soaking. But after so many dry years we need much more. Lake Bellfield is still at only … Read the rest
Grampians Pincushion-Lily Survey (Borya mirabilis)
TSG Grampians Pincushion-Lily Survey (Borya mirabilis)… Read the rest