2025 May- June -July events

Dear FOGG members – here are upcoming events – usually second Friday night or second Saturday of the month, unless indicated.

Exciting News – FOGG is now a registered Charity, exempt from income tax, but without tax-deductible status.

Website: www.friendsofgrampiansgariwerd.org.au

Office bearers 2025

President Leigh Douglas 0428109361

Vice President Geoff Stratford (Strum) 0402292690

Secretary Catherine Carlyle 0428399441

Treasurer Wendy Bedggood 0429932065

Contact :

Friends of Grampians -Gariwerd Events

Friday 9th May

“How will little critters cope with climate change” The Grampians fire, climate and biodiversity project with A/Professor Dr John White Deakin University

Date: Friday 9th May

Time: 6.00 pm to 7pm, followed by a meal.

Where: Brambuk the National Park and Cultural centre.

Findings from long-term small mammal research in the Grampians. While the impact of recent fires remains unclear for now, this talk will focus on how these species respond to changing climates and what their stories … Read the rest

Sallow Wattle Morning

Sallow Wattle Control Morning

When: Saturday, 12th April, 9:45 AM
Where: Grampians State Park, Halls Gap-Ararat Road, near Halls Gap Transfer Station

8 members and a Halls Gap Landcare volunteer attended. We parked at the Halls Gap Transfer station and car pooled across the road and down the track to the previously surveyed sallow wattle sites. Sallow wattle was removed along the track and we were pretty happy we got it all from this section. There are large trees on the boundary with private property which Parks Vic are aware of and working with Council and the landowners to remove. Sarah Cole will keep us informed.

We didn’t see any Grevillea gariwerdensis seedlings, but Neil Marriott has offered to visit the site next week to help FOGG look for these endangered plants.

Thankyou to everyone involved. John King, John Minchin-King, Wendy Bedggood, Geoff Wadge, Catherine Carlyle, Strum Stratford, … Read the rest

FOGG now a Charity!!

Subject: Your charity is now registered with the ACNC CRM:001260817797

Congratulations

We are pleased to confirm that the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) has registered Friends of Grampians-Gariwerd Inc (ABN: 69541815642) as a charity.

The date from which your charity is registered is 8/08/2014.… Read the rest

Grampians Walking Track Support Group April May Events

Good afternoon

This year we have a variety of volunteer maintenance works planned for our much loved walking tracks. The program will commence with vegetation and drainage works at Heatherlie Quarry on 5 April.

On 8 and 9 April we are replacing a short section of raised walkway at Heatherlie Quarry, using prefabricated panels funded by our donations.

We are planning works for 3 & 4 May and 6 & 7 September with the tracks to be determined following a full assessment of fire impacts..

We are also looking at a maintenance day at the Piccaninny in October.

As details are finalised, the projects will be available on ParkConnect –

https://www.parkconnect.vic.gov.au/

Please don’t hesitate to contact our Convenor, David, or me should you require further information.

All the best

Graham

phone 0429 839 179

email

… Read the rest

Tail of the Squirrel Gliders night survey report

On Monday evening, Friends of Grampians Gariwerd members and Project Platypus Elia and Lee ventured along the roadside vegetation to survey the area for Squirrel Gliders. We gathered at Mt Drummond Road, equipped with thermal imaging scopes and red light torches, tools crucial for spotting nocturnal wildlife. As the sun disappeared and darkness enveloped the landscape, the bushland seemed to come alive around us.

Our night began with some remarkable sightings. Almost immediately, a Brush-tailed Possum appeared in our sights, its distinctive, bushy tail illuminated in the soft red glow. Not long after, we caught sight of a Ring-tailed Possum navigating its way through the canopy with remarkable grace. These initial encounters reminded us of the importance of roadside vegetation with its mix of trees and understorey of wattles and set an exciting tone for the survey.

The real stars of the evening, however, were the Sugar Gliders. Not long … Read the rest

Tandara Track Work 17th March

Park Update

Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park 12.03.2025

From Monday 17^th March 2025, Wildtracks are commencing works on the Fyans Creek (Barri Yalug) Track between the end of Tandara Rd and the Terraces Fireline). Wildtracks will take approximately 2 weeks with this section of the track temporarily closed or detoured around on the Terraces Fireline in accordance with the progress of works. Boronia Peak remains accessible from the northern end of the Fyans Creek (Barri Yalug) Track.

William (Bill) Playne

Ranger – Visitor and Community

Grampians (Gariwerd)|Western Region… Read the rest

The Tail of the Squirrel Glider Invitation

Project Platypus invites Friends of the Grampians – Gariwerd to join the quest for Squirrel Gliders in an exciting, collaborative effort that brings together nature enthusiasts and dedicated ecologists.

Since October 2024, the dedicated Project Platypus field crew have undergone extensive training in identifying and monitoring Squirrel Gliders. Guided by ecologist Chris Pocknee from the Biolinks Alliance, their mission has taken them to the roadsides around Dadswell Bridge, surveying a 17km stretch armed with thermal imaging night scopes, binoculars, and cameras to spot and identify various possum and glider species.

Their vigilant efforts have already led to the discovery of a new location inhabited by Squirrel Gliders, providing crucial data to understand their population and inform protection strategies. These findings underscore the rarity of Squirrel Gliders in the area, highlighting the urgent need for concerted conservation efforts to ensure the survival of this special marsupial.

Now, the project is opening … Read the rest

2025 Grampians (Gariwerd) aerial pest animal control operation

Official Notice

Starting 12^th – 14^th March 2025

Parks Victoria is conducting a conservation program to improve the health of the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park native animals and plants following the devastating recent fires.

The recent Yarram Gap and Wallaby Rocks fires affected over 70% of the Grampians National Park impacting native plants, animals, aquatic species and invertebrates.

Urgent action is being taken to reduce predators (foxes and feral cats) and introduced herbivores (deer and feral goats), threatening the survival and recovery of vulnerable native plants and animals.

An aerial control operation will be conducted Wed 12^th – Fri 14^thMarch 2025 to support the recovery of native animals and plants after the Wallaby Rocks and Yarram Gap fires.

Foxes and feral cats prey on Grampians native animals such as the Brush tailed Rock Wallaby, Long nosed Potoroo, Southern Brown Bandicoot, Smoky mouse, Heath mouse, and … Read the rest

Special General Meeting – 2nd March 2025 @ 1pm, Meeting Room, Centenary Hall, Halls Gap

Welcome: Vice President Geoff Stratford took the chair and expressed thanks to Catherine Carlyle, Wendy Bedggood and Alison Bainbridge for their work leading up to calling this meeting.

Alison Bainbridge was minute secretary for this meeting.

Attendance: Geoff Stratford, Rod Thompson, Judith Thompson, John Minchin-King, Alan Bedggood, Wendy Bedggood, Neil Macumber and Alison Bainbridge

Apologies: Catherine Carlyle, Clive Carlyle, Elia Pirtle, James Maino, Andrew Cunningham, Sue Cunningham, Darren McClelland, John King, Jocelyn King, David Steane, Leigh Douglas, ben Gunn, Cindy Thompson

Motion: Apologies be accepted

Moved: Alan Bedggood Seconded: Judith Thompson Carried

All apologies registered their proxy in favour of all motions as foreshadowed in the Notice of this Special General Meeting.

Reason why a special meeting was called: Chair invited Wendy Bedggood to provide a brief outline of the why and how we have reached the position where Friends of Grampians Gariwerd (FOGG) could take the action to … Read the rest

Grampians Fires

16th December 2024 Lightning strikes started fires at Yarram Gap and spread north towards Halls Gap. Soon the whole Mt William range, Mt Rosea and Sundial area was on fire. This fire extended south towards Walker Swamp and west into the Wannon River valley and east towards Pomonal and Moyston.

Halls Gap and surrounding towns were evacuated several times. Christmas was a very unsettling time for many.

Over 76000 hectares of National Park and farmland was burnt, the fire had a perimeter of 427km. Including farmland around Pomonal and Moyston. Pomonal had burnt recently in February 2024 and once again the town had to be evacuated. Several homes were lost and many fences and out buildings.

On the 6th January this fire was contained, but blacking out operations continued and the fire was monitored to ensure that it did not break out again.

Halls Gap reopened on 8th January and … Read the rest