Category: Newsletters

Committee Meeting Report: 15th July 2020

We met on zoom and Paul Strickland from the Victorian Environment Friends Network had been invited to join us. All the committee were able to join in.

Bill outlined his recent discussions with senior park management regarding Prof Timms research permit problems and had positive discussions and concerns from this meeting. Senior Park management wanted to hear feedback and to have this information to try to improve the system.
Acknowledgment of the lack of funding, lack of staff and time constraints on local rangers due to bushfires, inadequate funding and Covid19.

Paul outlined that Parks Victoria is not a conservation agency. That we are independent organisation and as such can determine our own directions and activities. He mentioned that there is a Draft Volunteer Management Manual which is rules for staff engagement with volunteers. Issues around lack of staff and funding.

Suggestions included:

  • Work with Parks staff to resolve these
… Read the rest

The Fish Falls Seat Saga

Once upon a time there was a Zumsteins’ Friends Association, formed originally to campaign that Parks look after their heritage. When they felt that their concerns had been listened to they closed down and gave FOGGS the money left in their account. FOGGS decided that it would be good to use it by placing a seat on the path from Zumsteins to McKenzie Falls. But at that stage, I think, the path was still closed. Then came years of fires and floods. Then we had a look and decided it could best go near Fish Falls and sent a note to that effect to Parks.

Update to 2019 and the committee decide to get it done. But the notes has been lost. So we start again. What sort of seat and where? Bill, Rodney and Leigh met with Hannah and chose the spot. But what sort of seat? A recycled … Read the rest

Ian McCann book news

I am very pleased to report that “Grampians Wildflowers” is now available and we are very happy with it. David and Bruce Welsch have done an excellent job in scanning the original photos, choosing the paper etc, Neil and Wendy Marriott have updated the Botanical information (which is in an appendix with the original name still under each photo), Andy McCann has contributed a tribute to Ian, and together with VNPA I have reworded the preface. The FOGG name now appears on the spine. FOGGS have so far received one box of books and are awaiting another delivery. When we have that, the committee will decide how best to use our copies, so watch for that next issue. In the meantime it is already for sale in Halls Gap for $20.… Read the rest

Book Review: Gariwerd – An Environmental History Of The Grampians

“Gariwerd” is a new book from CSIRO Publishing, written by Benjamin Wilkie, an area local from just outside Hamilton.

The author has certainly done reams of research in the archives for this.
The text is packed with information, from the geological formation of the mountains, significance to the indigenous people, the coming of white explorers, settlement and the introduction of feral animals. It continues through to the declaration of the Grampians National Park, controversy over indigenous place names, and ongoing management. The Acclimatisation Society has a lot to answer for with the introduction of hares, foxes, deer and even pigs. He also discusses the impacts and damage done by cattle and sheep grazing too.

Our group even gets a mention in that we added Gariwerd to our name and maintained that change, despite the Kennet Government’s reversal of the use of indigenous names after the process was gazetted and approved … Read the rest

Halls Gap Botanic Garden

Halls Gaps Grampians Flora Botanic Garden is devoted to the plants that grow in Grampians Gariwerd. FOGGS held their AGM there last year and also helped a bit with weeding.

The Botanic Gardem committee learnt that there was an opportunity to apply for grants to regional Botanic Gardens and so we set to work. One project we very much want to do is to improve our information about indigenous knowledge and use of plants and state our appreciation to the original occupants of this area. FOGGS have offered us a financial contribution plus contributions of time and muscle in installing new signs etc. We’ve asked for other things as well, so now we just have to wait and see what we get.… Read the rest

Grasslands: Biodiversity Of South-Eastern Australia App – Free App 2012

Australia’s native grasslands are some of our most critically endangered ecosystems, home to many endangered fauna and flora species. A new, free comprehensive field guide app for iPhone and iPad, Grasslands: Biodiversity of South-Eastern Australia, is now available. It introduces users to, and aims to build an appreciation of, the unique biodiversity of south-eastern Australia’s temperate native grasslands.

It is a collaboration between the University of Melbourne team that published Land of sweeping plains: Managing and restoring the native grasslands of south-eastern Australia and Ecolinc, a Department of Education and Training Specialist Science Centre focusing on environmental science curriculum programs for P–12 students and teachers.

For more information contact Associate Professor Nicholas (Nick) Williams, Urban Ecology and Urban Horticulture, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne via email: .… Read the rest

HG Wildflower Show Cancelled

The HG Wildflower show, which has been held almost every year since 1938, has had to be cancelled, as have so many other local ecological events (Lake Bolac Eel Festival, Cavendish Red Gum Festival etc).

FOGGS have often had a display there, and elsewhere in this issue you will find some extracts from our display there in 2005.… Read the rest

Pomonal’s Biggest Science Experiment

Denis Crawford, who has several times been a speaker on insects at FOGG events, joined with WAMA and Anthea Nicholls to host a science event in our area to get the whole community involved in doing science. Once again Covid restrictions has made it very difficult, but during National Science Week 15 – 23 August 2020 there will be an online presentation of various community projects. A Pomonal 15 year old looking at local orchids, HG primary school is doing something on ants, as is the HG Botanic Garden, plus a presentation on the Dark Matter Laboratory in Stawell.

More information on their website www.bigsciexp.com.au… Read the rest

Grampians Rail Trail

There is now a bike path from Stawell to the Grampians following the old route of the train line that carried stone from Heatherlie Quarry to Stawell and thence to Melbourne. It doesn’t actually go into the park but does go through the Illawarra Fauna and Flora Reserve then joins the Mt Dryden Rd. A hard working volunteer group in Stawell has put a lot of work into this and the views towards the mountains must be very rewarding.

Maps are available at www.railtrails.org.au.… Read the rest

Miscellaneous History Bits

I have been tidying up my computer and found the posters I made in 2005 celebrating FOGGS 21st birthday, and ones made in 2009 all displayed at the HG wildflower show. I’ll put some here and more next issue.

The 2009 posters were on the history of the National Park and started with:

THE PERIOD ENDING WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF A MULTIPLE USE POLICY BY THE FORESTS COMMISION IN 1938. (Three pages. Here are just a few entries)

For thousands of years Indigenous Australians occupy the Gariwerd area. They gathered food, farmed eels, hunted, celebrated and dreamed here in the mountains and the  surrounding plains. Their culture, despite damage by white settlement, still is alive today.

1836: The first European,Major Mitchell, sights, climbs and names the Grampians. He collects 150 plant specimens, of which 40 were new to science, including our Thryptomene calycina.

1853: Ferdinand von Mueller … Read the rest

Friends of Grampians Gariwerd