Did You Know?

In 2010, 6.1 million people participated in voluntary work.

Volunteers give approximately 713 million volunteer hours per annum.

The national voluntary contribution is valued at over $200 billion - more than double the value of the mining industry.

Source: ABS Voluntary Work 2010 & University of Adelaide 2012

Don't forget to get your entries in for our Photo Competition

There are prizes for all 12 categories with the overall winner recieving two nights accommodation in one of our National Parks.

ENTERING IS EASY - Email your photos to dewnrnorthernandyorkecommunications@sa.gov.au.

All entries must be received by the 14 September 2014.

Winners will be announced on 4 October 2014.

Please read the rules, terms and legal conditions on our website. before submitting your photos.

Getting out into the bush - An introduction to the Walking Trails Support Group by Rob Marshall

The Walking Trails Support Group (FoPI) was formed in 2000 to support an initiative of the Royal Geographical Society (RGSSA) which had included 12 interpreted Bush Walks in its publication Explore the Flinders Ranges.

The walks had been established by adding to some existing walks and developing new ones.  Most were on public land, but some were not.  Some walks already in the Ranges, were leaving walkers disappointed because they were too steep or risky, and walkers returned to base disappointed. This was a challenge for our group to rectify.

Water is the biggest destroyer in arid areas and the control of water run-off was a pre-eminent factor in developing the walks.  Control of grade was the key (1 in 10) – no steep, rocky climbs requiring waterbars, or ‘all-fours’.  Trails can be routed to avoid areas of sensitive habitat and cultural sites – walkers don’t need trails, but the country does.

So the objectives of the Group have been, and are, to:

• provide day or ½-day walks that the average walker, with family, can enjoy
• ensure those walks are sustainable and simply maintained
• take walkers into interesting places
• provide information about those places – simple leaflets provided at trailheads
• keep walkers advised of their progress with distance markers

Original development of our Group involved financial inputs from the SA Tourism Commission, Recreation and Sport and the then ‘Department of Environment’ (DEWNR).  This input covered markers, leaflet dispensers, steel for the lookout and interpretive panels on Mount Brown.  In-kind input came from Friends of Heysen Trail and RGSSA.

The group continues maintenance, now with minimal resources.  Grants in past years have provided equipment; members become involved in manufacture and assembly of some components eg. the map plates we have at Trailheads.  Trail maps for the leaflets are developed by one of us and we maintain a website where visitors can find more detailed information.  In Northern and Yorke, we look after circuit walks on Mount Brown and The Dutchman. 

One of us designed the new walk to the summit of Mount Remarkable.  A lady in Melrose said  “I have lived here all my life and now I am able to walk to the top of the hill. Never before.”  Our rewards are receiving feedback like this.  Mostly we have verbal feedback from the walkers we meet, or notes stuffed into the leaflet dispensers, but the emails from interstate are real treasures.

Our volunteers keep pretty fit and more are always welcome!  If anyone is interested in trail development, we published a Walking Trails Handbook, which explains the principles.  Some copies still available.  Visit our website for more information   www.walkingtrailssupportgroup.org.au  

Rob Marshall
Walking Trails Support Group

Photo: Generators can go anywhere if needed! – to shape drains on Mt Brown

Become a Firey Woman

The Country Fire Service (CFS) Firey Women Workshop is designed specifically for rural women. You can learn how to protect your family and livelihood from bushfire. The award winning Firey Women workshops provide women with a safe non-threatening setting to learn new skills to protect their families and livelihoods.

The workshops cover both information and practical sessions over two days.

Workshop topics include:

• Preparing yourself emotionally
• Understanding the new bushfire danger ratings and warnings
• Deciding when to "leave early" or "stay and defend"
• Preparing a Bushfire Survival Plan
• Identifying hazards around the home
• Operating pumps and fire fighting equipment
• Bushfire Behaviour
• Preventing Injury

Firey Women Workshops

3 September 2014 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM, Waterloo

For Women living in the Gilbert Valley Area, this event is being held at Waterloo Hall, Main Street, Waterloo SA 5413. Contact Helen Hennessy, CFS Community Engagement Officer on (08) 8212 9858.

For more information on this program visit their website.
 

BEST are seeking volunteers for their biological survey

The Biodiversity & Endangered Species Team (BEST) would like to invite volunteers to join their biological survey in the Alligator Basin of Mt Remarkable NP from the 15th – 20th of October.

BEST were successful in obtaining grant money to undertake this project, with the aim is to determine the effects of a large prescribed, ecological burn on biodiversity in Alligator Basin, Mt Remarkable NP.

Spring Biological Survey

Wed 15th to Mon 20th October 2014

Mt Remarkable National Park

A full biological survey will be undertaken: Bird, vegetation and vertebrate surveys.

You are welcome to drop-in to see the process or take on one of the roles listed below :

• 2 x experienced bird surveyors
• 1 x experienced vegetation surveyor
• 6 – 10 to assist in the survey (no experienced needed, you don’t need to be present everyday)
• Caterer/Cook(s) – prepare & cook meals for the duration of the survey (approx. 20 people/day).

Accommodation & Meals – Free camping at the Kingfisher Flat Bush Camp. Meals will be provided.

If you would like more information, or to register your interest please contact Wendy Cliff, Volunteer Support Officer.

Let's meet Sam Everingham - Community Ranger, Rangelands

Sam started in the Community Ranger, Rangelands role in June, and since has been active supporting local community groups.

He has previously worked as a Ranger for Forestry SA in the mid north district (Wirrabara and Bundaleer), technical support officer with Forestry SA at Kuitpo and with Greening Australia and Heritage Bush Care.

Sam's hobbies and interests include camping, 4wd’s and football, Sydney Swans supporter.

Contact Sam if you have any questions on how Natural Resource Northern & Yorke can assist your Rangelands/Mid North community, or if you want to discuss your projects or activities.

Beach walkers and Hooded Plover lovers wanted

Natural Resources Northern and Yorke is seeking volunteers to help with a biennial count of the threatened Hooded Plover bird along the beach lines of Yorke Peninsula.

Training courses for volunteers will be held on Yorke Peninsula in October, with surveys to be conducted between November 7 - 21, 2014.

Easily distinguished by its black ‘hood’, broad white collar across the back of the neck and black-tipped red beak, the Hooded Plover traditionally nests in spring and summer along the beaches of Yorke Peninsula.

Yorke Peninsula Community Team Leader Deborah Furbank says the region provides the perfect nesting place.

“Nesting on a busy beach may seem like a strange thing to do, but when the tiny chicks hatch they need to be close to their food – seaweed at the water’s edge - as they are unable to move far on their tiny legs,” she says.

Hooded Plover numbers have been declining across southern Australia and the species is already extinct in Queensland and northern New South Wales.

The bird is considered ‘vulnerable to extinction’ in South Australia, and Ms Furbank says Natural Resources Northern and Yorke are working closely with BirdLife Australia and the local community to reverse this trend.

“The survey is coordinated by Birds Australia and includes the entire coast from Jervis Bay in NSW, to the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia.”

“The survey involves walking along a stretch of beach and recording Hooded Plover sightings and any visible threats that may impact breeding success, such as foxes and ravens.
Ms Furbank says the surveys are an important way to gauge bird numbers, and November is an ideal time for counting them.

If you are interested in attending the workshops, taking part in the surveys or would like further information, please contact Deborah Furbank of Natural Resources Northern and Yorke on 0421 617 155 or Deborah.Furbank@sa.gov.au

Scott Creek utilising crowd funding for their Almanda Project

As grants and funding dry up, volunteer/community groups are exploring different ways to source funding to deliver their projects. 

View the news report on how Friends of Scott Creek’s Almanda Project is being promoted via crowd funding and how they’re already receiving strong support.

Wallaby numbers stable following Bangor fire

A survey of the Telowie Gorge Conservation Park has found that the yellow-footed rock- wallaby (YFRW) population in the park has been largely unaffected by the Bangor bushfire and flood event of January/February 2014.

The informal ground survey conducted recently by Michael Stead of EcoKnowledge, found five YFRW in four separate locations within the park, which remains closed to the public.

To read the full story, visit our website.

Friends of Burra Parks' activity highlights

Bimbowrie visit, up-coming Climate Change information evening and more…….

The annual trip to Bimbowrie Conservation Park, situated 35 km west of Olary, has become a popular event on Friends of Burra Parks calendar.

From July 4th to 8th fifteen volunteers joined four DEWNR (Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources) staff to take part in restoration stone work on the Cobb & Co coach house, dating from the late 1800s.

The work used traditional materials and was carried out under the supervision of Rodney Rees, Regional Asset Services Officer of DEWNR.

President of Friends of Burra Parks, Bob Lamb, said “The on-going heritage restoration work at Bimbowrie always attracts interest from people beyond our own members. It is of interest to stone masons, people who are doing home restoration of old buildings and those interested in the conservation of heritage buildings generally. These few days presents a great opportunity to learn new skills working alongside experienced restoration stone masons as well as spending time in an arid lands conservation park.

“Earlier in the year, and closer to home, we have continued restoring the shepherd’s hut at Touralie Gorge, erected bollards in the campsite at Caroona Conservation Park and weeded around the campsite at Red Banks Conservation Park. In the coming months our group will be monitoring native grasses in Mokota Conservation Park and Acacia Glandulacarpa in Hopkins Creek Conservation Park,” Bob said.

On Sunday September 28, Friends of Burra Parks will host an important information evening on climate change. The meeting will provide information on this widely discussed issue.

Speakers are: Darren Ray, Senior Meteorologist and Manager of the SA Climate Section of Bureau of Meteorology, and Greg Lundstrom, Climate Change Officer with the Murray-Darling Natural Resources Management Board.

The meeting will be held in the Supper Room of the Burra Town Hall from 2.00 to 5.00 pm. Everyone is welcome.

For enquiries about Friends of Burra Parks phone Bob Lamb 8581 8255 or email our secretary Maureen Wright.

Chemical Accreditation training on offer

Natural Resources SAMDB would like to offer the opportunity for 6 volunteers to participate in chemical accreditation training. The training is to help assist with your groups general works. 

The course runs from 8:30am-5:30pm and will cover 10 topics

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
• Reading & understanding chemical labels & MSDS
• Safe transport, storage and handling
• Calibrating application equipment
• Personal Safety
• Keeping records of chemical use
• Chemical use and the law
• Safe storage of chemicals
• Protecting the environment
• Using tools like Delta T, spray droplet quality, buffer distances
• Improving chemical efficiency/reducing off-target damage

The training is nationally accredited and will be valid until December 31st 2019.

Three dates are available for training:

• Friday 19th September - Jamestown
• Monday 22nd September - Saddleworth
• Wednesday 29th October - Clare

To reserve your place, please send an expression of interest from either individual or group to Sam Everingham.

Burra bird identification and monitoring workshop

KEEN BIRDWATCHERS AND CASUAL OBSERVERS INVITED

As part of a new bird monitoring program being rolled out across the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin (SAMDB) region, volunteers from the Rangelands region are invited to join us for two free bird monitoring workshops in November.

The program offers both formal surveys for keen bird enthusiasts and recording of opportunistic sightings by casual observers.
This data will be shared through the Atlas of Living Australia and the Biological Database of South Australia.

A  bird identification workshop in Burra, run by Peter Waanders, is available for beginners to intermediate. The afternoon workshop will be held at the Burra Railway Station and the practical field session held at Worlds End Gorge/ Hopkins Creek Conservation Park.
An introduction to the bird monitoring program by Dr Simon Bryars will be run on Sunday afternoon at the Burra Railway Station for bird watchers of all experience levels.

To reserve your place, please send an expression of interest from either individual or group to Sam Everingham.

The workshop is free with afternoon tea provided. Loan sets of binoculars, ID guides and GPS will be supplied.

TIMES AND DATES

• ID workshop (Afternoon tea provided) Saturday 29th November 12pm-5pm
• ID field trip Sunday 30th November 8am-12pm
• Bird Monitoring Program training workshop (Lunch provided) Sunday 30th November 12pm-2pm

Yackamoorundie Landcare Group invite you to their information evening

The Yackamoorundie Landcare Group is hosting a series of three information meetings.

The second of these meetings will be held on

Thursday 25th September - 6pm start with a BBQ tea

Tom and Anna Hawker’s Shearing Shed

‘Anama’, 407 Anama Lane, Clare (16 km North of Clare)

Speakers for this meeting include:

• Brendon Bevan, Ranger on Arkaba Station - Tourism and his life in Africa
• Anne Brown (Greening Australia) - The Native Vegetation Act
• B/Sgt Luke Elstone – Rural Watch and local issues
• Ian Falkenberg, Natural Resources Northern & Yorke – Owls

Tea, coffee, etc will be provided. BYO Chair and Drinks. Dress warmly!

All welcome. It is a family friendly meeting.

Enquiries: Ian Radford 88452179 or Judith Sommerville 88452070

This event is funded by the Lower North Group, Natural Resources Northern & Yorke.

PIRSA Weed Control Handbook - new edition available

The July 2014 edition of the Weed Control Handbook for Declared Plants in South Australia is now available for download from the PIRSA Biosecurity Website.

Download your copy today.
 

Invitation to the Worlds End Conservation Open Day

Come and explore our Worlds End Conservation properties with us

OPEN DAY

Sunday 21st September

10 am - 4 pm

WEC manages 2 native habitat properties (about 1000 hectares) for conservation, south of Burra.

They protect endangered habitat, Lomandra Irongrass grasslands, and rare plants and animals.

Activities:

• 4WD and guided walking tours of both properties, leaving at 10.30 a.m. and 2.00 p.m.
• Wildflower walks; spring wildflowers should be excellent this spring
• Bird watching and identification with experts
• Land Function Analysis demonstrations

How to get there from Robertstown - Drive 18.5 km north from Robertstown on the Worlds End Hwy, past both Gregurke Road (at 11.5 km) and Hallelujah Hills Road (at 16 km) on your left, and then turn sharp left in onto the next dirt road which heads toward some big wooded hills. The property entrance is about 1.5 km along this road. This is about 2 km south of Burra Gorge.

What to bring:

• Wear suitable clothing for the weather and sturdy shoes if you want to walk.
• Bring your picnic lunch or BBQ and accessories (chairs etc.). BBQ facilities available.
• Morning and afternoon tea provided.

Celebrating 10 years of the company, its members and the habitats we protect!

To find out more about WEC look us up at our fledgling website.
To reply to this invitation, please contact us.

Hart Field Day - 16th September

"Robotics & drones" - plus a huge range of broad-acre cropping trials; varieties, herbicides, agronomy, time of sowing, nitrogen, pastures & more.

We're almost ready to publish the full Hart Field Day program, site map, session and speakers list and more. Watch out for our Hart News "Hart Field Day - special edition" in a couple of weeks or keep your eye on our website.

Native Orchid Annual Spring Show

Interested in conservation of our native orchids? Then come and learn about the conservation work of NOSSA.

Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st September, 10am to 4pm

St Bernadette's Church Hall, South Road, St. Marys (corner South Rd & Walsh Ave)

Entrance Gold Coin donation

• Native Orchids - epiphytes and terrestrials - for sale; many of them not available in stores.
• Get growing advice form the experts - between them, there are many years of experience.
• View display of Flowering Native Orchids 

Enquiries to the Native Orchid Society SA.

Annual FREE walk in memory of Professor Sir John Cleland

The Friends of Belair National Park invite you to a Historic Guided Walk in

Belair National Park

Sunday 14th September 2014

10 am to noon (approx) followed by a barbecue (gold coin donation)

Meet at the Volunteer Centre, Long Gully, in Belair National Park.

FREE entry to the Park for participants, and free tea and coffee from the volunteers. BYO snacks, water. Wear walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen and jacket.

Enquiries: friendsofbelairpark@msn.com or phone 8278 2370.

While you are in Belair National Park, Old Government House is also open for tours Sunday 1 to 4 pm.

Australian Plants Society's spring native flower display & plant sale

Saturday 11th (10am - 5 pm) &

Sunday 12th (10am - 4 pm) October

Stirling Angus Hall, Adelaide Showgrounds 

Over 10,000 plants for sale, some at $4 but most at $5.  Display of Australian flowers, several hundred named.

Workshops include:

• Kevin Handreck – soils
• Dean Nicolle – Eucalypts
• Pruning Australian native plants
• Hands-on Propagation 

Books, arts, crafts for sale. Children’s activities. Free soil testing and Advice. Plant list and program on website the week before the sale.

The Australian Plants Society rely on any profits from these sales to fund the work on our bushcare sites, as well as promoting research and information about Australian plants generally.

Snake Awareness Workshop - spaces still available

Would you like to learn more about local snakes?

Then come along to a workshop which will cover the following topics:

• How to recognise snake hazards and what to do about them
• How to deal with snakes and what you must do if an accident happens.

This workshop is presented by Geoff Coombe and includes live snakes used under controlled conditions.

19th October, 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Adelaide Hills Natural Resource Centre – 1 Crescent
Drive, Norton Summit.     

COST = $5 (registration essential)

For more information contact Val Hunt on 8390 1831 or valhunt@ahnrc.org.

Learn more about how we interact with the world of plants

Plants play a bigger role in our lives than you might think. Our food, medicines, textiles and even perfumes all have origins in the plant world.

The Botanic Gardens of South Australia is offering the opportunity to learn more about our interactions with plants in a new short course, Economic Botany Today.

The course consists of lectures, demonstrations and tours across two days, looking at how plants have shaped our past and will affect our future. Each session will be supported by plant material from the rich collections of the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium.

The course will be presented by world-renowned botanist, educator and writer Professor David Mabberley. 

Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from one of the world’s greatest living botanists in an intimate group setting.

Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 October

9.00 am – 5.00 pm

Noel Lothian Hall, Adelaide Botanic Garden

$695 early bird rate (if paid by 31 August); $795 standard rate

For all details, the course program, and to book please visit the Botanic Gardens of South Australia website.

Volunteer to grow native plants

Do you want a feel-good experience this summer?

You can get this by volunteering to grow native seedlings through Trees For Life.

Join more than 1000 South Australians and grow local native seedlings for farmers and revegetation projects in your backyard.

All materials and step-by-step guide is provided, as well as on-going support.

You don't need to have a green thumb - grower workshops are even held to train you about propagation!

For more information view the brochure or visit the Trees for Life website.

Grant & funding opportunities

Volunteer Support Fund opens Monday 25 August

The State Government recognises the importance of supporting our volunteers by providing one-off grants through the Volunteer Support Fund to assist volunteer workers in community organisations.

Individual grants of up to $3,000 are available to not-for-profit community organisations to help provide support for volunteer training and resources.

Who can apply: Community based, not-for-profit organisations incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act 1985 are eligible to apply.

How to apply: The online application form and the grant guidelines can be downloaded from the Office for Volunteers website.

For more information phone the Office for Volunteers on 1300 014 712.

Applications close: 5pm, Friday 24 October 2014

Waterloo Wind Farm Community Fund – applications now open!

The Waterloo Wind Farm Community Fund has been set up by EnergyAustralia to provide financial support for projects that will deliver lasting benefits to the local community.

The fund is all about helping people to implement local initiatives that aim to improve outcomes for the local community.

For more information and a copy of the application form visit the EnergyAustralia website.

Applications close 5pm Friday 12 September 2014.

Alternatively, you can contact: Hannah Rantanen via email or call 0408 547 869

Nature Foundation SA Research Grants

NFSA is now open to receive grant applications within the following:

• PhD/Masters Grand-Start Scholarship Program
• Honours Year Grand-Start Scholarship Program
• General Conservation Research.
• Community Education and Awards.
• Conservation Research on NFSA Properties.
• The Roy and Marjory Edwards Postgraduate Scholarship

Applications close Monday 15th September 2014.

All grants are subject the normal NFSA Grant Guidelines. View our website for the Guidelines and Application Forms.

Enquiries: NatureFoundationSA@nfsa.org.au or 08 8340 2880

Volunteering Opportunities

September

8th: Trees for Life Threatended Flora Project (Halbury Parklands, Wakefield)

• Protecting Pterostylis lepida
• Orchid count
• Contact Erica Rees 0408 812 677

13th - 27th: Friends of Spring Gully (Sevenhill)

• Working bee
• Contact - Jim Scott

16th: Friends of Innes National Park Working Bee

• Stone restoration works
• Contact - Malcolm Ball

18th: Friends of Telowie Gorge CP

• Working bee
• Contact - Frank Gordon 0447 764 064

23rd - 25th: Trees for Life Threatended Flora Project (Mid North)

• Protecting Acanthocladium dockeri
• Monitoring, collect cuttings
• Contact Erica Rees 0408 812 677

26th - 27th: Subaru 4WD Club SA (Mt Remarkable NP)

• Contact - Paul Shinks 0404 046 066

School Holidays (anytime between 19th Sept - 7th October): Campground Host at Mt Remarkable National Park or Innes National Park

• Contact the Natural Resource Centre on 88413400 or email.

October

TBC: Trees for Life Threatended Flora Project (Hart, Blyth)

• Protecting Acanthocladium dockeri
• Broadleaf weed control
• Contact Erica Rees 0408 812 677

11th: Friends of Spring Gully (Sevenhill)

• Working bee
• Contact - Jim Scott

16th: Friends of Telowie Gorge CP

• Working bee
• Contact - Frank Gordon 0447 764 064

21st: Friends of Innes National Park Working Bee

• Working Bee - Working on monuments at Stenhouse, Ethels and along Stenhouse Trail.
• Contact - Malcolm Ball

25th: Friends of Spring Gully (Sevenhill)

• Working bee
• Contact - Jim Scott

29th: Friends of Burra Parks

• Mokota Conservation Park monitoring
• Contact - Maureen Wright