Plains wandering and rocky rambling !

An occasional newsletter for supporters and members

of the Friends of Terrick Terrick National Park Inc.

The 2013 committee Jill Millsom (Convener)

Keith Stockwell (Secretary)

Fred Belli (Treasurer)

Mark Tscharke (Parks Victoria

Ranger)

Beau Kent

Ian Mellier

Russell Shawcross

Jenny Spence

Helen Stevens

Graeme Stevens

Friends of Terrick Terrick

National Park is incorporated in

Victoria; Australian Business

Number 251 663 376 06

Contact details Secretary:

stocky@mcmedia.com.au

11 Hillview Avenue MOAMA 2731

Phone: (03) 5480 9254

Contributions for this newsletter

should be forwarded to the

editor, Keith Stockwell, at the

above address, preferably by

email (e.g. as an MS Word

document or jpeg).

The views and opinions

expressed in this newsletter are

not necessarily those of the

Victorian Government, Parks Victoria or any of its rangers.

Date of “open weekend”

4pm Friday 4th October 2013 to 2pm Sunday 6th October 2013

In this issue • New display boards

• Naturally Loddon: a

wonderland in Spring Festival

• Program for Open Weekend

• Northern Plains CMN report

• Loddon Plains Landcare report

• Member discovers new plant

species

• Friends of Kooyoora weekend

Open weekend: it’s on again! For several years now, the Friends of Terrick Terrick National Park Inc. have held

an “open weekend” in the national park on the first weekend of October.

And this year is no exception. Once again, activities are to be based on the Davies

Homestead site, Kow Swamp Road, in a grassland section of the park.

The gates are to be opened by 3pm and free camping sites will be available.

Planned activities include sheep shearing demonstrations, coach tours to various

parts of the park, a display of indigenous plants, bird watching, grassland walks,

forest walks, working bees, evening presentations, an astronomy session and a

display of artwork by local primary school pupils.

Keynote presenter is bird photographer Ian Bartels.

Audrey Dickins will give a presentation about attractions of the Gunbower area.

Terricks ranger Mark Tscharke will recall highlights and low points of a visit to

Diamantine National Park in search of Plains-wanderer. There is to be an

astronomy session on the Saturday night ($3 per head).

Bendigo naturalist Matt Comer will lead walks in the forest and on grasslands.

For those wishing to assist Parks Victoria, there will be working bees, e.g. to

remove unwanted fencing and to carry out some tasks in the day picnic area.

For the past two years, coach tours and most outdoor activities were cancelled

owing to heavy rain and boggy roads. Hopefully this year will be a case of “third

time lucky”!

BELOW: LITTLE BUTTON QUAIL ON TERRICKS GRASSLAND (David Ong)

! September 2013 Number 12

“Open Weekend” program

FRIDAY 4th October 2013

2.30pm: Site preparation

3.30 approx: Gates open. Wildflower display in machinery shed. Posters and art work in machinery shed.

5.00: Working bee: weeding around plants at Davies homestead site.

6.00: Dinner break

7.00: Official welcome: Jill Millsom.

7.05: Terrick Terrick National Park Ranger’s Report: Mark Tscharke

7.30: Attractions of the Gunbower district: Audrey Dickins

8.00: “Terradome in the Mallee”: Bernie Fox

9.00: Night spotlighting survey (if conditions are suitable)

SATURDAY 5th October All day: Plant and poster displays in machinery shed

7.20am: Early morning birding session in Terricks Forest

9.00am: Sheep Shearing demonstration: Russell Shawcross

9.30am: Working Bee at Terrick Terrick East to remove old fencing wire and to lay/check tiles

9.30am: Coach tour and nature walk to Mitiamo Rock and the Mitiamo Cemetery area (with Matt Comer)

10.00: (Wet weather only) Native birds of the Terricks area: Keith Stockwell

11.00: Morning tea

11.15: Coach tour to Reigel Rock with Matt Comer

12.30: Lunch break

1.15pm: Working bee in the picnic ground (day visitors’ area)

1.15pm: Coach tour to, and nature walk in, The Meadows (road conditions permitting) with Matt Comer

1.15: (Wet weather only) Barmah-Millewa Redgum Wetlands: Keith Stockwell

2.00: (Wet weather only) stand-by presentation

3.15pm: Afternoon tea

3.45pm: Grasslands botanical walk (native grasses) with Matt Comer.

3.45: (Wet weather only) “A visit to Diamantina National Park” (instead of 7.30)

5.30: Dinner break

7.00pm: Annual General Meeting

7.30pm: ”A Visit to Diamantina National Park”: Mark Tscharke

8.15pm: Photographing birds in the wild: Ian Bartels (to start earlier or later if necessary)

9.15pm: Astronomy Session: with members of the Bendigo District Astronomical Society ($3 per head)

SUNDAY 6th October

All morning: Plant and poster displays in machinery shed

8.30am: Coach tour to Rogers Track dam 10.15am: Morning tea

10.30am: Coach tour to places of historic interest in/near the Park

12.30pm: Lunch

1.30pm: End of activities. Dismantling of displays, signs, etc

BASE: Davies Homestead, Mitiamo-Kow Swamp Road (south of Jungaburra Road) Terrick Terrick (VicRoads Map

30 F3) Note: Mitiamo-Kow Swamp Road, which runs roughly parallel to Bendigo Creek, is not labelled in VicRoads

Directory 7. GPS: 36º 05’ 55”S; 144º 17’ 02”E

!"#$"%&#'()*%+),-'.%Over the past year or so, very few Plains-wanderers have been observed during grassland surveys within Terrick Terrick

National Park. In general, the biomass has been too thick to meet the needs of Plains-wanderer and some other grassland animals.

Mark Antos, Environmental Scientist-Fauna of Parks Victoria advises that:

• Over 400 km of transects have now been formally surveyed;

• Over 1,000 faunal records, representing 1,574 individual animals have been collected;

• Over 250 birds of 5 different species have been caught and banded;

• 1,452 habitat assessment plots have been completed at 484 different sites.

Nine different grassland paddocks are now being surveyed on a regular basis along established grids. It is proposed to

expand this in future.

Page 2

Above: NEW INFORMATION BOARDS HAVE BEEN PREPARED FOR ERECTION AT TERRICKS Artwork by Marlene Thomas.

New information boards Ranger Mark Tscharke, committee member Beau Kent and others recently updated information for the Park’s display

boards. Marlene Thomas of DEPI laid the information out using a design template preferred by Parks Victoria. The new

information boards will replace those at Mitiamo and in the picnic area of Terrick Terrick National Park. A third

information board is to be erected at the Davies homestead site on a framework constructed by Pyramid Hill Men’s Shed.

A grant was obtained to cover the cost of the information boards. We thank all those who have assisted with this project. Fox baiting Another round of fox baiting was recently carried out in the Park at the same time as fox baiting in the Northern

Plains CMN area. However, fox numbers remain high.

Creek Paddock slashed

200 acres of Creek Paddock has been slashed. This is to be followed-up with grazing.

Pasture quality is currently poor and sheep, especially lambs, are struggling and in need of extra nutrients.

Offer to sell land A financial institution wishes to divest itself of land it owns (as a result of another institution failing) in the old

Terricks township. No buildings remain at the site of the Terricks township. A plaque marks the location.

Dividing fences On-site meetings about fencing have been held with landholders of properties adjoining the length of Bendigo

Creek recently added to the Park. It is hoped that funding will be forthcoming to allow the erection of fences

between private and public land. It is hoped that fence lines will be to the mutual benefit of landholders and Parks.

Logical arrangements will hopefully allow lineal access alongside the creek by management vehicles (e.g. for Box

Thorn and weed control). If and when fences are erected, their upkeep will fall upon landholders, so logical fencing

alignments will reduce maintenance costs.

Assessing grass cover density

A portable hand-held vegetation-structure device has been purchased. It should save time and overcome the use of golf balls that are currently used to evaluate bio-mass (and a grassland’s suitability for Plains-wanderers).

Replacement signage

New signage has been obtained to replace signage that has been vandalised. Unfortunately graffiti has already appeared on some of the replaced signs.

Gates Two gates have been erected in the fence of Orchard Paddock. Orchard paddock adjoins the Davies homestead

site. The gates will allow Orchard Paddock to be used as a camping area during the open weekend. Branches have

been placed along a water pipeline to alleviate the danger of it being damaged by vehicles or tent pegs. Four

Acacia oswaldii seedlings have been detected in the paddock and are protected by fallen branches.

Grassland burns A number of burns on some of the Park’s grassland areas. To reduce biomass and help control exotic grasses, some

weed-control burns have been carried out on some low-quality, weedy paddocks. Sometimes ecological burns are

conducted on cooler, windless days to create a chequerboard of burnt and unburnt areas. Hopefully the burns should help

improve habitat for some grassland animals that have been adversely impacted upon by a thick, high biomass cover. It

may take over a year after a burn for conditions to be suitable to meet the needs of the fauna and flora the Park was

created to protect. Page 3

!!"#$%%$&'()**+,-'()**+,-'$.//'0'1//'22'345*675+'''$'''$.8/%8$&'''9:;9'!<!"#$%%$&'()**+,-'()**+,-'$.//'0'1//'22'345*675+'''$'''$.8/%8$&'''9:;9'!<

About the park

Plains wanderer

June July 2008

$250,000 greenhouse offset for Terrick Terrick?At a Friends of Terrick Terrick National Park dinner meeting in March, DSE spokesperson Peter Morison announced that DSE has

received an offer to revegetate a degraded section of Terrick Terrick National Park as a greenhouse gas offset. The area concerned was

cropped before being purchased for inclusion in the park. Subject to the approval of Parks Victoria and traditional owners, if the funding

is forthcoming, the work is to carried out by contractors at no cost to either DSE or Parks Victoria. DSE will offer assistance with ground

preparation and will liaise with stakeholders before the final area to be rehabilitated is finalised.

Such a grant would enable about 150 hectares of weed-infested land in

the north-east of the Park to be revegetated. Originally, the paddocks

contained Buloke but, today, very few remain. Peter suggested that the work

be undertaken on Ferris, Reigal and White Gate grassland paddocks.

Paddocks which support the endangered Plains-wanderer will not be

affected. Nor will taller trees and shrubs be planted close to known Plains-

wanderer habitat lest a haven be created for predators such as foxes and

cats.

Members of the Friends group gave an in-principle support to the plan

but expressed concerns about including White Gate paddock.

The Friends stressed that any work should allow for ongoing weed and

pest management. In particular, oxalis may prove difficult to control. Ranger

Mark Tscharke pointed out that Parks Victoria does not have the resources

to undertake ongoing weed control and maintenance of the restoration.

The question arose as to whether depleted plant species should be

planted or whether an attempt should be made to recreate the original

vegetation mix. Recognising that global warming is occurring, another

possibility would be to plant native species capable of surviving in a hotter,

drier climate.

Wildlife corridorsNorthern Plains Conservation Management Network ranger Ben Thomas

also attended the meeting. Ben announced that he is working with

landholders to establish corridors of trees to link the woodlands in Terrick

Terrick National Park with Bullock Creek to the west and Bendigo Creek to

the east. The wildlife corridors are aimed at enabling existing Grey-crowned

Babbler colonies to interbreed, thereby enhancing their genetic diversity.

Exclusion plotsPhD candidate Nathan Wong announced that grant money has been

obtained for the erection of exclusion plots on the indigenous grasslands

section of the Park to help determine the impact of kangaroos and sheep.

The fence design was criticised as not being sufficiently robust and

modifications were recommended. Peter Morison pointed out that the

animals suspected of causing the most damage are not always the main

culprits. In Nardoo Hills (Wedderburn area) for example, 20 metre by 40

metre rabbit-proof and kangaroo-proof exclusion plats were constructed.

They revealed that it was actually rabbits rather than kangaroos or

wallabies which caused by far the most damage to shrubs and young trees.

Remnant vegetation fencingIn April, work began fencing some areas of remnant trees on private land

near Terrick Terrick National Park. Much natural regeneration of Buloke

has occurred in the area over the past few months, and the fencing will help

protect the regeneration from grazing by stock. The fencing is being funded

by the Northern Plains CMN and is being erected by farmers who are

receiving drought relief funding.

QuailDuring the current drought, Stubble Quail numbers have crashed in

northern Victoria. The numbers of other quail species has also fallen. The

few remaining quail appear to be concentrated in just a few spots. Those

who tried to stop this year’s quail hunting season were unsuccessful. In a

healthy landscape there would be little impact from hunting on the

population of these birds but drought and habitat loss have imposed a great

stress. It is feared that shooters may eliminate any quail which remain in

the area. It is also feared that, unable to find quail, shooters may kill

Plains-wanderers instead.

Open daysThis spring, when the grasslands are in full bloom, DSE hopes to run

plant tours in the national park. Furthermore, on the weekend after the AFL

grand final, the Friends group intends to have a working bee plus

interpretive field trips. Watch local area papers for details.

Newsletter # 48 of the Echuca & District Branch, Bird Observation & Conservation AustraliaPresident: Peter Allan (03) 5484 1576 Vice President: Bev CurtisSecretary and newsletter editor: Keith Stockwell (03) 5480 9254 Assistant Secretary: Michele DixonConservation Officer: Dallas Wyatt Treasurer: Michele DixonAuditor: John Land Mail address: 11 Hillview Ave MOAMA 2731

Email: stocky@mcmedia.com.au http://users.mcmedia.com.au/~stocky/boca_echuca.html

In this issue: May outings; the second part of a report on our TASalong; Tasmanian xword; Al and El on tour

Visit to Kamarooka Tree Project: see page 3

Plain talk

Local farmer discovers new plant species About 14 years ago, a former member of the Friends of Terrick

Terrick National Park, local farmer Eris O’Brien became aware of

a type of Maireana (Bluebush) on his family property at Pine

Grove. Eris also observed the plant growing on the grassland

plains of Terrick Terrick National Park and elsewhere in the

district.

Just over a year ago, Mr O’Brien provided samples of the plant to

Royal Botanic gardens botanist Neville Walsh. The plant was

found to be an unnamed species of Bluebush. The plant has now

been officially named Maireana obrienii in recognition of its

discoverer.

Maireana obrienii has been observed on the Terricks/Patho

plains, in the Moama and Mathoura area and in places near

Jerilderie and Conargo.

Right: ERIS O’BRIEN WITH THE PLANT NAMED AFTER HIM

Friends of Kooyoora weekend For several years, Friends of Kooyoora has run a weekend of activities based at the Rheola Hall. This year, the weekend

is to be on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th September. Once again there is to be a native flower exhibition, free coach

tours into the nearby Kooyoora State Park and activities for children. But, some changes are in store. Friends of

Kooyoora have arranged for a camping area alongside the hall. For the first time, the group has decided to have evening

presentations and an astronomy session.

For more details about the Kooyoora weekend are on the website www.kooyoorafriends.org.au or phone 0427 190 339.

We’re on Facebook! With the help of her daughter, convener Jill Millsom has

created a “Friends of Terrick Terrick National Park”

Facebook page. Jill is administrator of the page.

If you would like to contribute to the page, please click

the “Like” button and contact Jill by email

<jillmillsom@bigpond.com> or telephone 042 7411 082

Specific information about the location of orchids, rare

plants, reptiles, birds and other animals should not be

posted. Please do not add photographs that picture

trapped animals. Prior permission should be sought from

individuals who feature in any photograph. Jill retains the

right to remove offensive remarks and content that is not

in accordance with the above requests.

If you are unsure as to how to become a “friend” entitled

to access and add to the Facebook page, please contact

convener Jill.

Parks Victoria has a page about Terrick Terrick National

Park. That page also allows registered persons to add

comments. The URL of Parks Victoria’s Terrick Terrick

page is as follows:

<http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/terrick-terrick-

national-park>

In addition, Secretary Keith has a page about Terricks on

his own web site. The URL is: http://users.mcmedia.com.au/~stocky/terrick_terrick.html

MT. TERRICK TERRICK (MITIAMO ROCK) Photo: K Stockwell

Mitiamo Store & Takeaway!Located at 5 Joffre Street Mitiamo, the Mitiamo Store and

Takeaway is the nearest shop to Terrick Terrick National

Park. The store is open until 9am seven days a week for ice,

fuel, liquor, takeaway meals, basic supplies, newspapers

and magazines. Phone 03 5436 5209.

Accommodation nearest to Terricks!Those who do not wish to camp out during the open

weekend are advised that accommodation is available at

the Victoria Hotel in Pyramid Hill (03 5455 7391; email:

d_demaine@hotmail.com); at Gunbower Hotel (03 5487

1214); at Gunbower Caravan Park (cabins); at Torrumbarry

(hotel alongside highway and holiday park at weir) and in

Echuca (many motels and caravan parks).

Page 4

Page 5

Terricks weekend: a part of

“Naturally Loddon” festival The open weekend in Terrick Terrick National Park is a

part of Loddon Shire’s “Naturally Loddon” festival

Apart from our open weekend at Terricks, other activities

include the Kooyoora Wildflower Show (7th & 8th

September), bird watching at Wedderburn, canoeing the

Loddon, photographic field trips, coach tours, bicycle

riding and gold prospecting. The festival runs from 30th

August to 27th October.

Activities are being advertised in the media by Loddon

A wonderland in spring

1 Photo Exhibition* Friday 30th August to Sunday 8

September Local landscape photos. Free admission.

Mulwarrie Studios, 3 Serpentine Road

BRIDGEWATER-ON-LODDON

2 Photographic Field Trip Sunday 1 September $30. Book with Mulwarrie Studios

0427 190 339

3 Wildlife of Wedderburn Display* Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 September Loddon Visitor Information Centre, 24 Wilson St WEDDERBURN

4 Kooyoora Wildflower Show Saturday 14 to Sunday 15 September Wildflower show, coach tours into the State Park, bird-watching. S5 admission to hall.

Rheola Hall. Overnight camping sites.

5 Bird-watching Tour Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 September $40 per person per day. Book with Loddon

Visitor Information Centre, 24 Wilson St

WEDDERBURN.

6 Landcare Bus Trip Saturday 21 September Tour of Landcare projects within Loddon

Shire. Departs from Bridgewater. Book with

Anthony Gallacher on line (www.lpln.org.au) by 17th September

7 Canoe the Loddon Sunday 22nd September Instruction on canoeing followed by half-day canoeing on The Loddon. Canoe hire:

$30 per person. $50 per couple. Bookings

needed. 0427 190 339

8 Weekend canoeing the Loddon Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th September $95 per person (including canoe hire).

Bookings needed. 0427 190 339 or email cvosrr@iinet.net.au

15 Wedderburn Bush by Bike Saturday 14 to Sunday 15 September Explore the forests and grasslands around

Wedderburn on a Bush Heritage bike tour.

Bring off-road bicycle, drinking water and packed lunch. Approximately 30km. Leaves

Loddon Visitor Information Centre, 24

Wilson Street WEDDERBURN at 10am. Enquiries: 5494 3489

16 Naturally New Age* Saturday 19th October Market of the New Age. Loddon Visitor Information Centre, 24 Wilson Street

WEDDERBURN.

17 Boort Wetlands Tour 10am Saturday 19th October Visit to indigenous sites and local wetlands, Meet Nolens Park, Godfrey Street BOORT.

Cost: $15

18 Bridgewater Wool, Wheat and

Wine Festival 11am to 3pm Sunday 20th October Speed shearing, sheep toss and races at the Bridgewater Recreation Reserve.

19 Weekend canoeing the Loddon Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th October $95 per person (including canoe hire). Bookings needed. 0427 190 339 or email

cvosrr@iinet.net.au

20 Gold Prospecting Saturday 26th to Sunday 27th October Venue: Mechanics Institute Hall, Reeef

Street WEDDERBURN. Sessions for

beginners; then team up with experts to

seek metals in nearby goldfields. For details, phone 9850 6961 or email wmyoung@bigpond.

Wychitella NCR

RHEOLA

SALISBURY WEST

Mt. Korong

The Hill

Mount Hope

17

10

12

4

9

112 61 7 8

13 18

155 143

2016

19

*FREE EVENT

9 Blue Eucy Heritage Festival Sunday 29th September Heritage display; guided tours of museum.

$5 adult. Infglewood Eucy Oil Distillery Park,

20 Grant Street INGLEWOOD. Enquiries: 0457 633 742

10 Open weekend, Terrick Terrick

National Park* Friday 4th to Sunday 6th October Free bus tours of the park, displays, guest

presenters, birding, grassland walks, working bees, astronomy session Saturday

night ($3 per person), sheep shearing

demonstrations. Davies Homestead site,

Kow Swamp Road TERRICK TERRICK.

11 Nature Photography Exhibition Friday 4th to Sunday 13th October Flora, fauna and landscape photographs.

Free admission. Mulwarrie Studios, 3 Serpentine Road BRIDGEWATER-ON-

LODDON. Email cvosrr@iinet.net.au

12 Out ‘n about in Tarnagulla Sunday 6th October Detector key hunt, scarecrow competition,

historic walk, wildflower walk, 10 am to

3pm. Tarngulla Community Centre.

Enquiries: 5494 3489

13 Photographic Field Trip Sunday 6th October $30. Book with Mulwarrie Studios, 3

Serpentine Road BRIDGEWATER-ON-LODDON 0427 190 339 Email

cvosrr@iinet.net.au

14 Coach tour of Loddon Shire Saturday 12th October Book with Loddon Visitor Information

Centre, 24 Wilson St WEDDERBURN Phone 5494 3489

Coach leaves 9am. Light lunch provided.

* indicates free event

The location of each numbered event is shown on the

map to the right.

Dinner Meeting In June, a dinner meeting of the Northern Plains CMN was

held in Gunbower. Guest speakers were David Baker-

Gabb and Paul Foreman, both of whom spoke about

management of grassland plains to meet the demands of

the endangered Plains-wanderer. They stressed that the

Plains-wanderer seems to prefer native grassland on red-

soil. Therefore authorities might manage red soil areas for

Plains-wanderer and grey soil areas for their native

grasslands.

Plains-wanderer Survey Project Northern Plains Conservation Management

Network(NPCMN) has won funding (to $12,000) for a

project to conduct surveys on private properties to assess

Plains-wanderer numbers and habitat condition. Vehicle-

based surveys on ten properties are to cover

approximately 180km. Land-holders are to participate in

the surveys and obtain advice about the suitability of

habitat on their land for Plains-wanderers, and how best

to manage the diminishing Plains-wanderer population. A

final report summarising results, including management

recommendations, is to be produced and circulated via

the NPCMN’s mailing list.

Improved Grazing Project Earlier this year, the Northern Plains Conservation

Management Network (NPCMN) invited local landholders

to take part in the Northern Plains Improved Grazing for

Native Grasslands Project. Suitable sites are being investigated across the Patho Plains. The aim is allow

The Northern Plains Improved Grazing for Native

Grasslands Project aims to increase community capacity

to sustainably manage the productive and environmental

values of the critically-endangered Murray Valley

Grasslands. The project aims to enable more-flexible and

better grazing management. The project seeks to

implement an adaptive, site-specific grazing regime

resulting in:

• reduced degradation on red soils;

• increased productivity through improved grazing

management;

• reduced weed cover on grey soils;

• increased protection and sustainability of red soil

vegetation, and

• increased habitat opportunity for local threatened

species.

Email Beau <cmnnorthernplains@gmail.com>!if you

would like to be included on the mailing list to receive the

group’s quarterly newsletter.

The committee of the group is as follows:

Andy McGillivray (President),

Bill McGillivray (Vice-President),

Beau Kent (Secretary-Treasurer),

Andrew Bail, Fred Belli, Faye Bail, Audrey Dickins,

John Dickins, Drew Gailey, Peter Morrison, Michelle Miller, Jenny Spence and Mark Woods

Well known entomologist Fabian Douglas will feature as the guest speaker at the next CMN meeting. Fabian will speak about 4 species of threatened sun moths found on the Northern Plains and the unique Grassland Froghopper.

Also at the meeting you will hear an update on the 2012 Fox Baiting Program and other CMN projects for 2012.

RSVP to Ben on 0429 189 662 / 5430 4581 / ben.a.thomas@dse.vic.gov.au

!"#$"%#&'())*+(,"-./&.'((0(12345.2&(654"78(9'.&:2#(6277((;<=>?@(#A**BCD(E<=>?@(:BBFA*G(HFICF(

NEXT

MEETING:

Northern Plains

CMN News

Page 6

Terricks Park Notes revised Updated map in Visitor Guide Parks Victoria has upgraded and reprinted its Terrick Terrick National Park Guide.

One side of the A3-sized brochure is a map of the area

that shows the location of not only the largest section

of the park but the location of thirteen satellite blocks:

Drainage Line Paddock plus Wanurp, Pine Grove, Kotta,

Torrumberry, Roslynmead East, Roslynmead South,

Roslynmead North, The Meadows, Tomara Gilgai, Terricks East, Canegrass and Patho West grasslands.

The map includes land adjoining Bendigo Creek that

was recently added to the national park.

Fourteen grassland paddocks that are now part of the main block are labelled on the map.

The location of Reigel Rock, Bennets Rock and Mount

Terrick Terrick are labelled and major tracks within the forested area of the park are named.

The forested area is 4km north of Mitiamo. The

entrance to the picnic and camping areas in the White Cypress Pine forest is off Sylvaterre-Timms Lake Road.

The old Davies homestead that is the base for this

year’s open weekend is located alongside Kow Swamp Road about 13km from the Echuca-Mitiamo Road.

Copies of the revised brochure have been placed in

information boxes both at the park entrance and in the

picnic ground. Some copies have been left at the Mitiamo Store.

When this newsletter was prepared, the new guide was

not on the Parks Victoria web site. However, a coloured

copy of the new map, showing the satellite paddocks as

well as the main area of the park, can be downloaded as a pdf from:

http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014

/604103/Map_Terrick_Terrick_NP.pdf

Natural Newstead Great web site Convener Jill Millsom has discovered a terrific web site

about the flora, fauna and landscapes of central

Victoria. The bird photos on the site are truly

outstanding. Created by photographer and blogger

Geoff Park, the URL of the site is

http://geoffpark.wordpress.com/author/geoffpark/

Images, prints and gift cards can be purchased from

Geoff’s site.

Camping in the Park Notification requested Except on Code Red Fire Danger Days, those wishing to

camp in the park may do so in the camping ground near

the base of Mount Terrick Terrick. Campers should bring

their own water as well as a gas stove for cooking.

Please notify the Ranger at Echuca of your camping stay

by calling 13 1963.

During the open weekend, Orchard Paddock (Davies

Homestead site) is to be made available for camping

and no notification is required. Please note that Orchard

Paddock is NOT available to campers at any other time.

Loddon Plains Landcare News

Communities for Nature Grants 2013 The Victorian Government is committed to supporting the

Victorian community to contribute to practical on-ground

solutions for local environmental issues. Small and large

grants can be applied for until 13 September 2013.

The Communities for Nature grants program supports:

• Practical community action to deliver measurable

environmental outcomes

• Community groups and volunteers doing works

primarily focused on the environment.

• Communities with relevant and timely information to

assess priorities at the local level to determine the best

returns for on-ground works.

• Communities for Nature grants are available to eligible

organisations, including local community groups and

organisations, including schools.

The program has up to $4,000,000 to invest for the 2013

for small grants of up to $10,000; and for large project

grants of $10,001 to $150,000.

To apply:

1 Download the program guidelines and FAQs. If you

need assistance, please call the Grants Information Line

on 1300 366 356 (during business hours).

2 Contact the Grants Information Line on 1300 366 356

to be put in touch with someone in your region who can

provide technical input into your application.

3 Seek approval from the relevant land manager/owner to

undertake works and consult with your local Shire/Council

regarding any permits for works you may need.

4 Log on to www.depi.vic.gov.au/environment-and-

wildlife/community-programs/communities-for-nature-

grants

5 Submit your grant application by midnight Friday

13th September 2013.

1

LPLN News

What’s on…

14 November

Salisbury West & Mt Korong Farming for Sustainable Soils dinner 7pm Bridgewater Hotel, Bridgewater 29 November

Secrets to Successful Groups Training 10am-3pm Department of Sustainability and Environment, Bendigo 19 December

Communities for Nature Small Grants Round - Closes

Issue 3. November 2012

Photo 2012-2013 LPLN Committee of Management

Left to right from back: Fred Belli, Laurie Maxted, Chris Rothacker, Andy Hay,

Anthony Gallacher (Facilitator), Jean McClymont, Michael Moore, Ian Penny. Absent: Bill Twigg.

hoto: Mal Brown

Northern Plains CMN joins the LPLN

The Northern Plains Conservation Management Network (NPCMN) is the newest group to become a member of the Loddon Plains Landcare Network.

The NPCMN works with communities, government agencies and non-government organisations within the regional landscape to protect, enhance and promote grassland and woodland ecosystems. This is done through recognising and supporting a workable balance between biodiversity conservation and sustainable farming. The network administers and promotes the implementation of land management techniques such as pest plant and animal control, fencing and revegetation with the aim of increasing

habitat quality and extent.

The NPCMN focal ecological communities are the nationally critically endangered Natural Grasslands of the

Murray Valley Plains and the nationally endangered Buloke

Woodland of the Riverina and Murray-Darling Depression Bioregions.

"We are very much looking forward to forging a strong and inspired partnership with the LPLN into the future to help secure and manage our remaining native flora and fauna."

Beau Kent, NPCMN Facilitator

Contributions invited

If you have some interesting information about Terrick

Terrick National Park that you think might be suitable for

inclusion in this newsletter, please feel free to contact

newsletter editor Keith Stockwell.

Page 7

Landcare Bus Trip The Loddon Plains Landcare Network offers a bus trip in

September, showcasing some of the works of Landcare in

the Loddon Plains Landcare Network area.

The bus trip will explore the efforts of Landcare in the

Network area including Bridgewater, Inglewood, Salisbury

West and surrounds.

Saturday 21 September

10am-4.30pm

Departs from the Comfort Station,

Main St, Bridgewater on Loddon

This is a free event. Lunch is to be provided. Places are

limited so bookings are essential.

RSVP by 17 September to facilitator Anthony Gallacher,

Ph: 0447 095 501 or

email anthony.gallacher@gmail.com.

This event is part of Naturally Loddon: A Wonderland in

Spring Festival.

This bus trip is supported by the Loddon Plains Landcare

Network, through funding from the Australian

Government’s Caring for our Country.

To find out more about the bus trip or to register your

interest, please don't hesitate to get in touch. Please

forward to anyone who may be interested.

Workshops The Loddon Plains Landcare Network is excited to be able

to run a workshop series, thanks to funding from the

Australian Government’s Caring for our Country. Now is

the time to get any workshop ideas or topics on the list,

as we will be making a decision on the workshops shortly.

A reminder that expressions of interest are open for

protecting native vegetation on properties in the

Network’s area. Forms can be downloaded on our website

at www.lpln.org/goanna-project/forms/. The Network will

be developing a project around respondents with the

assistance of member groups, as part of the GOANNA

Project.

The Network ran a successful strategic planning workshop

on the 4th of July. With 20 representatives from member

groups, the workshop was a chance to bring together

different perspectives around one table to explore

strategic themes and identify priority actions that will

guide the Network in the next 1-3 years. The strategic

plan will be made available once complete.

I attended two media training workshops in the past

couple of months as part of the North Central CMA

facilitators support. The workshops were a helpful

reminder on targeting audiences and the key issues to

think about with media and promotion

Warm regards,

Anthony Gallacher, Facilitator

Loddon Plains Landcare Network (LPLN) website is

http://www.lpln.org Email: anthony.gallacher@gmail.com

Graziers Tenders invited

Graziers interested in helping to manage the grassland

sections of Terrick Terrick National Park are invited to

contact ranger Mark Tscharke regarding tender details.

Mark’s email address is

mark.tscharke@parks.vic.gov.au!

!

Membership application/renewal form If you wish to renew your membership or become a member of the Friends of Terrick Terrick National Park Incorporated, please fill in this form, and mail it along with a not-negotiable cheque for $10 (payable to “Friends of Terrick Terrick National Park”) to: The Secretary, Friends of Terrick Terrick National Park Inc., 11 Hillview Avenue MOAMA NSW 2731

Name: _____ _____________________________ ____________________________________ Year: 2014

Title Given Name/s Surname Street/P O Box: ______________________________ Town/Locality _______________________ Postcode: _ _ _ _

Email address: _________________________________ Telephone Number: __________________________

Subscription rate: $10 per person. Please print clearly (especially important for your email address). Those who paid a membership fee after 1st July 2013 need not renew until October 2014.

NOTICE of ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The annual general meeting of the Friends of Terrick Terrick National Park Inc. is to be held on Saturday 5th October 2013 in the machinery shed, Davies homestead site, Kow Swamp Road TERRICK TERRICK, commencing

at 7pm.

All committee positions are to be declared vacant. Nominations are now open for the following positions:

Convener, Deputy Convener, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer and other Committee Members.

Please advise the Secretary prior to the open weekend if you would like an emailed copy of our annual report.

A limited number of printed copies will be available at the time of the Annual general Meeting.

Agenda: Reports (Convener, Secretary, Treasurer/Financial Statements, Contact Ranger) and election of office

bearers for 2013-14.

FRIENDS OF TERRICK TERRICK NATIONAL PARK INC.

NOMINATION FORM

Name of person being nominated: ______________________________________________

Circle position/s the person is being nominated for:

Convener Deputy Convener Secretary Assistant Secretary Treasurer Committee Member

Mover (must be a financial member): _____________________________________________

Seconder (must be a financial member): __________________________________________

Acceptance of nomination/s (signature of nominee): _________________________________

Nominations (with the name of the mover and seconder, and agreed to by the nominee) should be forwarded

(e.g. in person, by mail or email) to the Secretary, Friends of TTNP Inc, 11 Hillview Avenue MOAMA 2731 as soon

as possible. If prior to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) no nomination is received for a position, nominations

can be made from the floor during the AGM provided, however, that the nominated person agrees to accept the

position.!