About Us

Formation History and Interests of the Fassifern Field Naturalists Club Inc. by a founding member

History

The first camp on the Granite Belt, November 1987

It all started on the 27^th August 1986. Two recently settled residents in the Fassifern area, Roy and Peggie Beaton, published a letter in the local newspaper, telling of their particular interest in bird watching. They expressed how they were especially impressed with the comprehensive range of habitats in the area which produced such a large number and variety of bird species. They requested contact from members of the community who may be interested in forming a local Bird Observers Club.

               

The response from locals was enthusiastic and on the 15^th February 1987 the inaugural meeting of the Club was held at a field outing in the vicinity of Mt Flinders and the name Fassifern Field Naturalists Club was adopted. It was decided to have a field naturalists club rather than a bird watching club to include all flora and fauna and the natural environment. 29 people attended this first meeting. Quite a number of these original attendees are still active members of the Club.

               

The Club has grown and maintained a strong member base since formation. The current membership includes members from Brisbane, Ipswich, and the wider areas of the Scenic Rim region, not just the Fassifern area.

Environmental Activities

Surveying birds on Minto Swamp, January 1991

The Club, on monthly field outings, do surveys, and note anything of special interest on each outing from the vegetation, fungi, insects, butterflies, birds, marsupials, frogs, lizards and anything else which is drawn to our attention. Reports of the outing, including some species lists, are written up for our next newsletter. A database is maintained to record these lists, and other survey records and this is an important tool to monitor the impact of changes to occupation and habitat over the years. Field outings have produced flora lists which include many of our local endangered species of plants and trees once common in our scrubs but now only found in small remnants of scrub often on private properties. The Club has been instrumental in educating landholders in the need to preserve these special scrub remnants.

The Club continues to take a keen and active interest in the natural environment, especially of the Fassifern area and extending into the wider Scenic Rim area.

Interests 

Stick Insect on one of our outings

Experts in the study fields of Plants, Fungi, Insects, Spiders, Ants, Rocks, Fossils, Bats, Frogs, Dragonflies and Native Bees have been guests of the club to stimulate and increase our members' knowledge of these subjects. We now have long term individual members, who have channelled their main interest into one particular activity on each outing. We have our bird watchers, plant identifiers, nature photographers, while those with a geology interest take more interest in the land forms. Of course, you do not need to have a specialised interest to be a member – just a love of the outdoors and nature.

The Club will continue to encourage maintenance, preservation and restoration of the local environment and through surveys and monitoring, endeavour to identify and rectify environmental issues as they arise.

Is this taking interests too far?
Mt Glorious camp, October 1996 

Incorporation

The Fassifern Field Naturalists Club Inc. became incorporated on 26 September 1995 under the Qld Associations Incorporations Act 1981.

 Our incorporation number is IA15751

DGR status

The Fassifern Field Naturalists Club Inc. is not eligible to receive tax deductible gifts.