Outing Report - Mt Elliott Rd, Undullah, 19th November 2022

Emergent Planchonella eerwah
with Flinders Peak
in the background

Our Saturday outing was at a magnificent location on the eastern side of Flinders Peak with a "Lost World" feel. The Fassifern Field Naturalists had a special day on this private property. Native flora was the main focus and there was an abundance to see and discuss. The special tree we went to see, the Flinders Plum or Shiny-leaved Condoo Planchonella eerwah, was in fruit and some of our members collected them for propogation. As we looked into the scrub from the garden, emergent Planchonella were rising above the canopy into the skyline. We wondered how old they were as they take such a long time to grow.

Any birds were heard rather than seen wheras the butterflies were obvious in large numbers including the current south-east Queensland eruption of Caper Whites.

Photos by N. Crepin

A giant Lacebark
(with human for comparison)

Natters wandering down the track

   

View of Flinders Peak 
(with one of the unidentified
dragonflies in top right-hand corner)

Beautiful veined leaves
of White Fig Ficus virens

Elliott Rd, Undullah Species Lists:

* = introduced species

Fauna

Birds: Pacific Black Duck, Bar-shouldered Dove, Wonga Pigeon, Topknot Pigeon, Collared Sparrowhawk, Dusky Moorhen, Black-breasted Button-quail (platelets only), Australian King-Parrot, Pheasant Coucal, Eastern Koel, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Brush Cuckoo, Laughing Kookaburra, Striated Pardalote, Lewin's Honeyeater, Eastern Whipbird, Varied Triller, Little Shrike-thrush, Grey Shrike-thrush, Australasian Figbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Torresian Crow, Black-faced Monarch, Eastern Yellow Robin, Silvereye, Mistletoebird.

Reptiles: Snakes; Eastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja textilis.

Butterflies: Orchard Swallowtail Papilio aegeus, Fuscous Swallowtail Papilio fuscus capaneus, Lemon Migrant Catopsilia pomona, Common Grass-yellow Eurema hecabe, Small Grass-yellow Eurema smilax, Caper White Belenois java (dozens - due to south-east Queensland eruption/migration), *Wanderer Danaus plexippus, Lesser Wanderer Danaus petilia, Blue Tiger Tirumala limniace, Common Eggfly Hypolimnas bolina, Meadow Argus Junonia villida. (Also, at least 2 small Blue sp. were observed.)

Other Invertebrates: Damsel/Dragonflies; Blue Skimmer Orthetrum caledonicum. (Other dragonflies and a damselfly were also observed but not identified.)

 (Flora list to come)

November Outing: Mt Elliott Rd, Undullah - 19th November 2022

Flower of the Planchonella eerwah
Photo: A. Podlich

The Fassifern Field Naturalists last went here in 2007. A place of rare plants and great views! 

This is the mother-load of Flinders Plum Planchonella eerwah – rediscovered from near here back in 1980. They are common here. 

Time: 8.30 am

Where: Washpool-Undullah district

Directions: members - please refer to your October newsletter; non-members - please email us for directions,   

fassifernfieldnaturalists@gmail.com

Activities: Join us for a walk over a most special place below the impressive Flinders Peak. Botanical, ornithological, photographical, entomological, geographical, and geological wonders await! 

Level of Fitness: Depends on how much you want to do. Lazing around to traipsing around.

What to Bring: Morning Tea, Lunch, chairs, water, and insect repellent, etc.

Upon Arrival: Please register in the Attendance Book and pay your $2 per person participant fee. 

October Camp: Cullendore High Country, 21st, 22nd,23rd, & 24th October

Moss and ferns on the rocks at Cullendore

Cullendore is located on a 4000 acre working cattle property adjoining the Maryland National Park and located high in the mountains of the Great Dividing Range. To make the most of the peace and tranquillity, campsites are scattered throughout the forest.  Each campsite has its own firepit, and hot showers and flushing toilets are provided nearby. 

Cullendore has one of the largest populations of the rare and elusive Spotted Quoll in Australia.  Wallabies, wallaroos, kangaroos and birdlife abound.

   

Please do your own research on this property on their website www.cullendore.com and, if you are attending, download some of the maps, fauna and bird lists.

Fringed Lily
Thysanotus tuberosus

Cullendore High Country is about 38 kms from Warwick travelling first towards Killarney and then turning onto the Cullendore Road. The trip to the property takes approximately 1 ¾ hrs from Boonah.

Come along and join us at this High Country Campground in granite country. Non-members, please contact us via email for more information.

Stinkhorn Fungi Aseroë rubra

Cullendore Camping

Photos: N. Crepin, A. Podlich, L. Beaton

Outing Report - Nindooinbah Dam Beaudesert, 17th September 2022

The Club hasn't been to Nindooinbah Dam before and we were keen to see what we would find. Ron and Kay took us on a 2.5 km walk in the bush around the dam. 

Native Sarsaparilla
Hardenbergia violacea

Sago Bushes in flower
Ozothamnus diosmifolius

Scarlet Bracket
Pycnoporus coccineus

Round-leaf Goodenia
Goodenia rotundifolia

Triangular Moth Epidesmia chilonaria

John and Rod at Nindooinbah

Some of the history of the dam. 
According to Wikipedia, the name Nindooinbah is derived from the name of a pastoral run of 1842/3, based on Aboriginal words: nguin meaning charcoal/cinders, doan meaning black and ba meaning place, indicating the place of the remains of a fire. (Ed. The place where aborigines met and made fires.) 

In 1961 a small dam was built on some of the original Nindooinbah land to supply water for Beaudesert. No longer needed for water storage it is now a small recreational area.

September Outing: Nindooinbah Dam, Brooklands Drive, Beaudesert - 17th September 2022

Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa 

Time: 8.30am

Upon Arrival: Please register in the Attendance Book and pay your $2 per person participant fee. 

Where: Nindooinbah Dam is on the eastern side of Beaudesert.

Directions: For the folks coming from Boonah follow the signs to the Gold Coast (Highway 90). Drive through Beaudesert township still following signs to the Gold Coast. Continue past the showgrounds and caravan park on your right, go through the next set of traffic lights and take the next street on your right which is Brooklands Drive. Follow this for 2 km. You will pass one entrance to the dam on your right but we are meeting at the second entrance which is also on your right next to No. 205 Brooklands Drive. You will notice as you turn into Brooklands Drive a small park with toilets. 

Activities: This is a reasonably easy walk following a path through bushland and open spaces. At the beginning of the walk there is a gentle upward slope. Ebird website shows a diverse range of birdlife spotted in the last few months at the dam. We plan to return to the small park for lunch.

Facilities: Closest toilet stop to the dam.is in the small park.

What to Bring: Morning tea, lunch, snacks & liquid refreshment, etc.; chairs & small table (if you have one); hat, insect repellent, sunscreen are recommended; walking pole, binocs, cameras, field guides, etc. as desired.

Upon Arrival: Please register in the Attendance Book and pay your $2 per person participant fee. 

Outing Report - Purga Nature Reserve and Hardings Paddock - 20 August 2022

Frog pond at Purga Reserve

17 members participated in this outing.  Firstly we visited Purga Melaleuca Reserve strolling both the Tea Tree Boardwalk Circuit and the Melaleuca Circuit.  

The Swamp Paperbark Melaleuca irbyanas, although spring and summer flowering, did not show any obvious signs of budding. The Tick Orchids Dockrillia linguiformis did not look all that healthy as they clung precariously to loose bark, although there were some sprays of white flowers visible. The weeds were prolific amongst the understory grasses. The yellow flowering Fireweed was everywhere, the purple flowers of the Trailing Lantana Lantana montevidensis and the long pink-red flowering stems of the Mother of Millions Kalanchoe daigremontiana stood out as the main understory plants. A few Boobialla Myoporum montanum with just a couple of tiny white flowers were observed and also some Maidens Wattle Acacia maidenii. The Dianellas were lush and green around the dam area.The large clumps of grey green, fine foliaged Mistletoe on the melaleucas also caught our attention.

Many arboreal termite nests, all with stalactite bases, were seen in the trees. 

Members at Hardings Paddock

After morning tea at Purga, we car trailed off to Hardings Paddock. Birdlife was more prolific here, with the Blue Gums Eucalyptus saligna in full flower. Lots of noise from parrots and especially the Scarlet Honeyeaters could be heard. We tracked along the Bush Tucker Trail with Keith assisting us with the identification of the many plants. The Brisbane Wattle Acacia fimbriata was in full flower. The Foambark Jagera pseudorhus was an absolute picture with its beautiful green foliage and bunches of hairy bronze-orange fruit.

Bush Stone Curlews at Hardings Paddock

Over lunch we learned a little more about the traditional owners history around Purga including about the Aboriginal Mission, the Purga Aboriginal Cemetery and the famous aboriginal opera singer Harold Blair who was raised at the Mission.

The highlight of the day was the sighting of 3 Bush Stone-curlews which, despite being disturbed from their rest, posed beautifully for photos.

Photos: N. Crepin, J. Flanagan

Purga Nature Reserve Species Lists:

Birds: Galah, Little Corella, Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly breasted Lorikeet, King Parrot, Pale headed Rosella, Fan tailed Cuckoo, Rainbow Bee eater, Noisy Miner, Scarlet Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, White throated Honeyeater, Striped Honeyeater, Rufous Whistler, Australian Magpie, Grey Fantail, Torresian Crow, Magpie lark.

Butterflies:  Common Jezebel, Common Crow, Evening Brown.   
Moths:  Tiger Moth

Mammals:  Red necked Wallaby

Hardings Paddock Species Lists:

Birds: Aust. Wood Duck, Aust. Grebe, Brown Goshawk, Bush Stone Curlew, Masked Lapwing, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly Breasted Lorikeet, Pale headed Rosella, Laughing Kookaburra,

Satin Bowerbird, Superb Fairy Wren, Red backed Fairy Wren, Speckled Warbler, White throated Gerygone, Striated Pardalote, Noisy Miner, Scarlet Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, Blue faced Honeyeater, Little Friarbird, Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler, Olive backed Oriole, Pied Butcherbird, Magpie, Pied Currawong, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, 
Red browed Finch, Whipbird.  
Butterflies: Small Grass Yellow, Common Jezebel, Glasswing, Common Crow, Wanderer
Insects: Hibiscus Harlequin Bug
 

August Outing: Purga Nature Reserve - 20 August 2022

Field Nats at Purga Nature Reserve

Time: 8.30 a.m.

Where: Purga Nature Reserve Middle Rd., Peak Crossing

Directions: From the round-about on Coronation Drive, Boonah head to Peak Crossing where you take the turn at the hotel into Flinders St and then immediately right into Peak Crossing Churchbank Weir Rd. Continue for about 2 km then turn right into Middle Rd. Purga Nature Reserve is on the right at 5 km.

To Hardings Paddock from the Nature Reserve: Continue along Middle Rd and after 3 km turn right into Purga School Rd, travel on for just over 3 km until we reach the junction with the Ipswich-Boonah Rd. Turn right and after about 300 m. turn left into Carmichaels Rd which is clearly marked Harding’s Paddock. On weekends there could be numerous picnickers enjoying the area so drive past the picnic area down towards the camping area where you should find parking. Find the nearest shelter shed in this area and we will gather here to commence our strolls.

Activities: This is an outing in two parts in the Purga District – we did this same outing in February 2018.

Part 1: We will start at Purga Nature Reserve where we will walk the boardwalk and very easy walking tracks to observe especially the largest protected area of endangered Swamp Tea-tree forest in Australia; just under 65 hectares. The self guided walks will give us the opportunity to check out the flora and fauna in and around this habitat. There are a couple of picnic tables where we can congregate for morning tea at about 10 - 10.30 a.m. and to discuss our finds.

Part 2: Then we will go by car to Hardings Paddock where we can traverse the Bush Tucker gardens, and check out the dams. All very easy walking on maintained trails. Interpretive signage along the trails inform us about the plants from an Indigenous and also a European perspective. We can meander by the horse yards and bush areas beside the campground. There are other much longer trails to be explored in the area but these can be left to another day for a full day outing. We will all gather to have lunch at about 1 pm.  

Level of Fitness: Flat walking on tracks.

Facilities: Picnic tables and toilets are available both at Purga Reserve and Hardings Paddock.

What to Bring: Bring your usual items for a field outing – don’t forget morning tea and lunch.

Upon Arrival: Please register in the Attendance Book and pay your $2 per person participant fee. 

Outing Report - Fassifern Rail Trail Boonah, 16 July 2022

We would like to respectfully acknowledge the Yuggera Ugarapul people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which our outing took place, and pay our respects to Elders both past, present and future.

Fassifern Field Nats taking pics on the Rail Trail

A stunning morning weather-wise was spent on the Rail Trail. It was interesting that a number of our members had not walked the Trail before. It is not a naturalist's paradise but it is a short, gentle walk through a pastoral landscape and in winter has crisp views of Mt French with the Main Range beyond. 

Punchagin (south peak)
with Main Range in the background

We were about one-third of the way along the Trail when a local farmer invited us onto his property. He told us his trees were full of birds. He wasn't wrong. His fig trees were, amazingly enough, full of Figbirds but there were Striated Pardalotes, Silvereye and White-throated Gerygones too. Mike also had a White-faced Heron nest in one of the trees earlier in the year. Two small dams provided a range of water birds as well.

There was a smattering of scrub trees along the trail and the Maiden's Wattle Acacia maidenii was in flower.

It wasn't long before we were in the cutting and down through the Baptist Cemetery on Red Bridge Rd. Here some members returned via the trail, others walked onto the lunch spot at Bicentennial Park, while some drivers were driven back to their vehicles. 

The park is a pleasant place to have lunch and there was much chatter and sharing of photos. Lastly, a quick walk around the park added a few more species to the lists.

Ficus macrophylla with figs and F. obliqua

Field Nats taking a tour
of a local property

 

Walking down from the fig trees

Baptist Cemetery on Red Bridge Rd

Lunch at Bicentennial Park

The pond at Bicentennial Park

Photographs by L. Beaton, N. Crepin, W. Dunn.

July Outing: Fassifern Rail Trail, Boonah - 16 July 2022

Fassifern Rail Trail

Time: 9.30 am

Meet: at the upper end of the rail trail in Pocock Rd, Hoya. There is plenty of parking on a wide section of the road verge.

Directions from:

- the roundabout on Coronation Drive, Boonah: turn left towards Kalbar and in 600 m take the first road on the right, Red Bridge Rd. Follow this for almost 2 km to the T-junction and turn right into Pocock Rd. Drive for another 500 m to a kink in the road. This is one end of the trail.

- Springleigh Park on Coronation Drive, Boonah: take the Hoya Rd and continue for almost 2km then turn left into Pocock Rd. Drive for another 400 m to a kink in the road. This is one end of the trail.

Bring: Refreshments; it could be a late morning tea or an early lunch. Seat and small table if desired. Drinks and nibbles. Usual other paraphernalia, i.e. field guides, camera, binoculars, eskimo suit.

Facilities: Toilets and shelter sheds at Bicentennial Park. This is where we’ll end up for our late morning tea or early lunch.

Activities: Usual Field Natting stuff.

Upon Arrival: Please register in the Attendance Book and pay your $2 per person participant fee. 

Outing Report - Waterfall Creek Reserve, 18 June 2022

Crossing the creek on the waterfall track

 The brilliant but cool sunny day of our June outing brought out our newest members, a few we hadn't seen for a while,  some visitors, as well as the usual gang. 

First we went to look at the waterfall. It meant a bit of rock hopping and some of us didn't make it quite to the end but the geological scenery all along the creek gorge was magnificent. 

Amazing geology

We returned to the cars for morning tea and a chat. Then it was off to follow Waterfall Creek around the edge of the reserve. There was little bird life and less insect life as it was quite cool. The ferns and mosses were abundant and photos were taken for identification.

Maidehair Adiantum sp.

This was enough for some of the group and they decided to laze in the sun and chat about past outings and other memorable places. However, the majority decided to follow the rather overgrown track on the southern side of the reserve to the Mt Barney lookout. Here the birding was much better and they even saw a koala. On their return we all had lunch and then wandered on home.

Everybody agreed this was a wonderful spot and should be visited more often. Thank you Wendy for bringing us here. 
 

Species Lists
* = introduced species
Fauna
Arachnids: Jumping Spider sp.
Birds: Australian Wood Duck, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Lorikeet sp., Australian King-Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Eastern Rosella, Laughing Kookaburra, Rainbow Bee-eater, Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, Eastern Spinebill, Lewin's Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Scarlet Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Striped Honeyeater, Eastern Whipbird, Golden Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Silvereye, Red-browed Finch.
Marsupials: Koala. (Bandicoot sp. – diggings only)
Butterflies: *Wanderer Danaus plexippus, Evening Brown Melanitis leda, Small Green-banded Blue Psychonotis caelius.
 
Flora discussed or taken note of on the day (not a comprehensive list):
Ferns: Maidenhair Fern Adiantum aethiopicum, Rough Maidenhair Fern Adiantum hispidulum, Basket Fern Drynaria rigidula.
Vines, Scramblers & Climbers: Hoya Hoya australis, Pandora sp.
Shrubs: Brown Wattle Acacia brunioides, Chain Fruit Alyxia ruscifolia, Cocaine Bush Erythroxylum australe, *Lantana Lantana camara.
Trees: Hairy Bird's Eye Alectryon tomentosus, Small-leaved Scrub Ironbark Bridelia leichhardtii, Bursaria sp. – probably Sweet Bursaria Bursaria spinosa, River She-oak Casuarina cunninghamiana, Smooth-branched Ironbark Eucalyptus dura – some in flower, Tallowwood Eucalyptus microcorys, Ribbonwood Euroschinus falcatus, Small-leaved Fig Ficus obliqua, Brush Box Lophostemon confertus, Black Tea Tree Melaleuca bracteata. 

Camp Report - Queen Mary Falls, 20, 21 and 22 May 2022

Only the 6 people booked into cabins made it to Queen Mary Falls. The caravan park was water-logged but the cabins were dry and inviting. As we arrived Crimson Rosellas and a Wonga Pigeon were feeding near the kiosk, and Red-necked Wallabies including two females with joeys were grazing nearby. 

Friday afternoon was grey and cold but three intrepid members braved the uninviting conditions and walked to the Falls lookout. Well, the falls were spectacular. We could hear them before we saw them. The spray, high above the plunging water, drifted through the trees as we walked towards Spring Creek. This was a roiling mass of water hurtling under the bridge to the edge of the scarp. Once we were at the lookout we could see the full force of the water thundering to the rocks 40 metres below. 

As we walked back, it started to rain and didn't stop for over 24 hours. We spent most of Saturday in front of the wood stove in the camp kitchen. As it didn't look very much better on Sunday morning, we all packed up and went home!

Species Lists for Queen Mary Falls Camp: 20-22 May 2022

Birds: Australian Wood Duck, Bar-shouldered Dove, Wonga Pigeon, Masked Lapwing, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Australian King Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Eastern Rosella, Laughing Kookaburra, White-throated Treecreeper, Eastern Spinebill, Lewin's Honeyeater, Bell Miner, Noisy Miner, Eastern Whipbird, Pied Butcherbird, Pied Currawong, Australian Magpie, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Eastern Yellow Robin, Torresian Crow (though I think it was an Australian Raven).

Mammals: Red-necked Wallaby

 

June Outing: Waterfall Creek Reserve, Maroon - 18 June 2022

Day use area, Waterfall Creek Reserve

The Field Nats have been to Waterfall Creek Reserve twice. Once in March 1987, then again for an afternoon/evening outing in February 1988. Seeing it is now 2022 it's time, after 34 years, to once more visit the area. The Reserve is managed by the Scenic Rim Regional Council. It’s a large flat area surrounded by hills; plenty of vegetation with a creek flowing along the bottom of the hill.

Time: 9am

Where: Waterfall Creek Reserve, Maroon. The Day Use area is on the right as you drive into the Reserve, camping area is on the left.

Directions from Boonah: Drive 24.5 km south on the Boonah-Rathdowney Rd. Turn right onto Burnett Creek Rd. Drive 2.5 km and turn left onto Newman Rd which is gravel. Drive for 1.8 km then turn right at the junction with Waterfall Creek Rd and continue for 1 km to the reserve. Watch for cattle on the road.

Activities: We will be staying on the flats. There is a rough walking track near the end of the camping area to the falls with stepping stones across the creek. It was checked out in mid-May but it was very over grown and tangled with vines. 

Look for Monitors, signs of Sugar Gliders, frogs, birds etc. In 1988 a Lesueur’s Velvet Gecko was seen. This is the club’s only record of this species. So, Field Nats, let’s try for another one

Level of Fitness: As easy or as tough as you like. You can set up your chair near the creek, or take the walk to the falls. If the falls are running you can still view them without going over the stepping stones. I would advise walking poles if you have them. 

Waterfall Creek Reserve Flora

Facilities: None. You'll have to find a lav-a-tree. No shelter sheds but plenty of shade. No coffee shops within kilometres, so bring your own. Don’t let that turn you off because, if you have never been here, it’s well worth the visit.

What to Bring: Morning tea and lunch. Drinks and nibbles. Seat and small table. Walking pole if you have one. Insect repellent, hat, sun screen, camera, binoculars.

Upon Arrival: Please register in the Attendance Book and pay your $2 per person participant fee. 

May Outing - Autumn Camp, Queen Mary Falls near Killarney

Daggs Falls
downstream from Queen Mary Falls
photo: N. Crepin

Weather permitting

Time: 20, 21 and 22 May 2022, walks will commence from the QMF National Park car park at 9 am and after lunch outings will commence from the same car park at 1.00 pm .

Where: Queen Mary Falls near Killarney: the falls (Queen Mary, Browns and Daggs) are spectacular after all the recent rain.

You should have booked your site by now as the cabins and powered sites are often booked out, but you're still welcome as a day visitor. In case of changes to arrangements, please advise us of your attendance. Contact us at our email address before the 19th May while we are still at home. 

Directions: If you are towing a camper or caravan the route from Boonah through Cunningham's Gap is the only way to Queen Mary Falls. Once above the Main Range, whether you go through Yangan or Warwick is up to you. Yangan is about 10 minutes shorter but with many twists and road junctions. 

The Head Road cannot be accessed by caravans and the gravel road through Carneys Creek, White Swamp and Koreelah is very rough and potholed.

Activities:  walks to the different falls and nearby rainforest, frog spotting, birding, fungi hunts,

Fungi near Queen Mary Falls
photo: N. Crepin

spotlighting at night, marveling at the spectacular scenery and, of course, we can guarantee good company. We are allowed a campfire so please pack in some suitable wood. We will gather together for Happy Hour each evening so pack in your favourite nibblies.

Level of Fitness: as unfit as you like. You can sit in camp and let the wildlife come to you.

Facilities: There is very limited mobile contact at Queen Mary Falls. 

Campers At the caravan park there is an amenities blocks for showers and laundry facilities, a camp kitchen with wood heater for those cooler nights, gas BBQ, fridge, microwave, electric stove . Campfires are allowed in designated areas around the caravan park. Wood for campfires is supplied at $10 for a large bag or you can bring your own. BBQs are also available around the Park.

Day trippers: You will need to park in the public car park at the Q M Falls opposite the caravan park. Toilets, bbqs and picnic tables are there. It is a very popular spot and tables may be at a premium.

What to Bring: Everything you need for a good camp.

Upon Arrival: Please register in the Attendance Book and pay your $2 per person participant fee. 

AGM - Boonah 19 March 2022

35th Anniversary Cake

Presidents Report for 2021/22

In spite of COVID we had a good year. We only cancelled one outing and generally kept safe. We normally spread out like “brown’s cows” so social distancing is not a problem – no mosh pits for us.
If you remember the AGM from last year, Darren Schneider highlighted EJ Smith from Kalbar. And nobody has found a Basket-nest Spider yet.

We seemed to go far and wide this last year. Helidon Hills, Glen Rock, World’s End Pocket, and Stanthorpe. Closer to home we had field outings at Carneys Creek, Spicer’s Gap, Wyaralong and Black Rock Scrub. And don’t forget the Shed Day when the Stenzels told us about all the rare things in their herbarium.

The Club has new insurance through Queensland Water and Land Carers (QWALC) at a great saving to members. Because of this we hope to keep a higher cash balance for contingencies and also subsidize the occasional bus trip. Fees will remain the same.

Our secretary Mary won’t be continuing in the role and we would like to thank her enormously for filling the role this last year.

This coming year we may have a few extra outings for members to enjoy. Stephen is arranging for some mid-week trips, and I am organizing some special visits to Land for Wildlife properties. 

My thanks go to all the executive members and leaders of field outings. Thanks to all members who make field outings so enjoyable. You all do a great job and we have a great club.