APRIL UPDATE ON THE CONFERENCE. VENUE: Australian Institute of Sport Bruce, ACT

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1 APRIL UPDATE ON THE CONFERENCE VENUE: Australian Institute of Sport Bruce, ACT PRE-CONFERENCE FIELD TRIP: NSW SOUTH COAST Leaving Monday 9 November and returning on Friday 13 November The trip will take you from the tablelands of the ACT down the escarpment of the Great Dividing Range to the South Coast of NSW. We will see a range of ecosystems, including wet and dry sclerophyll forests, rainforest and heathland, taking in the South East Corner and Sydney Basin bioregions. The five days will include visits to national parks and reserves, and private and public gardens in the Eurobodalla and Shoalhaven areas. There will be a number of short walks requiring a basic level of fitness, and spectacular scenery over around 200km of coastline stretching from Narooma in the south to Jervis Bay in the north. Our botanical guide will be John Knight, an expert on the flora of the region and former manager and head horticulturalist at the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens for 20 years until John s contribution to the knowledge of Australian plants in the course of a notable professional career in the natural science field spanning 30 years was recognised in 2005 with an Australian Plants Award in the professional category. Accommodation will be at motels in Batemans Bay and Mollymook. The cost of the trip will cover accommodation, bus travel and most lunches and morning/ afternoon teas. All dinners and some lunches are at own expense. Itinerary DAY ONE Leave Canberra around morning tea time and drive to historic Braidwood for lunch before continuing to the Monga National Park to view the waratahs along the Mongarlowe River (Telopea

2 mongaensis). Travel back in time on the Penance Grove boardwalk in a pocket of cool temperate rainforest featuring ancient plumwood trees which form a cathedral-like canopy over tree ferns. Cross Clyde Mountain and the Clyde River to reach Batemans Bay. Overnight at Batemans Bay. DAY TWO Travel south to spend the morning at Horse Island, an exceptional private garden near Bodalla, then visit Bodalla State Forest for a short walk through the mosses and ferns of grey myrtle rainforest. After a scenic picnic lunch at Narooma, visit the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens which grows and displays plants occurring naturally in the region, for a guided tour. Overnight at Batemans Bay. DAY THREE Visit Pebbly Beach in Murramurrang National Park, famous for its kangaroos and birdlife, to explore its pristine beach and flora, then travel further north to visit Old Blotchy, one of the largest spotted gums (Corymbia maculata) in NSW. In the afternoon, explore South Pacific Heathland Reserve, on the water s edge near Ulladulla, established to protect rare native flora and fauna. Here we will see an amazingly diverse heathland containing banksias, grevilleas, correas, isopogons, petrophiles, flannel flowers and so much more! Overnight at Mollymook. Grevillea macleayana DAY FOUR Spend the morning in the Little Forest area near the town of Milton. First, visit a private garden on the edge of the escarpment, then explore the flora of Little Forest Plateau up the top in Morton National Park, and enjoy the spectacular views along the coastline. We may see early examples of Christmas Bells (Blandfordia nobilis). In the afternoon, visit Jervis Bay. We will visit the location of a newly discovered species of banksia. After a scenic drive near Huskisson we will visit the gardens and museum at the Lady Denman Heritage complex. Around the Maritime Museum housing the Sydney ferry Lady Denman, built at Huskisson, are the Wirreecoo Wildflower Garden and the Keith Moore Habitat Garden. Both gardens display the diversity of flora in the area. The Mangrove Boardwalk seeks to impart an understanding of wetlands, mangrove swamps and the interaction between ocean and land environments. Overnight at Mollymook. Lambertia formosa

3 DAY FIVE Return to Canberra through the Morton National Park. The park is one of the largest in NSW, protecting a large area of the ranges inland from Nowra, and is largely a maze of dissected sandstone plateaux. Due to its size, it supports a wide range of plant communities, and a correspondingly diverse array of wildlife. The major river on the South Coast, the Shoalhaven, flows through the park, and the majority of creeks and rivers drain into it. We will drive along the Pigeon House Range viewing flora, lookouts, and the Bulee Gap pagoda rock formations. We will continue through Nerriga and Braidwood, stopping to look at rare grevilleas, before arriving back in Canberra at the AIS around 5pm Friday, ready for the pre-conference activities over the weekend. Petrophile pedunculata; Thysanotus juncifolius PRE-CONFERENCE ONE DAY EXCURSION: SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER Ian Fraser will lead a one day excursion up into the Brindabella Range on the western edge of the ACT and into NSW. Travel will be on a small bus which takes you on minor roads into the heart of the Namadgi National Park in the ACT and the Bimberi Nature Reserve and Brindabella National Park in New South Wales. Ian will show a variety of habitats and wildflowers endemic to the region. Ian is a very experienced guide and has been awarded an Australian Plants Award in the Professional Category. It is an easy trip with a small amount of walking required. Lunch and drinks will be provided. This trip will be repeated on Saturday 21 November

4 CONFERENCE PROGRAM All conference proceedings will be held at the Australian Institute of Sport which is in Bruce, an inner north suburb of Canberra. Ample free parking will be available. SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER AM 9:00 AM: ANPSA Council Meeting of Executive, Officers and Delegates in meeting room 10:00 AM:- 4:00 PM Free culture shuttle bus runs hourly from AIS to National Gallery, National Museum, National Portrait Gallery, National Library, War Memorial and other attractions for all registrants 12:30 1:30 Lunch for Executive, Officers and Delegates 1:30-3:30 continuation of meeting if needed EVE 7:30 10:00 PM Meeting of ANPSA Executive and primary delegates MONDAY 16 NOVEMBER :15 am: Conference opening with Welcome to Country 9:15-9:30am: Welcome by President of ANPS Canberra Region 9:30-10:30am: David Headon on the history of Canberra as a Garden City 10:30-11:00: Tea/Coffee 11:00 am 11:45am: Edwina Robinson on the development of Canberra wetlands 11:45am-12:00pm: Eremophila Study Group 12:00-12:30: Brad Pillans on the National Rock Garden 12:30 1:30 Lunch : Excursions EVE Meeting of Study Group Leaders and Coordinators TUESDAY 17 NOVEMBER 9:00 10:00: David Taylor on the ANBG, its history and future 10:00 10:15: Waratah and Flannel Flower Study Group: Maria Hitchcock 10:15 10:30:Australian Plants as Bonsai: Roger Hnatiuk 10:30-11:00: Morning coffee/tea 11:00 12:00 Rosemary Purdie on comparative vegetations 12:00 1:30 Lunch 1:30 5:00 Excursions EVE Meeting of Study Groups WEDNESDAY 18 NOVEMBER am: Alexander Schmidt-Lebuhn on the Asteraceae 10:00-10:45am: Anthony O Halloran on fire recovery in the Warrumbungles 10:45 11:15 Morning coffee/tea 11:15-12:00: Roger Farrow on alpine plants 12:00 12:30 Dryandra Study Group Margaret Pieroni 12:30 1:30 Lunch : Excursions EVE 6:00 9:00 Art work on view/sale to public 7.30 pm: Australian Plants Awards and A.J Swaby Lecture: Angus Stewart

5 THURSDAY 19 NOVEMBER 9:00 10:00 Mark Clements on orchids, orchid evolution 10:00 10:15: Acacia Study Group: Bill Aitchison 10:15-10:30: Garden Design Study Group: Ben Walcott 10:30 11:00 Morning coffee/tea 11:00 12:00: Geoff Butler on Weeds of the ACT 12:00 12:30 :Maria Hitchcock on rare and endangered plants 12:30 1:30 Lunch 1:30 5:00: Excursions EVE 6:30 Conference Dinner and after dinner speaker: Ian Fraser FRIDAY 20 NOVEMBER 8.30 am 12 noon: Excursions 12:15 1:15: Lunch :15 : Rainer Rehwinkel on ACT grasslands :30: Hakea Study Group: Paul Kennedy 2:30-2:45: Grevillea Study Group: Peter Olde 2:45 3:15: Afternoon tea/coffee 3.15 pm 3:45: Introduction to Biennial Conference 2017 in Tasmania 3:45 4:00 Conference summary and close 4:00 6:00: Plant Sale CONFERENCE EXCURSIONS: Each day of the conference, there will be 5 different excursions to: A. Australian National Botanic Gardens B. National Arboretum, Southern Tablelands Ecosystem Park, National Bonsai Collection and National Rock Garden C: Pillans Garden and Queanbeyan Nature Reserve D. Kowen Travelling Stock Reserve and associated grasslands E. Walcott Garden CONFERENCE DINNER: The dinner will be held in the Arena of the AIS and will feature after dinner speaker Ian Fraser. Ian is a Canberra naturalist who has written extensively about local plants. He is the tour guide who will lead a day long pre- and post-conference day tour of the Brindabella Mts. Ian is a passionate speaker on native plants and was given the Australian Plant Award in BOOK, PLANT AND ARTWORK SALES During the conference, a large variety of books on native plants and ecosystems will be for sale at times to be announced. In addition, the new revised fifth edition of Australian Plants for Canberra Region Gardens will be available. Canberra has a large number of talented botanic artists and their work will be both on display and some will be for sale. It is a great opportunity to acquire some botanically accurate artwork and to support these artists. They will be available for viewing during the conference. A plant sale will be held at the end of the conference. Plants will be provided by Australian Native Plants Society member growers who will be providing a variety of unusual and interesting plants, including some grafted plants.

6 POST-CONFERENCE ONE DAY EXCURSION: SATURDAY 21 NOVEMBER Ian Fraser will lead a repeat trip to the Brindabella Range as described earlier in this notice. POST-CONFERENCE FIELD TRIP From the Tablelands to the Mountains, an exploration of the flora from the Monaro grasslands (1000m) to the alpine herbfields (2000m) with Roger Farrow and Jo Walker Saturday November 21 to Thursday November 26 The trip will be run with two self-drive 12-seater mini buses and a maximum of 20 participants. The 4 days of walks demand a moderate level of fitness and endurance and each walk will last about 6 hours at a very slow pace. All participants should bring a backpack with extra warm and waterproof clothing and carry water with space for the packed lunch. If you would like a hot drink you should bring your own thermos, cup and tea, coffee etc. Medical kits and 2-way radios will be carried by leaders and an extra vehicle will be present if any evacuations are required. Illustrated plant lists will be provided for all walks. The program is weather dependant and alternative options in the event of the walks being cancelled by adverse weather are very limited and could include just roadside stops. Accommodation will be at a motel in Jindabyne. The cost of the trip covers accommodation and breakfast, travel and lunches but not evening meals, where participants can make a choice of a wide range of options in Jindabyne, and the Day 1 morning tea and lunch In Cooma. Intinerary Day 1 Saturday 21 st Leave AIS at 9 am and drive to Cooma for a morning tea stop (own expense). Continue to Dry Plain Road to observe a natural temperate grassland community at 1060m, containing the Monaro golden daisy and mauve burr daisy.

7 Calotis glandulosa Mauve burr daisy Rutidosis leiolepis Monaro golden daisy ENDANGERED Return to Cooma for lunch (own expense). Continue to Ironpot Creek Travelling Stock Reserve to see a Snow gum grassy woodland plant community at 1090 m. Ironpot TSR Grevillea lanigera Woolly Grevillea Travel to accommodation at Jindabyne approx. 5 pm Day 2 Sunday 22 nd Sawpit Creek (1200m) Leave motel at Drive to Sawpit Creek (1/2 hr) and take the Waterfall Circuit, a 6 km loop. This easy walk passes through mountain gum, mountain ash and snow gum forest with a diverse understorey, patches of heathland and fen and granite outcrops. Morning tea and lunch en route. Acacia siculiformis along Waterfall Track Mirbelia oxylobioides

8 If time permits take the short Sawpit Creek circuit (2 km) to see recovery from a controlled burn. Return to Jindabyne Day 3 Monday 23 rd Rennix track m.- Leave motel at Drive to Rennix Pass (3/4 hr drive). Botanise around carpark followed by morning tea. Walking Track 6 km return. This walk crosses frost hollow grassland and enters snow gum woodland with extensive views to the main range. There are some short steep sections on this walk. Return to Jindabyne Rennix Track Bossiaea foliosa Day 4 Tuesday 24 th Porcupine Track Perisher m Leave motel at Drive to Perisher Village (1¼ hr). Porcupine Ridge walk, 5 km return. An easy walk passing through subalpine shrubland, some swamps and patches of snow gum Porcupine Track Euphrasia collina ssp diversicolor Mountain Eyebright Day 5 Wednesday 25 th Charlotte Pass and Mt Stillwell m. Leave motel at Drive to Charlotte Pass (1 ½ hr drive). Snow gum boardwalk (100m) for views of the Main Range. Locate Ranunculus anemoneus at car park. Take the track to Mt Stillwell, 4 km return through sub-alpine shrubland and alpine grassland and herbfield. Some snow patches may be present. Night at motel Left: Ranunculus anemoneus Anemone Buttercup Right: Main range from Mt. Stillwell Track Day 6 Thursday 26 : Return to AIS Canberra arriving mid morning

9 ACCOMMODATION: The Conference organising committee has made arrangements for people to stay at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). Cost is $90.00 for bed and breakfast per person. Further information is available on the Conference Website: The committee has also compiled information about alternative accommodation for those not wishing to stay at the Australian Institute of Sport. A larger list is available on the Conference website of ACT-wide accommodation provided by the Canberra and Region Visitors Centre. This has contact details, star rating, and available facilities. Accommodation providers can be contacted direct or through the Canberra and Region Visitors Centre. Phone: ; URL: In addition, we have received information from nearby accommodation providers Accommodation URL Distance to AIS Travel time Canberra Lyneham Motor Inn n/a 3.8 km 5 minutes Aria Hotel km 8 minutes Alivio Tourist Park km 9 minutes Canberra Rex Hotel km 10 minutes Capital Executive Apartment Hotel km 10 minutes Belconnen Way Motel and Serviced Apartments km 11 minutes Information taken from: Canberra Lyneham Motor Inn Costs range from $99 per night (Budget Room) to $110 per night (Family and Standard Rooms) canberralyneham@yahoo.com.au Alivio Tourist Park Prices start from $145 per night per person (2 adult accommodation). Bookings can be made through the Olivia website Canberra Rex Hotel An expired quote for accommodation (January 2015) has prices starting at $145. Capital Executive Apartment Hotel Prices start from $ per person All rooms are fully self contained and have kitchenette facilities. Belconnen Way Motel & Serviced Apartments Prices range from $140 per night (motel) to $159 (studio accommodation). A 10% discount is offered to conference attendees for a 5 nights stay. info@belconnenhotel.com mention attendance at the conference to receive a discount. More information is available on the Conference Website:

10 REGISTRATION: Forms for registration will be available soon NOTE: Preference for participation in Pre- and Post-Conference tours will be given to those who have paid full registration for the Conference Early Registration until 30 June: $ Regular Registration until 1 November: $ Day Trip with Ian Fraser: $ Pre Conference Field Trip: Per Person double/twin $ Single: $ Post Conference Field Trip: Per Person double/twin $ Single: $ For the field trips, please see the descriptions for what these costs cover. In general, dinner is not included. Registration forms will be provided separately and on the website. Registration will be available on line at: Forms can be sent to : Registrar, PO BOX 187, Deakin West, ACT 2600 or scanned and ed to: conference2015@anpsa.org.au Telopea Shady Lady photographed by Phil Trickett