THE PRESIDENT S PAGE

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1 ONKAPARINGA PARKWATCH NEWSLETTER OF THE FRIENDS OF ONKAPARINGA PARK INC. Note opinions and commentary in this newsletter are not necessarily the general opinion of the FOOP membership. Any complaints should in the first instance be directed to the author. Website: August Vol 30 No THE PRESIDENT S PAGE A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people. Franklin D. Roosevelt Although Roosevelt died in 1945, his words are as relevant in 2016 as they were then. Despite the magnificent advances in medicine, technology, science and the like; have we learned much in all that time? I would postulate that we have learned much, but the inherent greed in humankind means other interests dictate what action we choose to take, or not. The July General Meeting was entertained by [Dr] Elisa Sparrow, the NRM ecologist for Willunga and Southern Fleurieu. The main highlights were her extensive research into the Southern Hairy-Nosed Wombat and her role as an adjunct to work we might undertake. It took Jan and I back over thirty years when we had annual holidays in the Nundroo area. This area has a significant wombat population which brings challenges for the farmers and graziers in that locale. If you are interested in visiting the areas in which FOOP has done much work over the last 30 years, please make sure you have booked your seat(s) on the bus tour on Sunday 11 th September. It is free and includes lunch, morning and afternoon tea. Seats are limited! I didn t see anything in the State budget to excite me. It was probably too much to expect the allocation of monies for improving the environment. That being said, the proposed $15.8 Million to improve contamination is a step in the right direction. I believe it is fitting to acknowledge the passing of our member John Langford. Having been involved as the Thursday working bee coordinator since John started his involvement with FOOP, I note his welsh sense of humour and forthrightness. If John thought an issue needed airing he certainly let you know. That being said, his willingness to get stuck into whatever task he was set, meant lots of work completed with a laugh and a just a little grizzle. Our condolences to Barb, Sarah and James. Vale John. Both parks [National and Recreation] are to be featured as park of the month soon. This involves publicity by both DEWNR and Nature Play SA. Much of this will be done using social media. Being somewhat of a luddite when it comes to Facebook and Twitter [I thought that is what birds do!] I am looking forward to how it all pans out. Together with a couple of other FOOPers, I walked the recreation park with an active family from Old Noarlunga, DEWNR representatives and the blogger from Nature Play SA. If their enthusiasm is any indicator, we should see lots of visitors to the parks with special focus on an Onkaparinga Park(s) Open Day on Sunday 14 August. It will probably be from Perry s Bend. If you see anything on those other media, please let us know. Make a note in your diary. Also keep an eye out for tours of the revamped Noarlunga wetlands. Graham Thomas August 2016 FRIENDS OF ONKAPARINGA PARK INC PATRON: Dr B HARDY AO Incorporating The ONKAPARINGA RECREATION PARK and ONKAPARINGA NATIONAL PARK. Proudly a member of THE FRIENDS OF PARKS INC., President: Graham Thomas Vice-President: Michael Whitaker Secretary/Treasurer: : Andrew McKinnon ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO: The Secretary, Friends of Onkaparinga Park Inc C/- 27 Kym St., Port Noarlunga Sth 5167.

2 From the Editor s Desk. Send articles via: billandgilll@yahoo.com.au or by snail mail to 27 Marston Drive, Morphett Vale 5162 or hand de- I was looking at an old book I have on the Geology of the Adelaide region (Geology and the Adelaide Environment Handbook no ). I was browsing looking for information on the Onkaparinga parks geology and came across the map shown across. I remembered Andy commenting some time ago about the estuary having coal under it. The picture shows approximately where the seam is. It was looked at seriously but found to be uneconomic. Sometimes you can be lucky. While on the estuary Colin s bird article this month is on the state of the wetlands. All this rain has rejuvenated the ponds and they are full of water. A must see. I can remember Ray Rogers and myself canoeing in the pond with the board walk. We headed slowly South East and ended up in the channel connecting the aforesaid pond with the island pond. We call these ponds by numbers. Its easy but a little impersonal. We did try as a group to get the local Kaurna people to suggest names but to no avail. I know the area was/is very important to the Kaurna not only because it was a great larder. There were more sacred connections that point to a deeper story than most of us are going to ever hear about. Perhaps we should have a pond naming contest again. In another trip down memory lane (I thought) I was at the library waiting for Gill to get her latest who dun it fix and to pass the time started reading a 2015 copy of Australian Geographic. There was an interesting article written by a Professor Hugh Possingham. While I was never more than a fellow Friend of Parks member I remember Professor Possingham questioning some rangers at a Forum. Ah I thought I know this bloke and this article will be interesting. It was but now I know the author was the son not the father. The article was about the future of National parks in this country and overseas. He pointed out that over the last thirty years ago or so the role of National parks has changed and there were reasons for that happening. He pointed out that initially parks for conservation only were popular with politicians because in the s we were all bolshie environmental warriors. Mind you most of the parks declared were parcels of land that no business person wanted so we didn't always get what we should have insisted on. Rather than choosing relevant areas of unique environmental value because of the importance of the geology, the flora or fauna or all three, they were probably chosen because no one important wanted them. Worse, once declared quite often the needed funding never happened. We FOOPers have seen that firsthand. Over the years the parks have been left to tend for themselves with no funding for even the most desperately needed maintenance work. Having said that I think we were very lucky in getting the Gorge and the estuary. I know some McLaren Vale winemakers wanted the gorge dammed to provide a water source for the wine industry and some Noarlunga councillors wanted golf courses in the estuary. That both never happened is as much down to luck as it is to people who stood up when needed. Possingham wrote that today the political climate has changed and with that the attitude to parks has also changed. People in parks were what was wanted and for Australia to achieve that we need to look around the world to see how that is being done. The changes to the Onkaparinga Parks are targeting people activities. As I have been pushing for years to have more people in the parks I cannot complain. Hopefully with more park use more maintenance will be done. In the USA Gill and I visited private parks and state owned parks where private enterprise had built apartments etc., Perhaps my idea last month about glamps is not so silly after all. All fine if the funds go back into the Park system. There needs to be a balance achieved because we do see some people abusing the areas. We do need people interested and interacting with the parks system but they do need to do it with respect. It was an interesting article and food for thought. He did point out that we do not want to go back to the 19th century model where National parks were seen as recreational areas first with perhaps a zoo for interest and to achieve that all the nasty natives had to be removed. We need to be careful that in moving toward this sharing as it were we don't overstep the mark and destroy what we have either recreated or saved. Bill

3 Vale Enid Robertson Died 10th July After a long illness. Enid was a true friend of the Friends movement in South Australia and had input into our own Onkaparinga Parks. She assisted the group in its enquiry re the effects of camels trekking through the park and on a short walk in the Sundews area many years ago identified rare and endangered species of which none of the then FOOPer members knew anything about. This further raised the profile of the park in the view of many. She will be missed. Bill Heaven on behalf of the FOOP (See the article in the FOP Inc website for more information.) Vale John Langford Died 19th July 2016 After a long illness. Sincere condolences are extended to Barbara and family from his many friends in FOOP. John was not with FOOP for all that long but he quickly became part of the team and more than qualified as a FOOPer. Not content with removing weeds etc he showed his artistic skills on a number of occasions with a painting as a gift. He will be missed by all. Bill Heaven on behalf of the FOOP

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5 From The Secretary s Desk The Friends of Onkaparinga Park will be hosting a bus tour of the Onkaparinga River National Park on Sunday 11th September from 9am to 4pm. This event is free to members & will investigate the work done in the national park over the 30 years of the existence of the Friends group. Lunch, morning & afternoon teas will be provided. Numbers are limited so bookings are essential. RSVP to Andy McKinnon at mackins@tpg.com.au or tel or mobile There are still some places available for this event. The Friends of Onkaparinga Park are holding the 30th Year Birthday Celebration Lunch on Sunday 23rd October at the Seaford Meadows Scout Hall, Railway Road, Seaford Meadows. This will be a fully catered 3 course lunch including refreshments. The cost will be $15 for members & $25 for nonmembers. Awards will be presented to members who have completed 30, 25, 20 & 10 years of service to the Friends of Onkaparinga Park. This will be an opportunity to meet and socialise and enjoy the 30 years of service to the Onkaparinga Parks. To book & pay please contact Cynthia Kirkham on or you can book & pay by electronic funds transfer. Please refer to the poster in this newsletter for details & the program. We need at least 60 people to make this a viable and successful function. Friends of Parks Inc is hosting a frogs & frogs monitoring workshop. Regina Durbridge from the Goolwa to Wellington Local Action Planning Association Inc will present Frogs and Frog Monitoring Workshop at the Volunteer Centre Belair National Park on Sunday 25th September 2016 from 1 pm 4 pm. Come along and learn all about the local frog species, and how to use the new FrogWatchSA app (South Australia s new frog census), and help monitor the local frog populations. Live frogs will be on display. If you or your family are interested in attending, or to find out more, please click the event on the Friends of Parks Inc website: The Onkaparinga River Parks will be featured as the Park of the Month in August as part of Nature Play. An Open Day will be held at Perry s Bend, River Road from 10am on Sunday 14th August. The Friends group will be selling sausages, cakes & tea/coffee to raise funds to assist with projects in the parks. Park Rangers will be in attendance to host guided bike rides. The Friends will also assist with guided walks in the recreation park. More information available from: Friends of Parks Inc is hosting a bird photography workshop. John Gitsham from Nature Connections will be presenting The Basics of Creative Bird Photography which will concentrate mostly on creative composition, field techniques, and understanding bird behaviour to get the best photos at the Volunteer Centre, Belair National Park, on Sunday 4th September 2016 from 1 pm 5 pm. If you or your family are interested in attending, or to find out more, please click the event on the Friends of Parks Inc website: Please bring a pen and paper. Afternoon tea will be supplied. The Friends of Parks 30th Forum titled Urban Biodiversity Rocks will be held from 14th to 16th October 2016 at the Cove Civic Centre, Ragamuffin Drive, Hallett Cove. The program has been planned and includes many interesting speakers & the tours will go to places such as Glenthorne Farm. The cost will be $125 for all sessions & all meals. Registration forms are now available from the Friends of Parks website for this bi-annual event. Members with the existing Multi-Parks pass will not be able to use these from the 1st August. A new on line booking system has been designed which requires the use of a unique booking number. Gold Passes are also available for active members with at least 15 years of continuous service. If you require any further information on any of the issues raised here you can contact me by telephone on or mackins@tpg.com.au See you somewhere out in the Park Andy McKinnon

6 Hi all, by the time you read this I will be up in the Tropics enjoying the warmth and sunshine of Christmas Island and then onto Cocos Islands for a month.. I'm a bit rushed at time of writing, so an extra short article this month. I decided not to elaborate on a specific bird species for a change, but more of a heads up on activities around the Park, there is a lot of bird activity from the estuary and all parts of the Gorge, a good breeding season is likely.. I guess many of us have all been kept shivering and reluctant to get out much in our recent cold and rainy weather, but the rain has been a blessing for the Onkaparinga region. For the first time in many years the wetlands in the estuary have lots of water, and the River has flowed strongly. It has attracted a great many birds all quite happy to feed on emerging insect larvae and drowned worms and a great many frogs. At times I have seen literally hundreds of water birds on all ponds and lots of water under the boardwalk. Large flocks of Swallows, White-faced Herons, Egrets, Ibis, Black-winged Stilts and numerous Duck species make for an amazing sight. Myself and many others have been seeing and photographing numerous birds, specialties like Goldenheaded Cisticolas seem common at present. With many Gum flowers opening a lot of Thornbills, Weebills, Honeyeaters and insects are all eagerly feeding on nectar laden trees, a big attraction to many species. I had a wonderful time photographing Crested Shrike-tits along the 2 main ponds connecting channel just the other day, not rare, but certainly not a common encounter. So, I strongly urge all the bird people and nature lovers to get out and spend some time around the Park now, things will improve even more over the next couple of months with Spring approaching, it looks like being a Very good season. { Here's a good read...i just finished reading a book by Derek Niemann called "Birds in a Cage". True story of POW's in WW2 breaking oppressive boredom by starting up bird watching groups within the camps, interesting read indeed ]

7 The Volunteers Oh, let us rise and give three cheers For all the unsung volunteers, For those who don t just stand and stare, But offer up their time and care, For those who never count the cost, But run to help the ill, the lost, For those who work with quiet grace, To make this world a better place. Oh, let us, as best we may, Employ our gifts the finest way. And, if we can, to take our part, And give our help with willing heart. Maggie Ingall

8 DID YOU KNOW No. 4 Continuing on from last month s Newsletter, below is a reproduction of Colin s notes he wrote for the FOOP forum held between May The year of the Sheep, Pines and Goats I will start with three quotes from our newsletters. The definition of a pest plant - any plant you do not want in that area March guest speaker Enid Robertson. Keep good records of experimental plantings so that you learn from mistakes and profit from success May guest speaker Dick Woods. This Ray Rogers fella is a bit hard to follow: first he gets up a petition to save pine trees, then he helps cut them down. During the year:- Chainsaw Woods took over as General in the fight against olives. Our 1 st clean up with KESAB. Monadenia bracteata infestation found in section 816. Centenary of Arbor Day the old conservation day became Arbor Day again. On June 25 over 250 attended our planting day 5000 tube stock planted. Members hours in the park were recorded for the first time in the diary. 1 st weeding at States Rd. 50 members seeded 3500 tubes at Col and Jean Griffen s in approximately 3 hours. Incorporation for all Friends groups suggested. Goats from the Gammon Ranges N.P. on holiday in the ORRP liked it so much they decided to stay. The Group put up a suggestion for a NPWS centenary project a footbridge over the river at Old Noarlunga. At the annual Friends Forum, the group received awards for the remaining pine plantation (Sundews fire track) cut down. Bill suggested he keep a record of our activities in the park on computer file. The sheep and goats kept munching. -o-o-o-o-o-o-o- I remember the 1989 Centenary of Arbor Day. Have we had as many as 250 out to plant trees since? Note 1989 was the year of introducing goats into our park how nice! So we have been controlling weeds at States Rd. for 27 years and there are still olives there. Good thing we are tenacious. Cheers, Ray Rogers

9 Across 1. Security for a loan perhaps. (10) 4. Martial art: the gentle way. (4) 7. God of the sky Roman style. (7) 10. This Friedrich developed a hardness scale for minerals. (4) 11. Pelican state -USA (9) 12. Microscopic alga of the division Bacillariophyta. (6) 14. Fight with bamboos. (5) 16. Goddess of retribution. (7) 18. North star (7) 19. Wise person or an herb. (4) 20. standing stone (6) 23. Moonstone is a type of? (8) 25. Species of wild Asian dog. (5) 26. Hungarian -Danube (4) 28. Corvus monedula - European bird. (7) 31. Position when Earth is closest to the sun. (10) Last month s solution... Down 2. Art gallery or window type perhaps. (6) 3. Cave dweller. (10) 5. Arabic name for the port of Tyre (3) 6. Sea cucumber. (7) 8. Brazilian dam. (6) 9. Ulmus procera. (3) 10. Lodestone when permanently magnetised. (9) 13. Arabian peasant farmer. (6) 15. Three electrode thermionic valve (6) 16. From this cloud come baby stars. (6) 17. Protective ditch. (4) 18. Birds do it or is it a fish. (5) 20. Babylonian Sun god. (6) 21. Prehistoric stone chamber. (6) 22. Australian bird: Podargus strigoides. (9) 24. Moulder of performer (8) 27. Peninsula of SE Europe (7) 29. Russian for destruction - something they did to the Jewish population a lot. (6) 30. English born entertainer- Leslie Townes???? (4)

10 Venue: Seaford Meadows Scout Hall, Railway Road, Seaford Meadows Program. Noon Pre lunch drinks and nibbles. A time to socialise, view the photo competition and vote. Note voting must be completed by pm Group photograph Commence - proceedings will include; Main course Desserts FOOP over the years, slides of the last 30 years Birthday cake Awards for 30, 25, 20 & 10 years of service (Badge & Certificate) Tea/Coffee Draw raffle and Door prize Announce winners of photo competition & scavenger hunt 3.30 Close Cost: Members : $15.00 each Non Members: $25.00 each. Cost is all inclusive of wine, soft drink, tea & coffee. Please contact: Cynthia Kirkham (PH ) for bookings and payment...seats are filling fast. Also pay at any general meeting. Book & Pay by EFT OR Account Title: Friends of Onkaparinga Park Inc. BSB Number: A/C Number: (Credit Union SA) Reference: Last name, first name, birthday lunch.

11 Following the Flow of the Finniss river. Located entirely in the Fleurieu region this river was named after a South Australian notable -Boyd Travers Finniss. Finniss was a mover and shaker in the Colony of South Australia and worthy of some research for those interested in the state s history. A great day was enjoyed once again by those intrepid FOOPers (some 14 souls) who took up the challenge to Follow the Finniss. The weather was cold but fine and by lunch the sun was shining. There was good news and bad news. The bad news was that there was so much Finniss Flow, and trees down etc., that a number of fords were closed so our proposed route had to be altered by our guides the Trueman expeditioners. The good news was everywhere looked green and lush. Water was abundant with dams full and in some cases paddocks. The Clarendon weir was a spectacular sight with water thundering over the top. The Onkaparinga river in spate was a fine sight. In passing the weir was built from marble quarried from Paris Creek another Fleurieu water course. With the Finniss successfully followed we completed the exploration without loss and at the Finniss General store we enjoyed soup or a pie as we talked about all manner of topics. The next PDO will be on the 12th August. We are to meet our expedition leaders; Fae and Jim at Karinya Reserve, Shepherds Hill Reserve, Eden Hills at 10:00 am. Bill. NB., These PDO s are a wonderful way to discover the state and worth a try. Elizabeth House, Elizabeth Road Christies Downs. 4th August :45 pm Noarlunga Trees for Life meeting. Source to sea a trip down the Onkaparinga by Bill Rowlands. Bill produced an excellent DVD with his drone and other equipment as he travelled along the Onkaparinga River from it source around Mt Torrens to its mouth at Port Noarlunga South. 30th Birthday Photographic Competition Advanced Notice: Here is your opportunity to begin a plan to produce photographic images for entry in the Competition, to be held in October Four classes are proposed, all 15cm x 10cm if possible: 1. A landscape taken within the Park. 2. An historical picture of the Park or FOOP. 3. An amusing shot, related to FOOP photoshopping allowed. 4. A flora or fauna picture, judged on rarity value. Entries not required yet. Any questions to Michael Whitaker.

12 1. - Andy McKinnon's shoe size 2. - Bob Brown's Autograph - The Bob Brown 3. - Clothes peg 4. - Donation for Nature Foundation 5. - English name for eremophila 6. - Feather 7. - Giraffe's heart beat 8. - Hardy's Scrub gate numbers 9. - ISBN of Dean Nicolle's "Native Eucalypts of S.A" Joan Alford's birthplace Kangaroo tail soup recipe Lavender bag Moon's phases Number of "Friends of Parks" groups in S.A Orange-Bellied Parrot's Tasmanian home A. Z SCAVENGER HUNT Photo of waterfall Queen Elizabeth's age Rose petals Seeds of native plant Timetable for Seaford line PRIZE FOR: MOST ITEMS COLLECTED MOST UNUSUAL OBJECT WINNER ANNOUNCED AT THE BIRTHDAY LUNCH ON 23 RD OCTOBER Unusual object Volunteer badge Water from rainwater-tank Xmas card 25. -Yellow capsicum Two equal entries? Zodiac sign for Aquarius Quality counts!! Editors Note; Although this is a FOOP birthday event it s the sort of input I would like to see in the Newsletter.

13 NOMINATIONS FOR FRIENDS OF PARKS INC AWARDS Friends of Parks Inc continues to recognise the invaluable contribution of its member groups. With the support of DEWNR, the Friends of Parks Inc. Board is now seeking nominations for five awards to recognise significant group achievements. Friends of Parks President, Duncan Mackenzie, says The awards program is important in recognising the significant contribution our members make to their communities and the Environment as a whole. Not only do these awards draw attention to the award recipients, they draw attention to the effort made by all Friends of Parks volunteers without whom our natural and cultural heritage would be the poorer. Awards will be presented in the following categories: Habitat Restoration and Protection Projects/activities that protect/restore/monitor native plant communities and associated eco-systems, including but not limited to, pest plant control, re-vegetation, bush care etc, Wildlife Protection and Recovery Projects/activities that protect/restore/monitor native wildlife communities and their associated eco-systems. Innovation A new/different method/approach t o activities that have an on-park biodiversity management outcome. Cultural and Structural Heritage Preserving/renovating/restoring/protecting/interpreting cultural and/or structural heritage and assets on park. Community Engagement Communicating/interpreting/educating aspects of the South Australian parks and reserves to the SA community. How does the Awards Program work? Anybody can nominate a group for an award. The nomination form is below. The awards are sponsored by DEWNR, and recipients in each category will receive a cheque for $1000 and a certificate. The presentation of the awards will be made at the 2016 Friends of Parks Forum, during the Saturday night dinner, to be held at the Marion Sports Club, on 15 October. Judging Criteria Nominations will be judged by the Friends of Parks Awards Committee. The judges will be looking for evidence of: The long-term impact/benefit of the project/activity to the conservation of the State s parks and reserves system Nominations close on Friday 29 July, Please or post your nomination form to us at: DEWNRVolunteers@sa.gov.au or Friends of Parks Inc Awards, c/- GPO Box 1047, ADELAIDE SA 5001 For more information, please contact Duncan MacKenzie, President, Friends of Parks Inc. 12 More Walks in the Onkaparinga River National & Recreation Parks Written by Michael Whitaker. Full colour maps, photographs and detailed descriptions of each walk are included, as well as some of the history of the Onkaparinga Parks. The original 12 Walks book is also available again. All profits from the sale of the books support the Environmental work of the Friends of Onkaparinga Park. FOOP members can buy books at meetings or at most Working B s for $15. Further details from Michael Whitaker michaelwalksonkaparinga@hotmail.com A3 double sided topographic maps are now also available from Michael or refer to details on our website.

14 FOOP Subscriptions Form Subscriptions are due on the 1 st November of each year. (Financial year 1 st November to 31 st October) New members who join after 1 st September are covered for the year following. Please accept my/our new/renewal subscription. Name(s):. Address:.. Telephone No Mob No. address.. Please indicate if you would like to receive notices by Yes No Please indicate if you would like to receive newsletter by Yes No Please indicate if you would still like to receive newsletter by post Yes No I am paying (please indicate the one you are paying) Family Membership $15.00 Single Membership $10.00 Donation $... (NB., Not tax deductible) Then detach this form and forward with payment to: The Secretary/Treasurer, Mr A McKinnon, 27 Kym Street, Port Noarlunga South 5167 Payment can also be made to the Treasurer at general meetings held the first Tuesday of the month. (except January) Payment also by electronic transfer, details below. EFT Details: Account Title: Friends of Onkaparinga Park Inc. BSB Number: A/C Number: (Credit Union SA) Reference: Last name, first name, subs. Send to mackins@tpg.com.au to confirm payment. If you are a new member please forward contact details as above. Andy McKinnon Secretary/Treasurer Friends of Onkaparinga Park Inc.

15 AUGUST 2016 FOOP WORKING B PROGRAM. Note Working B s in the park will be cancelled when there is a Total Fire ban in the MT Lofty Region All Working B s start at 9:00 am & finish at 11.30am unless otherwise stated. This newsletter is copied free at the office of the State member for Mawson Mr Leon Bignell Sunday Monday Tuesday 1 2 NP Gate 29/30 Riparian zone General Meeting 7.30pm Old Noarlunga Institute Wednes day Thursday Friday Saturday 3 4 NP Gate 25 Chapel Hill Graham NP Gate 17 Whitings Road Hardy s Scrub Boneseed removal Meet Noarlunga Downs Wetland River Road Andy Onkaparinga Park Open Day 10am Perry s Bend RP Gate 14 River Road NP Gate 25 Chapel Hill Graham John Langford Gathering Chapel Hill Retreat 12.30pm NP Gate 25 Chapel Hill Graham Pleasant Day Out Meet Karinya Reserve, Shepherds Hill Rd, 10am Jim NP Gate 13 Gosse Road Olive control NP Gate 13 Gosse Road Olive control NP Gate 20 Springs Chapel Hill Road Andy NP Gate 25 Chapel Hill Graham NP Gate 13 Gosse Road Olive control NP Gate 7a The Knoll Piggott Range Road Andy NP Gate 25 Chapel Hill Graham NP Gate 13 Gosse Road Olive control NP Gate 29/30 Riparian zone Andy General Meeting 7.30pm Old Noarlunga Institute Coordinators Updates Special Presentations 7 8 NP Gate 25 Chapel Hill Graham NP Gate 13 Gosse Road Olive control