Q., F . F . NEWS - 4 J anua ry 1975

catll 'c- 3VSNTS i '

Monday, 3d. F e b r u a r y , 7145 pm« ANKUAL GENERAL MEETING.

The main b u s i n e s s of t h i s mee t ing i s , of c o u r s e , t o e l e c t t h e O f f i c e b e a r e r s f o r t h e fo r thcoming y e a r . Most of t h e committee members w i l l be a v a i l a b l e f o r r e - e l e c t i o n (which doesn *t mean

Jou must e l e c t them) but one o f f i c e f a l l i n g vacant i s t h a t of r e s i d e n t . Paddy Mackenzie took on t h i s j o b two y e a r s ago and

yse a very p o p u l a r c h o i c e , but he has now dec ided i t i s t ime someone e l s e took a t u r n and w i l l no t s t and f o r r e - e l e c t i o n . Thank you f o r t h e l a s t two y e a r s , Paddy. We know i t i s l a ck of t ime and not l a c k of i n t e r e s t on your p a r t .

A f t e r t h e b u s i n e s s Zina O l i v e r w i l l show us s l i d e s of Spain and P o r t u g a l and g ive an i n t e r e s t i n g commentary on t h e s e c o u n t r i e s .

.Ti -r ' T " H e t t y Bertram i s r e c o v e r i n g a f t e r a l o n g s o j o u r n i n h o s p i t a l . She ex tends h e r t h a n k s t o a l l who s e n t c a rd s and messages . We hop she w i l l bo w i t h us a g a i n soon.

Ralph Newboult has s en t a l e t t e r t h a n k i n g us f o r a r r a n g i n g t h e t r e e p l a n t i n g ceremony i n memory of h i s p a r e n t s and a l s o f o r "be ing such good f r i e n d s t o my p a r e n t s when t h e y were a l i v e " . I t waq oyr p l e a s u r e , Ralph# ] 1

! \ Also our p l e a s u r e ( a l b e i t of a d i f f e r e n t k ind ) i s t o thank 3ee and Hans G o l d s t e i n f o r a dona t ion of $25 which a r r i v e d w h i l e we were on our a n n u a l r e c e s s . I t ' s good t o know t h e y a r e r e t a i n i n g t h e i r i n t e r e s t i n t h e S o c i e t y a s we can see by t h e a r t i c l e i3ee sen t and which i s i n c l u d e d i n t h i s i s s u e .

P2&SIDEMT Paddy Mackenzie , 63 Waratah S t , , OATKIY 57-2824 SECRETARY Ida Carder , 3ox 52, P.O. MORTDALfi 57-5909 EDITOR Ol ive Whai t e , 15 Freeman Ave . , GATLEY 576459

O F F. NEWS

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Registered for posting el 3 Periodical — Category 8.

J anua ry 1975

We a r e s t a r t i n g t h i s yea r w i t h an i n t e r e s t i n g s e r i e s of a r t i c l e s from Alan F a i r l e y . Oat ley Park c o n t a i n s a good r e p r e s e n t a t i v e sample of t h e f l o r a of t h e Sydney sands tone a r e a and each month he w i l l p r e p a r e a l i s t of p l a n t s p r e s e n t l y in f l o w e r . Keep each l i s t u n t i l you have a r e c o r d f o r t h e whole y e a r .

JANUARY i s a poor month f o r n a t i v e f l o w e r s as many .,ave J U S T

f i n i s h e d f l o w e r i n g . However e l e v e r s p e c i e s were found . 1 . p l a t y s a c e l a n e e o l a t a - smal l wh i t e f l o w e r s i n t e r m i n a l c l u s t e r s : w idesp read , most common f lower a t t h i s t i n e , 2 . F l a n n e l Flower ( A c t i n o t u s h e l i a n t h i ) - l a r g e whi t e wooly f lowers w idesp read on dry p l a t e a u . 3. F a l s e S a r s p a r i l l a ( S s i l a x g l y c i p h y l l a ) - smal l greenisp;-w h i t e f l ower a r r anged in umbels : a very common c l imbing p l a n t on h i l l s i d e , eg above b a t h s - b lack b e r r i e s and l e a v e s w i t h heavy v e n a t i o n . 4 . Fuchs ia Heath (Epac r i s l o n g i f l o r a ) - red b e l l f l o w e r s t i p p e d w i t h w h i t e : on lower t r a c k around p o i n t from b a t h s . 5. T r i g g e r P l a n t (S ty l id ium g r a m i n i f o l i u m ) - p ink f l o w e r s on Ion stem: low herb w i th g r a s s l i k e f o l i a g e . Found n e a r h e a t h , 6 . Old Man 3anke ia (3anks ia s e r r a t a ) - ^ rey-Rreen f l ower s p i k e s : a cocnon smal l t r e e v/ i th s t i f f saw- too th l e a v e s . Y. Har row- lea f Geobum; ( P e r s o o n i a l i n e a r i s ) - sma l l yel low f l o w e r s : shrub 6-8 f t t a l l i n s h e l t e r e d p o s i t i o n s . g , Pink Sp ide r Flower ( G r e v i l l e a s e r i c e a ) - p ink f l o w e r s : w i d e s p r e a d , common shrub growing t o about 5 f t t a l l .

O.F.F. NEWS 2 / 3 ' J anua ry 1975

THE FLORA OF OATLnry PABK-.i^ont, >

9• L o b e l i a d o n t a t a - b lue i r r e g u l a r f l o w e r s : m n l 1 h e r b w i t h deep ly cut l e a v e s -on r o a d s i d e of C h r i s t e n s e n Ores, n e a r Websters l o o k o u t . 10 . Match Heads (Comesperma e r i c i n u n ) - p ink t e r m i n a l f l o w e e : s l e n d e r e r e c t shrub growing on s h e l t e r e d s l o p e s o v e r l o o k i n g Jew F i s h Say. 11. Christinas Bush ( C e r a t o p e t a l u u gummiferun) - r e d d i s h s e p a l s p e r s i s t and a r e r e f e r r e d t o as f l o w e r s , True s n a i l w h i t e f l o w e r s i n O c t . / N o v . : growing on s h e l t e r e d s l o p e s o v e r l o o k i n g Jew F i sh Bay.

CONCENTRATED POPULATION DEMANDS MULTIPLE LAMP USAGE.

I f I were asked "What i s your f i r s t i n p r e s s i o n of Europe?" I t h i n k ray answer would be "People - t o o many of t h e n " . However I would q u i c k l y anend t h i s and add " In c e r t a i n p l a c e s " b e c a u s e , d e s p i t e t h e f r i g h t e n i n g number of p e o p l e and t h e innumerable towns r a p i d l y growing and t h e u b i q u i t o u s au tobahns r a p i d l y s p r e a d i n g , one does ge t an impre s s ion of open l and - r u r a l c o u n t r y and f o r e s t s .

However, u n l i k e i n A u s t r a l i a , a l l t h e l and i s f u l l y u t i l i s e d and has been f o r g e n e r a t i o n s . I n f a c t l a n d i s be ing r e c l a i m e d wherever p o s s i b l e t o t r y t o meet t h e i n c r e a s e d demand# So t h e q u e s t i o n soon a r i s e s "Where do a l l t h e p e o p l e go f o r h o l i d a y s and r e c r e a t i o n ? " To t h e c o a s t of c o u r s e . But c o a s t l i n e s a r e l i m i t e d , many beaches p r i v a t e , and summer i s s h o r t # To o t h e r towns* Europe i s f u l l of h i s t o r i c a l l y and a r c h i t e c t u r a l l y i n t e r e s t i n g towns which a r e w e l l equipped w i t h s p o r t i n g f a c i l i t i e s and a f f o r d h o l i d a y o p p o r t u n i t i e s . To t h e l a k e s . Every l i t t l e l a k e (and t h e r a r e many) h a s i t s r e c r e a t i o n a l c e n t r e and t h e r e a r e t h e mounta ins f o r t a l k i n g , c l imbing and s k i i n g . And p e o p l e walk - a long r o a d s , a long p a t h s , a c r o s s p r i v a t e p r o p e r t i e s and i n t h e woods (most of which a r e f o r e s t r y a r e a s ) .

There a r e not many N a t i o n a l Pa rks a s we know t h a n but t h e r e a r e many Na tu re P r o t e c t i o n A r e a s . In t h e s e t h e owner must no t a l t e r t h e c h a r a c t e r of t h e l a n d and t h e v i s i t o r must r e s p e c t t h e f l o r a and f a u n a a s w e l l a s t h e p r o p e r t y . Th is " m u l t i p l t u s a g e " concept o p e r a t e s i n most European c o u n t r i e s t h a t we have v i s i t e d . Both t h e f o r e s t s and t h e Na tu re P r o t e c t i o n Areas (wi th a few e x c e p t i o n s i n b r e e d i n g season) a r e open t o t h e peop l e on f o o t . Good w e l l - i n d i c a t e d t r a c k s l e a d t h e p e o p l e t h rough t h e s e a r e a s but no one i s a l l owed t o l e a v e t h e marked t r a i l -and , s u r p r i s i n g l y t o an A u s t r a l i a n , no one does . There a r e p a r k i n g l o t s a t t h e e n t r a n c e s t o t h e t r a c k s and c a r s must s t a y on t h e l o t e , which a t weekends and on h o l i d a y s a r e packed t o t h e l i m i t . Tho t r a c k s a r e a l i v e w i t h h o l i d a y e r s c a r r y i n g f o l d i n g c h a i r s o r i n f l a t a b l e m a t t r e s s e s and t h e l o c a l e q u i v a l e n t of an A u s t r a l i a n cu t lunch (barbeques and f i r e s a r e s t r i c t l y l i m i t e d ) , a l l head ing h o p e f u l l y f o r a good spot t o p i c n i c and sumbake.

a d d i t i o n t o t h o s e who come by c a r a r e t h e hordes of w a l k e r s who t r a v e l by t h e good and f r e q u e n t p u b l i c t r a n s p o r t t o t h e b e g i n i n g of a t r a c k and t a k e a n o t h e r bus or t r a i n home from t h e f a r end. Tho p r e s s u r e on t h o s e t r a i l s i s a t t i m e s f r i g h t e n i n g . At one p l a c e i n a N a t i o n a l Park i n Czechos lovakia we w a i t e d 2*r hour s i n a queue t o r i d e i n a c h a i r l i f t t o t h e t o p of a mounta in t o walk down i t . At t h e t o p t h e r e was s c a r c e l y s i t t i n g room t o ea t ones lunch and t h e p a r t of t h e t r a c k down t i l l i t r eached a spot where t h e r e was a c h o i c e of t r a i l s was l i k e " P i t t S t r e e t on F r i d a y " . I t was unbe l i eveab le .*

What can we A u s t r a l i a n s l e a r n from t h i s ? 1 . That A u s t r a l i a n a u t h o r i t i e s must do t h o i r b e s t t o l e t t h e p u b l i c u s e - under s t r i c t r u l e - what open space i s a v a i l a b l e . 2 . That t h e y must make h a s t e t o a c q u i r e a n d / o r o b t a i n a c c e s s t o a s much l a n d a s p o s s i b l e f o r p u b l i c r e c r e a t i o n , and 3. That t h e p u b l i c must l e a r n t o accep t r e s t r i c t i o n s on t h e i r freedom when i n n a t u r a l s u r r o u n d i n g s . They must be p r e p a r e d t o l e a v e t h e i r c a r s and t o wa lk . They must s t i c k t o t h e t r a i l s , l e a v e no l i t t e r beh ind , and t h e y must r e s p e c t p l a n t s , a n i m a l s , and o t h e r p e o p l e s r i g h t s .

I s t h i s t o o much t o ask? (from B e a t r i c e G o l d s t e i n - i n Europe)

The above a r t i c l e i s a d r a m a t i c i l l u s t r a t i o n of t h e u r g e n t need t o r e s e r v e a s nuch r e c r e a t i o n a l l and as we con IICM. As our p o p u l a t i o n i n c r e a s e s so w i l l our

2 O.F.F. NEWS - 4 - February 1975

CCMING EVENTS

MONDAY 24th Feb, 7.45pm

Regular mee t ing a t Oat ley West Method is t Church H a l l on t h e corner of Mulga and Gungah Bay Roads, PETER and CAROLE HELvUiN a re going t o t a k e us wa lk ing (armchai r s t y l e ) up KILIMANJARO and MT. KENYA, and i n t o ETHIOPIA. T h e i r t r a v e l s took them through t h e animal p a r k s where t h e y found t h e p l a n t s a lmost mor i n t e r e s t i n g . The s l i d e s a r e e x c e l l e n t so b r i n g p l e n t y of your f r i e n d s w i t h you.

SATURDAY 1 s t March. FIELD DAY

Bus t r i p t o Mr. Edward S t . J o h n ' s bush p r o p e r t y a t OURJMBAH. He w i l l meet u s a t t h e T a l l Timbers H o t e l , Ourimbah about 10.30am and guide us t h e r e s t of t h e way. Fa re i s $ 2 . 5 0 f o r a d u l t s and 50cents f o r c h i l d r e n . Meet a t Oa t l ey S t a t i o n and b r i n g a cut or s a l a d l u n c h . We expect t o r e t u r n by 6.00pm. F u r t h e r d e t a i l s from Val Boyan a f t e r 5.00pm on 533 1013. Val would a l s o a p p r e c i a t e g e t t i n g your bookings i n a s soon a s p o s s i b l e .

SUNDAY 23d Feb. N a t i o a l Pa rk s and W i l d l i f e Foundat ion D00RKN0CK

Aim of t h i s body i s t o r a i s e money t o buy l and f o r N a t i o a l P a r k s b e f o r e i t can be d e s t r o y e d . We need VOLUNTEERS t o c o l l e c t

i n t h e Oa t l ey a r e a i n an e f f o r t t o exceed l a s t y e a r ' s c o l l e c t i o n of $286 . Many f e e t make l i g h t work of i t * Cciae t o HSIHAN'S» 120 Mi Mi S t . Oa t l ey any t ime a f t e r 9.30am f o r i n s t r u c t i o n s .

BON VOYAGE t o P h i l and B e t t y H a l l who l e f t gor t h e Himalyas t h i s month . Another good s l i d e n i g h t coming up .

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Registered for posting a* s Periodical — Category B.

The Annual Genera l Meet ing e a r l i e r t h i s month saw few changes made t o t h e Society!. ALAN FAIRLEY was e l e c t e d p r e s i d e n t f o r

1975. Alan has a l r e a d y worked hard and gene rous ly f o r t h e S o c i e t y and we a r e l ucky h e ' s managed t o f i t t h i s j o b i n t o h i s a l r e a d y busy s c h e d u l e .

The f i n a n c i a l p o s i t i o n i s f a i r l y s t a b l e a t t h e moment a s r i s i n g c o s t s have been ba lanced by r i s i n g membershi l and d o n a t i o n s , so we a r e keep ing f e e s u n a l t e r e d t h i s y e a r . These a r e now due and a r e : - A d u l t - $ 2 . 0 0 ; Two a d u l t s i n one f a m i l y - $ 3 . 0 0 ; Adult group - $ 1 0 . 0 0 ; Child - 50c; Child group - jS5; P e n s i o n e r , s t u d e n t over 16 y r s . and co r r e spond ing member - 60c. Last yea r a few peop le pa id i n advance . I f you a r e unsure of your own p o s i t i o n r i n g Harry Whaite (who i s s t i l l t r e a s u r e r ) on 57-6459.

Ray Knight r e t u r n e d t o t h e committee as v i c e - p r e s i d e n t , Win Tonkin became p u b l i c i t y O f f i c e r , and David K o f f e l j o i n e d us as an a d d i t i o n a l o f f i c e r . The programs f o r 1975 a r e now being p r i n t e d and w i l l be a v a i l a b l e from any committee member from next m e e t i n g .

Since t h e mee t ing B i l l Haigh has r e t i r e d as "keeper" of t h e Myra Wall M a n o r i a l Garden i n Oat ley P a r k . B i l l has done a t i r e l e s s j o b on t h i s f o r y e a r s and we a r e i ndeb t ed t o him. The d i s c o u r a g e -ment of c o n t i n u i n g vandal i sm i s one of t h e f a c t o r s i n h i s d e c i s i o n and we would be g l a d of any c o n s t r u c t i v e s u g g e a t i o n s on how t o combat t h i s w idesp read menace* We*, would be even more g lad of a v o l u n t e e r or group of v o l u n t e e r s t o c o n t i n u e B i l l ' s j o b .

0. F. F. NEWS February 1975

THE FLORA OF OATLEY PARK FEBRUARY

I . P l a t y s a c e l a n c e o l a t a * 2 . F l a n n e l F lower . ?, F»1 S a r s p a r i l l a . 4 . Old Man Banks ia . 5. NanxwrJ_eo.f -Geet&ung. 6 . Pink Sp ide r F lower . 7 . L o b e l i a d e n t a t a . 8 . Match Heads, ( p r e v i o u s l y d e s c r i b e d ) 9 . L e s s e r F l a n n e l Flower ( A c t i n o t u s Minor) - s m a l l w h i t e f l o w e r , common i n

s h e l t e r e d g u l l e y behind Myra Wal l Garden. 10* Flax W a t t l e (Acacia l i n i f o l i a ) - cream f l o w e r b a l l s , s m a l l narrow l eaves*

Shrub about 5 f t . t a l l . Found on s l o p e s . Begin ing t o f lower# I I . Goodenia h e d e r a c e a - ye l low f l o w e r , s m a l l h e r b w i t h o v a l l e a v e s found i n

s h e l t e r e d s l o p e s and g u l l i e s . 1 2 . Hop Bush (Dodonaea t r i q u e t r a ) - s m a l l g reen f l o w e r s , w idesp read s h r u b . 13 . S lender Rice Flower ( P i m e l i a l i n i f o l i a ) - White f l o w e r h e a d s , s l e n d e r sh rub ,

a lmos t f i n i s h e d f l o w e r i n g . 1 4 . Blue L i l y ( D i a n e l l a c a e r u l e a ) - d a i n t y b l u e f l o w e r w i t h ye l low a n t h e r s , much

branched h e r b . Only one specimen found i n f l o w e r . 1 5 . Black Boy or Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea a r b o r e a ) - w h i t i s h f l o w e r s on a long

s p e a r - l i k e s p i k e r i s i n g from g r a s s - l i k e l e a v e s . Headland t r a c k . 1 6 . Na t i ve Cherry (Exocarpos c u p p r e a s i f o r a i s ) - t i n y s p i k e s of f l o w e r s on

l e a f l e s s b r a n c h e s , s m a l l i s h t r e e . A r o o t p a r a s i t e . On t h e s l o p e s . 17 . Xan thos i a p i l o s a - c ream-preen compound f l o w e r s , i n s i g n i f i c a n t . Small p l a n t w h o l l y c l o t h e d w i t h long h a i r s . Widespread . 18 . Crowea s a l i g n a - p i n k f l o w e r . Small shrub i n Myra Wal l g a r d e n . 19 . S o l l y a h e t e r o p h y l l a - b l u e l i l y f l o w e r . In Myra Wal l garden#

MULTIPLE LAND USE.

B e a t r i c e G o l d s t e i n ' s a r t i c l e i n l a s t months OFF News a roused a g r e a t d e a l of i n t e r e s t . The most p e r t i n e n t comments came from A l l e n St rem. P o i n t s he made w e r e : -1 , There w i l l n e v e r be enough l and r e s e r v e d a s n a t i o n a l pa rks and n a t u r e r e s e r v e s t o ensu re p r e s e r v a t i o n of t h e s p e c i e s and s u f f i c i e n t space f o r human c o n t a c t w i t h n a t u r a l n e s s ; and 2, The l and t e n u r e system i n N.S.W. iJUST be amended t o p r o v i d e f o r m u l t i p l e use of l a n d s which w i l l i n v o l v e w i l d l i f e c o n s e r v a t i o n and t h e enjoyment of n a t u r a l n e s s .

To implement t h e second p o i n t , two e f f o r t s have been made 1 . Upgraded and e f f e c t i v e management f o r w i l d l i f e r e f u g e s . 2 . L e g i s l a t i o n f o r t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t and management of s c e n i c p r e s e r v e s f o l l o w i n g somewhat, t h e p a t t e r n s e t by E n g l i s h " n a t i o a l p a r k s " .

Th is i s a sma l l b e g i n m g bu t A l l e n goe on - " t h e b e s t I can say h e r e , i s t o u rge a l l c o n s e r v a t i o n i s t s t o see t h e need t o broaden t h e i n h o r i z o n s from t h e n a t i o a l pa rk e t h o s t o a t o t a l l and u s e c o n c e p t , o t h e r w i s e t h e e f f o r t w i l l end up a s a s e r i e s of s m a l l ' i s l a n d s ' of ' w i l d e r n e s s ' under extreme human usage p r e s s u r e i n a v a s t ocean of development and 'Keep Out* s i g n s , "

You have- only t o look a t t h e e x t e n t and speed of development p r o j e c t s t h r o u g h o u t t h e s t a t e t o s e e t h a t t h i s a p p a l l i n g p r o s p e c t i s not only l i k e l y , but imminent .

" W i r r i m b i r r a " would l i k e t o remind members t h a t accomodat ion (booked i n advance) i s a v a i l a b l e a t t h e s a n c t u a r y f o r from 1 t o 24 p e o p l e f o r h o l i d a y s , c o n f e r e n c e s o r s u c h l i k e .

They a l s o have produced a s e r i e s of ga rden ing b o o k l e t s a t 8 0 c . each p l u s 24c. p o s t a g e . These a r e : - " P r o p a g a t i o n " , ' M i n t b u s h e s " , "Mat and Ground Cover P l a n t s " , " G r e v i l l e a s " , "Shrubby A c a c i a s " , and "Ca l l i s t e i aons and Other B o t t l e b r u s h e s " . A l a r g e r book i s "One Hundred and F i f t y A u s t r a l i a n P l a n t s f o r Gardens" a t $ 1 . 5 0 and 33c. p o s t a g e . These may be o rde red from "The S e c r e t a r y , W i l d l i f e Research F o u n d a t i o n , Box 4840 G.P.O. SYDNEY. 2001 ."

ADVANCE MOT ICS* March 24t l i . The superb underwa te r pho tography of Mr. Jim Brown.'.'

SECRETARY. Mrs Ida Carder , Box 52, P.O. MORTDALE Phone 57-5909

OFF NEWS 4 - March 1975

CQvIIHG 5VEHTS

Monday, March 24 th , 7.45pm.

A S p e c i a l Evening. "Underwater E x p l o r a t i o n a t Lord Howe I s l a n d " Mr. James !3rovm i s b r i n g i n g h i s u n f o r g e t t a b l e co lour s l i d e s wi th s t e r e o p h o n i c mus i ca l accompaniment. We a r e s u r e your f r i e n d s and c h i l d r e n w i l l en joy t h i s so b r i n g t h a n a l o n g .

'Mr. Drown has worked f o r over t e n yea r s t o have t h e n a t u r a l b ? and unique f l o r a and fauna of Lord Howe I s l a n d p r e s e r v e d aa a case s t u d y i n c o n s e r v a t i o n f o r t h e s c i e n t i f i c and c u l t u r a l b e n i f i t of A u s t r a l i a and t h e Wor ld . "

ADVANCE NOTICE. Sunday, A p r i l 20 th .

Mr J r i a n Finch w i l l l e a d a " b i r d s tudy" day a t "Yeromba" on Henry Laws on Drive s t a r t i n g a t 10am, i ! o r | next i s s u e .

SPECIAL HOTICS

A t t e n t i o n i s drawn t o t h e weekend a t Bundanoon p l annes f o r I10VS'I3IjiR 1s t . and 2nd. As we wish t o book accomodat ion a t t h e Youth H o s t e l would t h o s e who i n t e n d going p l e a s e i n d i c a t e a t t h e ne^t m e e t i n g . This i s a superb w i l d f l o w e r t ime and p l a c e ,

ocotf* T I

SATURDAY A o r i l 5 t h . Goodbye t o t h e S a i n t y s " j : ' ^ Members a t t h e l a s t mee t i ng w i l l know t h a t Ces and H i t a a r e l e a v i n g us t o s e t t l e nea r t h e i r daugh te r i n V i c t o r i a , In r e c o g n i t i o n of t h e i r u n t i r i n g work f o r both t i a S o c i e t y and t h e g e n e r a l cause of

Conservat ion t h e y were made Honorary L i f e Members of t h e S o c i e t y and p r e s e n t e d w i t h a c e r t i f i c a t e which Zina Ol iver has s i n c e had a t t r a c t

i v e l y mounted. We have a r r anged an i n f o r m a l a f t e r n o o n t e a a t t h e Myra Wall Memorial Garden i n Oat ley Park f o r a "do you remember" s e s s i o n and f a r e w e l l , (Continued i n s i d e )

O F F . NEWS

Prica E cants.

Published by

OATLEY FLORA & FAUNA CONSERVATION SOCIETY

Registered for pott ing an a Periodical — Category B.

NATIVE PLAINS Ii-1 OATLEY P a R K - mARHH

- • S p a c r i s p u l c h e l l a - w h i t e t o pink f l o w e r s , l e a v e s smal l and s h a r p . Common on dry p l a t e a u ,

2- B lack thorn ( B u r s a r i a s p i n o s a ) - smal l w h i t e , 5 - p e t u l l e d f l owern t h o r n y b ranches . Small shrub on p l a t e a u *

3. 3 o s s i a e a h e t e r o p h y l l a - yel low pea f lower w i t h r ed c e n t r e , f l a t t e n e d b r a n c h e s , e r e c t sh rub . On lower t r a c k ,

4 . Dumplings { S i l l a r d i e r a scandens) - gr. . > J eh yel low b e l l f l o w e r , a t w i n e r w i t h a c y l i n d r i c a l b e r r y , 1'TesfiS baths.

5. Di l lwynia r e t o r t a - yel low pea f l o w e r , d i f f u s e s h r u b . Occas iona l shrub in f lower on p l a t e u .

6* Blac^ 5l/e-oak ( C a s u a r m a H i t o r a l i s ) - sra%ll, i nconsp icuous red female f l o w e r s . Small t r e e wi th woody cone. Rocky s l o p o s .

7, Swamp Oak (Casuar ina g l a u c a ) - male f l o w e r s l | i n . long . Tree growing a long edge of Lime Ki ln Bay,

8* Coast Banksia ( j a n k s i a i n t e g r i f o l i a ) - lemon f l ower s p i k e s , l e a f mainly e n t i r e # Tree n e a r b a t h s .

3 a n k s i a a s p l e n i i f o l i a - g r e e n i s h f l ower s p i k e , sma l l sh rub , u n d e r - l e a y e s c l o t h e d wi th brown h a i r s . P l a t e a u west of o v a l .

P r e v i o u s l y .descr ibed and s t i l l i n f lower a r e ; F l anne l Flower, Nar row- leaf Geebung, Pink Sp ide r Flower, L o b e l i a d m t a t a , Lessei F lanne l Flower , Flax W a t t l e ( the most conspicuous f lowwr) Hop Bush, S lender Rice Flower, Xanthosis, p i l o s a , Crowea s a l i g n a (llyra. Wall g a r d e n ) , Fuchs i a Heath,

S3GR3TAPY. Ida Carder , Box 52, P . O . , M o r t d a l e , Phone 57-5909

OFF. NEWS - 2 / 3 March 1975

CSC and RITA SAINTY FAREWELL (Cont inued)

Come about 2pm. and b r i n g something t o e a t . Nancy J e a t i e w i l l have h a r van t h e r e t o supp ly hot wa te r f o r a cuppa. Ida would p a r t i c u l a r l y l i k e t o see t h e p e r s o n who l e f t h i s / h e r thermos behind a f t e r t h e Newboult t r e e - p l a n t i n g ceremony as she i s anx ious t o r e t u r n i t .

THE CAUSES OF CONSERVATION a r e as v a r i e d a s t h e b a t t l e t o ge t t h e q u a r t e r -m i l l i o n h e c t a r e Kokadu (or Top End) d e c l a r e d a N a t i o n a l P a r k , and your C a n m i t t e e ' s p r e s e n t a t t e m p t t o ge t H u r s t v i l l e Counci l t o a d e q u a t e l y p r o t e c t and ( h o p e f u l l y ) e n l a r g e Oa t l ey P a r k . Of i n t e r e s t , but no t w i d e l y p u b l i c i s e d , a r e t h e s i t u a t i o n s i n t h e MacDonald V a l l e y and on F r a z e r I s l a n d .

The HacDonald V a l l e y i s second only t o P a r r a m a t t a a s t h e most h i s t o r i c a l l y i n t e r e s t i n g a r e a i n A u s t r a l i a o u t s i d e Sydney but i t i s s c a r c e l y known t o most p e o p l e . The f i r s t road t o t h e Nor th r a n a long t h e r i d g e of h i l l s t o t h e e a s t of t h e v a l l e y , and s e t t l e m e n t t h e r e , a l t hough f a i r l y s p a r s e , has been c o n t i n u o u s . I t was opened t o g r a z i n g i n 1803 and by 1814 t h e r e were about a dozen f a m i l i e s l i v i n g t h e r e . In 1824 Governor Br i sbane g r a n t e d t h e Common by c h a r t e r t o t h e s e t t l e r s of t h e V a l l e y . Th i s i s s t i l l l e g a l l y v a l i d , run by a T rus t of t h e s e t t l e s and i s s t i l l i n use a s v a l u a b l e and n e c e s s a r y g r a z i n g l a n d - t h e on ly one f o t h e t h r e e Commons in A u s t r a l i a so u s e d .

The V a l l e y has been d e t e r i o r a t i n g f o t many y e a r s . The r i v e r a t p r e s e n t i s a s e r i e s of mudholes i n summer and ye t i n t h e e a r l y y e a r s of t h i s c e n t u r y i t was n a v i g a b l e t o St Albans and used t o sh ip out p r o d u c e . . I t s t i l l c o n t a i n s l a r g e a r e a s of "we t l and" h a b i t a t f o r b i r d s and e x c e l l e n t g r a z i n g .

This i s one of t h e a r e a s c u r r e n t l y under i n v e s t i g a t i o n by t h e Gosford Counci l f o r a w a t e r supply and t h e y have c a l l e d f o r a r e p o r t on two proposed dams a c r o s s t h e r i v e r u s i n g a t h i r d of t h e annua l f l o w . One of t h e s e dams would f l o o d t h e Common and e i t h e r would end f a rming i n t h e v a l l e y a s t h e r i v e r would cease t o f l o w . The peop l e of t h e v a l l e y have formed a "MacDonald V a l l e y Defence Committee" t o p r o t e c t t h o i r hemes and l i v e l i h o o d s .

F r a z e r I s l a n d l i e s o f f t h e Queensland c o a s t o p p o s i t e Maryborough and Bundaberg and i s about 120 by 15 k i l o m e t r e s . To t h e v i s i t o r t h e most i n c r e d i b l e f e a t u r e i s t h e i s l a n d s pe rched dune l a k e s - more t h a n 40 of them compr is ing a " l ake d i s t r i c t " l i k e t h e C e n t r a l Highlands of Tasmania. Another a t t r a c t i o n i s 40 k i l o m e t r e s of co loured sands of a l l c o l o u r s excep t b l u e .

U n f o r t u n a t e l y about 12 ,000 h e c t a r e s ( n e a r l y 8%) of t h e i s l a n d a r e s u b j e c t t o sand-min ing l e a s e s w i t h a p p l i c a t i o n s f o r a f u r t h e r 2 ,000 h e c t a r e s . R e g r e t t a b l y t h e Maryborough Mining Warden has seen f i t t o g r a n t l e a s e a p p l i c a t i o n s d e s p i t e more t h a n 1300 o b j e c t i o n s . The Queensland Government i s deaf t o p l e a s t o s t op t h e sand-min ing u n t i l a f u l l s c a l e , independen t s c i e n t i f i c s tudy can be made.

Our S o c i e t y i s a member of t h e A. C. F. and r e c e i v e s a l l i t s p u b l i c a t i o n s . Any member i n t e r e s t e d i n t h i s un ique a r e a , and who wi shes t o l e a r n more, should borrow t h i s i s s u e of " H a b i t a t " from t h e L i b r a r i a n (Nes Grundy) . With i t s e x c e l l e n t t e x t , p i c t u r e s , and map i t w i l l w e l l r epay f u r t h e r s t u d y .

NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION DOORKNOOC

Thanks t o t h e w o n d e r f u l e f f o r t of our 13 h e l p e r s $377-86 was c o l l e c t e d - $90 more t h a n l a s t y e a r - and we could only cover about one t h i r d of our a r e a . With more h e l p e r s we can do b e t t e r next yea r and have fewer peop l e wonder ing why t h e y were not c a l l e d on. So p r a c t i c e your s t e p c l imb ing and knuck le r a p p i n g . Our a v e r a g e of $29 p e r c o l l e c t o r compares w i t h t h e p u b l i s h e d f i g u r e which worked out a s $ 4 . 0 0 pe r p e r s o n . J u s t shows you cant b e l i e v e a l l you r ead i n t h e p a p e r s .

i e « e t <i a « • • 0 i • • « « #

G r e e t i n g s from P h i l and Arnold Bryden. At p r e s e n t t h e y ane on a ho l iday -cum-s tudy t r i p s t a y i n g i n Dr. F r i t h s cab in a t P u l l e t o p and working on a b o r i g i n a l a r t e f a c t s i n Cocoparra Mature Rese rve . I t sounds a w o n d e r f u l e x p e r i e n c e and we hope t o p e r s u a d e them t o s h a r e i t w i t h u s a t a l a t e r m e e t i n g .

S'Hq'vT, Apr i l 20tli ,

i i rd U t u d y a t Yeraaba w i t h i _ t l . i l :

- Get a t 10am» a t t h e p a r k i n g a r e a nea r t h e Reserve g a t e s _n henry Lawson Dr ive , P i c n i c P o i n t , •"tan t h e r e t h e oa r s w i l l go t o t h o en t r ance o f f >urns ho ad. I t i s hoped t o d . v i u e i n t o

'• s e v e r a l smal l groups t o cause miniiaun d i s t u r b a n c e t o t h e b i r d s . .3rinp a packed lunch w i th something t o d r i n k .

Anyone not p r i m a r i l y i n t e r e s t e d i n b i r d s would f i n d t h i s t r i p worth doing t o see t h e e x c e l l e n t n a t i v e p l a n t s garden t h a t jankfetovm Council has c r e a t e d a t t h e upper end of t h e r e s e r v e .

- -or i l 28 th . -iaiinesL LLeetinr<

A t /Oa t l ey uoei e t h o d i s t CiiurcU a l l a t 7 . 4 5 m . A review of cu r r en t a c t i v i t i e s of your c o - m i t t e e and r e p o r t s f r o a a s s o c i a t e d groups w i l l be fo l lowed by P e t e r 'Joyan*s s l i d e s of uootwingee and t h e F l i n d e r s Ranges.

/ L i Vl . . :-J >,i0_ . .j. iS.. lO

From t h e p a l z i e l s in i ' i j i , en r o u t e t o .Europe* and t h e . . lackenzies and Golds te ins in Spa in . I f t h e s e iaa.ibers a r e hoping t o make us s t ay-a t -homes j e a l o u s they ' r e doing Oh.

fCSlDJi:;? Alan F a i r l e y , 63 Cover S t . , PEAXXbAST. 533-W27 SiJOTiT/jLiY vda Carder, r . 0.3ox 52, ..GiTJAIA, 57-5909 UJJITOJl Olive b h a i t e , 15 Freeman Ave. , OATLEY 57-5459

O F F. NEWS

Price 5 cants.

Published by

OATLEY FLORA & FAUNA CONSERVATION SOCIETY

Registered for posting as * Periodica! — Category B»

-A* AIL 1975

A r e c e n t l y hoard comparison w e l l worth p a s s i n g on i s "A c o n s e r v a t i o n i s t i s l i k e a hunted r a b b i t . The hun te r can go on shoo t ing as o f t e n as he l i k e s but t h e ra l /o i t only has t o :je h i t once" .

A d e p r e s s i n g example of t h i s i s t h o town of Leeton. planned by Wal te r 3urley G r i f f i n , t h e town inc luded a main park of 316 a c r e s i n which was to be an a r t i f i c i a l l ake cover ing 35 acroE. The land was o r i g i n a l l y s e t a s i d e as a r e s e r v e and duly g a z e t t e d on 23d. February 1914 and named IcCaugbny pa rk . S e t t l e r s were warned by adver t i sement t h a t " the pa rk , in which i s i nc luded t h e Leeton Lake, i s dec l a red and g a z e t t e d as an a r e a f o r t h e p r e s e r v a t i o n of p r o t e c t e d b i r d s . "

On 2nd. May, 1930. 106 a c r e s were s e t a s i de f o r a r a c e c o u r s e . On 6 t h . J u l y , 1934, ano the r s e c t i o n was added t o t h i s and g a z e t t e d as "Dedicated f o r t h e purposes of Showground and P u b l i c r e c r e a t i o n " . On 21st November 1952, ano the r s e c t i o n of McCaughey Park was g a x e t t e d " f o r P u b l i c Rec rea t ion" and became t h e gol f cou r se . In 1954 ano ther 44 a c r e s of t h e park became Sa in t F ranc i s * Col lege . What i s l e f t of t h e pa rk i s used f o r t h e town water supply , (A B r i e f H i s to ry of Leeton - Bownaker)

Nothing can be done about t h i s b i t of pas t h i s t o r y but i t i s a most g raph ic i l l u s t r a t i o n of t h e need f o r cons tan t and con t inu ing v i g i l a n c e s imply t o r e t a i n what has a l r e a d y been "won" i n t h e p e r e n n i a l b a t t l e .

X.

0. F .F . HEWS - 2 / 3 - A p r i l 1975

FLOWERS OF OATLEY PARK - APRIL

1. P r i c k l y Moses (Acacia u l i c i f o l i a ) - cream g l o b u l a r f l o w e r s ; sh rub t o Sn t a l l ; p o i n t e d phyl locles ( l e a v e s ) ; w i d e s p r e a d .

2 . Sunshine W a t t l e (Acacia b o t r y c e p h a l a ) - ye l low f l o w e r heads ; b i p i n a t e l e a v e s ; sh rub t o Z.a t a l l ; on rocky s l o p e s f a c i n g J e w f i s h Bay.

3 . Swee t - scen ted W a t t l e (Acacia s u a v e o l e n s ) - p a l e ye l low f l o w e r s ; s l e n d e r shrub w i t h l o n g ( l 2 c m . ) f l a t l e a v e s ; w i d e s p r e a d .

4 . Honey Flower (Lamber t i a formosa) - prominent r ed f l o w e r ; r i g i d s p i n y l e a f ; seod woody w i t h horns l i k e a mounta in d e v i l ; on lower t r a c k .

5 . White Root ( P r a t i a p u r p u r a s c e n s ) - p a l e mauve-whi te i r r e g u l a r f l o w e r ; h e r b 3 - 4 " ; ova l l e a v e s w i t h p u r p l i s h u n d e r s i d e ; g r a s s y p r o t e c t e d a r e a s .

6 . Wools ia pungens - w h i t e t u b u l a r f l o w e r crowded on s tem; sma l l o v a t e sha rp l e a f ; a l o n g lower t r a c k .

7 . Green Spider Flower ( G r e v i l l s a raucronulata) - g r e e n i s h f l o w e r ; sma l l sh rub ; common on s l o p e o v e r l o o k i n g Oa t l ey B a t h s .

8 . S t y p h e l i a l a e t a - y e l l o w i s h - g r e e n t u b u l a r f l o w e r ; low sh rub i n s h e l t e r e d s p o t s n e a r Douglas Haig St# e n t r a n c e .

9 . T r i c o r y n e s implex - b r i g h t ye l low f l o w e r ; stamen t i p p e d by d i s t i n c t i v e t u f t s of h a i r ; s m a l l h e r b i n t h e open f o r e s t .

1 0 . F r i n g e d L i l y (Thysanotus t u b e r o s u s ) - p u r p l e f r i n g e d t h r e e - p e t e l l e d l i l y ; much b ranched , e r e c t h e r b i n open g r a s s y a r e a s .

1 1 . S p i n y - l e a f Banksia (Banks ia s p i n u l o s a ) - b rown i sh - r ed f l o w e r s p i k e ; narrow l e a v e s ; sma l l sh rub on p l a t e a u . i

12 .B lack -eyed Susan ( T e t r a t h e c a e r i c i f o l i a ) - p i n k , 4 - p e t e l l e d , dark c e n t r e d f l o w e r s ; smal l shrub w i t h whor led l e a v e s ; on p l a t e a u n e a r l o o k o u t .

1 3 . Z i e r i a p i l o s a - sma l l w h i t e f lower* f o u r p e t a l s ; lowshrub w i t h t r i - f o l i a t e l e a v e s ; on p r o t e c t e d s l o p e .

1 4 . N a t i v e B l u e b e l l (Wahlenbergia g r a c i l i s ) - s m a l l b lue b e l l - s h a p e d f l o w e r ; i n s i g n i f i c a n t p l a n t ; w i d e s p r e a d . ;

1 5 . L a d y ' s S l i p p e r (Hybanthus f i l i f o r m i s ) - d a r k - b l u e i r r e g u l a r f l o w e r w i t h lower p e t a l p rominen t ; nar row l e a v e s ; on s l o p e s .

STILL FLOWERING:- F l a n n e l f l o w e r , Pink Sp ide r f l o w e r , L o b e l i a , Lesse r F l a n n e l f l o w e r , F lax W a t t l e , Hop bush , S l ende r Rice f l o w e r , X a n t h o s i a , F u s c h i a Heath , E p a c r i s p u l c h e l l a , Boss i aea h e t e r o p h y l l a , Dumplings, D i l lwyn ia r e t o r t a , Black She-oak , Match Heads, Goodenia h e d e r a c e a , Crowea s a l i g n a .

FOUND - a f t e r t h e h i g h l y s u c c e s s f u l a f t e r n o o n t e a i n Qat ley Park t o f a r e w e l l Ces and R i t a , I da - i n h e r u s u a l Qood g a m a r i t a s r o l e - c o l l e c t e d a cake p l a t e . Owner can c o l l e c t i t a t t h o nex t m e e t i n g .

a (I * * * t • O 0> « 4 • Beuetto • - » • • » • 0 *

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Fol lowing t h e Nor the rn T e r r i t o r t Reserves B o a r d ' s d e c i s i o n t o s e t a d a i l y l i m i t of 1800 t o u r i s t s t o t h e 125,000 h e c t a r e Ayres Rock- Mt Olga r e s e r v e , t h e House cf R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s S t and ing Committee on t h e Environment and Conserva t ion has recommended d i v i d i n g t h e park i n t o f o u r zones: ( a ) Those of e x t e n s i v e u s e , p a r t i c u l a r l y n e a r t h e Rock i t s e l f . (b) Those of fome r e s t r i c t i o n , such as t h e Olgas , which could be developed t o

t a k e p r e s s u r e o f f t h e l ock : ( c ) W i l d e r n e s s a r e a s , where a c c e s s would be r e s t r i c t e d or p r o h i b i t e d . (d) Sacred or o t h e r a r e a s under d i r e c t a b o r i g i n a l c o n t r o l t o which a c c e s s would

only be g iven on t e r m s and c o n d i t i o n s de te rmined by a b o r i g i n a l t r u s t e e s .

The A u s t r a l i a n Government has announced i t s i n t e n t i o n t o s e t up a N a t i o n a l Pa rk s and W i l d l i f e Commission which w i l l d o u b t l e s s t a k e over such a r e a s a s t h e Finke G . j Gorge ( i n c l u d i n g Palm V a l l e y ) , S impson ' s Gap, K a t h a r i n e Gorge and t h e proposed Top End (Kokadu) N a t i o n a l P a r k . However i t i s a p p a r e n t t h a t min ing w i l l be p e r m i t t e d i n many of t h e s e a r e a s , p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e l a s t named, and a l s o i n th.e Palm V a l l e y r e g i o n whlc^V-S p a r t of t h e Armadeua Bas in , may be used t o r e i n f o r c e t h e n a t u r a l - g a s ou tpu t from Moomba i n Cooper Bas in .

N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e A u s t r a l i a n Conserva t ion Founda t ion i s opposing a l l a p p l i c a t i o n s i n t h e Top End a r e a t h a t have s t i l l not been d e t e r m i n e d . The wors t f e a t u r e of modern, h i g h l y mechan i sed , mining i s t h e widesp read d e s t r u c t i o n caused by a s s o c i a t e d a c t i v i t i e d such as a c c e s s r o a d s and s p o i l d i s p o s a l .

0. F. F. NEWS - 4 - Mav 1975

Ca.'lIi-iG EV3NTS

Monday ; \ l ay 2 6 t h . , 7 . 4 5 pm.

FRANCIS SUTTON i s coming t o t a l k about h i s sound f i j a i on p o l l u t i o n c a l l e d "The Man Who Cannot S top" . Mr Sut ton has been u r g i n g a p l a n f o r comprehensive sewerage d i s p o s a l from Gosford t o Y/ollongong which i s p r a c t i c a b l e and n o n - p o l l u t i n g . This i s a scheme t h a t needs suppor t and t o g i v e i t we must know what i s involved# So b r i n g a l l your f r i e n d s who a r e concerned wi th t h i s v i t a l and t i m e l y ma t t e r#

FIELD DAY. Sunday, June 1 s t . KATANDRA BUSHLAND SANCTUARY

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This Sanc tua ry i s t h e r e s u l t of t h e f o r e s i g h t and d e d i c a t i o n of Mr, Harold Seymour, and i t w i l l be i n t e r e s t i n g t o see t h i s b e a u t i f u l a r e a and f i n d how i t i s m a i n t a i n e d . Wo f e e l t h e r e i s a 1 '.t l o t more t h a t could be done f o r Oa t l ey Park and Ka tandra could have some u s e f u l l e s s o n s f o r u s .

Meet ifir Eft an Qcctrctoor qL.t&e TtopiDjivIona Vale Road

a t 10 ,30 am# Bring Lunch.

Map R e f e r e n c e s f o r t h e s k e t c h map a t l e f t a r e : -U. B. D. Map 19, M6 Gregory, Map 108 L3.

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Price 5 cants.

May 1975

At l a s t months b u s i n e s s mee t ing t h e r e was concern expressed a t t h e l a c k of l o c a l f a c i l i t i e s f o r c o l l e c t i o n of r e - c y c l a b l e w a s t e . The p a r a p l e g i c S o c i e t y i n South H u r s t v i l l on t h e SW s i d e of King George Road j u s t p a s t Connal ls P o i n t Road w i l l g l a d l y accep t bo th b o t t l e s and Aluminium c a n s . Con ta ine r s L t d . i n Durham S t , H u r e t v i l l e have b i n s f o r c o l l e c t i n g a l l cane . H u r s t v i l l e Council has a t h e o r e t i c a l b i n f o r c o l l e c t i n g b o t t l e s a t t h e c o u n c i l t i p i n Rober ts Ave#, Llor tda le b u t , 4n p r a c t i c e , anyone w i t h b o t t l e s i s t o l d t o " j u s t put 'em over t h e r e , mate" where t h e b u l l d o z e r i s working#

Recen t ly when I t o l d a f r i e n d t h a t I s en t my sc r ap aluminium t o a Rockdale s choo l f o r r e t a r d e d c h i l d r e n , she r e p l i e d "But t h e y d o n ' t c o l l e c t out our way" . This brought me up w i t h a j e r k . She i s n ' t t h e a l l - too-common u n c a r i n g no-hoper who s i t s back and c ; . "tc expec t s " t h e g o v ' m i n t " t o hand f eed h e r , but a s i n g l e woman w i t h a l i v i n g t o ea rn and a house and e l d e r l y mother t o ca re f o r . There must bo many more who would w i l l i n g l y s e p a r a t e and save r e - c y c l a b l e was t e i f i t would be r e g u l a r l y c o l l e c t e d but s imply h a v e n ' t t h e t . . t i m e or means (no c a r ) t o c a r r y such m a t e r i a l i n s ea r ch of some where t o l e a v e i t .

We a r e f o r t u n a t e i n t h i s a r e a t o have r e g u l a r c o l l e c t i o n s of paper ans ca rdboa rd . I f e e l we shou ld ask f o r s i m i l a r c o l l e c t i o n s f o r b o t t l e s , t i n s , aluminium and r a g s . Very few households need two garbage c o l l e c t i o n s a week and t h e y would have even l e s s need of thorn i f t h e second c o l l e c t i o n each week was used f o r , s a y , b o t t l e s and r a g s one week and t i n s and aluminium t h e n e x t . Le t s a l l ask*

O.F.F. NEWS - 2 / 3 - May 1975

FLOWERS OF OATLEY PARK - MAY

1 . N a t i v e Current - Lep tomer ia a c i d a - minu te y e l l o w i s h f l o w e r s i n t i n y s p i k e -l a r g e l e a f l e s s shrub - sma l l g reen drupaceous f r u i t - i n s h e l t e r e d a r e a s of s l o p e s .

2. Mock Ol ive - N o t e l e a l o n g i f o l i a - t i n y c l u s t e r s of y e l l o w i s h f l o w e r s : sh rub w i t h v e l v e t y l e a v e s , 4cm. l o n g . Only one p l a n t known i n t h e P a r k , on t h e damaged p l a t e a u n e a r t h e o v a l p a r k i n g a r e a .

3. Drum-s t i cks - Isopogon a n a a o n i f o l i u s - numerous s m a l l ye l low f l o w e r s on round t e r m i n a l " c o n e s " . E r e c t sh rubwi th s t i f f d i v i d e d l eaves# Widespread on tops#

4* Corroa r e f l e x a - p;reen b e l l - s h a p e d f l o w e r t o 3 cm. l o n g . E r e c t sh rub i n s h e l t e r e d s p o t s a l o n g lower t r a c k .

5# Er ios temon s c a b e r - w h i t e 5 - p e t a l l e d f l o w e r ; medium s h r u b , l e a v e s narrow and covered w i t h o i l g l a n d s . E a r l y f l o w e r i n g specimens on s h e l t e r e d s l o p e s .

6 . Ground Berry - As t ro loma p i n i f o l i u m - r e d t u b u l a r f l o w e r , crowded narrow l e a v e s , low shrub found on p l a t e a u ,

7# Tea Tree - Leptospermum a t t enua tum - w h i t e 5 - p s t a l l e d f l o w e r , t a l l sh rub w i t h f l a k y b a r k . Only odd specimens f l o w e r i n g .

8# Tea Tree - Leptospermum F lavescens - w h i t e 5 - p e t a l l e d f l o w e r , t a l l sh rub w i t h ha rd b a r k . Onlt odd specimens f l o w e r i n g .

9 . Monotoca e l l i p t i c a - White b e l l - s h a p e d f l o w e r ; shrub w i th p a r a l l e l v e i n e d l e a v e s 8-lOora l o n g . O c c a s i o n a l shrub f l o w e r i n g e a r l y . Widespread.

10.Monotoca e c o p a r i a - minu te w h i t e f l o w e r s , s m a l l e r t h a n l e a v e s . E r e c t s ch rub w i t h s h a r p , narrow l e a v e s , p a l e r u n d e r n e a t h . On dry t o p s .

P r e v i o u s l y d e s c r i b e d and c t i l l f l o w ^ r i n ^ . F l a n n e l F lower , L e s s e r F l a n n e l F lower , F u s c h i a Heath , T r i g g e r P l a n t , Pink Sp ide r Flower, Green Spider F lower , L o b e l i a , F lax W a t t l e , Sunshim.- W a t t l e , Swee t - scen ted W a t t l e , P r i c k l t Moses, Wools ia , Hop Bush, S l ende r Rice F lower , X a n t h o s i a , E p a c r i s p u l c h a l l a , Uoss iaea h e t e r o p h y l l a , Dumplings, D i l lwyn ia t e t o r t a , Banks ia a a p l e n i f o l i a , Honey Flower , S t y p h e l i a l a e t a , S p i n e - l e a f Banks ia , Z i e r i a p i l o s a , N a t i v e B l u e b e l l .

MEMBERSHIP FEES f o r 1975 a r e now overdue# The f e e s have no t been r a i s e d from l a s t y e a r so a t t o d a y s r a t e of i n f l a t i o n you a r e r e a l l y g e t t i n g a b a r g a i n . Las t y e a r - i n a n t i c i p a t i o n of a r i s e - some p e o p l e ove rpa id and t h i s amount w i l l be deduc ted from t h e c u r r e n t y e a r s membership. I f you a r e u n s u r e of t h e f e e s , o r unsu re i f you have a l r e a d y p a i d , I sugges t you check w i t h t h e t r e a s u r e r on Tuesday, Wednesday or F r i d a y even ings and h e ' l l be g l a d t o s t r a i g h t e n you o u t . I f f e e s a r e no t p a i d t h i s c u r r e n t month, we r e g r e t t h a t we w i l l no t be a b l e t o c o n t i n u e send ing you- OFF NEWS i f we wish t o r e t a i n t h e p o s t a g e c o n c e s s i o n . Ha r ry Whai t e , 15 Freeaon Ave . , Oat ley. ,? 57 -6459- r . i s . a t i l l t r e a s u r e r .

Tho news t h a t t h e Boyd P l a t e a u w i l l n o t be l a i d w a s t e and r e p l a n t e d w i t h p i n e s was an o c c a s i o n f o r r e j o i c i n g by t h e hundreds of peop l e who had fough t t h i s p roposed vandal i sm f o r so long and t h e t h o u s a n d s more who gave both m o r a l and mone ta ry s u p p o r t . However t h e news t h e f o l l o w i n g day t h a t Mr Lewis would n o t a l l ow t h e F o r e s t r y Commission t o g i v e ev idence b e f o r e t h e House of R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s S t a n d i n g Coamit tee *s i n q u i r y i n t o t h e sof twood i n d u s t r y was no t so r e a s s u r i n g . With t h e pend ing Sena te i n q u i r y i n t o t h e woodchip i n d u s t r y , s u r e l y t h i s would have been a good o p p o r t u n i t y f o r a " r e h e a r s a l " of t h e F o r e s t r y Commissions ' p o s i t i o n and i n t e n t i o n s .

V a l u a b l e a s t h e Boyd P l a t e a u i s , I hope i t hasn *t been g iven a s a s p r a t t o t h e c o n s e r v a t i o n i s t s t o h i d e t h e m a c k e r e l b e i n g r e a d i e d f o r t h e woodch ippe ra .

B i l l Haigh h a s g e n e r o u s l y dec idcd t o r e s u n e h i s c a r e of t h e Myra Wal l Memorial Garden but he w o u l d n ' t knock back any w i l l i n g h e l p e r s . He would p a r t i c u l a r l y be happy t o have any ha rdy n a t i v e s t o add t o t h e garden t o r e p l a c e bo th n a t u r a l was tage and l o s s by v a n d a l i s m .

REPEAT OF KATANDA 3USHLAND SANCTUARY ARRANGEMENTS. Meet a t t h e Ba »hai Temple i n Mona Vale Rd. a t 10.30am and Mr S c o t c l n o r w i l l l e a d u s t o t h e Sanc tua ry and l e t u s i n a s t h e Sanc tua ry i s u s u a l l y opened on ly once a month.

SECRETARY Ida Carder , P.O. 3ox 52. MORTDALE. Ph . 57-5909

0. F. F. NEWS 4 - June 197

CCMING EVENTS

MONDAY? 23d. June 7 .45 pm.

Mr. Gar th Lukins of t h e C.S. I . R. 0. B i o l o g i c a l Research S t a t i w i l l speak b r i e f l y on t h e s u b j e c t " I n s e c t Con t ro l i n Our Time' He i s a l s o b r i n g i n g two f i l m s - "Dung Down Under", and "The

Termi te 'S&imxks Colony" t o i l l u s t r a t e h i s main p o i n t t h a t " th key t o p r o p e r c o n t r o l i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g " .

In t h e s e days of mounting d i s p o s a l problems t h i s t y p e of c o n t r o l could w e l l be v i t a l t o our f u t u r e and Mr. Lukins has gone t o a j r g r ea t d e a l of t r o u b l e t o o r g a n i s e t h i s review of t h e s u b j e c t . Bring your i n t e r e s t e d f r i e n d s (and I 'm s u r e t h e r e a r e many) t o g ive him a good a u d i e n c e . Don t l e t t h e cold w e a t h e r s top you -t h e h a l l i s h e a t e d .

We hope t o s t a r t Right on t i m e so t h e r e w i l l be p l e n t y of t ime f o r q u e s t i o n s .

WEEKEND OF JUNE 28th and 2 9 t h .

Working weekend a t WIRRMBIRRA. This i s a N a t i o n a l Trus t p roper ty under t h e c o n t r o l of t h e David G, Stead Memorial W i l d l i f e Research Founda t ion . I t i s a l o v e l y a r e a of bush s i x t y miles sou th of Sydney on t h e Hume Highway between Tahmoor and Bargo. There i s accomodat ion ove rn igh t f o r t h o s e who can s t a y and jobs f o r a l l . This i s a p u b l i c s e r v i c e we can r e n d e r . Come f o r ae long as you can .

WEEKEND OF NOVEMBER 1 s t , and 2nd.

Enough e a r l y bookings f o r h o s t e l accomodation f o r t h i s weekend have a l r e a d y been r e c e i v e d t o h a l f f i l l t h e h o s t e l . Anyone wan t ing t h i s t y p e of accomodation (campers a r e no t r e s t r i c t « d J p l e a s e book w i t h Val Boyan a s soon a s p o s s i b l e t o make s u r e of a bunk. Ring Val a t 533-1813 a f t e r 5pm.

- O F F. NEWS

Price 5 cents.

Published by

OATLEY FLORA & FAUNA CONSERVATION SOCIETY

Registered for posting as a Periodical — Category B»

June 1975.

Concern f o r t h e wor ld we l i v e i n i s growing a l l over t h e e a r t h . Man has been m a s t e r of t h e p l a n e t f o r c e n t u r i e s , and u s u a l l y a c a s u a l and u n t h i n k i n g c a r e t a k e r . With a smal l p o p u l a t i o n t h i s wasn t s e r i o u s . The A u s t r a l i a n Abor ig ine i s a prime example of t h i s . He used what he needed t o s u s t a i n l i f e i n i t s s i m p l e s t form and when t h e immediate n e i g h b o u r -hood was exhaus ted of food or s h e l t e r he moved on, l e a v i n g h i s l a s t s i t e t o recover# There were few enough of them t o enab le t h i s t o happen. Today t h e remnants of t h e t r i b a l a b o r i g i n e s r e t a i n t h i s a t t i t u d e # As c o n s e r v a t i o n i s t s t h e y a r e e x c e l l e n t e x p l o i t e r s .

However t h e r e a r e no sma l l p o p u l a t i o n s any more and t h e f a i l u r e of r e s o u r c e s t o meet t h e demands of t o d a y s p e o p l t i s ev iden t i n t h e hunger of many communit ies .

Ae man i s a t h r e e f o l d c r e a t u r e (of mind, body and s p i r i t ) , i t i s obvious t h a t h i s hunger of a l l f a c e t s must be s a t i s f i e d t o keep h i n whole and happy# Hence t h e problem of how t o p r e s e r v e beau ty and peace f o r t h e s p i r i t wh i l e p roduc ing s u s t e n a n c e f o r t h e body and c h a l l e n g e f o r t he mind.

The problem, c r e a t e d by t h e p a s t , has become a c u t e a t t h e p r e s e n t , so i t i s wo who must a t t empt a s o l u t i o n f o r t h e sake of t h e f u t u r e . P e r s o n a l l y I d o n ' t t h i n k i t can be done by one or two g e n e r a t i o n s but i t i s compounding so r a p i d l y t h a t i t i s u rgen t t o save as much a s possib& f o r a f u t u r e s o l u t i o n t o work with# That i s why X am a c o n s e r v a t i o n i s t .

O.F. F. MEWS - 2 / 3 - June 1975

As a S o c i e t y we t r y t o keep in fo rmed of l o c a l , n a t i o n a l and u n i v e r s a l a t t e m p t s t o p r e s e r v e our environment and t o g i v e what a s s i s t a n c e we can t o any p r o j e c t s w i t h t h i s aim t h a t need i t . L ike many s i m i l a r b o d i e s we t r y t o keep our own house i n o r d e r and our most l o c a l env i ronmen ta l problem i s OATLEY PARK. We a r e i n t h e p r o c e s s of p roduc ing a book le t of a " look f o r y o u r s e l f " t y p e ( m o s t l y f a r s choo l u s e ) t o a r o u s e i n t e r e s t i n t h e p a r k . We would l i k e t o something a l s o about t h e HISTORY OF OATLCY PARK. U n f o r t u n a t e l y i n f o r m a t i o n i s bo th s c a r c e and s c a t t e r e d , so we l j v s eek ing t h e HELP of any members, t h e i r f r i e n d s and l o c a l " o l d - t i m e r s " who may be ib lc t o g i v e u s a hand . I f you have any f a c t s on t h e fo rming , e a r l y h i s t o r y , development and usage of Oat ley Park from i t s i n c e p t i o n t o t h e p r e s e n t day, we would a p p r e c i a t e i t i f you could send t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n

i n w r i t i n g t o Ida Carder , Box 52, P . 0 . , I l o r tda l e# 2223.

NOTE The Sunday o u t i n g t o t h e Ka tandra Reserve was d e l i g h t f u l # Th i s i s a b e a u t i f l i a r e a and w i l l be a mass of f l o w e r s i n s p r i n g . I t w i l l bw open each Sunday i n August , September and October and w i l l be w e l l wor th a v i s i t even i f you went l a s t t i m e . See t h e May OFF NEWS f o r d i r e c t i o n s .

FLOWERS OF OATLEY PARK - JUNE

1* Laxnannia g r a c i l i s — a g r a s s - l i k e h e r b w i t h w h i t e f l o w e r s i n coup a c t heads* L i l y f i u j i l y . Found i n g r a s s y a r e a s of t h e p a r k .

2 . P h y l l o n t h u c t h y a o i d e s - sma l l sh rub w i t h t i n y g r e e n i s h - y e l l o w f l o w e r s . Common on dry p l a t e a u

3* Xanthoe ia t r i d e n t a t a , - sma l l p e r e n n i a l w i t h i n c o n s p i c u o u s , c r e a m f l o w e r s * Leaves t h r e e - t o o t h e d a t t h e t i p . Common on dry p l a t e a u .

4 . Ca laden ia a l b a - w h i t e ground o rch id* S i n g l e f l o w e r on 6" s tem. Widespread . 5* Black Eyed Susan (Te t ' r a theca e r i c i f o l i a ) ** P ink f l o w e r s w i t h dmr&vcentres -

s m a l l sh rub i n i s o l a t e d a r e a s of p l a t e a u * 6 . Lomandra l o n g i f l o r a - c l u s t e r s of s p i n y cream f l o w e r s - long f l a t l e a v e s * Wide-

sp read i n a r e a below o v a l . 7. Coast rosemary ( W e s t r i n g i a f r u i t i c o s a ) - w h i t e i r r e g u l a r f l o w e r on t a l l t h i c k

s h r u b - Myra Wal l g a r d e n . 8* H e a t h - l e a v e d b a n k s i a (Banks ia e r i c i f o l i a ) ~ o r a n g e - r e d f l o w e r s p i k e - l a r g e

s h r u b i n Myra Wal l g a r d e n . 9* Needle Bush (Hakea s e r i c e a ) - w h i t e f l o w e r s on medium shrub - s h a r p , c y l i n d r i c a l

l e a v e s - found on p l a t e a u .

The f o l l o w i n g f l o w e r s , p r e v i o u s l y d e s c r i b e d , a r e s t i l l f l o w e r i n g :

P ink s p i d e r f l o w e r , sunsh ine w a t t l e , g r e e n s p i d e r f l o w e r , s w e e t - s c e n t e d w a t t l e , f l a x w a t t l e , s l e n d e r r i c e f l o w e r , s p i n e - l e a f b a n k s i a , ground b e r r y , Eriostwmon s c a b e r , t r i g g e r p l a n t , l e s s e r f l a n n e l f l o w e r , Banks ia a s p l e n i i f o l i a , n a r r o w - l e a f geebung, E p a c r i s p u l c h e l l a , D i l lwyn ia r e t o r t a , p r i c k l y Moses, Crowea s a l i g n a , Correa r e f l e x a ( g r e e n ) , mock o l i v e , Chr is tmas t r e e (New s e a s o n ' s f l o w e r s ) , f l a n n e l f l o w e r , coas t b a n k s i a , B o s s i a e a h e t e r o p h y l l a , X a n t h o s i a p i l o s a .

BOTANY BAY DEVELOPMENT - CAVALCADE OF CARS.

Date : Sunday, 22 J u n e . P l a c e : Meet b e f o r e 9 . 0 0 am a t Judd S t * , Colebome and Renown Avenues. P u r p o s e : To p r e s s f o r a f u l l e n v i r o n m e n t a l impact s tudy on t h e S t a t e Government ' s p r o p o s a l f o r development of Botany Bay. P r o g r ^ m e : The cava lcade w i l l j o i n up w i t h t h e main motorcade a t Heath Road, Blake-h u r s t and p roceed t o Yar ra Bay, where a r a l l y w i l l be h e l d a t 10*30am. I t i s impor t an t t o j o i n t h e c a v a l c a d e , r a t h e r t h a n going d i r e c t t o t h e r a l l y .

Most members of t h e S o c i e t y l i v e i n or n e a r t h e Botany Bay a r e a , and have an i n t e r -e s t i n s e e i n g t h a t a s oany a m e n i t i e s a s p r a c t i c a b l e a r e r e t a i n e d , and t h a t t h e a r e a i s no t r u i n e d by i n d u s t r i a l overdevelopment* This i s t h e chance t o show your concern.* For f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n , r i n g David K o f f e l on 579 5661*

.1.. . . . . . SECRETARY Ida Carder , Box 52, P . O . , MORTDALE. 2223 57-5909 PRESIDENT Alan F a i r l e y , 63 Gover S t . , PEAKHURST. 2210 533-4827 trniTOrl Ol ive Wha i t e . 15 Freeman Ave . . OATLEY* 2223 57-6459

0. 7. iUWS - 4 - J u l £ 1975

can DIG EVENTS

MONDAY, J u l y 28 th . a t 7 .45 pm. " B i r d s " by Br ian F inch .

Bird a r e an e v e r - f a s c i n a t i n g s u b j e c t f o r c h i l d r e n and a d u l t s . B r i an i s a k e e n l y i n t e r e s t e d a u t h o r i t y on h i s s u b j e c t and w i l l i l l u s t r a t e h i s t a l k w i t h s l i d e s , Do come.

SUNDAY, August 9 t h . A ROCK PLATFOFM w i t h DAVID TRANTER.

Mr# T r a n t e r w i l l show us t h e t eeming l i f e of t h e t i d a l zones on a rock p l a t f o r m n e a r 3UNDSENA, At low t i d e we can see many f a s c i n a t -ing p l a n t s and an imals adap ted t o s u r v i v e under very d i f f i c u l t c o n d i t i o n s # An e x c i t i n g f i e l d day f o r a l l . Don ' t m i s s i t .

Catch t h e Bundeena f e r r y from Cronu l l a a t 11am.Ivlr. T r a n t e r w i l l meet us a t Bundeena wharf and t a k e us a s h o r t easy walk t o t h e ocean where we l u n c h . Carry d r i n k s .

SUNDAY, 2 7 t h . J u l y . Survey of OATLEY PARK. IMPORTANT.'.'.'

This survey was pos tponed due t o bad wea the r and we now hope t o add an i n f o r m a t i o n booth t o a d v e r t i s e t h e S o c i e t y . E x t r a h e l p e r s t o man t h i s booth i n two hour s h i f t s a r e u r g e n t l y needed . P l e a s e

r i n g Ida on 57-5909 i f you can h e l p .

SATURDAY, 1 8 t h . Oc tober . N. C. C. ANNUAL DINNER i

Thisf y e a r t h e d i n n e r w i l l be h e l d a t The R e f e c t o r y , Sydney Un ive r s i t y Union a t 6.30pm. Cost of $ 7 . 5 0 i n c l u d e s d r i n k s . Speaker w i l l be Dry' Jim C a i r n s . I f you wish t o go Ida w i l l book a block of t i c k e t s f o r t h e S o c i e t y so l e t h e r know e a r l y .

* * >««o» *» e a #

PRESIDENT Alan F a i r l e y , 63 Gover S t . , Peakhur s t 2210 533-4827 SECRETARY Ida Carder , P.O. Box 52, M o r t d a l e 2223 57-5909 EDITOR Ol ive Whai te , 15 Freeman Ave , , Oa t ley 2223 57-6459

J u l y 1975

FLOWERS 02 OATLEY PARK - JULY

1 . Sydney Golden W a t t l e (Acacia l o n g i f o l i a ) - d e n s e l y packed s p i k e s , deepyel low f l o w e r s . T a l l s h r u b , b r o a d " l e a v e s " . Widespread ,

2» M y r t l e - l e a f w a t t l e (Acacia m y r t i f o l i a ) - round yel low f l o w e r -heads , Low s h r u b . E l l i p t i c l e a v e s t o 5 cm. l o n g . Widespread,

3 . Cootamundra W a t t l e (Acacia b a i l e y a n a ) - dense yel low f l o w e r -h e a d s , B lue-grey f e a t h e r - l i k e f o l i a g e . Small t r e e , p l a n t e d ,

4. B road - l ea f Geebung ( P e r s o o n i a l e v i s ) - sma l l ye l low f l o w e r s . Broad, l i g h t g reen l e a v e s . Medium sh rub . F laky b a r k . Widespread,

5. Leucopogon e r i c o i d e s - sma l l w h i t e f l o w e r s , d i s t i n c t l y bearded i n s i d e . Upright sh rub . Numerous f l o w e r s . Sharp p o i n t e d l e a v e s . On dry sands tone p l a t e a u ,

6 . Rusty p e t a l s (Las iope ta lum fe r rug ineum) - smal l c l u s t e r s of r u s t co loured f l o w e r s . P e t a l s no t consp icuous . Low sh rub , narrow l e a v e s about 5 cm. l ong . Widespread .

7. Pu rp l e I r i s ( P a t e r s o n i a s e r i c e a ) - conspicuous p u r p l e 3 - p e t a l l e d f l o w e r . E r e c t h e r b . Narrow r i g i d l e a v e s a r i s i n g from base of f l o w e r s tem. Open t o p s .

8 . P u r p l e Twining pea (Hardenberg ia v i o l a c e a ) - v i o l e t - p u r p l e pea f l o w e r . Twining s p e c i e s . Heav i ly ve ined l e a v e s . Above b a t h s ,

STILL FLOWERING Sunshine W a t t l e , Sp ider Flower , Swee t - scen ted W a t t l e , F lax W a t t l e , P r i c k l y Moses, Rice Flower , S p i n e - l e a f Banks ia , Coast „ Banks i a , Black She-oak, Ground B e r r y , Er ios temon s c a b e r , T r i g g e r P^ant F l a n n e l Flowers ( 2 ) , Narrowleaf Geebung, D i l lwyn ia r e t o r t a , Correa r e f l e x a ( 2 ) , Xan thos i a p i l o s a , P h y l l a n t h u s , Caladenia a l b a , Coast Rosemary, Needle Bush, Drumst icks , Leptospermum f l a v e s c e n s , Wools ia , Dumplings, Fuchs i a Heath .

0. F .F . NEWS - 2 / 3

IS IT WORTH IT? HEINZ GOLDSTEIN

J u l y 1975

Are you t h i n k i n g of v i s i t i n g Europe t o see i t a w i l d l i f e and p r i m i t i v e n a t u r a l a r e a s and "do t h s i g h t s " ? Then see your t r a v e l agen t r i g h t now. Each y e a r d e l a y w i l l make i t h a r d e r t o f i n d t h e an imals and f o r c e you t o seek more remote r e a c h e s of c o u n t r y . E v e n t u a l l y you w i l l see r a r e r w i l d l i f e on ly i n t h e zoos .

Th i s i s our sad i m p r e s s i o n a f t e r two y e a r s t r a v e l t h rough Europe , v i s i t i n g Na tu re R e s e r v a t i o n s , N a t i o n a l P a r k s , and b i r d h a b i t a t s i n many c o u n t r i e s .

B i r d s , by v a r i e t y of s p e c i e s and o v e r a l l numbers, a r e now t h e most prominent a n i m a l w i l d l i f ^ l e f t i n Europe , and t h e i r s t a t u s i s p robab ly a good i n d i c a t o r of t h o p r e s e n t and f u t u r e c o n d i t i o n of European f a u n a . In c e n t r a l and s o u t h e r n Eurape a c t i v e o r n i t h o l o g i s t s of many y e a r s e x p e r i e n c e , t o l d u s t h a t i n r e c e n t y e a r s b i r d numbers , except f o r a few common s p e c i e s , have gone down s t e e p l y . Some by over a q u a r t e r . C l ima t i c f a c t o r s - a long drought i n A f r i c a and a s e r i e s of v e r y co ld s p r i n g s in Europe - may have c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h i s , but many more b i r d s p e c i e s have become " r a r e " . The few p a i r s l e f t have r e t r e a t e d t o a r e a s remote from human i n t e r f e r e n c e such a s t r a f f i c , p o l l u t i o n , and h a b i t a t d e s t r u c t i o n .

Th i s u n d e r l i n e s t h e impor t ance of N a t i o n a l Pa rk s and s u c h l i k e f o r t h e p r e s e r v a t i o n of f a u n a . But how s a f e a r e t h e s e r e f u g e s ? F o r example! F r a n c e . The Cam argue a t t h e mouth of t h e Rhone, no r the rnmos t haunt of t h e f l a m i n g o , i s l o s i n g b i r d h a b i t a t by t h e e x t e n s i o n of r i c e growing, p o l l u t i o n from n e a r b y p e t r o - c h e m i c a l i n d u s t r i e s and i n c r e a s i n g a i r t r a f f i c f rm M a r s e i l l e s . Spa in . Much s h o o t i n g of ducks and he rons i n t h e Ebro D e l t a . The b i r d w a t c h e r s Mecca of t h e South , t h e Goto Donana, has on ly a f r a c t i o n of t h e o r i g i n a l a r e a r e t a i n e d a s a s a n c t u a r y and a d j a c e n t c o a s t a l h o l i d a y developments f u r t h e r t h r e a t e n t h e d i m i n i s h i n g w i l d l i f e . , A u s t r i a . Hol iday camps around t h e N e u s i e d e l Lake a r e r e p l a c i n g t h e n e s t i n g s t o r k s . Swedish Lapland . I t i s proposed t o "open up" Abisko N a t i o n a l Park by a road l i n k t o Narvik and s o u t h e r n Sweden. True , A u s t r a l i a i s not Europe , but a r e n ' t t h e r e enough p a r a l l e l s t o l e t u s see t h e w r i t i n g on t h e w a l l ?

Wel l t h e n , i s t h e C o n s e r v a t i o n i s t a ' a h o p e l e s s b a t t l e ? Are t h e y a bunch of King Canutes f i g h t i n g a r e a r g u a r d a c t i o n doomed t o e v e n t u a l d e f e a t ? P e r h a p s . Give up t h e ? Do something more " u s e f u l " ? . No.' Not w h i l e t h e r e i s s t i l l something t o s a v e .

There a r e much more s o l i d r e a s o n s f o r be ing a c o n s e r v a t i o n i s t t h a n a s e n t i m e n t a l l ove of a n i m a l s and n a t u r e and t h e wish t o p r e s e r v e them f o r p o s t e r i t y . As p o p u l a t i o n p r e s s u r e i n c r e a s e s more peop l e l i v e an u rban l i f e , more l e i s u r e t i m e needs f i l l i n g , s o c i a l i n s t i t u t i o n s show s i g n s of i n c i p i e n t breakdown. In t h e long run on ly s a n i t y and a ba l anced ou t look can save humani ty . And what b e t t e r r e s t o r -a t i v e f o r s t r a i n e d n e r v e s and t h e s t r e s s e s of c i v i l i z a t i o n t h a n c o n t a c t w i t h n a t u r e and enjoyment of i t s p r i m i t i v e beau ty? So, i n a s ence , NATURE PRESERVATION BECCMES SELF PRESERVATION.

I t s an i l l wind t h a t blows nobody any good. In many c o u n t r i e s t h e r e a r e i n d i c a t i o n s of new a t t i t u d e s , brought about by t h e p r e s e n t o i l c r i s i s , t h e coming energy c r i s i s , and t h e a r t i f i c i a l i t y of much of modern l i f e . Many people have begun t o doubt t h e a l l - i m p o r t a n c e of " P r o g r e s s " , Conserva t ion - of n a t u r e and of energy - i s more t a l k e d a b o u t . But t a l k i n g i s not enough t . So l e t ' s c o n t i n u e t o FIGHT f o r i t .

The c o n s e r v a t i o n b a t t l e i s not on ly wor th i t , i t *s a v i t a l n e c e s s i t y . For PEOPLE, not j u s t f o r t h o b i r d s and t h e b e e s .

HISTORY OF OATLEY PARK

So f a r t h e f o l l o w i n g i n f o r m a t i o n has been v o l u n t e e r e d , 1 . In 1920 i t was t h e s i t e of a c a t t l e s l a u g h t e r h o u s e . 2 . 3h 1942 a s e a r c h l i g h t depot was e s t a b l i s h e d t h e r e , 3 . The cement s l a b s n o r t h of t h e o v a l a r e t h e remains of a b l u t i o n s b l o c k s f o r t h e

m i l i t a r y camp e s t a b l i s h e d t h e r e du r ing t h e second wor ld war# 4 . The road around t h e p o i n t from Douglas Haigh S t r e e t was b u i l t d u r i n g t h e

d e p r e s s i o n t o p r o v i d e employment.

I f any member can conf i rm or add t o t h e s e p o i n t s p l e a s e c o n t a c t Ida on 57-5909

THIS IS THE LAST ISSUE OF O.F.F. THAT UNF33JANCIAL MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE.

O.FrF,ffEtiS

CCM DIG EVENTS

Align Rf. 1975

MONDAY - August 25th . 7 .45pn.

The Chairman of t h e Towra P r e s e r v a t i o n Soc ie ty and t h e Botany Bay P r e s e r v a t i o n Soc ie ty w i l l speak t o u s . This i s a good o p p o r t u n i t y t o hea r more about t h e problems of c o a s t a l and e s t u a r i n e a r e a s , ;> p a r t i c u l a r l y no?; when b i g changes a r e proposed f o r Botany Bay which could a f f e c t a l l of us. a d v e r s l u y .

ADVANCE NOTICE f o r SATURDAY SEPT. 27th .

This w i l l be a bus ou t ing a t Bouddi S t a t e Park wi th t h e w h a i t e s . An e x c e l l e n t t i n e f o r f l o w e r s . As u s u a l we would l i k e e a r l y bookings . Book a t t h e meet ing or w i t h Val Boyan a t 533-1013 a f t e r 5pa»

SURVEY OF OATLCY PARK

This was .̂n i n t e r e s t i n g day but q u i t e exhaus t ing f e £ t h e s t a l w a r t s who rwnained on duty f o r long s t r e t c h e s . Our i n d e f a t i g a b l e Ida was t h e r e ALL DAY and did a n i g h t y j o b .

Although i t was a i d - w i n t e r over 900 v e h i c l e s e n t e r e d t h o park t h a t day c a r r y i n g n e a r l y 3 ,000 p e o p l e . Tho peop le walking i n t h e park were no*, counted but t h e y kept coning a l l day, More v e h i c l e s came f o r a d r ive than f o r any o t h e r s i n g l e purpose but t h e r e w^re 250 s e p a r a t e groups who l i t f i r e s . . I f t h i s i s a t y p i c a l day how long can t h e park keep supply ing t h e oiaount of f i rewood needed? An organized Sport d a y - p i c n i c p rov ided a l a r g e number f o r t h e " s p o r t " ca tegory -a r e g u l a r Sunday even t . Almost two t h i r d s of t h e v i s i t o r s were from the H u r s t v i l l e M u n i c i p a l i t y . .

This survey i s j u s t an i n d i c a t i o n of park usage but q u i t e a u s e f u l ctne* I t w i l l need t o be supler.iented wi th a Suijmer survey and f o r t h a t v;e '11 p robab ly need t h e m a r i n s e . Ce r t a in ly more t h a n we had t h i s time as t h e ca r s were banked up f o r a block a t t h e peak "hour" , and more h e l p e r s can move them f a s t e r .

O F F. NEWS

Price 5 cents.

Published by

OATLEY FLORA & FAUNA CONSERVATION SOCIETY

Rggl,tared for posting at a Periodical — Category B

August 1975

Ignorance i s one of t h e conse rva t i on movements g r e a t e s t enemies. A f u l l unde r s t and ing of "why" as w e l l a s "what" would g r e a t l y i n c r e a s e p u b l i c suppo r t . The f o l l o w i n g essay i s a h o p e f u l s ign of i n c r e a s i n g suppor t in our s c h o o l s .

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL GREG BUTT (Narwee Boys High)

B i o l o g i c a l c o n t r o l i s where a pe s t (eg . vege t ab l e weev i l ) i s c o n t r o l l e d by t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n of a n a t u r a l p r e d a t o r or d i s e a s e , t h e r e b y g r e a t l y r educ ing i t s numbers.

This, ciethod of pes t c o n t r o l has a number of advantages which make i t much more p r e f e r a b l e t o use t h a n conven t iona l methods of c o n t r o l such as t h e use of p e s t i c i d e s .

When conven t i ona l p e s t i c i d e s a r e sprayed they o f t e n not only k i l l the ha rmfu l p e s t s , but any n a t u r a l enemies of t h e p e s t s as w e l l . (This r e s u l t e d i n b i r d s such as eag le s and hawks dying a f t e r e a t i n g r a b b i t s and smal l r oden t s which had been f e e d i n g on crops t h a t had been sprayed wi th DDT.)

The use of b i o l o g i c a l c o n t r o l methods can be cheaper ana e a s i e r i n t h e long run, s i n c e , once i t has been used a g a i n s t a p e s t i t should never have t o be r epea t ed i f t h e r e p r o d u c t i o n of t h e c o n t r o l organism i s s u f f i c i e n t l y ma in ta ined . Also, sp ray ing a l a r g e a r e a may t a k e days . Not so wi th b i o l o g i c a l c o n t r o l .

F i n a l l y , as c e r t a i n i n s e c t s can b u i l d up a r e s i s t a n c e t o some

f

0» F. F. NEWS - 2 /3- ~ August 1975

p e s t i c i d e s w i th con t inued s p r a y i n g , ziou and more l e t h a l ones have t o be c o n t i n u a l l y found , This consumes both t i m e and money,

Soae examples of b i o l o g i c a l c o n t r o l c u r r e n t l y i n u s e i n A u s t r a l i a . l ) The Cabbage Moth. This p e s t i s most t r oub le some a t t h e c a t t e r p i l l a r s t a g e , f e e d i n g on v a r i o u s crop p l a n t s . A wasp was found t o p a r a c i t i s e t h e moth eggs . When t h e c a t t e r p i l l a r h a t c h e s t h o wasp l a r v a e , a l r e a d y w i t h i n i t , f e e d on i t s t i s s u e s . Th is method of c o n t r o l min imises t h e damage caused by t h e moth, 1?) The Green Vege tab le 3ue. The n a t u r a l snetoy of t h i s i n s e c t i s u l s o a wasp which marks t h e egg i t has i n f e c t e d t o keep o t h e r wasps away , . I t f e e d s on t h e egg. I l l ) V e g e t a b l e l W e e v i l . Th i s i j w s c t has one g e n e r a t i o n a y e a r . A n i g h t f e e d e r , i t l a y s i n damp p l a c e s and pupatef t underground . A p r e d a t o r y Uraguayan wasp was found and had i t s l i f e cyc l e synch ron i s ed w i t h t h e emergence of t h e w e e v i l g rub . Due t o \ , t h i s method, t h e numbers of v e g e t a b l e w e e v i l s have been g r e a t l y r e d u c e d .

FLCwIZaS OF OATLEY PARK - AUGUST

1 . Hovea l i n e a r i s - p u r p l e p e a - f l o w e r on s m a l l u p r i g h t s h r u b . Leaves narrow t o 5 cm. Common i n dry woodland (a w h i t e v a r i e t y on lower t r a c k )

2. S n a i l Glory Pea (Gompholobium m i n u s ) - ye l low p e a - f l o w e r . Low d i f f u s e shrub no more t h a n 30 cm t a l l . Open woodland.

3. P u l t e n e a s t i p u l a r i s - ye l low p e a - f l o w e r , Conspicuous by dense t e r m i n a l heads of f l a y e r s and narrow l e a v e s . Cn s h e l t e r e d s l o p e s

4 . P u l t e n e a daphnoides - ye l low p e a - f l o w e r growing i n h e a d s . Broad, wedge-shaped l e a v e s up t o 2 .5 cm l o n g . Along lower t r a c k n e a r b a t h s .

5 . B i t t e r Pea - ( D a v i e s i a corymbosa) - ye l low p e a - f l o w e r w i t h r ed c e n t r e . Flowers crowded. Leaves rough and v ^ i n ^ d . Woodland and s l o p e s .

6 . Brachyloaa daphnoides - wh i t e b e l l f l o w e r . E r e c t s h r u b . F l a t l e a v e s . Woodland. 7. L i s s a n t h e s t r i p :o sa — White b e l l f l o w e r s i n t h i c k c l u s t e r s . R ig id h e a t h - l i k e

shrub about 30ca t a l l . Leaves narrow and p o i n t e d . Open woodlands . 8 . Leucopogon amplox icau le - s m a l l w h i t e h a i r y - l o b e d f l o w e r s on long s p i k e s exceeding

t h e l e a v e s . D i s t i n c t i v e s t e m - c l a s p i n g l e a v e s . Common on lower t r a c k i n shade . 9 . Acac ia ech inu l a - b r i g h t ye l low f l o w e r heads , s t r a g g l i n g b r a n c h e s , sp iny l e a v e s .

S i m i l a r t o P r i c k I t Moses. On dry t o p s n e a r main e n t r a n c e . 10 . Goeford W a t t l e (A, prominens) - abundant ye l low f l o w e r h e a d s . A sma l l t r e e

p l a n t e d i n s p o t s b e s i d e M a l l a r d D r i v e . 11. Queensland S i l v e r W a t t l e (A. p o d a l y r i i f o l i a ) - b r i g h t ye l low f l o w e r s . S i l v e r y

f o l i a g e . P l a n t e d i n p i c n i c s p o t s . 12. Wedding Bush ( R i c i n o c a r p o s p i n i f o l i u s ) l a r g o , ve ry abundant w h i t e f l o w e r s .

E r e c t shrub w i t h narrow l o a v e s . Beneath c l i f f l i n e . 13. P r o s e r a p e l a t a - t i n y w h i t e f l o w e r s . An i n s e c t - c a t c h ] B g sundew. Loaves covered

w i t h s t i c k y h a i r s . E r e c t s t ems . Damp wat .ercourse b e t . ova l and Liao K i l n Bay. 14 . Donkey Orchid ( D i u r i s a a c u l a t a ) - ye l low ground o r c h i d , brown m a r k i n g s . Up t o

5 f l o w e r s on s tem. Edge of rock s h e l f b e t . o v a l and Lime K i l n Bay. 15 . M i s t l e t o e (Anyema c o n g e n e r ) . Corimon p a r a s i t i c s h r u b . Red f l o w e r s . Widespread . 16» G r e v i l l e a s p h a c e l a t a - Grey s p i d e r f l o w e r . E r e c t shrub t o 1 a . h i g h . S i m i l a r

t o G. b u x i f o l i a b u t _ g m a l l e r . On s l o p e s . 1 7 . S m a l l - l e a f Daisy Bush ( O l e a r i a m i c r o p h y l l a ) - abundant w h i t e f l o w e r s . Medium

s h r u b . Tiny l e a v e s . Widespread on s l o p e s . 18 . VJonga Wonp:a Vine (Pandorea pandorana) - w h i t e t u b u l a r f l ower w i t h red c e n t r e .

Woody v i n e w i th 5-9 l e a f l e t s . Common i n s h e l t e r e d s i t u a t i o n s . 19 . Saoke Bush (Conospermum e r i c i f o l i u m ) - w h i t e f l ower h e a d s . E r e c t p l a n t .

L inea r l e a v e s . Above b a t h s . S t i l l f l o w e r i n g . Sunsh ine , S w e e t - s c e n t e d , F l a x , Sydney Golden, M y r t l e - l o a f and Cootamundra W a t t l e s ; P r i c k l y Moses; Broad lea f Geebung; Leucopogon e r i c o i d e s ; Rusty P e t a l s ; P u r p l e Twining Pea ; Pink Spider Flower; Rice Flower ; S p i n e l e a f cind Coast Banks i a s ; Black She-oak; Ground Ber ry ; Eriostcanon s c a b e r ; T r i g g e r P l a n t ; F l a n n e l F l o w e r s ( 2 ) ; D i l lwyn ia r e t o r t a ; X&nthosia p i l o s a ; Green Spider Flower ; P h y l l a n t h u s ; Needle Bush; Drumst icks ; Dumpl ings ;Fuchs ia Heath ; Hop Bush; Chris tmas Bush; Loaandra l o n g i f l o r a ; Monotoca,

EARTH DAY t h i s yea r f a l l s on Sunday 2 1 s t , S e p t . and we hopo t o mark i t w i t h a n o t h e r d i s p l a y i n Oat ley Park as t h e s m a l l one we e r e c t e d on t hu day of t h e pa rk survey a roused a l o t of f a v o u r a b l e i n t e r e s t - He lpe r s w i l l be needed t o a i n d i t i n s h i f t s .

PRESIDENT Alan F a i r l e y , 63 Gover S t r e e t , P e a k h u r s t . SECRETARY Ida Carder , P.O. Sox 52, M o r t d a l e . EDITOR Ol ive Whai te , 15 Freeaan Ave . , Oat leyr

533-4827 57-5909 57-6459

OFF NEWS - 4 September 1975

CCMING EVENTS

MONDAY, Sep t . 22nd a t 7,45pm.

This i s a b u s i n e s s mee t ing when you w i l l be t o l d of t h e impor tan t and i n t e r e s t i n g i s s u e s be ing d e a l t w i th by t h e Committee and o ther groups a s s o c i a t e d w i t h ue« I t i s impor t an t f o r members t o t o know what i s being done on t h e i r beha l f i n t h e name of t h e S o c i e t y , so cane a long and ask q u e s t i o n s or o f f e r comments.

A f t e r t h e b u s i n e s s s e s s i o n Ray Jamieson w i l l show s l i d e s of Mew Zea land .

SATURDAY, Sept 27th , FIELD DAY.

Olive and Harry Whaite a r e t h e l e a d e r s f o r our Bouddi o u t i n g n e a r Gosford. I t i s a long way and t h e bus l e a v e s OATLEY STATION a t 8am.

Bring lunch and wa lk ing shoes . A f t e r t h i s long dry s p e l l we may not be a b l e t o ge t w a t e r a t our lunch spot so be p r e p a r e d t o C8jiy something t o d r i n k . The f l o w e r s w i l be out i n abundance and tAe scene ry i s supe rb . Fa re i s $ 3 . 0 0 a d u l t ; 50c, c h i l d r e n .

# • * » * 4

OBITUARY.

With deep r e g r e t we r e p o r t t h e d e a t h of a va lued member and former p r e s i d e n t Bert Hayes who d ied suddenly on 23d, of August w h i l e on h o l i d a y i n Wes te rn A u s t r a l i a , We extend our s i n c e r e sympathy t o Ann and J u d i t h f o r t h e i r l o s s .

Tho David G. Stead Memorial W i l d l i f e Research Foundat ion of Aus t . p u b l i s h a s e r i e s of b o o k l e t s on garden c u l t i v a t i o n of A u s t r a l i a n p l a n t s . T i t l e s i n c l u d e : 1, PROPAGATION. 2, MINT3USHES AND THEIR RELATIVES. 3, MAT AND GROUND-COVER PLANTS. 4, GREVILLEAS. 6 , GALLISTEM ONS AND OTHER EOT TLBBRUSHES, ( cos t 80c , P o s t a g e 2 4 c . ) Also 200 AUSTRALIAN PLANTS FOR GARDENS and 200WATTLES ID R GARDENS a t $ 2 . 2 0 ea E n q u i r i e s a t Box 4840 G.P.O. , SYDNEY 2001.

September 1975

Like t h e B a r r i e r Reef , South-West Tasmania i s one of t h e l a s t r emain ing g r e a t n a t u r a l a r e a s of t h e wor ld , and d e s e r v e s r e t e n t i o n a s a n a t i o n a l park w i t h t h e b e s t p o s s i b l e boundar i e s £ management.

But what do we f i n d i n t h e d r a f t management p l a n r e c e n t l y r e l e a s e d by t h e Tasmanian Government? I n s t e a d ' o f a compact a r e a of over 800,000 h e c t a r e s , we a r e f a c e d w i t h t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of p iecemeal development w i t h t h e f o l l o w i n g s t r a t e g i c a r e a s e x c l u d e d : -(a ) The Davey River a r e a because of i t s p o t e n t i a l use f o r t h e g e n e r a t i o n of e l e c t r i c i t y - t h i s i n a s t a t e where t h e p r e s e n t s u r p l u s of e l e c t r i c i t y l ooks l i k e c o n t i n u i n g f a r i n t o t h e f u t u r e .

(b) The P i c t o n and Cape V a l l e y s because of p o s s i b l e f u t u r e f o r e s t r y demands; and

(c) South-West Cape, Mount Rugby, New Harbour and Cox Bight a t t h e r e q u e s t of t h e Mines Depar tment .

F o r t u n e a t e l y , P r e c i p i t o u s B lu f f i s i n c l u d e d , but a t t h e cos t of one t h i r d of t h e Hartz N a t i o n a l P a r k , which i s t o be g iven t o A u s t r a l i a n Paper M a n u f a c t u r e r s L t d . i n compensat ion f o r f o r e s t r y l ands r e l i n -qu ished a d j a c e n t t o t h e B l u f f , I t i s h o r r i f y i n g t h a t a n a t i o a l park can p r a c t i c a l l y be c a n c e l l e d a t t h e s t r o k e of a pen .

Th i s d r a f t management p l a n , g i v i n g p r e f e r e n c e t o t h e s e p u b l i c and p r i v a t e e x p l o i t e r s , cannot be t h e one drawn up by t h e Tasmanian N a t i o n a l Pa rks and W i l d l i f e S e r v i c e . Ra ther a r e we s e e i n g i t s remnants a f t e r dismemberment by o t h e r d e p a r t m e n t a l b o d i e s .

Any e x p l o i t a t i o n of our n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s should only be c a r r i e d out w i t h i n a b roade r n a t i o n a l framework which a d e q u a t e l y c o n s i d e r s t h e

OFF NEWS 2 / 3 September 1975

needs and d e s i r e s of o t h e r s e c t i o n s of t h e community^ I b e l i e v e t h a t t h e supply of raw m a t e r i a l s , whether t i m b e r m i n e r a l s or dam s i t e s , should not be de te rmined p u r e l y on s o - c a l l e d economic grounds which a s s e s s t h e v a l u e of o t h e r a m e n i t i e s , such as w i l d e r n e s s , as z e r o .

The A u s t r a l i a n Conserva t ion Foundat ion has moved f o r t h e A u s t r a l i a n Government t> have Tasmania ' s South-West d e c l a r e d a World H e r i t a g e a r e a under t h e UNESCO Convention f o r t h e P r o t e c t i o n of t h e World C u l t u r a l and N a t u r a l H e r i t a g e , t o which A u s t r a l i a i s a p a r t y . The South-West W i l d e r n e s s i s eminen t ly s u i t a b l e f o r t h i s c l a s s i f i c a t i o n , and we u rge t h e Tasmanians and t h e i r p o l i t i c a l r e p r e s e n t a -t i v e s t o conserve r a t h e r t h a n squander i t . We a l s o u r g e our members t o g i v e f u l l s u p p o r t t o a l l o r g a n i s a t i o n s w i t h t h i s o b j e c t i v e ,

FLOWSAS OF OATLSY PARK - SEPTEMBER

1 . Clemat is g l y c i n o i d e s - w h i t e f l o w e r w i t h 4 p e t a l - l i k e s e p a l s j compound l e a v e s i n 3, a c l imber w i t h masses of f l o w e r s ; r o a d s i d e .

2 . Lomandra m u l t i f l o r a - cream f l o w e r s i n d i s t i n c t i v e c l u s t e r s a s cend ing t h e u p r i g h t s t e m s ; l e a v e s f l a t and l o n g ; ve ry common on dry p l a t e a u .

3 . P i t t o spo ru i a undulatum - White c l u s t e r s of f l o w e r , pe r fumed; sma l l t r e e w i th abundant f l o w e r s ; dark g reen l e a v e s ; v e r y common i n s h e l t e r e d spo t s*

4 . Red Bean (Kennedia r u b i c u n d a ) - deep red l a r g e pea f l o w e r ; a t w i n e r over ground or bushes ; w idespread ( e . g . n e a r main g a t e ) .

5 . Mint Bush ( P r o s t a n t h e r a c a e r u l a ) - mauve-blue f l o w e r s abundant on t a l l sh rub ; a Blue Lit. s p e c i e s ; one specimen i n bush o f f C h r i s t e n s e n Cres .

6 . Pomader r i s f e r r u g i n e a - conspicuous l a r g e ye l low f l o w e r heads on shrub w i t h broad l e a v e s ; common on s l o p e s .

7 . Nodding Greenhood Orchid ( P t e r o s t y l i s n u t a n s ) - s i n g l e g reen f l o w e r bent o v e r ; s m a l l p l a n t 8 - 1 0 era- t a l l ; w idespread -

8 . Be-ardie ( C a l o c h i l u s c a m p e s t r i s ) - sma l l %reen ground o r c h i d wi th d i s t i n c t i v e p u r p l e - r e d beard on l a b e l l u m ; n e a r main g a t e .

9 . H iooe r t i ' i f a a c i c u l a t a - ye l low 5 - p e t a l l e d f l o w e r ; crowded narrow l e a v e s ; s m a l l e r e c t sh rub on dry p l a t e a u .

10. H i b b e r t i a d i f f u s e - ye l low f l o w e r ; e r e c t medium sh rub ; l e a v e s somewhat wedge-shaped , some w i t h no t ch on apex ; w i d e s p r e a d .

11- Boss i aea e n s a t a - ye l low pea f l o w e r on l e a f l e s s f l a t s tem; weak s t r a g g l i n g s h r u b ; widespread on p l a t e a u .

12- Plank P l a n t (Boss i aea s c o l o p e n d r i a ) - ye l low and deep r ed pea f l o w e r l a r g e r t h a n e n s a t a ; s tems l e a f l e s s , s t o u t e r ?. t a l l e r ; l e s s common; p l a t e a u .

13. P u l t e n a e a r e t u s a - ye l low and r e d pea f l o w e r i n sma l l heads ; d i s t i n c t i v e wedge-shaped l e a f ; only one specimenon s l o p e west of main g a t e .

14 . Ponax u m b e l l a t a - minu te r e d d i s h f l o w e r s i n heads a t end of b r a n c h e s ; low h e r o w i t h conspicuous umbels i n s e e d ; w idesp read on p l a t e a u .

Observed but not r e c o r d e d f o r AUGUST w e r e : -- r lu t ton Wood (Rapanea v a r i a b i l i s ) - t i n y cream f l o w e r s i n c l u s t e r s on b ranches ;

s m a l l t r e e s w i t h l e a t h e r y t o o t h e d l e a v e s ; i n s h e l t e r e d s i t u a t i o n s . ~ Glossod ia ma jo r - p u r p l i s h ground o r c h i d on stems up t o 25crn. t a l l . S o l i t a r y

h a i r y l e a f ; P l a t e a u nea r o v a l . STILL FLOWERING. Small Glory Pea ; P u l t e n a e a s t i p u l a r i s ; P . daphnoides ; B i t t e r Peg Brachylonia; Leucopogon a m p l e x i c a u l e ; L . e r i c o i d e s ; Acac ia e c h i n u l a ; Sydney Golden, m y r t l e - l e a f , Sunshine , Swee t - scen ted and Flax W a t t l e s ; P r i c k l y Hoses ; wedding Bus!) S m a l l - l e a f Daisy Bush; Wonga Vine; Smoke Bush; Rusty P e t a l s ; P u r p l e Twining Pea ; Pink & Green Sp ide r F lowers ; Pace F lower ; S p i n e - l e a f & Coast Banks i a s ; Ground B e r r y ; . E r i o s t e m o n s c a b e r ; T r i g g e r P l a n t ; D i l lwyn ia r e t o r t a j X a n t h o s i a p i l o s a ; X . t r i d e n t a t a ; Wool s i a ; P h y l l a n t h u s ; Lomandra l o n g i f o l i a ; Drumst icks ; Fuchs ia Heat I; Monotoca e l l i p t i c a ; Z i e r i a p i l o s a ; Drose ra p e l a t a ; Caladenoa a l b a ; Comesperma e r i c inu ra ; P u r p l e I r i s .

A few more b i t s and p i e c e s of Oat ley park H i s t o r y . - I n t h e 1930s a f e r r y t ook v i s i t o r s from Oat ley Baths a c r o s s t h e r i v e r t o D i r t y

Dick (now Cranbrook) . There t h e y could be shown t h r o u g h John i i y s t e r y : c Cas t l e and have a p i c n i c lunch b e f o r e r e t u r n i n g . A l l f o r s i x p e n c e .

- On Sundays squa re danc ing or t h e H u r s t v i l l e 3and i n t h e Park Kiosk . - At t h e upper end of Lime Ki ln Bay a deep w a t e r ho i c a l l e d the Dev i l s Hole was

a f a v o u r i t e swimming spo t f o r t h e l o c a l k i d s .

PRESIDENT - Alan F a i r l e y , 63 Gover S t r e e t , P e a k h u r s t , 2210 SECRETARY - I d a Carder , P.O. Box 52, M o r t d a l e , 2223 EDITOR - Ol ive Whai t e , 15 Freeman Avenue, O a t l e y , 2223

533-4827 57-5909 57-6459

*F* M3JWS 4 October 1975 CQvlING EVENTS.

MONDAY October 2 7 t h . 7 .45 pm.

We a r e p r i v i l e g e d t o have P r o f e s s o r R, 0. Ca ro l i n t o speak t o u s . P r o f . C a r o l i n , A s s o c i a t e P r o f e s s o r of Biology a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y of Sydney, i s a c o - a u t h o r of " F l o r a of t h e Sydney Region" - t h e l o c a l b o t a n i s t s " b i b l e " . He w i l l speak on "P lan t I d e n t i f i c a t i o n " , a s u b j e c t we a l l need t o know more about so d o n ' t miss t h i s .

WEEKEND of November 1 s t , and 2nd. 3UNDAN00N.

B e a u t i f u l f l o w e r s , b i r d s , s c e n e r y , and companionship. I f you mi s sed out on booking a t t h e Youth Hos t e l you may camp i n t h e g rounds . We w i l l t a k e our own food - cooking f a c i l i t i e s a r e a v a i l a b l e and we '11 t a k e our l u n c h e s o u t . I f you a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n a n o c t u r n a l e x c u r s i o n b r i n g a s t r o n g t o r c h .

ADVANGE NOTICES.

SATURDAY - November 22nd. A c l ean -up of Oa t l ey Park i s b e i n g a r r a n g e d .

MONDAY ~ November 2 4 t h . MSMBERS ' NIGHT. I f yotl have some i n t e r e s t i n g s l i d e s p l e a s e c o n t a c t Gwen Helman (57 -4167) . We l i k e a good v a r i e t y and a l low about 5 m i n u t e s p e r person*

PROGRAMME f o r 1976 Have you any s u g g e a t i o n s or r e q u e s t s f o r speake r s o r f o r f i e l d days? I f so l e t Gwon have them a t t h e nex t m e e t i n g .

Our BOOKLETS on OATLEY PARK a r e now a v a i l a b l e . Alan has done a very good job on t h e s e and t h e y a r e good v a l u e f o r 8 0 c , For your own use o r a s a " s t o c k i n g f i l l e r " f o r t h e young f o l k s .

PRESIDENT Alan F a i r l e y , 63 Gover S t . , PEAKHURST. 533-4827 SECRETARY Ida Carder , P.O. Box 52, MORTDALE. 57-5909 EDITOR Olive Wha i t e , 15 Freeman Ave. , OATLEY. 57-6459

O F F. NEWS

October 1975

Price 6 cants.

Published by

OATLEY FLORA & FAUNA CONSERVATION SOCIETY

Registered for posting a Periodical -— Category 0,

At t h e 20 th . Annual Dinner of t h e N, C. C° > Dr. Jim Cairns spoke on t h e need f o r a r e v o l u t i o n i n m a n k i n d s ' aims and out look aa an essential f o r t h o f u t u r e peace and w e l l - b e i n g of t h o r a c e . This i s an a s p e c t of t h e c o n s e r v a t i o n b a t t l e which i s l a r g e l y i g n o r e d . Not because we a r e unaware of i t but because t h e immediate problems a r e p h y s i c a l and u s u a l l y u r g e n t .

As t h e " o l d i e s " of t o d a y we f e e l we a r e caught between t h e e f f e c t s of p a s t p o l i c i e s and t h e needs of f u t u r e g e n e r a t i o n s and t h e vas t m a j o r i t y of peop le a r e u n w i l l i n g t o f o r e g o t h e " r i g h t s " and comfort of t h e p r e s e n t - While an i n c r e a s i n g number of young peop l e a r e becoming invo lved in c o n s e r v a t i o n i s s u e s t h e r e i s a l s o an i n c r e a s i n g number (due t o t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n growth) who won ' t y i e l d t o p a s t or f u t u r e .

So how i s t h i s " r e v o l u t i o n " t o be ach ieved?

Ths b a t t l i n g m i n o r i t y i s s p l i t i n t o so many i n d i v i d u a l aims i t s l i k e sp r ead ing a bucket of w a t e r over an a c r e t o wa te r a t r e e . For e f f e c t i v e use t h e w a t e r must be c o n c e n t r a t e d aroung i t s r o o t . In t h e p a s t 20 y e a r s t h e N. C. C. has been amazingly s u c e s s f u l i n h e l p i n g t o c o n c e n t r a t e t h o c o n s e r v a t i o n "water" , i n t o u s e f u l c h a n n e l s . In t h e absence of a q u a s i - r e l i g i o u s u p r i s i n g - not l i k e l y i n a r a p i d l y d i v e r s i f y i n g p o p u l a t i o n - t h i s i s t h e most e f f e c t i v e means we have t o promote t h e c a a s e r v a t i o n e t h o s .

Meanwhile a l l we can do a s i n d i v i d u a l s i s t r y t o ionv ince o t h e r s t h a t t h s prime aim of t h e c o n s e r v a t i o n i s t i s t o ach i eve a

O.F.F. NEWS - 2 /3 ~ October 1975

( c o n t . f r . p . l ) b a l a n c e f a v o u r a b l e f o r t h e whole b i o s p h e r e w i t h mankind a s a t o t a l l y i n t e g r a t e d f a c t o r . WE NEED RECRUITS#

FLOWERS OF OATLEY PARiC - OCTOBER. TI Tongue Orchid (Dendrobium l i n g u i f o r m o ) -numorous w h i t e f l o w e r s , l e a v e s t h i c k 3 t o 4 era. l o n g , tongue shaped , On s h e l t e r e d r o c k s . 2. Milkmaids (Burcha rd ia u rabe l l a t a ) - White f l o w e r w i t h 6 segments i n umbels on e r e c t l e a f l e s s s tem. Long narrow l e a v e s f r . base of s t em. Common i n s h e l t e r e d g r a s s y a r e a s . 3 . Blue Darapiera (D. s t r i a t a ) - b lue i r r e g u l a r f l o w e r , low p l a n t , Open f o r e s t . 4 . M i t r e Weed (Mitrasaeme polyraorpha) - whi te f l o w e r , 4 p e t a l s - low p e r e n n i a l . Common on dry p l a t e a u . 5 . H s l o r a g i s t e u c r i o i d e s - s m a l l brownish f l o w e r on rough low p l a n t , t o o t h e d ova te l e a v e s . Common i n open f o r e s t . 6- Love Creeper • (Glyc ine c l a n d e s t i n a ) - sma l l mauve-blue f l o w e r s on t w i n i n g p l a n t , l e a v e s i n t h r e e . Widespread . 7. Fan Flower (Scaevo la ra juos i ss ima) - p u r p l i s h f a n s h a p e d . f l o w e r -s t r a g g l i n g p l a n t . On d ry p l a t e a u . 8 . B r o a d - l e a f ilakea (H. d a c t y l o i d e s ) - w h i t e f l o w e r s , numerous a l o n g b r a n c h e s , l e a v e s w i t h prominent v e i n s . T a l l shrub t o 3 m e t r e s . Widespread . 9 . H i b b e r t i a n i t i d a - ye l low t e r m i n a l f l o w e r on e r e c t shrub - f l a t s h i n i n g l e a f . Woodland. 10. Lomandra o b l i q u a - ye l low f l ower s p i k e on low p l a n t w i t h consp i cuous ly t w i s t e d l e a v e s . Widespread i n woodland. 11. S t i c k y Daisy Bush ( O l e a r i a v i s c i d u l a ) - w h i t e f l o w e r s , l e a v e s 7-8 cm. long and o f t e n s t i c k y . Shrub t o i j r m. On s h e l t e r e d s l o p e s -3.2, Mint Bush ( F r o s t a n t h e r a s i e b e r i ) - v i o l e t f l o w e r on medium s h r u b . Small t o o t h e d l e a f w i t h s t r o n g odour . P l a n t e d i n garden a t main g a t e . 13. Smoke Bush (Conospermum l o n g i f o l i u r a v a r . a n g u s t i f o l i u m ) - w h i t e f l o w e r head on e r e c t s h r u b . Long narrow l e a v e s . Near b a t h s . 14. Tea Tree (Leptospermum p a r v i f l o r u m ) - sma l l w h i t e f l o w e r s , 5 p e t a l s , sma l l crowded l e a v e s . Shrub t o 1 m. w i t h ha rd b a r k . Dry p l a t e a u e . g nea r main g a t e . 15. Rusty P e t a l s (Las iope ta lum rufum) - sma l l brownish f l o w e r s covered w i t h r u s t y h a i r s . Low shrub w i t h l e a v e s t o 5 cm. Widespread . 16 . P o r a n t h e r a e r i c i f o l i a - minute w h i t e f l o w e r s i n crowded h e a d s . Small crowded l e a v e s , 1 - 2 cm. Low p l a n t i n woodland. STILL FLOWERING Lomandra raultiflora and l o n g i f o l i a , Red Bean, S e a r d i e Orchid , Panax, Brachylema, Wedding Bush, S m a l l - l e a f Daisy Bush, P u r p l e Twining Pea , Pink & Green Sp ide r F lowers , Rice Flower , Er ioe temon s c a b e r , T r i g g e r P l a n t , D i l l w y n i a r e t o r t a , X a n t h o s i a p i l o s a , P h y l l a n t h u s , Drumst icks , Fuchs ia Heath , Caaesperaa e r i c inum, P u r p l e I r i s , F l a n n e l Flower, Goodenia, Dumplings, Honey Flower , Leptospermun a t t enua tu ra , P i t t o s p o r u m .

The f i r s t r e p o r t of t h e N a t i o n a l P o p u l a t i o n I n q u i r y has been r e c e i v e d and an A u s t r a l i a n P o p u l a t i o and Immigra t ion Counci l a p p o i n t e d w i t h i n t h e Department of Labour and immigra t ion t o e v a l u a t e i t and f u r t h e r i t s f i n d i n g s . The i n i t i a l r e p o r t i g n o r e d a l l submiss ions on env i ronmenta l i s s u e s and t h e A . P . L C . has no t one e n v i r o n m e n t a l i s t i n i t s c o m p o s i t i o n .

I t i s human but q u i t e s t u p i d t o r e f u s e t o l e a r n from t h e e x p e r i e n c e of o t h e r s . Both B r i t a i n and t h e U.S.A. have conducted s i m i l a r i n q u i r i e s i n t h e l a s t few y e a r s and have l a i d heavy emphasis on means of c o r r e c t i n g t h e e v i l s of p a s t expans ion w i t h o u t r e g a r d t o env i ronmen ta l f a c t o r s and ways t o p r e v e n t development Of f u r t h e r t r o u b l e .

In s p i t e of t o d a y s savage p o s t a l r a t e s I t h i n k i t i s w e l l wor th w h i l e t o send a p r o t e s t on t h i s s t r a n g e l a c k t o Mr. S e r i n s o n , M. H. R . , P a r l i m e n t House, Canberra , A.C.T. Get 17 f r i e n d s t o s i g n your l e t t e r . I t w i l l cos t lc= each .

FRCM ABSENT FRIENDS. The S a i n t y s send r e g a r d s t o a l l a t t h e S o c i e t y . Zina O l i v e r i s i n t h e U.S.A. and on her way t o Mexico . She sends g r e e t i n g s t o t h e S o c i e t y . And by t h e t i u e you ge t t h i s t h e G o l d s t e i n s should be hone.

We would be g lad ' o h e a r of any member w i t h a c c e s s t o a l ong c a r r i a g e t y p e w r i t e r a n d / o r a d u p l i c a t i n g , machine , a s we may need them next y e a r . You w i l l a l s o need a n o t h e r e d i t o r so p l e a s e g i v e t h i s some t h o u g h t . ' -"'rkv

C« '».•'» is.j\Ss

CCMING EVENTS.

4 - November 1975

SATURDAY, Nov. 22nd. CLEAN-UP IN OATLEY PARK

As, you know we have a t l e a s t two of t h e s e c l e a n - u p days a yea r and we a r e neve r s h o r t of m a t e r i a l . T h e r e a r e a few old f a i t h f u l s who can be r e l i e d on t o h e l p but t h e t o t a l work would seam much l i g h t e r t o t h e s e w i t h a few more w i l l i n g hands . Th is t ime thw l o c a l s c o u t s w i l l be t h e r e and we a r e very g l a d of t h i s but t h e o ld adage of "many hands make l i g h t work" s t i l l a p p l i e s so do p iece make an e f f o r t t o be a t t h e main e n t r a n c e a t 10 a .m.

MONDAY, Nov, 2 4 t h . 7 .45 p .m. MEMBERS NIGHT

Our l a s t m e e t i n g of t h e y e a r and our Chris tmas P a r t y , Supper by c o u r t e s y of t h e p l a t e s we b r i n g o u r s e l v e s . Yum-yum.1 Now t h a t t h e G o l d s t e i n s a r e back we hope t h e y ' l l be w i t h u s t o say a l l t h e ' 'He l lo ' s ' 1 t h e y ' v e been s e n d i n g . Br ing your s l i d e s of t h i s y e a r s

most e x c i t i n g doing t o s h a r e w i t h t h e r e s t of t h e S o c i e t y . About 5 minu te s pe r pe r son .

SATURDAY, Nov. 29 th . BUS TRIP TO PIERCE'S PASS

Meet a t Oat ley S t a t i o n a t 8 a .m. Faro i s $ 3 . 0 0 a d u l t s and 50c. c h i l d r e n . This i s an e x c e l l e n t t r i p w i t h l o v e l y views f o r t h o s e who would l i k e t o see a r e l a t i v e l y u n s p o i l t p a r t of t h e Blue Mounta ins . The p i c n i c a r e a i s only h a l f a m i l e from t h e main r o a d . From h e r e you can make your cho ice i n v i s i t i n g R i g b y ' s H i l l (15 mins , each way) , a r a i n f o r e s t creek (15 mins . down, 20 rains, u p ) , t h e Grosa River ( 1 hour down, !§- hours u p ) , o r L i t t l e Blue Gum (2 hours down, 2* hours u p ) . I t i s sugges ted you b r i n g a thermos i n case w a t e r i s not a v a i l a b l e a t t h e p i c n i c a r e a and t o save t ime i f y o u ' r o going on a long wa lk . Also t h e r i v e r may bo u n f i t f o r d r i n k i n g . Book w i t h Val Boyan (phone 533-1013 a f t e r 5 p . m . ) a s soor. a s p o s s i b l e . The mee t ing on Nov. 24 th . w i l l be about t h e l a t e s t convenient t i m e .

O F F. NEWS

Price 5 Cflnls.

Published by

OATLEY FLORA & FAUNA CONSERVATION SOCIETY

Registered f or posting as # Periodical — Category B.

November 1975 POPULATE OR PERISH?

This has been t h e c a t c h c r y used by many p o l i t i t i a n e and o t h e r community l e a d e r s s i n c e e a r l y i n t h i s c e n t u r y , P r i o r t o World War I I , i t i n d i c a t e d a f e a r of t he "yel low p e r i l " - i n v a s i o n and t a k e -over by t h e hoards of A s i a , Pos twar , i t has ma in ly been used by p o l i t i a n s and i n d u s t r i a l i s t s t o j u s t i f y an i n t e n s i v e immigra t ion p o l i c y *

As t h e y see t h e i r c i t i e s becoming i n c r e a s i n g l y overcrowded, t h e i r waterways p o l l u t e d , t h e i r highways choked w i t h c a r s , t h e i r beaches and h o l i d a y r e s o r t s crowded, t h e i r a c c e s s to N a t i o n a l P a r k s r e s t r i c t e d , peop l e g e n e r a l l y - and c o n s e r v a t i o n i s t s i n p a r t i c u l a r -a r e becoming more and more c r i t i c a l of a p o l i c y a iming f o r more peop l e a t any p r i c e .

E a r l i e r t h i s year t h e r e p o r t of t h e N a t i o n a l P o p u l a t i o n I n q u i r y ( B o r r i e r e p o r t ) was p u b l i s h e d . This has done n o t h i n g t o r e s o l v e t h o

m a t t e r . The r e p o r t a r g u e s t h a t an i n t a k e of 50 ,000-70 ,000 p e r s o n s by immigra t ion w i l l be a c c e p t a b l e t o t h e end of t h e c e n t u r y but does n o t h i n g t o e v a l u a t e t h e economic, s o c i a l and env i ronmen ta l consequences . Indeed , i t appea r s t o have u n c r i t i c a l l y a c c e p t e d t h e t r a d i t i o n of development which, w h i l e s a t i s f a c t o r y i n t h e p i o n e e r i n g e r a of l a s t c e n t u r y , seems d e t r i m e n t a l t o t h e q u a l i t y of l i f e of p r e s e n t day s o c i e t y .

A p o t e n t argument f o r t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n of our immigra t ion p o l i c y i s t h e d i f f i c u l t y of g e t t i n g "o ld" A u s t r a l i a n s , w i t h t h e i r h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n a l q u a l i f i c a t i o n s , t o c a r r y out t h e m e n i a l j o b s t h a t

0. F. F. NEWS November 1975

m i g r a n t s a r e i n i t i a l l y p r e p a r e d t o a c c e p t - u n t i l t h e y ge t o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o b e t t e r t h e m s e l v e s . A m i g r a t i o n p o l i c y i s a cheap s o u r c e t o supp ly l a b o u r t o i n d u s t r y -t h e Government pays - bu t i t removes t h e i n c e n t i v e f o r employers t o improve t h e more m e n i a l jobs and s u p p l t " job s a t i s f a c t i o n " .

From t h e v a r i o u s a s p e c t s of comse rva t ion , m i g r a t i o n does no t appea r t o be h e l p f u l and may indeed prove d i s a s t r o u s . We can only hope t h a t wisdom w i l l p r e v a i l and thf t l e a d e r s t h roughou t t h e world w i l l devo te t h e i r e f f o r t s t o s t a b i l i s a t i o n of t h e p o p u l a t i o n , so t h a t we may c o n t i n u e t o h o l d , c h e r i s h e d n a t u r a l a r e a s f o r our enjoyment i n p e r p e t u i t y .

FLOWERS 0? OATLEY PARK . NOVEMBER.

1 . S t a c k h o u s i a v i n i n e a - s n a i l ye l low f l o w e r s on long s p i k e . Low h e r b w i t h l e a v e s 10-15 mm. l o n g , Open woodland.

2 . Glerodendrun tomentosun - v h i t e f l o w e r w i t h long c o r o l l a t u b e w i t h p r o t r u d i n g s t amens . Small h a i r y - l e a v e d t r e e s . Shaded p o s i t i o n s below c l i f f l i n e .

3 . Hyacin th Orchid (Dipodiun p u n c t a t u n ) - p ink s p o t t e d f l o w e r s on u p r i g h t s tem. Occurif ig o c c a s i o n a l l y i n p a r k .

4 . D i a n e l l a r e v o l u t a - b l u e f l o w e r s w i t h 6 p a r t s . 6 stamens w i t h b lack a n t h e r s , Long s h e a t h i n g l e a v e s r o l l e d backwards . Roads ide .

5» S typandra c a a s p i t o s a - Blue f l o w e r s w i t h 6 p a r t s . 6 s tamens , yel low and t w i s t e d Leaves long and nar row. Open woodland.

6 . Tick Bush (Kunzea anb igua ) - w h i t e crowded f l o w e r s - Small l e a v e s on t a l l s h r u b . Very common i n p a r k .

7 . Caesia p a r v i f l o r a - w h i t e f l o w e r a r r a n g e d a long s tem. Narrow l e a v e s - Flower t w i s t e d a f t e r f l o w e r i n g . A sma l l L i l i a c e a e . Dry P l a t e a u .

8 . Smooth-barked Apple (Angophora c o s t a t a ) - w h i t e f l o w e r s . T a l l t r e e w i t h smooth . b a r k . Common and w i d e s p r e a d .

9 . Trachmene i n c i s a - w h i t e compound f l o w e r s on e r e c t s tem. D i s s e c t e d l e a v e s . On s l o p e s and open woodland-

10. Helichrysum d iosmi fo l ium - w h i t e dense f l o w e r head . Small l i n e a r l e a v e s . Upr ight s h r u b . Widespread on s l o p e s and woodland.

11 . Lomandra f i l i f o r m i s - sma l l ye l low f l o w e r s w i t h long narrow l e a v e s . Low p l a n t . Widespread on dry p l a t e a u .

12. P e r s o o n i a h i r s u t a - ye l low f l o w e r , h a i r y . Spread ing sh rub w i t h s m a l l ( 1 cm.) l e a f , rough t o t o u c h . Only one p l a n t known i n p a r k .

STILL FLOWERING. Blue Dampiera, M i t r e Weed, H a l o r a g i s - Love Creeper , Fan Flower H i b b e r t i a K i t i d a , Lomandra o b l i q u a , Rusty P e t a l s , Pomax, Wedding Bush, S m a l l - l e a f Daisy Bush, Pink Sp ide r F lower , Rice F lower , T r i g g e r P l a n t , D i l lwyn ia r e t o r t a , X a n t h o s i s p i l o s a , X. t r i d e n t a t a , P h y l l a n t h u s , Drums t i cks , Comesperaa, F l a n n e l F lower , L e s s e r F l a n n e l F lower , Dumplings > Honey F lower , Leptospermum a t t e n u a t u m , B o s s i a e a e n s a t a , B. h e t e r o p h y l l a , G r e v i l l e a s p h a c e l a t a , Goodenia h e d e r a c e a , D i a n e l l a c a e r u l e a , Black-eyed Susan, Swee t - scen ted W a t t l e , T r i c o r y n e , Z i e r i a p i l o s a , B r o a d - l e a f Geebung, L e p t o s p e m u n f l a v e s c e n s , Chris tmas Bush, H i b b e r t i a d i f f u s a .

Would anyone l i k e t o v o l u n t e e r f o r t h e coomi t t e nex t y e a r i n any c a p a c i t y ? Remember t h e f i r s t mee t ing nex t y e a r i s t h e e l e c t i o n of o f f i c e r s

SECRETARY Ida Carder , P.O. Box 52, I l o r t d a l e . 2223. Phone 57-5909. PRESIDENT Alan F a i r l e y , 63 Cover S t r e e t , P e a k h u r s t . 2210 Phone 533-4827 EDITOR Olive Whai t e , 15 Freeman Ave . , O a t l e y . 2223 Phone 57-6459.

The programme f o r nex t y e a r , i n t h e capab le hands of Gwen Helman, i s t a k i n g shape n i c e l y but i t i s not ye t f i n a l i s e d . I f you have any r e q u e s t s or s u g g e s t i o n s f o r e i t h e r o u t i n g s or s p e a k e r s do l e t Gwen have them. T h e r e ' s a lways t h o odd emergency when a speaker can t t u r n up and a n y t h i n g t h a t ' s t o o l a t e t o be a r r a n g e d f o r next yea r can a lways be f i r s t i n f o r t h e f o l l o w i n g y e a r .

This i s t h e l a s t i s s u e of O.F.F. f o r 1975= I t ' s been a n o t h e r good yea r w i t h an i n c r e a s e d membership and l o t s of i n t e r e s t i n g g e t - t o g e t h e r s . For d i s t a n t f r i e n d s and t h o s e who wont be a b l e t o j o i n us f o r our annua l " p a r t y " we t a k e t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y t o send b e s t w i s h e s f o r t h e coming h o l i d a y season and hope t h e S o c i e t y has an even b e t t e r and b r i g h t e r 1976.