Newsletter 001 June 1993

FRIENDS OF CHILTERN PARK
Convenor: E.Collins 057 261 484

Twenty-one persons attended the public meeting held in the Chiltern Golf Club rooms on May 24th for the purpose of reforming the Friends of Chiltern Park group. Nine apologies were tendered. Since the meeting I have received a further nine expressions of interest. It is evident that there is much support for the park.
Tony Marsh, a dedicated member of the original friends group, outlined previous activities conducted by the group.
John McDonald Dept C.N.R, our friendly ranger, spoke about the objects of friends groups. He informed us of the following points:

1. That friends groups are affiliated with DCNR and the Victorian National Parks Association (VNPA )
2. That the group could be formal, with a constitution, or informal, with an organizer and a newsletter
3. That the group may not undertake any activity which is seen to take work from DCNR staff
4. That activities the group wishes to undertake should be approved by the ranger

After informal discussion a working group was formed to operate until the end of 1993.
Group members are:

1. Sarina Walsh
2. David Monahan
3. John Reeve
4. Bob Dunnett
5. John McDonald
6. Eileen Collins [Convener and newsletter]

 

The following decisions were made:

1. To meet every two months.
2. To alternate meeting days, i.e.Sat/Sun
3. To commence outings at 9.OOam.
4. To meet at the lunch spot.
5. To follow lunch with a brief meeting
6. To set a joining fee of $2 per family
7. Each member shall receive a park map and a block map showing the meeting spot. One aim of this is to assist members to become familiar with small areas of the park.
8. Each member shall receive a contact list
9. To hold our first meeting on SUNDAY, JUNE 6th at 9.00am at BARTLEY’ S BLOCK on the Howlong Road, 5 km from the Chiltern Post Office Lunch at 12 noon to be followed by a brief meeting

ACTIVITIES:

• Weed Pull Caper Spurge ,
• Identify common weeds
• Nest boxes with Tony Marsh
• Make plant and animal list for the block.
• Bartley’s is steeped in history, so there’ll be some of that too.

BRING Lunch, gloves, containers to hold weeds, small digging implement,
CAPER SPURGE is a biennial weed, growing to roughly 75cms.
It is important to collect all the large seed heads.
Possible activities for the future.
Please add your ideas to the list and bring them to the meeting.

1. Weed identification, location and eradication
2. Litter removal
3. Learn about park environment
4. Become familiar with blocks and tracks.
5. Monitor nest boxes
6. Position nest logs
7. Monitor significant sites for plants and animals
8. Monitor Regent Honeyeater nesting
9. Revegetation
10. Bush walking
11. Education
12. Campouts
13. Spotlight walks
14. Surveys and research