Hello Everyone,

It’s AGM time, August 9th, a social day of eating, drinking, chatting and preparing for the coming year. Oh….. and there’s a meeting too. 🙄

Just when I thought the job of outing co-ordinator was unmanageable for me, I found a solution. Can you remember an A3 page that sat on the table at the last AGM? Well, It was so useful !! people put their names on a month and undertook to organise an outing on that month. I’m so grateful to those who helped make that idea a success.

Could members give some thought to completing the A3 calendar again at this upcoming AGM?

To save time at the meeting, read  the 2024 AGM and General Meeting Minutes  here

and the President’s Report is here

The meeting begins at 11am at my place, 20 Edward Street, Bridport, so morning tea and a cuppa is a possibility from 10.30 onwards….. if someone brings cake !!

We all bring something to share for lunch [oven and microwave available] and in the afternoon, the guest speaker – Ross Coad – will talk about Volunteer Coastal Weeding Experiences.

 

Larapuna Weekend.

This weekend is held annually and this time on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th August. It is run by the larapuna/Bay of fires Wildcare group and involves walking, sharing stories, removing sea spurge and marine debris and hearing from local experts. A bit of everything, really.

If you’re interested, Google has more information – just type in ‘larapuna/Bay of Fires Community Weekend 2025.’

 

Pam sent this link – thank you Pam – we know these guys.

Tasmanian museum worker makes major spider discovery

 

 

This book review was penned by Len – thanks Len.

Some field natters may have the Abels Vols A and B which Bill Wilkinson published as far back as 1994. They cover the 158 mountains in Tasmania that are at least 1100m high and have a minimum vertical drop of at least 150m on all sides. Many are hard to reach, and only for exceptionally skilled bush walkers, e.g. Federation Peak.

Pleasingly, Bill has now put out companion Vols A and B called Poimenas (aboriginal word meaning ‘Little Hill’) that contain easier walks. Indeed, Vol B which has just been published and covers the North of Tas, includes just 2 walks that are graded as Grade 4. The remaining 126 are Graded 1-3 ranging from walks suitable for young children, through to those recommended for fit adults.

The publication is B5 size (slightly smaller than A4), hard bound, 185 pages long, and contains over 230 beautiful photographs contributed by the likes of Craig Searle and Scott Gelston. Each Poimena is described with a helpful colour-coded strap across the top naming its height, distance, walking time, grade, and relevant Tasmap. Personally, I found it confusing that the time and distance referred only to the outwards, rather than the return journey. There are no illustrations of the routes either; although good descriptions of access roads, landmarks, views, geology, habitat, and flora.

Poimenas B is an excellent book to whet your appetite for a walk; particularly the visual preview such as the wonderful Whale Rock photo in the Mt. Cameron range, and the stunning White Eyed Man rock on Mt. Killiecrankie, Flinders Island. However, it is not a walking companion book to pop in your backpack, such as the highly recommended soft bound A5 size guide by Jan Hardy & Bert Elson called “50 family walks around Launceston & Northeast Tasmania.” The walk illustrations in that guide (or its Hobart companion) provide a visual guide for staying on-track, not available in Poimenas. Credit to Wilkinson though, for including some unnamed hills, and even some on private land (owners contact details are provided), which most certainly add to the choice of walks field natters have.

The Poimenas Part A and Part B are both available from Petrarchs. $39.95ea

 

Earth Stars.

Two different photos of Geastrum triplex.

This one from Lloyd – thanks Lloyd.

 

And this one from my files:

 

Hope we see you next weekend.

Louise.