KBCN News Item
WPSQ Southern Branches Get-Together - Sept. 14-16
Robert Standish-White Date Posted: 26/09/2007
Along Cockatoo-Rockybar Road
Over the weekend of 14th to 16th September the WPSQ Southern Branches gathered out west at Taroom, under the able care of the Upper Dawson Branch. Those of you who subscribe to “Wildlife Australia” will probably get a fine report in due course, but may nevertheless enjoy a preview. Events comprised a welcome barbie on Friday evening, a field trip and dinner on Saturday, and the reports and AGM on Sunday.
I in fact drove out on Thursday, glad to leave the “big smoke” behind and climb over the ranges Toowoomba. The long plains past Dalby were amply spread with yellow, and the distant Bunya Mountains the only relief to the hot straight road. There was still water in a muddy Condamine River near Brigalow, and it was a relief to turn north at Miles into some treed country.
Another detour from Wandoan took me through cattle country to see the little orange crest of Mount Organ, then up past ranks of pale gums glowing in the last sunshine of the day to reach Taroom in the dark. Sleeping under the stars in the country one is reminded just how many there are!
An early morning stroll down the Dawson River by the town, in a chorus of birdsong, was most therapeutic. I especially enjoyed seeing the beautiful little double barred finch for the first time. Still very few weeds amongst the twisted gums and tea-trees, and recent rains meant there was a gurgling flow of water over the historic crossings. Our host leader Adam Clark was not yet ready for assistance so after a cuppa returned to the river to write and put brush to paper, later going up the hill to the showgrounds to help put up signage. Got appointed dormitory monitor for my pains(!), and in due course began to welcome arrivals to the huge shed that is the footie clubhouse.
Handmade stone slabs used in old main road
It was great to meet new people and reaquaint with others at the evening meal. Adam and Dot with the Taroom branch really did us proud, roping in various local groups to help with catering. We were also honoured to have society patron Margaret Thorsborne as part of the weekend throng of some 60 members.
It seemed hardly a wink before we were roused early for a fine breakfast and boarded three small buses for our long day’s tour. First North we went to the famous boggomosses, through recently greened country, much of which might be inundated by the possible Nathan Dam. Glen Ingram gave us some of the history and science of these amazing raised peat springs, with their unique ecosystems. They really are magic spots, lush green mounds rising from the bush, with vast gums towering above the surrounding brigalow.
Had a quick look at the controversial Glebe Weir, a billy-tea session, then a long leg west up into the hills into the Isla Gorge National Park to see a remaining section of the old main road from the west to Rocky, an amazing precipitous handmade route of stone slabs. It was used for almost a century before the Leichhardt Highway went through. There we had lunch, with the final stop being the lookout over the main gorge, grass trees and wildflowers adorning the craggy chasm. A quiet siesta, sundowners watching a big storm rumble by to the south then dinner in the town hall. Bayside grabbed a swag of prizes, and Henry Nix gave a challenging talk on land use, in particular the proposed “agricultural Eden” in the NT.
Following (what else?!) a sterling breakfast the branches gave their reports, which I always find to be both humbling and inspiring. So many good people battling for our fauna and flora with so little for so long. There are widespread worries about falling and ageing membership, and the usual resigned losses to “development”. There are also wins, and our ongoing efforts are quite likely to be a small part of the attitudinal change in society towards matters environmental.
The tiny Dalby branch are putting up a stern resistance to save portions of one of the best remnants of the 7% of their Shire not yet cleared. President Alan Barton wrapped up proceedings with his report, noting the frequent “vicious” links between energy and water, but not before a lively debate on the most equitable way to gauge and recompense farmers for their contribution to carbon sequestration.
I returned via a longer northern route, enjoying both white gum and black ironbark woodland along the red country roads, and wondering why so much clearing still continues. Saw a shy bluetongue scuttle off, and later had to avoid a determined lapwing trying to scare me off the asphalt!
It was an enjoyable and invigorating weekend, and reminded me just how much we owe to our rural colleagues. I wonder if there are not ways we could benefit from closer liaison with them through the year?
Robert Standish-White
Branch President
|
