JETSAM - Coolum District Coast Care

JETSAM
Issue 19 - June 2016
Coolum and North Shore Coast Care
www.coolumcoastcare.org.au
157 Warran Rd, Yaroomba Qld 4573
Ph: 07 5473 9322
[email protected]
Welcome!
The winter solstice is passed and the year just keeps rolling on. We profile a neighbouring
bushcare group organised by some of our members and have reports on the ongoing fox
control program, the past turtle season and our recent presence at World Environment
Day. An interesting find and some ‘out and about’ photos complete the edition. Join the
President on the deck for, hopefully, an enjoyable read.
From the President’s Deck
Relaxing on the deck after a great morning weeding the Yerranya Dunes…
Well winter is upon us although it has been unusually warm and wet so far. The rain was timely, the plantings
undertaken on the dunes in the last few months were indeed in need of a soaking.
It has yet again been a productive few months with several events taking place. As well as the continuation of the
dune revegetation groups, we held two working bees at Mt Coolum National Park to help out the rangers; turtle
season has ended; marine debris surveys continue; planning for the 2017 calendar has begun; school talks continue
and the contractors have been given their tasks for this year’s EEC grant funding. Eco Discovery had its first event
on 26 June with 70 children and about 30 parent/guardians, and 24 volunteers (including three 10-year-old ecodetectives or junior leaders).
Added to that, the Community Nursery is going gangbusters and the stall preparation for the Nambour Garden
Expo is well and truly underway.
Our stall at World Environment Day was well received, with a big thanks to Sunshine Coast Environment Council for
hosting such a great event and of course to the volunteers that helped out on the day.
The Landcare Award finals are looming up in September in Melbourne. As most of you know we have made the
finals for the Coastcare category and have applied to do a presentation at the conference. We have also been asked
to consider entering the Queensland Sustainability Awards by Dr Col Limpus, which is an honour in itself.
We are also experimenting with some merchandise as a fundraiser. You can purchase a 500ml aluminium water
bottle with our logo on it for $10 if you are a member, $12 for non-members - contact Susan Richards, Estelle or
myself if you would like to purchase one.
So as you can see our humble (dis)organization continues to make a positive difference by undertaking practical
projects to conserve our local environment - thanks to your support.
Jetsam – CaNSCC Newsletter – Issue 19 - Page 1
Th H
Queensland Women’s Week celebrates Kabi Kabi Culture
Genevieve Jones
Queensland Women’s Week was shared and celebrated recently by a collective of 25 community members
gathering at Stumers Creek Park (north Coolum Beach) and at Power memorial Park, Mudjimba. Local Kabi Kabi
Traditional Owner, Bridgette Davis, shared her particular worldview and life experiences as an Aboriginal woman
having grown up on the Sunshine Coast, while spending much time with her grandmother. Insights were offered
into the dreamtime world and how our landscapes and coastal waterways came into being, through the
movements of two dreamtime serpents known as the ‘moontoogutta’ and the carblamoonta’, who helped shape
icons like Mount Coolum and the Glasshouse Mountains.
Traditional
technology
like
‘Aboriginal telegraphy’, using the
various shapes and colours of smoke
signals to communicate between
groups of people, were described, as
were the roles of women in helping
to construct bora or ceremonial
grounds used by Aboriginal men to
undertake initiation of the younger
folk.
The name ‘Mudjimba’ is derived from
the possum-skin drum, crafted and
played by traditional Kabi Kabi
women.
Participants were able to learn more
about local Aboriginal culture and
assist through volunteering.
These workshops, sponsored by the
YWCA, Queensland Government and
Bunya Bunya Country Aboriginal
Corporation, and supported by Coolum and North Shore Coast Care, have provided timely networking
opportunities. Subsequently, there have been offers to help with upcoming projects for site recording, weaving
workshops and advocating for a Traditional Owner Ranger Program. A number of women attending the workshops
highlighted the fact that they had been looking for such occasions to learn about and help conserve Kabi Kabi
cultural heritage.
Improving Nature Photographs – the Tricks of the Trade
Diane Goodwillie
Coolum and North Shore Coast Care initiated another first for environment lovers with the help of the Noosa
Photography Club and professional/highly experienced photographers Barry Beckham and Andrew McGaughey.
The two-hour free workshop was attended by 28 participants of all ages. Andrew from Topphotos, who runs more
in-depth training courses, outlined three areas to improve photographs: Light, composition and content. He
outlined the rule of thirds, use of leading lines and colour to enhance composition.
Jetsam – CaNSCC Newsletter – Issue 19 - Page 2
Rule of Thirds (Courtesy of
Topphotos Andrew McGaughey):
Imagine that your image is divided
into 9 equal segments by 2 vertical
and 2 horizontal lines. The rule of
thirds says that you should position
the most important elements in your
scene along these lines, or at the
points where they intersect
Barry Beckham pointed out that
Photoshop and Lightroom software
when used can enhance photos
dramatically. To help people learn
more about this software Barry and
Carol Beckham have produced CDs
costing $25.00 which give step by step instructions on how to use the software. (Order from the website
www.beckhamdigital.com.au or join the forum at www.beckhamforum.com.au).
Andy explained why some photos taken on a tripod are blurred.… because the stabilizing software of the camera
needs to be de-activated. Taking care of backgrounds and finding a different viewpoint and frame or include a
foreground item can help draw the eye to the point of interest and improve the results. For the more advanced
photographers, Andrew suggested getting a CPL filter but for the I-phone users, he suggested polaroid sunglasses
can also eliminate reflection and glare in nature shots. For further information have a look at the utube at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMOsBG2JaZY Another free resource from Andrew ([email protected]) is
his rules for compostion powerpoint.
Participants were given a 2016 calendar as a stimulus to submit photos for our 2017 calendar. Coolum and North
Shore Coast Care is grateful to both Andew McGaughey, Barry Beckham (and spouses) and the Noosa Photography
Club for volunteering to share their tips for improved nature photography on a Saturday afternoon.
Marcus Beach Bushcare Association Inc.
Judy Tulloch
The Marcus Beach Bushcare Association (MBBA) is
a group of people who are passionate about
preserving and repairing the local natural
environment. Although most of our activities take
place around Marcus Beach and Peregian Creek,
anyone can become a member.
We became an incorporated body in September
2014 so that we could apply for funding in our own
right. Having a more formal structure has helped
us to plan, to focus our activities, and get more
done. So now in addition to having regular working
bees at Marcus Beach, Peregian Creek and the
Marcus Section of Noosa National Park, we have a
busy schedule of projects.
Our website, mbba.org.au is the place to go if you
want to find out the dates of our regular weeding sessions. But it aims to do much more than that. Although still in
its infancy, the website has information on some of the worst weeds in the area, links to other useful websites, and
a section on gardening with local plants.
Jetsam – CaNSCC Newsletter – Issue 19 - Page 3
We are looking to team up with Coolum Community Native Nursery to help us develop the garden section which
will have photos from local gardens showing how native plants can be used to good effect in landscaping. The site
is interactive so we can answer queries that people may have, or point them in the right direction.
This year we are installing signs at the Peregian Creek
boardwalk and the main access path to Marcus Beach.
These will form an interpretive walk that explains the
ecology of the dunal system, and highlights some of the
plant species. Funded by a grant from the Noosa Council,
these will be the first interpretive walks along the beach
accesses in Noosa. The MBBA sign team is looking for
volunteer post hole diggers and concreters in July so if
you know anyone...
In Marcus Beach, we are fortunate to have energetic
locals, willing to get in and clear weeds in degraded areas
of natural bush land surrounding their properties. The
MBBA along with Council supports these efforts by
providing
advice,
practical
assistance
and
encouragement. It was from the weed clearing initiatives of an MBBA member Lyn de Waard and her neighbours
that the idea of hosting a National Tree Day planting hatched. So the MBBA registered the site at Redwood
Reserve (located between David Low Way and Redwood Avenue) for Sunday July 31, from 9.00-11am.
One of the aims of the MBBA is to encourage the active participation on the community and governing bodies in
preserving bio-diversity and conserving the natural areas adjacent to Marcus Beach. That’s made all the easier to
achieve with a hardworking, multi-skilled committee, wonderful Marcus Beach residents, and good working
relations with the Natural Areas Team at the Noosa Council.
Turtle Nesting Season 2015-2016 has ended
Leigh Warneminde
The 2015- 2016 CaNSCC marine turtle nesting season, which started on November 19th 2015 has come to an end.
The last of the 16 known nests emerged on the 17th May.
While the actual number of nesting turtles
on our patch were fewer than the last
season the season was one of firsts and
surprises! Our first nesting turtle was a
loggerhead turtle at Glen Eden beach. As
it was reported at 3pm in afternoon, it
was thought to be an injured turtle. As
you can imagine, there was a flurry of
activity when it was realized she was
nesting. Thanks to the great team work of
the turtle team, the turtle was tagged
before disappearing back into the ocean.
There was even greater surprise when Dr
Col Limpus told us that our tagged
loggerhead turtle had journeyed on to
Mon Repos to continue her nesting
season. We asked him to send her back!
The second nest, our only green turtle
Jetsam – CaNSCC Newsletter – Issue 19 - Page 4
nest of the season, was laid at the Southern end of Castaways Beach. An albino turtle hatchling, one of the 122
hatchlings that emerged from the nest was sitting just under the sand when the nest data was being collected.
Pictures of Alby caught the attention of the world (albeit briefly). Alby’s photos were posted on social media and
attracted over 100,000 people to our facebook page. CaNSCC volunteers were fielding phone calls from news
agencies all over the world.
Thirdly, thanks to help from Park Rangers, we managed to monitor turtle activity at Alexander Bay at Noosa for the
first time. Previously, it had been decided that the time required to get in and out of ABay on foot on a regular basis
was too difficult. The partnership between rangers enabled us to get driven in with mesh and pegs after reports of a
turtle nest in the bay. While volunteers and the rangers remained clothed three nests were located and successfully
hatched.
From 16 nests there were 1735 hatchlings. Our biggest nest was at
Yaroomba with 182 eggs. One nest was predated by a fox
between when it was laid and when we arrived at 5am, resulting
in the loss of about 30 eggs. Our TurtleCare Sunshine Coast
buddies down south had 66 nests from Caloundra to Pt Arkwright
with 6380 hatchlings.
A big thankyou must go to all involved, including the beach
walkers and those good folk who called us to let us know they had
found turtle tracks. We couldn't have had such a good season without you. Thanks also to our TurtleCare buddies to
the South. Until November we can all sleep in!
Coastal Fox Control Program
Darcy Murray (SCC Feral Animal Control)
During winter, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) and Sunshine Coast Council are working together to
implement the annual coastal fox control program in an effort to protect local wildlife.
The European red fox is a declared pest in
Queensland, and the program’s goal is to reduce
fox predation on small mammals, ground
nesting birds and marine turtles at the egg and
hatchling stage. Fox control activities are being
conducted in coastal bushland areas from
Mudjimba to Peregian.
Control activities
commenced on the 9th of May and will run until
the 23rd of August in a bid to reduce fox breeding
activity over winter.
The control program involves the use of soft
catch traps, baiting and the deployment of fox
detection dogs to locate dens. Each part of the
program has been carefully considered to
minimise the likelihood of wildlife being
harmed. Fox and wildlife activity will be
monitored to measure the effectiveness of the
program.
Developed with significant input and support from Coolum and North Shore Coast Care, Biosecurity Queensland
and QPWS, the 2016 program is going well so far. 19 foxes have been removed from the beaches and bushland
areas so far and it is hoped this number will increase over the second half of the program. Most importantly, it is
hoped the 2016 coastal fox control program will succeed in reducing fox predation on local wildlife.
Jetsam – CaNSCC Newsletter – Issue 19 - Page 5
Residents can assist with the management of foxes by reporting suspected fox dens to council on 5475 7272.
World Environment Day 5 June 2016
Estelle Blair
After a very shaky lead-up weatherwise to the Sunday event, the day dawned beautifully clear and sunny. Cotton
Tree Park was a great venue for such an event: fresh air, beautiful coastal position and central for residents and
tourists alike to visit and enjoy the displays food and entertainment. About 5,000 people passed through the site
during the day, and many stayed for the toe-tapping music at the end (even the local police looked happy!).
As usual CaNSCC had a presence and display which was well patronised. It provided good publicity for
EcoDiscovery – we handed out over 100 flyers – and it seems many of them signed up, at least for the turtle
workshop! Thankyou Susan for selecting and assembling the information on the display board which was read by
many passers-by.
Grateful thanks to the 15 volunteers on the roster who provided information to visitors to our display throughout
the day, and who set up and pulled down the display and marquee. We hope you enjoyed the day as much as the
visitors seemed to.
Jetsam – CaNSCC Newsletter – Issue 19 - Page 6
An Interesting Find
Frank McGreevy
Early Saturday morning, 11th June 2016, strong winds blew over an old dead Macaranga in my back yard at Mount
Coolum.
On investigating the trunk and peeling off some bark about 2.5 metres from the base, I discovered a Red – Triangle
Slug, (Triboniophorus graeffei Humbert, 1863; Family Athoracophoridae) 70mm L x 40mm W, and when moving
became 85mm L x25mm W. Apparently, it lives in rainforest and eucalypt woodland, buried in ground under logs
and rocks during the day and crawling on tree trunks at night, particularly after rain, leaving lines of small circular
markings on smooth barked Eucalyptus after feeding, a herbivore, it feeds on algae and fungi living on tree trunks,
rocks and leaf litter on the forest floor. The species is oviparous, laying soft spherical eggs in a small cluster. Only
the one genus with one species is found in Eastern Australia.
The single genus, Triboniophorus is found from the
Illawarra district of NSW up the Australian East Coast
into Papua New Guinea, also Irian Jaya, New Britain,
New Ireland and Admiralty Islands. A large colour
range exists in this species, the most common being
bluish grey. On Mt Bellenden Ker (NQ) it is bright
orange, Mt Bartle Frere, (NQ), white, Mt Kaputar
(NSW), bright red. (For colour photos see Stanisic et
al. (2010) P373.)
Some controversy exists as to whether the family
arose in the North and spread south, or it arose in
Antarctica followed by a two-pronged northern
radiation (Ref Beesley et al. 1998). The jury is still out
on this issue and we may never know of an outcome.
Bibliography:
Beesley,PL, Ross, GJB. & Wells, A, (eds) (1993)
CSIRO. Melb. P1109-1110.
MoIIusca The Southern Synthesis. Fauna of Australia, Vol 5, B,
Stanisic J, Shea M, Potter O, Griffiths O, (2010) Australian Land Snails Vol 1., A Field Guide to Eastern Australian
Species. Bioculture Press; Mauritius, P372-373.
Queensland Museum (2007) 2ed. Wildlife of Greater Brisbane, P20.
Out and About – Members at work and play
Abdul and Jim from the Watercourse Warriors
Our recent lunch at Curlys on the Boardwalk
Jetsam – CaNSCC Newsletter – Issue 19 - Page 7
DATE CLAIMERS
Event
Date
Surf Movie - Chasing 2 July 2016
Mavericks
Place
Details
Civic Centre Coolum CaNSCC will have a display, and a % of the
Beach
takings are donated to CaNSCC. Doors open
6.30pm; Movie starts 7pm.
EcoDiscovery
25 September
2016
Muller Park, Bli Bli
Keith
Royal
Park
Marcoola
Environment
Centre
Wallace Road Noosaville
Exploring the Maroochy River at Muller Park Bli Bli;
Photographs and Nature’s Secret at Keith Royal
Park Marcoola;
The Art of Nature at NPA headquarters,
Environment Centre, Wallace Road Noosaville.
National Tree Day
31 July 2016

Sunshine
Coast
International Readers
and Writers festival
National
Landcare
Conference
9-11 September
2016
Organised by Noosa Council and CaNSCC/Marcus
Beach Bushcare Association President, Judy Tulloch
Organised by Sunshine Coast Council
CaNSCC will have a display and be involved in
several activities during the festival. Details will be
circulated closer to the event
Leigh and others will represent CaNSCC at the
Awards night (as last year’s State winners of the
Coast Care section, CaNSCC is a national finalist)
Watch this space….
Heron Island Weedos
17 July 2016
21 August 2016
21-23
September
2016
October
Redwood
Park
Marcus Beach
 BA 135 Twin Waters
Civic Centre and Tickle
Park Coolum Beach
Melbourne
Heron Island
Weekly Dune Regeneration and Bush Care Groups
Stumers Dunes
Birte - 0403 752955
Yaroomba Bushland Park
Sherida - 0403 370 157
Mudjimba Dune Care and Bush
Care
Helen – (07) 5448 9604
Lions Park Watercourse
Linese - (07) 5446 5116
[email protected]
Yinneburra/Yerranya Dunes
Silva - (07) 5446 5549
Town of Seaside/Boardwalk
Luke – 0428 853 188
Marcoola Coast Care
Tony Gibson - 0419 791 860
[email protected]
Marcoola North Dune Care
Alan Hayes - 0419 526 347
Twin Waters Dune Protection Group
Sue – 0402 113 375
[email protected]
157 Warran Rd, Yaroomba
Qld 4573
Ph 07 5473 9322
[email protected]
www.coolumnatives.com
Tues-Fri 7:30am – 3:30pm
Sat 8:30am – 12:30pm
Fuschia Collard & Ben Pearce
This newsletter has been produced with the support of all Coolum and North Shore Coast Care members and
Jetsam – CaNSCC Newsletter – Issue 19 - Page 8