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Sadly we have to report that AABR member Mark Foster died on February 12th in a motorcycle accident. Thanks to Matt Bailey for this tribute. Mark, or Foz as he was affectionately known, was a great bush regenerator and friend of the earth who worked for the National Trust and Total Earth Care from the early nineties. He was a founding member of the Bushland and Rainforest Co-operative, a bushcare trainer for a number of local councils, a bush regenerator employee with Pittwater and Warringah councils and in the later 2000’s served the community in his employment with the NSW Fire Brigade as well as running a Bush regen contracting business: Engedi Environmental Services. Mark gave generously to various charities and undertook much overseas aid work over the years. Marks departure is a loss for the industry, the bush and the planet. He had deep, intuitive knowledge regarding resilience and the reinstatement of natural systems and was a true believer in the Bradley inspired ’good’ bush priority philosophy. He had a tremendous capacity for hard physical work (he could really smash Lantana) coupled with the sensitivity required for finer weeding. Mark always brought good cheer, laughs, energy and positivity to a site and was inspiring in his knowledge and love of rainforest and permaculture. Mark was a humble and generous soul in so many ways and is loved and missed by many. AABR has negotiated a 10% discount on adult and childrens entry fees at Featherdale WIldlife Park in Doonside in Sydney, www.featherdale.com.au. The discount is available on production of a current AABR membership card ie paid up to June 2010. Further discount schemes with other organisations will be announced soon. EVENTS The What's On section has information on events organised by AABR and other organisations. If you would like to publicise an event that might be of interest to AABR members please forward details to
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. Members, subscribers and non-members are welcome to attend all AABR events. AABR will be hosting a picnic to celebrate the release of Robin Buchanan's new book (see below) from 12.30 on March 28th at Tench Reserve, Regentville, on the Nepean River near Penrith. Contact on the day is Janet Rannard 0407 926 386. Copies of the book will be available for sale. Sydney Olympic Park Authority are running a 2 day workshop on Wetland Management Planning on March 25 & 26th. Details in the Whats On section. The memorial gathering for Margaret Beavis, who died on 17th January, will be held on May 2nd. Details of the venue will be posted here. Van Klaphake unveiled his new identification guide to 'Eucalypts of the Sydney Region' at a sold-out AABR workshop last year. The event will be held again on July 10th & 11th 2010 in Earlwood. If you would like to attend please contact
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. More details in the Whats On section An AABR field trip to the Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub at Bundock Street in Randwick has been announced for August 22nd. This site has been part of an Army base for over 100 years and has not been accessible. Full details in the Whats On section. RESOURCES Robin Buchanan, author of the classic text 'Bush Regeneration', has completed an updated and expanded version 'Restoring Natural Areas in Australia'. The book is available through AABR for $44 and at the discounted price of $40 for AABR members. Postage is $9.00. Orders can be placed via
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. The third of a the series of forums for the NSW natural area restoration industry was held in September, “Innovations In Ecological Restoration”. The 13 presentations and supporting information are now available on a CD. You can receive a copy by joining the Restoring Biodiversity Industry Association (and be part of the ongoing discussion to tackle some of the issues affecting our industry). A summary of the presentations (and membership form) can be found at www.restoringbiodiversity09.org.au. The Australian arm of the Society for Ecological Restoration looks at our "top 25" restoration sites. You can check them out at:
www.globalrestorationnetwork.org/countries/australianew-zealand/australia The WEEDS C.R.C. may be no more but its website is available until 30th June 2010 at www.weedscrc.org.au. It has a wide range of great resources such as a series of management guides for environmental weeds. They are available at www.weedscrc.org.au/publications/weed_man_guides.html. Get them while you can!
AABR has produced a report with WWF-Australia on the effect of garden plant escapes on bushland in Eastern Australia. Click here to download the Report (1.2MB PDF). The report is based on information from those working in remnant natural areas. Many respondents are AABR members. Bush Regenerators' pay and working conditions and other pressing issues facing the Bush Regen industry. Email discussion on the Bush Regeneration list server identified over 30 urgent issues which need addressing. Click HERE to read more. Click HERE to find out how to subscribe to the list server. The Volunteer Coordinators Network Group is for members of the Volunteer Coordinators Network or those who'd like to join. Any professional coordinator or facilitator of a community environmental program is eligible to join. Examples are Landcare, Bushcare, Dunecare, Streamwatch, Waterwatch, Saltwatch, etc. Run by AABR as a service to the Volunteer Coordinators' Network (Natural Areas). Read more... |
