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Friends of Lake Claremont
News December 2012 Editor: Adnan Visram
Inside this issue:
FOLC Coordinator Honoured
Ted’s Corner
A Weeding We Will Go
Whadjuk Trails
In Bloom This Month
Birdspotting
Boobook Owl
January Busy Bee
Calendar
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FOLC Coordinator Honoured
Heidi Hardisty was added to the Honour List at the
Conservation Council of WA’s (CCWA) annual Conservation
Awards in December in recognition of outstanding
commitment and dedication in working for the protection
of WA’s environment. She was honoured for her volunteer
work as the Convenor of the Cockatoo Coalition and the
Coordinator of the Friends of Lake Claremont. The FOLC
were given a special mention for the restoration work they
have achieved.
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Heidi (on left) was one of four recognized on CCWA’s Honour List
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FOLC News December 2012
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In 2012, the Friends of Lake Claremont Limited nominated Joan Tocock for a WA Lifetime
Contribution to Volunteering Award. Although she didn’t win, her contributions to the
community over the years have been extensive. Joan has been involved in volunteering in
the Claremont community for many years and at the age of 92 still comes out regularly to
help.
Joan’s first foray into volunteering was with Meals on Wheels. This was in the days they
had to go and collect the meals from the central kitchen and then deliver them around the
neighbourhood. Joan and a friend started an op-shop at the Centre behind the old Police
Station in Claremont and also held fundraising events there for Meals on Wheels.
Joan and her late husband Ted volunteered for the Claremont Museum from 1980. The Old
School was a Police residence and was given to the community for the Museum. They
cleaned and laid floorboards from the old Post Office and restored the building. Later Ted
restored an old boat. Joan helped establish the Barber shop and then started activities for
children. This became the very successful schools visiting program which remains today.
Joan is still a member of the Friends of the Museum.
Joan and Ted were among the first volunteers to help rehabilitate and revegetate Lake
Claremont. They started work under the guide of the Town of Claremont and worked
tirelessly in planting, watering and weeding back in the early nineties. They continued their
work through the formation of the Friends of Lake Claremont and helped transform a weed
infested island into a thickly vegetated refuge.
Ted’s Corner
Joan Tocock
Joan still volunteers with the Friends helping to
supervise Community Service program for local
boys’ schools and turning out for the monthly
busy bee.
Joan Tocock is a Life Member of the Friends of
Lake Claremont and of the Friends of the
Museum and is truly an inspiration to us all
FOLC News December 2012
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A Weeding We Will Go
So much weeding to do! Hand weeding was the main spring activity at Lake Claremont. It is one of
the most important tasks to ensure the success of our planting projects.
In September a group from the Conservation Volunteers removed weeds on the east side of Lake
Claremont.
The volunteers removed mostly Whiteflower fumitory along with vetch and young kikuyu (grass)
shoots. The work to restore the vegetation around and on the “island” was funded in part by an
Environmental Community Grant from the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC).
Native plants are particularly sensitive to trampling, so we are asking people to stay off the island
until revegetation works are established (a few years).
Conservation Volunteers weeding on 14 September on the man-made island, east side of Lake Claremont
Before
After
FOLC News December 2012
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Opening of the Whadjuk Trails
The Western Suburbs Regional Organisation of Councils (WESROC) launched the first trail in the
Whadjuk regional network of trails in Allen Park, City of Nedlands on Friday 16 November.
The Bush to Beach Trail, connecting remnant bushlands, links Rosalie Park, Lake Jaulbup, Shenton
Bushland, Bold Park, Lake Claremont, Allen Park and Grant Marine Park, with links to Subiaco’s
Shenton Park Walk, Karbomanup Trail in Cambridge and Claremont’s Yargine Track. This is jointly
funded by Lotterywest and the Department of Sport and Recreation.
The initial concept was initiated by local Friends groups with the intention of encouraging an
appreciation and respect for our natural bushland. Friends of Lake Claremont member, Soozie Ross
was initially involved in the formation of the committee which was driven by Dani Boase-Jelinek.
They planned routes, maps, markers and promotion. When Soozie retired Heidi Hardisty continued
to represent Friends of Lake Claremont.
A message stick was created as a token of respect for the Noongar people and was presented at
the event. This was carved and painted by a Noongar artist in consultation with his Elders to depict
the icons of the six trails.
WESROC has produced a mobile phone application for the Bush to Beach Trail - a GPS enabled
travel guide. This can be downloaded by going to www.everytrail.com and search for Perth. The
Whadjuk trail is the first trail which appears and shows points of interest and photographs. There is
also an option to view topographical or terrain maps on your smart phone. A free application will
be developed for each trail which will include flora and fauna of the area. It is intended that
Noongar stories will be added in the future.
Recreational walks are becoming increasingly popular. Some of the benefits these provide include
passive recreation which can help users to gain fitness and foster general well-being, help instil a
conservation ethic amongst users and a means of education in regard to attributes of the area and
the Noongar people and their culture.
Claire Brittain represented FOLC at the event as Heidi and Soozie were unavailable
www.whadjukwalkingtrails.org.au
The young pink fairy orchid
FOLC News December 2012
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Candle Banksia (Banksia attenuata) - This is a favourite food of the endangered Carnaby’s Cockatoo
who are starting to return from the Swan Coastal Plain after the nesting season in the wheat belt. The
birds eat the seeds and weevil larvae in the banksia cones.
Photo of the launch
From Left to Right:
1. Mayor Max Hipkins – Nedlands 2. Cr Sally Pyvis – Cottesloe 3. Mayor Ron Norris – Mosman Park 4. Neville Collard – Noongar Elder 5. Shire President Rachel Thomas – Peppermint
Grove 6. Mike Cole – CEO Nedlands
In Bloom this Month at Lake Claremont
Carnaby’s Cockatoo
Candle Banksia
FOLC News December 2012
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By Diane Beckingham (Birdlife Australia)
Birders Spot an Amazing 47 Species
On the 15th November, a perfect spring morning, 28 people (Birdlife Australia and FOLC
members) made a circuit of Lake Claremont, observing 47 species of waterbirds and bush
birds, many of them nesting or with dependent young.
The leaders, David Free and Bruce Haynes, gave us the history of this valuable wetland which
is now an outstanding example of successful bush regeneration. With the help of David’s
telescope we all had good views of Red-necked Avocet, Black-fronted Dotterel, Red-kneed
Dotterel, Black-tailed Native Hen, Pink-eared Duck with young and we even used the ‘scope
to watch a Magpie-lark on a nest with young.
We saw six species of duck including Hardhead, Pink-eared and Blue-billed. Black Swan,
Australasian Grebe, Eurasian Coot and Purple Swamphen were all accompanied by young
ones. A Swamp Harrier circled the Lake several times, causing alarm among them. Reed
Warbler and Little Grass Bird were very vocal; while the former frequently appeared in the
reeds, the latter remained elusive as always.
Nesting boxes of different sizes have been placed high up in tuart trees to attract birds and
bats. What a fantastic sight it was to see a sleepy Boobook Owl sitting right inside the hollow-
log style entrance to one of these boxes. (Catching a bit of morning sun or claiming its piece
of territory?) Such a sighting and the vigorous growth of the newly planted shrubs are
rewards for the huge volunteer effort which is ongoing here.
As we returned to our access point on Stirling Road we saw Spotted Crake in the shadows
beneath a melaleuca. The Swamp Harrier returned, flew low over a family of Coots, hovered
and flapped until the distracted parent left a chick unguarded. The Harrier made its catch –
one fluffy black Coot chick was whisked away in its claws.
Claire and Nick attend this and said it was fabulous. Make sure you don’t miss the next one!!
www.birdlife.org.au
FOLC News December 2012
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Photos courtesy of John Litherland
Southern Boobook in box
attached to dead Marri
Swamp Harrier
Pink-eared ducks with chicks
FOLC News December 2012
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Drip Drying Owl
This young fellow was hanging around David Free’s back garden all day in December's unseasonal rain.
There was no sign of the parents which raised concern that the ravens might take him. Fortunately,
the following night David heard the owl calling. Perhaps that was his mum spotted a few weeks earlier
at Lake Claremont (previous photo)?
Was this juvenile Boobook born
in the same box?
January Busy Bee
Seed Collection and Hand Weeding
Sunday 13th January 2013, 8 am – 10am
A hot time of the year, but if you can handle the heat come and lend a hand. There are seeds
ripe to collect. Join us for a short session on the basics of seed collection followed by a bit of
hand weeding. Refreshments will be served. Meet at 8am at the Strickland Street cul-de-sac
Swanbourne.
FOLC News December 2012
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Day Event Time
Saturday 5th January National Bird Day
Sunday 13th January FOLC Busy Bee Hand weeding Seed Collection
8:00 am – 10:00 am
Monday 15th January FOLC Board Meeting
5:30 am – 7:00 pm
Saturday 26th January Australia Day
Friday 1st February
2013 WA Wetland
Management Conference
Cockburn Wetland Education
Centre
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Saturday 2nd February World Wetlands Day
The Friends of Lake Claremont Ltd. (FOLC) is a community organization established and run by
local residents all of whom are volunteers.
Our mission is to assist in the conservation and enhancement of Lake Claremont, a Conservation
Category Wetland and Bush Forever Site
E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (08) 9384 2820 Fax: (08) 9383 4213
Postal Address: Friends of Lake Claremont Ltd.
P.O. Box 625 Cottesloe WA, 6911
Website: http://www.friendsoflakeclaremont.org/
Calendar January 2013
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
From the Friends of Lake Claremont
Thank you for your continuing support