Marine Life Society of South Australia
Inc.
Newsletter
May 2006 No. 332
“understanding, enjoying & caring for
our oceans”
Next Meeting
CONTENTS
AGM Reports (Committee members)
Yankalilla Display (Philip Hall)
Reefwatch Presentation (Philip Hall)
Mount Gambier
Trip (Part 1) (Chris Hall)
Nominations for the 2006-7 Committee
POSITION NAME NOMINATED BY
President Philip
Hall Self
Secretary Neville
Skinner Self
Treasurer Phill
McPeake Self
Committee David
Muirhead Self
Committee Chris
Hall Philip Hall
There being only the required number of nominations
then the Secretary will declare all positions filled at the meeting.
Nominations for the following non-executive positions
will then be taken.
Auditor
Conservation Council Representatives (2)
Editor
Librarian
Photo Index Officer
Reefwatch Representative
SDF Representatives (2)
Social Officer
Web Master
2006 Annual General
Meeting Reports
President’s Report
2005-6
Philip Hall
2006 has been a very
good year for the Society. We have achieved many objectives and projects such
as the Beachwash Guide and the 2007 Calendar are coming along nicely. We must
thank Neville Skinner for his efforts to get photographers for the calendar.
Several have made spectacular contributions to our next edition.
The 2006
calendar has been a great success and has sold out with a slight profit to the
Society and this will enable us to print 1500 calendars for 2007. This will
result in a lower price to members.
The Beachwash
Guide is progressing with the assistance of a Laptop computer which we were
able to partly fund with a grant from the Volunteers Support Fund.
To complement
this piece of equipment we purchased a digital projector which has been used at
meetings and for talks to the community.
As a consequence
of my talking directly with the Premier at a Community Forum in September 2005
a long-term aim of the Society to protect the Weedy Seadragon was achieved.
More than achieved, because the legislation was extended to include all
Sygnathids in South Australian waters.
Meetings have
sometimes been quite well attended with many good speakers on a variety of
topics. I would encourage all members to attend as many meetings as possible
for several reasons, to meet with other members, to hear some very interesting
speakers and to show support for the hard working Committee.
Our display at
Yankalilla for the Leafy Seadragon Festival in 2005 was taken down but we have
now reerected it at the request of the new Information Centre Director. We have
put up many pictures from the MLSSA archives together with a DVD of local
marine life created by Phill McPeake which plays on a continuous loop all day
long. This is the same DVD that he originally created for the Whale Centre at Victor
Harbor where it plays every day. Information leaflets and promotional material
for MLSSA have been included in the Yankalilla display.
We had a very
enjoyable long weekend at Edithburgh in June 2005. Some diving was done and on the
Tuesday when everyone else had gone back to work Margaret and I together with
Phill and Barbara McPeake were able to visit the Marine Centre at Port Vincent
School. This is a superb display and is well worth a visit if you are in the
area when it is open. Phone the school first to make an appointment though.
A couple of
changes to the Committee were made necessary by Steve Reynolds and Chris Hall
deciding to relinquish their posts. We are indebted to Neville Skinner and
Margaret Hall who stepped most capably into the breach.
The Photo Index
is now becoming more digital with backup DVD’s and Hard Drives used to ensure
that it will never be lost. It now will be easier to create specific shows for
community groups. The digital projector means rooms that cannot be blacked out
in the middle of the day can now be used. Several bookings have already been
made for shows later this year.
Secretary’s Report 2005-6
Neville Skinner
Well it
certainly has been a busy year for me.
I had to check
to see when I first started as MLSSA Secretary and was surprised to see that I
attended my first Committee Meeting in June 2005, and was unanimously elected
at the following General Meeting on 15th June.
It certainly
does not seem that long.
I have enjoyed
the role, albeit it has been a struggle at times to get the minutes out on
time. And being a member of several
other organisations (at least 5 come immediately to mind) as well as dive
clubs, one should not wonder that I am rarely at home!
There have been
a few notable highlights for me this last year; most notably the recent snorkel
in Eight Mile Creek that revealed to me just how beautiful the creek can be
when better managed. I believe that that in itself is sufficient reward for the
effort that MLSSA put into to stop the practice of the dredging of aquatic
vegetation.
(And a special
thank you to Robert Browne for his efforts in pointing me in the right
direction in attracting interest and lobbying for that worthy cause.)
I would like to take the time to thank Philip for his
patience and Margaret for helping out with the minutes when I have not been
able to do so. Also to Phill M & David for being such good Committee
comrades (just don’t mention Cleaner Fish), to David for kindly providing the
odd drop of red at our Committee meetings, and to Steve and others for helping
out during the year.
Treasurer’s Report 2005-6
Phill McPeake
The audited accounts and the report will be
presented at the meeting.
Committee Member’s Report
2005-6
Margaret Hall
My report will be
a short one as was my time on the Committee. Earlier in 2005, Chris Hall (no
relation) for personal and creative reasons was unable to continue as a
Committee Member. I was duly elected to fill his position.
My main
contribution was to assist our very hard working President Philip Hall (my
husband). From time to time I also filled in as minute secretary. I attended
with Philip when he gave talks for MLSSA. I operate our own slide projector,
but with our new digital projector our presentations will be different.
I was present
when Philip met the Premier, Mike Rann, at a Community Meeting in September
2005 to argue successfully for the protection of the Weedy Seadragon.
I would like to
thank David Muirhead and his family for allowing us to meet at their home.
I am pleased to say that Chris Hall is resuming
his position on the Committee this year. That’s all folks!!
Committee Member’s Report
2005-6
David Muirhead
Once, too many
years ago here in SA, I saw an old swagman (the only authentic one
I’ve seen, despite all those songs) walking towards the sea down a hot
dusty road, looking so tired beneath his load...and do you know what went
through my mind, inane though it was?
I thought to
myself: does this man realise that he only needs to jump into the lovely
cool clear sea he is approaching, no matter whether from the
end of that jetty or from the beach or nearby rocky shoreline, and all his
problems will be solved...!
NOT by ending
his life (Ha, fooled you?!) but by getting a new lease on life, through
discovering a totally new realm of existence hitherto unknown to any swagman
(coming as they do from our dry and feralised inland deserts, and oh yes, also
he would instantly feel cooler, even perhaps chilly, but that’s not my main
point!): and needless to say he’d be carrying a mask and snorkel in swag, ready
for this revelation of SA’s marine life, otherwise my story falls somewhat
flat, if only in the detail!.
Well that’s
about the sum of my inspiration as MLSSA committee member right now!
But getting now
to the REAL point of my story (If I've fooled only myself this
time, what’s new...?):
That load, aka
work and duty and social obligations and deadlines and meetings and so on,
which we all carry in differing ways and in some degree, is indeed self-inflicted
: there is really, when all is said and done, here in this little-known outpost
hereinthereafter known as South Australia, NOTHING stopping us from
hitting the vast and unknown briny, and in so doing reaping immeasurable
benefits (physical, spiritual, abalone and other, and so on it goes and so
forth..and did you hear the one about finding new pipefish?).
That said, and
that enormous life wisdom reluctantly divulged, I’ve as committee member
had an uninspired and (if judging by personal input) minimalist and
somewhat tedious year at MLSSA-yet the lads’n ladies seem to tolerate
adversity(=me) well enough that I’m renominating for more of this thrilling
ride, secure in the knowledge that I'm loved and respected by those blue
planetary defenders that, I at least believe, really count when pink polyp
comes to southern sea carp.
‘What would I do
if I found a new pipefish, would I stand up and walk to the shore...?!’
Finally, and being practical as does not come
easily to me, I’ve embarked on some photographic gear recruitment, old rejects
yes I’ll agree, which might just keep me going until I find that elusive
perfect digital setup: to live is to dream....
Editor’s Report 2005-6
Philip Hall
The production of
the Newsletter has continued unabated. I have standardized it to the 16 pages
that came out all last year. The hard copy cover is changed each year. I am
grateful to Steve Reynolds for his constant supply of articles. I appeal to all
members to contribute at least one article every year to enable me to publish a
wide variety of views and opinions. I am also grateful to Phill McPeake for his
printing of the Newsletters and Journal during the past year. As we are sending
out PDF versions of the Newsletters and Journal to those members who requested
it the number to be sent as hard copies has approximately halved.
The Editors job
is now much more complicated with the publishing on the website and of a PDF
version. The website especially takes a lot of time to upload the newsletters
correctly.
The 2005 Journal was relatively easy to compile
but since I now have no suitable articles to hand the next Editor will
certainly need some assistance from you all this year.
Library Officer’s Annual
Report 2005-6
Steve Reynolds
Our Society
library grew considerably in the past twelve months, thanks mainly to the
purchase of several books to aid the identification and classification of
species included in the Photo Index (and possibly those featuring in
calendars). The library is occasionally useful for fulfilling enquiries from
the public. It certainly acts as an archive for historical papers of interest.
With all of this in mind, let’s maintain the library as best as we can.
Photo Index Officer’s
Annual Report 2005-6
Steve Reynolds
Our Photo Index
has continued to grow with slides, and now digital images, being added to the
collection. The Index provides images for our calendars, publications and also
fulfills enquiries from government agencies and the public. Our committee now
takes a greater interest in the management of the Index and has been active in
developing procedures and systems that ensure as smooth an operation as
possible. My role regarding the Index has changed somewhat. Rather than being
personally responsible for what happens to the Index, I now simply carry out
the instructions of the committee. Once again, my thanks go to everyone who
assisted with the Photo Index in the past year, especially Philip Hall, Phill
McPeake, David Muirhead, Chris Hall and Danny Gibbins. As with our library,
let’s maintain the Photo Index as best as we can.
Assistant SDF Rep’s
Report 2005-6
Steve Reynolds
I presume that Neville Skinner will be giving an
SDF Rep’s Annual Report (Since I was only elected as the Assistant SDF Rep).
Neville and myself represented our Society at most SDF meetings over the past
twelve months. I have still been the Secretary of the SDF for the past year.
This enables me to pass much information from the SDF on to our members. This
includes the monthly news sheets, minutes and agendas that I prepare for the
SDF. The next AGM of the SDF will be held in July.
Yankalilla Display
Last year as
part of the Leafy Seadragon Festival at Yankalilla, MLSSA was asked to set up a
display with its focus on the Leafy Seadragon and the wonders of the life in
our local waters. It was a great success. It remained in the Tourist
information Centre for some months. Then the Director left and we were asked to
remove the display as plans were in hand for a different one. This however
never eventuated and the room was looking very desolate.
Earlier in March
this year I visited the Centre and in conversation with the new Director, Don
Chapman, found out that he wanted a display on the Leafy set up as a more or less
permanent one. I volunteered MLSSA for the task and this offer was gratefully
accepted.
Subsequently I
had some more of our pictures laminated that were specific to the Rapid Bay to
Carrickalinga area. I also obtained from Phill a copy of his splendid DVD
created for the Whale Centre at Victor Harbor to be used as part of the
display. For the use of this loan DVD Don agreed to a donation to MLSSA funds.
On Wednesday 22nd March Margaret and I
went down and set up the display. It is not yet fully functional as two
computers and a few more pictures are going to be set up and put up by Don.
The pictures show the display as it was when we
left. I encourage everybody to visit it if they are in Yankalilla. The
Information Centre is well signposted and is well worth a visit anyway. The
staff are very helpful and friendly.
Reefwatch Presentation
On Friday 24th
March I was invited, together with Margaret, to attend the presentation of a Civic
Award to Reefwatch. This took place at the Conservation Council Centre before
the regular Council Meeting. It was well attended and the presentation was made
by Darian Hiles who has been Chair of the Civic Trust since 2000.
Darian Hiles is a member of the Australian
Conservation Foundation and is founding chairman of the Australian World
Heritage Network and the Carnival of Adelaide. He was previously a member of
Wilderness Society and the Adelaide Parklands Preservation Association.
L to R
Chris Ball, David Turner
(Squid), Darian Hiles and Jane Corin (CCSA President)
February 2006 (Part 1)
by Chris Hall
Ann and I had
decided to have a leisurely trip down to the Mount so we left Adelaide on the
Friday morning having had breakfast at Café Bravo in Norwood.
We had an
uneventful trip down to Robe where we stopped for lunch. Having sated our
appetite with a very enjoyable meal we visited a book shop and then a local art
gallery. Feeling completely relaxed we resumed our journey.
By about half
past four we had reached the outskirts of Mount Gambier and went in search of
our motel which we found after going to the wrong one but with the same name on
Jubilee Hi’way.
Having found the
right motel we proceeded to complete all the formalities and move into our
room.
Once settled in
we decided to go in search of a bottle shop and have a look around the thriving
metropolis of the city. An excellent bottle shop was found and two bottles of good
white wine and a bottle of water were purchased. With our purchases firmly
tucked under our arms we had a quick walk around Commercial St East and back to
the car.
I then took Ann
on a little tour of the ‘Mount’ to see some of the old haunts I knew from when
I lived there during my teenage years.
We returned to
the motel for dinner then retired to our room to have a spa while sipping wine.
The next morning
refreshed from a spa and good night’s sleep we proceeded to the Cave Gardens
after having a simple breakfast to meet the rest of the group.
Neville and
Steve were waiting patiently on the Bay Road side of the gardens. Ann waited in
the car while I went over and chatted to them. I then dashed around the corner
to see a friend who had a shop in Commercial Street but the shop wasn’t open. I
later found out that it had been sold to a bikey gang and that they didn’t open
for breakfast but later in the day for some dubious sort of business. When I
got back Talitha and Mark had arrived.
Neville
suggested we get some provisions for a BBQ as I’d brought Ann’s little Weber
with us. Once provisioned Neville led us on a tour of the ‘Mount’, so we headed
for the lookout, up past the old hospital, where we had a great view of Valley
and Browne’s Lakes. Next was the Blue Lake lookout near where Adam Lindsay
Gordon had made his legendary leap on a horse, then on down into the crater
lakes and for a drive past Valley and Browne’s Lakes. Since the late sixties
these two lakes have receded to the stage where there is no longer any water in
Browne’s Lake. On the way out one last lookout to stop at and that was the one
over looking the ‘Leg of Mutton’ Lake.
Having completed
the ‘Tour’ we headed off to Ewens Ponds with just one more stop at Allendale
East to view the sink hole that divides the road on the Port Macdonnell side of
the town.
Eventually we
arrived at Ewens Ponds.
Neville then
gave us a brief talk on the history and ecology of the ponds and some of his
observations about the area since he’d been diving and snorkeling there. After
his informative chat we organized ourselves and got kitted up for diving and
snorkeling. Steve and Neville paired up as one group and Mark and Talitha as
another. Ann was only snorkeling so we snorkelled the first pond while the
others headed off on their dive.
By the time I
had got into the water Ann had completed a lap of the pond and was feeling a
little cold as she was only in my shorty wetsuit. We had a couple of minutes
snorkeling together but there wasn’t too much to see, just a couple of small
fish, so Ann decided she’d had enough as she was getting quite cold.
As I was
preparing to get back in the water for a dive, Mark had returned and was
unfortunate enough to have flooded his digital camera.
A flooded camera
system is a nightmare for any underwater photographer and although it doesn’t
happen very often can be very costly and upsetting for anyone that happens
experience this occurrence. I quickly checked my cameras mindful that this can
happen to anyone.
I then entered
the crystal clear water and embarked on another underwater experience.
My digital
camera fogged up and that could’ve been because I forgot to put the desiccant
(drying) bag in the camera housing. It wasn’t that important as I had my housed
Nikon camera.
I found it a
very interesting dive especially with such good visibility but was interested
to note how silty it could when the bottom was stirred up. I can see now why a
number of fatalities have occurred in caves and sink holes in this area as
divers would easily get disoriented in such a silt out.
I saw a
freshwater crayfish and a number of different fish which I have yet to
identify. The crayfish proved a bit elusive to photograph but I managed to get
some good shots of the other fish.
There were times
when the weed and algae proved a bit of a struggle to get through, especially
when finning between the ponds and having two cameras in tow.
As I reached the
third pond I could see Steve exiting so I had a quick look around and joined
him and Neville for the trek back to the cars.
Having got the
diving gear off and changed it was time to fire up the barbie and get lunch
under way. We setup under a tree in the shade and set about cooking the
sausages and burgers. Talitha was well organized and had prepared a salad from
the night before. While waiting for the food to cook we indulged in some idle
chit chat and a few nibbles. As usual we’d cooked far too much food but we all
enjoyed our lunch especially Talitha’s salad.
Ann and I had
decided to have break and do a tour of the surrounding district while the
others were going to snorkel Eight Mile Creek. I understand they had a great
snorkel even though there were some problems organizing the transport (cars).
The two of us
headed into Port Mac where I had a couple lemon, lime and bitters, in the local
pup, to quench the thirst after diving and lunch while Ann had a couple of
chardonnays to help her relax. I suggested to Ann that she might like to visit
‘Dingley Dell’ once the home to bush poet Adam Lindsay Gordon.
We arrived at
‘Dingley Dell’ and had a quick look around the gardens then went onto the
house. After a few minutes of knocking on the door the guide came up the path
from the opposite direction. He introduced himself and let us into the cottage,
then led us into the kitchen area. He then proceeded to give us a history
lesson on Adam Lindsay Gordon punctuated with poetical quotes from the poet’s
writings. This went on for about 15 minutes and we hadn’t moved out of the
kitchen area. Very intense. Fortunately we were rescued by some more tourists
and got to see some more of the cottage besides the kitchen. We left him
reciting more poetry and went to have a look in the well where a large tiger
snake had been sighted. The only thing we saw was water. By now it was late afternoon
and we had to meet the others at the Bellum Hotel for dinner so we headed back
to the ‘Mount’ to get washed and changed.
Dinner was arranged for 6.30pm, so Ann and I duly
arrived at that time. A short while later Mark and Talitha arrived but no sign
of Neville and Steve who were staying at the pub. Meanwhile we had found our
table which was booked under some obscure name. Eventually the others turned up
and we ordered our meals. The dining room was full so we were awhile waiting
for our orders but the company was good and the chat was stimulating so we
didn’t mind waiting. The food was great, good portions and tasty too. At last
the evening drew to a close; we bade one another farewell and headed off to our
respective accommodation.