Reminder : The AGM will be held on the Tothills property on Saturday October 14th at 1.30. There are plenty of camp sites available for those wishing to enjoy time on the property.

A key item of discussion is the resolution to accept the offer to take over the Talyara Heritage Agreement property near Laura in the mid North. Information on this was sent to members in August via email.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Regards Alison

The company has been active over the last 2 months, with a successful planting programme at Rockleigh and being awarded a substantial grant to fund a 3 year re-vegetation project, also at Rockleigh. Bushland conservation is fortunate to have an active membership group prepared to volunteer their time to support the management and conservation work on its properties. The board would like to thank the membership
for its ongoing support, which continues to build on the legacy that has been created since the formation of the company in 1975.

The AGM in October will provide members with the opportunity to hear more about the management of our properties on Kangaroo Island, in the Tothill Ranges and at Rockleigh and the plans for the future.

Property News

Rockleigh:
Planting June 2023
We had another successful planting season thanks to the many volunteer growers and planters. The work was carried out mainly over two weekends, the first to prepare the area by mowing and scalping to control the weeds (primarily veldt grass) and the second for planting. A total of 2200 plants were planted,
including over 900 native grasses in the exclosure which is being developed as a native grass seed nursery.
Special thanks to Angela and Nic who, once again, were major contributors, growing over 1800 plants, Ian White for supplying the water and helping out on the day, and to Graham White for overseeing the overall effort. Thanks also to Bren, for the use of his mower and mowing expertise and plant growing, and to our other growers, Tom Reeves, Ian Roberts, the Bullocks, Julie Turner and Barbara Bansemer. Twelve
people attended the first weekend from 10 memberships with 22 people on the second, representing 11 memberships. All board members participated along with our 2 youngest planters, Rita (7) and Frank (4).

Grant Award
Bushland Conservation has been awarded significant funding for a re-vegetation project on Rockleigh through the Native Vegetation Heritage Agreement Large Grant programme. This project will be carried out over 3 years and will result in the planting of over 12,000 local provenance native plants. The initial phase of the work involves weed control and erecting a 1.54 km feral proof fence to enclose an area of 13 hectares. Once again, Bushland Conservation will be engaging Goolwa Wellington Local Action Planning Group (GWLAP) to work with us on this project but there will still be plenty of opportunity for volunteers to participate.

The company will purchase a ride-on mower through the grant funding and will undertake slashing and
spraying of the site when the weather dries up. A fencing contractor has now been engaged to erect the
fence and this work will be undertaken in October this year.

The award of this substantial grant recognises the capability of Bushland Conservation to manage a
conservation project of this scale, based on the re-vegetation work that has been undertaken at Rockleigh
over many years and on the experience, expertise and motivation of its members. The company is
fortunate to receive this funding and is committed to delivering a successful project that will add
substantially to the conservation value of Rockleigh.

Tothill Ranges

Worm Lizard Research Project
Andrew Wurst has set up a research project to investigate the presence of worm lizards in the Tothill
Ranges. This involves setting up a pattern of tiles across a part of the property and then checking them at
regular intervals. This species is listed as vulnerable under the EPBC act but there is a record of it
occurring in the Tothill Ranges. Andrew came up with this idea while supporting a similar project in a
conservation reserves to the east of Mt. Bryan, run by a NWPS ecologist Matthew Heard. Matt will be our
guest speaker at our AGM in the Tothill Ranges and he will discuss the worm lizard amongst other
conservation and ecology related matters.

Property Visit

The Tothills property was visited by the U3A Nature Photography Group as part of the student studies and
kindly provide a donation to the company.

Kangaroo Island

Feral Cat Eradication Programme

The Feral Cat Eradication team has reported that the Bushland Conservation property is largely cleared of
feral cats and the focus is now on preventing re-enter and doubling back as the programme moves
progressively west. In excess of 45 cats have been removed from the vicinity of our property through a
combination of techniques. The Felixer device has proved particularly useful, including 12 cats removed
from a location near our AGM site. The use of cameras has also been critical to the success of the
programme. The Feral Cat Eradication team has been grateful for the support received from Bushland
Conservation, including the provision of cameras.

Goanna Research Project

The initial phase of the research project on the Rosenbergs Goanna has now been concluded. The study
area included Bushland Conservation’s KI property and the work on the property was carried out with the
support of some of our Kangaroo Island members. This study has found that these goanna play an
important role as scavengers in controlling agriculturally harmful blowfly populations, highlighting the
significance of reptiles in the ecosystem

AGM
A reminder that the next AGM will be held at the Tothill Ranges property on Saturday 14 October starting at 1:30 pm. A formal notification of meeting with be issued separately, including directions to the meeting and camping site.

Remembering Robert (Bob) Seamark

Robert (Bob) Seamark died on 31 May 2023 after a short illness. He was on country in Central Australia
when he got sick. He is survived by his loving wife Kay Hannaford and his three children Anna, Tom, Ben,
and his grandchildren.
Bob was one of the earliest shareholders in the company acquiring his initial shareholding on 17/12/76. He was one of the company’s earliest directors being appointed in 17/12/76 and serving on the board until
31/10/95. Bushland Conservation has been fortunate to have had people like Bob to support its
conservation aims and to build the legacy that we have today.
Bushland Conservation extends its sympathies to his family and hope that they are able to continue an
involvement in the company.

Talyara Property

Further to the May 2023 Newsletter, the owners of the Talyara Heritage Agreement property, located
approximately 10 km NW of Laura, on the eastern flanks of the southern Flinders Ranges and extending
over an area of 486 hectares, have now offered to gift this property to Bushland Conservation. This is a
generous proposal on an attractive, well vegetated property with significant conservation value.
The Talyara owners have identified Bushland Conservation as a credible, like minded organisation with the capability to take over the responsibility for managing the conservation of this property. The board
recognises that accepting this offer does come with additional obligations on Bushland Conservation and its members. The implications of taking on the Talyara property are being reviewed by the directors but a
recommendation has not yet been finalised. The plan is to provide the membership with a proposal prior to the AGM, summarising the pros and cons and implications, including financial, for a discussion and a vote at the meeting.

Annual Fees
The annual fee is now due.

Best wishes

Peter Vincent
Email bushlandconservation1975@gmail.com
Mobile 0419500597

Summary
Our three properties have come through the summer season well and have benefited from some milder
weather. In particular, the plantings at Rockleigh in recent years are growing well, providing
encouragement to continue the efforts to more fully re-vegetate this exceptional property.
Much of the focus of the current activities of the company is on Rockleigh, in preparation for the upcoming
planting season, which will provide an opportunity for members, relatives and friends to participate in the
rewarding work of re-vegetation. The company has also been actively pursuing further grants to fund an
ongoing re-vegetation program at Rockleigh. This has included a field visit by the Native Vegetation
Branch of the Department of Environment and Water to discuss the latest Native Vegetation Heritage
Agreement Grant Program. Further information will be provided to members if we are successful in
these efforts.

Property News

Rockleigh Planting June 2023
We have about 1250 seedlings to plant out this year, thanks to our many willing growers. Unfortunately
there is no grant money to help fund this planting effort and so, without the support of GWLAP, we are
seeking additional volunteers to undertake the planting over two weekends.

The first volunteer day will be on held Saturday 17th June to prepare the planting area by scalping the
ground where a plant is to go and auguring a hole. This is reasonably physical and time consuming work
and your support would be greatly appreciated. You will really need a mattock (grubber) or long handled
fire rake to effectively clear the weeds and create a bowl for watering.

The following weekend (24th and 25th June) will be the planting days. We should be able to get most, if not all, planted on the Saturday, and the Sunday will be used to mop up.

Any help you can give on either or both weekends will be greatly appreciated and friends and relatives are
most welcome. Some of us will certainly be camping out over the second weekend and you are welcome to join us. Please come prepared with lunch, hats etc, perhaps a trowel, gloves and bucket for watering if you have one, although there will be plenty on site.

The planting site is the north west corner of the property so you need to drive down the ridge and across
the ford. Ribbons will be in place to guide you. We can provide a ferry service if you are uncomfortable
with driving down the track and across the ford.

Please contact me by email, mobile text or phone (Peter Vincent 0419 500 597) if you are planning to come or have any questions.

Company News
Next AGM

A reminder that the next AGM will be held at the Tothills property on Saturday 14 October starting at 1:30
pm. More details including directions will be provided closer to the time.

New Members
The Board, at its last meeting, voted unanimously to offer Angela Wilde and Nic Nicol the opportunity to
become members of the company through the issue of new shares at the most recent share sale price.
This was made possible by using the vacant shareholding that became available following a recent share
transaction. The monies raised will be used to fund the ongoing management and conservation of our
properties as well as provide some financial flexibility for the future.
As many of you are aware, Angela and Nic have contributed hugely as volunteers to the Company through their efforts at the Rockleigh property. Among their achievements have been the collection, cleaning and drying of local provenance native seeds, the establishment of a seed bank and the propagation of some 4000 tube stock. As well as participating in the general planting programmes, the planting out of the native grass enclosures has largely been through their efforts. This work will greatly help in more efficiently sourcing substantial amount of seeds from several species of native grasses, a critical food source for Diamond Firetail finches. They also set up a walking trail to showcase some 50 plant species when they flower in spring and have published a booklet to help identify many of the more common plants on the property.
Angela and Nic are worthy and enthusiastic additions to our membership and we warmly welcome them
into the company.

Talyara Property
Some of the board and company members had an opportunity to visit a property known as Talyara
approximately 10 km NW of Laura, on the eastern flanks of the southern Flinders Ranges. The property is
covered by Heritage agreements and extends over an area of 486 hectares. The property is well vegetatedby sclerophyll woodland and forest typical of this area. There are no substantial issues with the property but the current ownership group is considering the ongoing management of it and their involvement. Bushland Conservation and representatives of the Talyara ownership group have had discussion about this property but as yet there is no firm proposal. The membership will be kept up to date on any developments.

Best wishes,
Peter Vincent

Hope to see you out at Rockleigh for the planting days.

bushlandconservation1975@gmail.com
Mobile 0419500597

The Bushland Conservation Pty Ltd AGM will be held at our Tothills property on Saturday 14 October starting at 1:30 pm.

Contact details.

Peter Vincent
Company Secretary
Bushland Conservation
bushlandconservation1975@gmail.com