Phillip Island Conservation Society

The Penguin

Newsletter of Phillip Island Conservation Society First Quarter,
March 2009

Dates for Your Diary 2009

Sat April 11 - Children's Environment Morning "Insects". Heritage Centre Cowes 11 am-12 noon.

Sat April 18 - PICS General Meeting Jane Jobe, Convenor, Bass Coast Roundtable of the Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere, followed by meeting. Heritage Centre, Cowes, 8 p.m.
Please note that as we have concluded the Five Ways project, there will be no working bee on the Sunday.

Sat May 9 - Children's Environment Morning "Spiders". Heritage Centre Cowes 11 am-12 noon.

Sat May 16 - Seasonal Walk Nobbies boardwalk and South Coast Rd. Meet outside Nobbies building door. 2 p.m.

Fri June 5 - World Environment Day. BCSC Expo for school children and Sustainability Festival for the general public will be around this time - date to be fixed shortly. If you can volunteer to help set up or pull down the SR Rec centre Christine would like to hear from you: ph 5956 8501.

Sat June 13 - Children's environment morning Chemistry experiments. Heritage Centre, 11 a.m. - 12 noon.

Sat July 4 - PICS General Meeting Heritage Centre Cowes. Urban Landcare officer Lisa Wangman will talk about the exciting local 3 year project: Sustaining Coastal Communities. 8 p.m.

Sat July 5 - Red Rocks Working Bee: planting day. 10-12 noon. Meet at car park.

Sat Aug 15 - Seasonal Walk: Fishers Wetland and adjacent forest (rd in to Churchill Isld) Meet at car park on left before CI bridge. 2 p.m.

Sat Aug 29 - BCSC Environment Groups get-together, organised by PICS. PINP will be our hosts at the Education Pod, Penguin Parade. 4 p.m. Tour of research, animal hospital and nursery facilities. Finger food evening meal. Speaker from PINP. All welcome.

Sat Oct 3 - PICS General Meeting: Daniel Murphy, PI-born botanist with the National Herbarium. 8p.m.

Sun Oct 4 - Red Rocks Working Bee: weed control and tidying up.

Sat Nov 21 - Seasonal Walk: Cape Woolamai club house to granite quarry return. Meet at car park, 2 p.m.

Sat Jan 9 2010 - AGM

Barb Martin Bush Bank: Sales and volunteers - every Wednesday plus 1^st Saturday of each month 10 - 1. Phone Anne Davie 5956 8216.

Friends of Koalas (FOK) Habitat Days: First Saturday of every month at 10 a.m. Contact Patsy Hunt ph 5952 2407

Koala Count at the Koala Conservation Centre, second Tuesday of every month at 10am. Contact Patsy Hunt ph 5952 2407

Biosphere - Bass Coast Round Table meets at San Remo on the third Friday of every month at 8 p.m. Contact Jane Jobe, convenor, ph 0409 530 898.

Friends of Churchill Island (FOCIS): Phone Sec Jill Allen: 5956 7109, or email: nellaa32@waterfront.net.au. Meeting dates: 19.1.08; 29.3;24.5; AGM 26.7 - 1 p.m., Visitors ' Centre, Churchill Island.

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Members,

Suddenly the hot summer has vanished, leaving behind many dead or burnt off shrubs and trees - even the indestructible agapanthus are looking the worse for wear! A fortnight ago I was at the Annual Meeting of the Barb Martin Bush Bank - a beautifully green place with lots of stock ready to go to new homes. If you are here at Easter, do visit the Bush Bank; it's a most exciting and successful venture, and one that Barb Martin would love! In 2008 the Bush Bank produced 63,139 plants for sale, made up of sixty-five different species, so you should be able to find the right plant for the right place, and there is always helpful advice available.

The date for the Hearing for Amendment C88 is not yet known. The Amendment, the Structure Plans for Silverleaves, Cowes and Ventnor, is very important as it will set the settlement boundaries and protect the rural land. As with all Amendments, it's very important that Submitters (or their representatives) appear IN PERSON. Yes, it is a time-consuming exercise, but an essential one if we are to protect the rural land and stop the urban sprawl.

I hope that you will be able to come to the General Meeting on April 18th. Many of us are still rather hazy about what a BIOSPHERE actually is, so it will be helpful to us to hear Jane's talk.

Our With best wishes,

With best wishes,

Margaret Hancock, President.

ANNUAL REPORT 2008

Members of PICS, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is my pleasure and my privilege to share in presenting the forty first Annual Report of the Phillip Island Conservation Society for the year ending 10.1.09

What a great year we've had! Non-stop action AND a fortieth birthday celebration AND a book launch! Let's begin with the birthday celebration, which included a fascinating retrospective display of events of the previous forty years - and how grateful we must be to people who keep "things" and live in cluttered houses! Kay Setches, a former Victorian Minister for Conservation, gave a fascinating review of conservation issues as she launched An Island Worth Conserving. Thanks go to the Committee, and the Editor, but not least to the Author, who perhaps may like to tell us something about the book and with progress of sales. An Island Worth Conserving

With the launch of the book at our 40th birthday celebrations in May, many years of work came to an end for me. The last 18 months have obviously been the most intensive period and I would like to especially thank my Editor, David Bradley, and my sub-committee: Margaret Hancock, Anne Davie, Penny Manning and Greg Johnson for being such a great help to me in the final draft stage of each chapter. Thanks to Margaret Johnson's excellent submission we were able to secure a $4,000 community grant from BCSC, which enabled us to print 300 copies of the book and cover all other expenses without eating into our coffers. We now have approximately 70 books left, and whilst sales have of course slowed considerably we still get orders, especially from libraries and library suppliers.

Of course a book such as a community history does not get produced without a great deal of input from many people. My thanks to all who were involved in ways great and small: you all made a difference. With the encouragement of my friend historian Dr John Hirst I have entered the book into the Victorian Community History awards, which will be announced in May. No harm in trying!

Christine Grayden

During the year we've held the usual round of General and Committee Meetings, enjoyed a variety of Seasonal Walks, and been involved in many planning issues - some of which will reappear in 2009. The BIG ONE of course was the Appeal against theThis seems to be the right moment for Patsy Hunt to tell us about "Friends of the Koalas" for a housing development and eighteen hole golf course adjacent to the Phillip Island Racing Circuit. Our very grateful thanks go to Marg Johnson who worked tirelessly on behalf of PICS and with the Environment Defenders Office and our legal representatives to achieve such an outstanding result.

The other BIG ONE, though much less spectacular, was This seems to be the right moment for Patsy Hunt to tell us about "Friends of the Koalas", which included, amongst other things, the inclusion of the Phillip Island and San Remo Design Framework as a reference document in the Bass Coast Planning Scheme and also made changes to the Vegetation Protection Overlay-Schedule 2 (Phillip Island). We had been seriously concerned by the Shire's proposal to virtually abandon all Vegetation Protection controls on Phillip Island, so it was gratifying to find our arguments reinforced by the Panel's decision. We especially appreciated the Panel's comment "That the degree and nature of control over vegetation should not just be restructured for administrative convenience."

This seems to be the right moment for Patsy Hunt to tell us about "Friends of the Koalas"

A recent report in The Age newspaper showed the alarming decline in koala numbers since 1988 - a fall of 75% in just 20 years! If not considered endangered now it is obvious that if this decline continues the koala soon will be.

The Australian Govt Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts is currently conducting a review into the 1998 National Koala Conservation Strategy. FOK provided a written submission on this review. A revised draft strategy and implementation plan will be available for public exhibition and comment in 2009. As we stated in our submission the original KCS was well researched by the problem was the objectives were not reached. So often sound strategies are launched with great fanfare but then not implemented. Exemptions are granted and promises not fulfilled. In the case of the koala its habitat is still being slowly whittled away and its future remains precarious.

On the local scene preliminary plans are now being discussed for the new building at the KCC. The size and cost of the building have been considerably reduced which we feel is a good result as t will blend in with the environment and cause less disruption. FOK felt that the original plans were ridiculously large and complex, and distracted from the attraction of the centre.

Once again considerable time has been spent commenting on various planning matters and development proposals (C85, C88, C95, Shearwater estate and 2 micro-breweries). FOK will continue to fight for the best environmental outcomes.

Patsy Hunt.

As Patsy has mentioned, plans are on the way for a much more modest and 'in keeping' proposal at the Koala Conservation Centre. Much else is also happening at the Phillip Island Nature Park: the Visitor Centre at the Penguin Parade is in need of extensive repair or of demolition and a new building! No decision has yet been finalised about this - but there are many arguments in favour of a new building.

The end is in sight for the completion of the Summerlands "Buy Back". So, once again, the possible closure of the south coast road to motor vehicles will become a point of contention. A new hospital and rehabilitation area is planned which is good news for the birds, the animals, and the staff! It's now a fairly long time since there has been a big oil spill, but those of us who've volunteered know just how difficult it's been working in such inadequate conditions.

Many of us continue to be concerned about Churchill Island - "Chill Island" may be a slick advertising gimmick, but it debases all the principles which were behind the purchase of Churchill Island, and the work of the Trust for Nature. And why, when we have a Koala Conservation Centre, which is designed to introduce visitors to Australian Bushland and koalas, we then learn that koalas (fortunately NOT from the KCC) were exhibited at Churchill Island for the edification of international conference visitors is beyond my understanding! Great care went into choosing the name "Phillip Island Nature Park" - we certainly didn't intend to have a "Phillip Island Zoo", or a "Phillip Island Animal Side Show"!

John Eddy has been co-ordinating the Red Rocks Coast Action project:

Three successful working bees were held during 2008, with the main one in July being a planting day. Under the direction of Bass Coast Shire environment officer Derek Hibbert, six participants planted 150 dune plants in the vicinity of the western staircase. Despite the later removal of brush from the site by revelers lighting a bonfire on the beach, with the consequent disturbance of some plants and guards, most of the plants have established reasonably well.

Other working bees have cleaned up rubbish and controlled woody weeds like Pittosporum and boxthorn.

The Envirofund Grant money for the completion of the western staircase was made available midway through the year and the construction work completed by building Bryan Westwood in early December. Associated fencing to protect the dunes and our planting was completed before Christmas.

Our attentions continue to focus further eastward along the fire track towards Justice Rd. Control of Pittosporum and Dolichos creeper is the major challenge in that area for the next few years. We have identified areas that will accommodate further plantings in 2009, and an order for about 460 plants has been placed already with the BMBB. This includes another 100 plants around the now-completed western staircase.

In addition, we hope to extend dune fencing around the point at Red Rocks to reduce trampling of dune vegetation. We continue to attract interest from a few local people who are not PICS members, and communicate details of working bees etc to them.

John Eddy.

We have also been fortunate to receive a grant from the "Come for a Walk" committee, which will go towards signage in the new barbecue shelter at Red Rocks. The signage will give a history of "Moonah Grove" and the PICS work in Coast Action there.

Some of you were probably able to visit the CERES display outside the Cultural Centre today. This is part of the monthly Children's Environment Mornings - a very successful activity for which we thank Christine. Let's hear about it:

We have now entered our fifth season of CEMs. While the approach has changed a bit so that we now have less emphasis on guest speakers for every session but rather feature special guest speakers for a few of the nine sessions per season and I basically run the rest, the format remains much the same. We begin the morning with an information session which is often a power point presentation or talk illustrated with pictures and materials, then the children do an art/craft activity related to the subject in some way. For example, in December we had a really fantastic talk from Marg Healey, the wildlife carer at the Phillip Island Nature Park. She showed a power point of some of the animals currently in her care and talked about their behaviour and how they are cared for. She also handed around plastic zip lock bags containing samples of the food the animals were fed and talked about methods of feeding. The children and parents asked lots of questions as usual, and then the children made possum masks.

I have taken to finishing the season with a chemistry session which the children love. John kindly organises real science equipment from where he works at Koo Wee Rup secondary college. In June he brought me 12 sets of everything. As I was leaving home I had a hunch I'd have more children than that and grabbed the stack of saved margarine containers to take. Just as well I did as I had 26 children to that session, which was on acids in the environment.

Today's Children's Environment Morning was completely different as I had managed to secure an $800 Bass Coast Shire community grant in December to have the CERES energy trailer visit Cowes. This was open to the public and we had about 100 people through. We certainly got very busy with keen children around the 11 a.m. mark as the CEM children came through. The CERES facilitator, Bruce, commented to us on the intelligent questions and responses that came from the many children. I believe that environmental education is one of the most important things PICS can do, and it is very rewarding when the children are obviously absorbing what we teach them.

Christine Grayden.

We also thank John for his excellent reports of the Seasonal Walks which appear in The Penguin, and Christine for continuing to edit and produce the newsletter four times a year.

Another person who is busy on our behalf is Anne Davie at the Barb Martin Bush Bank. Here is Anne's report:

The Barb Martin Bushbank has once again experienced a very successful year and volunteering, Bushbank style, is alive and well. Whilst difficulties persist with what seems to now be an annual occurrence ie.dry autumns, the winter months did produce some welcome rain and many tubes were planted. Urban Landcare continues to place many plant orders, and it is great to see people come to the Bushbank and discuss with Jenny, the Co-ordinator, the plants they want for their plot. Urban Landcare members receive a voucher for 30 plants which is subsidised by Phillip Island Landcare.

In September, the Bushbank celebrated its 10th birthday. The shed was full with much laughter and joy as volunteers, sponsors, Nature Parks and Landcare staff reminisced about the early days and the highlights of a remarkable success story by courtesy of a power point presentation. Christine Grayden presented the Committee with a wonderful framed photo of the legendary Barb who now smiles upon us as we enjoy morning tea or process seeds at the tables!

There were considerable improvements to the nursery during the year, including a very handsome shiny predator- proof fence upgrade. The combination of the corrugated, slippery iron along with the realignment of the electric fence has seen the exclusion of the possum and wallaby predation. The committee is grateful to the Nature Park for donating the materials and labour necessary for the project. Weldmesh tables have been constructed in three out of the four plant igloos. The dedicated volunteers undertook this project and it should reduce the likelihood of plant predation by rabbits. Weldmesh tables also increase plant health through increased drainage and airflow.

An 8 metre heat mat has been installed in one igloo to speed up germination of seed and cutting stock. These are now safely installed with a thermostat, waterproof power points and a safety switch. It is as a result of the generosity of the Book of Walks and our sponsor, Endeavour Petroleum that have enabled such significant improvements to the Nursery. The shed itself has undergone a revamp and this is still a work in progress. This upgrade is as a result of a generous grant from the Bendigo Bank.

Jenny Toy has proved to be an inspiration as the Bushbank Co-ordinator. To think she travels to work by the ferry across Western Port, rain hail or shine, says it all. Her partner, David, has also contributed many volunteer hours with the shed alterations and has given the committee valued advice on this project. Bushbank vouchers are now available for purchase in multples of 10 plants per voucher. These vouchers are suitable for use as prizes and other programs requiring Bushbank plant redemption. The vouchers come in a variety of colours and offer a professional finish with the Bushbank logo.

The next 12 months will be challenging for the Bushbank as a result of Landcare funding changes to the previously available tree subsidies under the Rudd government's new Caring For Our Country program.

Anne Davie.

Gillian Collins, who is in America at present, is keeping us well posted about activities and proposals for the Port of Hastings. Whatever happens there has great potential effects on Western Port and Phillip Island.

As well as Western Port, we have serious concerns about possible ill environmental effects from the proposed desalination plant at Kilcunda. This proposal seems to be going ahead without any real regard for environmental concerns, and the various meetings which have been held over the past year have not been genuine consultation. The Environment Effects Statement, such as it is, has serious limitations and the whole process seems to have been nothing but a charade of public consultation. However, I did represent PICS at the EES hearings, emphasising three main points:

1. The problem of where and how to dispose of the huge amount of various types of waste the plant will generate, both in construction and operation.
2. The totally negative impact the plant and its associated power lines and infrastructure will have on the landscape.
3. The lack of monitoring suggested once the plant is operational. When questioned by the panel as to who we thought should do the monitoring, I replied "Phillip Island Nature Park".

So, off we go into another busy year. The first "cab off the rank" will be C95, a housing subdivision and retirement village proposal for the land fronting Ventnor Road between Justice and Anderson Roads.

Then - at last - comes C88, the Structure Plan for Silverleaves, Cowes and Ventnor. Perhaps the most important part of this is the delineation of the township boundaries. The new housing subdivision on the west side of Justice Road is also proceeding through the planning process.

We MUST find an enforceable, legal way of protecting "Chinamen's Estate" from wilful despoilment. And - forty years on from when our first letters were written to the Shire of Phillip Island about the "Rhyll Tip", the tip closure is in sight, and the planning process for a TRANSFER STATION should be underway.

So, there's lots to be done. Let's tackle it with enthusiasm.

Margaret Hancock, President, 10.1.09

Thanks must go to the cast of our January 25th fundraiser: "A Scottish Celebration" for Robbie Burns's 250th birthday; the brainchild of member Malcolm Brodie. Joining piper and Poemteller Malcolm on stage for songs and verse were: Annie Bain: singing, poetry, narrator, m.c.; Billie Broadfoot: singing; Kate Cleeland: poetry, singing; Mike Cleeland: guitar, singing; John Eddy: guitar, poetry; Jan Fleming: poetry; Christine Grayden: poetry, singing; Anne Heath Mennell: poetry, singing; Irene McKell: poetry; Pauline Taylor: poetry; "The Real Women": Billie Broadfoot, Sue Cullen, Anita Jones, Tarnya Wilson, singing.

Over 100 audience members thoroughly enjoyed themselves and feasted on a hearty afternoon tea of scones, shortbread and Dundee fruit cake prepared by Christine, Kate & Gaye Cleeland and Anne Davie. The event raised about $800 for PICS funds. Malcolm had also been busy busking and raised a further $100+ to cover costs. Stay tuned for the next PICS Performance Group presentation! Not to be missed.

ARC Operations Pty Ltd, the company who have been testing the Nereus underwater tide current turbine at Newhaven, held a public meeting in Cowes during February to inform the community about their latest endeavor. They propose to install and test the "world's most efficient tide current generator", the Solon on the sea-bed off the coast near Red Rocks. Very different in design to the Nereus, the 7m diameter Solon is simple, robust and operates at 10 revolutions per minute, thus offering no danger to marine life. The entire unit is housed underwater, with just a marker buoy visible, and can generate 600kW of electrical power. While the permit process is still being negotiated, it is intended that a cable laid under the shore platform and access track will connect the Solon with the grid at Red Rocks car park. A number of PICS members attended the meeting. Website: www.atlantisresourcescorporation.com

For our Summer walk, 6 PICS members joined John Eddy on a tour of the Ventnor Common. This area of public land, and Saltwater Creek Reserve, is managed by BCSC, assisted by an Advisory Committee of local residents and stakeholders as committee of management appointed by DSE.

The Ventnor Common precinct includes the Ventnor Recreation Reserve and most of the land bounded between Graydens Rd, Lyall St, Ventnor Beach Rd and the sea, as well as Boat Creek Reserve south of Ventnor Beach Rd. The area has a diverse history, with many influences shaping its present form, from the burning and land clearing accompanying the earliest settlement of the Island to the recent initiative of the present management. Many of these influences were on show during our walk.

We commenced at the Rec Reserve which was established in the late 1940s, and the existing cypress trees planted on its south west and south east boundaries. Pre-settlement, the vegetation was most likely Sheoak open woodland, but due to subsequent clearing, cultivation and general grazing by stock, none remains today. The Common was the site of the original Ventnor township as laid out in 1868, but was never developed as such.

Our walk proceeded south west to an area with a history of major disturbance. During the 1950s the then Shire of Phillip Island stripped the topsoil from the site to use in binding gravel for roads. Since then some native species have naturally regenerated, and weeds such as gorse obtained a foothold. During the 1980s some attempts at rehabilitation were made with tree plantings by the Shire and later by PICS, but non-indigenous species were commonly used. We noted flourishing examples of Queensland Box and Red-Flowering Gum. Some disturbance continues with the use of a BMX track, established late 1970s, leaving substantial strips of bare soil.

Exposure of the subsoil by the Shire's earth moving activities 60 years ago has led to the establishment of a unique Sedgeland vegetation over low-lying areas of the Common on both sides of Ventnor Beach Rd, which we now crossed. We entered an extensive fenced-off section which was one of the major sites of the Environmental Blitz of October 2002. A massive community planting of thousands of indigenous trees, shrubs and ground covers throughout the Ventnor Common, combined with strategic fencing and weed removal, was done for TV. A boardwalk leading to a bird hide, with interpretive signage was a feature of that project. We noted the successful establishment of a range of shrubs and grasses.

Back onto Ventnor Beach Rd we took a track heading northwest downhill through thick Swamp Paperbark scrub which is undoubtedly remnant of a pre-settlement plant community here. The track leads through a small carpark where a sign carries a map of the Common. We again crossed VBRd and entered the well-established eucalypt woodland that is the site of the 1988 Bicentennial Treeplanting in Ventnor. Many people gathered then to plant 850 trees, a mixture of Manna gum, Blue gum, Swamp gum, Messmate and Sheoaks which had been nurtured by PICS members. The dense canopy has left little understorey, so the 'forest' is easy to walk through as it slopes down towards Boat Creek.

Back on the north side of the road we went to the picnic area created in 2002, where each shelter has information covering different aspects of conservation. Mature black wattles are prominent, with thick swamp paperbark encroaching from the centre of the Common. We followed the fire access track from the north end of this area towards Grayden's Rd, taking us through Banksia, Coast Teatree, Bursaria and Coast Wattle woodland. Wallabies are often seen here, as they are over most of the Common. A short climb brought us to the site of the Pine Plantation, originally planted in 1929 by the Ventnor Primary School children and intended for logging. Some were removed in 2002, the remainder in 2007, with the site now colonized by kangaroo apple, boobialla and hop goodenia. We returned via the fire track, formally known as Ford St.

To Order "An Island Worth Conserving: A History of the Phillip Island Conservation Society 1968-2008"

Send $20 per book + $5 per 1-2 copies postage to The Treasurer, PO Box 548, COWES, 3922. Cheques and money orders to be made payable to Phillip Island Conservation Society Inc. Include your name and address. Thanks!

Minutes of Annual General Meeting, 12th January 2008, following the General Meeting

3. Minutes of the AGM of the 13th January 2007 as circulated. Moved, G. Cleeland, seconded, M. Johnson, carried.

4. President's and Treasurer's Reports received as presented. Moved, E. Shaw, seconded, P. Manning, carried.

5. The President announced that nominations had been received prior and no election was necessary.
PRESIDENT: Margaret Hancock
SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT: John Jansson
JUNIOR VICE-PRESIDENT: Penny Manning
SECRETARY: Marg Johnson
MINUTE SECRETARY: Gaye Cleeland
TREASURER: Christine Grayden
COMMITTEE: Anne Davie, Greg Johnson, Pauline Taylor

3. Minutes of the AGM of the 12th January 2008 had not been circulated so could not be ratified. They will be circulated in the March 2009 newsletter along with these minutes.

4. President's and Treasurer's Reports received as presented. Moved, B. Howe, that the reports be accepted and the accounts be approved for payment, seconded, P. Fensham, carried.

5.R. Dyall took the chair and announced that nominations had been received prior and no election was necessary. T. Nott nominated from the floor, moved, J. Jansson, seconded, C. Grayden, carried. PRESIDENT: Margaret Hancock
VICE-PRESIDENT: Penny Manning
SECRETARY:
MINUTE SECRETARY: Gaye Cleeland
TREASURER: Christine Grayden
COMMITTEE: Gillian Collins, Anne Davie, John Jansson, Terry Nott, Pauline Taylor.
Changes to the Constitution were ratified by 35 proxy votes received in favour.
It was moved, P. Fensham, seconded, B. Howe that PICS incoming committee's priority should be an increase in membership with a report at the next AGM, carried. The junior membership category with various Friends of Zoos was mentioned. It was suggested that the target audience should be those aged 40+ whose families have grown and who have time, energy and finance to commit.
It was moved, J. Eddy, and carried by acclamation, that Malcolm Brodie be thanked for his contribution to PICS for his busking efforts on PICS's behalf. J. Eddy reported that he had attended an interesting presentation on the 19th December regarding the Aquanator and had a Power Point presentation available for viewing after the meeting.

Phillip Island Conservation Society Inc. Minutes of General Meeting held January 10, 2009

Welcome. The President, M. Hancock, welcomed everyone and opened the meeting at 8.10 pm. 2&3. Attendance. As per attendance book. Apologies. G. Collins, P. Taylor, P. Manning.

4. Minutes of the previous General Meeting, 27 September 2008, as circulated in the Newsletter.
Moved: S. Chadwick, seconded: P. Fensham, carried.

5.Business Arising.
A successful Bass Coast Shire Environment Groups Get-Together was held Saturday 8th November in the Corinella Public Hall.

6.6. Correspondence.
In: C. Grayden reported on the success of her $2,400 grant application for a laptop & data projector with spare lamp.
Out: Tabled.
Moved: J Eddy , seconded: P Manning, carried.

10. Next Working bee Sunday January 11, 10.00 am, Red Rocks.
Friends of the Koalas AGM Friday January 16, 8.00 pm, Heritage Centre Cowes.
Forum with BCS councillors and officers Saturday January 24, 2.00 pm, Cowes Cultural Centre. Malcolm Brodie's Performance Troupe celebrates the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robbie Burns with a performance at the Parish Hall on Sunday January 25 at 2.00 pm.
Seasonal Walk Saturday February 21, 2.00 pm., Ventnor Common.
General Meeting Saturday April 18, 8.00 pm, Heritage Centre Cowes.
Working bee Sunday April 19, 10-12 noon, Five Ways. Tidying up and rubbish collection.

Phillip Island Conservation Society Inc
Financial Statement for the Year Ended 31/12/08

Nil transactions outstanding.
Above statement checked to records provided.
Signed: John W. Batty, Hon. Auditor
7th February 2009

Newsletter of Phillip Island Conservation Society First Quarter, March 2009

Newsletter of Phillip Island Conservation Society First Quarter,
March 2009