Dec
4
Written by:
Southern Trails
4/12/2010 9:40 AM
You may ask why I have not been reporting on Talooge for the past few months. Well, I hope to make up for it in this issue – extolling the beauty of Talooge, reporting on a recent working bee and a cull of goats, warning about snakes and camping, advising on additional contact details for Steve Collins (for access along Strike-a-Light fire trail), exhorting you to participate in the Xmas Party at Talooge and providing a note on access arrangements for Talooge and planning for new toilets and showers.
Talooge is presently looking exceptional. The rain really has made a difference and there is ample evidence we are making a positive impact in areas we had not seen previously. For example, we are now seeing purple wildflowers in many areas including near the DTU sheds, the lawns are green and free of the black verbascum stalks, the water is flowing down Strike-a-Light Creek and there are considerable areas of dead clumps of the dreaded serrated tussock. Trees are sprouting leaves and looking healthy. Talooge should be in perfect condition for the Christmas party on 4-5 December (you are coming aren’t you – you will enjoy it) and for just camping/relaxing over the summer and autumn.
Working bee
Tasks completed by a dedicated band of 17individuals over the weekend of 6-7 November will enhance your enjoyment of your stay at Talooge. We have extended the camping areas near Strike-a-Light River adjacent to Horse Paddock (a much preferable alternative to camping under the tall gum trees near the shelter). The Offset Mounds now have their own firepit and water supply for hand washing after visiting the toilets, and hopefully will soon have a shelter to view the fun of drivers navigating the mounds or to escape the stress of stall-outs on the adjacent nursery slopes.
The DTU area has received a make-over with a major cleanup, expanded garden areas and new paving. And the equipment shed now has some shelves to store our tents and tarpaulins etc. A very big thankyou to participants including Mar Jones, Bev Blakston, Sue and Joe Briguglio, Anne and Dan O’Hara, Janet Neale and Doug Brown, Greg Taylor, Michael Patrick, Rob Donaldson, Graeme and Leon Kruse, Richard Brand, Mike Rodd and Adrian Gallman. Members may be interested Bev was participating on her last club trip – a working bee no less - and did a great job –she is selling her truck and buying a town car – we will miss you Bev, good luck.
Goat cull
A cull of goats was conducted at Talooge on 9 and 10 October. Three members of SSAA Hunting and Conservation Branch participated and were accompanied by Graeme Kruse. Graeme reported that
"I have nothing but praise for the three hunters from H&C. They were very easy to get on with and were very professional in there approach to the cull. All animals were dispatched quickly and humanely (9 goats - 6 were harvested and all carcass remains plus the 3 that were not suitable for harvesting were disposed of appropriately) .
At all times safety (that of ourselves and others) was of paramount priority;
- signs were placed on the southern and northern gates on Rayners FT - contact details, via UHF 14, was included on the sign and monitored continuously, at all times while on a hunt we all wore a piece of high visibility 'blaze orange' clothing,
- there was no splitting up of a team,
- there was no shooting across tracks,
- no shooting in the direction of buildings (ours or neighbors),
- no shooting where there was a chance of a ricochet,
- the rifle's magazine and bolt were only inserted when a goat was spotted on a hunt ,
- rifles were cross checked when entering the camping area to ensure that magazine and bolt had been removed, and,
- while in the camping area the rifle, its bolt, its empty magazine and all ammunition were stored separately to each other."
SSAAH&C also provided us an extract of their report to their Committee. I can forward it to anyone interested. I think the reports reflect favourably on the approach we have adopted to have a professional, independent body (SSAAH&C) carry out the operation. Our approach is likely to have the best chance of encouraging adjacent landowners to join with us, as well as to maximise the cull and do it humanely.
No further culls have been scheduled but we expect more will be planned either in 2010 or 2011. It is intended we give members as much notice as possible of the proposed times for future culling operations. Some inconvenience to members is inevitable - hopefully with adequate notice this can be minimised. It would also be appreciated if members can call me if they plan to visit Talooge.
Warning
Remember, do not camp under or near trees that may drop branches on you/your tent or truck. Some large branches have fallen (some green, some dead) near the shelter area. There is plenty of areas that are safe. And as summer is nearly upon us remember it is also snake season.
Strike-a-Light fire trail access
You would be aware I have encouraged members to use Strike-a-Light fire trail where possible, which will reduce the traffic going past Richie Southwell’s front door. One constraint has been the ability to contact Steve Collins, the landowner through which the fire trail passes and request him to open the gate at Cherry Tree Creek. Well, now you can contact Steve anytime during the day (or at least his recorded message service) by phoning the Bredbo Pizza Shop on 6454-4040 as well as phoning his home number (between 8am and 9am) on 6454 3063.
Talooge access and future planning for showers and toilets
These matters are my highest priority for Talooge. It has taken a long time to make progress unfortunately and their resolution will require considerable time, financial, physical and brainpower resources, as well as lots of goodwill. Anyone interested in participating in this important task is most welcome.