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Enjoy the Hallelujah Hills
There’s no better way to get to know and enjoy our properties at Hallelujah Hills and Read Creek Hills than to join members and friends at our working bees each month from March until October.
Working bee dates for 2016 are on the last Saturday of the month (except March):
19 March, 30 April, 28 May, 25 June, 30 July, 27 August, and 24 September.
Days start at 9.30am, meeting at Read Creek Hills. Contact Peter Knapp for more information on -0431 161 954
There are a lot of different activities you can choose from –
- Hand pulling or spraying horehound and other weeds in teams led by weed expert Greg Donovan
- Checking fencing – walk the fences to remove any branches and/or map damage and get a good look at the properties on the way
- Taking photos - at official photo points, of actions, plants and animals to build a picture catalogue for our website, and other publications and property records.
- Contributing to maintaining and improving Read Creek Hills cottage and outbuildings
- Clearing the main tracks from overgrowth
- Planning a side garden for Read Creek Hills cottage
- Developing walking trail routes across the two properties
NB.If you would like to stay overnight at Read Creek cottage before or after a working bee please book with Judy Knapp at pjknapp@internode.on.net or phone Judy on 0402 683 347
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More workshops at Worlds End
After last year's successful bird-watching and seed collecting workshops this year we’re planning to hold workshops on geology, gemology, walking trail design and mapping, plant ID and propagation, and the history of World End area and our properties.
Any other ideas for workshops, let Wendi know and watch out for news in the next edition.
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Feral animal control – safety provisions for visitors
We have organised on-going monitoring and shooting of feral animals on our properties by expert tracker and sharp shooter Ron Dunstan. He will only do this if there is no-one visiting the properties.
So if you plan to drop in to visit or stay a few days at Hallelujah Hills or Read Creek Hills you MUST let Judy Knapp know so she can advise Ron not to shoot on these days. Text or phone Judy on0402 683 347.
We are very lucky to have found Ron to monitor and control feral deer, goats, foxes and cats on our properties. Last year he saw and shot a number of deer (6 out of 10 seen), goats (3 out of 5 seen), a cat (1 seen) and foxes (1 trapped).
Ron is highly safety conscious but also a crack shot, a skilled tracker and a humane trapper who loves , wandering our properties just for the beauty of the landscapes. The largest number of roos seen in one trip was 35 - too many for our fragile vegetation.
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Security at Read Creek Hills
Following a break-in and theft from our cottage and sheds at Read Creek Hills last October long weekend the Directors have installed security cameras and will add signs to this effect at the gates.
While we don’t store valuable items at Read Creek Hills, a break-in causes Directors a lot of extra work organising insurance cover, replacements and repairs.
With the previous theft of several gates on another long weekend, members are encouraged to consider staying at Read Creek Hills’ cottage or camping at Hallelujah Hills – both magic and peaceful places on a public holiday. Your presence would also be a great deterrent to thieves!
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New initiatives at Worlds End
Along with property management and conservation work at our Hallelujah Hills and Read Creek Hills properties, Directors and members are following up on three exciting new initiatives:
Revitalising our website
Moves are underway to revitalise our Worlds End Conservation website by transferring it to a more user-friendly content management system called WordPress.
Eleven members contributed to a great planning session in late January to clarify what we want from the website and to explore options for increasing our presence on the internet – vital for spreading the word about Worlds End Conservation.
Liz Millington is coordinating an informal working group looking at setting up the WordPress site, establishing a linked Facebook page and developing well written content. If you’re interested in joining our efforts, please contact Liz on 0468 530 831.
Considering fund-raising
Our chairperson, Wendi Avery, has been exploring ideas for fund raising for Worlds End Conservation with a very experienced corporate fund-raising friend. They covered the ins and outs of corporate sponsorships and donations, fund raising events and appeals and many other approaches. Watch this space for some new ways of attracting financial support for conservation in the Hallelujah Hills! And please add your ideas and experience too.
Improving facilities at Read Creek Hills
The cottage at Read Creek Hills is a great base for members and friends to use as a base for visiting and working at our properties. It also has potential be a source of income by accommodating others such as bush-walkers or scientific survey groups.
We have already made a lot of improvements at the cottage, repairing gutters, repairing white ant damage to doors, painting doors and windows, carpeting and furnishing, installing a donkey heater for hot water, and ensuring water supply to taps and a flushing toilet.
The next possibility is to replace the previous generator-powered lighting with a new solar system.
We’ll let you know how we go!
Anyone with skills or materials to offer for the solar system or other house maintenance projects please contact Peter Knapp (0431 161 954)
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Fossicking at Read Creek Hills
Last year 24 members of the Murraylands Gem & Mineral Club visited Read Creek Hills searching for “Devils Dice”, which is limonite, basically Iron, in a pyrite crystal form.
It had been some 25 years since gemologist Kym Loechel visited an old fossicking site on our Worlds End Conservation property. This area was visited on a regular basis in the 1970’s by the various Gem Clubs and the exact location of the spot was not really “lost” merely “misplaced”.
Peter Knapp met the Gem Club members and explained what Worlds End Conservation was all about. Everyone was most impressed with the property and our positive action to protect the area while allowing access to people like Gem Club members who are interested in the natural environment.
The “Devils Dice” were found above the St Elmo copper mine area lying on the surface and a little diligent searching soon saw all the members, particularly the kids, finding lovely specimen pieces.
There was much excitement, and lots of pictures taken when a large scorpion was discovered under a rock, soon finding safety under the roots of a small mallee.
Kym said it was very hard to look down trying to find specimens when the views for 360 degrees around were so breath taking. Several members just sat and took it all in!
The group gave special thanks to all those who take care of the property and for allowing them to share this wonderful place.
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As Kym said: “Areas such as this are so vital to the community and from our perspective being allowed to visit on a fossicking trip means our hobby also has a future.”
[Editor: thanks to Kym Loechel for his lively report and photo that I've shamelessly plagiarized! May we host them again and other visitors who so clearly love the Hallelujah Hills]
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Welcome New Shareholders!
Since our last newsletter, Ann Douglas and Esther Caprez have become shareholders of Worlds End Conservation Pty Ltd. They bring many skills and much passion for conserving our unique landscapes. Ann and Esther are particularly interested in developing bush walking trails and bring much experience from walking the Heysen Trail. We hope they enjoy many days in the Hallelujah Hills.
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