Sunset and moths

Yesterday afternoon, while I was working on the computer, a friend rang me to say there was a terrific sunset outside.Normally I see the glow of such events in the late afternoon sky. But with the sun moving well around to the west (not south-west) and my study window facing east, I had not noticed the glow.I rushed out, and knowing how quickly sunsets fade, I grabbed the camera and took 3 quick shots. Thanks to Peter for letting me know.
Later on, there were several species of Moths around - just quietly sitting on the wall of my front porch. None of that crazy buzzing around, as other moths tend to do, in autumn. This is a mid-sized moth, (about an inch long), with shallow "tent" habit of folding its wings. The wings themselves are grey, camouflaged, and very finely fringed at the lower edge. It is not a heavy bodied moth, as, for example, "bogong moths" are. The legs are not hairy, and have some of those very long spikes along them. Contrast that with the very hairy Swift Moth below,

See the fine fringes on the lower edges of the wings.
This one looks to me to bew very similar to Donald Hobern's image of Heteromicta pachytera.
I have no information on this moth, other than that they are in the Pyralidae (or Crambidae) which group are said to be "concealed feeders" - i.e, they hide inside the substance on which they are feeding. As a group, they are referred to as "Webworms, Meal, Flour, & Frass Moths".
I have not seen Swift Moths for more than two weeks. I was starting to believe they only came out in the rain, but last night, there was no rain. There were three of these moths. Two different individuals here. Note the very finely haired legs, and the large antennae, and the thick coating of "fur" over the body (behind the head).

See from the side, you can recognise this moth as one of the Swift Moths which were around several weeks ago. Those Swift Moths were identified by Donald Hobern as Oxycanus dirempta. By local standards, these are very large moths. They sit with their wings in a very steep "tent" formation.

As one of the dominant local plants is the Blackwood Wattle, these moths would appear to have plenty of food for their caterpillars, which burrow into the ground, to feed on the roots of Acacia plants (trees). They are also likely to be the "host" species of caterpillar which gets invaded by Fungus spores, which develop in the "Cordyceps" fungus, which is quite common in this area. If you go to that linked post, you will see "mummified" caterpillars which have large fungi growing out of their now mummified bodies - once the caterpillar has been "consumed" by the invasive hyphae (roots) of the fungus. The caterpillars are typically longer than my fingers. The fungus then is about the size and shape of a cigar.
Another of the weird and wonderful aspects of the Nature of Robertson.

Life and Death - a solemn posting.

Yesterday I went to Canberra to help my father, my brothers and their wives celebrate my father's 97th birthday. We were all together, and it was a pleasant occasion.My daughter, Zoe had come along earlier to congratulate Dad, and to give him a hug. Here he is - blowing out the candles on the cake made for him by one of his grand-children.What nobody wishes to discuss on such occasions is the dark thought that every time we see Dad could be the last. So, lets all make the most of it, eh?

*****

To confirm that last point, I was rung this morning with the news that Roy Freere, a wonderful, gentle and knowledgeable Robertson resident, had died.

I like to think of Roy as generous person, someone who was particularly generous with his knowledge. Roy shared his knowledge with others very willingly, unlike some people who keep knowledge as their private source of power and influence. Roy willingly gave lectures and illustrated talks to local groups about Fungi, about which he was very knowledgeable. He also hosted the annual visits to the Robertson Rainforest by the members of the Sydney Fungal Studies Group. He was also an artist, and print-maker, whose works are available in local galleries.
This image of Roy was taken several years ago when we did a joint visit to a property at Canyonleigh on behalf of the National Parks Association, to check out the potential of a private property for possible inclusion in the near-by Bangadilly National Park.

I understand Roy's funeral will be held in Robertson next Tuesday.

I have already spoken with Joan, to wish her all the best. She has been an absolute model of the loving wife to Roy and a wonderfully caring nurse - over the recent months of his illness. But above all, I think of Joan as Roy's life partner. They were a beautifully matched couple.

Let us remember Roy Freere for the gentle and generous soul he was.
.
.

Wind Farm at Crookwell, NSW

Just south from Crookwell (approx. 50Kms north of Goulburn) there is a wind farm.
It is located right on top of the Great Dividing Range, and as the sign politely says, it is located here because Crookwell has clean air. I think they mean that this place is as "windy as hell".
These devices are very large, and they looked like they were just a few hundred metres away, but, without anything else to give them a scale, it is hard to tell. They might have been 500 metres away, or more.The point about the distance away is that I could hear absolutely no noise from these wind turbines. I have seen these devices previously, in Germany, and one could hear a quiet "whoosh" as the turbines rotated. But it does not seem to me to be too noisy, or intrusive.

No doubt the sign is a PR statement for wind energy (and Eraring), but I feel this form of energy is less intrusive on the Environment than the coal powered Power Stations run by Eraring Energy. It surely will help minimise Global Warming is we have more of these Wind Power generators.

If you buy "Green Energy" this where it comes from.

Here is a chart about how much energy is produced, depending upon the strength of the wind (obviously). There is a cut-out mechanism to prevent damage to the turbines in ultra high wind conditions (as it would be there tonight).

Farmers hopes dashed by acts of political spite

Farmers from across New South Wales today gathered outside what passes in this State for a Parliament.
They came in their hundreds believing that their representatives might consider their stories, their experiences and their views (if not their votes).No-one thought it would be easy. These people know that - they are farmers. "Easy" is not what farmers ever expect from their lot in life.
They assembled outside the Parliament building at 10:30 am, having left the Liverpool Plains at 3:30am. Many of them are in their seventies - life-long farming families. They take the threat to their livelihoods, and to their lifestyle, seriously.For them this is a battle for preserving family heritage. In many cases we are talking about three generations of family farming, sometimes more. Why would they not take that threat seriously?And then there is the economic issue - based around short term profits for foreign multinational companies (including the once great "Big Australian" - BHP Billiton, now primarily a South African controlled and administered mining conglomerate (their "Headquarters" in Melbourne is managed primarily by South African executives) - and the Chinese Mining company Shenhua and its proposed "Watermark" mine. The people from the Gloucester-Stroud area were also well represented, as well as people from the Mudgee district, the Central Coast, Illawarra and the Southern Highlands.All these groups of affected farmers posed the same economic question - Coal versus Food?
It is a short term versus long-term issue - short term profits (and short-term royalties for Government) versus rural communities providing sustainable income - in perpetuity.
Ultimately the farmers can grow food and rural produce worth infinitely more than the coal.
But not if their land is destroyed, either by the truly disastrous Open Cut mining (as proposed by Shenhua and Gloucester Coal) or by longwall mining, as proposed by BHP, which will drain the aquifers upon which the farmers depend. Either way they will be "stuffed".
IMAGE: The Hunter Region's Lemington coalmine - thanks to Hunter Valley Gliding Instructor Morgan Sandercock of www.sandercock.com (Image found at Project SafeCom website)

The rally was quite good natured, and there were even a few light-hearted moments, such as when Kim and Bernie from the Australian Water Network were "arrested" by Constable Mal from the Wilderness Society (in fancy dress).Here is the "Wanted" poster for Minister Ian Macdonald, Minister for Mineral Resources.Well, with the rally over, we went into the Parliament, to find that our presence, outside and inside the building was treated with suspicion (initially) and then disdain, and ultimately, with disrespect.

Firstly, prior to the resumption of the debate on the Bill, as scheduled as per the Orders of the Day, the Government attempted to introduce a condolence motion for a soldier killed in Afghanistan. This was clearly a stalling tactic, for the Condolence Motion had been on the Notice Paper for some 13 days. Suddenly it was brought forward as a matter of urgency. One Member, quite rightly berated the Government for attempting to use the death of a soldier as a stalling tactic to prevent the debate on another matter (the coal mining bill). As he said, he is the only Vietnam Veteran in any Parliament in Australia, and he felt sure all Vietnam Veterans and serving Soldiers would feel disgust that a soldier's death could be abused in such a callous and politically expedient manner. Duncan Gay, Deputy Leader of the National Party has put out a Press Release along these lines.

The bid to bring forward the debate on the Condolence Motion was withdrawn, but not before some precious time had been lost. The Government had simply wanted to avoid the substantive debate being brought on in front of an audience of farmers and environmental campaigners. The debate eventually started, with just one speaker, and was then adjourned when Question Time was called at 12:00 noon. Round one to the Government's delaying tactic.

During Question Time, Minister Macdonald answered a "Dorothy Dixer" (a friendly question on the subject from one of his own back-benchers). He spoke lovingly of being both the Minister for Agriculture and Minister for Mining - ignoring the obvious conflict of interest, as portrayed in the aerial picture above of a Hunter Valley Coal mine. Round two to the Government.
Mining wins over Agriculture, every time, when the miners do that to the earth.

We went to lunch at this point.

Tonight, when we came home to the Southern Highlands we heard on the radio that the bill had been defeated by a single vote.

Reverend the Hon Fred Nile, MLC, Assistant President of the Legislative Council of New South Wales voted against the Bill, because, as he is reported (by the ABC) to have said (Hansard reports are not yet available as I write this): "I can not support this bill. It's not because of the content, it is because if the bill is allowed (it) will give a great ability for the Green party to blow their trumpets," he said.

Did you get that, folks? The Reverend Fred Nile voted the Bill down, not because of the content of the Bill, but out of spite - because he cannot bear the thought of the Greens having a win.

I would dearly love to ask the Reverend Fred (a member of the "Christan Democrats Party") upon which Christian or Democratic principles he made that decision? The majority of the persons affected by the Bill which he voted down are old-fashioned "God Fearing Folks", from the country - some even as old as himself. Do they not have the right to some consideration? What about the future livelihoods of their families, about whom his Party would surely profess concern?

No doubt the vote by the Reverend Gentleman is based upon other issues, such as the Right to Life debate, and his well-known views against homosexuality. Neither of those issues bears any relevance to the debate. His vote would appear to be based not upon the arguments themselves (he said as much himself) as upon hatred of certain views of the proponents of the Bill. I conclude that, in all probability, he voted it down out of pure spite.

The words "Old Bastard" and "Hypocrite" spring to my mind, but I could not possibly use them to refer to the Reverend Gentleman, and Honourable Member of the NSW Legislative Council.

Fred Nile was joined in opposing the Bill by the two members of the Shooters Party (in the NSW Upper House). It is well known that the Greens party opposed the contruction of a large Rifle Range and Shooting Complex at Hill Top (near Mittagong), in the Southern Highlands. So their opposition to this Bill is presumably a "pay back" against the Greens for that issue - even though they won their case for the Shooting Range, with the support of the Gopvernment.

Ironic that - for the Shooters Party people claim to have many members who are farmers. Certainly many farmers are shooters. Yet they voted down a bill which would have advantaged their own class of constituents. Yet another example of voting according to spite, not principle, nor on the arguments of the case, nor on the economics of the case, nor even according to natural political sympathies nor presumed shared interests.

***** ***** *****

There is a salutary lesson to be learnt here.
Be careful who you choose as your friends, in Politics.

The farmers of NSW who were threatened by coal mining had little choice in going with the Greens - even though they might not be regarded as natural Greens constituents. Many would surely be more naturally regarded as either "old-money Liberals" or Nationals supporters (remember when they were the Country Party?). However, only Lee Rhiannon (the sponsor of this Bill) and the other Greens had shown much interest at all in opposing coal mining under prime agricultural land. When the Greens proposed this Bill, it seemed the farmers' only hope of gaining Legislative support. So, naturally they supported the Bill.

But the Bill was defeated precisely because it was sponsored by The Greens.

UPDATE: Hansard Extract - part of Speech by Rev'd the Hon Fred Nile, MLC:
"That is why I cannot support this bill. It is not because of the content; it is because the bill will give the Greens greater ability to blow their trumpets and claim a great victory in this State, and give them further political oxygen. During my time in this Parliament I have been working hard to deny political oxygen to the Greens." Fred Nile - 4 May 2009.
You may go to the Hansard link above to read the full debate.

***** ***** *****

The National Party member for the Upper Hunter, Mr George Souris has a track record of promoting coal mining, although he spoke to the crowd today of his support for this Bill. That speech brought tears to the eyes of the well-loved and well-respected member of the Liverpool Plains community, Mrs Duddy who said: "I have waited three long years for George Souris to say what he has said, here, today".

Front and Centre - Mrs Duddy
Photo: (AAP: Dean Lewins)
From the ABC report of the defeat of the Bill.

The decent farming folk of New South Wales do not deserve to be treated in the disgraceful manner in which they were treated today. In fact - nobody does.

At the very least we expect in a Parliamentary Democracy for debates to be treated upon the merits of the argument. We hope for nothing more. We got much, much less than that today. As a debate, it was a disgrace.

***** ***** *****

There is an up-side to this, however, for if I know these people, as I believe I do, they will not take it lying down. In fact, in all likelihood they will be stirred to a spirit akin the famous uprising at the Eureka Stockade:

• "The Eureka rebellion, which is often referred to as the 'Eureka Stockade' is a key event in the development of Australian democracy and Australian identity, with some people arguing that ‘Australian democracy was born at Eureka’.
• In my opinion, what passes for Democracy in NSW, died today in Macquarie Street, Sydney.
  
• Let us hope that it arises afresh, in the spirits of the people who were so disrespectfully treated today - people from Caroona, Liverpool Plains, the Upper Hunter and the Mudgee region, the Lower Hunter, the Gloucester, Stroud and Barrington Tops region, the central Coast, the Illawarra and the Southern Highlands.

Authorised by Denis Wilson, Robertson, NSW.

Protea "Pink Ice" flowering in my garden

When I moved to Robertson I was aware that the rich red basalt soils here are good for growing Protea plants and their relatives, such as the native Waratahs. The reason I knew this is that the plants I was intending to grow here, Peonies, grow really well in Monbulk, in the Dandenong Ranges (Victoria). Monbulk is famous for its rich red basalt soil - just as is Robertson (in NSW). Monbulk is home to Australia's largest specialist Protea propagation nursery "Proteaflora".

So, naturally, as I was establishing my garden here, I planted some of the members of the Protea tribe - Leucadendrons, Proteas, Banksias and Waratahs, and Grevilleas. This was largely an experiment, to see how they would grow, for some, especially the Grevilleas, are said to be very fussy about soil, preferring poor, low-nutrient soils. But most have done very well indeed. Some have exceeded all expectations, notably the Banksia "Giant Candles" which has had to be beheaded several times already to prevent it outgrowing its roots, and suffering wind damage.

The reason for the "caveat" about the soil is that very few members of the Proteaceae tribe grow here naturally - but members of this tribe of plants are very common just a few kilometres from here on the sandstone plateau below the Robertson range. It seems the reason is that the local rainforest plants survived so well, prior to European settlement and clearing of the land that the native Proteaceae never got a chance to "invade" the basalt. There are only two exceptions to this principle that I know of - a Helicia (of which there is but a single specimen left, apparently), and the tall rainforest tree Stenocarpus salignus.

One of these plants which has done particularly nicely, and grows only at a moderate rate, has turned out to be the popular hybrid Protea "Pink Ice". I bought my specimen Protea "Pink Ice" from Wariapendi Nursery at Colo Vale, NSW (near Mittagong), one of many nursery outlets for"Proteaflora" plants in NSW.

Here are the results:

A bud just starting to develop.
The black marks on the outer sheathing bracts are distinctive
from a related plant, Protea neriifolia, whjich is one of the parent plants to "Pink Ice".Here is the next stage of development of the bud.
It is very elongated overall, and narrow in the tip.
There are many black fibres in the tip of the bud, at this stage.
As the flower opens, the top broadens out.
Suddenly the profile of the flower changes, just as it opens.
It is almost "square cut" at the top, with masses of silvery fibres.
Here is a top view of the flower.
You can see what I mean about the silvery fibres.
This flower has not yet opened fully, but I would have to say that
this is my personal favourite stage of development of the flower.

There is one further stage of development, which is yet to occur. So I will show the fully opened flower shortly (when it opens). The flower becomes chalice-shaped.

IMAGES OF MOUNT RAE FOREST

Mark Selmes from Mount Rae, near Taralga and Crookwell (north of Goulburn, NSW) convened a fund-raising exhibition today in Crookwell. It was really well attended, with people from as far away as Sydney, and Nowra and Canberra and central western NSW.
I have previously written about visiting Mark's property at Mt Rae, and of course, I wrote about the Orchids I saw there. That is relevant to today's event, because Alan Stephenson, the Conservation Officer of the Australasian Native Orchid Society had some of his photos on exhibition - of rare Orchids found at Mark's property.

Mark sent me the following comments:
IMAGES OF MOUNT RAE FOREST

• "This exhibition of photos and artworks was inspired by the forest and its unique plants and animals. It will be on public display at Catherine's Cafe, Crookwell, from the 1st June until the 31st of July.
• "All artworks are for sale, with proceeds going towards Roslyn Landcare Group's proposal for land purchase or threatened species projects within this forest. Roslyn Landcare has just been announced as the recipient of the 2009 Regional landcare community group award for the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment area."
• "Internationally renown wildlife artist Humphrey Price-Jones has donated an original painting - Gang Gang Cockatoos. Another Price-Jones work-a print of the forests Powerful Owl is also for sale."
• Mr Price-Jones states "in depicting 2 of the threatened bird species of this forest I hope to raise awareness of their plight and raise funds for their protection. The significance of Mount Rae forest cannot be overestimated, as it is a reservoir of great importance for this areas biodiversity"
• "Professional photographer Andy Stavert, has donated 4 panoramic photos, reproduced on canvas by Arthead of Goulburn, of this forest, taken in winter 2008."
• "Donations have already been received in support of this landcare effort. The Goulburn Field Naturalist Society, the Wilderness Society and the Goulburn branch of the Society for growing Australian plants have already made generous contributions. Combined with individual and landcare member contributions the total already raised stands at over $44,000."
  

***** ***** *****

The event was held at Catherine's Cafe, Bakery and Deli, in the main street of Crookwell (not in the back lane as Google Maps shows it to be.)

Here are two images of the crowd assembled to support the bid to protect the forests at Mt Rae.

Rodney Falconer of the Goulburn Field Naturalists Society
The artist Humphrey Price-Jones speaking passionately about the Mt Rae forests.His original painting of the Gang Gang Cockatoos.

The print of the Powerful Owl - by Humphrey Price-Jones.
Framed photo of a stem of Stegostylis Orchids, by Alan Stephenson.
Panoramic photos by Andy Stavert
I have bought one of these photographic prints.
A junior supporter of the Mt Rae forest
dressed in the iconic "Koala suit"
made famous by the Wilderness Society fundraisers.

Flight over the Wollondilly and Nattai Rivers

Several days ago I went for a quick flight with my friend Jim.
He wanted to go west, over the Wollondilly River, to show me a particular geographical feature he had seen on a trip back to his home from Cowra.
We flew just south of Bowral - towards Mt Jellore, which is west of Mittagong, and north of the Wombeyan Caves Road (at High Range). Mt Jellore is a near perfect cone which stands high above the horizon in this view (above where I have written its name). (Click to enlarge image)


Unfortunately, the weather was against us, when we got out towards the Wollondilly River, near Bullio. We circled around to see the clifflines and obvious hills out there, but many features could not be seen because of low cloud.

Here is the Wollondilly Valley, with a cliff line from near Mt Wanganderry
which is the highest point on the High Range, along the Wombeyan Caves Road.

Here is Mt Jellore, seen from close above.

This contour map image shows well how round this mountain is.
It is over 800 metres high, rising out of the Nattai Valley and Wollondilly Valley.

The weather was against us, but what could be seen was pretty wild, and invites further examination - by 4 wheel drive vehicle, and on foot.

This remarkable cliff formation is extremely narrow.
Without checking for names on detailed contour maps, I don't know if it has an official name.
I have referred to it as the Knife Edge Cliff, beyond Mt Jellore.

Even Jim was impressed with it, and graciously allowed another fly past, for me to get this shot.

It looks like a natural spot to find Peregrine Falcons, to me.
Wonderful clifflines.