The East Gippsland forests will again be the venue for the 21st annual Forests Forever Camp this Easter. Expert botanists and ecologists will lead walks and tours around some of the best old growth and rainforests that the Errinundra Plateau and surrounds has to offer.
This camp has been held in East Gippsland since the local environment group was formed in 1982. The Concerned Residents of East Gippsland (CREOG) now has a membership of over 400 and this camp is their annual fund-raiser, which helps them continue their work to protect the environment of the region.
The camps are held in a small farming settlement called Goongerah, which is the base for walks and other activities. Goongerah is about 70 km north of Orbost and sits between the Errinundra and Snowy River National Parks. This little valley hugs the Brodribb River and a pleasant camp site among the peppermints and manna gums is set up to cater for the 120 or more people who attend. Solar power, a large marquee, information tent, firewood and bush toilets are provided by the group.
The tour leaders comprise of people with many years experience in the forests of this region. A regular well-known personality is David Cameron. He has boundless enthusiasm and knowledge of the plants and history of East Gippsland with his specialty being rainforests. If you chose to take a walk with David, be ready for brain overload - and take a torch.
His love of these parts seems to envelope him in a world where time is irrelevant. David also brings his famous rainforest slide show to explain every fascinating aspect of a rainforest’s workings. This solar powered show is presented under the marquee with Yellow-bellied gliders calling from the trees above.
Dr Kevin Thiele is our other regular botanist and walks leader. He has lived and worked in East Gippsland for many years and has discovered plants unknown to the region. His scope of knowledge spans far wider than merely flora; he can identify a Gahnia sedge butterfly at 100 paces and tell you of the fascinating mating habits of the arboreal mammals as he takes night time prowls in the forest with a spotlight. He often finds possums and gliders but the Powerful and Sooty owls are a little more difficult to spot.
Jill Redwood is the coordinator of CROEG and the other raconteur of the walks. She will explain the environmental and European history of the region. As these forests have also provided the logging industry with wood for many decades, the results of forest management on the ecology and biodiversity of these areas is also explained.
If this sounds like a holiday for plant fanatics you’re right! The four days will cost $40 ($30 conc.) per person, or $15 a day, children 15 and under, no charge.
For more information or to make a booking, call Ian on 5154 0146
Jill on 5154 0145,
or email croeg@bigpond.com. Details and map can be posted out.