In October 2012, the Australian Naturalists’ Network (ANN) was held in Canberra – the seventh time since the first gathering in Alice Springs in 2000. 61 naturalists came from Chinchilla to Launceston, from King Island to Sale, Timboon to Geelong and including 14 from WANats, some of whom have attended every ANN. A great many greetings between old friends plus an opportunity to make more. The program was tightly organised with buses picking attendees up at two points– a country club and a motor village (one morning it was 7.45!) and included visits to both institutions and natural areas and speakers. Something for everyone!
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We visited the 250ha National Arboretum – where 100 forests of rare, threatened and/or iconic trees from around the world (such as Woolemi pines and Japanese cherries) are being planted; the National Botanic Gardens; other national institutions such as the National library (viewing John Gould’s drawings and the Ellis Rohan wildflower paintings); National Herbarium, National Archives, Geoscience Australia and the National Wildlife Collection (a collection of all Australian vertebrates which is not usually accessible to the public). We had several interesting evening talks at the CSIRO Discovery Centre. On four days there were trips to various National Parks around Canberra.
Going to an ANN means you often see what is not open to the public but, more importantly, you see the area and its natural history through the eyes and the experience of the residents who know and value it. For me, seeing the grassy box woodlands with the botany being only centimetres high was an eye opener.
A grassy woodland, Campbell Park
On the final day a number of issues were raised: the status of the organisation – should it be regularised? We need to be able to speak as a united voice on national issues like the need for a National Natural History Museum. A group from S.E. Australia Naturalists (SEAN) are investigating.
Also the 2014 ANN is to be in Hobart – so put it on your calendars.
Lastly, the 2016 one will be in WA and we will need volunteers to make it as successful as our previous one in 2004.
Some WANats at the National Arboretum
Critically endangered Northern Corroboree Frog Pseudophryne pengillyi. Tidbinbilla Nature Park captive breeding program
A Canberra Donkey Orchid, Aranda Bushland
Bearded dragon at the Botanic Gardens
Looking at Birds of Paradise in the National Wildlife Collection
Margaret Larke