Eddy Wajon’s talk on re-establishing functional ecosystems at Chingarrup Sanctuary was an amazing story of bringing back to life a one-time farming plot. The sanctuary forms part of the Gondwana Link stretch of conservation land and was purchased fifteen years ago after the previous owner breached the conditions of the lease.

Aerial shots of the huge stretch of land (three kilometre by two kilometre) showed the condition of landscape at the time of purchase, compared with the wonderful improvements today!

Chingarrup is blessed with a very picturesque landscape including a lovely meandering stream, a remarkable breakaway consisting of sculptured white clay, and hectares of gorgeous bushland, all silhouetted by the distant skyline of the Stirling Ranges. The sanctuary lies within the Shire of Jerramungup.

Eddy took us step by step through the carefully documented flora of the region totalling some 399 species and on to the birdlife, including both the cryptic Owlet Nightjar and the Spotted Nightjar, a couple of displaying Malleefowl, the Red-eared Firetail Finch, the Western Whip Bird, along with a host of others. Honey Possums, Pygmy Possums and Dunnarts featured among the mammals of the region.

Reptiles present include Southern Heath Monitors and various skinks including Blue Tongues (both types); these were featured in the great slide show Eddy presented, which also included several frogs. All in all a total of 610 fauna have been scientifically recorded to date and no doubt would be well up from the count one could have made 15 years ago.

Feral animals—foxes and cats—are an ongoing problem but are being dealt with using the latest eradication techniques and monitored regularly by motion-sensor cameras. Weed eradication and revegetation are also ensuring a wonderful future for Chingarrup.

Kevn Griffiths