Green Space Our Place
OUR VOLUNTEERS VOICE
Green Space Our Place
ISSUE 32 SEPTEMBER 2021
Front Page: Stratford Nursery’s Horticulturalist Ryan with volunteer Rosi. Back Page: Maniltoa lenticellata new flush.
From the Editor
In this issue: • From the Editor - Page 2 • Friends events return 2021 Page 3 • Many people make light work - Pages 4-5 • ALL IN A WEEK’s WORK (our supervised weekly groups pictorial) - Pages 5-15 • Volunteer program provides work experience - Page 16 • Skyrail Rainforest Cableway partnership - Page 17 • North Queensland Wattles Pages 18-19 • Friends’ Annual Moth Night Page 20
In this issue we celebrate our weekly groups with a huge pictorial and a short piece about each one to give you an understanding of what the program involves on a weekly basis. We’ve been pleased with the outcomes of combining our efforts with other groups, proving to be beneficial for all involved, see pages: • The Smithfield Bypass project team - see tree planting details Page 4;
• Zingiberale order - Page 21
• Smithfield State High School came along to Cattana Wetlands - Page 16
• Heydays of the Tanks Studio - Pages 22-23
• Clontarf Foundation - Page 16
• Did you know? - Page 23
• Skyrail Rainforest Cableway - details Page 17
• Birds you see at Cattana Wetlands - Pages 24-25
Once again our regular contributors have supported the magazine with interesting and informative articles. Earlier in the year I asked each of them for their approximate hours they dedicate to researching, taking photos and writing articles for the magazine and the ‘weekly news’. Last financial year, the hours equated to 750 in total! Thank you for your support Barry, Jenn, Janice, Tom, David and John.
• Feathered Friends - Page 25 • The world beneath our feet: Part 5 - Nematodes - Pages 26-27
Editor - Volunteers Supervisor, Louisa Grandy Proof readers - Michelle Walkden Volunteers Jennifer H. Muir, Sandy Long Contributors - volunteers: Janice Pichon, Barry Muir, Jennifer H. Muir, Dr David Rentz AM, Tom Collis and John Peter. 2
Welcome,
Louisa
Friends events return 2021
Jazz Under the Stars.
Elaine and Peerapan welcome Jazz particpants.
Friends ‘Gardeneers’, James and Daniel with happy customers at the plant sale.
Jazz Under the Stars The Friends of the Cairns Botanic Gardens popular Jazz Under the Stars event returned to Flecker Gardens this year with an appreciative audience enjoying music under a couple of stars: thankfully the rain held off! Now in it’s 22nd birthday, this event began in 1999 and was the first garden concert, held to commemorate the 10th year of the Spring Festival. The Friends played a huge role in creating both these events - the garden concert, now known as Jazz Under the Stars, and the Spring Festival, which became the popular Carnival on Collins.
Carnival on Collins Plant Sale
Norma with visitors at the Carnival on Collins.
Photo by: Graeme Masterman.
Friends President, Val Schier said “The plant sale was very successful. At first we thought the numbers seemed down on previous years, but it was well organised with enthusiastic customers extremely pleased with the range of plants. “Many Carnival-goers took the opportunity to visit the Conservatory and see the stunning orchids in flower, most of which were purchased using the Friends’ funds. The plant sale funds will be used to add to the Garden’s plant collections. “A big thank you to the many Friends’ members who worked hard to put on both events and to the Council staff who were helpful in all aspects of the event. Thank you.”
Rod (right) assisting a plant sale customer. Photo by: Graeme Masterman.
Enjoying the Garden’s atmosphere at the Jazz Under the Stars event. 3
Many people make light work Tree planting creates wildlife corridor to Cattana Wetlands
Thank you to our volunteers and community members who supported the tree planting event along the Smithfield Bypass on the last Saturday in August. With around 100 tree planters, we were able to place 1350 trees over 2.5 ha in just two hours. This will create a wildlife corridor from Avondale Creek to Cattana Wetlands. The trees were grown at Council’s Stratford Nursery and the event was a combined effort by Council’s Green Space Our Place team and the Highway Construction & Albem Operations joint venture project team (the contractor for Smithfield Bypass Project which will be completed later this year). This is the third tree planting event and fourth collaboration including the creation of the sedge swamp.
Green Space Our Place volunteer, Bevan lends a hand on the day. 4
Photos this page: Vince Sofia Smithfield Bypass Project
Project Manager, Japan with daughters.
All age groups joined in.
Cr Rhonda Coghlan and GSOP’s Christian.
GSOP volunteers Mandy and Una.
GSOP’s Sarah with Environmental engineer, Ikem and Andrea (back).
Bryce and Lily.
Mariana, Bruno, Milena and Maxi.
Jack, Lily, Joel and Jess.
David, Nathan and Charlotte. 5
Mondays
All in a Week’s Work
Hiromi and Brigette hand weeding.
Russell St. Egrets The Egrets have been working on a revegetation project at the Russell St Environmental Park, Edge Hill since November 2020. They have removed a huge area of Guinea Grass and other weeds and now happily planting it out with native species to the site.
BEFORE - Patrick and Jill amongst the Guinea Grass weed.
AFTER: Guinea Grass under control, ready for planting out.
Sandpipers
Tuesdays
The Sandpipers group was reformed in July with a fresh new program and plenty of support from our volunteers and Council’s city team.
Gary provides a lesson in Bromeliad division.
Rosemarie pruning Scaevola - pictured with ‘Horizon Lines’ by artist Kevin Mayo. 6
Planting after months of weed control.
Thank you to Wayne Mann and his crew who are very supportive of this group, offering regular advice, training and praise for the work they have achieved.
Jill weeding along the Esplanade.
Sharryn amongst the Bromeliads in the Healing Garden.
Mario, Chris and Jill mulching the Healing Garden.
All in a Week’s Work
Tuesdays
Jabirus, from left, Elaine, Jenny, Frank, Dave and Sue (frontweeding. Sandy and Trevor on the blowers.
Morning tea is a good time to connect. Fran with a full trailer of Singapore Daisy.
Jabirus
The Jabirus was the second group created within the GSOP program and has been meeting at Cattana Wetlands each Tuesday since 2013. In that time they have reduced large vine thickets around Jabiru Lake, controlled Salvinia water weed, planted wildlife corridors and generally improved the area with regular weeding.
Geoff and Rob weeding grasslands near Jacana Pool.
Rob and Elaine weeding Singapore Daisy.
Dave, Sue and Julia collecting seeds for Stratford Nursery.
Dawn and Jenny (back) weeding in the wildlife corridor planting.
John weeding near Jabiru Lake. 7
Wednesdays
All in a Week’s Work
Lyn pruning Ixoras and Pat digging out heliconia.
Down ‘n’ Dirty
The original group that began it all was formed at the Cairns Botanic Gardens in 2009 with two volunteers, Lee and Norma, who continue supporting the Gardens today. Down ‘n’ Dirty is now the largest group to meet each Wednesday morning. This year they have been in various areas throughout the precinct - weeding and pruning in Flecker Gardens, thinning the Bamboo Collection, pruning and mulching in the Tanks Art Centre grounds and artist in residence home, planting around the Visitor Centre, garden maintenance in Fitzalan Gardens and also supporting the creation of The Green Space.
Candy and Wendy thinning palm seedlings in Flecker.
Michael and Alex with a truckload of green waste created by the D’n’Ds. 8
“We did it!” Jo, Sandra and Sophia worked hard to dig up this self-seed heliconia in Fitzalan Gardens. Christopher (on the boardwalk).
Sandy demonstrating how to sharpen secteaurs.
Anne and Joanne mulching in Fitzalan Gardens.
Brigette, Suellen and Jill pruning at the artist in residence home.
Erica strikes a pose.
Maureen pruning bamboo.
Charles, Suellen and Chelsea.
Gary planting at the visitor centre.
Antonio
All in a Week’s Work
Wednesdays
Russell and Hiromi repairing cracks in asphalt on the Red Arrow track.
Josh, Russell and Brett concreting steps in place on the Yellow Arrow track.
Brett and Hiromi repairing timber steps on the Red Arrow track.
Marianne and Hiromi replacing rotten timber steps.
Phil and Russell pleased with the end result.
Phil trimming back vegeation from the track.
Tracks ‘n’ Trails
Tracks ‘n’ Trails was formed originally late in 2016 as a 3-month trial to see if people were interested in participating in a volunteer program to work on the Mt Whitfield Arrow Tracks. It received such a huge response from the general public that a new permanent employed role was made to continue the program. Repairing steps and tracks surfaces on a hillslope is tough work but our volunteers love the sense of achievement, the fitness involved with each task and being a part of improving the well-used Arrow Tracks.
Brett and Rob defining the track.
Rob taking a breather.
Hiromi, Rob, Josh and Brett repairing steps on the Yellow Arrow track. 9
Thursdays
Bridget helping with leaf painting.
All in a Week’s Work
Volunteers Rosemarie, Jeannette and Bridget.
Little Taccas
Rosemarie
The award-winning Little Taccas children’s nature activities program was formed in 2014 for children five and under and their parents. Named after the tropical plant, Tacca integrifolia, this program could not operate without the dedicated support of our volunteers. This program was created with the aim of connecting children and their parents with nature while raising awareness of our natural areas.
Louisa engaging Little Taccas at story-time.
Charlie creating play.
Nature treasure hunt. 10
Each program begins with a craft activity such as making caterpillars out of egg cartons, followed by play to hone motor skills, and a walk through the Botanic Gardens exploring nature and story and snack time. Although simple in it’s operation, the program is popular and booked out within half an hour.
A popular activity is the ‘beach landscape’, which is laminated and used as a placemat, creating an opportunity to learn at each meal.
Hide and seek.
A grassy slope provides natural play.
Rosemarie with Little Taccas in the Conservatory.
Making flower arrangements while learning about colours and textures.
Exploring the gardens.
All in a Week’s Work
Nancy
Stratford Nursery Horticulturalist Ryan with volunteer Joel checking the ‘babies’.
Stratford Nursery
Thursdays
Robyn
One of the most popular groups, based at the Council’s Stratford Nursery, is spending between 250-350 hours a month producing native plants for revegetation programs throughout the Cairns region. A group attends regularly each Thursday morning and there is also a dedicated bunch of volunteers who can spend up to 15 hours a week individually volunteering at the nursery. Thank you to Nursery Horticulturalist, Ryan for supporting the volunteers and creating a space for them to learn new skills. Last year, despite closure due to the pandemic and renovations to the nursery, volunteers propagated over 19,500 seedlings! This year, with only 2 months ‘under their belt’, they have already produced over 5000. This is due to the added space created during renovations and also to a growing increase in requests to join. Mid-year the volunteers celebrated 30 years in operation. Imagine how many trees have been produced and planted during this time!
Maureen, Jon and Margaret.
Celebrating the nursery’s 30th birthday, from left, Chelsea, Rob, Rosie, Gillian, Ryan, Margaret, Leslie, Josh, Michelle and Nancy.
Kate and Michelle potting up.
Leslie’s little friend posing for a pic.
Sugarworld Friends of Sugarworld Botanic Gardens Inc. and GSOP volunteers gardening group meet on a Thursday morning, on a monthly basis.
Jenny, Janice, Myra and Graeme with a beautifully displayed flowering heliconia.
This year they have planted new fruit trees in the Tropical Fruit Tree Orchard, fertilising and general gardening detail.
Sugarcane bed receives a makeover Jenny, Fran, Wendy, Myra and Janice. 11
Fridays
All in a Week’s Work
In the beginning - Mt Whitfield’s Yellow Arrow trail head in 2017.
Volunteers from the original group in 2017- Aude, Judy, Isaac and Jit.
Salties The Salties revegetation site at Mt Whitfield’s Yellow Arrow trail head, Aeroglen, has come a long way in four years. From a grassy patch, that was an enticement to the local ‘fire bugs’, to a young healthy forest. This area has supported and benefited from many groups such as the Clontarf Foundation, overseas student groups, Centacare migrant services and, of course, our dedicated volunteers who meet each Friday to maintain their trees from weeds and to water during the dry season.
2021 - now it’s hard to see our volunteers weeding amongst the trees! Phil (above) and Sue (below).
2018
Chris and Pablo. 12
Sally and Sheila.
Chris, Brett, Sarah (GSOP) and Sue.
All in a Week’s Work
Rosemarie and Shelley filling the compost bins.
Josi and Nick volunteers receive produce for their efforts.
Suzy giving the gabion cage seating another coat.
Kandy
Ian
Wed & Fri
Sarah providing a grafting lesson.
Rob
Jenny
The Green Space
Our produce garden, known as The Green Space on Greenslopes St is growing at an exceptional rate - the veggies and also the number of volunteers wanting to participate in this exciting project. The space is also attracting the wildlife with a Peaceful Dove nesting in the pallet garden (pictured), birds drinking and bathing in the pond and plenty of insect activity such as a Blue Ulysses on the red Pentas flowers.
Nick staking tomatoes.
Candy and Julie.
??? and Russell pleased MAY seedlings were planted. with the- the endfirst result.
Come in a take a look around. The garden is open on Wednesday 9.30am-3.30pm and Fridays 1.30-3.30pm.
SEPTEMBER - we have been pleased with the growth of Hiromi, Joshand andthe Brett on the Yellow theRob, veggies volunteer group. Arrow. 13
All in a Week’s Work
Weekends
Jalarra Park
Weeding amongst the new Lomandra plantings.
Jalarra Park is a large open expanse tucked away in Stratford.
Removing Singapore Daisy weed is a tough job but our persistent volunteers are up for the challenge.
David (dad) working while his boys have fun with nature play.
Stroopers Park
Mark filling the gabion cage.
Lyn weeding the new plantings.
Gerald preparing the gabion cage for the new seat. 14
Volunteers enhancing Stroopers Park.
Lyn and Elizabeth using the new seat constructed by Jill weeding along the the volunteers under GSOP Esplanade. direction.
Mario, Chris and Jill mulching Healing Garden. Elizabeththe weeding.
All in a Week’s Work McHugh Crescent
Weekends
Tree plantings
Residents in McHugh Crescent, Whitfield, have transformed a grassy slope into a native plant garden.
South Side Keep an eye out for our tree planting events.
Weekend programs GSOP supports the South Side Mountain Bike Club with track works and also provides a revegetation project for volunteers.
Keith Edwick Park
A working bee at Keith Edwick Park, Machans Beach.
There are plenty of activities over the weekends for those who cannot volunteer during the week. We support people who contact us with requests to enhance their parks, reserves and waterways. Groups meet on a monthly basis at Jalarra Park, Stratford; Stroopers Park, Freshwater; McHugh Crescent, Whitfield, Keith Edwick Park, Machans Beach. We also support the South Side Mountain Bike Club with their site behind Walker Road Sporting Complex with regular maintenance of the tracks, creating revegetation projects and organising community tree planting events. If these photos inspire you to support areas in your neighbourhood, contact us for advice and support.
A pumpkin vine had taken over the native plants but came with a bonus - food for all.
15
Volunteer program provides work experience Clontarf Foundation
The Salties revegetation site in Aeroglen provides a place for work experience opportunities for large groups such as the Clontarf Foundation. Students are able to gain experience in weeding, and learn about the flora and fauna on site.
Smithfield State High School
BEFORE
Smithfield State High School students joined the Jabirus at Cattana Wetlands to assist with track works, removal of dead vegetation and general weeding. Teacher, Dylan Burns, pictured with his students (above far right), organised this with Green Space Our Place as part of Certificate II in Active Volunteering. The students are required to volunteer for a minimum of 20 hours to receive this certificate. Great job kids, thanks for your help. 16
AFTER
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway partnership
Green Space Our Place and Skyrail Rainforest Cabelway have created a partnership to revegetate Upolu Esplanade, Clifton Beach. The Skyrail team began spraying weeds and mulching earlier in the year to prepare the site for planting. 350 trees were planted on a September morning.
Mike, Tobias and Emma.
Tobias and Una.
Luke, Mike and Tobias placing out the plants.
A perfect tree planting day look at that view.
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Environment Supervisor Mike Gaia, said “This project will help to stabilise the beach and reduce erosion. The tree planting was a wonderful morning and we are thankful to have been able to contribute to the environment and the community.”
Mary
Monika
GSOP’s Sarah watering the new plantings.
Cr Brett Olds supported the tree planting event.
Skyrail and GSOP teams happy with their results. 17
North Queensland Wattles
Tom Collis
Australia has almost one thousand different species of acacia, more than any other continent. More commonly known as wattles, they are capable of producing nitrogen in the soil through bacteria growing in nodules on the roots, and are widespread in many habitats from the deserts of the interior to the rainforests of North Queensland. They represent the largest genus of plants in Australia. One species, the Golden Wattle, Acacia pycnantha, is the nation’s floral emblem. Wattles blossom prolifically, producing masses of flowers that are most commonly yellow. Some species have white or cream-coloured flowers and in Victoria there is a species with red flowers. In North Queensland there is a very rare species with purple flowers. This Purple Wattle, Acacia purpureopetala, is a small plant that grows along the ground, barely higher than 50cm, with small round purple flowers on the stems. It is critically endangered with an estimated population of about 700 plants confined to a small region west of Herberton and Irvinebank. Acacia seeds are enclosed in dry pods (known as legumes) that split along both sides. In some species such as Brown Salwood, Acacia mangium, the black seeds hang from the dry pod attached by brightly coloured orange arils. The arils are packed full of protein to attract birds that help disperse the seeds. Acacias have a wide variety of foliage from large ‘leaves’ to small sharp spikes. The true leaves of Acacia are bipinnate and for most species are found only on the seedling. As the seedling grows the stems of the leaves are flattened. The flattened stems (called phyllodes) perform the function of a leaf and are a feature of most Acacia species. Most Acacias grow in the drier parts of Australia, but there are several species that grow in the rainforests of the Wet Tropics. Black Wattle, Acacia celsa, is a pioneer species in places where rainforest has been cleared. It is a large wattle that can live for 80 years and forms the dominant vegetation around cleared areas in the north such as Kuranda. Another large acacia in the rainforest is the Northern Black Wattle, Acacia auriculiformis, that can grow to a height of 35m. The larger acacias are longer lived than many of the smaller species such as Silverleafed Wattle, Acacia holoserica, that rarely lives longer than 10 years. In recent years botanists have renamed many plant species due to advances in DNA sequencing and the genus, Acacia, has now been split into five genera. Here arises a problem, as two continents, Australia and Africa, lay claim to the name Acacia. The African and Australian acacias are not closely related and would be placed into different genera, but which continent would retain the name Acacia? Australian wattles could have been renamed Racosperma, but an International Botanical Congress in Melbourne in 2011 voted that Acacia be kept for Australian wattles, much to the disappointment of the African contingent. The African acacias are now known as Senegalia and Vachellia, but watch this space for the debate may not end there! 18
Cylindrical flower spike of Acacia mangium.
Orange coloured arils attached to the seeds of Acacia mangium.
Critically endangered Purple Wattle Acacia purpureopetala.
Rounded phyllodes of Acacia humifusa – an inland wattle of Northern Australia.
Note: I am unsure of the exact name of this Acacia but it is from NQ.
The spiky ‘leaves’ (phyllodes) of Acacia longipedunculata - a species endemic to NQ.
Acacia holosericea
Acacia seedling with true leaves and developing phyllodes. 19
Friends’ Annual Moth Night
Dr David Rentz AM
The annual Moth Night was held on an unusually warm and humid night in July, with 65 people in attendance consisting of a variety of age groups and many members of the Friends of the Botanic Gardens. Light sheets were set in the rainforest near the entrance to the Red Arrow Trail and another was in Gondwanan Garden gully just below, dominated by several huge Paperbarks, Melaleucua leucadendra. A small generator provided the power source. Just on dark the power was turned on and the moths and other insects started to arrive shortly thereafter. It is officially ‘winter’ in Australia in July but in the tropics as we are in Cairns, it is a mild winter at best. This year it was even milder than usual. This seemed to help with the number of insects that came to the lights. However, in ‘summer’ (December and January) we would expect an even greater number of species. There were few complaints about the paucity of insects and everyone seemed to find something of interest. Phone cameras were in prominent use. In addition to the moths, visitors discovered other members of the rainforest community out and about after dark. Images were provided by Hidetoshi Kudo (Mikey), Buck Richardson and David Rentz. Tropical moths can be identified by checking Buck Richardson’s moth identification site: http://www.leapfrogoz.com.au/moths-oftropical-queensland-australia/moth-identification/ Highlights of Australian tropical biota can also be found on D Rentz’ blog spot: https://bunyipco.blogspot.com/ These sites have links to other related sites that may be of interest.
20
Zingiberale order Louisa Grandy
In this issue we continue to explore the Zingiberale order, following on from an article on Heliconias in the June issue. Note this is only a taste of information to gain your interest to research further.
ZINGIBERACEAE – the Gingers
Alpinia purpurata
Zingiberaceae is the largest family in the Zingerberale order, containing 50 genera and 1,000 species. They are found in all tropical areas of the world but are concentrated in southeast Asia.
Kaempferia rotunda
There are several genera – Alpinia, Amomum, Bosenbergia, Curcuma, Etlingera, Globba, Hedychium, Kaempferia and Zingiber – all of which can be seen at the Cairns Botanic Gardens. These plants are grown for their beautiful flowers as well as for culinary purposes. Many species contain essential oils in their rhizomes and are used as spices for cooking, for example Curcuma domestica (turmeric), Alpinia galanga (galangal), and of course the most common, Zingiber officinale (the edible ginger).
Etlingera venusta
COSTACEAE – Costus & Backscatcher Gingers Curcuma alismatifolia
Zingiber neglectum
Tapeinochilos palustris
This family consists of four genera and about 150 species. Costus, with 100 species, is most diverse in the American tropics, but also found in Africa, Asia and Northern Australia. Costus are very easy to distinguish from other gingers by their whorling style of growth (see Costus vargassii right). Leaves whorl around the main stem while Ginger leaves are usually on either side of the stem and Heliconia leaves are usually at the end of the stem like the Bananas. Note: there are always exceptions to the rule. Other genera are Monocostus with one species as the name suggests, Dimerocostus (two species) and Tapeinochilos, often referred to as the Backscatcher Gingers. There are 20 species of Tapeinochilos extending through New Guinea, Indonesia and tropical Australia.
Hedychium longicornutum
Zingiber officinale
Costus vargasii
Tapeinochilos ananassae 21
Heydays of the Tanks Studio Wander down past Tank 3 at the Tanks Arts Centre and you will discover a modest building signposted as the “Studio”. Grafted onto the concrete perimeter wall of the former wartime fuel depot, this iron and timber structure is dwarfed by the adjacent oil storage tank and curtained by the rainforest canopy. From its style, you could be forgiven for thinking that this edifice was the quarters for the caretakers of the Tanks during their military life. However, the Studio was actually a purpose-built facility for design and printmaking!
Janice Pichon
The workspace comprised a five-metre print table for repeat design fabrics, a four colour t-shirt carousel, a vacuum table for poster printing, and drying racks. There was also a wet area for washing down screens, a darkroom for photographic stencils, and office space. A series of large metal louvres were operated by rope to provide ventilation. Official opening After two years of planning, the Print Studio was officially opened by iconic Australian artist, Ken Done, on 3 April 1996. An open day permitted visitors to see for themselves the process of fabric designing and allowed Studio staff to gauge interest in running introductory courses. The Studio was later renamed the Design and Print Studio when professional design was offered to complete the suite of services.
Studio building. An identified need During public consultation for repurposing the oil tanks, the need for a community access screen printing studio was identified as a priority. Its primary role would be providing workspaces and support services where artists could develop new product and further their professional development. Funding of $55,000 for the project came from Federal and State sources, with capital works supported by the Cairns City Council. The equipment was sourced secondhand by Council from the Inkahoots Studio in Brisbane. This same business was part catalyst for the creation of the Tanks studio after the visit of a touring exhibition of its poster art. Realisation In late 1995, a print specialist was recruited to coordinate the establishment of the Studio and commission the equipment. Three established local artists were later hired and trained to provide the ongoing services and management. Insufficient working space in Tank 4 and ventilation requirements necessitated the custom-build of a new facility to be designed in keeping with the industrial character of the site. The Studio was built with mainly recycled materials and appropriated the pre-existing concrete boundary wall as one of its own. 22
Studio in the Tanks Art Centre rainforest setting. Paying its way Early master planning for the Tanks Arts Centre envisaged that the Studio would be subsidised by commercial ventures to support ongoing operations and ensure that charges for its use by artists would remain low cost. In the absence of any recurrent funding for the Tanks, avenues for income generation helped allay concerns at that time from some councillors that the Tanks would become a burden on rate payers. Commercial screen print poster production began in 1996. The first poster run was for a national travelling exhibition called Made with Meaning which showcased Indigenous crafts of Far North Queensland. The Studio team also produced five large canvas banners featuring the reef, rainforest and Aboriginal dancing to brighten the psychiatric unit at the Cairns Base Hospital. Another popular commission was t-shirts promoting local events and exhibitions. In-house design expertise was also employed to create a range of merchandise to be sold in the shop of the social history exhibit Marbles, Muddies and Jitterbugs which opened in Tank 4 at the same time as the Studio was set up.
Artists-in-residence from Papua New Guinea hone their printmaking skills. (The Cairns Post 24-6-1996) Banners screen printed by the Studio for Cairns Hospital. (The Cairns Post 19-6-1996) Fostering new skills Screen printing workshops were a mainstay of the Studio program and an additional source of income. They were targeted at expanding and advancing the skills of artists, as well as beginner’s courses for interested locals. For several years, classes for artists covering a range of techniques ran for 3-10 week periods. Weekend workshops introduced basic screen printing to the wider community, while children could enrol in school holiday workshops and print their own t-shirt or wall hanging. June 1996 saw the first artists-in-residence at the Studio with the housing of three young textile designers from Papua New Guinea (PNG). Over a three-week period, they created fabrics to be used in an exhibition celebrating 20 years of PNG independence at the Cairns Regional Gallery. They felt quite at home working in the Studio as it reminded them of their own workrooms surrounded by plenty of trees and wildlife!
Changing with the times While the Tanks have gone on to become a celebrated venue in North Queensland, the Design and Print Studio was short-lived. The specialist equipment found new homes, with the print table being relocated to the Cairns TAFE and subsequently to InkMasters, the current centre of printmaking in Cairns. Since then, the Studio has been variously used for storage, exhibit preparation and occasionally workshops. Over time, the timber walls have become infested with termites and its days are numbered. The Studio is earmarked to be demolished at the end of 2021 to make way for a new building providing storage and a catering hub to enhance venue hire capabilities at the Tanks. While the Studio building never had any heritage value because it was built well after the war, it was a notable chapter in the growth of the Tanks Arts Centre. It was a creative hub providing affordable access to printmaking facilities in the second half of the 1990s. Today, there is little to suggest that this unassuming building tucked away in the Tanks courtyard played a supporting role in the early development of the arts as an industry in Far North Queensland.
DID YOU KNOW...? Wetlands are a crucial part of our natural environment: without wetlands, a huge number of world birds and other animals, and plants, just wouldn’t exist. Wetlands are areas of land seasonally or permanently saturated with water, which may be static, flowing, fresh, brackish or saline. They may be natural (eg rivers, streams, swamps, lakes, billabongs, floodplains, saltmarshes, estuaries, mangroves, mudflats, coastal lagoons) or artificial, eg dams, and man-made lakes such as those of Cattana Wetlands.
Jennifer H. Muir
As waterbirds depend on wetlands for survival, their diversity reflects the many ways of life possible for birds in wetlands. Different waterbird species specialise in different food types, eg fish, aquatic invertebrates, tiny plankton, water plants and seeds. Thus waterbirds display a surprising range of feeding behaviours: eg probing (ibis) and sweeping (spoonbills) to diving (cormorants) and grazing (ducks and swans). Some kingfishers dive into wetlands for their aquatic lunches. The many different shapes of bill, body and legs in waterbirds reflect the range of food and feeding behaviours possible in wetlands. Planet Earth needs wetland, and they need to be protected. 23
Birds you may see at Cattana Wetlands Cattana Wetlands, a well-known wetland birding site close to Cairns, comprises an area of about 80 ha near Yorkey’s Knob, about 13 kms north of Cairns City. The site is named in honour of the Cattana family, who grew sugarcane there before it was sold to the Mulgrave Shire Council in 1993. Subsequently, part of the property was mined for sand and gravel used for Cairns Esplanade improvements, and extraction of these materials resulted, over time, in several lakes.
Since then, several grants have been received by Cairns Regional Council for rehabilitation and development of visitorH.facilities Jennifer Muir at the site, and in 2009 Cattana Wetlands Environmental Park was officially opened by Mayor Val Schier, currently President of Friends of Cairns Botanic Gardens. Over the years, several community groups have assisted with rehabilitation plantings, and Council’s Green Space Our Place Program developed a volunteer group, known as the Jabirus, to assist with restoration and maintenance of the site. A Master Plan approved by Council in 2017 has increased the emphasis on wildlife protection and habitat enhancement. Although major plantings ceased in 2017, development and maintenance of wildlife corridors and special habitats continues.
Jennifer H Muir
wetlands around the world. As Cattana has abundant waterlilies, Australia’s Combcrested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea) (aka Lotusbird) are often seen trotting across the waterlily leaves or flying between lily pads. Their long legs seem to make flight take-off difficult, but once the legs are extended behind, they speed up, then re-land on another lily pad. They feed on aquatic plants, seeds, and invertebrates by probing and pecking among the floating vegetation. Jacanas seldom swim, but will dive to escape danger, often hiding under lotus leaves with nostrils above the surface. Females are much larger than males, but otherwise sexes are similar. Like most Jacanas, females are polyandrous, ie mate with more than one male, but once ‘eggnant’, they tend their eggs and chicks with their preferred partner. Males sometimes carry their chicks under their wings for safety - the chicks’ legs hang out from under the parents’ wings which looks rather comical. Comb-crested Jacana ‘hang out’ on calm, permanent freshwater wetlands in WA’s Kimberley, NT’s Top End, Qld’s Cape York Peninsula and down the east coast to north-east NSW.
A comprehensive list of the birds of Cattana Wetlands is in final preparation at time of writing this article. It includes over 200 bird species of which approximately 2/3rds are forest and bushland birds, and the rest use habitats such as grassland, wetland, salt flats, and mangroves. Here are some of the birds you might see at the Wetlands, depending on the time of year, day, and season.
Cotton Pygmy-goose Cotton and Green Pygmy-geese Pygmy-geese are not actually geese: they are the smallest of all ducks, but are named for their goose-like bill. In the photo pictured, a male Cotton Pygmy-goose (Nettapus coromandelianus), close cousin of the Green Pygmy-goose (also pictured - male at front, female at rear).
Comb-crested Jacana THE LAKES Comb-crested Jacana Jacanas are classifed as wading birds with very long feet. Being so long, their splayed toes and claws spread over a wide area exerting little pressure on the floating leaves of wetland vegetation. Thus, the leaves sink very little under the birds’ weight. This unique adaptation enables Jacanas to occupy their own wetland niche. Around eight species of Jacana are found in tropical and subtropical 24
If you compare these two photos, you can see differences between the two species in colour and markings. A good place to start is at the head: note the finer crown, white head, neck and throat of the Cotton; and the dark cap and white cheeks of the breeding-plumaged Green. The female Green has a white ‘eyebrow’ above the eye, where the male is dark, and has an iridescent green throat. Both species often share the same permanent deep, freshwater swamps and lakes, and their behaviour and feeding habits are similar. However, as often occurs in nature, similar species in shared habitats adapt their behaviour to reduce competition for resources such as
food and nesting sites.
Feathered Friends
With these two Pygmygeese species, the Cotton feeds on pond weeds and aquatic grass seeds at the surface: the Green feeds largely on waterlilies by surface dipping or shallow dives. Both species usually nest high in hollow trees or tree holes. Cotton Pygmy-geese are now quite rare, and Green Pygmy-geese are only occasionally seen at Cattana Wetland where I took the photo. They range from about Cape Tribulation down the Qld coast to Brisbane. Green Pygmy-geese are recorded from WA’s Kimberley, across NT’s Top End and Qld’s west, Cape York Peninsular and down the coast to Brisbane. FOREST/BUSHLAND/LAKES Forest Kingfisher Australia’s Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphys macleayii) is primarily a tropical and subtropical resident in northern and central Qld. These birds are richly irridescent blue on their backs and wings, and males have a broad, unbroken white collar around the nape; females’ collars are incomplete. Both sexes have large white spots in front of their eyes (like headlights), and in flight, a white diagnostic patch on each wing. They prefer hunting in fairly open country on ground or in shallow water, including Cattana Wetlands lakes, and their varied diet includes small animals. They’re quite common in open sclerophyll forests and woodlands, rainforest edges, mangroves and parks, especially near wetlands. When not breeding they sometimes ‘hang out’ in farmland with isolated trees/powerlines on which to perch. They nest in arboreal termite nests, and making such a nest is quite an undertaking. From several metres away, both members of a pair repeatedly fly like little missiles straight at the termite nest, pointed bill forward, hitting the hard cement to chip it away. This raises the question: do kingfishers get bad headaches? Some have been killed by this strenuous, dangerous activity when the termite nest is particularly solid. Forest Kingfishers range across NT’s Top End, Qld’s Cape York Peninsula and down the east coast to Victoria.
Forest Kingfisher
Plumed Whistling-Duck
Even before you see them, one of the most characteristic features of Plumed WhistlingDucks is that you can hear them from some distance away. As their name suggests, Plumed Whistling-Ducks communicate with highpitched, whistling contact calls, and when many call at once, flocks generate a great cacophony of twittering. In addition, when in flight - even when they’re not calling - their wings also make a whistling sound. During the Dry Season, flocks of hundreds or thousands of ‘whistlers’ may congregate on grassy banks beside permanent freshwater wetlands across tropical Australia. They can be seen roosting by day beside the lakes in the Cairns Botanic Gardens or feeding at night on grass and aquatic plants. Whether seen on land, standing tall and erect, or floating high on the water, these waterfowl are among Australia’s most handsome. Their exquisite plumage features a honey-coloured head and neck, complimented by a patch of cinnamon on the breast, complete with tiger-like stripes. However, their most prominent feature is the buff-coloured plumes that protrude from their flanks, held erect when the birds swim. Not to be overlooked are their pink, piebald bills — a change from the usual slaty or sooty bills of other waterfowl. Up to around a dozen eggs are laid in a shallow depression in the ground, among long grass, and situated high enough to escape Wet Season flooding. Although their downy ducklings can look after themselves upon hatching, they’re attended by both parents until they can fly.
JOHN PETER BirdLife Australia 25
The world beneath our feet: Part 5 - Nematodes Barry Muir
The tables are turned - nematodes being attacked by fungus. (Source: Carbon Gold-UK) Nematodes are colourless, microscopic (mostly less than a few mm) worm-like animals and a teaspoon of soil may contain hundreds. They are believed to be the most abundant animals on earth, making up four-fifths of animal life on this planet, with an estimated 57 billion of them for every single living human being. Many species resemble tiny threads, thus the origin of the group’s name; the Greek word ‘nema’ meaning ‘thread’. Nematodes are sometimes called ‘Round-worms’ and thus often confused with ‘ring-worms’ that are a fungus that grows on people and animals. 'Eel Worms' is another misleading name because nematodes are neither eels nor worms, although their thrashing movement is somewhat eel-like. They are bacterial feeders, plant feeders, animal parasites, and insect parasites. Most are harmless to plants, and many are beneficial by feeding on pest borers, grubs, thrips, mites and beetles with negligible effects on other organisms. Nematode worms usually kill their host by entering it or introducing special bacteria that live symbiotically in the worm’s gut. The bacteria then digest and kill the insect and allow the nematode to colonise it.
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Those species that feed on fungi and bacteria release nitrogen and phosphorus into the soil. The bacteria and fungi contain more nutrients than the nematodes need, so the excess is released into the soil in a form that can be used directly by other fungi and plants. Some beneficial nematodes physically break down organic matter, which increases its surface area, making it easier for other organisms to break it down further. This promotes the cycling of carbon and nutrients in the soil and helps to suppress the activity of pests. While there are hundreds of beneficial nematodes, there are also damaging ones. The Root Knot Nematode, is a serious plant parasite. Young Root Knot Nematodes burrow into plant roots and their feeding stimulates the plant to make a tumour-like growth. This inhibits the plant's ability to take up water and nutrients, resulting in a weak plant, reduced growth and productivity, and plants also become susceptible to secondary fungal infections and to sudden yellowing, wilting or death for no obvious reason. One of the nematode’s prime targets is tomatoes. If you think your plants are infected, dig up a plant, rinse the soil off the roots and inspect them. Nematode infections appear as tumour-like growths on the roots, which may be tiny or take over the entire root system.
Remember that plant families related to beans and peas fix their own nitrogen in the soil, which is stored in small growths similar in appearance to nematode tumours, so check other plants in your garden first before rushing into treatment for nematodes. Over-cultivation of the soil tends to encourage an increase in plant parasitic nematodes over other species, partly because cultivation is more disruptive to larger soil organisms than small ones, and so favours the smaller plant parasitic nematodes. Cultivation also disrupts and kills soil fungi, which are the food source for many beneficial nematodes, essential for plant health, and the fungi also prey on certain nematodes, killing them. A balance is the answer. Chemicals applied to target plant parasitic nematodes can also reduce the population levels of beneficial nematodes, earthworms and helpful fungi and thus indirectly reduce beneficial organisms by reducing their food sources. Use nematicides with caution.
Soil nematodes under the microscope. (Creative Commons internet image)
The best control for pest nematodes is to create a rich organic soil by adding compost, natural manures and mulches. These encourage beneficial nematodes, insects and fungi which attack the pest species. If you are growing vegetables, vary your crop to make it difficult for nematodes to really enjoy living in your garden. If your plants are infected, don't put the roots in the compost heap - drop them into a plastic bag and put them in the garbage.
JOIN THE FRIENDS
Friends of the Botanic Gardens, Cairns Membership details- phone 4032 3900 or email info@botanicfriendscairns.org.au After joining you can support the Friends in many ways; as a committee member, in the Friends Shop, as a tour guide or assisting with events.
Friends of Sugarworld Botanic Gardens Contact Fran Lindsay frantastic10@bigpond.com
Newsletter Contributions: Please submit articles (must be volunteer or nature based) by first week of November for the next quarterly publication in December. Email: l.grandy@cairns.qld.gov.au Please note articles are subject to editing.
Like us on Facebook to keep up to date with all events or visit our websites: - Green Space Our Place - Cairns Botanic Gardens - Friends of the Botanic Gardens, Cairns
Nematodes (the tiny worms) attacking a fungus gnat larva. (Image: soilguality.com.au NSW)
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Green Space Our Place
Mondays - Russell St Environmental Park Egrets - 9am-noon Tuesdays - Cattana Wetlands Jabirus 9am-noon Tuesdays - Pioneer Cemetery first Tuesday of the month 7-9am Wednesdays - Botanic Gardens Down ’n’ Dirty volunteers 9amnoon Wednesdays - Tracks ‘n’ Trails 9am-noon Thursdays - Stratford Nursery 9am-noon Thursday (once a month) - Sugarworld Gardeners & Friends Fridays - Saltwater Creek ‘Salties’ 9am-noon Fortnightly Thursdays - Children’s Nature Activities Program Little Taccas Visitor Enhancement Volunteers - rostered hours to suit individual Heritage Tour Guides - Thursday 10am
Interested in becoming involved with your local park, reserve or tracks in your community? Contact us to register as a Council volunteer and be involved in beautifying your park (enhance planting, weed management, litter clean-up), reporting on issues (graffiti and vandalism, anti-social behaviour, maintenance issues) and building community participation (networking activities) with Council support. If you are interested in supporting any of our weekly groups or volunteering in your local area contact Volunteers Supervisor Louisa Grandy 4032 6648 or email greenspaceourplace@cairns.qld.gov.au
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Green Space Our Place
