RARE TURTLES OF THE EVOLUTION 

 “Mary River Baby Turtle” by Jillian Turner – Rural category winner –“Spring in the Mary” photo comp 2017.

CELEBRATING, APPRECIATING AND EDUCATING

Glenda Pickersgill pictured on the cover, has spent much of her life living in the Mary Valley and it is the Mary River turtle (Elusor macrurus) at the moment, which has her fascinated. This January 2022 front cover features a very healthy turtle couple – showing the distinct male vs female body sizes and underbody differences. Photo kindly supplied by Marilyn Connell. For the past 16 years, Glenda has been involved with Tiaro Landcare studying and protecting turtle nests in the Traveston Crossing reach of the Mary River near her farm at Kandanga. The turtle was only formally identified in 1994, although eggs were harvested for the pet industry in the 1960s and ‘70s but where they were being sourced from was unknown. There has been a reduction in the population of breeding females of around 95% between 1970 and 2000. Hundreds of females nested near Tiaro in the 1960's and 1970's. By the 2000’s the number of nesting females had plummeted. The Mary River turtle is one of six turtle species that occur in the Mary River. It is very distinctive with its long tail (usually about 20cm long for a male) bum-breathing, an unusual method of breathing through gill-like structures in their cloaca (a single opening under the tail used for passing of waste and reproducing). “The Mary River turtle is one of Australia’s most ancient turtle species and it is exclusive to the Mary River. It is listed 30th at risk reptile in the world – according to the Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered programme of the Royal Zoological Society of London. The EDGE of Existence programme is the only global conservation initiative to focus specifically on threatened species that represent a significant amount of unique evolutionary history. Internationally and within Australia it is considered to be endangered. These turtles can live to be over 100 years old and we still have much to learn about them, especially why so few hatchlings are surviving to grow into mature adults,” she said. The Mary River supports a number of other aquatic creatures who face an uncertain future. The Mary River turtle along with the Mary River Cod (Maccullochella peelii mariensis), are listed as – endangered, and only occur in the Mary River. Combined with the living fossil that is the Australian lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri), which is listed as – vulnerable and the White-throated Snapping Turtle (Elseya albagula), which was recently listed as – critically endangered; the Mary River is therefore – a 291km liquid journey into evolution! Glenda wants to raise awareness of the Mary River turtle and its iconic mates, the Mary River Cod and the Australian lungfish so that people understand why the Mary River needs to be treated with care. Because she adds, “Recovery of these special threatened species to thriving is very much dependent on how we limit our water take from the river and improve their habitat.”  Projects like the 1 Million Turtles citizen science and community conservation programme that was launched last November 2021 can help support their conservation efforts. One of the many voices against the controversial Traveston

Crossing dam proposal on the Mary River in the mid-2000s, Glenda has another cause for concern: the proposed pumped hydro power facility at Borumba Dam on Yabba Creek, a tributary of the Mary River. The feasibility studies are expected to take up to 24 months, with a submission from Powerlink to government expected by mid-to-end 2023. However with the new expiry date of the Mary Basin Water Plan 2006 being postponed “ The Mary River turtle is one of to 28 May 2024, she is worried that a $22 million feasibility study of a pumped hydro power facility has been justified based on a “strategic reserve” of 150,000 GL/year of unallocated water in the outdated 2006

Australia's most plan. With the revision process of the Mary Basin ancient turtles –Water Plan only being started in 2021, there will be a number of improvements to protect the river from it is listed 30th at risk over-allocation. reptile in the world. These include better modelling to take into account

They can live to climate impacts on water security and updated information on the water needs of threatened species. be over 100 years The protection of the fresh water flows to the Estuary but few hatchlings and Ramsar listed wetlands, the Great Sandy Strait are also important but were neglected in the 2006 plan. survive to grow into Any “strategic reserve” for the purpose of supplying mature adults. Mary River is a water to SEQ in future will be far less than 150,000GL /year than was written into the 2006 plan. “There are alternative options to get drinking water for 291 km liquid coastal cities and other ways which are rapidly advancing journey into evolution...” to store electricity than hydro projects. In the face of recent declining stream flows, predictions of future increasing variability of droughts and floods, higher temperatures increasing evaporation, ice cores that show longer droughts than we have experienced, wouldn't it improve water security to be moving more to climate independent water supplies and power storage?” Many places around the world are relying on water sensitive urban design, rainwater and stormwater harvesting, recycling water, desalination and demand management to provide water security. With Australians moving to batteries as their feed-in tariffs fall, and the rapid development of new battery technology, it is likely in the next few years that the uptake of electrochemical storage batteries will increase dramatically. “The cheapest solutions are not always the best ones long term. Taking more surface water from a river system and particularly one so special as the Mary River with its iconic threatened species, increases the risk of degrading the river further. The river has already shown that during the dry times of the year and drought years, it can not provide environmental flow objectives at critical points in the river system and is over-allocated already. With threatened species at risk and a lot still not known about them, we endanger them further by changing flows or taking more water.”  Glenda said the Mary Valley, as with other parts of Queensland, was seeing its share of new residents and the annual Mary River Festival was a way to get to know the river and be involved with community. The festival committee begins plans early in the year for the event on Saturday 16 July 2022, following 2021's success in the cooler mid-year. New volunteers are invited to join in the fun. “It’s about celebrating, appreciating and educating people about so many special creatures that call the Mary River home,” she said.

HOW HAS KENILWORTH COMMUNITY CHANGED?

Recently a tourist asked me if I had seen a huge change in the Kenilworth community in the 40 years I spent living in other parts of Queensland. That was a question I had to ponder on for some time. Change? Yes there have been changes – some for the better – better roads, better communication – it doesn’t take all day to be connected to a telephone number in distant parts for example; the community spirit is still there – all the not-for-profit organisations are still run by volunteers. When I left Kenilworth as a teenager we had industry in the district, along with numerous dairy farms. There were two sawmills – W. G. Doyles in Kenilworth and pictured centre S. T. Adams in Oakey Creek Road. Both of these enterprises employed staff who lived in the district. Adams employees were allocated cottages along Moy Pocket Road – this area was known locally as “Adamstown”. Doyles had single men’s quarters as well as houses on the mill

KENILWORTH ARTS COUNCIL 'THIS & THAT'

Kenilworth Arts Council members and friends enjoyed a very happy and relaxed Christmas function (4 December). Guests were greeted with a glass of bubbly and then tucked into a delicious spread prepared by our wonderful catering team. The Singalong! group entertained us once again with their delightful songs. Singalong! has been one of KAC’s success stories for the past year. Our sincere thanks to Trish, David, Kathleen and all the helpers and participants for an enjoyable weekly Singalong! Our long running raffle was also drawn with three of the four prizes going to local folk and the other to a lady in Brisbane. A big thank you to all who donated goods, time and effort to the raffle, with special thanks to our Treasurer, Susan H.  Now, into 2022! Our first function of the year will be a book launch on Saturday 12 February at The Shed at 5.30pm. We are helping our lovely local lady launch her book “Deanna Dunham – The Drover’s Daughter”  a fascinating story of Dee’s life. Her book will be launched by another talented local writer and poet, Ian Mackay. For further details about attending, please email Dee on deedunham@live.com.au  The Kenilworth ArtsFest art competition is on again but this time online! Please visit https:// kenilwortharts.org.au/ to find out the details which will be operating in February and March.  We are hoping to make a start soon on some type of arts/crafts sessions for anyone who would like to get together regularly with like-minded people to paint, draw, do craft work, knit, sew or just dabble in anything arty/crafty. If enough people are interested we could form more than one interest group. A healthy New Year to all our members, friends and the community. Best wishes for 2022 from KAC.

site for married employees. All these workers contributed to the economy of the township. The General Store delivered groceries ordered by telephone to the different areas of the district on specific days. There were two operating cafes where many of the single men purchased their hot meal for the day. The township also had two butcheries servicing the community, a bakery, general store, drapery, newagency, garage, hotel and post office. When Kenilworth was connected to the state electricity grid on 13 September, 1951 a different form of industry was introduced to the district. The supply and maintenance of the new power system brought jobs and people to the district. The South East Queensland Electricity Board (S.E.Q.E.B.) depot and Pascoe’s electrical business established during this decade provided apprenticeships for local young men. E. A. and N. C. Richardson received approval from the Maroochy Shire Council to build the new shop bringing a plumber to town. (Nambour Chronicle and North Coast Advertiser, Friday 2 February 1951, page 8). It was Brian Mallet who ran this business and was instrumental in the installation of the reticulated water supply to the township in 1957. The water supply was officially launched in the Town Park pictured top that the local population had raised funds to purchase and donated to the Maroochy Shire Council. For the current residents who were here in the 1950’s the memories of the dances, the amateur hours, the balls – when the hall was so packed it was difficult to move on the dance floor, the pictures on a Saturday night with up to 200 people attending, the Young Farmers Association, the CWA younger set, the Boy Scouts and Cubs may still be happy reminiscences. All of these organisations managed to survive without the benefit of grants or handouts from any level of government – just the independent nature of this community. One of the major changes I have seen is the difference in the number of local residents involved in those not-for-profit organisations. The first show society had 29 members (Chronicle and North Coast Advertiser Friday 7 February 1919, page 4). By 1924 the membership had grown to 76 (Nambour Chronicle and North Coast Advertiser, 9 April 1925, page 4), with more than 20 people reported attending a monthly meeting. It was that sense of community that brought me back here to live. But being part of a community means that a personal contribution should be made. What is your contribution to our community? Lenore Meldrum, President Kenilworth & District Historical Association Inc. 4 |12 JANUARY 2022 The Mary Valley Voice