SOWN (Save Our Waterways Now

Spider named for local bushcarer

The tireless work of Brisbane bushcarer, Marion Goward, has been recognised with a new species of spider named after her.

Marion received the honour “for devoting her life to re-vegetation and conservation around Brisbane”.

A prominent member of Men of the Trees, Marion was a key figure in the establishment of Save Our Waterways Now (SOWN) in 1994.

She first start planting hoop pines on Ithaca Creek in the 1980s with the Girl Guides, later joining Men of the Trees.

Marion said she was tickled to have a spider named after her.

“I feel like I’ve won the raffle,” she said.

Namea gowardae is an open-holed trapdoor spider found on Mount Glorious. It is part of a group called the Mount Glorious Eastern Wishbone Spiders.

Goward’s Spider is chocolate-brown and lives in burrows underground. The females are 23.7 mm in length and the males 15.7 mm.

Marion Goward and volunteers at a 2014 planting PHOTO: Men of the Trees Marion said the Goward’s Spider burrows were quite easy to see along the side of Maiala track at Mount appropriate way. “Marion has worked for 40 years planting trees and improving our local habitat All members are encouraged to attend the short meeting and end-ofyear celebration. Glorious in the D’Aguilar for the benefit of all animals For more information Range National Park. including spiders,” John said. please contact info@ “Their burrows have a ring of white web around an SOWN AGM saveourwaterwaysnow.com. au. open hole rather than the The annual general usual hinged door of trap- meeting of Save Our door spiders,” she said. Waterways Now (SOWN) will SOWN President John Abbott congratulated Marion on her achievements being recognised in a very be held at 4pm on Saturday 5 December at the SOWN Nursery 57 Paten Park The Gap.