Friday, March 29, 2024

Bordertown Field Naturalists celebrate 50 years

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Gwen Colwill, Naracoorte Community News

27 April 1973 a meeting was held in Bordertown chaired by Mr Colin Pitcher where it was decided to form a field Naturalist Group. A Committee of five was formed Mr John Samuel-White, Mr K Wiese, Mr M Keller, Mrs C Pitcher and Mrs W Bagshaw.

In 1979 the Lands Department offered the Bordertown Field Naturalists the Lease of Hardings Springs Reserve. The land was first used by surveyors in the 1800s and was then called ‘175 Mile Camp’ referring to its distance from Adelaide. Approximately 1909 Fred Lampert leased the land and farmed it until 1928. Lampert planted the two big sugar gums as a gateway to his property, wide enough for a horse and cart. Water in the soak provided enough for his daily needs.

The conservation Reserve is 24 Kilometres north of the Dukes Highway on the western side of the Ngarkat Highway.

Sunday 23 April 2023 our celebrations began at Hardings Springs with members morning tea and dampers expertly cooked by Trevor Thomas. Approximately 60 members and visitors enjoyed sitting around a campfire, walking the trail originally designed in 1981 by Mr Daryl Foulis and Mr Don Merrett and inspected the bird hide planned by Ken McPhee and built by our club members in 2015.

Our longest serving members Walt and Cynthia Michelsen joined the group in 1981. Walt was presented with a tree seedling by Gwen Colwill which he planted in the reserve to commemorate our 50 years. Walt used a trowel presented to our group by Trees For Life. The Committee then surprised him by awarding him with LIfe Membership. President Phil Verco told those present of Walt’s extensive service to our group as President and years as secretary and how he has gathered local seed, grown seedlings and planted and nurtured the trees at Hardings Springs over many years. Mrs Lorraine Crane, an early member of Bordertown Field Naturalists, presented the Life Membership Certificate to Walt. Lorraine spoke of how Walt and Cindy had many years ago encouraged her and her husband Jeff to join the field Naturalists.

After a delicious lunch at Glenda and Robert Mock’s amazing Brumby Hut, President Phil invited Mayor Liz Goosens to formally open the celebrations.

Hayley Bawden of the Bordertown Library spoke briefly on the importance of keeping good records in the family.

Several members told great stories of the fun, learning and fellowship of being a Bordertown Field Naturalists member. Some visitors spoke of their interesting experiences with our group.

Alan and Jenny Killicoat joined the Field Naturalists in 1985, and both have held several positions on the committee including President, Secretary and Treasurer. They jointly cut our 50th Birthday cake. The cake decorated with fairy wrens and a frog, was a decadent chocolate mud cake beautifully made and decorated by Jo Hunt.

With official ceremonies of the day over we enjoyed the birthday cake and others made by members and a huge fruit platter while relaxing on the lawns looking over the trees and waterhole, a beautiful setting for our celebrations.

Naracoorte Community News 24 May 2023

This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.

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