Article by Kaye Rodden

Photo above: Josh Griffiths’ informative presentation at our August AGM meeting.

August in the Barrabool Hills is usually pretty cold but it didn’t deter nearly 60 members and friends attending our recent AGM at the Gnarwarre Tennis Pavilion.

Once again guests were greeted on arrival with a sumptuous array of cheese and fruit accompanied by a warming glass of wine, which definitely raised the level of animated conversation.

Whilst the AGM is held to fulfil our statutory requirements, and hopefully our members were not disappointed with the healthy financial report from our Treasurer, it was definitely the presentation from platypus expert Josh Griffiths that was the highlight.

Josh gave a fascinating talk about the lifecycle and habits of this iconic Australian monotreme (a mammal that lays eggs). We also heard how fewer and fewer platypus are being observed in our streams and rivers, not only because they are inherently shy and prefer nocturnal ramblings, but also because stream flow is being impacted by climate change and the demands of our rapidly expanding human population. The ability to now check for platypus by monitoring the presence of specific genetic markers in the water means that hopefully we will be able to learn more about where they exist and develop strategies to protect and expand their habitat.

We all came away knowing not only a lot more about this species but also with plans to perhaps develop a project with Josh next year to survey the reach of the Barwon along the northern edge of the Barrabool Hills, so that we can also help to protect and enhance the habitat of the platypus in our landscape.

Oh, and we also held elections for our 2018/19 office bearers. All 2017/18 executive members renominated and were elected, with an additional nominee to the executive committee, Tim Trottier. It is possible that the popularity of executive membership may have something to do with what had, until exposed at the AGM, been a well-kept secret of bimonthly executive meetings featuring gourmet home cooked meals! This however is just supposition.

Congratulations to the re-elected office bearers:
Kaye Rodden- President
Jim Seager – Deputy President
Anthony Jones – Treasurer
Joan Anson – Secretary
Tim Harte – Newsletter Editor
Christa and Trevor Jones, Sally Jones, Judy Cohn, Ian Kelly, Tim Trottier and Geoff Anson – Executive members.