Members are invited to submit their excellent photos of Waterways or Wetlands of Queensland to the RGSQ 2022 photographic competition.

Download a flyer here.

The competition is only open to members for unpublished photos taken in 2020-2022.

Submit entries from 1st September to 31st October 2022.

PRIZES
1st - One night accommodation at Binna Burra Sky Lodge
2nd - Framed Wildlife Illustration by local wildlife artist
3rd - Book prize

After registration, please email your photos as attachments to info@rgsq.org.au.

Image and submission requirements:

Members will judge entries by voting online with prizes being awarded at the annual RGSQ Xmas party in December.

Please note:
By submitting your photos to the RGSQ 2022 Waterways or Wetlands Photography Competition, you agree to share the photos with RGSQ for future use. All photos will be copyrighted under a Creative commons Attribution 4.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, which means that each photo is owned by the creator (you as the photographer) and it can be shared and adapted freely when appropriate credit is given.

Inquiries to:
Iraphne at i.childs@uq.edu.au or Kay at kayrees@gmail.com

Early History of Lamington National Park by Neville McManimm

Overview:-  Using slides, and early maps, this talk will be on the events leading up to the creation of the National Park and some events that happened after it’s proclamation.  Neville has extensive knowledge spanning several decades working and tramping around Lamington National Park.  This presentation will be a prelude to the RGSQ's excursion to Binna Burra later in the year.

Cost:- $2.00 towards morning tea.

Limit:- 30. Registration on the website required.

This trip combines optional walks and a presentation and tour by the management of Binna Burra of the history and particularly the recovery plans following the disastrous fires of late 2019.

Although this is a day trip, participants would be able to make arrangements to book camping facilities and accommodation directly with Binna Burra for the nights before and/or after the formal trip. It is advisable to book as accommodation is still somewhat limited and can be booked out  https://www.binnaburralodge.com.au/accommodation/.

Those travelling to Binna Burra for the day will meet in Canungra at the DJ Smith Memorial Park in the centre of town at 9:00 am sharp. We can arrange carpooling for the drive to Mount Roberts and Binna Burra for those returning to Canungra on the same day.

We will have time for a morning tea at the Teahouse before commencing the Tullawallal Circuit walk by 10:15 am.

Bob Reid will conduct the Tullawallal Circuit Walk which takes us along the main Border Track through rainforest on the eastern side of the ridge for about 1.9 km to the track junctions at the ‘Coomera Seat’. From here, ascend to the summit of Tullawallal where we find the closest stand of Antarctic Beech (Nothofagus moorei) trees to Binna Burra.

We will walk back to the Coomera Seat then follow the circuit track back to Binna Burra on the western side of the ridge, generally in more open vegetation with more Eucalypts (or Corymbias).

The total climb is given as 175 m but happens over 2.5 km so grades are easy, with a few steps, but no flights of steps.

A 2021 description of the walk by Elaine P is:

Really easy (very gentle grade up, practically level) with dense forest until atop the boulders at Tullawallal, which then provides glimpses across the valley. Beautiful ferns, mushrooms and beech trees with whipbirds, bellbirds and some chattering birds (unknown). A few spiked plants with spikes in top and underside of each leaf, impressively serious defense! https://www.aussiebushwalking.com/qld/se-qld/lamington-np/tullawallal-circuit

The plant hazards mentioned above are easily avoidable with a little care!

We should be back at Binna Burra by 12:30 for lunch at the Teahouse.

An alternative stroll for those who do not wish to come to Tullawallal would be the 1.2 km Rainforest Circuit with very easy grades. This walk starts on the Border Track then has a (signed) route across the very low ridge to the circuit back to Binna Burra from Tullawallal. Those who choose this option would be responsible for themselves so we ask that no-one does this on their own, and with other RGSQ participants, if possible

Lunch is at the Tea House Café will be at approximately 12.30pm at your own cost

A presentation will be given by the management of Binna Burra starting at approximately 2pm on the formation and history of Binna Burra with some concentration on the plans and recovery from the bushfires which destroyed much of their facility in Spring 2019.

Cost: $5 members, $10 non-members, which of course excludes meals and any accommodation

Limit: 20 participants, registering on the website or through the RGSQ Office (3368 2066).

Further details will be circulated to registered participants closer to the event.

Convenors: Bob Reid 0412 625 944, Chris Spriggs 0400 908 378

In recent years, summer climatic conditions, bushfires and floods have raised concerns as to what the future holds for us in Queensland. Is this the new summer “normal”? If so, how can we adapt?

The Royal Geographical Society of Queensland and the University of Queensland School of Earth and Environmental Sciences have organised a public forum to address these questions. We have assembled an excellent panel of prominent speakers to present some critical perspectives. We hope you can join us for this important event.

• Keynote: Assoc Prof Helen Bostock, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland
• Bushfire risk: Mr Lee Johnson, Former Commissioner of Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
• Flood risk: Mr Jimmy Scott, Queensland Reconstruction Authority
• Health risk: Ms Sue Cooke, Griffith University Climate Action Beacon and Climate Ready Initiative
• Policy context: Mr Scott Buchanan, Wet Tropics Management Authority

DATE:    Saturday 29 October 2022

TIME:     9.15am – 3.45pm

VENUE: University of Queensland Room 206, Steele Building (Building 3) Staff House Road, St Lucia. See flyer for map of campus.

PLEASE REGISTER: by Monday 24 October

COST: (includes morning tea and lunch)

$50 general
$30 student concession
$30 RGSQ member

$15 Zoom

For any questions, please email info@rgsq.org.au or contact us on (07) 3368 2066.

Photo: Wind energy turbines at Windy Hill near Ravenshoe on the Atherton Tablelands in Tropical North Queensland, Australia. Credit: Wendy Townrow, www.istockphoto.com

Mapping for Recreation and Travel by Bob Reid

Plan where to go and stay on your next holiday on your desktop computer. 

Overview:-  Bob Reid started work as a soil scientist looking at soil types and their distribution in the landscape. He worked with aerial photographs and topographic maps to locate the sites where he was digging and describing the soil and used observed contours, tonal differences and vegetation patterns in air photos, often viewed stereoscopically, to delineate soil types. Cartographers would then prepare soil maps for printing on a cadastral or topographic base.

In retirement, Bob uses PC-based and online interactive mapping resources to plan and record bushwalks and travel, both in Australia and overseas. Planning is done on-screen to produce material that can be downloaded to a hand-held GPS or printed. Printed maps are taken into the field to give the bigger picture along with a compass as a navigation backup.  On the holiday, GPS traces and waypoints marked in the field to provide a record of the trip.

Bob will talk about:

• base mapping for different purposes and where it he has obtained it,
• the sorts of information he puts into planning maps
• how he finds this pre-trip information
• what post-trip information he puts into maps
• how he develops maps

Cost:- $2.00 towards morning tea.

Limit:- 30. Registration on the website required.

Coordinator:-  Len Lowry