Friends of Onkaparinga Park News The Friends of Onkaparinga Park now have two walks books available for sale. Michael Whitaker has written & illustrated these books as a guide to help people with the most popular walks in the Onkaparinga Parks. The books are for sale for $20 each which includes post & packing. Book 1 is 12 Walks & book 2 is 12 More Walks. To buy or further details from michaelwalksonkaparinga@hotmail.com               ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Friends of Onkaparinga Park celebrated their 25th year during 2011 with many special events. The group held a Park Walk, a Canoe Capers, a Sundews Walking & Planting, participated in the Beach Road Pageant & held a Celebration Dinner during November. At this function Long Service Certificates for 10, 20 & 25 years were presented. Colin & Anne Malcolm were also presented with Life Membership -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Friends of Onkaparinga Park Inc was presented with the Friends Group Achievement of the Year Award at the 2009 Friends Forum. The McLaren Shield was presented along with a certificate & a cheque for $700. A full Forum report will appear in the December newsletter. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last year 2007 was another very dry year. The Friends have again done some new plantings which have been watered to allow survival. Many of our members attended the Forum which was held in Port Lincoln. Working bees continued as usual with good attendance at most of them. Projects undertaken were marking out a new track from the lookout down to the river & clearing existing tracks. We assisted with the Walk With Nature at Sundews & continued with our normal weed control. The 21st Birthday Celebration was held in Hardy's Scrub on 7th October. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 20th birthday celebration on the 5th November 2006 was a great success. Seventy-two members & invited guests attended with musical entertainment provided by Dave Clark & Kathy Townsend from "The Singing Gallery" at McLaren Vale. The cake was cut by our Patron Dr Barbara Hardy AO, and also by one of our long serving members, Colin Griffin. Certificates were also presented to 10 year & 20 year members. All who attended also had the chance to plant a tree adjacent to the wetlands. Wonderful catering was provided by "Coast To Coast, The Golden Roast". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Friends of Onkaparinga Park will be holding their 20th birthday celebration on the 5th November at the Seaford Meadows Scout Hall, Railway Road, Seaford Meadows. There will be a fully catered lunch with live music, bird walks and other things of interest. For tickets & further information please contact Cynthia Kirkham on 08 8382 0929. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Size A3 colour double sided maps are now available to purchase at $15 per set. (2 x ds maps) These maps are detailed with contours. National Park is scale 1:15000. Recreation Park and Hardy's Scrub are 1:10000. To purchase please ring or email Secretary. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The year 2005 has been a very successful one for FOOP. With our regular working bees & other activities, much has been achieved by our very hard working members. Many pest plants have been removed, plants propogated & planted. The Sundews Lookout has also been redeveloped by the "Thursday Thugs". We are all looking forward to 2006, to continue the good work of previous years. Come and join us at one of the working bees. See the program on the Home page. Best wishes to all for grand environmental outcomes in 2006. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The recent Friends Forum was well attended & enjoyed by all. The highlight of the weekend for FOOP was when Colin & Ann Malcolm were presented with "Best Friends" gold medals. This was just reward for many years of service to the environment. Bill Heaven was also presented with the "Golden Wallaby" award for the best newsletter. Congratulations to all!  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bottle green shirts with embroidered FOOP colour badges are now able to be ordered. For further details contact Tony Dowling. Coloured badges are also available. These are $8.80 each. Contact Cynthia Kirkham. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Gorge To Gulf" book by Richard J Bissmire is now released & available. This is the story of the Onkaparinga River National & Recreation Parks from geological times to the present day. The book contains chapters on Aboriginal traditional owners, original white pioneers, geology, animals and birds & The Friends of Onkaparinga Park. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Friends of Onkaparinga Park have been successful in obtaining an Envirofund grant to control needle grasses in the Park. We have also received an environmental grant from The City of Onkaparinga to rectify tunnel erosion in the Sundews area. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Keep it quiet.! The Friends of Onkaparinga Park have had notice that we have won "The Golden Wallaby Award" for the best newsletter. The award will be presented at The Friends of Parks Forum to be held at Victor Harbor at the end of August 2005. Our evergreen editor Bill Heaven is to be congratulated for all his hard work over the years. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For further information contact mackins@tpg.com.au