Field Notes by Terri Allen

The missing link

14/8/2020

Two fences now block a wonderful walk from Wonthaggi
to the coast. Terri Allen fills in the missing pieces from childhood memories.

By Terri Allen

ONE of the best ways to spend a day in our childhood was to go out to the Back Beach. Unimpeded by adults, we would set off from the end of Broome Crescent, across the paddocks to the Rifle Range gate. We crossed the undulations in these paddocks made for market gardening during the war.

Any other time we would be re-enacting things seen at the Saturday arvo flicks (These would involve inching along the furrows, whooping, shooting from cover, playing cowboys and Indians.) but now we had a different agenda – the beach. We cut across more paddocks, skirted tannin-stained swamps, hunted for Wonthaggi Monster tracks, passed the Southern Tunnel airshafts, skirted Lake Lister, breasted the dunes – Bass Strait, here we come!

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Friends honour the 'two Bills'

5/3/2020

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Bill Slade’s daughter Steph at the “Two Bills” seat at the Rifle Range Wetlands.

By Terri Allen

TWO friends of the Wonthaggi Rifle Range Wetlands, recently departed, will be remembered by us all.

Bill Berry, adjoining farmer, was part of the team which revegetated the Rifle Range in 2005. Bill Slade, park ranger, helped with the project and monitored the area over the years.

Together they moved out cattle which had escaped into the area through kangaroo-damaged fences. Their last meeting was on such a venture.

Today they have plaques on a seat overlooking the site.

Vale the Bills.

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A force of nature

6/2/2020

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Eulalie Brewster photographed at Wilsons Promontory soon after the disastrous fires of 2005. Eulie was part of a volunteer team that monitored the recovery of the vegetation.

By Terri Allen

AT LAST the achievements of Inverloch’s living treasure Eulalie (Eulie) Brewster have been recognised, with the award of a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Australia Day honours.

EuIalie turns 94 in August, but her inquiring mind, ability to connect with all age groups, extensive reading, quick grasp of situations, willingness to tackle any job, outward-looking nature and encyclopaedic memory make her a living treasure.

She is an asset to the conservation movement, an example to all who meet her.

I knew Eulie’s friend Ellen Linden first. They used to go bush walking together. Ellen said to me, “When I’m gone, you’ll have to go to Eulie at Inverloch.” So I always say Eulie was bequeathed to me. She’s been a great source of knowledge and a wonderful friend.

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‘A gentle man who earned respect’

24/1/2020

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Wonthaggi Parks Victoria ranger Bill Slade died while fighting fires in East Gippsland.

By Terri Allen

BILL Slade, who died tragically while fighting fires in the Omeo region on January 11, was a kind personable man, extremely proud of his family, considerate of the public and a hard working Parks Victoria ranger in the Wonthaggi depot.

He had worked for Parks Victoria for 40 years, so knew our area intimately, from fox baiting on Phillip Island, manning controlled burns in our parks and reserves, monitoring our coastline and working on the George Bass Walk from Punchbowl to Kilcunda.

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The lake that vanished

14/11/2019