Rockhampton

Monthly Meetings

Rockhampton branch meet on the fourth Friday of each month (except December) for about 2-2.5 hours starting at 7.00 pm.

Meetings typically involve a presentation by a guest speaker, socialising over a cup of tea followed by a discussion of the plants on display (identification/habitat/propagation). Meetings are held at the Frenchville State School Activity Centre, Frenchville Rd.

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Members

The Rockhampton based branch of Native Plants Queensland hosts monthly meetings and excursions and welcomes anyone interested in any aspect of native plants. Members include those from the Capricorn Coast (Yeppoon/Emu park) and we have regular interaction with sister branches in Gladstone and Mackay. We welcome new members and like most groups are keen to recruit new/younger members.

Our members have diverse backgrounds. Some are (or were) professional biologists, some are keen gardeners and plant propagators while some simply want to enjoy and learn more about native plants in our central Queensland ecosystems.

 

Excursions

Guided excursions are held on the first Sunday of each month (except January). Excursions are typically 3-3.5 hours starting at 2.00pm. There are usually at least one or two longer excursions (sometimes involving an overnight stay). In 2015 we visited Barakula State Forest near Chinchilla over a weekend. Each month we try to visit a different habitat type selected from the diverse array within easy driving distance in our local area. Habitats include: dry rainforests/softwood scrubs, heathlands, littoral rainforests, coastal scrubs, vine forests, natural grasslands, marine plains, eucalypt forests, serpentenite scrubs as well as the riparian vegetation along creeks and billabongs. Each year we also visit the garden of the winner of the local garden competition in the category ‘Best use of Native Plants’ for which we sponsor the prize.

We provide plant lists and there is always a knowledgeable person available to assist with the identification of plants.
Several members are keen photographers and provide a record of the excursion.

Projects

Our branch works with a number of local organisations to present information, talks and activities relating to native plants. Organisations include: Fitzroy Basin Association, Flow Education Centre, Capricorn Catchments, Landcare, Greening Australia and local schools.

We produce a monthly newsletter for members and other interested parties.

We take part in Gladstone’s Ecofest each year, selling plants and providing advice to people on the growing of native plants.

A small group of volunteers works with the Rockhampton Regional Council Plant Nursery on propagation projects. New members are welcome at their weekly activities. Individual members are interested in propagating rare and unusual plants.

Individual members are involved in various revegetation projects (and guerrilla gardening). The group is currently involved in a project to re-establish a vegetation corridor to connect two sections of the national park at The Caves.

Resources

We make extensive use of various on-line tools but also rely on several books relevant to the local areas. We also sell these books at cost plus.

 

Melzer and Plumb
Plants of Capricornia
Anderson
Plants of Central Queensland: their identification and use
Pearson and Pearson
Plants of Central Queensland
SGAP-Rockhampton Branch Native
Plants for the Fitzroy Basin
Harden et al
Rainforest Trees and Shrubs: a field guide to their identification