| FOGG DAM FIELD DAY, SEPTEMBER 2008 |
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FRIENDS OF FOGG DAM FIELD DAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2008-10-09 Fogg Dam Field Day was a great success with 400 people visiting. The traditional owners, Joan and Graham Kenyon gave a welcome to country. The Minister for the Environment, the Hon. Alison Anderson, MLA attended as well as Kezia Purick, MLA for Goyder and Gerry Wood, MLA for Nelson. Activities for the whole family included guided walks for birds, butterflies and plants. There were five talks about research at Fogg Dam. The first two about water pythons (the Rainbow Serpent) and toads gave up to date research information plus live specimens. Learning about Native Wild Rice at Fogg Dam and its importance as a food source, especially for magpie geese and the dusky plains rat was most interesting as well as the talk about the significance of the floodplain for measuring carbon and greenhouse gases. There was even the opportunity to visit the floodplain carbon flux monitoring tower. The final talk on the effects of climate change on predator-prey biomass was very thought provoking. Afternoon workshops on sketching animals and the environment and photographing wildlife were very popular. A talk on the colourful history of Fogg Dam was fascinating. Throughout the day there were activities for children which included a couple of treasure hunts, water discovery with a microscope, junior ranger activities which included colouring competitions. There were lots of prizes. The NT Government provided free buses to and from Fogg Dam on the day and Litchfield Lyons sold refreshments. Lucky entrance prizes were provided by generous supporters. Winners were: Louise Paynter – food and drink to the value of $80.00 at Hanuman Restaurant Leona Sullivan – Gurrumul CD from Skinnyfish Music Rosemary and Brendan O’Brien – tickets to Deckchair Cinema Grusha Leeman – tickets to Deckchair Cinema Ann Glasson – tickets to Birch, Carroll & Coyle Cinema Lyn Harry – tickets to Birch, Carroll & Coyle Cinema Return of evaluation forms representing only 71 attendees was disappointingly low. However, feedback was very positive. 1. Did you find the activities interesting? Very 82% average 7% no 0% no response 11% 2. How would you rate your experience? V good 86% good 3.5% average 3.5% not good 0% no response 7% 3. Did you visit today especially for the Field Day? Yes 86% no 10% no response 4% 4. If yes, how did you find out about it? Flyer 14% media 54% friend 21% no response 11% 5. Has the Field Day made a difference to your appreciation of Fogg Dam? Yes 82% no 7% no response 11% In addition to the formal evaluation there was a lot of positive feedback including emails and a number of requests to make the Field Day an annual event. The Field Day has been very positive and has contributed to our vision, ‘to put Fogg Dam on the map and in the hearts and minds of people.’ Friends of Fogg Dam Inc. thank all the presenters for giving so generously of their time and expertise to make the day so successful. Niven McCrie, Jane Moore, Greg Miles, Leisa Baldwin, Jo Vandermark, Denise Goodfellow, Jeremy Hemphill and Ted Kilpatrick Dr Don Franklin and Graham Brown from NT Field Naturalist Club Russel Dempster and Strider from Top End Native Plant Society Caroline Camilleri from the Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist Dr Ligia Pizzatto and Dr Michael Crossland from Sydney University Tropical Ecology Research Centre Dr Penny Wurm, Dr Sean Bellairs and Dr Lindsay Hutley from Charles Darwin University The following businesses are sincerely thanked for their generous support for the Field Day: Adelaide River Cruises (Hunter Safari) Amcal Chemist Nightcliff Birch, Carrol & Coyle Cinema Crocosaurus Cove Cancer Council NT Coles Casuarina Combined Communication Solutions Deckchair Cinema Hanuman Restaurant Imagineer SBA Office National Skinnyfish Music TIO NT Government Parks & Wildlife Commission NT Government Transport Division |