Latest News

Tolstoy link in Bournemouth Library

Fri, 2 Sep 2011 23:05:23 +0800

Gary Muir just returned to Australia from Europe with an exciting find after researching for his book with the Bournemouth Library staff who uncovered one of Tolstoy’s books - “A Murderer’s Remorse” from the library’s restricted “inner Sanctum”. Tolstoy’s official Preface for the book had been written by Walpole’s own Frank Skinner Thompson who was then General Manager of the Free Age Press. This amazing discovery will be written up in the “Tolstoy to Tinglewood” publication co-authored with Geoff Fernie, due to be launched at the end of October.

West Australian recognise Phyto Fighter

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 19:20:52 +0800

Reporter Jane Hammond travelled the south west investigating the impact of Dieback in the South West. In one of her articles appearing in yesterday’s West, Jane interviewed Gary Muir and some of the WOW Wilderness Team testing out the new Phyto Fighter 1000 - an efficient and effective bio-security measure against Phytophthora Dieback.

A percentage of funds from people’s WOW Wilderness Cruise tickets goes towards an EcoProject. Researching, developing and manufacturing the PhytoFighter 1000 has been one of the projects.

West Australian Article: Local design weapon to beat invader

Tropical Nudibranch Visits Walpole

Fri, 4 Feb 2011 07:07:02 +0800

Another first time visitor riding down on the Leeuwin Current from the Northwest was sighted on the WOW EcoCruise by Michelle Bunn of Kalamunda sliding in the sands next to the WOW Jetty. This tropical specimen is a Bulina lineata. Michelle was able to get a photo of it and we were amazed on the cruise, after looking it up in the vessels reference material, they are mostly found in the North-east coast of Australia though they had once been sighted on the Leeuwin Current before at Coworamup. This specimen seems to be the first recorded on the South Coast of Australia.

The West Australian Article on WOW

Sat, 8 Jan 2011 17:30:27 +0800

The West Australian Travel Editor Stephen Scourfield “took a ride to the edge of the Southern Ocean” with WOW Wilderness EcoGuide Gary Muir and wrote a fantastic article in The Weekend West. The article really brings together the essence of what WOW Wilderness is all about. Have a read of their online version:

Travel WA The Weekend West: Whole world in his hands

Phyto Fighter 1000 Launched

Fri, 24 Dec 2010 16:22:13 +0800

Dieback (Phytophthora cinnamomi) is one of the biggest threats to biodiversity in Australia. In WA over 1000 000 ha are now infested with this introduced microscopic invader threatening over 40% of its plant species and devastating animal habitats.   Human activity spreads dieback. People can carry dieback from infested areas in mud on shoes or vehicles, shifting infested soil, grading roads or moving infected plant material.   Dieback Free Areas can still able to be protected. If access is to be allowed, this new effective, efficient Boot Cleaning Station scrubs and sterilises footwear.

WOW Wilderness has been supported by the Project Dieback NRM Team, the Department of Environment and Conservation in Western Australia, Murdoch University, ALCOA, Great Southern Development Commission, industry and community in the fight against one of the biggest threats to biodiversity in Australia -- Dieback (Phytophthora cinnamomi). The brief was to produce an efficient (10 seconds to use), effective (20 seconds sterilise), economic ($1000 AU, can do 1000 feet before needing refilling)boot cleaning station.   The Phyto Fighter 1000 is easy to install (one person can carry unit), vandal resistant (bolted onto buried sleepers), minimal maintenance (water/steriliser filled through handle cap, unit holds 40 litres and can spray up to 1000 boots), intuitive to use (just Scrub and Spray, no more sitting down trying to brush your feet which has been show to be ineffective in removing all material between treads). This unit if far more effective in ensuring people are clean on entry into dieback free areas.    Now the WOW team have finally finished the WOW Wilderness Phyto Fighter 1000 Boot Cleaning Station to help land managers prevent the spread of this introduced microscopic invader into valued dieback free areas.  With everyone working together, actions today will provide the best opportunity for the protection of our many biological assets in the future. Hope is on the horizon as our scientific community continues to develop new control and eradication methods against Phytophthora Dieback.   The Phyto Fighter 1000 - keeping you Clean in the Green.

Shadow has two chicks

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 22:23:29 +0800

Local oystercatchers and Walpole legends Savage and Shadow have been partners for the past 17 years. WOW Wilderness has monitored the pair nearly every day over this time living on the western end of Bellanger Beach. 28 days ago Shadow started nesting and 10 “Do not disturb” signs were installed at a 35m radius from the site. The pair have previously lost 13 years of their young out of 17 - usually indirectly or directly due to humans. Loss of eggs, young and events causing the mother to abandon her nest have included cats, dogs, foxes, people going up to the nest and vehicles.

Natural causes have been by native predators - Anna, the white breasted sea eagle and once a swamp harrier. Another year the channel cut past the nest on the 22nd day of incubation and the eggs fell into the water. On this occasion Savage and Shadow mourned for two days desperately looking into the channel. The eggs this year were lucky to survive the October School Holidays and the informative signs helped. The two chicks were named Ray and Jackie - after Ray Muir who has recently passed away at the age of 103 - his daughter was on the boat that day reliving her dad’s life in the Walpole area and Jack who, on the boat, turned 83 the same day.

The chick stage is still a dangerous time from both introduced and native predators. However they are camouflaged well and they have very dedicated and experienced parents. When they can fly they will be weaned. Terrance is one of Savage and Shadows descendants who turned nine this year. He lives with his partner Tilly, a Denmark oyster catcher who visited during the summer eight years ago, on the other side of the channel. They are yet to breed this year. We wish luck to Ray and Jackie to survive and Savage and Shadow to continue breeding into the coming years. Pied oyster catchers can live for over 40 years.

Update: Both Ray and Jackie are still alive and going strong after attacks from a Little Eagle, White bellied sea eagle and close call with 4WD motorbike. 2 November 2010

100th Anniversary of National Park

Wed, 6 Oct 2010 21:24:15 +0800

Extract from the Walpole Weekly

About 140 people attended the Walpole Nornalup National Park centenary celebrations at Nornalup on Saturday despite the unexpected clash with a replay of the AFL Grand Final.

One hundred years ago, a party of five men rowed up the Frankland River and were so impressed by its beauty that the area was declared a Class A reserve to be protected for future generations to enjoy. James Mitchell, the Minister of Lands and Agriculture, his ministerial party and field guide could not have foreseen that one hundred years later their grandchildren would be taking exactly the same trip up the Frankland River in their honour.

Descendants of Sir James Mitchell, Harry F Johnston, Neil McNeil and Tom Yeo attended but, unfortunately, no descendents of James Connolly could be traced for the event. The party went up to Monastery Landing where a new interpretive panel was unveiled by Barry Hasse MLC. A community celebration then followed at the Nornalup Community Centre.

The event was emceed by Gary Muir of WOW Wilderness EcoCruises who infused passion and humour into the proceedings. Wayne Webb represented the local Noongar community with his Welcome to Country which acknowledged both ancestors and current custodians of the land. The story of the founding of the Walpole-Nornalup National Park was then told through a slideshow put together by the Walpole-Nornalup and Districts Historical Society accompanied by old-time music played on a gramophone.

Barry Hasse acknowledged the importance of the preservation of lands such as the Walpole- Nornalup National Park and recognized the pride we have as a community in caring for our national parks. Judith Crossland, granddaughter of Sir James Mitchell, gave a tribute speech to her grandfather who she noted
came to the area to cut down trees and kickstart development in the area. She said “he met his waterloo along the Frankland River” where he was so overwhelmed by the beauty of the area that he made an on-the-spot decision to preserve it as conservation estate.

Berta Von Bibra, granddaughter of Harry F Johnston gave an overview of her grandfather’s life’s work and passion. She outlined his achievements not only in the south-west of Western Australia, but throughout the state. The Walpole Primary School students did a fantastic job at replicating the early settlement of the Bellanger and Thompson families as well as depicting the moment Sir James Mitchell and his group declared the beginnings of the Walpole-Nornalup National Park.

Earlier in the year, the Walpole Primary School upper school students each drew a logo which they thought would best depict the centenary of the Walpole-Nornalup National Park centenary. These logos were displayed at the Walpole markets in the morning and a “People’s Choice” award was held. The winner of the logo competition was Sarah Pierce.

The official proceedings finished with a series of songs performed by the Walpole Primary School students and ‘Circle of Song’ choir.

(Extract Walpole Weekly October 6 2010 more pictures available:

http://www.walpole.org.au/WalpoleWeekly/October6th2010.pdf)

Walpole on FIRE!!

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 21:50:01 +0800

The WOW Wilderness EcoCruise returned to Walpole through the Knolls this afternoon into the Walpole Inlet to witness Fire fighters suppressing a fire on the waters edge threatening the West Walpole Boronia Estate.

This is an extract from the Walpole Weekly September 29:

The fire began on Country Club land on Friday morning, jumped the Walpole River and ran along the Bibbulmen Track parallel with several houses before turning and spreading over a wider area. The houses most threatened were those owned by the Perpolis, Clarks, McKinlays and Burtons. It rapidly became a very hot fire and one resident reported seeing flames leaping half as high again above 20-30 ft trees. At one stage it encroached about 15 m onto the Clark’s block and 10 m onto the block of another unoccupied house.

Those involved say it was extremely fortunate that, although it was not on DEC-controlled land, DEC equipment was available and DEC crews were also called in from other areas. George Doust from DEC controlled the fire-fighting operations. Together with the Walpole Fire and Emergency Services and Walpole Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade units they were able to put in firebreaks and contain the fire.

The South West Highway had to be closed to traffic and there was no detour route available as visitors with no knowledge of the area could not be sent along un-signposted gravel roads through the National Park. Nor was there any way of communicating with the people in the banked-up vehicles who did not know why they had been stopped or what they were expected to do. At one stage the ABC News was reporting that Boronia Ridge might have to be evacuated and this caused concern to residents, but it was later stated that this was never a consideration. While the fire burned for several hours the first priority had been to keep it away from the houses and this had been successful.

http://www.walpole.org.au/WalpoleWeekly/Sept29th2010.pdf

Return from Russia

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 20:16:29 +0800

Gary Muir and Yashna Van Kinderen travelled to Russia‘s Yasnaya Polyana to research links between Walpole and Leo Tolstoy.
Five years ago a case was found in a boat shed containing papers and photo’s belonging to Walpole’s historic Tinglewood Lodge’s original owner, Fabian philosopher Frank Skinner Thompson. Included in the case were letters and a book which described Frank’s stay with Leo Tolstoy in 1906. The case also contained letters and photos from Tolstoy’s family and friends including Aylmer Maude (official translator of Tolstoy’s works) and Vladimir Tchertkoff (Tolstoy’s right hand man).

Research was carried out at the original home of Tolstoy - Yasnaya Polyana - now a National literary museum. Gary and Yashna were able to uncover a previously unknown chapter of Frank’s life as Manager of Tuckton House in Hampshire, home of the English Tolstoyism movement, sponsored by Tolstoy and Tcherkoff, who published most of Tolstoy’s works then illegal in Russia to be smuggled back... This year is the 100th anniversary of Tolstoy’s death - depicted in the newly released film “The Last Station”... Tolstoyism and Tcherkoff feature heavily in the film...

As Gary continues working with Gail Guthrie, one of the descendants of Frank - other exciting finds have turned up include links to Alexander Sirnis, father of Melia Norwood (read David Burke’s The Spy who came in from the Co-op”), Gogol, Garshin, Bernard Shaw, Alfred R Wallace - even the King of Norway!...

WOW at Dieback State Conference

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:30:27 +0800

Gary Muir, in partnership with Project Dieback NRM, presented the Bush Bidet - an economic vehicle hygiene station with the Walpole Boot Cleaning Station at the State Dieback Conference at Murdoch University. Much interest has been shown with both products and WOW is facilitating the production of new aluminium BC stations available by the end of the year.

New Boot Cleaning Station for Dieback

Thu, 27 May 2010 17:01:37 +0800

Over the past few of years, WOW has been working with Project Dieback, a Natural Resource Management initiative to protect valued areas from the threat of the introduced soil -borne plant pathogen, Phytophthora Dieback. With the work of the WOW Team and local welder Steve Skippings, a Boot Cleaning Station that not only cleans but sterilises hikers footwear who are entering into a Dieback Protection Zone has been installed into the Nuyts Wilderness.

Whimbrel in Walpole!

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 23:12:08 +0800

Every year Walpole gets an occasional visitor from Siberia - usually a few bar-tail godwits drop in to the Pole for a summer holiday and avoiding the Siberian winter. However today, on the western peninsular of Bellanger Beach, Grant Watson of Victoria was able to snap a pic of a visiting Whimbrel while on the WOW Wilderness EcoCruise. He also sent the WOW Team a picture of an unusual venomous Bardick snake he saw at Conspicuous Cliff car park. Biodiversity reigns in Walpole!

Kooky kills Big Blue

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 20:57:19 +0800

Local emblem and Nornalup Tea House legend - “Le Grand Bleu”has been killed in broad daylight by WA’s introduced invader (from Victoria in 1897) the laughing kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae). The tragedy was witnessed by lunchtime diners enjoying their meals and watching the promiscuous Big Blue surrounded by his harem of five female fairywrens. Suddenly, everyone stopped mid-mouthful, to behold the world’s biggest kingfisher dive down and take the the big blue wren from the front garden. The male splendid fairywren (Malurus splendens) is famous for having the largest testes per body size than any other vertebrate animal on earth (some over 25%). Le Grand Bleu will be sorely missed by patrons and his partners alike.

Humpback whale on Circus Beach!

Sat, 3 Apr 2010 18:12:48 +0800

This photo of a male humpback whale washed up on Walpole Wilderness’s Circus Beach was taken today.

The first humpback whales are normally sighted passing Walpole at the end of May - beginning of June on their annual migration to the North west. They return past Walpole up to the end of November. Having one wash up in April is bizarre! Was it late going home? The Department of Environment and Conservation have been notified... Walpole is also a breeding ground for Southern Right Whales.

First Spit of Autumn Rain

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:42:39 +0800

Walpole, one on the wettest places in WA, has had one of its driest six months. On Saturday evening during a sunset cruise, the much awaited rain for Walpole showed promise on the horizon from the Nutys Wilderness Peninsular. Walpole received just over 10 mm. It had been nearly two months before that the town had a previous rain event (20th of January) and two months before the area had just under 20mm of rain on Friday 13th November. The recent rain helped stop the wildfire in Albany but more is needed reduce the bushfire threat, sustain Walpole’s town water supply and keep the area’s unique flora and fauna alive...

Fudge dies in the Drought

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:40:22 +0800

Fudge was an exiled male western grey boomer who had spent nearly eight years in retirement on his favorite peninsular in the Walpole Wilderness He was found dead yesterday near Bald Head during a WOW Wilderness Cruise. Fudge had been a regular character on the track to Kimbas Rest Beach. It is suspected the summer drought has contributed to his demise.

Denis gets his head stuck!

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:40:41 +0800

Walpole is famous for its snakes. The aboriginal name for the area is “Norn Norn up” meaning place of the many black snakes. One of the local snakes, Denis, sometimes seen on the walk through the wilderness, got his head stuck in a coke can on the WOW jetty. A couple holidaying on a houseboat discovered Denis and rescued him from the can. (Note it is recommended you contact the local DEC office and not try and do it yourself!).

In the same week a young lady on the Bibbulmun Track near Rame Head was struck at by a tiger snake who got his fangs stuck in her sandal. She ran with the snake attached past all her friends (who headed bush) for around 30 metres before it dislodged itself. The lady was later back in Walpole asking if there were anyplace in town that sells sturdy hiking boots!

White Bellied Sea Eagle Caught in Cat Cage

Mon, 1 Mar 2010 22:33:22 +0800

A Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) Conservation Officer reported accidentally catching a white breasted seagle in a feral cat trap on the track to Circus Beach. The eagle, who was attracted to the pilchard bait, got caught in the trap. The eagle who was unhurt wandered out of the cage when opened by the officer. It is a rare event to catch a native species, this being the ever recorded sea eagle. DEC also use “Pongo”, a solution made mostly out of cats urine and a FAP, Felid Attracting Phonic, a loop-recording of a cat call to attract cats. Over a dozen feral cats have been caught on Circus Beach by the department. Cats are a major predator of native species.

Manta Ray in Walpole...

Mon, 1 Mar 2010 03:08:43 +0800

While Luka the Albino Black Ray is becoming quite a celebrity in Walpole...previously we had had another extremely rare visitor coming down the Western Australian Leeuwin Current from the North around Augusta to the Nornalup Inlet. One passenger from the WOW Cruise looked up during morning tea to see a “black thing flying completely out of the water” towards the Rainbow Lady. Passngers were able to get a few special photos as the manta ray came right up to the WOW Jetty. A few weeks later a nearly fully grown loggerhead turtle also turned up.

Dolphin Rescue!

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 21:27:36 +0800

A photo has just arrived from a passenger who witnessed Gary Muir and some of his passengers during a WOW EcoCruise rescue a beached female bottle nose dolphin a few weeks ago. Channels have changed and many locals, including dolphins, are getting stuck on the new sandbanks. A young dolphin nearby was in distress. The dolphin had been stuck for some time, and was weak. The rescue crew dug a channel in front of the large dolphin and then removed the sand under the dolphin until it got free and was able to power forward. Gary leg still sports the bruise as she accidentally whacked it during its powerful exit. Since the rescue the dolphins have regularly joined the cruise for a short ride on the bow waves.

Luka, the rare Albino Black Ray!

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 17:24:20 +0800

Passengers were lucky to witness Luka, a rare albino black ray who greeted the boat at Rest Point as the WOW EcoCruises passed through the Walpole Inlet today. Luka is one of the only albino black rays to be recorded in WA.

Update: After going missing for six months Luka reappeared in the knolls on the 1 November 2010.

Return of the Pelicans

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:24:30 +0800

Pelican numbers have increased significantly on the waterways this summer. This is believed to be due to their return from inland lakes, where they breed when in flood, including Lake Eyre. It is still a mystery how the birds know that the salt lake floods or how they know the way there. Walpole has no recordings of actual breeding on its own waterways. Green Island in Albany is the closest, when they started breeding there in the 1950’s.

100th Anniversary of the Walpole Nornalup National Park

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:31:26 +0800

In 1910 a small parcel of land was set aside for A Class reservation and the waterways protected from professional fishing and netting, after WA Minister, James Mitchell, and his party were impressed with the beauty of the area. This was the beginning of what was to become the Walpole Nornalup National Park, Walpole Wilderness Area and Walpole and Nornalup Inlets Marine Park. Next week industry, community and government are meeting to prepare for the year’s celebration events.

Reptilian Cannibalism - Dugite eats Dugite!

Tue, 2 Feb 2010 23:00:49 +0800

Gary Muir was surprised when he came across a dugite (Pseudonaja affinis) consuming another dugite while mowing his lawn. The snake being eaten was the same size as the snake having a feast. The dugite is a highly venomous snake of Australia. Gary was able to get a close up photo as the snake already had a mouthful.

Bush Turkey visits Walpole after 50 Years

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 22:42:00 +0800

Australian Bustard, Ardeotis australis, is a large ground bird, usually from grassland, woodland and open agricultural country, but last seen in Walpole in the 1950’s.
Louise Pickett and Rob Pernich amazingly were able to get a photo of a vagrant bustard from the top of Young’s Hill overlooking Walpole.
The range of the bustard has been reduced due to past hunting, feral predators (e.g. foxes pigs) and habitat destruction.