Tasmanian Field Naturalists Club Inc.

2023 Program

Annual General Meeting Thursday 2^nd March 2023, 7.30 PM

The AGM will be held in the UTAS Law Building, Sandy Bay. Access instructions are here https://tasfieldnats.org.au/data/documents/Field-Nats-venueFeb-2022.pdf .

Eddie Gall will present this year’s President’s address, Forty Winters in Tasmania’s Mountains, a visual celebration of snow-capped mountains and frosted valleys from throughout the island’s wild areas.

You are invited to nominate for any position on the committee. The nomination form is here. In particular, the club will need a new secretary and your nomination for that position would be greatly appreciated.

Only financial members will be able to vote at the AGM so please pay your annual subscription prior to the meeting.

Nomination Form  l  AGM Agenda  l  Venue: Sandy Bay, UTAS Law building. Instructions for access here.

 Excursion to Big Bend Trail - Saturday 4^th March - 10:00 AM

The Big Bend Trail on Mt Wellington has been improved making it a much easier track to walk on. We will meet at the Pinnacle Road Car Park about 500m past the Big Bend Trail. This is about 2km past the Chalet. From the car park we will walk back down the road to the Big Bend Trail. The track features subalpine heaths and snow gum forest and in early March should have good insect life. Those fleet-of-foot might like to climb Tom Thumb or make a circuit by returning via the Devils Throne Track and Thark Ridge Track. Being high altitude, if the weather is poor the excursion may be postponed to Sunday.

General MeetingThursday *13^th April, 7:30 PM

Dr Jemina Stuart-Smith will present: "Safeguarding red handfish from extinction"

Dr Jemina Stuart-Smith will talk about the critically endangered red handfish (Thymichthys politus) – an endemic marine species considered to be on the brink of extinction. With a wild population of one hundred adults, conservation strategies have focussed on bolstering the wild population though captive-rearing, mitigating threats causing loss of habitat, and early efforts to restore its habitat.

*Note that this meeting, rather than being held on Easter Thursday, will be held on the Thursday after Easter.

Excursion to Southport Lagoon Area - Saturday 15^th April 2023 

Excursion begins at 10am form Southport, about 1 hour 30 minutes drive from Hobart. More detail here later.

Covid Safety

TFNC follows the Tasmanian Government’s latest safety guidelines which can be found at Coronavirus (COVID-19) | Tasmanian Department of Health . Cancellation of events or new restrictions due to government advice will be posted on the TFNC website and an email will be sent to all members.

Non-members can now attend general meetings and excursions.

It is each member’s responsibility not to put others at risk. If you are unwell or have flu like symptoms, please get tested and stay at home.

Masks must be worn at meetings (speakers excepted). On arrival at meetings and excursions, please sign in on the TFNC attendance list to record your name and phone number and also use the hand sanitiser. Please socially distance at the required spacing.

TFNC excursion guidelines, including use of car sharing, are available from https://tasfieldnats.org.au/data/documents/2020-TFNC-Excursion-Guidelines-final.pdf .

 A little bit about us

Our members are both professional and amateur naturalists who share a common interest in the natural world.

We encourage the study of all aspects of natural history and advocate the conservation of our natural heritage. Our journal, The Tasmanian Naturalist, is issued annually and our quarterly information Bulletin covers forthcoming activities. 

The club was formed in 1904, and we are associated with other Field Naturalist Clubs throughout Tasmania and beyond.

Our monthly meetings usually include a guest speaker who presents an illustrated talk on a topic of their particular interest or expertise. Members also contribute and discuss their recent observations of nature. An excursion on the following weekend visits a site, usually in Southern Tasmania, and usually related to the topic of the presentation.

From October 2021 meetings are being held at University’s Sandy Bay campus Law Building Seminar Room (Room 132), located off Grosvenor Crescent near the University sports grounds. The entrance is located off the laneway on the northern side of the building.

Here is a map of the venue and instructions to access

CONTACT US

There is more about us here              website enquiries: web.master@tasfieldnats.org.au