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Draft:Ringwood Field Naturalists Club

The Ringwood Field Naturalists Club (RFNC) is an Australian regional scientific natural history society, dedicated to the study, appreciation and conservation of the natural environment. It is based in Ringwood in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. Founded in 1961, the club has played a pivotal role in promoting environmental awareness and scientific enquiry within the local community. The club continues to host meetings for people within the region, encouraging them to share and explore their interest in Australian Natural History.[1] The RFNC has also hosted the biannual camps of the South East Australian Naturalists Association on a number of occasions, including in 2027[2] and 2024[3], and the annual campout for the Victorian Field Naturalists Clubs Association in 1998.[4]

The RFNC's club badge features the Australian golden whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis), framed by leaves and flowers of the cinnamon wattle (Acacia leprosa). The badge was designed by Jack Truscott, a local artist and foundation member of the RFNC.[5]

History

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The RFNC was established in 1961 at an inaugural meeting on 20 September of that year. The meeting was chaired by Jack Hyett and 32 members were present.[6][7] The first office bearers and committee members included President Jack Hyett, Vice President L. Sebire, Secretary F. Flentje, Treasurer William (Bill) King and committee members E. Moore and Fred J. C. Rogers.[8][9] The RFNC, particularly through the work of Rogers, was instrumental in having two reserves in the Ringwood area created to preserve local flora. One was Wombalano Park and the other a patch of remnant bushland opposite the Heathmont railway station. The later was officially named the FJC Rogers Reserve by the Ringwood Council in 1973 to honour Rogers' tireless efforts planning and maintaining the area.[10][11][12][9]

Hyett, a broadcaster and amateur ornithologist, continued to support the club past the end of his presidency, receiving a lifetime membership to both the RFNC and the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria in 1971.[13] In 1976 Australian mycologist Bruce A. Fuhrer was made a life member, having been the founder and president of the Ringwood Junior Field Naturalist Club for the entire 16 years of its existence.[14] Other notable members include Gretna Margaret Weste.[15]

Mission and activities

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The RFNC provides a welcoming environment for people to meet other field naturalists and to learn, explore and share their interest in Australian natural history.[16] The club achieves this through a variety of activities, including:

  • Monthly meetings featuring guest speakers, members' photographs, exhibits and sightings of interest.[17]
  • Monthly weekend excursions to explore the natural habitats, flora, and fauna of the region.[18]
  • Weekend field trips in autumn and spring across Victoria, usually involving other regional field naturalist clubs, including the Peninsula Field Naturalists' Club[19][20][21] and Field Naturalists Club of Victoria.[22]
  • Field care days, such as tree planting and weed removal at local sites.[23]

The club is a member of the South East Australian Naturalists Association and hosted the association's biannual naturalist club camps in spring 2017 and autumn 2024.[24][25][26] The RFNC is also a member of the Australian Naturalists' Network[27] and contributes species observations to biological surveys such LifeSearch, an annual week-long BioBlitz event in the Western Port Biosphere.[28] The club has a long history of undertaking similar native wildlife photography projects, hosting screenings for the Native Plants Preservation Society's Photoflora competition in 1972.[29]

The RFNC has been a paying contributor to the Victorian National Parks Association since the 1960s.[30][31]

Membership and governance

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Membership in the RFNC is open to anyone with an interest in nature and a desire to learn and explore. The club is governed by a committee, elected annually by its members, who oversee the organisation's activities and initiatives.[32] The RFNC has contributed to the Australian Natural History Medallion Trust Fund.[33]

Honorary life members (year awarded)
Jack Hyett 1971 Marion King 1998 Alison Rogers 2014
Bill King 1971 Doug Thomas 1999 Peter Rogers 2014
Fred Rogers 1975 Ella Thomas 2007 Hazel Veevers 2016
Gordon Coutts 1975 Phil Daniell 2007 Alan Veevers 2016
Bruce A. Fuhrer 1978 Judith Cooke 2007 Ray Wall 2019
Christine Gray 1978 Cecily Falkingham 2014

Publications

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The RFNC produces a 6-monthly club newsletter, called The Whistler.[34]

Prior to 2016, the newsletter was known as The Ringwood Field Naturalist, which ran from 1995 to 2015.[35][36]

References

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  1. ^ "Ringwood Field Naturalists Club Inc". Maroondah Council. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
  2. ^ "SEANA Spring Camp". Castlemaine Naturalist. 42 (5): 2. June 2010 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. ^ "SEANA Camps 2024". Castlemaine Naturalist. 49 (2): 9. March 2024 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  4. ^ "March Campout Notice". Whirrakee : a monthly newsletter. 19 (1): 11. 1998 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  5. ^ "RFNC - The Club Badge". www.rfnc.org.au. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  6. ^ Ringwood Field Naturalists Club Inc; Graham Cooke; Robert King, Ringwood Field Naturalists Club Inc, retrieved 6 March 2024
  7. ^ "Book, Ringwood Field Naturalists Club Inc, 1986". Victorian Collections. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
  8. ^ "Quarterly meeting (1 May 1966)", News Letter (57), Victorian National Parks Association: 3, 1966-05-01, retrieved 6 March 2024
  9. ^ a b Murphy, Patricia Joan; Murphy, Patricia Joan (May 1996). "Obituary – Fred Rogers". The Ballarat Naturalist: 6. doi:10.5962/p.384350.
  10. ^ "FJC (Fred) Rogers – a passionate advocate for Australian Plants" (PDF). Australian Plant Society South East NSW Newsletter. 145: 7–8. January 2019.
  11. ^ "Fred Rogers: Master of native flora" (PDF). Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants Acacia Study Group Newsletter. 76. May 1976.
  12. ^ Elliot, Roger and Gwen (1996). "Fred J. C. Rogers 1927 - 1996". The Victorian Naturalist. 113: 274–275 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  13. ^ "Hyett, Jack (1915 - 2001)". Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
  14. ^ The Victorian Naturalist - Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria. Vol. v.84 (1967). [Melbourne]: Field Naturalists Club of Victoria - Hosted by the Biodiversity Heritage Library. 1967.
  15. ^ Gillbank, Linden (June 2007). "Dr Gretna Margaret Weste AM". The Victorian Naturalist. 124 (3): 183–187 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  16. ^ "Ringwood Field Naturalists Club Inc". www.maroondah.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  17. ^ "Ringwood Field Naturalists Club Inc". Royal Horticultural Society of Victoria. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
  18. ^ "Mixed media - Video, RDHS Guest Speaker Presentation - "Ringwood Field Naturalists Club" - Peter Rogers". Victorian Collections. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
  19. ^ Standen, Roger; Standen, Roger (September 2017). "Excursion to Bunyip State Park". Peninsula Field Naturalists' Club Newsletter: 7–8. doi:10.5962/p.381407 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  20. ^ Denis, Lee (December 2015). "Langwarrin FFR". Peninsula Field Naturalists' Club Newsletter. (2015:Dec): 2–4. doi:10.5962/p.381344. ISSN 2982-0405 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  21. ^ Denis, Lee; Denis, Lee (September 2017). "Excursion to Long Forest NCR & Melton Botanic Gardens". Peninsula Field Naturalists' Club Newsletter: 5––7. doi:10.5962/p.381406.
  22. ^ "Peninsula Field Naturalists Club Links". Peninsula Field Naturalists Club. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
  23. ^ "Ringwood Field Naturalists Club Inc". www.rfnc.org.au. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  24. ^ "Member clubs - SEANA". South East Australian Naturalist Association. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  25. ^ "SEANA Autumn and Spring Camps, 2024". Castlemaine Field Naturalists' Club. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  26. ^ "South East Australian Naturalists' Association Inc. Spring Camp 2017". Geelong Naturalist. 53 (3): 8. July 2017 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  27. ^ "Register of Clubs". Australian Naturalists Network. 2013-09-09. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
  28. ^ Denis, Lee (December 2015). "Langwarrin FFR 18th October". Peninsula Field Naturalists' Club Newsletter: 2–4 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  29. ^ "PHOTOFLORA 1972 (1 February 1972)", News Letter (86), Victorian National Parks Association: 13, 1972-02-01, retrieved 20 March 2024
  30. ^ "CONTRIBUTING ORGANIZATIONS (1 May 1967)", News Letter (60), Victorian National Parks Association: 4, 1967-05-01, retrieved 20 March 2024
  31. ^ "Annual Impact Reports". Victorian National Parks Association. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  32. ^ "RFNC - Who we are". www.rfnc.org.au. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  33. ^ "Australian Natural History Medallion Trust Fund". The Victorian Naturalist. 125 (6): 185. Dec 2008 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  34. ^ Ringwood Field Naturalists Club (issuing body) (2016), The Whistler: Newsletter of the Ringwood Field Naturalists Club Inc, Ringwood [Vic.] Ringwood Field Naturalists Club Inc, retrieved 28 February 2024
  35. ^ "Archives". Ringwood Field Naturalists Club. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  36. ^ Ringwood Field Naturalists Club (1995), The Ringwood Field Naturalist Club newsletter, The Ringwood Field Naturalists Club, retrieved 6 March 2024
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