| Type | Date | Description | Leader/Presenter | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excursion | 22/06/2019 | Dowse Lagoon, Sandgate | David Hanger |
There is usually quite a variety of birds on the lagoon, so people may arrive early if they wish to bird watch. It is proposed to spend a short time inspecting the planting area where an attempt has been made to recreate something approaching the diverse habitat prevailing in the pre-Para grass days. Then a slow walk for about 1.5km around the lagoon on a paved surface looking at anything that moves or grows. The Keep Sandgate Beautiful Committee would be very grateful to the Club for a list of wildlife recorded on the day. Please register with David Hanger or via excursion@qnc.org.au with the subject “Dowse Lagoon”. |
| Meeting | 15/07/2019 | Translating venom into human drugs | Professor Glenn King | We are literally surrounded by venomous animals, which make up about 15% of all animal species on the planet. Virtually all gardens in Brisbane contain venomous ants, bees, centipedes, spiders, and wasps, while some also provide homes for venomous assassin bugs, caterpillars, robber flies, and snakes! Despite their sinister reputation, only a very small minority of these venomous animals are dangerous to humans. Indeed, on the contrary, venomous animals have thus far yielded six drugs that are used to treat human disorders as diverse as diabetes, hypertension, and chronic pain. I will provide an overview of recent research on the use of animal venoms to develop drugs to treat autoimmune diseases, cancer and epilepsy, as well as a venom compound that may become the next Viagra! In particular, I will describe a drug we are developing from the Fraser Island funnel-web spider that prevents brain damage following a stroke. |
| Excursion | 21/07/2019 | Glasshouse Mountains National Park Scientific Reserve No.1, Roys Rd, Beerwah |
Dick Copeman
and Ron Carr |
This scientific reserve is mostly freshwater wallum heath with some stands of larger trees and small bodies of water. Many wildflower plants will be in bloom at the time of our excursion, including some rare and endangered plants. Allocasuarina emuina and Eucalyptus conglomerata are both Endangered under both commonwealth and Queensland legislation and are pictured as seen during the reconnaissance mission to the site. We should also see some insects, birds, frogs, reptiles and fungi. It will be easy walking along flat, sandy tracks and we will walk out the way we walk in, so any who wish to leave earlier will be able to do so. |
| Meeting | 15/08/2019 | The enlightened citizens guide to Marine Pollution | Prof. Chris Frid |
What can we do
with our waste?
For many years, the response to waste disposal was 'the solution to pollution is dilution'. But 50 years ago, when we first saw images of our little planet hanging in space, it became obvious that we sit on a finite planet and cannot keep on diluting forever. In this whirl-wind tour of the science, economics, engineering and philosophy of marine pollution, we look at what we have learnt in the last 50 years and what the next 50 might hold for our seas and oceans. |
| Excursion | Bradbury's Beach, Dunwich, Stradbroke Island | Miriam Preker |
North
Stradbroke
Island is one of
Australia’s most
outstanding
natural areas.
It lies at the
heart of a major
biogeographic
overlap zone. It
is here that the
southern and
northern
biotas meet,
forming unusual
communities of
both
temperate
and tropical
species. Bradbury’s Beach, Dunwich combines this with a diversity of habitats in close proximity to one another: mud and sand flats; seagrass beds; a small mangrove area; a macro?algal?dominated intertidal area; a rocky out?cropping; and a small patch of corals |
|
| Camp |
5/8/2019 to 14/8/2019 |
Diamantina National Park | Sally Johnsen |
The choice of
destination depends
on
road conditions
for getting
into the
park after the
flood waters
recede. If access into Diamantina NP is not safe, then we will visit another western location that has recently benefitted from rain and/or flood, but that has safe road access. See more details here To register click Register |
| Camp | 5/10/2019 | Queen's Birthday long weekend camp, Mount Clunie Cabins | Greg & Annie Neill |
The
property is on
the southern
slopes of Mt
Clunie and
borders the
southern
boundary of Mt
Clunie National Park. There is a possibility of a full day’s walk on Sunday, mostly along an unused road reserve, and on Monday a half day walk along a rainforest track to the shoulder of Mt Clunie. There is a very large grassed area that will be available for camping, vans and tents. Camp fees will apply (to be advised). There is one cabin still available, the other is already booked. Phone 07 4666 5118 or email bookings@mountcluniecabins.net to make a booking |