ASR North Coast News

// February 3rd, 2010 // No Comments » // Blog Articles

In this edition:

· Pelican Dedication
· Next Marine Wildlife Workshop
· Marine Debris Research Project
· Make Turtles Count
· Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
· Vodafone Project – Work for the Charity of Your Choice
· Dolphins in Cudgen Creek
· ASR on the interwebs
· Next Turtle Release

Pelican Dedication
The Ballina Shire Council has decided to name the main jetty in the heart of town, Lance Ferris Wharf and has commissioned a bronze pelican statue to be mounted on the wharf. All ASR members and friends are invited by the artist, Frank Miles, to a preview mounting and private dedication ceremony at 11.00am on Saturday 20th February (finish 12noon). It would be truly wonderful to view of sea of blue shirts on the wharf, to remember Lance in a place he loved. There will be a formal unveiling of the statue by Council at a later date, but this is the opportunity for members and friends to be a part of the ceremony.

Marine Wildlife Workshop
The next ASR Marine Wildlife Workshop will be held on Saturday 13th March at the ASR Marine Wildlife Centre, Ballina. The workshop is a must for all licensed members of ASR (you are required to do a workshop every two years to stay a licensed member), as well as a great opportunity for new and potential members to find out what ASR is all about and how you can help save our local wildlife. Please contact Keith (by reply email) if you can help posting workshop notices in your area.

You MUST register prior to the workshop to secure your place, either by reply email or phone 02 66 862 852. The workshop will commence at 8.30am and finish by 4.30pm. The workshop is great value at $20 for members and $30 non-members and includes morning and afternoon tea, lunch and handbook.

Marine Debris Research Project
Just prior to Christmas, ASR was successful in securing a grant from the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (NRCMA) to undertake a research project on Marine Debris and interactions with Wildlife. As part of this project we’ll be collaborating with an international consortium of conservation groups through the 5 Gyres project (see www.5gyres.org ) to survey the waters offshore Cape Byron to assess the extent of plastic debris and we’ll also be working closely with other local wildlife groups to report on all negative interactions between wildlife and debris (rubbish!) on the North Coast for the past year. The project must be completed by the end of May 2010 and will recruit two project officers to undertake the work.

Make Turtles Count
MTC has been running again this summer and so far we’ve identified 9 nests at time of laying (2 more than last year) on beaches at Cudgen, Tallows, Lennox, South Ballina and Evans Head. We expect more over the coming weeks, so keep those eyes peeled whenever you’re near the beach (especially early morning), and remember the first person to report a verified turtle nest wins a prize pack from the ASR gift shop.

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
ASR is looking to recruit a Project Coordinator and a Project Officer for the Marine Debris Research Project. Both positions are 12hrs/week until the end of May. ASR is also looking to recruit a Project Coordinator for Make Turtles Count. The position is 10hrs/week until end of June. Selection criteria for the three positions include excellent communication and computer skills. Position descriptions are available from Keith by reply email or by phone 02) 66 862 852. Applications must be received by 5pm Friday 5th February.

Vodafone Project – Work for the Charity of Your Choice
The Vodafone Foundation is giving five Australian’s the opportunity to work for the charity of their choice for one year and to do this the Foundation will pay an annual salary of up to $50,000 and expenses of up to $25,000.

There is no limitation on the type of charity work, rather it is about the skills the person can bring as well as being realistic about their achievements. Applicants also need to have had some previous connection with their chosen charity. Applicants need to complete an online application form describing how you will make a world of difference for your chosen charity. Submit your application of between 500 to max 2000 words before the 7 Feb 2010. Anybody interested in working for ASR through this program should discuss their application with Keith.

Dolphins in Cudgen Creek
A big thankyou to the many members who assisted with baby-sitting our three dolphin friends in Cudgen Creek over the Australia Day long weekend. NPWS Rangers asked me to pass on their appreciation for the assistance provided by ASR volunteers. The excellent response from local residents is also a testament to a job well done. As of this morning they were still there, but have been assessed as healthy and just enjoying the school of fish which is obviously hanging around the same area.

ASR on the Interwebs
Not getting enough of an ASR fix, perhaps you’ve moved, or just got busy, then keep up with the goings on via the web. Search for ‘Australian Seabird Rescue’ as a facebook group or ‘seabirdrescue’ on twitter. Our twitter postings are also updated ‘live’ on our website.

Next Turtle Release
Harriet and Ellie have to go… so join us next Friday 5th February at 9am at the Byron Surf Club for their release.

Keith Williams

It’s All Happening

// December 12th, 2009 // No Comments » // Blog Articles

We are postponing the Lance Ferris Memorial Dinner and instead having a bash more in keeping with Lance.  Please come along and join us for some fun.

SAME DIARY DATE – Saturday December 12

We are going to celebrate the life and work of our founder, Lance Ferris, on his birth date - THIS Saturday 12/12 – but in a more low key way with a BBQ, drinks and some home-spun music – at the Ballina ASR Centre, 4-8 pm.  The theme is GOLD – entry, meal and drinks (beer, wine, mixed cans) all by gold coin donations – vegetarians will be catered for and there’ll be a range of lucky door prizes all with values exceeding $25 (think almost free Christmas presents).

We’ll be selling tickets in the raffle for a Kim Michelle Toft original artwork.  Featuring pelicans (of course) there are only 300 tickets at a measly $5 each.  Great value for a prize worth $1200.

The ASR Christmas raffle will also be on hand: 1st prize, NORPA season double pass (valued $500); 2nd prize Ballina Players season double pass (value $200); 3rd prize, basket of goodies (value $80).

We’d love to see you there, and please bring family and friends.  Lance was a wonderful musician and singer and so, if you have a guitar or any other instrument you like to play, do bring it along for the jam session!!

NEW DIARY DATE – Saturday June 6

There’s been a bit of rearranging of our plans over the past few days.  Unfortunately, the lack of bookings for the Lance Ferris Memorial Dinner and fundraiser set for December 12th has seen us opting to postpone the event – the new date set is World Environment Day Saturday, June 5th.

A focus group will be meeting on Friday 8th January to start planning this event, at 10.30 at the Ballina Centre, and will continue to meet regularly after that.  If you have experience or any special skills you can bring to this event and would like to be involved, we would love to hear from you!  Science / Tourism / Hospitality / Marketing / Media students are especially welcome!  And if you have a connection with any of the many high profile “stars” that now call the Far North Coast home, who you think may be open to supporting this event, we’d love to hear from you about that too.

RARE VISITOR

TRUTLE, the young Loggerhead turtle, got him/her self into real trouble.  Typically a tropical / sub-tropical species, this wayward youngster was discovered a couple of months ago amidst the Little Penguins at Phillip Island on the southern tip of Victoria!  He was floating and underweight and generally quite unwell – not surprisingly. In a great collaboration with local wildlife carer Marg Healy and ASR, he was cared for locally and stabilised there before being flown up to us last week.  It is extremely rare for us to see a Loggerhead turtle of this size (29cm shell) and age.  Never before in ASR’s history have we had a Loggerhead turtle in care of this size.  They undergo a weird phase where their shell changes from relatively smooth and goes all peaky – very prehistoric looking!  After a few years it settles back down to what becomes the adult form.

SCHOOL HOLIDAY TOURS Dec 28 – Jan 26

As is our custom during school holidays, the Centre will be open to the usual daily one-hour “Talk’n'Tour”, from 10am every day.   Entry is $5 (ASR members free), so if you’re expecting visitors these holidays, do bring them along, to see our very rare visitor.  No tours prior to Christmas.

SPOT THE TURTLE NEST COMPETITION

Yes, it’s that time of year again.  We need anyone and everyone out there looking for turtles or turtle tracks from now until the end of March.  With beach erosion from the June storms yet to be replaced in many places there are still steep sand cliffs along many beaches.  Turtle nests laid at the bottom of these cliffs will be in danger of inundation from subsequent summer king tides.  We have to spot the nest the same day it’s laid if we are to relocate the nest to a safer spot.  Moving one nest has the potential to save 100 hatchlings.  Last season the Make Turtles Count project spotted 7 nests and missed probably another 13.  Also last summer was a record for ASR with 30 turtles in care at one time.  It seems that when people are out looking for turtle nests they’re also more likely to spot a sick or injured turtle.

With this in mind we’ve started a competition.  Keep an eye out on your local beach, talk to friends and neighbours and enlist them in the fun.  A turtle prize pack from the ASR Gift Shop (value $40.00) awaits any successful turtle nest spotters this season.

THE TIME OF GIVING & SHARING

Everyone of course wants to be able to spend the Christmas/New Year period celebrating and sharing with friends and family…. BUT if wildlife gets into trouble, it still needs help – and any birds or turtles we have in care still need looking after.  If you can help by contributing a few hours on any day during this period, you will be most welcome.  Please email Acting General Manager, Keith Williams, at the Centre:  admin@seabirdrescue.org or phone 66 862 852 if you can help out.

With best wishes for the season.

Marny, Keith and Rochelle.