BOCA BIOGRAPHY 2005

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Helen Aston Botanist and born birdo

“It never entered my head that adults watched birds, or that there might be some essential purpose in it.”

Helen Aston cannot remember a time when she did not watch birds. What brought her to the Bird Observers Club was not her consuming passion for natural history or conservation - she joined because she contracted chicken pox. Until age 13 she lived on her parents’ farm near Narrandera, NSW, among tall trees - Box and Callitris species - where one or two very special paddocks were spared the vigorous land-clearing of those days. Here, native shrubs grew under trees and wildflowers blossomed in spring, while the nearby forest reserves and the Murrumbidgee River provided good backup habitat for local birds. This scene sparked Helen’s ongoing interest in birds.

“I was naturally drawn to these entrancing creatures and I had plenty of childhood time in which to roam the paddocks and see birds in action. White-winged Chough, Grey-crowned Babbler and the Apostlebird were never-endingly absorbing, as were the Magpie-lark and Welcome Swallow. Of course, I didn’t know those species by those names then; to me they were Black Jay, Happy Family, Apostles, Peewee and just Swallow. My father recognised my interest and told me names which locals used. Many similar species simply got lumped together. Blue Martin applied to all woodswallows, even though we recognised that sometimes we had some around which didn’t look the same as the ones usually present. Tomtit embraced all the thornbills.”

The young Helen watched birds alone - and collected birds’ eggs with other children.

“We deemed some species ‘bad’, such as miners which ate (our) grapes, or butcherbirds which ate other birds. These were ‘punished’ by having eggs taken, young killed and nests destroyed.”

She remembers smashing in less than one hour, sixty eggs of House Sparrows which did considerable damage to the farm’s thatch-roofed sheds. There were rules however: ‘good’ or ‘not bad’ species had only one egg taken from their nests, and once you had a couple of eggs of a particular species you never took more.

Helen was on special terms with a family of Apostlebirds (deemed ‘good’ and therefore remaining safe) which nested each season in the Callitris trees, climbing up to watch and talk to them.

Still a teenager, Helen left the farm as her family moved to Melbourne. As a farewell, she was given two bird books by the district schoolteacher: ‘Bird Wonders of Australia’ by A.Chisholm and JA Leach’s ‘An Australian Bird Book’. These she read avidly, itching to learn more. Luckily, as it turned out, around this time she contracted chicken pox.

“As I lay at home in quarantine, bored, my mother chanced upon a copy of a magazine called ‘Wild Life’ and bought it for me. Little did she know it was edited by a famous naturalist in the person of Crosbie Morrison, whom I would one day meet.

“The magazine listed natural history organisations and their meetings.so, when schooldays were behind me, I went rather timidly to my first BOC meeting - in 1952. I had thought that only children watched birds, but after joining BOC birdwatching with adults began. It had

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never entered my head that adults might watch birds, or that there might be some essential purpose besides enjoyment in it. Words and concepts like ‘environment’ and ‘biodiversity’ had never come my way.”

A professional taxonomic botanist before her retirement in 1991, Helen graduated Bachelor of Science from the University of Melbourne in 1957, with majors in botany and zoology. She was awarded the Australian Natural History Medallion in 1979 ‘for special study and for increasing knowledge and appreciation of natural history in Australia’. A tireless worker, she joined many organisations and societies, including the Australian Conservation Foundation and The Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union (now Birds Australia), of which she was made an Honorary Life Member in 2002.

Her very active life within BOCA began in 1956 when she served on the committee and became Assistant Secretary. Club President from 1971-73. She later became a trustee for the Australian Bird Environment Foundation (ABEF), only resigning from the Committee in February 2004. She played her part on the Speakers Committee and, from 1975-76 joined the Headquarters Committee whose work culminated in the acquisition of the present club headquarters in Nunawading.

In April 1991 Helen retired voluntarily from the National Herbarium of Victoria after 34 years with this institution. Beginning as temporary technical assistant in January, 1957, she worked as Senior Botanist (Class SO-4) from 1971-82 and became Curator of Herbarium collections in May 1982. Forty-four botanical papers make an impressive body of work, but one piece, perhaps the earliest of her publications, was untitled: her childhood account of an observation on the Banded Lapwing appeared in ‘The Outpost’ 13:28 (the magazine of Blackfriars Correspondence School, Sydney) in 1947.

Helen’s many articles for The Bird Observer, date from 1953 and range from trip descriptions, observations on feeding habits and bird migration to her presidential addresses.

In 1972 Helen’s article on the Bird Observers Club was published in the RAOU Newsletter no 11:3.

On completion of her degree, Helen found herself excluded from a career in zoology by the times conservative attitudes which deemed women unsuitable to work beside men in the field. The Herbarium, however, offered other avenues to explore.

“During my employment (at the Herbarium) my duties changed in stages from the initial mounting and incorporation of specimens through routine plant identification and enquiry work to the research, editorial, curatorial, supervisory role of my final position.” She now attends as Honorary Research Associate.

Helen commenced an active research programme in plant taxonomy in 1963, with special emphasis on Australian aquatic flowering plants which resulted in a book, ‘Aquatic Plants of Australia’, published by Melbourne University Press in 1973. This is a guide to identifying aquatic ferns and flowering plants, both native and naturalised.

Ongoing research and bird-related quests have taken her travelling and camping all over Victoria, and also to north Western Australia, Northern Territory, Cape York, southeast Queensland, eastern New South Wales and south-eastern South Australia. She has also travelled overseas from Africa to Iceland, Europe to SE Asia.

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“My strong interest in ornithology, travel and photography have combined well with my botanical career and have led me to enthusiastically undertake many expeditions beyond those related to my work”.

“Since 1957 I have undertaken field work throughout Victoria, at first making general collections and observations of plants. The total number of collections to date is 2900. The emphasis of my collection is on quality rather than quantity The major specimens of each collection is housed at the Herbarium”.

Her Herbarium-based activities, as well as her wide involvement in botanical, ornithological societies, have seen her delivering specialist lectures to tertiary students and department staff and special interest organisations like nature, camera and service clubs throughout Victoria.

A major work was undertaken when the Herbarium building in Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens underwent extensive renovation: she organised the removal of more than one million specimens into storage. In the same process the vascular plant collections were reorganised from alphabetic to systematic sequence. According to Herbarium sources, the operation was so meticulous and well-planned that ‘location of any specimen was always known and none was mislaid’.

Many of Helen’s activities have been voluntary and have included working with natural history organisations on bird study projects or other ornithological work. “Most recently I have been a field participant for the ‘New Atlas of Australian Birds’ (RAOU/Birds Australia) and both a field recorder and sub-committee member for the recording and publishing of the ‘Birds of Box Hill’, for the Victorian Ornithological Research Group (VORG). This Organisation (VORG) awarded her life membership in 2002 (see VORG Notes 37 (3)).

When not engaged in botany Helen spends most of her time in some kind of bird-related activity - from mapping Fairy Penguin rookeries, to bird-banding and studying ‘mudlarks’ (Magpie-larks) nesting beside Melbourne’s Yarra River.

Written by Leonie Robbins 21 April 2004 from notes supplied through BOCA

BOCA BIOGRAPHY 2005

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Rod Bloss A voice for south-east Queensland

“You never know from one day to the next what you are going to find”

Although a member of only a few years’ standing, Rod Bloss has been instrumental in setting up one of BOCA’s busiest branches.

The Brisbane branch, Brisboca, took off immediately and, because of Rod’s background in national parks and environmental organisations in south-east Queensland (SEQ), quickly became active in habitat conservation in its home region.

Rod’s main work after initiating the branch was to give it a platform or base from which to work and progress. “The branch needed to establish itself and someone had to take it on.”

Enthusiasm and a belief in what he was doing spurred him on as, with the group, he set out to educate the community towards protecting wildlife, its birds and their habitat.

He praises the efforts of fellow workers like Trixie Benbroek, Les Cooper and David Taylor, as well as Marion Coxon, Marg Felder, and Jeff Elder, with Gary Eggins as the group’s south coast representative and John Maling acting on the north coast.

With its own photographer and projects and education officers as well its ‘flagship’ newsletter (‘The Pelican’) and its own website, Brisboca is now well established. A programme entailing school talks and the group’s first ‘Stickybeaks’ project are also taking off.

Rod’s special interest areas are education and conservation of habitat. He enjoys the activities involved with running his group, especially displays and surveys.

He has acted as Secretary or President/Secretary of the branch since its formation in 2001. Organising activity calendars, helping with newsletters, initiating new ideas, answering correspondence and getting members to take on special activities are all part of his working day, as are forming contact with government and non-government organisations.

In 2003 as President/Secretary, Rod brought his organisational skills into play, taking conservation issues to politicians and local councils. He believes knowledge of political workings and attitudes to conservation and the channels the group needed to take to make its message heard were important to the club at the time.

This concerted effort has brought Brisboca recognition at a political level, and also local authority involvement in survey work and inclusion on a conservation forum, Rod said.

Previously secretary of the National Parks Association of Queensland for three years, he wanted to do something that would be acceptable to Brisboca members and attract their abilities. This came about in the preservation of the Eagleby Wetlands, now in its first stage with three more to go. Brisboca is setting up a special website for these wetlands,

“I love birding and was a member of three birding organisations. I am always one hundred percent into whatever I take on. I had never been involved in publicity/media liaison or education prior to taking on this branch.”

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Rod had past experience, however, in youth clubs, soccer clubs, and even a competition darts association, “You name it, I’ve been there. It’s in the blood,” he said.

Becoming recognised as a ‘key stakeholder’ in SEQ has been important to the club, Rod says. Townsville’s Jo Weineke told him about BOCA and Rob (and Elaine) joined in 2000. He was further motivated by what he calls the ‘blinkered” bird observance and conservation issues in other clubs and societies.

Appreciating the pleasant and helpful attitude he encountered at BOCA Rob aimed to establish a branch in SEQ where club members could come and take part, and for the branch to have a voice in what happened in its region. “I want it to be welcoming and enthusiastic with new members introduced to all facets of our aims and objects.”

He pays tribute to BOCA’s Zoe Wilson, Jill Plowright and Trish Teesdale for their interest and guidance and for helping him out “when things went pear-shaped”.

After suffering a nervous breakdown in 1968 Rob introduced himself to birdwatching. “I was always self-motivated. I have learned much from all the field guides, newsletters, ornithological writings such as Australian Field Ornithology and many other publications.”

Looking for new species first fired his enthusiasm, and his interest extended to behaviour and conservation. Early on, he carried out his own research, and did surveys with Eagleby Wetlands. “I now get involved with many matters regarding conservation through (organisations like) Wildlife Preservation Society and Albert River Catchment Authority.”

Citing his experience with Eagleby Wetlands, Rod says the numbers of birds and species present in an area depends on seasons and weather conditions, flood and drought. “Going over my records, the majority of species are still permanent or migratory in much the same numbers. The floods have spread the species out from narrow areas of suitable habitat so they are found in many areas of the wetlands now. With the beginning of ‘the wet’ many of the rarer bird species have ‘gone home’ but you never know from one day to the next what you are going to find in the area.”

Rod’s birding began in England where common birds were plentiful. “The rarer ones hid in full foliage trees or massive reed beds. Talking was a no-no and wearing ‘the right’ clothing was important. Nowadays there are far more birds to watch and members converse all the time.”

Some birders, he finds, are competitive, others just enjoy watching and recording birds or behaviour. “To be a ‘twitcher’ you have to be able to afford the journeys to find the new birds.”

Seeing nine birds of prey in about five minutes all in the same area made a big impression for this enthusiast. “A Wedge-tailed Eagle was being attacked by a Hobby and a White-bellied Sea Eagle. Brahminy Kite and Whistling Kite were overhead, Brown Falcon and Swamp Harrier on the ground and a Little Eagle and Black-shouldered Kite perched in trees!” Not surprisingly, raptors are among his favourite species with wrens running close.

Written by Leonie Robbins 5 May 2004 from his notes

BOCA BIOGRAPHY 2005

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Nena Brice Outdoors activities champion

“Camps are a good way to get to know other members.”

Camping and outdoor activities are in the blood of Nena Brice. The former girl guide and retail pharmacist had the right organisational background and outdoor skills to take over the camp organiser role when Leslie Feather retired. “After some years of camping with Leslie she looked at me one day and said ‘you’ll make a good organiser.’ Who could say no?”

Nena stepped into the job of camp organiser in 1996 and continued through to 2002. For this role she was able to draw on 20 years experience in organising guide camps. “My job was to contact land owners or rangers for possible campsites. I also had to find camp leaders and organise activities. Camps are a good way to get to know other members and to encourage new ones to join the club.” Nena has also given tremendous service to the club as a volunteer in the BOCA shop since 1988, bringing with her considerable skills as a successful retail pharmacist. When she first began at the shop Nena remembers there was only one paid staff member. “Volunteers played a very important role.” It was in the early 1940s when Nena’s interest in birdwatching was sparked by her godmother, Mollie Hoffmeyer. Nena names Joan and Gavin Dorr as the ones who most influenced her birding life. Her first club outing was to Aireys Inlet in 1984. “Joan and Gavin suggested we spend the weekend nearby camping. That event was organised by Leonie Robbins, and the most impressive bird was the one we didn’t see - the Rufous Bristlebird!” Nena rates her first Spotted Pardolote as her most impressive sighting and the Southern Yellow Robin as her favourite - the one species which was always around the house she had at East Warburton.

Written by Trevor Robbins from answers to questionnaire 25 May 2004.

BOCA BIOGRAPHY 2005

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Celia M. Browne Low-key all-round expert

Almost every facet of active BOCA life from snipe survey to shop service has benefited from the input of Celia Browne since she joined the club early in 1977 after attending the Victorian Council of Adult Education (CAE) classes run by Ellen McCulloch and Howard Jarman.

Bush birds remain her special area of interest and birding by herself gives her most satisfaction, but this quietly intense birder has pursued her hobby on walks, trips and camps, notching up a personal list of around 570 sightings. Only when birds crop up unexpectedly within easy-to-see distance does Celia come near to being a twitcher.

BOCA has taught her all she knows about Australian birds and she values especially the friendships she has formed within it. She hopes the club will continue to further the love of bird watching among the general public.

Celia places the 1979-82 BOC Japanese Snipe Survey which she co-organised with the Victorian government’s Fisheries and Wildlife Division among her highest club achievements. Fellow members Ellen McCulloch, Joan Peters, June Elmer, Ted Tinning, Doug Robinson, Meryl O’Brien, Nance Maddocks and Jan James were among those who worked on this project which is documented through issues of The Bird Observer of these years.

“I kept going in this survey because I enjoyed it and I got involved because Ellen McCulloch and Jill Plowright twisted my arm,” she said.

Her earliest BOCA survey - on the effect of rabbit baiting on the local bird life - was conducted from 1977-78 at Westbridge, north-east of Melbourne.

1983-85 saw her in Melbourne’s near east working on the survey of Yarrabridge birds, while a closer-to-home monthly survey of the birds of Koonung Creek was undertaken for fellow BOCA member Tess Kloot’s book ‘The Birds of Box Hill’.

The Yarra Bend/Studley Park area just outside the Melbourne central business district was next to come under her eager eye. This survey assessed the birds of the area, their nesting and feeding. It aimed to provide a guide for future planting and park management, and again was supported by a team of BOCA members including Anna Watt, Julia Hurley, Bary and Margaret Dowling and Denise Moore.

“These various surveys were important in adding to knowledge of the presence - or absence - of birds,” Celia said.

The Melbourne-based Weekdays Outings group provided a new focus for her bird watching from 1981-85 when Celia took over its organisation, working largely on her own, “a committee of one”, as she puts it.

Among those associated with these years were Bunty Dixon, Cecily Falkingham, Bess and Bern Kirton, Frank Stephens, Norman Eyre-Walker, Leonie Robbins, Val Curtis, Peggy Mitchell, Dulcie Goode and Anthea Fleming

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An extension of these popular outings has been her formation of ‘Wednesday Wanderings’ in which she helps club members explore parks and reserves along the Yarra River.

Her own first BOCA outing was in fact a Weekday Outing, organised and led by Barbara Garrett. She was introduced to the club by Ellen McCulloch who remains among those who have influenced her birding along with Howard Jarman, Reg Johnson, Barbara Garrett and Joan Airey.

Birding with these mentors in the field and the excitement of finding and identifying new birds at places like Yarra Bend and Yarran Dheran in suburban Melbourne and Serendip sanctuary near Geelong, has provided ongoing inspiration for this dedicated birder.

The Crested Shrike-tit rates as Celia’s favourite bird. “I found my first pair and identified them all on my own at Yerran Dheran”. Beach Stone-curlew, seen at a Queensland beach and again found when she was alone, heads her ‘most impressive’ list.

Celia rates Ellen McCulloch, Reg Johnson and Jill Plowright as top achievers for BOCA “for their enthusiasm, knowledge and for spreading the word about birding to the public from 1977 to the present day”.

The outdoors life on BOCA camps has held appeal for Celia since early times. “The camps are smaller now and the vehicles and equipment more sophisticated and expensive, ” she says.

Today’s birding differs little from that of former years, she believes. While noticing “different kinds of birds” now she vividly remembers the excitement of seeing her first pair of Rainbow Lorikeets at Blackburn Lake in suburban Melbourne, in the days before this colourful species became resident in Victoria’s capital city.

Her previous experience in secretarial work and as a personal assistant has proved valuable in BOCA work. During 1983 she filled in as Assistant Treasurer handling membership renewals and doing typing for the Secretary and for the Conservation Committee (Ailsa Swann).

From 1983-89 she kept records and typed appropriate labels while club taxidermist Meryl O’Brien prepared bird skins for the BOCA collection. This work was detailed in The Bird Observer no 605, June, 1982.

Her 2003 activities ranged from helping pack Bird Observer magazines for dispatch to members Australia-wide and organising speakers for the branch monthly meetings via the Melbourne Branch Committee.

Celia has worked on BOCA’s Shop Committee organising rosters of volunteers, dressing windows and as a volunteer herself. She recalls working with Yvonne King, Frank Dann, and Alma Mitchell during this time.

She has served on the Tours Committee, led groups at Barbara Longmuir’s annual ‘Breakfast with the Birds’, written articles for the Bird Observer and even devised crosswords to entertain (or infuriate) its readers.

Written by Leonie Robbins from answers to questionnaire 14 October 2004

BOCA BIOGRAPHY 2005

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Geoff Deason Loyal enthusiast

“Helping others, especially beginners, has given much satisfaction.”

Enthusiasm is the key word in the birding life of BOCA stalwart Geoff Deason. October, 1971 saw Geoff enter the club. 1990 saw him created a Life Member for his dedicated service. Late in 2003 Geoff made the monumental decision to retire from his principal BOCA involvements so he and his wife, Dorothy, could spend more time together and be free to travel when the mood takes them.

His favourite bird? He just ‘likes the lot’ and his main enjoyment comes from simply being out in the bush. Geoff’s birding interest started in childhood when he enjoyed natural history books and kept an aviary of birds where Gouldian Finches took pride of place. Later, his interest was spurred on when he joined a Council of Adult Education (CAE) class headed by the late Jack Hyett, who suggested the club to him. The field outings offered by the club held major appeal for Geoff.

BOCA brought more than one joy to Geoff. He met Dorothy on the 1977 Tagalong tour to the Flinders Ranges. “Dorothy was in the main party and I had arranged to ‘tag along’ in my own vehicle.

“I pulled into Wilpena Pound on a Saturday night in heavy rain, everything dull and overcast, and I saw this girl walking out of her tent and that’s how it happened. There was much matchmaking by certain people.”

He has especially enjoyed the social atmosphere of BOCA. “It’s the getting out and about to different places you might never get to otherwise. The camaraderie between everyone is probably one of the most important things. It doesn’t matter who you are or what your station is in life, you’ve all got that lovely common interest.”

While he says no-one has particularly influenced him, Geoff pays tribute to members like Peter Disher and Joyce Thomas from the Murray area, Reg Johnson and also Frank Stephens, who died in 1989. Their enthusiasm for birding, he says, rubbed off on himself.

Observing birds and helping others, especially beginners, has given Geoff much satisfaction over the years.

His ability and generosity in passing on what he knows are widely appreciated. His knowledge seems to many to be encyclopaedic. With characteristic modesty, he vigorously denies this. “It is broad on the birds down here (ie around Melbourne) but take me up to Queensland or the Northern Territory and I wouldn’t know a lot of the calls there mainly because I am not up there often enough.”

Calls are an important part of bird identification to Geoff. How did he learn all that he knows? “There is only one way and that is being out in the bush; practice makes perfect to a large extent.”

Enthusiasm is more important than large knowledge for leaders, Geoff believes. “You’ve got to enjoy it - even if you are having a ‘rum’ day. You usually do (enjoy it), because there is usually some bird that proves to be a highlight.”

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Now retired, Geoff says his past clerical-based work did not always fit in with his then new-found interest. “I often wanted to go birding during the week - or even all the week”.

The first BOCA activity he remembers clearly was a camp at Melville Caves in Victoria’s north-west, probably on Melbourne Cup weekend in 1971, to which he drove his own vehicle.

He camped next to Peggy Mitchell (for many years BOCA’s recorder of unusual sightings and a 600+ birder in her own right) and her husband, Hartley. “We breakfasted with a Gilbert’s Whistler. The camp got a pretty good birdlist, but I’ve remembered that one for 30 years, so it obviously had a pretty big impact.”

About 50-50 was the ratio between men and women attendees in those days, he says, with perhaps a slight bias towards women, but whole families were often present. “Bird numbers were considerably more, but the range of species has stayed much the same, we just seem to be seeing fewer of them.”

He feels the attitude among most birders has stayed with same, with the accent on enjoyment. “There is more opportunity now because there are more outings.” Work commitments have little influence on attendance numbers, Geoff believes. “I feel it (birdwatching) is very much a retired person’s activity.”

One of the most spectacular sightings he recalls was on the 2000 Tagalong tour under Leslie Feather. “We went down to one waterhole in south-west Queensland and there must have been 10-12,000 Plumed Whistling-Ducks. The earth was just a moving mass, all ducks. I have never seen anything like it.

“A lot of people have done so much for the club over the years. Reg Johnson has been tremendous; Colin Barraclough, Pat Bingham, Barbara Longmuir, Alma Mitchell, all the staff at headquarters, Frank Stephens, are just a few.”

Birding has been a major pleasure because it offers so many opportunities to move outside the home, Geoff says. “Getting out in the field, going to meetings, travel, all of that.”

He enjoys looking at the whole picture - from wildflowers to birds. “I don’t know much about the flowers, I just enjoy being out with nature. When Dorothy and I travel we don’t just go for birds. We like historical sites, buildings, anything and everything.”

Outside his birding hours Geoff enjoys travel, music and reading, mostly books on nature. Photography has been a consuming interest, especially for Dorothy and the two give ‘armchair travel’ talks using Dorothy’s often magnificent slides. Splendid framed prints of her shots decorate the couple’s living room. One Melbourne branch meeting was highlighted by Dorothy’s talk on their trip to Africa with mouth-watering slides and hair-raising stories of close encounters with hippopotamus.

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Beginners Outings

Since 1979 Geoff Deason has headed up the BOCA weekend outings for beginners, held on Saturdays.

The late Howard Jarman was instrumental in starting up these outings in the 1960s, followed by Frank Stephens.

Geoff began attending during the early 70s, and on occasion began helping Frank out, so when Frank retired from this activity in 1979, Geoff took over. “Frank just said one day, ‘You can take over from now’, so it was a kind of natural progression in some ways.”

Geoff largely followed Frank’s procedures. “Frank had a pretty good way of doing it. He tried to make sure everyone saw the bird and that is still a main priority. We didn’t dilly-dally over trying to find one bird, but just tried to keep it flowing.”

Geoff also followed Frank’s footsteps in choosing venues, pretty well a set programme month by month. Melbourne’s Royal Botanical Gardens was June, for example, because of the short winter days and close-to-home distance. Blackburn Lake in the eastern suburbs was also a popular venue in earlier days, often visited in July.

Beginners outings were traditionally half-days, with full days for areas outside Melbourne, like the You Yangs ranges or Werribee’s sewerage farm (now Western Treatment Plant), which were too big or too far away for shorter visits.

“I have always aimed to provide an enjoyable half-day outing for people to come out into the bush or the parks to see birds. The idea has been to choose the best spot time-wise, weather-wise and bird-wise.

“I have never done ‘reccies’ (reconnaissance outings). I found out early on that you can go out on one day and find a lot of birds, then next day when you go again, they’ll be somewhere else. “You need to know where you are walking, where paths are, if they will take a party, and if they are safe. Single-file for 50 people isn’t great because the ones in front see most and at the back they can miss out. You need to check that the area is big enough to support a reasonable number of birds - and if there is sufficient parking space. It is no good going somewhere that offers great birding and has only room for two cars.

“What I look for in a venue is whether it will offer a chance to see a variety of birds. I go for varied habitat - if you have water plus bush you get more birds.

“We get a range of people attending - I even have what I call my ‘professional’ beginners, members who have been coming to outings a long time. We get real beginners too, some in their twenties, sometimes young kids - I never mind them coming. It depends on where the outing is, the weather, the venue and what other things people have to do.

“Most come because it suits the time they have available. I think this happens with all the outings.

“People often start birdwatching because they are looking for something to do and decide to try it out. A lot like the idea of getting out into parks and bushland areas, and being able to walk about safely with a group.”

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Enthusiasm comes first if you want to succeed as a birdwatcher, Geoff believes. “You don’t have to be fanatic, just enthusiastic. You’ve got to want to know what a bird is, not necessarily its every detail.”

Leaders need to be able to get on well with people - and to be able to laugh at themselves if occasion arises. “If you make a boo-boo, it’s best to laugh it off.” Anyone can make a mistake, he says, and this often gives your audience a chance to extend their own confidence and knowledge.

“I think it’s OK to yell out, too. If you end up being wrong, you can say so, but you can often start a group discussion this way.”

Geoff has sound advice for potential leaders. “It is hard to keep the outing flowing if there are no birds around, but there is always something of interest. Try not to be too ‘strict’, just enjoy each outing for what it produces and don’t try to make it something it is not.

“Over the years you learn to just take it as it comes.”

Study meetings are good for encouraging beginners to learn more, says Geoff, especially if they are coupled with a field trip, but for him the main way to learn is to get out in the field.

He does not believe a good birdwatcher ever stops being a beginner. “There is always something to learn and that is partly why we do it.”

In 1997 a new BOCA initiative started up - midweek outings for beginners. These were headed by Jill Plowright and her husband, Howard. “I felt there was a need for something similar to Geoff’s outings for those wanting to go out midweek. Originally I thought of asking people to book to keep numbers down, but I now have more confidence,” Jill says.

“We get the same mix attending as Geoff does, some old hands and some new. A lot depends on where we go. We get fewer on the west side of town - I guess people don’t like rush hour traffic.”

Jill believes most people come to birdwatching as a retirement activity. “Bushwalking and an interest in the environment sparks an interest. Birding is non-competitive and doesn’t have to be done regularly like sport. All you need is patience and a willingness to do some homework.”

A good leader needs patience and should ensure everyone sees the bird. “You need to be able to communicate to pass on your knowledge and you need to do homework on the area too. Having a dedicated leader at the rear of the walk as well as up front helps make sure real beginners are not intimidated by ‘know-alls’.

Jill sees continued club education programmes as a major way of helping beginners learn more about birds.

Note: Midweek beginners’ outings were discontinued from Dec, 2003

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Slide Library

Frank Stephens started the BOCA slide library, probably in the 1970s the slide collection numbered only about 200. Geoff Deason stood in when Frank went on holidays, so when Frank died in 1989, Geoff took it over on a permanent basis.

He had no training to help him, but simply continued with Frank’s methods. One early (and mammoth) task, however, was to convert the slide numbering system to follow that of Simpson and Day’s earliest edition.

Some requests arrive via telephone calls, but most come through the mail. By late 2003 he found fewer requests coming in, largely because many BOCA branches have amassed their own slide collections, as have many guest speakers. Geoff believes the decrease is also accounted for by the increasing use by speakers of computerised power point presentation.

The only time Geoff asks for help is when he may be absent for weeks at a time usually on bird-related travels.

Most people tell him what birds they require. Occasionally, however, the choice is left to him. Geoff spends some time checking slides with his own viewer, choosing the best slide for each individual request.

Although the club now has a collection of around 12,000 slides, more good ones are always required, especially of rarer birds, like Green-backed and White-streaked Honeyeaters and the various grasswrens, always birds difficult to photograph in the wild. “There are about eleven birds we have no slides of, and of course it is not as easy as you think to get good shots.”

One reliable source, Geoff says, claims photographers need to be within seven metres of their subjects, with a 500 mm lens and a two-times adaptor. “Otherwise, you get what looks like a speck in the middle of the slide.”

Many photographers, he says, are often averse to giving away what they consider their best slides, hoping to have these published in professional and other media. This was a major problem when the slide library was first established and has continued. “We get a lot of ‘second choice’ slides and although these are good for many purposes they are not always top quality shots.”

The housing for the slides has improved dramatically from early days. The late Harry Airey hand-built a handsome multi-drawer wooden box cabinet (picture in club files) which is still in use and which holds thousands. Additional slides are housed in other wooden containers.

Slides go out to members for use in talks given for education or entertainment purposes - to community groups, BOCA branches, garden clubs and the like. The biggest list Geoff has got out for anyone was 218 slides (for a talk on Africa). The usual number is around 25-30.

The monthly Melbourne branch meeting feature ‘Bird of the Evening’ and identification quizzes by Howard Plowright were sourced from the slide library, as are many of the pictures published in the BOCA magazine, The Bird Observer.

Sharpness and definition that shows the bird very well are the main requirements in a good slide, Geoff says.

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“Sometimes I like a slide that shows the bird in its natural habitat, rather than in big closeup, because then you get an idea of size. This is particularly good if the talk is for, say, a garden club and you can show bottlebrush or grevillea flowers. Then too, if you get a big closeup of a Brown Thornbill it can look huge and give the wrong impression.”

Note: At the time of this interview, Geoff was planning to retire from both his long-term involvements, so he and Dorothy could spend more time in travel. Arrangements were in progress to move the slides to the library at BOCA headquarters in Nunawading (Vic).

Written by Leonie Robbins from interview 29 October 2003 and notes from Jill Plowright.

BOCA BIOGRAPHY 2005

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Stephen Debus Editor and expert

“BOCA is the national organisation for amateur ornithology”

Raptors and owls are the main protagonists in the birding life of Stephen Debus, editor of Australian Field Ornithology (previously The Australian Birdwatcher), a member of its Editorial Board and a man of more than 20 years experience in this exacting field.

Extremely well qualified for his position both on the magazine and in the wider world of ornithology, Stephen’s qualifications include BA (Biol/Behav. Sc); Dip Nat Res; Dip Ed; M Sc (Zool) and PhD.

A strong believer in the publishing of ornithological observation, Stephen joined BOCA in 1980, initially as a means of subscribing to the (then) ABW. He became part of the Publications Committee and in 1984 was guided into the ABW editorship by Rex Buckingham.

“BOCA is the national organisation for amateur ornithology; AFO is the vehicle for publication of amateur ornithology of national significance and hence the catalyst for conservation.”

From the first he worked with experts like Jack Hyett as assistant editor and with Will Rolland as production editor. Julia Hurley later took on these duties. Others on the team were John Cox, sub-editor aquatic birds and rarities; Andrew Ley, aquatic birds; Graham Cam, bush birds and general ecology. Ken Simpson took on the rarities portfolio.

AFO Board members since its inception have been Alan Lill, Les Christidis, Mike Clarke, Ken Simpson and Tania Ireton.

Editing and sometimes soliciting articles from authors, some retyping or ‘ghost’ writing in order to ensure enough copy by print deadlines became part of Stephen’s daily grind. His tertiary education, computer skills and training and employment as a professional ornithologist gave him back-up.

In his estimation, AFO has become a more professional-looking journal, with expanded numbers of pages. It is now, he believes, of more assistance to authors and acts as a substantial source material for HANZAB (Handbook of Australian New Zealand and Antarctic Birds).

Stephen’s interest in birdwatching - he is self-taught - began in primary school with guidebooks bought by his parents. He found out about BOCA by reading the then ABW.

The late Bill Lane was his mentor, lending the growing ornithologist his own full set of ABW, taking him on bird-banding trips, and encouraging him to subscribe to bird journals.

An interest in conservation, research and observation started with a move from inner Sydney to country New South Wales where he became aware of the vast difference in biodiversity.

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Though not a ‘twitcher’ himself, Stephen says this specialising activity has become part of the contemporary birding world, along with better knowledge and field guides, handbooks like HANZAB, much improved journals and research.

BOCA has, he says, benefited from the activities of identities like Roy Cooper, Ken Simpson, Jack Hyett, Will Rolland, Julia Hurley and Zoe Wilson. He also pays tribute to BOCA office staff and volunteers.

A Red Goshawk at the nest is Stephen’s most impressive sighting. He regards volunteering on a RAOU study on this rare raptor in Kakadu as a career highlight. Other main achievements have been publication of ecological research on threatened raptors and owls for conservation purposes, he says.

Birding has extended his interests further into the natural world - to mammals, reptiles, frogs and flora. He has had no problem fitting birding into his other activities. “Birding has always been my life,” he said.

He has published many articles, in ABW/AFO and other bird journals, raptor books and book contributions, most of which are available through BOCA library.

Topics written about have included behaviour and vocalisation of nesting Little Eagles, surveys of diurnal raptors in north-east NSW and also of large forest owls in northern NSW, the Sooty Owl in NSW and, as his PhD thesis in 2004, ‘The impact of habitat fragmentation on woodland birds: a test of some hypotheses in New England’.

As well, Stephen has given NSW TAFE and University of New England bird courses and field practical classes and spoken to many groups on raptors and owls.

Along with Red Goshawk, he lists as other bird favourites Little Eagle, Grey Falcon and both Masked and Barking Owls.

Written by Leonie Robbins from questionnaire 19 May 2004

BOCA BIOGRAPHY 2005

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Xenia Dennett Science, club and fieldwork

“A lot can be done if someone (you) does it.”

Despite her distinguished medical career, life in or around BOCA has been the norm for Dr Xenia Dennett since she first joined the club in 1969.

Her special avian interest has remained the structure and function of birds - and bird banding.

Xenia has acted as council member (1996-2000) and has been a trustee of Australian Bird Environment Foundation (ABEF) serving on its committee of management since 1996 to the time of writing (Nov 2004). As well, she has been convenor of the Western Port survey since 2003.

Brought into BOCA, as many were, by Jack Hyett’s Council of Adult Education (CAE) lectures, Xenia counts her ABEF work for conservation as a personal success.

She admires BOCA’s range of activities, particularly the opportunities offered of birding in safe (often private) environments, but puts even greater value on the convivial companionship she has enjoyed within the club both in Australia and overseas.

Her aims for BOCA include maintaining the existing activities and capturing the interest of more young people by education and challenge so they can run the club in the future.

Xenia’s very first introduction to the world of birdwatching came by way of the late Crosbie Morrison’s written articles and radio broadcasts which continued late into the 1950s.

Helen Aston, fellow scientist and BOCA member, has perhaps most influenced her birding activities, she says. “Helen told me about active scientific field work (ie bird-banding) with the Victorian Ornithological Research Group (VORG) which evolved out of the then Bird Observers Club.”

Bird-banding has been her major interest. Another has been communication beginning, she says, with talking and writing about bird activities.

Her first outing with the club (fee payable and bus transport) was probably to the Brisbane Ranges around 1968. She remembers Roy Wheeler, Helen Aston, Reg Johnson, Cecily Allen and Flora McDonald as companions on this trip.

There were more younger people then, she believes, but it was Dusky Woodswallow and Rainbow Bee-eater than caught her interest.

Xenia believes there were more birds about at that time, too. “(There was) Less urban sprawl, breeding Wedge-tailed Eagle, Hooded Robin at Eden Park, close to Melbourne and now adjacent to high density housing.”

Among the differences she sees between birding then and now she cites better equipment - from binoculars, field guides, and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to superb ‘infotainment’ by the likes of David Attenborough, the BBC and the ABC both on television and in books. “Birding is more competitive now, but you don’t have to join in”, she says.

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While not a twitcher, Xenia would like to chalk up the coveted 600 species, but is not ‘passionate’ about reaching this goal.

White-throated Needletails “screaming at head height between us in a Mt Hotham storm front” is her idea of a memorable birding experience, her most impressive sighting. On a quieter note, she names Flame Robin and Masked Lapwing as favourite birds. Masked Lapwing because it was the first bird she personally identified, Flame Robin because little is still known about Flame Robin and its migration route.

Xenia believes the volunteers who work behind the scenes have contributed much to the BOCA as it is today. She cites Roy Wheeler, Helen Aston, Reg Johnson, Alma Mitchell and Ellen McCulloch as major influences on club activities and function.

In her role as council member Xenia attended many monthly meetings, and sat on sub-committees. Her broad interest in natural history and conservation has informed her BOCA work, she says.

Knowing the internal and external environments relative to the club provided the ‘something extra’ she felt she could bring to these contributions. “A lot can be done if someone (you) does it”.

Assessing grounds of application from individuals has been a large part of her involvement with ABEF, for which her major asset has been experience of scientific information and the ability to evaluate projects and grants. This work, she says, has enabled grants to be made to protect habitat in many areas.

In 1997 she became the inaugural Chair of BOCA’s Activities Committee and held the position until 2002. This work, she says, has been part of BOCA’s brief of education, conservation and bird observation.

“We initiated additional aspects, for example activity guidelines for all BOCA events and overseas tours. Looming litigation possibilities began the need for written guidelines for both BOCA and its leaders.”

Before her retirement Xenia was a neuropathologist, Associate Professor of Pathology and director of the State Neuropathology Service at Melbourne University. Her career was highlighted by her discovery of a new species of pathogenic nematode in human skeletal muscle.

Birding has taken her to places she may not otherwise have seen, often via her career. The Danube delta and several post-conference trips are in the latter category.

She has always sought the role of birds and their place in nature. Earlier tastes for bushwalking and trekking have been taken over by birdwatching. “You can’t do both simultaneously, so you stop walking,” she says.

In her many talks and articles Xenia makes clear her amazement at nature’s complexities, striving to pass on her own wonder with what she calls a ‘Why is it so?’ approach.

She has been physically involved with many bird-related activities, from the Victorian and Australian Wader Study Groups, the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme, and the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union (RAOU, now Birds Australia) to the Australian Conservation Foundation.

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As well as producing an impressive volume of medical writing and presentation, Xenia has edited several bird publications, including ‘Beautiful Banyule’ (Carol Thorney), ‘Birds of Heidelberg and the Yarra Valley’, with Warringal Conservation Society, and ‘Birds of Box Hill’ (Tess Kloot). She has contributed to field guides and the Atlas of Australian Birds and written articles on Madagascar, Antarctica, and Bharatpur.

A special article on birds and the Victorian aborigines appeared in VORG Notes 1976; 12: 18-19. Comments on her favourite Flame Robins have appeared in VORG Notes and her photography has appeared in various issue of The Bird Observer.

She has appeared as invited speaker on many occasions, several times at BOCA’s Melbourne-based monthly meetings, and also at Birds Australia, the Australian Bat and Bird Association and many others, including the Australian Institute of Medical Laboratory Scientists.

Written by Leonie Robbins from answers to questionnaire 28 November 2004

BOCA BIOGRAPHY 2005

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Ian Dowling Dedicated all-rounder

“Birding is good fun, and fascinating.” “BOCA is an avenue of shared birdwatching.”

A BOCA display at the Yarra Valley School first drew Ian Dowling, long-standing PENBOC president, walks leader and branch conservation nominee to BOCA, which he joined in the mid 1940s.

The club remains important to Ian partly because of its involvement in conservation issues and because it provides members with an opportunity to share birdwatching experiences.

Ian is an all-rounder: “I enjoy watching birds, studying their habits and activities and understanding their needs.”

Of his involvement with the PENBOC group - based south of Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula - he says: “I enjoy the company and find a sense of achievement in finding new locations for birdwatching and in helping members to find new birds.

Like many birdos, Ian has been an avid reader of articles by the late Crosbie Morrison, noted naturalist and BOCA member, and by the late Graham Pizzey.

Reg Johnson and Leslie Feather were early BOCA contacts. “Reg (and I) had a dramatic first meeting but he taught me quickly the disciplines of birdwatching and how to identify birds.

“Leslie, through her arrangement of camps and Tagalong (trips) showed just how much there was to see and just how good was the companionship. The effort she put into those early major Tagalongs was invaluable.” Such activities took Ian to many remote and interesting places he may never otherwise have seen, he said.

Ian’s interest in conservation and observation began 20 years ago and he first took part in the then Peninsula Bird Watchers (now PENBOC) in 1984, reacting to a newspaper notice of the group’s activities.

He took his own car to his first outing which was organised by the late Fred Thompson. Also in attendance on this occasion were Ken and Elaine Watson and Joan Peters.

Some habitats may have been lost or become overgrown with weeds but birding today is still fun and fascinating, Ian said.

He admires Crimson Rosellas for their “stunning colour” and well remembers the time he saw a Peregrine Falcon attack an Ibis.

President of the peninsula group since 1989, Ian has spent much time promoting the group’s image so it would become a legitimate conservation voice in its home territory. Conducting meetings, and arranging group outings brought his previous managerial experience to the fore.

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His interest in birds, he says, underpinned another interest - this time in native plants, especially those indigenous to the Peninsula. The depth and breadth of Ian’s concern with birding are expressed in the articles he has written for ‘The Bird Observer’ and for local newspapers - and by the talks given to community, service and conservation groups.

That these were successful became apparent by his good reception at question time, he says modestly. “Resources were sometimes a problem, but it was all fun.”

Ian’s major aim has always been to promote further interest in the welfare of birds. Among his achievements he rates highly being able to get some management into the presence of Red-capped Plovers on Rosebud Beach.

Written by Leonie Robbins from his notes 6 May 2004

BOCA BIOGRAPHY 2005

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Julia Hurley Hands-on work with words

“I can’t imagine life without birds”

Much of Julia Hurley’s involvement with BOCA has been in the world of words and publishing.

She was editor of The Bird Observer from June 1986 to Dec 1991, bringing to it her considerable skills. She is matter-of-fact about taking on this work. “Keith Richards asked me if I would consider editing The Bird Observer and it went from there. There would not have been a ‘Bird Observer’ without an editor”.

Editing the club magazine was demanding and left her little time for personal birdwatching. As well as the hands-on tasks she had with each issue, she learned much about the club and the wider issues within it and outside, such as conservation. ‘Meticulous’ is the word others have used to describe her editorship.

At the time of writing (May 2004) her work on The Australian Bird Watcher (ABW) - now Australian Field Ornithology (AFO) - as assistant editor and production editor was ongoing.

Why has she done so much? “Who can tell? If I hadn’t done this I would have done something else”, is her somewhat wry reply.

Birds themselves are the paramount influence on her association with BOCA. Working with ‘like-minded’ people and the environment are also catalysts. “Monitoring what is happening to the environment and considering what, if anything, we could or should be doing about it” is her typical response.

Julia has worked with Stephen Debus, Claire Appleby, Will Rolland, Jack Hyett, John Peter, Andrew Ley, Graham Cam and Ken Simpson in pursuit of getting these publications to press.

Working on the AFO is most challenging, she says, requiring both editorial input and the ability to work to a tight schedule with other editors as well as authors and printers. “ABW/AFO would not have been published without someone - me or someone else - doing the work,” she said.

Her interest in birds has been life-long - initiated, she says, by family from her earliest days “before I could even walk or talk, I think.”

She joined BOCA about 45 years ago and worked as a shop volunteer in earlier times - “before the days of fancy cash registers” as she puts it.

A monthly meeting in Melbourne’s CBD, which she attended after being attracted by articles in the club magazine, was her first BOCA activity.

Birding in the 21st century, she believes, is more competitive and more commercial than ever before, with more organised tours available. Better equipment and guide books and up-to-date access to information via the internet are all part of today’s scene, although Julia puts a question mark against the reliability of some of the ‘net’ input.

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Three specific birding experiences remain special for her: watching an Azure Kingfisher fishing, learning to distinguish pardalote species “feather by feather” and seeing three Hooded Plovers on a beach.

Observation and research have kept her interest levels high. “I hope I still have some curiosity,” she said.

Written by Leonie Robbins from answers to questionnaire 25 May 2004

BOCA BIOGRAPHY 2005

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Beryl Jarman She worked to the book

“Sponsor donations have helped the library to grow

Much of Beryl Jarman’s birding life has been bound up in the BOCA library and its people. There is no record of a library until 1948, she says, even though BOCA was established in 1905.

In charge of the fledgling library of those days was a Miss Dobson who, Beryl says, remains unremembered by members today. “Edgar (Eddy) Whitbourn took over from 1953-57. There were then 226 members and only about 50 books.”

Other librarians have been David Mitchell, Dudley Dickinson and his nephew Harvey. Len Robinson, BOCA President from 1958-61, Beryl notes, searched out privately owned past copies of the ‘Bird Observer’ and had them reprinted by his family’s printing firm. Until that time the club did not have a complete set.

Beryl’s late husband, BOCA stalwart Howard Jarman took charge of the collection in April 1966, working from the couple’s home in Melbourne’s east. “When the books were put in the basement of our house Howard got the club to provide metal shelving.”

After an enterprising thief broke into the premises, borrower appointments were brought in and transactions recorded in a school-style exercise book. Some requested books were posted out. In those days the postage cost per book was 65 cents to Queensland and 39 cents to the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda, Beryl said.

Railway freight was also used. Much time was spent wrapping books and delivering them to the local railway station or picking up returns. Charges in the area of 35 cents for 20 copies of magazines were the order of the day.

Tess Kloot and Ellen McCulloch were two BOCA identities who visited the Jarmans to work on the books they were currently writing, as were Rosemary and Peter Balmford.

Slowly, Beryl says, library stock increased to bring in new books, and eventually audio and video tapes. Howard reviewed books in many issues of the ‘Bird Observer’ and suggestions from readers were also followed.

The making of audio tapes for members was suggested by Rex Buckingham around 1974. Talks were recorded by members with special knowledge and became very popular. Birdcall tapes eventually became available and were included in the library service from 1986. CDs and CD-roms were later innovations.

Cataloguing came next. Previously a primary school librarian Beryl provided what she calls a “somewhat over-simplified” book to serve as a model. By 1982 BOCA held 800 books and 60 periodicals in its collection.

Howard Jarman died during this year (1982) but Beryl kept on the work still operating from home. Others helped out. Anthea Fleming and Vera Wicks catalogued the collection and soon after it was housed in BOCA’s headquarters.

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Dulcie Goode, another volunteer librarian, became registrar for journals and newspapers. A library committee advised on buying and procedure aided by experienced hands like Rex Buckingham.

A big day came, says Beryl, when the HQ was extended to include a library. Beryl and her books - all 1000 of them each with a borrower’s pocket and card - moved in in 1986 and the team of working volunteers grew.

Sponsor donors have helped the library to grow, she said. A video player was donated in memory of Betty Keown, and a tape collection by Ruth Akie.

Virgil Hubregste offered her services in cataloguing and classification; Noeline Sherwin and Jenny Mortlock came on board - all three librarians by profession. Anne Campbell replaced Dulcie Goode and Marlene Lyell undertook the huge task of covering all books with plastic while Delina Schembri-Hardy computerised the catalogue.

In 2001, Beryl says, the library was again re-located, this time to its present home in the enlarged club HQ in Nunawading abutting the Edna Walling room and accessible through the Blue Wren Gift Shop.

This space offers home comforts to readers and workers alike as well as efficient and up-to-the-minute storage facilities.

Written by Leonie Robbins based on an article in The Bird Observer 814/16 17 and phone interview.

BOCA BIOGRAPHY 2005

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Howard Jarman Administrator, librarian, encourager

To many current BOCA members Howard Jarman’s greatest attribute was his enthusiastic ability to share his vast knowledge with others, especially beginners.

He joined the club in 1953 and is remembered by those who knew him as a pleasant companion, and a capable worker with a keen sense of humour as well as for his extensive knowledge and leadership qualities.

One aspect that comes to most minds is his amazing ability to remember and identify bird calls even if he had not heard them for some time. His insistence on accuracy was a hallmark of his work, his birding and his writing.

His BOCA beginners outings began in 1972 and in 1974 he conducted very successful bird identification courses for the Victorian Council of Adult Education (CAE). These were the starting point for many who are now well-experienced BOCA members, as were his BOCA study meetings. He quickly became a team leader for the BOCA Port Phillip Bay gull count and was BOCA president from 1956-58.

On the BOCA Council (now Board of Directors) for more than 20 years he was also the club librarian. The ‘library’ at this time was housed in the Melbourne eastern suburbs at the home of Howard and his wife Beryl, who took over the librarianship on her husband’s death (see separate profile on Beryl and the library).

Howard worked tirelessly to build up the library to a first-class working reference source. Through his articles and book reviews in ‘The Bird Observer’, always signed HEAJ, members came to know the library as many had never done before.

In another BOCA position - that of Education Liaison Officer of the Publication Committee, he saw two successful books through the press: ‘Australian Flycatchers’ by Brigadier Hugh Officer and ‘Australian Warblers’ by Arnold McGill.

From 1968 Howard also became a member of the selection committee for the Australian History Medallion, presented annually by the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria.

From 1935-1950 he wrote 22 papers on bird study. Parrots (his favourite species) were the subject of review papers for the Australian Bird Watcher (now Australian Field Ornithology).

Just before he died on 16 January 1982 he was working on an identification book on birds of south-eastern Australia.

On the home front he was a foundation member of Warringal Conservation Society and a major contributor to this organisation’s ‘Birds of Heidelberg and the Yarra Valley’. As well, he was an early member of Victorian National Parks Association and served on its committee from 1965-68.

After becoming a member of the Royal Australian Ornithologists Union (RAOU) in 1948 Howard was appointed Honorary State Secretary in 1949 and was a council member from 1949-52. He formed friendships with many, including Roy Wheeler and Ina Watson.

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Treasurer of RAOU from 1954-56 and Secretary from 1956-58 he remained an active member all his life and worked hard at the union’s atlassing project.

After service in WWll Howard became Honorary Secretary and Treasurer of the South Australian Ornithological Association and took a job with the Royal Zoological Society of South Australia which enabled him to study in captivity his favourite birds, the parrots.

His interest in bird watching began in early childhood, ‘almost instinctively’ as he once put it, and this went along with his love of outdoors life and camping. He began writing daily journals of his bird observations - a habit which he continued all his life.

His first published bird notes appeared in the ‘South Australian Ornithologist’ in 1935. Life Membership of BOCA was conferred on him in 1977.

Written by Leonie Robbins from obituaries by Jack Hyett, Helen Aston and MD Gottsch from The Bird Observer Vol 9 (7) September 1982, 13 October 2004

BOCA BIOGRAPHY 2005

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Barbara Longmuir Tireless enthusiast

“It has taken me years and hundreds of kilometres to reach 658 birds, but hours of purest enjoyment”

“Small grants were often the start of very successful programmes.”

“BOCA is a great club that works for the environment, for birds and for its members.”

Getting up early enough to have ‘breakfast with the birds’ does not hold any terrors for long-serving BOCA office-bearer Barbara Longmuir. These popular events start at 7.30 am for the public, but very much earlier for the organiser. They entail much prior work, yet have been only one facet of Barbara’s work for BOCA. Joining the club in 1974 “to learn about birds and to get the chance to see as many Australian birds as I could”, Barbara rates her current (April 2004) tally of 658 birds high on her personal achievement list. But, she says, finding a Black Grasswren for renowned BOCA birdman Fred TH Smith came close to the top.

Her interest in birds began in childhood when she earned ‘sixpence’ (about five cents) a week for feeding the birds in the five backyard aviaries kept by her father and grandfather. For her tenth birthday, Barbara recalls, her father gave her Leach’s bird book.

Barbara has worked hard and long for BOCA - as President from 1988-91 (with Alan Couper, Treasurer and Alma Mitchell, Secretary), as a Council (now Board) member, with the Australian Bird Environment Foundation (ABEF) with Pat Bingham and the late Keith Richards and on the Melbourne Branch committee.

She has led outings, organised dinners and the BOCA 2000 celebrations as well as the highly successful ‘Breakfast with the Birds’ programmes, most recently held at Banyule Flats wetlands reserve in Heidelberg, a just- east-of-Melbourne suburb, in conjunction with Boroondara Council. “I have always like to be involved and to help run things. Birding has been such a bonus to me, an interest and hobby I hope to be involved with for many more years.”

Barbara believes the 1991 change of status, and name, of the then Bird Observers Club and the employment of a club manager to have been of great importance in the club annals and has enjoyed seeing the subsequent increase in branches and membership. “I was able to convince the Council members that the club needed a paid manager and I was in the chair when it (BOC) became ‘Bird Observers Club of Australia’ (BOCA).”

Prior to joining, Barbara had joined a 1972 Adult Education programme on birdwatching for beginners led by the late Howard Jarman, a BOCA stalwart who encouraged her to join the club.

“I went to monthly meetings in the city (at Chalmer’s Hall) sat at the back and left early, but also went to lectures at the (Melbourne) Museum where I was first introduced - by Howard - to Fred TH Smith. Years later, on my first BOCA trip Fred asked me to be ‘his shadow’ - the start of a never-ending learning curve.”

At those early meetings, she says, the late Rex Buckingham presided. “May Dawkins ran the ‘sales table’ then and always had a friendly smile.” The sales table, a popular club revenue producer at many later monthly meetings, eventually became a Longmuir responsibility. From the start Barbara has regarded every new bird seen as “a wonder” but

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says fairy wrens remain her favourite, although she says every outing seems to produce a ‘highlight’ bird. “I like wrens because they are always busy and have interesting lifestyles”.

She believes it was easier to see more bush birds in earlier times. “Now you see more ravens, currawongs, butcherbirds and kookaburras - all predators of small birds.”

Despite exceeding the sought-after 600 species, her sense of wonder is still keen. “The excitement of seeing a bird new to me nearly makes me drop my binoculars.”

On that first trip Fred Smith talked her into keeping her own Australian birdlist. “It has taken me years and hundred of kilometres to reach 658 but hours of purest enjoyment.”

Barbara may regret the diminishing numbers of swamps and wetlands around Melbourne, but she retains hope for the future. “Parks are slowly developing into good bird habitat as years pass so more and more birds seem to be returning to the metropolitan areas.”

Her work for ABEF began as Secretary, sending out application forms for funding. Her early secretarial training was of much value in her club work. “We sat around for lots of meetings to decide on the recipients for each year’s funding and working out the role of ABEF within the club.

This work, she says, was a way of involving communities in the protection of the environment on behalf of birds. “Small grants were often the start of very successful programmes.”

Barbara has also played an active part in publicity for BOCA and has been a popular member of the club’s Speakers Panel. She has visited many nursing homes, hostels, libraries, service clubs and schools where her knowledge of local birds and smiling enthusiasm attracted audiences.

“Ellen McCulloch used to do most of the early talks, but as she eased off I did more. She has been a public face for the club from before 1974 until 2002. Her knowledge of birds, plants and all nature has been reproduced for the public in her books as well as in the many articles she has written and in her radio programmes. She was also a great help to me if things got difficult.”

As a BOCA Council member Barbara made it her business to read all prior committee minutes. “I dealt with other clubs and with joint committees and other groups like Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union (RAOU, now Birds Australia), Aviculturists and the Gould League. The monthly meetings of that time were held in the AMP building in the city.”

Birding has lead Barbara to travel world-wide. She has visited India, Nepal, Africa and South America as well as many areas within Australia.

Her activity as a guide for Melbourne Zoo has increased her appreciation of birds as well as butterflies and plants. She has played tennis and golf in her ‘spare time’. “Birding was good on the golf course. My ball usually ended in the bushes,” she laughs.

When asked about the importance of her work for birds and birding, Barbara is characteristically modest. “My only achievement has been interesting many members of the public in the birds that can be found in our environment. Hopefully some of them have become BOCA members.

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“BOCA is such a great club to belong to, with many varied activities available for members to choose from, friendly staff and members. It is a club that works for the environment, for birds and for its members.”

Written by Leonie Robbins from questionnaire 23 April 2004.