National Landscapes March 2009 SA Famil Riverland

Murray River Tri-State National Landscapes famil in the Riverland, March 2009

L-R: Hank van Apeldoom (Balranald Shire), Ray Jones (Euston Club), Boots the dog, Paul Cohrs (Murray-Darling Holidays), Bob Goodfellow (Goodfellows Bird Watching), Richard Mintern (NSW National Parks), Karen Arnold (Wentworth Visitor Centre), Renae Harman (Riverland Tourism), Kristy Vriends (Riverland Development Corporation), George Lovegrove (Riverland Development Corporation), Mark Eckel (Mildura Rural City Council), Tony Sharley (Banrock Station), Jock & Lis Robertson (Chowilla Station), Carolyn Caddy & Graham Clarke (Harry Nanya Tours), Chris Koolmatrie (NRM South Australia) and Shane Strudwick (Discover Murray River).

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

The National Landscape South Australian Famil (March 18-19th, 2009) commenced at the McCormack Centre for the Environment, Renmark, with an official welcome. We then proceeded by four wheel drive convoy to Calperum Station for some entertaining and informative presentations by Station Manager, Grant Whiteman, Bob Goodfellow (Jolly Goodfellows Bird Watching Tours), George Lovegrove, Economic Development Officer, Riverland Development Corporation and Bob West (Riverland Leisure Canoe Tours).

Next stop was the award winning historic Overland Corner Hotel (1860) for tour and lunch. We then traveled to Waikerie and boarded the Murray River Queen for our meeting, dinner and accommodation.

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

The next morning saw us depart Waikerie for a 64km drive mostly on dirt to Birds Australia Gluepot Reserve where Chris Lill showed us around the reserve and gave us an overview of Gluepot's important role in the mallee region.

From here we headed back over the Waikerie ferry to Banrock Station in Kingston-on-Murray. Following a great lunch, Tony and Kate gave us a guided boardwalk tour of the wetlands (currently dry) which included a great insight to the station's wet and drought management policy. The famil concluded from here.

There was an overwhelming positive response from all attendees as we can see the significant benefits of all committee and other stakeholders learning more about our new community and landscapes as we enthusiastically move forward our Murray River Tri-State National Landscapes application. Click here to return to National Landscapes page. | Learn about the National Landscapes Program.

Calperum Station

Presentation by Grant Whiteman of Calperum Station.	Presentation by Bob Goodfellow on the birds of Calperum and the Riverland Biosphere region.	Our presenters at Calperum Bob Goodfellow, Grant Whiteman, George Lovegrove and Bob West of Riverland Canoes.

Overland Corner

Bob Goodfellow and Paul Cohrs enjoy a rest break at the historic Overland Corner Hotel on the Barmera to Morgan Road.	Lunch under the gums and on the lawns of Overland Corner Hotel.	A local walk around the limestone quarry at Overland Corner. The limestone was used to build the historic building.

Overland Corner quarry, limestone used to build the Overland Corner Hotel.	The local walk explores the region including great views across the floodplains over the Murray River and the local headstones of the Brand family.	Sensational Havenhand Chocolates (Waikerie) and Almondco Almond Hut (Renmark) at the Overland Corner Hotel.

Murray River Queen, Waikerie

Beautiful Murray River sunset at Waikerie from the Murray River Queen, Waikerie : Photo Jenny Rickards

Murray River Queen, Waikerie	Murray River Queen dining room.	Breakfast on the Murray River Queen.

Sunset over the Murray River in Waikerie.	Karen Arnold from Wentworth relaxes at sunrise on the Murray River Queen.	Just before sunrise over the Murray River at Waikerie.

Murray on surnrise and feeding pelican.	Waikerie ferry.	Murray River Queen from other side of bank.

Gluepot Reserve

George, Chris and Graham waiting for ferry.	Gluepot Reserve, Michael Hyde Visitor Centre	Chris from Gluepot Reserve briefs the National Landscapes delegates and gives an overview on Gluepot along with its importance to Australia.

Gluepot Visitor Centre.	Beautiful stainglass windows at Gluepot and showcase of numerous awards.	Gluepot solar power system.

Gluepot solar power system.	Bird hide at Gluepot Reserve.	Checking out the view from the bird hide.

Gluepot bird hide and feeding trough.	National Landscapes delegates exploring Gluepot Reserve.	Mallee tracks on Gluepot Reserve.

Banrock Station, Kingston-on-Murray

Banrock Station entrance.	Lunch at Banrock Station.	Banrock Station Visitor Centre.

Look across the vineyards and wetlands to the Murray River at Banrock Station.	Banrock Station boardwalk.	Banrock Station boardwalk.

Tony Sharley and Kate from Banrock lead the group on a tour. Here we're in a bird hide with great views across the wetlands.	Learning more about the wetlands with a dry lakebed walk. A great insight to eco-systems of the Murray region.	Wetlands walk across the dry bed.

Tony Sharley shows us how the reeds sporn with thousands of seeds.	Banrock Station Visitor Centre across the vineyards.	Renmark riverfront.

May 2009 famil, Mildura & Wentworth		Back to National Landscapes page
August 2009 famil, Renmark, Chowilla Station		National Landscapes Program