1. South Eastern Field Days.
March 18th to 22nd. Based at Penola Caravan Park. Phone 8737 2381 to book a site/cabin for 4 nights. Contact Phill (8370 9443) or Bazza (8266 7926).

ARPA 4WD GROUP SE FOREST DRIVES Trip Report
 
Participants: Keith (leader), Dawn & John, Edith & Stuart, Jim & Fae, Imants & Ludmila, Bruno & Julia.
 
This trip was based on one originally planned by Phill and Bazza, to be incorporated with Lucindale Field Days. Phill’s poor health ultimately prevented his participation, and in the week prior to the trip the COVID-19 virus caused the Field Days to be cancelled.
However, the group enjoyed 2 days of driving on tracks through SE forest regions and managed to finish just before COVID-19 travel restrictions were imposed.
Most of the group camped at the Penola Caravan Park, where we found the facilities basic but adequate for our needs (even though we needed to use the toilet block verandah on one occasion to escape from the cold wind and rain). The virus effects were evident from the start – no handshakes, hugs or passing around bowls of nibbles!
 
Thursday March 19th saw the group set off from Penola and travel through pine forests to the east and then make its way south along a sandy track (quite soft in patches) alongside or through a very dry and overgrown Lake Mundi. After hitting bitumen we headed for Casterton (birthplace of the Kelpie), and morning tea by the Glenelg River. Lunch was at Bailey’s Rocks camp ground in the Dergholm State Park, where a strong hot wind made conditions a little uncomfortable. One very strong gust blew John’s coffee out of his hand and all over the front of his shirt. After lunch people chose different ways to return to Penola.



















 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On Friday March 20th we headed south west of Penola to Kalangadoo for a quick look around, and then on to the extinct volcano Lake Leake for morning tea. Weather conditions were the opposite of those on the previous day – strong cold wind and light rain, also making the stop a bit unpleasant. An amusing sign on the toilet wall said “Please use fireplaces provided” – we were happy to disobey. The weather improved a bit as we travelled on via a very grassy Kilsby Lane to Mt Burr summit where we found another sign to be disobeyed. From there it was on through Mt Burr town and via Chetwynd La and Yaccadale La to Penola Conservation Park. Here we found a pleasant spot for lunch (apart from the smell of a dead animal nearby), and it was only after lunch that we drove on further to find the official picnic spot (oops!). We all did our own thing from here (walk, observe nature etc) before heading back to Penola.






















 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On the final night we enjoyed dinner at the Prince of Wales Hotel in the main street of Penola, a perfect way to end a great time away together.


















 
                                                                     
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                                     Report by Keith. Photos by Keith & Imants
 
 
2. North Qld.
Leader Craig. About 8 weeks’ duration over July/August, covering some of the same attractions as the 2019 trip was meant to, and going as far as Normanton and travelling on the Gulflander railway. Jeff agreed to help with the planning of the trip.

3. Alpana Cactus Kill.
August 1st - 8th. Join a working party to assist with cactus control at Alpana
Station in the Flinders Ranges. A reasonable level of fitness is required, but drivers to help with
transportation of workers and equipment are also needed. Leader Keith.

ALPANA CACTUS KILL REPORT 2020
Venue: Alpana Station, 5 km south of Blinman in the Flinders Ranges, SA. Dates: Saturday August 1st to Friday August 7th 2020. Participants: Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic which was on at the time, participants were specifically selected in order to abide by Govt health restrictions imposed while at the same time obtaining the mix of experience, expertise and vehicles necessary for carrying out a successful cactus kill operation.


















Keith (Coordinator), Rick, Marie, David F, Tin, David E, Paul, Brian, Mal, Sue, Stuart, Margaret, Edith, Katie, Julia & Bruno.
 
Saturday August 1st












During the afternoon, participants settled into pre-allocated accommodation in shearers’ quarters or ensuite van sites. In order to comply with COVID-19 restrictions, the usual welcome/thankyou BBQ was replaced by a COVID-19 safe take-away style meal supplied by Alpana personnel. This was well received by all participants.

Sunday August 2nd
A briefing was held at 8.30 am to highlight a few safety issues, organise the group into 5 teams for cactus killing and allocating vehicles for transportation. Matt from the SA Govt Department for Environment and Water joined us on today’s kill. This year, as in 2019, only the poisoning option was going to be used. David Henery of Alpana Station led us out to the location he had chosen for today’s work. It was a drive of about 7 km on station tracks west of the shearers’ quarters to a point GPS (31°09’S, 138°38’E) approx. This drive took us past some places where cactus had been treated last year and it was encouraging to see no sign of the plant remaining there this year. We worked on the south side of a hill in the Bald Range, treating the Mexican Wheel cactus found along the way as we headed in a westerly direction before lunch. Holes are drilled in the base of the plant and at least every second leaf up each branch where practical, and these are filled with herbicide. The nozzle of the poison injector gun can be also be used to puncture the skin of the cactus pad and then the herbicide can be inserted into the pocket created.














Many chips of cactus were found on the ground around most plants, the result of hungry and thirsty animals chewing or scratching. These had to be collected together (tongs coming in handy) and treated also, usually by stabbing with the injector gun and squirting poison onto them. In a few cases the chips had already sent roots into the very dry soil. This type of cactus spreads very easily. It was interesting to find a lot of cochineal infected cactus in this area (the insect used in biological control). It was a nice mild sunny day and the shade of a rare tree was a welcome spot in which to enjoy a picnic lunch.















After lunch the teams made their way back to the vehicles, treating cactus found along the way. We got back to the shearers’ quarters at about 3.45pm having treated 763 plants (312 small, 283 medium, 168 large).
 
Monday August 3rd
At 8.30am the group lined up for the customary group photo, and then we were led on a 5km drive south down the bitumen Hawker road to a gate into Alpana property and a further drive of about 8km west on station tracks to our work location for the day, a point GPS (31°09’S, 138°39’E) approx. about half way up the steep slope to the GRN tower on Mt Nielsen. Cactus was poisoned in the area roughly south of the tower between the track and a boundary fence to the west. There was not a lot of cactus here especially on the flat ground at the bottom of this area.













One team found help in the form of a very young feral kid. Work was completed early today and teams were back at camp by about 2.30pm having treated 298 cactus (66 small, 46 medium, 66 large).
















Tuesday August 4th
The group was re-organised into 4 teams for today as one of the poison guns was not working. Leaving base at 8.30am we drove about 12 km to a spot just a little further west of where we had been yesterday, GPS (31°09’S,138°37E) approx. There was a cold wind blowing in the morning, making conditions a bit unpleasant for teams working near the top of the hill.

We were again back at base by 2.30pm, a little earlier than usual because poison supplies were running low. Today’s kill numbered 327 (144 small, 119 medium, 36 large), but there were many more remaining in this location to be tackled on the next day.
Wednesday August 5th
Wednesday is normally a rest day, but in view of an unfavourable weather forecast it was decided to work today and have a break on Thursday. The faulty poison gun being made operational again, the group reverted to the original 5 teams. We drove to the same location as on Tuesday and tackled a large area of cactus at the top of the hill. A strong icy wind made conditions very unpleasant and most teams were glad to get back to base for lunch at about 1pm. A large area of cactus was found on the way back to the cars and after these had been treated the poison supply was running quite low. Today’s kill totalled 275 (123 small, 117 medium, 35 large).
At 6pm most of the group enjoyed a meal at the Blinman Hotel, and returned to relax by the fire in the shearers’ quarters. The group was re-organised into 4 teams for today as one of the poison guns was not working. 

Thursday August 6th A rest day was taken. The weather forecast was for rain developing sometime today. So today provided an opportunity to sleep in, relax, visit Blinman for morning tea, lunch or a mine tour, restock supplies, or go for a drive around the locality. 4 cactus got in the way and were dealt with appropriately (1 small, 3 medium). Light steady rain began falling just after dinner and continued most of the night.
 
Friday August 7th Work today was officially cancelled as it was considered that conditions would be too dangerous due to the overnight rain. After accepting some fuel vouchers and bidding David Henery farewell most of the group headed for home. The drive home was to take us through part of the Flinders Ranges which had experienced a fall of snow overnight – not really surprising in view of the really icy conditions of the past few days of cactus killing.












A few hardy people remained behind and decided to get more cactus. They went out to the same spot as on Sunday and treated plants found on the valley floor and up on the side of a ridge. The number poisoned was 102 (30 small, 41 medium, 31 large).
 
They were then able to join Pizza night at the Blinman Hotel (a Friday night tradition).
 
Total kill for the week was 1,621 which was a good accomplishment considering the conditions.
 
Report written by Keith, with photos by David E and Keith.