IN May 2023, the Portland Field Naturalists’ Club (PFNC) will be just two years shy of 80.

Established in May 1945 out of concern for the future of the region’s forests, the cost of membership was fixed at two shillings. The first president was Hugh Keiller.

After some serious discussion among the all-male group, ‘ladies’ were ‘allowed’ to join.

How times have changed.

However, meetings continue to be held by the PFNC monthly, with the exception only of breaks over summer and during the COVID-19 restrictions.

And its environmental message is still the same: Take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints, kill only time.

PFNC is one of 13 local Landcare groups that sit under the umbrella of the Southwest Environmental Alliance (SEA) which works in partnership with Landcare in the Glenelg Shire (see Observer article January 6, 2023, page 4).

The PFNC has 26 members and 72 Facebook members.

Secretary of the club Ruth Graney has been involved since she and her UK-born husband, Ivor, joined in 1984. She has held almost every position there: president, assistant secretary/newsletter compiler, treasurer, communication secretary, and now secretary/treasurer.

Like other members of the group, Mr and Mrs Graney have a deep love and enthusiasm for the flora and fauna of our unique country and its diverse wildlife.

There have been many eminent past members of PFNC who have left a lasting legacy of their environmental advocacy, Mrs Graney said. These include the establishment of several national parks and reserves in the Portland region, and playing a part in having our region listed by the federal government as a biodiversity hotspot.

“Of note is Cliff Beauglehole, whose extensive botanical work on the vascular plants of Victoria earned him an Order of Australia Medal,” said Mrs Graney.

“He discovered several undescribed species and (had) some named after him … he also studied wasps, ants, mosses, lichens, fungi, birds, and native animals.”

Mr Beauglehole’s collection of native bees also formed the basis of the Bees of Portland District, which was published by the PFNC in 1953, she said.

Another past member, Noel Learmonth published the first Birds of Portland District in 1966. This continues to be updated and expanded by current author Robert Farnes.

Additionally, early conservationist Fred Davies’ foresight and willingness to do a land exchange resulted in an extension of the Bats Ridges Fauna Reserve in 1968.

Mrs Graney said that other renowned members Colin and Dorothy Woolcock also documented flora for PFNC, with Mr Woolcock doing beautiful botanical illustrations for their publications. The pair were the instigators of the weekly Wednesday Walks in the early 1980s.

The walks were led by Lois and the late Max Phillips, who each made enormous contributions to the club, including representation on various committees, serving four terms as president, and compiling the History of Portland Field Naturalists’ Club 1945–2005.

The walks are still well attended and enjoyed by club members.

Another outstanding member, the late Doug Phillips served the club as conservation officer for more than 20 years.

“Doug helped PFNC achieve better environmental outcomes than would otherwise have occurred through the Regional Forest Agreement Community Consultation process, and later took this further when he highlighted the destruction of habitat through ring-culling old trees,” Mrs Graney said.

“Doug also negotiated a moratorium to stop this practice and later the logging of native forest in this region, and led the campaign to have national park status awarded to the bulk of the Cobboboonee Forest. The remainder of the forest was set aside and renamed Forest Park,” she said.

In October 2008 both Mr Phillips and Mrs Graney were awarded the Pride of Australia Medal for their 10-year campaign to protect the ecosystems and natural beauty of this area. Mr Phillips received further recognition after his death.  

“Doug was a passionate environmentalist whose advocacy covered many aspects of natural history from climate change to exploring carbon storage through the production of biochar … He was posthumously awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority in June 2019.”

Today’s group of members is equally as passionate and active as its past supporters.

Current president of the club, Vivien Holyoake also from the UK and a big fan of our diverse flora and fauna, has updated the Wednesday Walks and also the Sunday Excursions guide initially compiled by Lois Phillips. Another member, Ken Clark contributed to this using his personal records.

Robert Farnes coordinates local bird-watchers in the annual national Birdlife Australia Challenge Count and records the results for this district. He also undertakes bird surveys for the Gunditjmara on their properties, and for local landholders interested in providing additional habitat for birds.

Stephen Sims uploads enormous amounts of data from all sources to the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas. For his contribution, he received the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority Individual Environment Achievement Award in 2019.

 Clearly, PFNC members are passionate about engaging the community in caring for the Portland region’s wildlife.

And while the COVID pandemic and an ageing demographic has taken its toll on some of the traditional activities of the group, “the weekly walks are still well attended and the PFNC Facebook page attracts some wonderful images from local photographers”, Mrs Graney said.

“Families today have many more commitments and options and much less leisure time (than past generations) but we intend developing this social medium to become more informative.”

Anyone interested in joining the PFNC or wanting further information can contact the group at portlandfieldnats45@gmail.com.

The 13 Landcare groups each have their own environmental projects and advocacy programs, and each has a different president. The groups are Friends of Cape Nelson Landcare/Coastcare; Friends of the Great South West Walk; Friends of the Surry; Nelson Coastcare; Point Danger Committee of Management; Portland Coastal Cliffs; Portland Field Naturalist’s Club; Portland Scenic Gateway Group; Southwest Woody Weeds Action Team; Tarragal Landcare Group; Friends of Portland Loreto Reserve; and Fawthrop Lagoon.