Australian Naturalists Network 
The Australian Naturalists Network (ANN) which was founded by 
Dick Southcombe, has been running biennial Get-Togethers and 
maintaining a national register of natural history clubs for many 
years now. At present it is a relatively informal network and not an 
incorporated body such as GFNC or SEANA (South East Australian 
Naturalists’ Association Inc.). 
At the last Get-Together in Canberra in 2012 a number of 
suggestions were made about the future direction for ANN 
(including possible incorporation). A meeting to form an Interim 
Steering Committee and to discuss these suggestions is being held 
on 13 April 2013 in the FNCV Hall in Blackburn with teleconference 
facilities to connect country members and those from other states. 
Agenda and background information are available from Deborah 
Evans (hard or soft copy). 
If you’ve been involved with ANN Get-Togethers and are keen to 
see ANN continue actively in the future and would like to attend the 
meeting, please contact: 
John Gregurke: 
1 John St, Wendouree Vic 3355 
jgregurke1@bigpond.com; 5339 4993 or 0408 353 671 
Clean Up Australia Day 
9-11 a.m., Sunday 3 March 2012 
Bird hide, Jerringot Reserve, Belmont 
(Melway 452 All) 
We are going to take part in Clean Up Australia 
Day as usual down at Jerringot. The actual clean 
up usually doesn’t take long, but as CoGG is 
currently working on a Management Plan for the 
Jerringot wetlands, this would be a great 
opportunity to come down and have a look 
around this special place that GFNC has been so 
involved with over the years. 
So join us at 9.00 a.m. for the clean up or about 
10.30 for morning tea and a stroll. 
Bring: Gloves, sturdy footwear or gumboots (as 
there are ‘critturs in them thar swamps’), hat, 
sunscreen, sunglasses, water, morning tea if 
desired. 
Leaders: Dennis Greenwell, ph. 0408 108 992 or 
Deborah Evans, ph. 5243 8687 
What else has been seen 
...Lorraine Phelan 
Long-necked Turtle, Balyang, on log on edge of island, 
11/12/12. (JH) 
Photo: Joe Hubbard 
Koala, Crossing Picnic Area, Brisbane Ranges NP, 2/1/13 
(JH) 
Wirilda Wattle and Wire-leaf Mistletoe, flowering Lake 
Victoria, 16/1/13. (JH) 
Sweet Bursaria, Purple Loosestrife, Moonah and 
Lightwood flowering Fyansford, Barwon River, 22/1/13. (JH) 
Moths, flying in courtyard Belmont. Tiny, showing coppery 
colours especially when lit by early morning sun. Probably 
same found on wall—upper wings blues, greys. Underwings 
coppery. 12/1/13. (JH) 
Plague Soldier Beetles, Point Lonsdale 6/1/2013 
Photo: Rosalind Smallwood 
‘Plague soldier beetles (Chauliognathus lugubris) are 
attracted in large numbers to a great range of flowering 
plants. They feed on the pollen and nectar, but also eat other, 
smaller insects that arrive on the flowers. Their bright colours 
are a warning to potential predators that they taste horrible 
and can be poisonous. The larvae live on the soil surface 
where they are also predatory.’ Horne, P and Crawford, D 
(2005) Backyard Insects, Miegunyah Press 
Geelong Naturalist February 2012 13 
