Our June Speaker was long-time Tamborine Mountain resident and Probus member Terry Day.
Terry spoke about the work that he and his wife Jo carry out to document and protect endangered flora and fauna at their Tamborine Mountain home on the The Shelf, above the eastern escarpment.
Terry and Jo have two covenants with Scenic Rim Regional Council for protection of fauna and flora in general but particularly rare and endangered species.
Terry noted that most fauna species can be found on the mountain, less the platypus that may only inhabit Cedar Creek.
Koalas have no known habitat here but can be heard when they pass through.
Terry referenced the Chenowith Report that flora records for the mountain are incomplete and further significant species are yet to be discovered.
The report found that in a global context our region is mega-diverse and Tamborine Mountain possesses a high percentage of flora, making it important on a global scale.
Threats to the eco-system include the Cane toad that secretes poison at all its life stages.
Native carnivores such as goannas, snakes and northern quolls often die after consuming them.
The Cane toad’s voracious appetite depletes food sources for native frogs, birds and small mammals.
They can usurp burrows devastating ground-nesting bird populations such as the Rainbow bee-eater.
Terry noted there are more endangered and threatened species on Tamborine Mountain than the Mary River, adding that the proposed Traveston Dam was stopped by people power for a single endangered species – the Mary River Tortoise.
Terry related that Macadamia nuts were taken from Tamborine Mountain and grown at Pimpama.
From there nuts were exported to California and Hawaii, the rest is history.
Probus Personality – Howard Stevens
[Insert Photograph Howard Stevens]
From his lofty perch at Forest Park Probus, member Howard Stevens and supports Terry in his ecological endeavours.
Howard is a retired physician following a career in the Royal Flying Doctor Service in northern Queensland with a particular interest in health matters concerning indigenous communities.
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