About the event
Join us for a special event exploring how fire has reshaped the Pomonal landscape and what that means for the biodiversity we're working to protect.
Using a local covenanted property as a living case study, we'll bring together ecological expertise and on-ground observation to help you "read" what fire leaves behind, and understand what recovery looks like in east Gariwerd landscape.
We'll hear from:
Yasmin Kelsall has more than 20 years' experience as an ecologist in roles with the government, not-for-profit and the private sector. In this time she has amassed extensive experience in native vegetation assessment and mapping, flora assessment and monitoring. Past roles have included in the Native Vegetation Information team at DEECA where she trained assessors in recognizing Ecological Vegetation Classes and she now regularly runs training in the Habitat Hectare method.
Pauline Rudolph is an experienced natural resource management professional with over 25 years in the field, including 20 years with DEECA. Currently as Manager, Environmental Values, Forest Fire and Operations Division in DEECA (Grampians Region), she leads a small team that considers management of biodiversity, related to forest and fire management activities on public land.
John King after raising their family overseas and in Melbourne, John and his wife, Jocelyn, have been on their Pomonal property for 12 years. For that time the 170ha has been dedicated to the environment and the uncleared areas are protected by Trust for Nature covenants. Both John and Jocelyn are involved in local environmental initiatives: Jallukar Landcare, APS Grampians, Gariwerd Bird Surveys, Friends of Grampians Gariwerd, Birdlife Birds on Farms Surveys, the Pomonal Community Nursery etc.
Following the presentations, we'll head out onto the King's property together, putting the morning's learning into practice as we walk the land and look for the signs discussed.
A complimentary morning tea and lunch will be provided. Drinks are available for purchase at your own expense from the bar.
Please bring walking shoes and weather appropriate attire.
Agenda
9.45am Doors open. Join us for complimentary tea, coffee, and morning tea.
10.00am Welcome and acknowledgements.
10.15am Yasmin Kelsall will introduce the Ecological Vegetation Class of the area and what we can expect to see emerge in the aftermath of the fires.
10.45am Pauline Rudolph will present on the cumulative impacts of fire across Gariwerd, including the scale of recent fires and the ongoing challenge of protecting critical biodiversity.
11.15am John King will share his own observations of how fire has affected his covenanted property, and what he's learned in its wake.
11.45am Enjoy a complimentary catered lunch. Drinks can be purchased from the bar.
12.15pm Attendees are then invited to visit John's property to explore the ecology of a fire-affected bush block. Our presenters will speak to the effects of fire in real time.
1.00pm End of event.
This workshop forms part of the Project Platypus Fire Recovery Project, which is working to monitor and restore biodiversity on private conservation properties impacted by the 2024–2025 bushfires.
With support from DEECA and Wimmera CMA, the project is partnering with landholders to better understand how wildlife is responding after fire and to guide on-ground recovery actions. The skills and tools shared in this workshop contribute directly to that effort, helping build a clearer picture of species return and long-term landscape recovery.