Tasmanian surfing legend, film-maker, writer and environmentalist Mick Lawrence recently passed away. His knowledge and love of the Southwest increased as he paddled the waterways of Port Davey and Macquarie Harbour, filming as he went. In recent years Mick became a guide with Par Avion on their camps near Melaleuca. Those who met him will […]
March 2024—time for the Friends of Melaleuca annual working bee! A group of enthusiastic volunteers hopped off the plane onto the white gravel of the Melaleuca airstrip to join those who had come by boat. A couple of new faces joined the gang this year and it was lovely to meet the new PWS Volunteer […]
Tribute to William (Bill) Forsyth by Andrew Smith – Founder and Appointed Co-Chair, Wildcare Tasmania Inc. (1998 – 2018) Sadly, one of the stalwarts of Wildcare Inc passed away on the 28th July. Mark William (Bill) Forsyth was a man of the wilds and had a strong desire to not only experience the wild places […]
A music night to share the beauty, conservation ethic and stories of Port Davey also raised funds for Friends of Melaleuca’s volunteer work. The 25th May was a wintry night but the Moonah Arts Centre auditorium was booked out! Tony Fenton, Peter Marmion and Mick Lawrence put together this program of music and photography inspired […]
Mt Beattie is a popular walk amongst visitors to Port Davey. The track begins at the historic Claytons cottage which is cared for by Friends of Melaleuca and PWS, and meanders through mature rainforest to the open slopes and summit, which afford wonderful all-round vistas of the waterway and surounding mountains. Special plants such as […]
In 2021, Wildcare’s Tasmanian Nature Conservation Fund made a grant to the Friends of Melaleuca (the Friends) for remediation of deteriorated bushwalking track on Mt Beattie in southwest Tasmania. Boating visitors use the track to climb the mountain, which gives great views of Melaleuca Inlet, Bathurst Harbour, the surrounding mountains and Port Davey. This use […]
Wildcare Friends of Melaleuca have been working closely with the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service since 2009 to care for, maintain and interpret natural and historic heritage at Melaleuca and Claytons Corner in Southwest Tasmania. There are no roads to this area, the waterways being the local means of transport, giving the place its unique […]
Friends of Melaleuca is seeking EOI for 3 track-workers for Mt Beattie, S.W. Tasmania. March 14th to 21st The Role: Working in a small team of three or four people (led by an experienced Parks Tas. supervisor), rebuilding sections of walking track over heavily eroded sections of old track. The work will be physically demanding […]
Have you heard of the Maugean skate? It is an ancient Gondwanan relict species of skate. Seldom seen, this endangered animal lurks under the tannin waters of Macquarie Harbour. Maugean Skates are Tasmania’s largest endemic fish and also one of the State’s most endangered marine species. They face many challenges in Macquarie Harbour, especially in […]
In July, Ranger-in-Charge for the Southwest, Ian Marmion, retired. Ian has guided planning for Friends of Melaleuca’s working bees and provided support and hands-on-work on the ground since 2014. Our branch began in 2009, so Ian has been our PWS support for most of the life of FoM. We appreciate this active relationship and continuity […]