General News
30 June, 2023
Friends visit beating heart of Wyperfeld
Yaapeet farmer Jum Fuller can recall seeing southern Wyperfeld's lakes and creek flooded in 1956. “It was the most beautiful thing – there were parrots, birds everywhere," Mr Fuller said. This was one of many recollections shared during an...
Yaapeet farmer Jum Fuller can recall seeing southern Wyperfeld's lakes and creek flooded in 1956.
“It was the most beautiful thing – there were parrots, birds everywhere," Mr Fuller said.
This was one of many recollections shared during an excursion conducted by Friends of Wyperfeld (FoW) during the group's annual King's Birthday camping weekend.
FoW has been visiting Wyperfeld National Park every June long-weekend for the past 40 years, holding an industrious working bee on the Saturday followed by its AGM that night.
This year was no exception but in addition there was the thrilling excursion organised by FoW convener John Miller.
On the Sunday morning, 30 FoW members met at Jeparit and travelled up Outlet Creek in a four-wheel-drive convoy to Lake Hindmarsh and finally Lake Albacutya, hearing from locals along the way about this unique river system.
It was a wonderful opportunity to learn and share the memories, stories, challenges and details of recovery projects that are happening along the Wimmera River and around its lakes.
Rod Cameron and Faye Gordes of the Jeparit Wimmera River Community Group spoke about their inspiring experience of the hard work which has seen the revegetation of a piece of previously degraded land on the Wimmera River opposite Jeparit Golf Course.
They also described how they had been raising awareness among farmers in the area about how chemical use affects the waterways and land.
From there the party travelled to Four Mile Beach at Lake Hindmarsh.
The lake impressed everyone with its massive stretch of water.
Judy Douglas reminisced about her happy childhood “beach holidays” in the 1950s, camping beneath a green canopy of river redgums (narrowly avoiding a falling bough) and swimming in the beautiful clear waters.
The group also heard from Wimmera legend Barry Clugston, whose knowledge of this water system is unsurpassed.
Mr Clugson detailed unique features of the river and lakes and how flows and water storages had been changed over the past century, leading to a reduction in water reaching the upper section of the system, with Lake Albacutya not having had water in it for nearly 50 years.
Lara Bickford from the Victoria National Parks Association and a Friend of Wyperfeld spoke about the Ramsar status of Lake Albacutya and the importance of returning water to this special lake and its floodplains in southern Wyperfeld if this beautiful area was to return to health again.
After a picnic lunch and lots of sharing stories about when the lake was full, it was time for a scenic drive through the Birdcage Nature Conservation Reserve and on to the western shore of Lake Albacutya.
The group gathered near the boat ramp that stretches into the massive dry lake.
Carol Paech, who lives on the western side of Lake Albacutya, spoke about her concerns for the lake and the Ramsar site as a result of the high number of trucks travelling to and from the nearby gypsum mines.
Col Drendel, convenor of Friends of Lake Albacutya, has a farm bordering the Big Desert and has always had a close connection to Lake Albacutya.
He remembers canoeing and fishing in the lake in 1974 and how as youths he and other locals assumed that it would always fill every 20 years or so.
Mr Drendel inspired the group with the story of his epic 2007 walk “from mountains to the Mallee” when he and his family made the long trek from Elmhurst in the Pyrenees Ranges just west of Avoca to Wirrengren Plain at the northern end of Wyperfeld – a distance of about 300km.
He recounted the kind hospitality of the Landcare farmers who hosted them each night along the way.
He said he was also impressed by the Indigenous middens and other sites he spotted along Outlet Creek and at Wyperfeld Lakes.
Mr Drendel said it was one of the best experiences of his life, and some of the group appeared inspired to follow in his footsteps – though for maybe just a section of the walk – in the future.
The river excursion was a great way to develop an appreciation of the large scale of this amazing waterway and to gain an understanding of some of the serious issues facing the floodplain environment, mainly through the lack of periodic flood waters.
Participants said it was lovely to meet some of the locals and to hear their stories of past floods and droughts and how much they loved the lakes and creeks.
Those who took part walked away feeling not only had they learnt more about the region but that they had also made some great connections and friends along the way.
To hear more about Wyperfeld National Park and the Wimmera lakes, email lara_simon@iprimus.com.au.