April Activities Details - (CHANGE OF DATE DUE TO EASTER)

Pepe Clarke

CLUB MEETING: 

Date & Time: 7 pm, Friday 10 April 2026

Speaker:  Pepe Clarke

Title: Nature Conservation in Outback Australia

Summary: Pepe Clarke is a conservation policy specialist based on the Sunshine Coast with 25 years’ experience working to protect nature in Australia and internationally. His work focuses on large-scale habitat protection and conservation policy. From 2017 to 2022 he worked with the Pew Charitable Trusts’ Outback to Oceans program, collaborating with governments, indigenous organisations and community partners to secure new protected areas and strengthen support for conservation across remote landscapes. This included major commitments to new national parks, Indigenous Protected Areas and Indigenous ranger programs. Pepe has also held senior roles with WWF International, BirdLife International and the Nature Conservation Council of NSW, contributing to conservation initiatives in Australia and around the world.

Venue: St. Anthony’s Community Centre, Memory Street, Toowoomba. The speaker's presentation is followed by official business and supper. 

CLUB OUTING: Rejuvenation of an Urban Laidley Block 

Stone channels created 
to manage water flow

Meeting Time: 9.00 am

Where: Lions Park, Vaux Street, Laidley

Description: Put a soil scientist and a stone wall specialist on a denuded steep urban block and marvel at their achievement over the last thirty years. The owners have managed their sodic soils around water management with deep channels, pools and drainage to a neighbour’s dam while regenerating with local plants (many obtained from the Tanglewood Nursery). Some of the species now present include Alphitonia, Brigalow, Silky Oak, Bloodwood, Moreton Bay fig, Cassia brewsteria, White cedar, Pittosporum, Syzygium, native Bauhinia, Brachychiton, Eucalypts and Melaleuca with attention given to butterfly host plants. Vines and grasses help replicate natural vine scrub. Many lichens grow on trees and rocks.

An area for ponded water
created to retain flood water 

Activities: Car pooling from Lions Park is suggested as parking at the property is limited. After an interesting morning with Pam and David we will return to the Lions Park before driving to the Cunningham Crest Lookout for lunch.

Facilities:  Toilets at Lions Park, Laidley. No facilities at Cunningham Crest Lookout.

What to Bring: Come with morning tea, lunch, chair, water, sun protection and an enquiring mind.