RAOU Centenary Congress and Campout

[Margaret Cameron <>]

The RAOU/Birds Australia is holding its Centenary Congress in
Adelaide from 1-3 November, exactly one hundred years from the AOU?s
first meeting which was also held in Adelaide. If you're planning to come
but haven't booked yet, please do so promptly - the organizers need to
know how many people they will be feeding!  (Also if you're coming
and haven't booked accommodation yet, it would be a good idea to do it
now - there are other events on at the same time.) Obviously a centenary
is the kind of occasion for which the more people come, the better; it's
an occasion for friends and reminiscences, and after all none of us are
likely to be around for the next one. You can come to the campout if you
don't come to the congress, see below.

The booking form was in the June Wingspan but if you need another contact
Penny Paton  or
Janice Menz 08 82785732.

The Congress has two days of speakers and various associated social
events.

Its opening reception (a cocktail party) will be held on Thursday
1 November (6-7.30pm) in the impressive foyer of the South Australian
Museum, and The Flight of the Emu by Libby Robin, the history of
ornithology in the 20th century, will be launched by Dr Tim
Flannery, Director of the Museum. 

The Congress itself, on Friday and Saturday, is at the AMF
Building in Glenside, where there will also be a joint meeting with the
South Australian Ornithological Association (the hosts) on Friday
evening, at which Libby Robin, a lively speaker as well as author of
The Flight of the Emu, will speak. Because the venue is not close
to restaurants, a meal (and cash bar) will be available there. 

Details of Congress speakers who include famous expatriates Leo Joseph
and Allen Keast are on the BA webpage
www.birdsaustralia.com.au

The Congress Dinner on Saturday night, at the Grosvenor Hotel,
will be a splendid affair, with Dr Dick Schodde giving the after dinner
speech (following his famous speech at the SAOA Centenary dinner). On
Sunday, SAOA members will take us on field trips to Penrice Saltfields,
Noarlunga wetlands, and Sandy Creek Conservation Park.

Fellows Dinner 31 October, Adelaide
The Fellows of the RAOU have organized a fundraising Fellows
Dinner preceding the Centenary Congress, to be held at the Adelaide
Botanic Gardens on 31 October, with Robyn Williams of the ABC Science
unit as guest of honour and speaker. All profits from this dinner will go
to Birds Australia; it is not an exclusive event and members and
non-members are invited to apply for invitations ($165 each, including
GST) for themselves and their guests. Contact Stephen Davies 08 9572 1074
or 

The Campout (5-9 November) is based at the Little Desert
Lodge, near Nhill in western Victoria. The Little Desert is famous for
its Malleefowl, and has mallee, heath, buloke and yellow gum habitats, as
well as being in range of salt and fresh water lakes. The Little Desert
Lodge offers full catering including a cash bar, and bunk room
accommodation and several rooms with ensuites (pretty well all booked
now) as well as camping. Prices for fully catered accommodation range
from basic bunkroom, byo sleeping bag, $42 per person per night to single
room with ensuite, $78 per person per night. Contact John Bottomley
 or 03- 5284 1554.

Thanks Birding-Aus for letting me remind people about this 
occasion.

Margaret Cameron

PS For The Big Birdwatch on 1 July, the real birthday, all Atlassers were
asked to do at least one survey. By the beginning of September, 
returned surveys for 1 July from all over Australia totalled 444 species.
Thanks Birding-aussers who took part!

Margaret Cameron        

4 Connor Street

East Geelong, Vic. 3219

Australia

Phone   61 3 5229 9792

Fax

    

        

61
3 5229 1520