We had a very entertaining and thoroughly knowledgeable talk on 4 May by ANU Associate Professor Gavin Smith, sociologist, and snake ecologist, or one might say, herpetologist extraordinaire.

 

Some people might think that catching snakes is a bit like being a magician, a snake charmer, but it's a very serious and quite dangerous business when you're dealing with hundreds of brown snakes in a year, as happens in Canberra.

 

We learned not to be ophidiophobic (what do you think that might be?) but respectful of brown snakes in particular, the second most dangerous snake species in the world, because they're endemic in the Canberra region and getting bitten by one without help can be fatal within about half an hour.  

 

As we all know, all Australian snakes are protected species so must not be killed but caught and relocated safely if their presence is dangerous to humans. However, they are territorial and tend to return to their home range, if possible.

 

Surprisingly little is known about them - their habits, their life cycles, their territorial needs, their behaviour towards humans, even their mating habits and the rearing of their young. Gavin's recent research, tracking brown snakes with cameras and GPS, would indicate that they are sensitive to displacement from their territories, which can make them more vulnerable to roadkill and similar dangers. His ongoing research is centred on establishing the facts regarding their territorial displacement.

 

It is as well for us to remember that we are the intruders. We are expanding our suburbs into territory which has probably been theirs for millions of years. When they set up temporary residence in the nooks and crannies under someone's concrete driveway, they are exploiting the thermal properties of concrete. When they appear under the sink in someone's laundry, they are making use of access to water and probably cleaning up the mice and cockroaches. Snakes are as afraid of us as we are of them. Don't scream. Don't give them a cuddle. Call Gavin.

 

Snakes are valuable for their role in maintaining the ecological balance, particularly in controlling populations of mice and rats as well as other species including birds. It would be nice to learn that they pick on invasive species but that might be too big an ask.

 

Keep a lookout here for a possible guided tour with Gavin to meet snakes in the wild and learn how to behave in their presence - in a calm, respectful, non-threatening manner.

 

For further information on Gavin's work with brown snakes, check out the internet where there is a host of information on the work he does.

 

 

It was terrific to have two visiting Rotarians at our most recent meeting. We welcomed Natalie Au from the Preston Club in Melbourne and Amena Khan from the Karachi Rotary Club in Pakistan. Amena spoke to us regarding the plight of tenant farmers in Pakistan following the terrible flooding there. Her Club are looking at a Global Grant to assist through provision of micro finance. This is something where it may be possible for our Club to assist with. I suggest you watch the short video Amena made about the floods, available at: https://www.youtube.com/c/AMENARCHY (there’s a few videos at this link; the floods one is the most recent).

 

Following the meeting Natalie, Amena and her brother plus two local visitors (invited by George Wilson) joined me for a tour to the Peace bell. Along the way we discussed the various aspects of Lennox Gardens including features of the Beijing Gardens, the Nara Peace Park finishing at the Peace Bell. All thought it time well spent. Even the two Canberra guests said they learned new things about the park.

Date	11 May	25 May	1 June	8 June
Door	Ross Brown	Ross Brown	Ross Brown	Ross Brown
Open meeting; introduce President; and Toast to Rotary	Stephen McMillan	Bill Andrews	Keith Gray	Sally Goodspeed
Thank speaker and write up for Bulletin	Russell Dew	Judy Raymond	Juris Jakovics	Astrida Upitis