Welcome… Meet the Friends of Brisbane Ranges and learn about what we do.
Friends of Brisbane Ranges aims to learn about the environment, ecology, flora, fauna, and history of the Brisbane Ranges National Park and Steiglitz Historic Park.
Group members meet regularly to learn more about the diverse ecology of the Park through citizen science activities and hands-on conservation work. And for members, this is an enjoyable and involving way to appreciate the natural beauty of the park while protecting the Park’s environmental values.
In 2022, the Friends of Brisbane Ranges will celebrate its 40 year anniversary. We look forward to providing news and events on this new website to recognise this important milestone.
You will see the material for this website changing as it is being uploaded and posted, so if you can't find specific Friends of Brisbane Ranges subjects or stories, please let us know.
We hope you enjoy this newly launched website and learn a bit more about the unique assemblage of animals, fungi and plants calling the Brisbane Ranges home. To get involved, keep up with social media, join in an activity and become a member too.
We hope to see you soon.
We acknowledge that we are working on the land of the Wathaurong/Wada Wurrung people, and pay our respects to their elders past, present and future. We also pay our respects to all Aboriginal people currently living on this Country.
Learn about what we do
Events
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Join Friends of Brisbane Ranges volunteers on a nature walk to Sutherlands Creek via South Steiglitz Rd, Wrixon St and Burchell Trail.
Spot fungi, winter wildflowers and birdlife. Try dip-netting for waterbugs at the creek crossing. Learn about the area's biodiversity and how the natural landscape has evolved over time.
Nature Unplugged – Steiglitz Nature Walk - City of Greater Geelong
www.geelongaustralia.com.au
Join Friends of Brisbane Ranges volunteers on a nature walk to Sutherlands Creek via South Steiglitz Rd, Wrixon St and Burchell Trail.Photos from Mount Egerton Primary School's post
Wow. What a fabulous effort. I truly hope the students get a chance one day to enjoy the thrill of seeing a phascogale in the wild.
Celebrating Annette Rypalski’s 23-year conservation legacy.
After 23 incredible years at Mt Rothwell - Biodiversity Interpretation Centre and later as part of Odonata Foundation, our Biodiversity Director, Annette Rypalski, is embarking on a new journey alongside our founder, Nigel Sharp.
We are deeply grateful for Annette’s leadership in Australian conservation, and for the foundation and team she has built around her to enable Odonata’s species team to thrive.
Annette helped to shape Mt Rothwell into a significant player, changing the extinction trajectory of many species, including the mainland eastern barred bandicoot, eastern quoll, and southern brush-tailed rock-wallaby.
Annette’s work was foundational to the downlisting of the eastern barred bandicoot from ‘extinct in the wild’ to ‘endangered’, just the second time in Australia this has occurred with a land-based mammal.
She also worked with her team, volunteers, and key partners to lead the most successful semi-wild breeding program of the southern brush-tailed rock-wallaby, with a current estimated population of 500 wallabies across Odonata’s sanctuary network (just 50 remain in the wild).
When reflecting upon a role that has spanned more than two decades, Annette’s highlights include rescuing southern brush-tailed rock-wallabies during the 2019–20 Black Summer bushfires; reintroducing quolls and bandicoots with the Eastern Maar at Tiverton; being part of the team returning bush stone-curlews to Phillip Island for the first time in 50 years; and partnering with Tjaltjraak Rangers to monitor the Gilbert’s potoroo on Middle Island.
And whilst these highlights make for a solid list of accomplishments, it’s the volunteers and staff who spent many a day and late night working alongside Annette in the field, the Mt Rothwell Christmas parties, the daily midday ritual of staff and volunteers coming together for lunch, and all those small moments that will always be treasured.
On behalf of the team and volunteers at Odonata, we wish Annette all the very best as she embarks on her next wild adventure alongside our founder, Nigel Sharp, as they explore a new project in the Brisbane Ranges. Who knows, maybe it’ll become part of the Odonata story too…
But for now, we look forward to following along as new ground is broken in landscape-scale species recovery.
Thank you, Annette, for your remarkable service, may we continue to do you proud.
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