Tags: reading, local books. Bribie Island. Brisbane.
Whilst the population and therefore the residential areas of Bribie Island have continued to expand over the decades, we are fortunate in that there is still a large percentage of the island which retains the beauty associated with the natural environment and along with that is the opportunity for residents and visitors to go for walks through the bushland in order to find out what the area holds.
With this in mind and possessing the necessary knowledge to do so, local resident Allan Carr has produced a very comprehensive field guide which can best be described as “the Who’s Who in the Native plant World of Bribie” and anyone who enjoys going for an excursion of discovery in the bush should probably not leave home without it. Allan Carr moved to our beautiful island fourteen years ago from North Queensland and prior to his relocation, had worked as a primary school teacher, a reading support teacher and an environmental education teacher.
Native Plant Field Guide author Allan Carr
The ten years prior to his retirement were spent as the Principal of Paluma Environmental Education Centre which is situated on the range between Townsville and Ingham. Allan was an active member of the Townsville branch of the Society for Growing Australian Plants and during his time in the North participated in many field trips with the society. Once in this part of the world, Allan became a member of Native Plants Caboolture which is a branch of Native Plants Queensland and he has spent countless hours in the bush, becoming familiar with the native plants of the area.
He told me that he was often accompanied on his local excursions by Wallum Action Group President John Ward before his untimely passing earlier this year. As a keen photographer, Allan has captured images of many plants during his excursions and some of his photographs have been published in the Native Plants Queensland quarterly journal. Allan’s book, “A FIELD GUIDE to NATIVE PLANTS of BRIBIE ISLAND and nearby coastal South East Queensland” is the product of ten years photography followed by three years of research and features 572 photographs which are accompanied by descriptions of 235 species. There 164 species which are found at Sandstone Point, Ningi, Godwin Beach and Beachmere as well as Toorbul and Donnybrook.
The book is published by Native Plants Caboolture and all proceeds from the sale go to that organisation. A copy of Allan’s book can be bought from the Bongaree Post Office, the Bribie Island Community Arts Centre or Native Plants Caboolture. Anyone who would like to enquire about the book or becoming a member of Native Plants Caboolture can call Edgar Askew on 3408 2048 or Allan Carr on 3408 7234.
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