The ‘Caught on Camera’ project in Bunyip State Park and Kurth Kiln Regional Park is carried out by Victoria National Park Association ‘Nature Watch’, Parks Victoria and Friends of Bunyip State Park.
At the Nature Watch Community Day on 6 August 2016 at the Gembrook Fire Station Ian Vaskess from the Friends of Bunyip State Park welcomed everyone and introduced the presenters:
Christine Connelly, Victorian National Parks Nature Watch Coordinator, spoke about Victoria National Parks Association and about the ‘Caught on Camera’ project and the new Song-Meter feature just added to it. Jack Dinkgreave, Chief Ranger Parks Victoria Gembrook, spoke about ‘Bunyip State Park and Parks Victoria's role in the project and some of the benefits. Slide shows and videos helped to visualise these activities in the bush.
A delicious morning tea and fingerfood lunch added to the enjoyment of the large crowd.
After lunch the visitors broke up into four groups and went to separate bush locations to watch the installation of the monitors on site.
Sunday 14 April was the day for the 2013 festival. Rain had been forecast but, even to our surprise, the sun came out and appart for a little occasional drizzle the rain held off until about 4:30pm, when some of our stalwards got wet stowing the gear away. It was a good day, with some 400 people attanding.
The Cardinia Landcare group brought their horses and the colouful coach and gave rides to the kids all day long. Thanks Henriettë for organising it. Cordoning off the area where the coach robbery took place made it a safer and more enjoyable event (except perhaps for the poor coachdriver and guard, who got manhandled and robbed to the delight of the onlookers. But of course the constables saved the day! The electricity generator broke down after lunch and made things a bit hectic for the Red Cross Food Tent and the blacksmith, who ran out of puff for his forge. But all in all, it was a good day.
The Friends of Kurth Kiln thank all participants of the festival, the dignitaries, the groups, the volunteers, the visitors, for their willingness and the time and effort given to make the 2013 festival a success. Special thank-yous to the Mayor of Cardinia, Cr Brett Owen for officiating at the Official Opening of the Festival and to Jacqui Rutten for her beautiful rendition of "Amazing Grace" and to Ian Vaskes and his Blue-Grass Band. It really provided the festive atmosphere. Our 2013 Heritage Festival was supported with a generous grant from the Cardinia Shire Council. The Festival is one of our major contribution to promote greater public awareness of the unique Cultural Heritage of the Kurth Kiln site in the Cardinia Shire. Here is a series of snapshots of the event.