Friends of Buchan Caves

2005

• July 30 – 31 : Buchan, install solar panel outside Federal Cave
• November 19 – 20 : Buchan, working bee and Annual General Meeting

Volunteers will be treated to a free barbeque held at 6PM on the Saturday of each working bee weekend, at Homeleigh. Meat and salads provided; bring your own drinks. Please let someone on the committee know if you are coming so that adequate catering arrangements can be made.

2005 Letters to members

Letter posted to members, 10th October 2005

FRIENDS OF BUCHAN CAVES NEWS LETTER

G’Day Friends

Thanks to our technical expert Peter Robertson, the many willing Friends workers, and Parks Victoria encouragement, the Friends of Buchan Caves have led the Cave Reserve into the renewable energy field.

On July 31st 2005 Federal Cave became the first tourist cave in Australia, perhaps one of the few in the world, to have solar powered lighting.

The Potholes and Wilson’s reserve signs have been printed and delivered to Parks. Except for a small problem with the glass sizes the Potholes sign would have been installed at the same working bee as the Federal solar panel.

Our next working bee and AGM will be on November 19 & 20th 2005.

The planned jobs are – Finish the Potholes sign, this will involve painting the sign kiosk and tidying up the surrounding area. Depending on the availability of Friends we hope to build the Wilson’s sign frame and install the sign ready for the Christmas holidays. The donation boards in Royal and Fairy also need work. Hey! Have a trip through Federal cave, and put forward your ideas on how we continue with the Federal project. For the hard core underground team we need to continue with the search for the 2nd way into Federal.

The AGM will be held in the Front lounge room at Homeleigh, and as usual there will be a free BBQ before the AGM also at Homeleigh.

Times: BBQ commence 6.30pm 19th BYOG. AGM commence 8pm 19th November.

If you normally camp in the reserve over our working bee weekends you can probably leave behind your tent next time. Parks have offered the currently vacant Park Managers house for free accommodation of Friends on working bee weekends. Just let Daryl (ph H 94571720) or Erica know a week before hand that you would like to stay in the house. That way keys can be sorted and the House warmed up.

We had a terrific turn up at our last working bee – hope to see you on the 19th. Please let Erica Baddeley (Ph H 9808 7248) know you will be turning up by Wednesday the 16th November – and nominate yourself for a connydttee position please.

Regards Committee of FOBC.

Letter posted to members, 1st June 2005

G’Day Friends

The year is flashing by too quickly. The next working bee is scheduled for July 30-31st 2005. This will be the first official working bee for the year. Not that the FOBC have been out of circulation at Buchan as the printing of the Potholes and Wilsons signs have been completed. The installation of the Potholes sign will be completed after a contractor provides an additional window on the sign kiosk.

The materials for the Wilson’s Cave sign kiosk have been ordered. The kiosk will be built by Parks Victoria.

Now with the July working bee we hope to have the go ahead to install a solar panel to power the low energy lights in Federal cave. We will need plenty of enthusiastic members to assist with pick and shovels as well as give advice. As usual a free BBQ will be provided on the Saturday night, BYO drinks.

Our AGM is programmed for 19th of November 2005. This will also be the date for our 2nd working bee for this year.

Please contact Erica or Glenn Baddeley on 9808 7248 by Wednesday 27th July to let them know you will be attending the July working bee.

Some of our hard working committee have requested a break, so now is the time for any member interested in filling the Vice President and Treasurer positions. Daryl won’t be around for 6 weeks or so during June-July 2005 (caving in the Northern Territory) so please contact Erica re these positions.

Regards and see you at the next working bee.

The committee