General News
20 August, 2024
Book to inspire park visitors
Students visiting the Kooyoora State Park will now have access to a free page-turning book that hopes to blossom their interest for the bushland.
The field guide titled Bush Colours hosts over 100 native wildflower species including photos, information on flowering seasons and how it’s used by the local Dja Dja Wurrung People.
The book, unveiled at the Tarnagulla Primary School last Thursday, was produced by the Friends of Kooyoora thanks to a Volunteering Innovation Fund grant from Parks Victoria.
Friends of Kooyoora convenor Michael Barkla said the newest resource will create a newfound appreciation for nature in the younger generations.
“We are trying to get children interested, because if you get children interested there is a reasonable chance you can get the parents interested as well,” he said.
“The children need an introduction to the bush and when they go out there, they can take their books and see how many plants they can find.
“This resource hopefully will inspire them to continue to learn about what’s in the bush and ask questions.”
The community group are co-protectors of the original park and provide a range of workshops, field guides and walk-and-talk activities for residents and visitors, with students visiting the state park with their school receiving the new book for free.
Mr Barkla said the open accessibility of information is important to generate continued appreciation and protection of Kooyoora.
“Giving [the book for] free to the children means everyone can go home with it and if they think it’s the best book they have ever had, it motivates the parents to take their kids into the bush,” he said.
“Kooyoora is a unique area, there are some plants here that are nowhere else in the world.
“We hope there is an ongoing effect — if they develop a basic interest that continues into secondary or tertiary education, when they talk about nature, they will know one of the best places in Victoria to look at nature.”