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Turtons Creek was the focal point of local Threatened Species Day celebrations on 8 September, as the Gippsland Forest Guardians hosted an event at  Victoria Johnson and Stuart Inchley’s property to showcase conservation efforts around the area. 

The day was attended by thirty-five nature enthusiasts from across the state who came to admire Victoria and Stuart’s dedication to maintaining and preserving the natural habitat of their property.

The property, which is protected by a Trust for Nature covenant, is a sanctuary for 130 Slender-Tree Ferns, which are listed as critically endangered under Victoria’s  Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act. 

Visitors were treated to two guided walks, one across the top of the property and a muddy decline down into the gully to observe the rare and endangered fern. Victoria highlighted the promising signs of ecosystem restoration,  while outlining the difficulties of deterring pests such as foxes and feral cats.

Dr Libby Rumpff, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne in Ecosystems and Forest Science, delivered a compelling presentation on the devastating impact of the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires on biodiversity. She emphasised the urgent need to protect Gippsland’s ecosystem against future bushfires.

For those unable to attend, Dr Rumpff’s conversation and presentation will be released on the new Treehouse: Tarwin River Forest Podcast which you can find at  gippslandforestguardians.org.au or on Spotify.

The gathering not only marked Threatened Species Day, which commemorates the death of the last Tasmanian Tiger. but also highlighted the critical role of community efforts in preserving Victoria's unique flora and fauna for future generations.