Northern Rivers, New South Wales, 23–28 September 2018

The XIVth Australian Bryophyte Workshop will be held between the 23rd until the 28th of September 2018. The workshop will be based in the picturesque Northern Rivers region of the New South Wales (NSW) and a number of sites and ecosystems within the former Big Scrub area will be available for collecting. The area is in the Macleay–McPherson Overlap where temperate and tropical species converge, so the bryophyte flora is exceedingly rich and interesting.

Reverend William Walter Watts (1856–1920) was one of New South Wales’s greatest authorities on bryophytes. He collected prodigiously while he was based at Ballina in northern NSW as minister at the Presbyterian Church (1896-1903) and collected over 4000 bryophyte specimens. The workshop will commemorate Watts’ pioneering spirit since it is almost a century since his passing.

Workshop accommodation

Accommodation will be in shared facilities at Dorroughby Environmental Education Centre (DEEC), which is conveniently located in proximity to a number of National Parks, approximately 20 minutes north-east of Lismore. The DEEC provides shared dormitory facilities with camping areas also available. Each dormitory sleeps 18.

Field trips and collecting

There will be daily field trips to a variety of ecosystems, including remnants of the Big Scrub (lowland subtropical rainforest) and wet and dry sclerophyll forest. Proposed collecting sites will include Nightcap Ranges NP, Mount Jerusalem NP, Border Ranges, Mooball NP, Mebbin NP, Whian Whian State Conservation Area and possibly Wollumbin NP.

Arrival and departure

Rex has direct flights into Lismore from Sydney otherwise several airlines also fly into nearby Ballina. All major airlines fly into the Gold Coast or Brisbane airports from most Australian capital cities. Jetstar has direct flights from Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland. Transport to Dorroughby can be organised for those arriving at the Gold Coast airport but there will be limited seats available. Departure will be from Gold Coast airport on the afternoon of Sunday 23 September. The return to the Gold Coast airport will be on Friday 28th September, arriving about 11 am.

Registration fee

The registration cost is AU$480 which includes accommodation and meals at DEEC and minibus transport during the workshop. The Australian Bryophyte Group provides a discount on the registration fee to a select number of students who wish to attend the workshop. To be eligible you will need to give proof of your enrollment and a presentation of your research, either as a poster or as a talk. To apply please contact Andrew (andrew@oberonia.com.au).

How to register

Please contact Andrew Franks (andrew@oberonia.com.au) for a registration form or for further information.