DONE DINNER

For the SUMMERsolstice it is time to remember 

the end of past meals eaten on LONGERdays

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Nature Strip Constenation In The Burbs

A contested space in the Launceston burbs

On a verge somewhere in outer Launceston suburbia there is a story with a twist in its tail. The tellers of this story are few and within it there is this glimmer of hope.

The story goes that there is this woman who lives alone and that she has "issues in her life". One of these is her front verge. Its an issue that she's not kept to herself and its one, reportedly, that she has "maintained the rage" over for quite a long time – years in fact. 

Let's call her 'Miss Brown'! Well Miss Brown is of a certain age and she finds it difficult to maintain her little patch in the world in the way she wishes to become accustomed, as all kinds of people do. In order to achieve some perspective she has mentally stopped thinking about anything that's "not on her property".

This is the point where her 'verge', known in some circles as "the nature strip", becomes an all consuming issue. Why? Well it's at the edge of her world but its in that space beyond which she has drawn her line of responsibility and beyond which she has abdicated all responsibility. You see," it belongs to 'The Council' and they'll tell you so too ... and they can deal with it ... NO ... I'm not responsible in any way at all and that's that'. So here we go the battle lines are drawn and Miss Brown is a reasoning person.

Having established her position Miss Brown had no problem rationalising it because for all her working life she was a corporate secretary and she knew where and why lines of delineation get to be drawn and "deemed to be there and given the status of the operatives ... lines are not to be crossed". 

Lines drawn, Miss Brown calls 'The Council' to enlist its support in managing her corner of the world – namely by mowing their/her verge. "Council" here needs to be understood as that amorphous organisation to which one pays money for various services – verge mowing being one.

Clearly verge mowing is women's work!

Having navigated her way past the very helpful person on the reception desk at Council charged with keeping trivial matters away from those who 'deem things' in the cause good civil administration, she managed to get to speak to a functionary. Let's call this functionary Mr X. He explains to Miss Brown that 'the verge' is her problem  because she lives there. This starts a long community consultation process. Moreover there is a culture of verge mowing that people need to know about and participate in – and Mr X reminds her of all this.

Somewhat unhappy about the outcome of her phone call, and 'The Council's' apparent reluctance to assist her, or comprehend her problem, she attempts to speak to Ald. Y & Ald. G. It is only possible to leave a message on their mobiles and she is reluctant to do so. She did it once and for a plumber who'd done a poor job in the laundry and he never returned her call as he'd promised. So, speaking to an Alderman slips down the list on Miss Brown's list of promising strategies. 

Miss Brown does not have the Internet so she decides to write to 'The Council' setting out her concerns as clearly as she can in her neat and easily decipherable running print. She discovers if you do so, it takes time, and when you get a reply it comes after your letter has taken nearly two weeks, taking into accounts that it needs to be pondered over in regards to just who should respond. With only five working days in the average working week, and let's not think about the effective working hours per day ... things just take time.

These replies also typically take their time for two reasons. The first being it takes that long actually and the second being, when it does, the problem you are trying to solve often just goes away – typically that happens in three to five days depending upon what it is.

Clearly in the burbs lawn mowing is a
 casual activity, sexy and women's work!

Its a convention that Councils all over do not mow grassed footpaths and nature strips in front of private, commercial or industrial property, on the basis that owners and residents with civic pride undertake this activity as their contribution to the amenity of their residential precinct. Councils say that this allows them to direct our (ratepayer's!) resources to other services. It may be true.

Likewise, its a convention that Councils are committed to mowing nature strips and verges in front of residential properties only where the residents can claim genuine hardship based on medical evidence, financial constraints or for some other reason. This comes about due to the erroneous belief that lawn mowing is sexy. However, more to the point, the circumstantial evidence is heavily weighted to the contrary.

Typically, 'special case' applications need to be in writing and considered based on the provision of a medical certificate from a registered physician. This form must state that the applicant is unable to mow their nature strip area due to medical reasons. Otherwise, an application may be considered on the provision of a Statutory Declaration stating that the resident does not have the financial capacity to employ a contractor to perform the service, or alternatively, documentary support of their pensioner status, or advice that the topographical nature of their footpath prevents the applicants from mowing their(?) verge.

It's said to be rare but there are some known cases where "footpath profiles" are almost impossible to mow. So "Councillors With Special Authority" (CWSAs) get operational status to enter the scene and are granted 'delegated authority' to have some input into the  assessment processes.

Typically, CWSAs get involved in the periodical review of the regular nature strip mowing services. This is to  ensure 'special cases' remain eligible for their special service and to maintain the accuracy of Nature Strip Mowing Service (NSMS) records. In line with this, it appears that Councils require applications, including a medical certificate, to be updated and resubmitted during such reviews, typically annually. Usually in cases of confirmed permanent disability some latitude is recommended. Interestingly, in some local government areas applicants are allowed a two (2) month period to resubmit applications prior to any termination of services just in case the CWSAs get it wrong.

Sadly, very little of this has anything at all to do with effective management – or current scholarship to do with effective management. Rather it seems that it has a lot to do with rankism – and all too often, self serving rankism. The zaniness of all this is palpable.

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Apparently this is the bureaucratic background to 'nature strip mowing' nation wide. If it looks petty and silly its probably because it is. However, in some places these nature strips, verges if you like, are being reimagined and especially so in larger cities.

They are being imagined a 'community food farms', 'recreational zones', 'micro climate mitigators' and 'precinct definers'. They are in some places being imagined as assets rather than liabilities but there is enormous resistance to all this in some Councils because its a game changer for bureaucratic functionaries. It might even call for retraining or transfers to other departments more dependent upon deeming and subjective assessments and very convenient interpretations.

The very idea of a nature strip needs to be seriously questioned if its a concept that causes so much anxiety. If a planner thinks something somewhere remote from where her/his concept it to be enshrined in regulations, then it deserves to be revisited at the very least if 'the locals resist'.

Placescaping is to do with planning! Its the primary business of Councils and its something that needs to be done very close to home. Moreover, it must involve the people who live there as they are all experts in regard to their expectations and aspirations.

But back to Miss Brown and her/Council's verge. She has been subjected to every imaginable aspect of the bureaucratic confrontationalism known about in Christendom, and then some. Arguably, that is all there by design. Moreover, with purpose and time on her side Miss Brown has proven to be a worthy combatant in this protracted bureaucratic tussle.

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The graphic above gives some indication of the tussle that's been going on for years and years now. The lines in the sand have been deeply drawn and it might be said that recalcitrance can be assigned to both sides.  There are big lessons to be learnt here. The bureaucratic triviality that seems to be evident in the LCC v Brown battle of the verge needs to be turned around.

Things came to a head recently when Miss Brown, exasperated and highly agitated, called out for more help. Over the years she had engaged with Council, and many others too, time and time again to no avail. She'd been advised to think outside the box and set fire to her grass to get someones attention somewhere but she wouldn't, indeed couldn't, do that. She'd notified the Postal Workers Union about the dangers of snakes in the grass only to have the delivery of her mail threatened, withdrawn even. She'd enlisted the support of ratepayers' advocacy groups and apart from very limited advice they were unable, or unwilling, to offer 'the solution' she was seeking. So what now?

Miss Brown was advised to "phone the Mayor" but despite her feistiness it was not anything she wanted to do – or would do. Not to be deterred, her adviser emails him, the Mayor that is, to explain the situation, despite it being a Saturday. Hopefully by doing so it would be possible to withdraw from this fruitless and pointless competition of wills.

The story goes that the Mayor upon receipt of the email, presumably received on his iPHONE, he got out his mower and piled it into his car with his daughter and headed off to Miss Brown's to mow her dam nature strip.

In one fell swoop he cut through all the bureaucratic bulldust and sorted it out all by himself. Job done! He's set an example to duck-shoving bureaucrats all over not to mention recalcitrant verge-owners(?) alike. So its 11 out of 10 to the Mayor for 'Civic Innovation'! As for Miss Brown, well the jury is still out and it'll be getting back to us soonish.

So what's the takeaway here? Let's just hope that Miss Brown can be memorialised with placemaking installations on verges all over that are anything but boring mown grass. Let's have some 'food farms', 'street gardens', 'flower beds', community orchards', 'street forests', whatever. Perhaps in time there'll be regulations against 'boring grass'– especially those that require mowing –  and inspectors can then be assigned to ensure their removal.

GOOD ONE ALBERT!

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WANTED: oneARTcar

Launceston once had a POETRYcar that came out of the writing of Magenta Bliss' RAVO POEMS. It had a history and stories accumulated around it. Well that was then and now seems a good enough time to float the idea of a Tamar/Esk ARTcar.  Rather than imagining what such a car/ute/van/whatever might look like it is envisaged that once a car is found for the purpose then simply start work in a directed way.

There may be a GASguzzler out there, or an OLDholden or a BENTfalcon that nobody can see a future for except in the crusher. If there is, then maybe someone might like to give it up for ART. If so please email ponrabbel@7250.net

Launceston's LONGpoem Found

In the early 2000s Launceston achieved a feat, that so far as is known, has not been repeated or matched anywhere else in the Southern Hemisphere or maybe even the  world. The Launceston community came together to write the longest poem in the world. When the project came to an end the poem that had been growing aided by the Internet was printed out and handed to Launceston City Council. It has not been seen since!

Well in order to print it out back then nit was necessary to transfer the LONGpoem to a disc. That too disappeared from view but it has just be found. The PONRABBEL Steering Committee believe that  it may be relevant to not only reinstall it online in a less ephemeral format but perhaps grow it some.

In order for that to happen we need someone to facilitate the UPload to a BLOGGER site. If you can help here please email ponrabbel@7250.net

The Mercury [Hobart] Wednesday 7 July 1920

PONRABBEL II at work dredging the Tamar

THE DREDGER PONRABBEL TO LEAVE ENGLAND FOR LAUNCESTON.
  LAUNCESTON, July 6. 

This afternoon the Master Warden of the Launceston Marine Board (Mr. D. Storrer) received the following cablegram dated June 30 from Warden E. H. Ritchie, who proceeded to England some time ago to negotiate the completion of the contract for the dredger Ponrabbel II.

"Ponrabbel's trials satisfactory; insured for £90,000, on an average of 3½ per cent. Agreement made with the Pedder Company for taking her out. Returning by Orvieto."

It will be remebered that since Mr. Ritchie has been in England an adjustment of the purchase price has been made. On account of the influence of war conditions the price paid Messrs. Ferguson Bros., her builders, was £38,000.

It is estimated that the dredger will cost £16,000 or £17,000 more to deliver in Launceston.

Now that the trials of the Ponrabbel have proved satisfactory it is anticipated that she will leave the Clyde, where she was constructed, some time next month, and that it will take from eight to twelve weeks for her to make the trip, so that under these conditions she should arrive in the Tamar some time during November. The Orvieto was timed, to leave England on July 3 for Australia.

Passive Snake Handling: Ian Norton

Ian Norton 31 May 2014

My fifty plus years as a herpetologist working with snakes has taught me many lessons in life and deepened my respect for these remarkable creatures. This hypothesis that I now submit, results from a deep respect and many years of observing and managing snakes in Tasmania.

Initially, like many a young buck with a keen interest in natural history, I had an optimistic enthusiasm when it came to interacting with reptiles. When I look back, I'm surprised it took twenty-six years for me to get caught on the wrong end of a venomous snake, causing me to occupy a hospital bed and experience the wonderful cuisine that accompanies it. Though aware, I was none-the-less 'casual and relaxed' with my handling practices. My style when demonstrating snakes was fear based, reinforcing prejudice which as anyone realises validates persecution. This was the way in Australia for many years, demonising out of ignorance, to the public, the lethal capabilities rather than the unique personalities of snakes.

You can't generalise that all snake behaviour follows some sort of snake social norm. The reality is that there is and always will be exceptions to the rule. Snakes are individuals, and like all creatures on this planet, subject to the rules of nature. Just as I have days where my perception may be altered, snakes can also have off days and the secret is to be able to define or read the mood of the individual. It is always on their terms not ours as to how we engage in all instances. Like us, they should never be taken for granted.

'Free Handling' as often referred, is not a new phenomenon and has been practised throughout the ages in many cultures around the world. Australia is no exception. The rationale has been based on taming snakes, and I guess in loose terms this would appear to be the case. The assumption being that if you raise a snake from birth or handle it often it will become a pet. Let me say at the outset that I don't agree with this popular misconception.

Thirty-five years of professional snake management and observation sheds new light on the social interactions between snakes and us mortals. An important consideration is the individual personality of any given snake and its behaviour when sharing their space. Just like us, we will cross the road to avoid possible conflict or embarrassment. Snakes likewise will retreat to do similar. It is not in their nature to be aggressive; rather it's defence, resulting from an inherent fear of anything unfamiliar.

If we look at the physiological aspect of a snake (and I'm basing this premise on my knowledge of Tasmanian snakes only) the first consideration is their perspective of an approaching individual, be it man or beast. Movement will trigger a response, and this may be from quite a distance, remembering that a snake's focal capacity is limited to a few metres. Snakes hear only low frequency so airborne sounds are not interpreted or recognised. It all happens at ground level, meaning that we appear as animated giants. If we move we attract attention, however if we remain motionless we are just another inanimate object and attract casual attention that may even offer the convenience of shade on a sunny day.

So it is understandable that snakes will be inherently suspicious of something unfamiliar especially when that leads to persecution. Scientifically this can be corroborated by the findings of snakes on remote Bass Strait Islands. Take Chappell Island as an example. Over the ten years that I co-researched the snakes there with eminent herpetologist Dr T. D. Schwaner, we observed that the snakes were placid compared with mainland Tasmania, and were initially indifferent to our presence. Only when secured under a pinner would they respond defensively. Over the years that the population was sampled their attitude towards capture changed and they became timid when approached.

In another instance during my time at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, I received a call from a lady who lived on a rural property several kilometres away. On this occasion it was a call to see if I could relocate a resident snake, as the lady was certain that she would inadvertently run over it with her lawnmower. Being a reasonable distance to travel, I suggested that the next time she saw it out she should call me and try not to disturb it, offering the best chance of a successful relocation.

 

I was told that the snake was still out as she had just mown around it half an hour ago. Thinking that surely this would disturb the snake, I reiterated the previous statement, to call me next time it was out. She insisted that it was still there and quickly ran outside to verify the fact. Intrigue best describes my reason to respond to her call. On arrival to the property, my first observation was an old Labrador dog roaming the freshly manicured garden. I was greeted by the lady who directed me to a copperhead snake lying on a patch of un- mown lawn. At first I thought it was dead and perhaps mummified as the condition of the snake was a bit average; however nudging it with my foot quickly changed my point of view. It didn't attempt to escape, but rather turned its head towards me as much as to say “What the hell do you think you're doing?”

After securing the snake in a bag, I enquired as to how long this unusual relationship had been going on. She told me the snake had been there all summer and she had just mown around it on every occasion. It frequented several basking places around the yard, and when I asked about how the dog responded to it, she replied that they both treated each other with indifference. This single event sparked my interest in a new line of research, investigating the social behaviour of snakes.

Let me take you back thirty years where I had previously marvelled at what at the time I had interpreted as foolhardy. At the end of a day at the Museum doing a pit display, an eminent colleague of mine scooped up a dozen or more snakes in both arms and dumped them into a bag. At the time I thought that he must have a death wish, we are talking of a mixture of tiger and copperhead snakes.

Similarly in more contemporary times I also shied away from the practices of the late Steve Irwin thinking him irresponsible. The reality is, he was ahead of his time and had already arrived at a point in his professional development where he was able to read the moment and work within the boundaries of probability.

My 'Road to Damascus' experience happened years later and would prove to be a life changing experience. I had drawn assumptions out of ignorance, and always collated information from a negative perspective. Even my demonstrations and snake awareness programs vilified snakes and reinforced prejudice, not only in the community, but also in me. Snakes are potentially dangerous and deserve respect less they bite you. I neglected to take in the snake's perspective until like a bolt of lightning it dawned on me that the bite intent from a snake, though instinctive in the main, was a voluntary response largely driven by fear.

Looking at animals we interact with, malicious behaviour on their part can prompt a negative response. A dog may demonstrate unacceptable behaviour around children or a certain gender, typically this will cause alarm and we take steps to alleviate the possibility of adverse outcomes. When threatened, any living creature, whether man or beast, will respond accordingly. Snakes are no exception however they respond out of fear not malice.

So now that I have adopted an alternative approach, how do I prove I am right, and how do I change a community to my point of view without removing caution from the psyche of children who mimic what they see, without necessarily hearing the terms of engagement and the rules that must apply?

Previously in this narrative I have endeavoured to give examples of observed behaviour over several decades. Only approximately fifteen years ago, I made a conscious decision that I would change my behaviour to best demonstrate that snakes were entitled to a rethink on how we interact with them. I state again, this determination applies only to Tasmanian snakes; I cannot base any finding on any other species or subspecies in other states.

My observation of snakes confined in an enclosure approximately three metres square demonstrated a variety of predictable behaviours with both tigers and copperheads. While long held veterans of the pit responded with indifference, fresh snakes reacted fearfully and would posture at the slightest movement to demonstrate their fear. Remember this is typical of how any snake in the wild would respond when feeling threatened. While they retreat to the corners of the pit and try to hide under other snakes, the veteran snakes explore their surrounds and pay casual attention to anyone in their space.

A typical day starts with a variety of snakes being released into the enclosure and allowed approximately 15-20 minutes to settle before any human entry into the pit. The environment is identified as the snakes' we are in their space and all future interactions from this moment on are entirely the snake's prerogative. It will soon become apparent which of the snakes accept you by their indifference to your presence in such close proximity.

Another behavioural observation is the level at which a snake will engage with you. We always have a stool in the pit to avoid having to stand all day. Often the veterans would engage with us by crawling up the stool and exploring the occupier. In these circumstances often the snake will derive an advantage of stealing warmth, and settle on the lap of the person on the stool. On other occasions the snake may simply explore this warm animated object by crawling over the object of interest. There has never been demonstrated aggression, and curiosity satisfied, the snake returns to the ground and continues exploring its surrounds.

In most cases the veterans are the ones we select to demonstrate the newly discovered personality of snakes. Once in the enclosure, it becomes very clear which snakes are comfortable with you in their space, by simply walking amongst them and stepping over them without any adverse response says a lot. Posturing is an indicator that a snake experiences discomfort with your presence. The snakes that do engage are the ones that we identify as 'passive'. This is a term we use when demonstrating that best describes our philosophic approach to snake and human interaction.

A passive snake can be held by simply supporting it with both hands and gently lifting it off the ground while allowing it to do its own thing. As a precaution we will always mask any odour emanating from our hands and forearms with disinfectant gel. This will ensure an unfamiliar scent that can also precondition the animal to being handled and disguise any possible scent that may be associated with prey. Snakes soon identify with the masking agent, and will be relaxed when handled. So it begs the question, are these snakes tame? Not necessarily, they are however conditioned, and this is achieved by the application of human kindness and empathy. Once a snake loses its fear response it will adopt indifference towards human involvement and demonstrate predictable behaviour patterns.

Approximately five years ago we had one of our lady snake wranglers take a bite to her lower leg by a persistent tiger snake that insisted on going up inside her right trouser leg. At the time it was more of an inconvenience than a threat, as it was one of our veteran snakes. Eventually after the last attempts a fang punctured her skin immediately triggering an emergency response, the result of which required a stay in hospital and anti-venom. Given all I have said, what went wrong? As it turned out we believe, human nature caused this incident as the female wrangler was experiencing her menstrual cycle. Given the refined taste/ smell capability, we believe this snake was attracted by the scent. Obviously sock protectors and the application of more antiseptic gel have been used to safeguard the old snake up the trouser leg routine.

So I submit this narrative in the hope that others with similar experiences will tell their story. Passive snake management is now part of the culture in Tasmania. Any animal, including us, will respond to taunting with instruments and experience fear. A soft hands on approach and human kindness changes the rules of engagement. There have been critics along the way, and I'm relieved to say that of those, the majority have had a change of heart after observing this practice in action. It is said that ignorance cannot be used as an excuse for our shortcomings; however the same can apply to those who refuse to open their minds to consider an alternative point of view.

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Ian Norton

Senior Executive Officer Reptile Rescue Incorporated. 

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REFERENCES & LINKS

• IAN NORTON: Personal Profile ... CLICK HERE
• IAN NORTON: Snake Handling Equipment ... CLICK HERE
• IAN NORTON: Social Snakes ... CLICK HERE