VHS Calendar

The VHS hold 3 meetings and a number of other events each year. Our next meeting will be:

ROY PAILS Presents

In (Your) My Backyard.

The Life and Times of Roy Pails - Part: 1

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THIS WEB PAGE FOR DETAILS OF TALKS ETC.

NOTE NEW MEETING DAY AND VENUE

After suggestions by many members and confirmation of our own thoughts, it was decided to look for another meeting venue, more central to the majority of our members and on an evening which had proved to be acceptable in the past. This is on a trial period and we can always revert back to Clayton/Friday if this does not prove to be successful. Naturally, we are going to have some members who automatically disapprove but would ask everyone to take an overall view in the general interest of the majority of members. In changes such as this it is impossible to please everyone. We look forward to your support.

The Venue: The Prahran R.S.L sub branch is at 301 High Street Prahran. Stonnington Council occupies the downstairs area and the R.S.L the upstairs where the meetings will be held. Access is at the High Street main entrance and a VHS sign will direct you to the stairs. Once on the first floor, there is a bar area to the right and our meeting area to the left. Mens toilets are between floors and the ladies are on the top floor. Being an older style building, there are no ‘special' access provisions to the first floor. If anyone needs help in this way, please contact one of the committee members.

The remaining area is available for our meetings. 80 people can be catered for and seating will be arranged in a more informal manner than in a lecture theatre set up. We hope that this will provide a more social atmosphere. Non alcoholic beverages and food may be consumed in this meeting area, alcohol in the bar area only – this will be strictly adhered to. From the expectations of both the RSL and the VHS, proper conduct will be expected and any misconduct associated with alcohol will not be tolerated. All visiting members will have to be signed in.

Parking: There is minimal off street parking but we have visited the area on a Wednesday evening to size up the situation. There are about 12 parking spots in the parking area besides the premises. Part of this will be taken up by the committee etc and those involved with setting the meeting up.

Immediately outside of the venue in High Street, no parking is available to the west of the building and to the east of the building it is no parking ‘tow away area' until 7.00pm. We have moved the starting time of our meeting to allow for this.

If you arrive shortly after 7.00pm you should have plenty of ‘first in' car parking on the RSL side of High Street. If you arrive before 7.00pm, the side streets east of the RSL on the same side and High Street and side streets on the other side of the road should also allow for ample parking. Parking within a short distance will not be a problem.

Soft drinks will be supplied free of charge with the pizzas and coffee will be made available throughout the evening.

Phone contact: For more information on the new venue or the upcoming meeting, use our hotline to make direct contact. Brian Barnett 0413 867 905 This is the meeting hotline only, don't use it for general inquiries.

Ryan is new to Victoria, having lived all his life in Queensland, spending his last 7 years working at Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast. He is now employed as a senior reptile keeper by Zoos Victoria at Melbourne Zoo. Ryan will talk about his experiences in the different styles of keeping he experienced between these two institutions. The contrasts between the two climates has forced him to be much more mindful of establishing particular micro-climates for indoor exhibits where outside environmental factors can vary so greatly. Australia Zoo had Ryan out in the field on conservation properties and on croc research regularly.

He also recently conducted a survey in the Southern Mekong Delta in Vietnam which may interest members. Some of the observations of reptiles in the trade were quite alarming and unexpected. Ryan will talk about some of his findings on the survey and in the trade as it is very different to what we experience here

Heath & Kwai are both keen naturalists, who have been keeping captive reptiles for more than 15 years. Kwai is a Keeper at Werribee Open Range Zoo, with a particular interest in native herpetofauna and fish. Heath has a degree in zoology, with a particular leaning towards the ecology of elapid snakes.

Heath and Kwai will present a photographic record of their multiple herp trips across the northern half of Australia, from the arid red centre, to the tropical savannahs of the Kimberley, and the lush vine forests of Cape York Peninsula, as they search for iconic and rare species such as Pilbara Rock Monitors, Death Adders and Green Pythons. They will provide an insight into the reptiles, amphibians and other wildlife of the north, and the diverse habitats that they occupy.

Slitherin Racks and Cages have kindly increased their offer to V.H.S members to 10% off their cages and racks!