​

MABA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2024

​

Wednesday, 25 September 2024, 7.30–9.00 pm AEST
Scheduled Zoom meeting
https://anu.zoom.us/j/85659946100?pwd=rXGzbt2fbUeQuLYtJLSKGkszONsMwt.1
 

In addition to the ordinary Council business, Dr Cathy Byrne will give the following presentation. 
 

Evolution of the Australian Lepidoptera: survival in an arid continent
 

The evolution of the diverse Australian Lepidoptera fauna, from its early beginnings in a moist Gondwanan environment to thrive in a dry, mostly arid and isolated continent, has produced many unique elements, such as a high level of endemicity, interesting ‘basal’ lineages, and groups that are well-adapted to a dry environment. In this presentation I will talk about some of the novel ways, key adaptions and life history strategies that have led to the remarkable success of this diverse group of insects in Australia.

​

​

MABA ANNUAL EVENT 2025
 

 

The next MABA annual event will be held in Melbourne, Victoria over the weekend 28–30 March 2025. It will be held in the hall of The Field Naturalists Club of Victoria, 1 Gardenia Street, Blackburn, 3130 (www.fncv.org.au), which is close to the Blackburn railway station, about 17 km east of the Melbourne CBD. The event will include a field trip for light trapping for moths, series of talks including a keynote presentation by Dr Robert Hoare from Landcare Research New Zealand, a banquet dinner, and a moth workshop.

There will be four activities as follows.

Light trapping for moths: Friday, 28 March 2025, 7.00–10.30 pm AEST
This activity will be held at the Pound Bend Reserve, Warrandyte State Park. You can either drive directly to the main picnic/parking area and meet us at 7 pm or, if you need transport, meet at the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria (FNCV) hall, 1 Gardenia Street, Blackburn at 6 pm for a lift.

Talks and AGM: Saturday, 29 March 2025, 8.30 am–5.00 pm
This activity will be held in the FNCV hall, 1 Gardenia Street, Blackburn, VIC 3130. The hall is close to the Blackburn railway station (~2 mins walk). There is a carpark next to the hall that we can use. There will be opportunities to buy second handbooks on Lepidoptera at 50% discount from the MABA book collection.

Banquet dinner: Saturday, 29 March 2025, 5.30–9.30 pm
The annual dinner will be held at Enrik's Restaurant, 25 Railway Rd, Blackburn, which is about 5 mins walk from the FNCV hall. The cost for the dinner is $45 excluding drinks and sweets. The restaurant has a bar where you can purchase alcoholic beverages, tea/coffee, and deserts. You are welcome to bring a guest (partner/friend) for an additional cost of $55.

Moth workshop: Sunday, 30 March 2025, 9.30 am–12.00 pm
This activity will be held in the FNCV hall, Blackburn. It will involve a combination of processing moths (pinning and setting) and identification of moths to family level. The maximum number of people that can participate in this event is 24, although others are welcome to attend as observers/demonstrators.

Presentations. If you are planning on giving a presentation, please let us know the title of your talk and bring a copy of your talk on a USB stick so we can upload it to the FNCV computer. Make sure your talk does not exceed 20 mins, including questions.

Registrations. To attend this event, you must register by completing and submitting the online registration form here. We need to know the exact number of people attending each activity, including the dinner social function, for catering and insurance purposes. The hall can only hold up to 70 people and since members from the Entomological Society of Victoria and Invertebrate Group of the FNCV will be attending, it will be a matter of first in first served! The cost of the event is $35 only or $80 if wish to attend the event and banquet dinner function. Guests for the banquet dinner is $55. The registration fee will cover your meals (morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea) during the talks on Saturday and workshop on Sunday. Deadline for registration is 30 November 2024.

Registration forms are accessible here: https://form.jotform.com/241687337728873

Accommodation. There is accommodation at Nunawading Motor Inn, 245 Whitehorse Rd, Nunawading, VIC 3131. The motel is located approximately 1.4 km from the FNCV hall (~ 20 mins walk). Phone: +61 3 9877 6511. https://www.nunawadingmotorinn.com.au/

There are other options for accommodation along the Blackburn railway line closer to the Melbourne CBD.