Bulletin #09 29 August 2025

Presidential Ponderings

Good to see some old faces in the crowd - and what a crowd! 

Did you know that today is the anniversary of;

• the election of
• Russia launched its first atomic bomb; and 
• the Beatles giving their last public concert

Guest Speaker - Estee Voster Polyphagous Shot-Hole Borer (PSHB)

Estee is Community and Stakeholder Engagement Officer with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).

Estee has been working for DPIRD for over 4 years and has been involved in the PSHB project for close to 2 years, from doing fieldwork surveillance within the response to now directly engaging within the WA community on increasing PSHB awareness. She has a Conservation and Wildlife Biology degree and is very passionate about Biosecurity and keeping Western Australia's unique native species safe. PSHB, or Polyphagous Shot Hole

Borer, is an ambrosia beetle originating from Southeast Asia, first detected in East Fremantle, WA. The most likely origin of PSHB in WA is through ports via undeclared or untreated imported wood.

The female creates new colonies by boring into a tree and laying about 50 eggs, completing her life cycle within 20 to 30 days and reproducing with her male offspring. PSHB carries fusarium fungus spores which it plants in the galleries it bores. This fungus grows through the tree's transport networks, blocking water and nutrient movement, causing dieback and often tree death within a couple of years, especially in susceptible hosts.

Research and field observations show box elder maple, robinias, and coral trees are most affected. Native species are less affected unless located in waterways or swamps. The infestation threatens WA's urban canopy cover, wildlife habitat (as mature trees are needed for nesting and hollows), and agricultural industries, including fruit trees, avocados, and citrus.

Identification involves looking for specific signs and symptoms. The primary indicator is small, perfectly circular shot holes, exactly one millimetre in diameter, often clustered together, giving a "shot hole" appearance. Other signs include sawdust noodles (fine dust pushed out by the beetle), which are best seen in calm weather around the base of trees, in spider webs, or along branches. Staining, lesions, and gumming (e.g., a "sugar volcano" on avocados) are also indicators, as the tree attempts to push out invasive beetles or pathogens.

Magnifying cards with rulers and flyers with QR codes are provided to the community to aid identification and direct them to resources. My Pest Guide, an "awesome resource" from DPIRD, is a group of entomologists and plant pathologists in WA that provides expert identification and tracking. Community members can send photos of suspicious findings for identification.

Response to PSHB

August 2021 - June 2025:

• DPIRD led the nationally coordinated eradication response.
• Included intensive trapping, surveillance, monitoring and public information programs, and the treatment of infested plants.
• Largest biosecurity response in WA history.

July 2025:

• In June, the National Management Group (NMG) determined that eradication was no longer technically feasible. The decision considered the latest scientific data and advice from plant biosecurity experts.
• Key factors in this decision included the difficulty in early detection, control before reproduction and the lack of proven effective chemical treatments.
• A national Transition to Management (T2M) plan is now being developed, which will run
• for 18 months.

A quarantine area (QA zone) is established in Perth to protect WA's southwest (an ideal environment for PSHB) and other states, particularly eastern states with rainforests. This measure restricts the movement of materials. The response will shift to long-term management, with a major update on the future management plan expected in September this year. Chipping and hot composting are currently the only highly effective treatments for PSHB. PSHB activity is monitored at all green waste sites, with specific sites approved for public use, providing mulch that has been treated and hot composted.

 Over $2 million is allocated to univesities (Curtin, UWA and Murdoch) for research into novel control and surveillance techniques.

Additionally, money is now being directed towards tree recovery.

Community responsibility is emphasised to prevent to prevent human-mediated spread, which is a major factor in the beetle's movement. For example, when using wood for fire stoves, treated wood should be purchased from reputable sources like Bunnings, rather than moving untreated wood from one's backyard. Stakes and treated firewood are not considered infested material.

Estee thanked members for the invitation to address the club. From the number of thoughtful questions from the floor, she commented that it is evident Rotary members care deeply for the community and environment. A PDF version of Estee’s presentation can be viewed at:  millpointrotaryclub.org.au>members only (password)> this link>Guest Speaker Presentations>VORSTER Estee – PSHB Response

Directors' Reports and Member Announcements
P1 : Past member Peter Craig passed away this week. Peter joined Mill Point in 1995 and was an active member raising more than $1/4m through his corporate Golf day for many years. Peter was a successful sportsman playing AFL in Adelaide then becoming an umpire. Our condolences to Denny Craig and family. Small family-only funeral.

Kelly G : Treeplanting in the Helena Valley tomorrow - please contact Kelly on 0419 941 629 if you can help.

Owen : Guess Who Is Coming to Dinner? First call for hosts and guests - a hoot of a night with plenty of surprises! Attendance sheet coming round and see more information by scrolling down to 'Events'.

Brian J : Club Forum on 26 September please complete the member survey which will be sent to you shortly and attend the forum so we can continue improving our meetings, pass accounts and communicate our strategic plan for 2025-2026

Garrick : Youth Service committee meeting this morning at 8.30am following breakfast

Gerry : Linen service project volunteers wanted to help load the container going to Melbourne for further distribution. Please contact Gerry on 0438 642 738 if you can assist.

A Fine(s) Lady in Jenny McLean!

• P1 for his many gaffes (2nd week in a row)
• Wet Weather Wingers - anyone with an asset (building, vehicle, equipment that has NOT sprung a leak this week
• AS temperature dropped to 4.9 degrees this morning - anyone NOT wearing their thermals  this week
• Those ahead of the game who have discovered the physical and emotional benefit of having a wood-burning fire
• True to the Guiness book of records turning 70 this week - everyone who is 70+ and Guiness drinkers.
• Mark Horwood, Jenny Cook and Ian Walker - long lost faces at Rotary 

Winner of Heads and Tails

Lucky Rotarian John O'Sullivan won the wine after predicting 2 x tails, 2 x tails and 2 x heads - my doesn't he look happy!

Attendance

45 attendees in all, including guest speaker Estee Voster, visiting Rotarians Denise Menzies, past members Mark Horwood and Jenny Cook and visitors Melanie Kelsall, Shaun and Carol O'Brien.

We were pleasantly surprised by late-comers husband and wife Rotarians from India who presented P1 with their Rotary club flag and we presented them with ours!

Such is Rotary a big family where you are always welcomed no matter how late you are or where you are from.