Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture
Date: 15 Jun 2026 Author: Sarah Stitt
A fantastic turn out of onlookers were greeted by Jack Klem from the Molonglo Conservation Group and his team leader, Jeannine Fromholtz, the organisers of this season’s cool burn for the St Mark’s Grassland on the 23rd of May. The Rural Fire Service volunteers were there ready to assist if the fire needed containing. It transpired that the window for the burn was perfect. The previous week we had received rain, cooling the ground and adding moisture to the vegetation and air. Saturday was overcast, low wind, cool but pleasant.
Following some introductions, Ngunnawal Elders Uncle Wally Bell and Karen Denny, led the burn. Approximately 40 people attended to watch, learn and participate. An area of the Grassland had been prepared outlining where to burn and removing materials which would have caused the fire to burn too hot. The objective of the burn is to remove the thatch/biomass which smothers the native plants potentially preventing the mid to late Spring flowering and the production of seeds. The burn also assists with weed control. Since 2018 two burns have taken place. Following both these burns, approximately 18 months later, the Grassland flowering has been phenomenal.
On the edge, photo by volunteer Muhammad Fahri
Keeping the fire cool, photo by volunteer Muhammad Fahri
On the edge, photo by volunteer Muhammad Fahri
