My grandfather once lived at a place called Tawonga South, near the base of Mount Beauty in the high country. We'd drive up from Melbourne on a Friday to eat a parma and chips at the Bogong Hotel, named after the infamous Bogong Moth. The moth is well known in those parts for its mass migration each spring, intimately timed with the Mountain Pygmy-possum rising from its wintry slumber to feast upon these nutrient dense mouthfuls. While the moth used to migrate from up north in the billions, there has been significant decline in recent years meaning both the moth, and the possum, are now endangered. What would it mean for the high country to lose these creatures permanently? How would it impact the ecosystem?
Last weekend I was hiking a few mountains over at Mount Buller, Taungurung Country. As I pulled open the door to our apartment one morning I noticed a nondescript brown moth in the doorframe. It was a singular Bogong Moth. I cupped it in my palm, took it outside. The mousy fur on its head ruffled softly in the breeze. I held my hand up to the light and it flew away.
Other things…
This is the walk we went on last weekend. It was pouring with rain and before we were far from the village K said, ‘Let’s give it another ten minutes.’ We ended up walking for another few hours and were soaked to the bone. We saw a snake coiled up by the side of the path in a moment of sunshine, and a storm: lightning and thunder cracked in the distance.
This fortnight I read Claire Keegan’s novella Small Things Like These, a tiny, quiet read that packs a punch. The story follows coal merchant Bill Furlong in the lead up to Christmas. It’s 1985 in a small Irish town. Through a small series of events including a coal delivery to the local convent, Bill’s own personal story begins to confront him with some moral choices.
Tonight I finished a five day intensive Nature Writing class with Inga Simpson. It was a whirlwind, having booked it many months ago and not properly anticipating my schedule at this time of year, but even skimming the surface taught me a great deal. I even surprised myself managing to write quite a bit under pressure. I’ll be sure to refer to the content again and again in the coming months. Kim Mahood’s Position Doubtful is one of the books that was discussed during the course and I immediately added it to my ‘to read’ list.
If you do happen to stumble across a Bogong Moth, please consider doing your bit and registering it via Moth Tracker.
Other than that, a flat out few weeks here. Next fortnight I intend to share my top five books of 2023, and some plans for 2024…
Until then, travel light - and (mental note to self) feel free to refer to these two words while you’re doing your Christmas shopping.
L x
Oooo I love a bogong moth. I’ve seem more of them again this year and crossing my fingers for the migrations we used to have where they beat their wings on our windows in a symphony of flight. 💛💛