WMSSA Events and Activities

The WMSSA holds and contributes to a number of events including public meetings, workshops and conferences. The Society also undertakes other activities aimed at raising awareness of weeds, their impacts and best practice management and behaviours. This page provides details for the following activities:

• Public Meetings
• Workshops
• Conferences
• Other Activities

Public Meetings

Public meetings are held approximately every two months in Adelaide at various venues. The meetings are free of charge and are open to all members of the public. Members of the WMSSA are informed of public meetings via an email network and the Society's newsletter WeedWise. If you would to suggest a discussion topic for a public meeting or would like to make a presentation, please email us at info@wmssa.org.au

Next Public Meeting

To Be Advised

Past Public Meetings

The Society has been fortunate enough to have had local, national and international experts deliver interesting and informative presentations at public meetings. Topics have included:

• Early detection systems for weeds
• The community perspective on environmental weed management
• Climate change in natural and agricultural systems: What might it mean for weeds?
• Stories from Europe - New directions in weed management
• Management of Opuntia species and Wheel Cactus
• Plants, weeds and cultural change - the environment and introduced plants since Roman times
• Adelaide’s Botanic Gardens - plant collections, current research and weed issues
• California and southern Australia: similar climates but why different weed problems?
• Aquatic weeds and their impact
• Computer assisted weed management - computer modelling of weed invasions in South Australia
• The future of Regional Weed Management in South Australia
• Fire for weed and native vegetation management
• Significant parasitic weeds - a focus on Orobanche ramosa
• World developments in spray application technology
• New techniques to control weeds - current research at Roseworthy
• Control of plant invasions: win (a few), lose (many) and draw (a lot more)
• The threat of new weeds
• Weeds for sale - how to solve the problem of invasive garden plants
• Herbicide resistant crops - the risks and benefits
• Australian natives as weeds!
• Successes and failures against weeds
• Biocontrol - What's new?

Workshops

Perennial Grass Weeds Workshop

In February 2004, the WMSSA hosted its first workshop at the Waite Institute. The South Australian Perennial Grass Weeds Workshop was a great success with over 140 attendees. A diverse range of issues were discussed and there was lively debate amongst particpants. A summary of the workshop was published in March 2004 edition of WeedWise. The workshop papers also were published as a special issue of Plant Protection Quarterly.

Conferences

1st SA Weeds Conference

WMSSA hosted the 1st SA Weeds Conference on 2-3 October 2008 at the Plant Research Centre, Waite Campus, Urrbrae. Over 100 delegates attanded and experienced a program that covered national, state and regional activities for a diverse weed audience. Presentations covered "big picture" strategy/policy, "detailed" research and "practical" on-ground management.  WMSSA intends to make the SA Weeds Conferences a regular event.

15th Australian Weeds Conference hosted by the WMSSA

WMSSA hosted the 15th Australian Weeds Conference at the Adelaide Convention Centre in September 2006. The theme of the conference was Managing Weeds in a Changing Climate and it provided the latest information to all weed professionals who are faced with change, whether it be a change in climate, investment, ecology, government, research, society or weed flora.

Copies of the Conference Proceedings are available as hardcopy or on CD from www.weedinfo.com.au

Other Activities

WMSSA Information Stalls at Garden Shows and Festivals

The WMSSA has always looked to promote weed awareness through stalls and information displays at various environment related public events. WMSSA members have been active participants at these events, helping set up and attend stalls at various environmental and garden expos and festivals.

WMSSA provides information on common garden plants with the potential to escape from cultivation, and recommends suitable alternative species that can be grown instead of the weedy species.

Stalls at these shows attract a number of interested people. Many are quite surprised that some of the plants that they might have in their garden are environmental weeds! Having displays at these sorts of events has raised awareness amongst Adelaide gardeners that not every plant is a friendly one and garden thugs continue to be planted to the detriment of our native bushland. Many thanks to everyone involved in organising and setting up the displays and the volunteers who help on the stalls and answer questions and provide advice to members of the public.

Return to Top