Twice in the past week I have gone deep into volcanic Western
Victoria. I passed the Grampians and its rock formations, Harman
Valley at Byaduk, Mt Napier and Mt Elephant at Derrinallum.
Along with the dry stone walls that weave through the
countryside and the rocks that still litter the landscape, the
volcanic activity of the past is evident. Since my travels, an
earthquake at Korumburra in West Gippsland on Tuesday and a
perfectly timed conference in Melbourne, has seen the Western
District volcanoes in the news. Questions are being asked about
the likelihood of them erupting again. Speaking at the Congress
of Geodesy and Geophysics, University of Melbourne Professor
Bernie Joyce reminded us that the last volcanic eruption at Mt
Gambier was 5000 years ago, yet these volcanoes normally would
erupt every 2000 years. According to Professor Joyce we are
overdue and contingency plans should be made in readiness for a
possible eruption Back in 1902, similar issues were being
raised. It was a year not dissimilar t