Camp Out on the Mount 2018 (minus the camp out)
Posted on 30 May, 2018 by Asha
Success! After one and a half Camp Outs cancelled due to severe weather warnings, we were at last able to run most of the activities we had planned on Saturday 12 May.
It was a chilly day, but a warm fire provided by Parks Victoria created a cozy space to gather. Early birds Duncan and Frances were up on the mount before anyone else making sure the kettle was going and we had hot drinks available all day long.
We kicked off the day with a nature walk with Connecting Country’s Bonnie Humphreys. Before even leaving the campground, we were lucky to see both Scarlet and Flame Robins enjoying the sun that peeked through the clouds. We came back in time to listen to George Milford’s famous talk on the history of Mount Alexander.
MP Maree Edwards then launched the new Camp Out on the Mount 2018 t-shirt with Nick and Murray from Castlemaine Secondary College, who designed the t-shirts with fellow students Nioka and Des. There are a limited number of free Camp Out on the Mount 2018 t-shirts left in sizes XS, L, and XL. If you would like one, please email asha@connectingcountry.org.au or drop into our office.
Next up was something a little different from the Little Habitat Heroes and the Macapellas. After treating us to their rendition of Eva Popov’s ‘Seeds that grow’ (song written about the Little Habitat Heroes revegetation project on Leanganook) they invited everyone to join in singing around the campfire.
Our afternoon activities were a wildlife display by TZR Reptiles and Wildlife, and a Leanganook Scavenger Hunt run by Nioka, Nick, and Murray. The wildlife display went down a treat, with the Carpet Python and Barn Owl being special favourites (as you can see from the smiles in the photos below!) The scavenger hunt was challenging and fun, with bonus points for those who came up with a name for their Landcare Superhero Team!
As a perfect finish to the day, the Mellick-Cooper family set up a damper making station and got everyone cooking damper over the coals, which were now glowing and ideal for this purpose.
So many people helped make this event possible, we almost need a whole other blog post dedicated to thank yous! We have many community groups and individuals to thank for making the 2018 Camp Out happen, both on the day and behind the scenes, including the Camp Out Advisory Group, Harcourt Valley Landcare, Little Habitat Heroes, MP Maree Edwards, the Mellick-Cooper family, Parks Victoria, Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests, Nalderun Upper Loddon Group, Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation, Castlemaine Secondary College students (Nioka, Nick, Murray, and Des), Harcourt Lions Club, Tarrangower Cactus Control Group, TZR Reptiles and Wildlife, the Connecting Country team, and all those who stepped up to help out on the day.
Scroll through to enjoy a gallery of photos from the day.
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Early morning sun at Leanganook Campground (Photo by Tegan Benham-Bannon)
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Flame Robin enjoying some morning sun (Photo by Bonnie Humphreys)
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Action shot of a Scarlet Robin in one of the trees near the camp fire (Photo by Bonnie Humphreys)
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George Mileford’s heritage talk (Photo by Asha Bannon)
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Nick and Murray launching the new Camp Out t-shirt with Maree Edwards (Photo by Bonnie Humphreys)
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Nick and Murray launching the new Camp Out t-shirt with Maree Edwards (Photo by Bonnie Humphreys)
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New Camp Out on the Mount t-shirt!
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Singing “Seeds that grow” (Photo by Asha Bannon)
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Some of the Little Habitat Heroes (Photo from Jodi Newcombe)
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Chris from TZR Reptiles and Wildlife (Photo by Bonnie Humphreys)
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This splendid Barn Owl was a highlight of the wildlife display (Photo by Bonnie Humphreys)
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Another favourite: the Carpet Python! (Photo by Bonnie Humphreys)
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Python fun (Photo by Frances Howe)
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Nothing like a snake to put a smile on your face (Photo by Noel Muller)
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Castlemaine Secondary Students Nioka, Murray, and Nick running their scavenger hunt (Photo by Asha Bannon)
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Castlemaine Secondary Students Nioka, Murray, and Nick running their scavenger hunt (Photo by Asha Bannon)
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Damper making station organised by the Mellick-Coopers (Photo by Noel Muller)
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Cooking damper on the campfire (Photo by Bonnie Huphreys)
This year’s Camp Out on the Mount is supported by funding through the Victorian Landcare Program. Our nature walk was supported by DELWP’s Biodiversity On Ground Action (BOGA) program.
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