Calling all nature lovers: iNaturalist workshop Friday 6 October

Posted on 13 September, 2023 by Ivan

It’s here! We are excited to present our much-anticipated workshop on how to use and benefit from the iNaturalist biodiversity platform. As part of ‘The Buzz project: promoting pollinators of Central Victoria’, Connecting Country is hosting an iNaturalist workshop on Friday 6 October 2023 in Castlemaine, VIC. Local naturalist and Castlemaine Field Naturalist Club member Euan Moore will hold the workshop and will cover a range of skills including;

• How to set up an iNaturalist account and profile
• How to upload photos to iNaturalist 
• How to reach out to naturalists and scientists on iNaturalist to confirm, verify or identify your sightings

iNaturalist is a wonderful online platform that allows all curious citizen scientists to record sightings and identify all kinds of species including, insects, birds, mammals, reptiles, plants, sea life, coral, and fungi. Species that are identified and verified are added to a sweep of data that is collected and recorded not only on iNaturalist but also to the Atlas of Living Australia. Recording data is vital in conservation management. If we know what is out there then we can make the best decisions on how to restore and protect biodiversity across the country!

iNaturalist is a nonprofit social network of naturalists, citizen scientists, and biologists built on the concept of mapping and sharing observations of biodiversity.

Walking Together – Cultural Literacy

Posted on 11 September, 2023 by Ivan

Please enjoy this wonderful article from our friends and project partners at Nalderun. The article was written by Floria Maschek, an ally and member of Friends of Nalderun (FoN). Nalderun is a Dja Dja Wurrung word meaning “all together”.

Walking together – cultural literacy

I gaze across the historic Monster Meeting site by Forest Creek in Chewton, the view to the creek unbroken. Now a bumpy, grassy landscape, I imagine what was once likely a forest, once likely sheep trodden paddocks, and once a tortured ‘honeycombed’ ‘moonscape’. New plantings are growing along the water’s edge where it curves away. Many know this area as ‘upside down country’, a reference to the gold diggings. A digger’s flag flaps noisily in rainy gusts, marking a place and time, an important rebellion that shaped Australian democracy, a triumph …but this place speaks about more…

Here is a merging of histories, futures, the present; those of the First Peoples, the squatters, the digger’s, those after, here now and to come. Standing between the mountains I know as Liyanganuk Banyul, Dharrang Gauwa, Lalkambuk, Gurutjang, I’m conscious of a teaching as ancient as local volcanic rumblings. Country is always connected to all points of time. I wander and wonder in Djaara Country – Djandak.

A sign drew me here – wood, metal, laminate. ‘Womin-dji-ka’ is written in large, friendly lettering. Commonly interpreted as ‘welcome’, a more literal translation is ‘to come – (an instruction of) I am asking you to come – purpose’. Included are further words in Dja Dja Wurrung (‘Wurrung’ – speaking/language/ tongue). The new sign, with its old pictures and ancient words, is a sign of living culture and change. A QR code links me to a video of a traditional Welcome to Country.

This continent is home to more than 250 Traditional First Nations languages and about 800 dialects. Indigenous languages were banned, lost through many violent and systemic acts of colonisation. Increasingly traditional languages, knowledge and culture are embraced. First People are rediscovering and sharing their heritage. There are nuances to the term ‘literacy’. Cultural literacy means that we better understand beautiful and complex traditional systems, empowered by orality.

From story, song, local seasons, life cycles, soil, fire practices, to kinship, art, the reading of the stars and the spaces between…Everything can be read with diverse ways of knowing.

Ngunnawal, Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi artist and activist Lynnice Church says

‘Language is part of our songlines, stories, spirituality, law, culture, identity and connection. Language transfers important knowledge passed down from our Ancestors and Elders that guides us.’

Indigenous Literacy Day is on September 6th. When I first considered literacy as a topic, I felt uncomfortable for reasons not yet entirely clear to me. Discomfort had something to tell me. As I listened, it slowly dissolved.

I once heard Aunty Julie McHale give a teaching. Not just a story – as was made very clear by this much respected Elder. It had survived since little Lalkambuk was a fiery active volcano. Importantly, I learnt that teachings are told in a way that is relational to the listener. Everything I’ve learned about First Nations cultures shows they are deeply adaptive and relational. It is not without reason that they are the oldest continuous cultures on earth.

The QR code is a modern portal for sharing cultural traditions. New technologies are often embraced with ingenuity by First Peoples as they share in their cultural ways. I am learning about the complexities of language sharing at an interesting time.

First Nations communities can more freely explore and restore language and culture now, but this process of restoration is a sensitive, gradual one. Respect means we honour these processes by embracing First Peoples agency, listening carefully, particularly to local Elders. As respect grows, so too will our cultural literacy. As we better read and look after Country, it is better able to sustain all who walk here.

I am learning from First Nations educators, importantly Djaara. Special mention to Harley Dunnoly-Lee, Djaara Elders and non First Nations people living locally – Lynne Kelly and Vic Say.

To learn more:

Djaara – learn more about Dja Dja Wurrung, the Djaara and Djandak: Click Here

Boorp Boorp Boondyil

A permanent, award winning, interactive exhibition produced by Djaara Elder Uncle Rick Nelson continuing the legacy of his late father Elder Uncle Brien Nelson. Mount Alexander Shire Council, and SharingStories Foundation, Nalderun Education Aboriginal Corporation and St. Peters Primary School were essential partners. Castlemaine Visitor Centre.

Floria Maschek is an ally and member of Friends of Nalderun (FoN). FoN members are guided by Nalderun Education Aboriginal Corporation and are diverse individuals and representatives of many local community networks, supporting Nalderuns visions and work. Nalderun Education Aboriginal Corporation supports the Aboriginal Community and is led by Aboriginal people while providing many learning and cultural opportunities to the broader community. Nalderun is a Dja Dja Wurrung word meaning “all together”.

More information can be found at www.nalderun.net.au

Caring for old paddock trees: best practice

Posted on 11 September, 2023 by Ivan

Why protect paddock trees?

Paddock trees are often the oldest and most valuable habitat elements in agricultural landscapes. When paddock trees are cleared, it takes generations to replace the habitat they provided, including the insects and abundant nectar for birds and mammals, thick bark with cracks and crevices for microbats and small reptiles, and hollows for many significant species.

Paddock trees provide great habitat for travelling birds and wildlife between larger tracts of habitat. Photo: CC

Even standing dead trees, fallen branches and leaf litter offer valuable resources and should be retained wherever possible. Many paddock trees across our region are suffering die-back caused by old age, pests and disease, nutrient loading, soil compaction and lack of protection from intensive agricultural practices. These valuable giants are disappearing from our farming landscapes, often with no younger trees to replace them. However, we can take action to protect paddock trees to extend their life, and establish future generations.

How do we protect paddock trees?

• Fence off paddock trees from stock and machinery where possible, including space around them to promote natural regeneration.
• Incorporate existing paddock trees into revegetation plantings to improve the health of paddock trees and habitat value of revegetation.
• Leave dead paddock trees standing if possible – they contain cracks, crevices and hollows for wildlife such as microbats, and perching sites for birds of prey, parrots and water birds.
• Install stock-proof guards around young trees within paddocks if fencing is not feasible.
• Reduce grazing pressure: When native vegetation is browsed heavily, plants struggle to flower or set seed, and they have less habitat value. Grazing pressure also creates soil compaction and increased nutrient loads from manure.

A magnificent large Yellow Box (Eucalyptus melliodora) with young, successional trees growing in a fenced off area. Photo: CC

The importance of remnant vegetation

As most of our region was cleared for mining, timber and agriculture, any remaining native vegetation is extremely valuable for wildlife habitat and provides many on-farm benefits. Remnant vegetation is essentially indigenous plants growing in their natural environment. Protecting bush with lots of plant species and a complex structure is the highest priority. However, even a single large old tree, or a patch of native grasses or shrubs is worth protecting.

Revegetation is a valuable tool to increase species diversity, and expand or reconnect existing patches of bush to provide habitat for wildlife. However, the process of reestablishing high quality habitat in cleared areas is very labour-intensive and slow.

Large trees can take hundreds of years to grow and develop the tree hollows and create the fallen timber essential for many local wildlife species. Leaf litter can take decades to rebuild. Soil conditions in disturbed areas often favour weedy grass growth or inhibit growth of native plants, and some plant species are difficult to source or are unavailable.

Revegetation of degraded woodlands with understory plants. Photo: Gen Kay

Protecting what native vegetation is already there, and providing the conditions for it to regenerate naturally, is much cheaper and easier than re-establishing it from scratch. Eucalypts and other plants often self-seed, and if protected from grazing animals and weed competition, can start to establish. It is far easier to protect areas of seedlings with plant guards or fencing than investing in the planning, site preparation, planting, and ongoing maintenance of revegetation.

And finally……leave rocks, logs, branches and leaf litter

Leave logs on the ground to provide important resources for fungi, insects, reptiles, frogs, birds and small mammals. Clearing up rocks, logs, branches and leaves will exclude many woodland animals by removing the habitat elements they depend on. It will create a simple habitat and favour animals that are already common in our towns and farms, like magpies, cockatoos, rabbits, foxes and hares.

The gorgeous Spotted pardalote (Pardalotus punctatus) searching for insects in the leaf litter and dead branches. Photo: Geoff Park

We all want to protect our properties from bushfire.  However, make sure you check the latest research and guidelines on fire hazard reduction. Some historical practices are now considered ineffective for fire control but highly damaging for the environment. For example, removing leaf litter creates bare ground which often encourages weed growth, creating its own fire hazard. If you do need to remove logs and branches for safety or access, consider moving them to another location where they can continue to provide habitat.

This factsheet is part of a larger project called ‘Regenerate before it’s too late‘ that engages the community about the importance of old trees and how to protect them.  We are most grateful for the generous project support from the Ian & Shirley Norman Foundation .  The foundation aims ‘To encourage and support organisations that are capable of responding to social and ecological opportunities and challenges.’ To learn more about Ian & Shirley Norman Foundation – click here

Revegetation in a changing climate captures audience

Posted on 4 September, 2023 by Ivan

On Tuesday 1 August 2023, over 60 people gathered at the Castlemaine Anglican Church Community Hall to hear excellent presentations from a variety of guest speakers addressing how we can plan revegetation in a changing climate for best success.  The strong mid-week, mid-winter audience heard from Sasha Jellinek (University of Melbourne), Oli Moraes from DJAARA and Tess Grieves from the North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA). The evening was completed with a Q&A panel session to answer the audience’s questions and give reason for hope in the future. 

The overall learning and topics revolved around how we can use climate prediction modelling to consider future vegetation growth conditions and adapt current practices to future-proof our landscapes.

Lead guest speaker, Sasha Jellinek, covered where to find information on climate projections and future scenarios, as well as sourcing seeds from a mix of local and different bioregions, and how to make up this mix. Sasha is an experienced ecologist with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) focused on Ecology from the University of Melbourne and has worked across many fields.  He was involved in the production of Greening Australia’s ‘Establishing Victorias Ecological Infrastructure; A Guide to creating Climate Future Plots‘ which is a great resource for those embarking on this road.

Oli presented DJAARAs recently released Climate Change Strategy and talked about how we can approach revegetation projects using cultural knowledge and wisdom.  Tess provided a great overview of the NCCMAs climate resistance projects and how they have been incorporating climate change modelling into their project planning and implementation.

A highlight of the presentations was the passion, dedication and knowledge of all three guest speakers, and we thank them for sharing so that we can all start planning for future success.

The event was recorded by the wonderful Ally from Saltgrass Podcasts and is available here.

This event was part of a larger project called Future Proof our Forests, where Connecting Country has established Climate Future Plots to monitor the success (or otherwise) of revegetation sourced from a variety of climates.

We would like to thank the Ross Trust for their generous funding for this important project. The Ross Trust is a perpetual charitable trust with a vision to create positive social and environmental change so Victorians can thrive.

Learn more:

For more information on climate future plots, see:

https://www.greeningaustralia.org.au/climate-future-plots/

https://connectingcountry.org.au/what-is-a-climate-future-plot/

2023 National Tree Day: Community planting a huge success!

Posted on 14 August, 2023 by Hadley Cole

To celebrate 2023 National Tree Day, Connecting Country teamed up with Mount Alexander Shire Council, Mount Alexander Youth Advisory Group and the Post Office Hill Action Group to host a community planting day on Sunday 30 July 2023.

Community members had the opportunity to take local on-ground conservation action to protect and enhance biodiversity by planting indigenous plant species across sites at Post Office Hill Reserve in Chewton.

A recent Council survey found that the younger generations of our community are seeking opportunities to plant trees, make homes for wildlife and to undertake practical actions to address climate change. In response to this call for action, the community planting idea was conceived and the younger generations of our community came along in hordes to connect with nature and plant trees for generations to come.

Over seventy community members of all ages attended the event and enjoyed a range of activities from planting to badge making, colouring and bird walks.

Young Post Office Hill Action group member and budding bird watcher Tavish, teamed up with Jane Rusden from Birdlife Castlemaine to guide a bird walk for aspiring bird watchers. Youth Advisory group members, Thea, Billy, Lucia and Tanisha, set up a badge-making station to create badges promoting woodland birds of our region. The friendly Post Office Hill Action Group members worked enthusiastically to guide participants in the best planting practices for the site. It truly was a team effort!

Bird watchers taking a guided stroll with Tavish and Jane Rusden from Birdlife Castlemaine. 

The Connecting Country team greatly appreciate all the many hands that made light work out of a busy morning. A special thank you to Post Office Hill Action Group for hosting the event and for their commitment to protecting and restoring the Post Office Hill Reserve over many years. We know the plants planted on the day are in good hands and will be nurtured over the coming months.

Attendees reported that they enjoyed a wonderful morning out in nature, as well as the free lunch provided by Mount Alexander Shire Council.

This event was made possible due to the generous contribution from community members who supported our ‘Trees for the next generation’ GiveNow campaign throughout June and July 2023.  We know that our local community cares deeply about biodiversity conservation for future generations, but we were still blown away by the generous donations. A big THANK YOU to our generous members, supporters and the broader community who supported this event.

We look forward to doing it all over again in 2024! See you there.

Connecting Country staff welcome participants to Post Office Hill Reserve. Photo by Connecting Country.

A job well done! 300 indigenous plants find a new home. Photo by Connecting Country.

Reminder: ‘Revegetation Success in a Changing Climate’ event: Tuesday 1 August 2023 (8 tickets remaining)

Posted on 1 August, 2023 by Ivan

Connecting Country is excited to announce a special free upcoming event, ‘Revegetation Success in a Changing Climate’, on the evening of Tuesday 1 August 2023, at the Anglican Church Hall, Castlemaine VIC. The event will address how we plan revegetation in a changing climate and has been designed to support our community, land managers and Landcarers to have greater success in restoring our natural landscapes. We only have eight tickets left, so get in quick to avoid missing out!

The event will feature presentations from Sasha Jellinek (University of Melbourne), DJAARA and the North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA), and a Q&A panel session to finish. 

Join us to learn about how we can plan successful revegetation and restoration projects, using a combination of climate predictions and sourcing seeds from a variety of climatic zones, to future-proof our landscapes.

This event is part of a larger project, called Future Proof our Forests, where Connecting Country has established Climate Future Plots to monitor the success (or otherwise) of revegetation sourced from a variety of climates.

• Click here to book, tickets are limited, so get in quick.

Our very special guest speaker is Sasha Jellinek, an experienced ecologist with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) focused in Ecology from the University of Melbourne. Sasha has worked across many fields and was involved in the production of Greening Australia’s ‘Establishing Victorias Ecological Infrastructure; A Guide to creating Climate Future Plots‘. Sasha is currently a Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne, with skills in ecological resarch, wetlands, forest ecology, data analysis and restoration. He relishes collaborative ecological work, and is passionate about empowering communities to plan revegetation that will be more resilient in a changing climate.

We are also very lucky to have two further presentations from DJAARA and the NCCMA, who will both talk about how they are planning for climate change to ensure the greatest success in landscape management and restoration.

For catering and logistical purposes, please register your attendance – click here

• When: Tuesday 1 AUGUST 2023 6.30-8.30pm
• Where: Anglican Church Hall (at the rear of the Church), 8 Mostyn St, Castlemaine VIC

We would like to thank the Ross Trust for their generous funding for this important project. The Ross Trust is a perpetual charitable trust with a vision to create positive social and environmental change so Victorians can thrive.

Learn more about climate future plots

For more information on climate future plots, see:

• https://www.greeningaustralia.org.au/climate-future-plots/
• https://connectingcountry.org.au/what-is-a-climate-future-plot/

Bird of the month: Painted Button-quail

Posted on 18 July, 2023 by Ivan

Welcome to Bird of the month, a partnership between Connecting Country and BirdLife Castlemaine District. Each month we’re taking a close look at one special local bird species. We’re excited to join forces to deliver you a different bird each month, seasonally adjusted, and welcome suggestions from the community. We are blessed to have the brilliant Jane Rusden and Damian Kelly from BirdLife Castlemaine District writing about our next bird of the month, accompanied by their stunning photos.

Painted Button-quail (Turnix varius)

It’s always exciting to find side plate-sized, circular patches of bare dirt in amongst leaf litter, because in the Castlemaine region it can only mean one thing … quiet, cryptic and difficult to see Painted Button-quail. Recently I found these bare patches in the bush by my front gate, hidden in leaf litter under shrubs. These “platelets” of cleared ground are formed whilst the bird is foraging, by standing on one foot and rotating in a tight circle as they scratch the ground with the other foot. In NSW and Qld Black-breasted Button-quail also make platelets, making both species of Button-quail rather unusual. So what are Painted Button-quails searching the ground for? Their delicious dinner of course, which comprises of insects and their larvae, seeds, small fruits, berries and vegetation. So their diet is pretty broad.

A “platelet” made by Painted Button-quail while foraging. Photo by Jane Rusden

Dry open forest with sparse shrubs, and a ground cover of native grasses and dense leaf litter, in Muckleford Forest for example, is perfect habitat for Painted Button-quail. Being such a camouflaged species which tends to walk from cover to cover, historically it’s been difficult to accurately assess their numbers and distribution. However, using newly developed technology such as sound recording, motion-detecting and thermal camera, cryptic species such as the Painted Button-quail have become easier to monitor. Interestingly they have been found in a diverse range of habitats from dry ridges in moister forest, in coastal sand dunes and even forest edges where it abuts farmland. Curiously, Painted Button-quails will move into a newly burnt area after fire, but once the forest returns, they leave. This has been observed in the Otway Ranges and in Tasmania.

The female Painted Button-quail lays her eggs in a saucer-shaped hollow on the ground beneath some cover such as a tuft of grass, small bush or dry debris. She is Polyandrous and after laying 3-4 eggs and she moves on, makes her booming call day or night, advertising for another male to mate with and lay more eggs. She can do this 3 or 4 times in a breeding season. Dad is the stay-at-home parent, he incubates and feeds the young chicks.

We don’t have sand dunes in central Victoria, but I have seen Painted Button-quail on dry ridges and on the edge of forest in Campbells Creek and in the wider area of Castlemaine, Newstead and Guildford. Last spring I stopped the car quickly, as a Dad escorted his 3 tiny golf ball size fuzzy chicks walking across Rowley Park Road, it was the cutest thing you ever saw.

Painted Button-quail doing what it does best, hiding and camouflaging into leaf litter. Photo by Damian Kelly

To listen to the call of the Painted Button-quail – click here

Jane Rusden
Damian Kelly

Habitat Trees for Phascogales: a new Connecting Country project

Posted on 10 July, 2023 by Ivan

Our ‘Habitat trees for Phascogales’ project aims to protect existing large old trees on grazing land for the Brush-tailed Phascogale and other native fauna by protecting and enhancing these habitat stepping-stones in the landscape.

We know that much of central Victoria’s native woodland has been heavily disturbed by a long history of mining, clearing, woodcutting, grazing, and changes in fire and water regimes. The local Box-Ironbark landscape provides habitat for many threatened species, including the Brush-tailed Phascogale, but much of the remaining woodland lacks complexity and is missing hollow-bearing trees that are important for foraging and nesting sites and protection from predators.

Tuan in a nestbox at Welshmans Reef. Photo Jess Lawton

Scientific studies demonstrate an alarming acceleration in the decline of most species within this community over recent years, including the Brush-tailed Phascogale which has undergone a substantial range contraction, decline in numbers and experienced localised extinctions in some regions.

The Mount Alexander region is a likely stronghold for the Brush-tailed Phascogale and is important for the species’ future survival (Lawton et al. 2021, Austral Ecology). However, our region’s woodlands are heavily degraded and large old trees with hollows are now scarce and not being replaced.

Our project aims to protect large old trees from early senescence and facilitate natural regeneration. Over time, other key elements of phascogale habitat, such as fallen logs and leaf litter, will return to these areas.

The iconic Phascogale, is rarely seen but rarely forgotten. Photo by Geoff Park

What will this project achieve? 

Connecting Country will be implementing a range of actions and education activities aimed at addressing this habitat loss and increasing the range for this iconic species.

Short-term actions (within 3 years):

• Engage landholders in protecting and restoring phascogale habitat on their properties.
• Fence strategically selected large old trees to protect them from stock grazing, and promote their health and regeneration.
• Plant understorey tube stock plants, and undertake weed and rabbit control within these areas.
• Provide nest boxes as potential nesting sites where necessary.
• Collect scientifically-rigorous data on Brush-tailed Phascogale distribution, that can be used by land managers to inform decision-making.
• Educate our community to raise awareness of the Brush-tailed Phascogale and their habitat needs.

Stay tuned for upcoming events and on-ground actions

For information on how to be involved in the project click here

The Habitat Trees for Phascogales project is supported by the Victorian Government through the Nature Fund as well as the Ian and Shirley Norman Foundation.

‘Revegetation Success in a Changing Climate’ event: Tuesday 1 August 2023

Posted on 27 June, 2023 by Ivan

Connecting Country is excited to announce a special free upcoming event, ‘Revegetation Success in a Changing Climate’, on the evening of Tuesday 1 August 2023, at the Anglican Church Hall, Castlemaine VIC. The event will address how we plan revegetation in a changing climate and has been designed to support our community, land managers and Landcarers to have greater success in restoring our natural landscapes. 

The event will feature presentations from Sasha Jellinek (University of Melbourne), DJAARA and the North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA), and a Q&A panel session to finish. 

Join us to learn about how we can plan successful revegetation and restoration projects, using a combination of climate predictions and sourcing seeds from a variety of climatic zones, to future-proof our landscapes.

This event is part of a larger project, called Future Proof our Forests, where Connecting Country has established Climate Future Plots to monitor the success (or otherwise) of revegetation sourced from a variety of climates.

• Click here to book, tickets are limited, so get in quick.

Our very special guest speaker is Sasha Jellinek, an experienced ecologist with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) focused in Ecology from the University of Melbourne. Sasha has worked across many fields and was involved in the production of Greening Australia’s ‘Establishing Victorias Ecological Infrastructure; A Guide to creating Climate Future Plots‘. Sasha is currently a Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne, with skills in ecological resarch, wetlands, forest ecology, data analysis and restoration. He relishes collaborative ecological work, and is passionate about empowering communities to plan revegetation that will be more resilient in a changing climate.

We are also very lucky to have two further presentations from DJAARA and the NCCMA, who will both talk about how they are planning for climate change to ensure the greatest success in landscape management and restoration.

For catering and logistical purposes, please register your attendance – click here

• When: Tuesday 1 AUGUST 2023 6.30-8.30pm
• Where: Anglican Church Hall (at the rear of the Church), 8 Mostyn St, Castlemaine VIC

We would like to thank the Ross Trust for their generous funding for this important project. The Ross Trust is a perpetual charitable trust with a vision to create positive social and environmental change so Victorians can thrive.

Learn more about climate future plots

For more information on climate future plots, see:

• https://www.greeningaustralia.org.au/climate-future-plots/
• https://connectingcountry.org.au/what-is-a-climate-future-plot/

Sponsor a community planting day: Seeking YOUR help for 2023 National Tree Day

Posted on 31 May, 2023 by Ivan

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the next best time is now, and we need your help!

We are partnering with local Landcare groups and Mount Alexander Shire Council to deliver a National Tree Day event on Sunday 30 July 2023. The day will be open to everyone to participate and will include planting indigenous plants for habitat and learning more about our local landscape.

The tree planting event aims to empower the younger generations of our community to take direct action in healing the land and tackling climate change. This is what they have asked for. Mount Alexander Shire Council recently surveyed young people in our local area. Our young people reported they want opportunities to plant trees, make homes for wildlife and to undertake practical actions to address climate change.

Photo by John Ellis

How you can help: sponsor a community planting day! 

We are raising funds to purchase local native plants and host a Community Planting Day on National Tree Day 2023, to support the Mount Alexander/ Leanganook community – young and wise – to help heal the land. Through this project, we aim to connect people of all ages with nature and restore degraded bushland.

The sponsored plants will be provided by local indigenous nurseries. You can sponsor the day by donating funds to go towards the purchase of the plants, stakes and guards. If you wish, you can attend the community planting day, get your hands dirty and plants the plants you have sponsored. However, if you can’t attend the event, your contribution will be guaranteed and the community will plant for you! Let’s work together to protect and restore our local biodiversity and nurture the land for our future generations! Donate today – click here

Photo credit: John Ellis

Degraded bushland

The Mount Alexander region of central Victoria has a long history of removing native vegetation for gold mining, agriculture, and timber and firewood harvesting, leading to many areas of degraded bushland, with little understory, or suitable habitat. In Australia, it can take hundreds of years for trees to form natural hollows. Due to the profound environmental change caused by European colonisation and the gold rush, many trees in our region are still young and have little understory or ground cover. Connecting Country has nearly two decades of experience in restoring these landscapes, and will oversee the event, to ensure the maximum benefit for our local wildlife and community.

Much of our bushland has been turned over and lacks understorey species. Photo: Asha Bannon

Donate today via our Give Now page – click here

Photo Credit: Leonie van Eyk

Donate today via our Give Now page – click here

We have a secure payment system and all donations (>$2) to Connecting Country are tax deductible.

Can’t donate? Here are some other ways you can help

• Attend the community tree planting event, and volunteer to revegetate the sponsored plants
• Share our campaign with your friends and networks.
• Retain leaf litter, logs, and trees (especially mature trees) on your property, as these provide foraging and den resources for wildlife
• Consider doing revegetation or installing nestboxes on your property
• Contribute to restoring healthy forests by joining your local Landcare or Friends group. To find a group near you – click here

2023 Landcare Link-up – sharing stories in Taradale

Posted on 24 May, 2023 by Hadley Cole

The 2023 Landcare Link-up is coming up on Saturday 17 June 2023 and everyone is welcome!

As part of Connecting Country’s ongoing support for Landcare groups in the Mount Alexander/ Leanganook region, we coordinate an annual Landcare Link-up to provide groups with an opportunity to get together, learn, share and connect.  It’s also a great opportunity for anyone not yet engaged in Landcare to learn more about what’s involved.

The theme for this years Link-up event is ‘Sharing Stories’ and will be held in Taradale, starting with gentle walk through Barkly Park followed by afternoon tea at the Taradale Hall.

Taradale Landcare Group are kindly co-hosting the event and will walk us through their Rediscover Barkly Park project.  Barkly Park is public land with hidden conservation values and offers a wonderful space for Landcare activities and for the wider community to connect with nature.

The group has been working hard to promote Barkly Park through educational and engaging walks throughout 2022/23 and a mini celebration festival earlier this year.   They have plans to care for and restore the site for both community and animals to enjoy for years to come.  We will hear from group President, Brian Bainbridge, who will present the plans and processes behind the Rediscover Barkly Park project.   Brian has decades of experience in restoring landscapes and connecting people with nature through various volunteer and paid roles.  It’s sure to be an interesting and engaging event.

Barkly Park, Taradale VIC. Photo by Taradale Landcare. 

Following the visit to Barkly Park, we will head over to the Taradale Hall to hear more interesting stories from Landcarers in the region and enjoy a lovely afternoon tea together.

Bookings are essential for catering purposes. To book your place, please -click here

For any inquiries please email: hadley@connectingcountry.org.au or call the Connecting Country office on: 0493 362 394

We thank the North Central Catchment Management Authority for their support of this event.

Sorry Day & Reconciliation Week – 27 May to 3 June 2023

Posted on 23 May, 2023 by Hadley Cole

Every year National Sorry Day is 26 May and is then followed by Reconciliation Week. This years’ Reconciliation Week is held from 27 May  – 3 June 2023 and the theme is ‘Be a Voice for Generations’. Reconciliation Australia recognises Reconciliation Week as ‘a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.’ To learn more about reconciliation in Australia – click here

Our friends and project partners at Nalderun have sent us some information about their local events for Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week 2023. The week of events will commence with the 2023 Sorry Day commemoration at Castlemaine Secondary College oval on Friday 26 May 2023 at 10.30am. Please read on for details provided by Nalderrun about this important week for our community.

Nalderun Education Aboriginal Corporation, with support from Friends of Nalderun present:

The 2023 Sorry Day Commemoration
Where: Castlemaine Secondary College oval, Castlemaine VIC
When: Friday 26 May 2023 from 10.30 am

Introduction and MC: Vic Say & Zeppelin
Smoking and Welcome to Country ceremony: Aunty Paulette Nelson
Address by the Mayor: Rosie Annear and Castlemaine Secondary students
Guest speaker: Kelly Blake Wadawurrung woman

For the full program of events for Nalderun Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week 2023 please see below.

‘Nalderun is a Dja Dja Wurrung word which means ‘all together’, because we believe by moving forward together we can make the change needed for our children, our mob and the wider community in the Mount Alexander Shire region of Victoria to thrive. We are Aboriginal led and run – we know what our Community needs, as we are apart of it. For 10 years we have seen our children become stronger, proud and deadly. We know our future, and the future for our children’s children is safe, having created programs and ways of being and teaching now. We want you to join this journey in this two-way learning space. We look forward to walking forward together. We invite you to support us in caring for Culture, Country and Community and to meet the needs of our mob, and the ever-increasing commitment to support these changes in the broader community, which builds respectful and reciprocal relationships for all.’

To learn more about the amazing work of Nalderun Education Aboriginal Corporation head over to their website – click here or check out their youtube channel – click here

Connecting Country acknowledges the Jaara people, the custodians and caretakers of this land. We recognise their continued care of Country for millennia and pay our respects and gratitude to elders, past present and emerging. We extend this acknowledgement to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

An ode to Landcare volunteers – Transforming local landscapes

Posted on 16 May, 2023 by Ivan

This week is National Volunteer Week (15 – 21 May 2023) and Connecting Country would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our many Landcare volunteers actively working to protect and restore the natural environment across the Mount Alexander/ Leanganook region. We could not achieve what we do without you!

At its heart, Landcare is about caring for land so that it will support our society and maintain our natural resources for generations to come. Depending on where you live that might mean looking after a farm, nature strip, local bush reserve or waterway – all kinds of land. Through Landcare, individuals and communities get the support, knowledge and resources necessary to do this work. In the Mount Alexander/ Leanganook region, we are lucky to have over 30 community groups working with hundreds of volunteers, many who have been contributing for multiple decades.

In particular this year, we pay tribute to local Landcare legend, Maurie Dynon, who passed away in March 2023. Maurie was a well-respected and loved member of Guildford Upper Loddon Landcare Group for almost 30 years. He also contributed many volunteer hours to Connecting County, as a member of the founding committee and to the Landcare Steering Group. He swore by the power of a cuppa in connecting community and through his determination and many cups of tea, he recruited many Guildford and Yapeen landholders to get on board local restoration projects, helping to transform the local landscape to benefit both farmland and habitat in the local area.

Joining Landcare is a great way to meet your neighbours and get involved in grassroots environmental action that helps to build resilient landscapes. As Maurie has been quoted as saying; “Landcare is great fun! You’re meeting new people all the time with different outlooks, from different walks of life and you learn something from all of them.”

To find a group near you or find out how you could get involved, visit the Landcare page on the Connecting Country website – click here or contact the office at info@connectingcountry.org.au or ph: 0434 362 394.

Maurie Dynon and his wife Lois (both dec.) with Maurie’s beloved Landcare Ute. Photo from the Connecting Country archives.

Post Office Hill Action Group member Andrew with Chewton Primary School student Orlo, working together to revegetate Post Office Hill Reserve in Chewton VIC. Photo by John Ellis.

Bird of the month: White-fronted Chat

Posted on 18 April, 2023 by Ivan

Welcome to Bird of the month, a partnership between Connecting Country and BirdLife Castlemaine District. Each month we’re taking a close look at one special local bird species. We’re excited to join forces to deliver you a different bird each month, seasonally adjusted, and welcome suggestions from the community. We are blessed to have the brilliant Jane Rusden and Damian Kelly from BirdLife Castlemaine District writing about our next bird of the month, accompanied by Damian’s stunning photos.

White-fronted Chat (Epthianura albifrons)

Despite being quite common in certain areas, I get excited when I see a White-fronted Chat because they are not so common in Mount Alexander Shire. A very striking bird, especially the male with it’s distinctive black and white colouring. The female is a bit more grey and brown, but still has the beautiful white chest and belly with the stunning black chest stripe.

The White-fronted Chat’s range extends across the southern parts of Australia, avoiding the driest areas, Tasmania and some of the larger islands in Bass Straight. Locally they can be found on the Moolort Plains, along the edges of wetlands such as Cairn Curran and Lignum Swamp. This kind of habitat is typical for them as it’s essentially open grassland around open damp and possibly saline patches of ground.

Foraging amongst seaweed on Port Fairy beeches is where Damian Kelly took a photo of this male White-fronted Chat.

So, what is it that makes White-fronted Chats attracted to open areas of habitat? That would be food of course! They wander around, but don’t hop, foraging for insects and occasionally seeds, on the ground and in low shrubs. If startled, they will fly a short distance to a prominent perch such as a branch or fence. I’ve usually seen them perched on fence wires.

White-fronted Chats usually stay in one place all year round, however weather and food availability will encourage them to move when necessary. Banding recoveries have been from less than 10km from the original site where the bird was banded, indicating they don’t move far.

Female White-fronted Chat, with her grey head, on a fence wire, a very typical perch for this species.

Interestingly, behavioural studies at Laverton Saltworks in southern Victoria, revealed that White-fronted Chats are quite an adaptable species. Often they will be in flocks of 30 or so birds, with pairs often foraging together, they also communally roost when not breeding. Cooperative breeding (where non-parent birds help raise chicks), is not apparent in this species and breeding pairs may change over the years. However, they nest semi-colonially, with several nests close together. Essentially there will be a whole lot of breeding pairs, who are a bit fluid about who they are paired to, hanging out together most of the time, but doing their own thing.

The adaptability of the White-fronted Chat is highlighted in their breeding, being opportunistic in drier country, largely in response to rain and food availability. However, in wetter coastal areas breeding is seasonal. The nest is cup-shaped and usually, three eggs are laid. Both parents will brood and feed the chicks, and hopefully, a Horsefield’s Bronze Cuckoo won’t find them, to parasitize the nest with their egg.

To listen to the call of the White-fronted Chat – click here

Jane Rusden
Damian Kelly

‘Our land at contact’ event: Tuesday 18 April 2023

Posted on 13 April, 2023 by Ivan

Our friends and project partners at the Newstead Landcare Group are excited to be hosting Professor Barry Golding at an event on 18 April 2023 on the environment around Newstead at the time of European contact. The event will be an intriguing exploration of historical and early botanical records that may be vital in our restoration efforts and planning of revegetation works. Please see details below, provided by Newstead Landcare Group.

Our land at contact

Last October, we were very excited about Prof. Barry Golding’s presentation on the environment around Newstead at the time of European contact. Alas, a lot of rain and rising floodwaters meant a last minute cancellation. We are now very pleased to announce that Barry will be presenting on this subject for us this April. Barry has combed through historical records to put together a vivid and moving picture of how the land around Newstead and its environs may have looked prior to contact.

The arrival of Europeans in Australia produced profound changes across the continent. It can be hard to know exactly what the landscape looked like before this dramatic upheaval. The documents left by the earliest intruders can give us a few clues. Professor Barry Golding of Federation University has combed through historical records to put together a picture of how the land around Newstead and its environs may have looked prior to contact. From the extensive permanent ponds on the Loddon containing literally tonnes of Murray Cod to the vast meadows of Yam Daisies (Myrnong), some of the descriptions Barry has found give us a glimpse of the extraordinary richness of our neck of the woods.

Ancient River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis). Photo Barry Golding

Come along to our presentation on Tuesday April 18th when Barry will present what he’s learned about the extraordinarily rich and diverse vegetation communities that once adorned our landscape and the marvellous wildlife on this land and in the rivers.

The presentation will start at 7.30pm at Newstead Community Centre. All are welcome to attend, gold coin donations appreciated.

The Buzz project: promoting pollinators of central Victoria

Posted on 14 March, 2023 by Hadley Cole

The Buzz project: promoting pollinators of central Victoria, is a Connecting Country project funded by the 2022 Victorian Landcare grants, that aims to celebrate and expand community knowledge on the smaller heroes of our local ecosystems, the insect pollinators.

The project was launched with a presentation from local entomologist and bee specialist Dr Mark Hall, Senior Biodiversity Officer at the City of Greater Bendigo, on Wednesday 15 February 2023 at the Campbells Creek Community Centre. The presentation focussed on the various native pollinators we may see in the local area and was titled ‘Native pollinators on your property: who, where and what they do?’

Participants enjoying Dr Mark Hall’s presentation on pollinators.

Dr Mark Hall introduces the range of bees we can see across the landscape.

We had a wonderful turnout to the presentation with up to forty enthusiastic attendees who came along with fantastic questions. Mark spoke of the many pollinators present across the landscape from native bees, to flies, butterflies, moths, and beetles. He spoke of the importance of connectivity between gardens, roadsides, and bushland of native vegetation to help build corridors for pollinators to move and plenty of wooded areas for them to nest in. We learnt of the specific adaptations native bees have formed to pollinate indigenous plants and how introduced insects such as honey bees cannot perform the same pollination service as efficiently as the native pollinators.

Following the presentation, we then went out on a field trip with Mark to a private property in Harcourt on Friday 24 February 2023. The field trip was titled ‘promoting native pollinators from property to landscape.’ Thirteen enthusiastic participants came along to learn of the various monitoring techniques we can use to investigate the pollinators occuring on our properties, Landcare sites and in our backyards. The beautiful property of Lois from Barkers Creek Landcare and Wildlife group did not dissapoint! Although it is late in the season for many insects, we discovered a range of insect pollinators in Lois’s garden and the bushland on her property. A couple of species of Blue banded bees were on show, as well as the Imperial Jezebel (Delias harpalyce) butterfly that feeds on misstletoe, a few dragonflies were noted however were very difficult to catch with the net as they zip about so fast! The most exciting discovery was a Cuckoo Bee (Thyreus) found in one of the insect traps. As the cuckoo part of the name suggests, the native Cuckoo Bee will take over the nests of Blue Banded Bees by laying their eggs in with those of the Blue Banded Bees. Although the Cuckcoo bees are not the friendliest of bees they are very beautiful and Mark reassured us that they appear to exist in smaller numbers than many of the other native bees.

Participants gather around an insect trap to hear from Dr Mark Hall. Photo by Lou Citroën.

Field trip participants Lou and Tully inspect a specimen from the insect trap. Photo by Hadley Cole.

Dr Mark Hall shows field trip participants native bees caught in an insect trap. Photo by Frances Howe.

So far The Buzz project has been a wonderful success, bringing together community members, nature enthusiasts and Landcarers with a common focus of learning more about the various native pollinators occurring across the local landscape, where they live, how they behave and the types of pollination services they provide.

Connecting Country would like to thank Dr. Mark Hall for his brilliant contributions to The Buzz project. The knowledge he has shared with us all will go a long way to building a greater understanding of the native pollinators of the region. A big thank you also goes to Lois and Geoff for sharing their beautiful property in Harcourt for the field trip.

If you or your Landcare group are interested in learning more on how to monitor and survey insects across the region please get in touch by emailing hadley@connectingcountry.org.au.

We will host one final event later in the year in Spring to wrap up The Buzz project, so stay tuned for more details!

This project was funded through the Victorian Landcare Grants and the North Central Catchment Management Authority.

Blue banded bee species. Female and male specimens. Photo by Mez Woodward.

Leaf cutter beetle. Photo by Lou Citroën.

Imperial Jezebel (Delias harpalyce). Photo by Lou Citroën.

We need your help! Mapping our old trees of central Victoria

Posted on 28 February, 2023 by Ivan

We are excited to announce the arrival of our new mapping portal, that aims to assist community citizen scientists to map the old, and often large, trees of central Victoria. The interactive mapping portal is part of Connecting Country’s larger project, ‘Regenerate before it’s too late‘ which aims to engage the community on the importance of old trees across the landscape and how to protect them. Within the mapping portal you will also find an updated species list that will assist with the identification process of the large old trees.

Over the next three years (2023 – 2025), we will continue to host community workshops and develop engagement resources such as the mapping portal and a video. We will also work with local landholders to implement practical on-ground actions to protect their large old trees and ensure the next generation of large old trees across the landscape.

The community, including landholders, Landcarers and land managers, will be vital in mapping their favourite old trees across our region. Anyone can access Connecting Country’s new online mapping portal. The portal uses BioCollect, an advanced but simple-to-use data collection tool developed by the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) and its collaborators. BioCollect helps users collect field biodiversity data for their own projects, while allowing the data to be easily copied into the ALA, where it can be publicly available for others to use in research, policy and management. This allows individual projects to collectively contribute to a larger science database.

We need your help!

The mapping portal is now open for any community member to record the old trees in your area. You will need to register with the Atlas of Living Australia (its easy and free), then upload a photo and enter the field details needed for the survey. The portal will ask you simple questions about the tree location, size, species, age (if known), health status and habitat value.

To record your large old tree, or view the field survey questions and required measurements – click here

By recording large old trees you will help build our understanding of the large old trees in our region, and contribute to the largest biodiversity database in our country. As the database grows, you can also access the portal to learn about other wonderful large old trees in our area and view the photos.

Trees can be tricky to identify, especially eucalypts. If you are unsure about the identification of the tree species, you can:

• Use the to iNaturalist app to assist with identification –  click here
• Refer to a good guidebook, like those published by Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests – click here
• Visit the Castlemaine Flora website – click here

Euan, Jenny and Peter with a large old tree (photo by Beth Mellick)

We are most grateful for our generous project support from the Ian & Shirley Norman Foundation. The foundation aims ‘To encourage and support organisations that are capable of responding to social and ecological opportunities and challenges.’ To learn more about Ian & Shirley Norman Foundation – click here

FOBIF exhibition opening this Saturday: Newstead Arts Hub

Posted on 21 February, 2023 by Ivan

Jane Rusden. Crested Shrike-tit

Choughs. Patrick Kavanagh

Phil Ingamells. Bluebell

Barking Owls. Geoff Park

Reflections. Alex Panelli

AusChem Chemical users subsidised course 20 and 21 March 2023

Posted on 16 February, 2023 by Hadley Cole

The North Central Catchment Management Authority is offering the AusChem Chemical users course at a subsidised rate of $107 per person in Maryborough over Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 March 2023. The course is open to Landcare groups, small and large landholders, farmers, new users or existing chemical users requiring a refresher. This course is the industry standard for training in chemical use, storage and handling.

Upon completion of the two-day course, participants will receive an AusChem Certificate which may be used to comply with Industry Quality Assurance Programs. This certificate is required to apply for the Victorian Agricultural Chemical Users Permit (ACUP), and may also be used to pursue further training, such as Minimising risks in the use of 1080 and PAPP bait products for Vertebrate Pest Control.

All participants will receive the latest copy of the AusChem Manual.

The course will cover:

• Pest identification
• Modes of action
• Label interpretation
• Issues associated with chemical use
• Formulation types
• Weed and pest control application
• Animal health
• Chemical handling storage
• Transport and disposal
• Preparation, application and clean up
• Recording and other procedures

For more information or to register – click here

Promoting native pollinators from property to landscape – 24 February 2023

Posted on 31 January, 2023 by Hadley Cole

In 2023 Connecting Country is hosting a series of events celebrating the pollinators of our region as part of The Buzz Project: promoting pollinators of central Victoria. We launch the project with a presentation with Dr Mark Hall (Senior Biodiversity Officer at City of Greater Bendigo) in Campbells Creek VIC on Wednesday 15 February 2023. Following the launch, we will host a field trip in Harcourt VIC with Mark on Friday 24 February 2023. Mark completed his PhD on how the composition of wooded habitat in modified landscapes affects bird and pollinator assemblages and has also investigated pollinator diversity, health, management and contribution to crop production. To learn more about Mark – click here

We will spend a morning out in the field with Mark to meet local pollinators, explore their habitat, and learn to identify some of the local pollinator heroes. This event will be at a private property in Harcourt VIC.

Join us for a fascinating morning out where will explore both a garden and bush setting in search for pollinators and their homes.

Field trip: Promoting native pollinators from property to landscape
When: Friday 24 February 2023, 10.00 am to 12.00 pm
Where: Dja Dja Wurrung Country, Harcourt VIC (details will be provided on booking)

Bookings are essential as spaces are limited. To book your free ticket – click here

BYO morning tea and drinking water. We will be outside for the whole two hours so please wear sturdy shoes, hat, sunscreen and insect repellent.

If you haven’t yet booked your free ticket for the presentation with Dr Mark Hall on ‘Native pollinators on your property: who, where and what they do’, there are still spaces available. To learn more and book – click here

The Buzz project is funded by the North Central CMA through the 2022 Victorian Landcare grants.