13 July 2012: Special Event
Posted on 3 July, 2012 by Connecting Country
On the evening of the 13 July, there will be a launch of Ern Perkin’s new Central Victoria Grasses Identification Guide CD followed by a presentation by Geoff Park on the Moolort Wetlands.
Local naturalist Ern Perkins was the 2008 recipient of the Australian Natural History Medallion which is a nation-wide award awarded to one person per year judged to have made the most meritorious contribution to the understanding of Australian Natural History. His new CD covers all native and non-native grasses known to occur in Mt Alexander Shire. Ern will give a short talk and presentation on the CD and all attendees will receive a free copy (one per household).
The CD has been published with the joint support of the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club and Connecting Country.
After the CD launch, Geoff Park will talk on the beautiful wetlands of the Moolort Plains. Geoff is Knowledge Broker at the North Central CMA, on the committee of Connecting Country and also convenor and chief contributor to the Natural Newstead blog. The following text is an excerpt from his blog about the Moorlort Plains:
The Moolort Plains are a very different environment to the goldfields landscapes closer to Newstead. The plains country is part of the Victorian Volcanic Plains bioregion, once dominated by native grasslands and largely untimbered. Silver Banksia, Tree-Violet and Bursaria were some of the predominant shrubs in this verdant landscape, prior to European settlement. A feature of the Moolort Plains are its wetlands and swamps, many of which have been actively managed for conservation values by local farmers.
Long Swamp, Moolort Plains. Photo by Geoff Park, 7 September 2010
The launch and the talk will be held on evening of Friday 13 July at the Uniting Church Hall in Lyttleton St, Castlemaine (building behind the church), and will commence from 7.30pm. The event is part of the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club July meeting, but all are welcome and encouraged to attend– both members and non-members. There is no cost for attendance, although a gold coin donation towards the supper afterwards would be appreciated.
Employment – Positions Vacant
Posted on 2 July, 2012 by Connecting Country
Threatened Woodland Birds Project Coordinator Position: Connecting Country.
Do you know your Jacky Winter from your Diamond Firetail?
Are you passionate about making sure they continue to exist in the Mount Alexander Shire and surrounding region of central Victoria?
If yes, then this could be the job for you.
Connecting Country is seeking a suitable candidate to implement its new Threatened Woodland Birds Project as well as assisting with other activities currently being run by the organization. This part or full time fixed term position (0.8-1 FTE) is funded through to 30 June 2013, with the possibility of extension based on future funding success and other considerations. For more information on the project, and also for copy of the full position description, including key selection criteria, click here.
Applications with a curriculum vitae and addressing the Key Selection Criteria should be marked “Confidential – Threatened Woodland Birds Project Officer” and be submitted to “Connecting Country, PO Box 437, Castlemaine, VIC, 3450” by Sunday 15th July 2012 or by email to chris@connectingcountry.org.au. For more information regarding the project and the position, contact Chris Timewell or Krista Patterson-Majoor on (03) 5472-1594 or email chris@connectingcountry.org.au.
Sustainability Officer Postion: Mount Alexander Shire
Mount Alexander Shire is currently advertising for a Sustainability Officer to join their team. For information about the role and a position description click here.
New Connecting Country Project – Woodland Birds
Posted on 2 July, 2012 by Connecting Country
Connecting Country is pleased to announce that it has been successful in obtaining funding from the Victorian Government’s Communities for Nature program to implement the first year of its four-year project “Enabling Woodland Birds to Thrive in the Mount Alexander Region”. Scientific research has shown that this bird community is in decline and under threat from habitat reduction. The project will increase the extent and condition of bird habitat through through the Mount Alexander Shire and immediate surrounds using an approach combining on-ground works on private land with community engagement, education, monitoring and other related activities (click here for more information on this new project).
This project will commence soon, and we are currently advertising for a Project Coordinator to manage its implementation (click here). There will also be many oppportunities for the community to be involved in various aspects of the project. More details to follow over coming weeks and months.
CC submission to draft Regional Catchment Strategy
Posted on 29 June, 2012 by Connecting Country
Connecting Country has made a submission to the North Central CMA draft 2012-2018 Regional Catchment Strategy. Click here to view the submission.
Assistance with Grant Writing
Posted on 21 June, 2012 by Connecting Country
The Mount Alexander Volunteer Network is holding free grant-writing sessions for community groups. The sessions which will take place in Maldon, Castlemaine and Newtead and are to assist groups with applications for $5000 Federal Government volunteer grants. Click here to view a brochure with the details.
Weed Watch – Gazania
Posted on 8 June, 2012 by Connecting Country
The following information was originally published by Geraldine Harris in the Castlemaine Naturalist newsletter, and has been kindly re-written by her for the Connecting Country website.
Some plants become environmental weeds when they escape from our gardens into the surrounding countryside and start competing with local native indigenous species. I want to look at how some of these infestations can be controlled and which native plants can be used in their place.
Our native plants cannot be expected to perform as vigorously as pest plants that have been selectively bred for survival over hundreds of years. However, getting rid of pest plants and replacing them with native species will help preserve the integrity of our local habitats, attracting and providing resources for more native birds and other animals.
Gazania linearis
Gazanias are the large daisy-type yellow flowers that are escaping from private gardens and appearing more and more abundantly along our local roadsides and in bushland throughout Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and New South Wales.
These very showy plants originated in South Africa and are being promoted in many plant nurseries as a tough drought resistant species. Many hybrids have been developed in cultivation between Gazania linearis and a closely related environmental weed species Gazania rigens. These plants produce abundant wind-blown seeds that can be dispersed many kilometres from the source, producing ever-increasing patches of gazania that compete with locally indigenous species. Gazanias also have the ability to re-grow from their bare roots, which enables them to spread into our bushland by the dumping of garden waste containing the tuberous root systems of these plants. Native animals tend not to eat them as they are low in nutritional value. Continue Reading »