15 June 2014 – Community Planting Day with Connecting Country
Posted on 2 June, 2014 by Connecting Country
Connecting Country is running two Community Planting Days over the coming months as part of our Connecting Landscapes program. The plantings are being done at strategically important locations, where the new vegetation will create valuable habitat linkages for native wildlife such as the threatened Brush-tailed Phascogale to move across the local landscape.
The first planting day is coming up very soon, being on Sunday 15th June in Elphinstone. We’d love for you to come and join us. We will be providing a free bus ride to site and are meeting in Castlemaine outside the Ray Bradfield room in the Maxi IGA car-park at 9am for a 9:15am departure. This is a great opportunity for people of all ages to get involved with our habitat restoration activities first-hand while meeting other Connecting Country members, volunteers and staff. After the planting and over a BBQ lunch, Tanya Loos – coordinator of the new Habitat for Bush Birds project – will give a talk about habitat structure for woodland birds. We will be returning to Castlemaine by bus at 1pm.
Please RSVP to bonnie@connectingcountry.org.au to secure a place on the bus, and for further details about the day.
All things great and small
Posted on 15 May, 2014 by Connecting Country
A gully at Baringhup, with remnant bulokes and other trees, provided us with shelter from the biting wind and a chilly autumn day for our second workshop session, “Biodiversity in the Paddock” on Sunday May 4th 2014. The spot also provided a more permanent home to an array of flora and fauna, all contributing to local biodiversity on the property.
Thanks to property holders Jacqui and Lachlan Brown for providing their farm as an ideal location to explore concepts around biodiversity, productivity and restoration.
Guided by Lachy, Jacqui and our expert ecologists we moved between scales; from the broader landscape, down to the property and paddock level and back, to identify what makes up ‘biodiversity’ and how we can improve and monitor the health of a landscape.
Cassia Read, Karl Just, Bonnie Humphreys and Chris Timewell led us through a hands-on foray for the obvious to the often overlooked – in this case plants, birds, mosses and lichens, ants.
Jim Radford takes us on a journey of species, genetics, processes
Karl, Bonnie, Cassia, Lachy, Jacqui and Chris
More information, photos and links from the session as well as Jules Walsh’s summary of the session, can be found here.
For more information: email (janet@connectingcountry.org.au) or call Janet on 5472 1594.
Registrations Open for Box-Ironbark Ecology Course 2014
Posted on 15 May, 2014 by Connecting Country
We have been informed by the organisers that registrations are open for the 17th Box-Ironbark Ecology Course. This five-day residential course in Nagambie commences on Monday 6th October and concludes on Friday 10th October, 2014.
The course is for those interested in gaining a general understanding of ecological processes and principles specific to Box-Ironbark Country, as is complementary to the workshops being run locally be Connecting Country.
The course involves five absorbing days of field studies and is taught by a number of expert ecologists including: Cathy Botta (soil), Andrea Canzano (insects), Garry Cheers (birds), Paul Foreman (plants), Lindy Lumsden (wildlife), David Meagher (mosses and liverworts) and Neville Rosengren (geology).
Have a look at their course flyer for more information on the location and topics. Note that this is not a Connecting Country event. Contact Kate Stothers (katelance1@gmail.com) if you are interested in attending.
This area of Box-Ironbark Forest has a Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) and Red Ironbark (Eucalyptus tricarpa) overstorey. Not all ‘Box-Ironbark’ forest contains these two eucalypt though.
2014 Workshop Program Launch this Weekend
Posted on 24 February, 2014 by Connecting Country
A reminder that Connecting Country will be launching it’s Improve Biodiversity on Your Property Workshop Program 2014 at the Newstead Community Centre this Sunday (2 March) with a talk by popular ecologist and author Ian Lunt.
This will be social event with a free BBQ dinner after the talk and it would be great to see as many Connecting Country members & friends there as possible.
Ian will be presenting a talk titled “Natural regeneration in central Victoria: the biggest positive change for conservation in south-east Australia”. Have a look at our previous post for more information.
The talk will begin at 4pm and dinner will be at 6pm. RSVPs are not essential, but are greatly preferred for catering purposes – max@connectingcountry.org.au, or phone 5472 1594
Please note, if you are planning on attending Vocal Nosh with Fay White in the adjacent Mechanics Hall that evening you can do both! Ian Lunt’s talk will finish just as Vocal Nosh is getting started.
Natural regeneration of Drooping Cassinia and Eucalyptus in a lightly stocked paddock near Metcalfe.
14 June 2013 – Love Thy Spider
Posted on 31 May, 2013 by Connecting Country
The Castlemaine Field Naturalist Club’s guest speaker on 14 June 2013 will be local resident, Lynne Kelly, who will give a talk entitled ‘Love thy Spider‘. Lynne comments that ‘We all live up close to lots of neighbouring spiders. They live amazingly interesting, often traumatic, lives, all played out on multiple stages around your house. Spiders are the only animal you can get to know as individuals and watch over the long term in their natural habitat of web or burrow. ‘
This talk will include sequences of photos of individuals in a Castlemaine backyard and house and is suitable for kids as well as adults. Lynne says that ‘observing spiders is easy to do, safe and genuinely adds to our scientific knowledge. Long term behavioural studies of our spiders in their natural habitats have not been done – not even black house spiders! But – be warned – there will be some very revealing photos of a pair of huntsmen. We’ll then talk about “The Spiderblogger” and the way we can share Castlemaine spider notes.’
Lynne Kelly
Lynne is the author of 14 books, her most recent being “Spiders: learning to love them“. When her arachnophobia was getting out of control, she decided to cure the irrational fear by learning about the horrible hairy beasts. She overdid the cure and is now ‘obsessed by the gorgeous little critters’.
Lynne is an Honorary Visiting Research Fellow at LaTrobe University, working on the way indigenous peoples memorise masses of information about animals, plants and other natural sciences. She then applies this research to the archaeological record.
The talk will be held at the Uniting Church Hall in Lyttleton St, Castlemaine (building behind the church), and will commence from 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome.
26 May 2013 – Cactus War Continues
Posted on 22 May, 2013 by Connecting Country
The Tarrangower Cactus Control Group will be holding its next field day on a property on the eastern side of Cairn Curran.
The Control Group would like to make this a record year in the War on Wheel Cactus. Over 50 volunteers attended the first field day for the year and everyone is welcome to participate this month (26 May from 10.30am). Click here to download the flyer which has a map and directions.
Reconciliation Week Activities in Mount Alexander Shire
Posted on 15 May, 2013 by Connecting Country
National Reconciliation Week will take place this year between 27 May – 3 June 2013. A range of activities will be held in the Mount Alexander Shire that the community can become involved with, including an indigenous food planting event with Castlemaine Landcare. Also on National Sorry Day (26 May) there will be a gathering in Castlemaine next to the Market Building between 9.50am to 11.45am where people can add their thoughts to the Sorry Tree. This flyer has the full details, as well as the website address for the recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our Constitution. While Connecting Country is not directly involved in this year’s program, we are very supportive of this initiative and of efforts towards reconciliation.
4 May 2013 – Woody Weed Control Demonstration Day
Posted on 29 April, 2013 by Connecting Country
Do you want to know more about woody weeds and some of the most effective ways to manage them? Come along to the free Barkers Creek Landcare Network demonstration day and learn more!
See the revolutionary ecoBlade machine – which cuts and paints woody weeds such as blackberry and gorse at the same time!
Also included on the day:
- On-site demonstrations of other relevant woody weed control techniques
- Useful information on how to get the best weed control results
Drinks and a light lunch will be provided (no charge).
Midday – 2.00pm, Saturday 4th May 2013
End of Hagues Road, Barkers Creek – click here for map
Information about the Barkers Creek Clean-up Project: www.connectingcountry.org.au/barkers-ck/
email: michael@connectingcountry.org.au or call 5472 1594
The event is also supported by the Victorian Blackberry Taskforce and Victorian Gorse Taskforce.
Back to Cactus Killing
Posted on 22 April, 2013 by Connecting Country
The Tarrangower Cactus Control Committee and Parks Victoria will hold their first cactus-injecting field day for 2013 on Sunday 28th April. Field days will continue until November on the last Sunday of each month.
The venue for the first field day will be in Watersons Road near its intersection with Tarrengower School Road starting at 10.30 am. The site will be clearly signposted from the corner of the Bridgewater-Maldon and Watersons Roads.
Special guest will be Councillor Sharon Telford who has agreed to launch the season.
As usual the day will finish with a free sausage sizzle and cuppa.
Bird Photography … with Chris Tzaros
Posted on 16 April, 2013 by Connecting Country
On Thursday 25th April, at 7.30pm at the Newstead Community Centre, Chris Tzaros from BirdLife Australia will deliver a talk entitled Bird Photography: Tips & Techniques. Chris is one of Australia’s best known bird photographers and author of the publication, Wildlife of Box-Ironbark Country. As well as providing some practical information on the topic, the presentation will showcase some of Chris’ breathtaking images. Gold coin donation to the Newstead Landcare Group. Everyone is welcome.
Chris and Geoff Park will also be leading a field workshop on 27 April but that is already booked out. It is likely that similar workshops will be held later this year.
Celebrating the Loddon
Posted on 13 April, 2013 by Connecting Country
The North Central CMA’s Loddon Stressed River project is inviting people to a celebration with lots of activities including a guest speaker, local farm visit, short river walk and a buffet dinner. There will be two events, one in Newbridge and one in Kerang. To find out more, download this flyer.
20 & 23 April – Muckleford Landcare Events
Posted on 13 April, 2013 by Connecting Country
Muckleford Catchment Landcare has two upcoming events this month that will be of interest to people living locally – including both Landcare members and the general public. The first is the Roadside Awareness Mapping Project which will conclude with reporting day on 20 April at the Muckleford Community Centre. The second is a community meeting on 23 April about Sustainable Soils for Muckleford. Speakers at this meeting will be Judy Crocker, Facilitator of the Mid-Loddon Landcare Network, and Phil Dyson, North Central CMA, and manager of the Farming for Sustainable Soils Program.
To find out more about these events, download this Muckleford Landcare PDF document. The Muckleford Catchment Landcare site can be viewed here.
27 April – Property Planning and Management Talk
Posted on 3 April, 2013 by Connecting Country
The Mount Alexander Shire is inviting new residents to a free afternoon talk on property Planning and Management on Saturday 27 April in the Ray Bradfield Room. Download this flyer for further information.
2013 Federal Volunteer Grants Open & Other Local Events
Posted on 26 March, 2013 by Connecting Country
Volunteer Grants
The Federal Government’s annual Volunteer Grants have just opened. There is up to $16 million in funding for grants of between $1,000 – $5,000. Groups can apply for funds for fuel reimbursement, police checks, equipment and training to assist volunteers carry out their roles. For more information and the application form, click here.
Two local Community Training Events in April run by the Mount Alexander Volunteer Network (MAVN)
1. Consumer Affairs: Understanding the changes to the Incorporated Association Act.
Free session at Continuing Education, 30 Templeton Street, Castlemaine on Wednesday 17th April from 7pm – 8.30pm. For bookings and enquiries, contact Mount Alexander Volunteer Network by email on mavn@outlook.com
2. Avoid Burn Out: From Survive to Thrive
Session costs $10 with light supper provided at Continuing Education, 30 Templeton Street, Castlemaine on Wednesday 1st May from 6 pm-8.30 pm. For bookings and enquiries, contact Mount Alexander Volunteer Network by email on mavn@outlook.com
The Mapping of Central Victoria
Posted on 20 March, 2013 by Connecting Country
The Bendigo Art Gallery is holding an exhibition about mapping in relation to central Victoria. It will take place at the Post Office Gallery, 51-67 Pall Mall, Bendigo from 22 March to 16 June. The Art Gallery website describes the exhibition as follows: Continue Reading »
8 March 2013 – The Quest for the Kulawai
Posted on 4 March, 2013 by Connecting Country
Connecting Country’s Woodland Birds project officer, Dr Kerryn Herman, is the guest speaker this Friday 8 March at the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club meeting. Before joining Connecting Country, Kerryn was in Fiji for 3 months working with NGO Nature Fiji Mareqeti Vitiin in a search for the elusive Kulawai – a critically endangered lorikeet known only from a small number of locations on this island nation. Kerryn will speak about her time there, the people, the culture and the birds that she found.
The Castlemaine Field Naturalist Club meeting is to be held in the Uniting Church hall (at the back of the Uniting Church, in Lyttleton St, Castlemaine). The meeting commences at 7.30pm. Visitors are very welcome, and there is no entry fee for the evening.
Also on the Connecting Country website are recent posts about upcoming events on Future Farming and also Bugs and other invertebrates, plus the latest issue of the North Central Chat (click here)
14 March 2013 – Future Farming Expo
Posted on 4 March, 2013 by Connecting Country
The North Central CMA is hosting a free 2013 Future Farming Expo at the Yarrawalla Hall, Yarrawalla South Road, Yarrawalla on Thursday 14 March between 9 am to 4 pm. Lunch will be provided.
At the Expo there will be a expert presentations on a large range of topics including Understanding the weather, Regenerative agriculture, Beneficial insects, Social medi, Carbon farming, Edible shrubs and Seasonal climate forecast, Accessing global markets and a No-dig garden demonstration.
Further information is available on the North Central CMA’s website.
1 March 2013 – Still places available for Kids Nature Discovery Afternoon
Posted on 26 February, 2013 by Connecting Country
Kids will be able to get up-close and personal with some of our native animals thanks to Tooko Wildlife displays. They may even find a new hat!
As part of the 2013 Education program Connecting Country is putting on a special event for kids!
The Nature Discovery Afternoon for Kids is taking place in the beautiful surrounds of Vaughan Springs Reserve (15 minutes from Castlemaine) on Friday 1st March and there are still some places available for kids aged 9 to 12 years.
The event will feature three different half-hour nature activities for kids to move between during the afternoon. They include: a session on freshwater invertebrates with a Parks Victoria Ranger; a session with highly regarded local ecologists and educators Elaine Bayes and Damien Cook; and a native wildlife display from Tooko. We’ll finish with a free barbecue dinner for the kids and their parents and siblings at the reserve.
This should be a really fun event with some very experienced and environmental educators running activities in a beautiful location.
Contact Max at Connecting Country to book – max@connectingcountry.org.au or 5472 1594
Where: Vaughan Springs Reserve, Vaughan
Date: Friday 1st March
Time: Starts at 4:30pm, dinner at about 6:30pm
The cost is just $10 per child and places are limited.
February & March – Events in Bendigo, Talbot & Yarrawalla
Posted on 18 February, 2013 by Connecting Country
1. Joel Salatin in Bendigo
World-renowned farmers Joel and Daniel Salatin of Polyface Farms, Virginia, USA will be presenting at a number of events in central Victoria later this month.
Click here for further information.
2. Carbon Farming Information Session
The Upper Loddon and Avoca Landcare Network, in partnership with the North Central CMA, is hosting a free carbon farming information session in Talbot on 27 February 2013.
Further information is available on the North Central CMA’s website.
3. 2013 Future Farming Expo
The North Central CMA is hosting a free 2013 Future Farming Expo at the Yarrawalla Hall on Thursday 14 March.
Further information will be available shortly on the North Central CMA’s website.
Learning about Reptiles
Posted on 15 February, 2013 by Connecting Country
Most people, when they think reptiles, think snakes. And when they think snakes, it’s fair to say that there’s a negative colour in their thinking: snakes are poisonous, and they’ll bite you if they get the chance. ‘If you see a snake, kill it,’ is still a common view.
Connecting Country’s first public session in the 2013 Education program was partly devoted to putting such misconceptions to rest.
Peter Johnson, senior biodiversity planner in the Department of Sustainability and Environment, ran the session, ‘Reptiles: backyard to the bush’, to a packed audience of about 60 at the Ray Bradfield rooms last Sunday. Continue Reading »