Restoring landscapes across the Mount Alexander Region

Connecting Country Reference Group Meeting

Posted on 14 May, 2009 by Connecting Country

Chewton Town Hall (Pyrenees Highway, Chewton)

 

Minutes of Connecting Country Reference Group meeting March 26 2009

Posted on 7 April, 2009 by Connecting Country

Minutes of Connecting Country Reference Group meeting

Present: Geoff Park, Maurie Dynon, Doug Ralph, Bernard Slattery, Marie Jones, Deirdre Slattery, Jan Hall, Julia Brown, Beth Mellick, Julie Hurley, Chris Morris, Malcolm Fyffe

Apologies: Elvyne Hogan, Patrick Kavanagh, Christine Kilmartin,Peter Johnson, Janis Stewart, Tim Read, Krista Patterson-Majoor, Virginia Adrian, Phil Ingamells

Agenda
1. Marie welcomed Julia Brown, newly appointed CC project officer.

2. Indigenous Flora Guide: Beth reported on this proposal from the Castlemaine Field Naturalists. It was agreed to seek PV/DSE and CMA funding for it; CC funds will also contribute; it is expected that FOBIF will have a representative on the editorial committee.

3. CFOC/NRIP
a. Marie read a letter of support from Uncle Brian Nelson. This letter will be posted on the website.
b. Geoff outlined our application for funding, its position in the CMA package, and the funding process. The application is built around the Phascogale, and focuses on Woodland environments. It includes roles for stewardship [Bush Tender, fencing, etc]; Community Education; Monitoring programs; and Landcare support. It includes two employed positions: on ground coordination and Landcare coordination. It would amount to about $600,000 and envisages a four year time scale.
c. The meeting recorded its appreciation for those responsible for the heavy work involved in preparing this application.

4. Landcare: coordinators’ positions end in June. After that, coordinator positions may be tied to network projects. A local Landcare meeting will be held on May 7 at the Campbell’s Creek Community centre to discuss the future of landcare in MA Shire.

5. Beth has prepared a media release (accompanied by a photo) of the announcement of further NWF funding for a Project Officer, the updating and promotion of the website and a contribution to the Indigenous Flora Guide.

6. The names of all those who had registered sightings of the Brush-tailed Phascogale were placed in a hat. The individual prize went to Nick Halliday from Golden Point Landcare and the group prize to Geraldine Harris, Barkers Creek Landcare. Thanks to Beth for organising this special treat!

7. The next CC Reference Group meeting will be on Thursday May 14th at 1.30 p.m. in the Chewton Town Hall
• to see how the CFOC application is going,
• discuss ideas on how to use the mapping program,
• finalise planning for the facilitated workshop on future projects – this workshop to be held at the end of May/early June.

8. Thanks were expressed to Peter McConnell for allowing us the use of the Castlemaine South School and its facilities.

9. Geoff gave a presentation on how to use the mapping tool on www.connectincountry.org.au Other sessions to be planned for interested groups.

 

Connecting Country – March Reference Group meeting

Posted on 21 March, 2009 by Connecting Country

To be held at Castlemaine South School on Thursday 26th March commencing at 5.30pm. For further details contact Marie Jones on (03) 5472-2892 or goldenpoint@aanet.com.au

 

Golden Point Landcare Meeting

Posted on 20 March, 2009 by Connecting Country

The meeting will be a workshop to use the Connecting Country web mapper

 

Free Indigenous Seed Collection Workshops

Posted on 16 March, 2009 by Connecting Country

The session is designed to introduce participants to all aspects of collecting seed identification, collection, extraction, cleaning and storage of indigenous species. The workshop will cover include a basic theory session and a practical session in the afternoon. Continue Reading »

 

Day Out at Little Lake Boort

Posted on 16 March, 2009 by Connecting Country

North Central CMA is organising a great day out at Little Lake Boort for all landcarers across the region, to thank you all for your hard work and contributions to caring for our environment.

The theme of this year’s Landcare forum is ‘Landcare – Imagining the Future’. It will be a day of fun, laughter, interesting speakers, indigenous activities and entertainment, as well as information and ideas to inspire future projects. We will also be launching our booklet ‘Celebrating our Most Significant Change Stories of Landcare in the North Central Region’. Continue Reading »

 

Loddon River Planning

Posted on 4 March, 2009 by Connecting Country

Planning day at the Loddon River, Newstead, 4th of March.