Intrepid Landcarers indeed!

Posted on 15 August, 2019 by Asha

Over twenty young people aged 16-35 shared an exciting adventure last weekend at the Mount Alexander Region Intrepid Landcare Retreat.

‘The weather delivered everything from hail, wind, snow, freezing temperatures, rainbows and sunshine!  Between outdoor adventures, helping with some direct seeding for habitat, learning much about the local area and leadership, and thawing out, the group threw together some pretty awesome project ideas to bring to this region,’ said Megan Rowlatt from Intrepid Landcare Australia.

‘The group met the legends behind the Cactus Warriors who have been battling the insidious Wheel Cactus for many years and bringing landscapes back to good health. We met awesome Landcare volunteers looking after and restoring bushland which has been highly disturbed due to a long history of gold mining. We met Pauline from the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation who shared her beautiful culture and local knowledge with us. And we met an amazing group of young people passionate about the environment.’

If you are interested in getting involved with an Intrepid Landcare group in the Mount Alexander region, contact Asha Bannon at asha@connectingcountry.org.au, or join the new ‘Intrepid Landcare Mount Alexander’ Facebook group.

To make these opportunities accessible to as many young people as possible, successful applicants were generously supported by North Central Catchment Management Authority and Connecting Country through funding from the Victorian Landcare Program. This support covered all catering, accommodation and a carefully packaged leadership development program tailored to meet the needs of young people passionate about the environment.

Working bee with Ian Higgins from Friends of Campbells Creek. Photo: Asha Bannon.

Photo: Connecting Country

Learning about plants with Ian along Campbells Creek (photo by Asha Bannon)

Intrepid Landcare retreat 2019 (photo by Megan Rowlatt)

Chatting with Lee Mead from the Cactus Warriors (photo by Asha Bannon)

Learning about Wheel Cactus (photo by Asha Bannon)

Paddy, Emily, and Tahnne working hard in the rain! (photo by Asha Bannon)

Tess, Penny, and Rohan sowing seeds for futrue habitat along Campbells Creek (photo by Asha Bannon)

Exploring Leanganook/Mount Alexander (photo by Asha Bannon)

Landscapes in transition – property visit with Muckleford Catchment Landcare

Posted on 5 August, 2019 by Asha

Dam in Muckleford (photo by Muckleford Catchment Landcare)

Join Muckleford Catchment Landcare to explore a property that demonstrates techniques to transition a landscape via planting and water management. You will see:

• How dams can be functional water sources, habitats and aesthetic features that sit within the landscape.
• How the efficacy of different planting techniques is dependent on the landscape.
• How direct seeding of native seed can be used at a larger scale to kick start the transition.

When: 10.00 am to 11.30 am, Saturday 24 August 2019

Where: 88 Symes Rd, Muckleford South, VIC 3462

RSVP: Please RSVP to Beth Mellick on 0431 219 980 or email mucklefordlandcare@gmail.com

Friends of Campbells Creek Landcare AGM – 7 August 2019

Posted on 31 July, 2019 by Asha

Friends of Campbells Creek Landcare have had an active, successful year, thanks to the continued hard work of their committee members and the wider community. Volunteers from the group have put in more than 2,000 hours of on-ground work in the last year. The environment along Campbells Creek shows the benefit.

Friends of Campbells Creek Landcare believes volunteer groups (including theirs) need the infusion of new ideas and new energy to continue to produce results. CLICK HERE to read their document outlining their committee member roles, and consider whether any roles suit your interests and abilities.  Feel free to contact their Secretary, Thea King (tking@internode.on.net), or the current role-holder if you want to know more.  If you would like to contribute, but are unsure of the commitment involved, please consider volunteering to support the elected committee member as an assistant.  All positions are re-elected annually.

Annual General Meeting – Friends of Campbells Creek Landcare

When:         Wednesday 7 August 2019.  Meal from 6.00 pm.  Meeting from 7.30 pm

Where:        Klua Sathorn Thai restaurant, 32 Johnstone Street, Castlemaine VIC

The meeting will be short, made up of two important agenda items:

• Reports from the past year.
• Election of the new office-bearers.

Friends of Campbells Creek Landcare volunteers on a bridge along the creek (photo by Friends of Campbells Creek Landcare)

A prickly reminder to watch the Wheel Cactus

Posted on 18 July, 2019 by Ivan

What is Wheel Cactus (Opuntia robusta)? A plant native to Mexico, this cactus is most commonly called Wheel Cactus in Australia, and believed to be introduced into our country as a ‘hardy’ garden plant. This cactus species has a distinct blue/green colour and large, flat, round pads with many short and long spines. The pads are circular like a wheel, different to the shape of Prickly Pear. The plant is erect and can grow to 3 metres tall. It has yellow flowers and dark red fruit in spring/summer, each containing approximately 500 seeds which are spread by animals and water. This weed has become widely established in central Victoria, western NSW and south-eastern and eastern SA. It particularly likes to grow on granite outcrops, but also infests woodlands and pastures.

The Tarrangower Cactus Control Group (TCCG) has been battling the prickly problem that is Wheel Cactus (Opuntia robusta) for many years now, ensuring the community and landowners are always on the look out for Wheel Cactus invading the landscape. Three excellent videos from TCCG (see below) have helped the community to easily access the library of information on Wheel Cactus and how to best remove this troublesome plant from the landscape, no matter the level of knowledge.

The three videos cover a variety of topics, such as what Wheel Cactus is and why it is an issue, who the Cactus Warriors are, management options for treating Wheel Cactus and some great footage of the warriors at work. We think the videos are an excellent resource for anyone wanting to know more about managing Wheel Cactus and how devastating it can be on agriculture and the environment alike.

TCCG consists of Landcare volunteers dedicated to the eradication of Wheel Cactus. The group holds friendly and informal community field days to inform and demonstrate control techniques, on the last Sunday of the month from May to October. These field days always end with a free BBQ lunch, cuppa and cake and the opportunity to chat, exchange ideas and make contacts. It is a great opportunity to spend a rewarding morning outdoors, meeting neighbours and others who are concerned about preserving our unique environment. Everyone is welcome, no previous experience is required and all equipment is supplied.

Please contact the TCCG via their website at www.cactuswarriors.org if you have any queries.  Click on the videos below to watch each video and learn about the incredible success the TCCG have achieved and how to remove plants correctly.

Victorian Landcare Facilitator Program Review: Survey

Posted on 18 July, 2019 by Asha

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) is reviewing the Victorian Landcare Facilitator Program (VLFP). This program has aimed to build on the strengths of Victorian Landcare by funding Landcare Facilitators who are employed across the state. While the program has been operating since 2011, this review is focused on the last four years of the program, as a part of normal government processes.

The key focus of the review is to assess the program’s impact and effectiveness, and looking for opportunities to improve future iterations. The focus is solely on the Victorian Landcare Facilitator Program as a specific funding initiative, not on the broader Victorian Landcare Program. This survey is an important part of the review.

All members of the Victorian community with an interest in Landcare or in similar community environment programs are invited to complete the survey here: surveymonkey.com/r/VLFP2019

Closing date/time for survey: 11:59pm on Tuesday 23 July 2019.

RM Consulting Group has been engaged to act as the independent reviewer of the program and has developed the survey. If you need assistance to complete the survey, please contact Mel Ludeman (or Claire Feniuk) at RM Consulting Group on 5441 4821.

Feel free to call Asha (Connecting Country’s Landcare Facilitator) on (03) 5472 1594 if you have any questions or would like to chat.

National Tree Day – 28 July 2019

Posted on 18 July, 2019 by Asha

Planting along Baringhup Landcare’s Loddon River site in 2016 (photo by Asha Bannon)

National Tree Day is coming up on Sunday 28 July 2019, with Schools Tree Day a couple of days before on Friday 26 July 2019. National Tree Day is a call to action for all Australians to put their hands in the earth and give back to their community. Each year, about 300,000 people across the country volunteer their time to engage in environmental activities that educate individuals about the world around them. It’s a day to venture outdoors and get to know your community, and most importantly, to have fun!

See below for details about a couple of local plantings happening on the Sunday. If you’re not based in the Mount Alexander region, you can find your nearest National Tree Day working bee on the website here: https://treeday.planetark.org/ If you’re busy that day, get in touch with your local Landcare group anyway, as there will be more planting days to come this year! Contact details for all our local Landcare groups can be found on our website by clicking here.

Castlemaine Landcare Group

When: Sunday 28 July 2019, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Where: Corner of Colles Road and Fallan Street, Castlemaine VIC 3450

What: This National Tree Day, Castlemaine Landcare Group are keen to plant 600 seedlings along Forest Creek. They’d love your help! Please come down to plant one seedling or many, as every plant in the ground will create more habitat for our native wildlife. The plants put in will provide shade along the creek and create areas for people to picnic as well as for insects, birds and aquatic life to thrive. But they can’t do it without your help.

Other information: Do some planting, and then afterwards join them for a free lunch at 12.30 pm of sausages and soup from the Castlemaine Lions Club. Please wear stout footwear and bring gardening gloves, water and a hat. Look forward to seeing you!

Contact: christinekilmartin01@gmail.com

Friends of Campbells Creek Landcare

When: Sunday 28 July 2019, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Where: Meet on the trail alongside Central Carpets, Castlemaine. If arriving in car, it’s probably best to park at the south end of Camp Crescent, then walk over the footbridge and southwards towards the highway for another 120 m.

What: For the National Tree Day, Friends of Campbells Creek Landcare will be planting understorey species at ‘Carpetland’—one of the really high profile sites along the creek. They’re hoping to turn this long neglected site, that once had good tree cover, into a welcoming showpiece by attempting to plant over 300 seedlings.

Other information: They’ll finish with a late morning tea at noon. Bring a hat, water, and a friend if you like. All welcome.

Contact: info@focc.org.au

Victorian Landcare Awards: Extension for nominations

Posted on 9 July, 2019 by Ivan

The closing date for entries to the 2019 Victorian Landcare Awards has been extended until Thursday 11 July 2019 at 11:59pm.

More information: on criteria and how to nominate for the 2019 Victorian Landcare Awards go to www.landcareaustralia.org.au/landcareawards2019

The 2019 Victorian Landcare Awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of the individuals, groups, networks and organisations who make significant contributions to protect, conserve and restore Victoria’s environment.

There are nine National Landcare Award categories and six Victorian (only) Award categories, see below:

National Landcare Award categories:  

• Landcare Farming Award
• Innovation in Agriculture Land Management Award
• Individual Landcarer Award
• Partnerships for Landcare Award
• Coastcare Award
• Junior Landcare Team Award
• Young Landcare Leadership Award
• Indigenous Land Management Award
• Landcare Community Group Award

All Victorian winners of the National Landcare Awards categories will proceed as finalists (representing Victoria) at the 2020 National Landcare Awards.

Victorian Landcare Award categories:

• Joan Kirner Landcare Award
• Landcare Network Award
• Dr Sidney Plowman Travel & Study Award
• Heather Mitchell Memorial Fellowship
• Urban Landcare Award
• Environmental Volunteer Award

Nominations are encouraged from groups, networks and individuals involved in protecting and enhancing their local environment and improving agricultural productivity. They include:

• Sustainable farmers & professional farming systems groups
• Indigenous Landcare groups & individuals
• Urban Landcare groups including ‘Friends of’ groups
• Landcare groups
• Coastcare groups
• Individuals
• Environmental volunteer groups
• Junior Landcare groups (including day care centres, primary and secondary schools, youth groups)
• Youth groups including Scouts & Girls Guides
• Young Landcare leaders
• Natural resource management agencies
• Local government
• Research agencies
• Agricultural co-operatives, industry associations, suppliers or individual primary producers.

Landcare members assessing a Needle-Grass infestation with John Walter. Photo: Connecting Country archive

Need help to control Wheel Cactus?

Posted on 24 June, 2019 by Asha

Great message from our local Cactus Warriors:

Are you new to the Maldon area? Have you escaped the stressful city lifestyle and bought yourself a piece of paradise? Welcome, you’ve made the best decision! But have you now discovered there’s a few weeds to deal with?

If you have some Wheel Cactus plants, then the Tarrangower Cactus Control Group (TCCG) can help you to deal with these invasive weeds. If there’s just a few young plants then it’s much easier to destroy these while they’re small. But no matter how small or large your Wheel Cactus infestation, please don’t hesitate to contact the TCCG for help and advice.

You can contact us via our website at www.cactuswarriors.org where you’ll also find some interesting case studies about new community members who’ve bought properties with Wheel Cactus infestations and been very successful in eliminating the weed.

Thanks to ongoing support from the Mount Alexander Shire Council, our group is very well equipped with digging tools and injection kits that can borrowed free of charge. We also hold regular Community Field Days where we demonstrate the best techniques to use.

Our next Community Field Day is on Sunday 30 June 2019, and will be in Watersons Road, Maldon VIC. The route will be well signposted from Bridgewater Rd. The morning’s activities begin at 10:30 am and always end with a delicious BBQ lunch and friendly chat. These events are family friendly, but children must be accompanied by a parent at all times. If you have any queries please contact us via email at info@cactuswarriors.org

Wheel Cactus plants on a property near Maldon (photo provided by TCCG).

Victorian Landcare Awards 2019 – nominations now open

Posted on 13 June, 2019 by Asha

Nominations are now open for the 2019 Victorian Landcare Awards. These awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of the countless individuals, groups, networks and organisations who make significant contributions to protect, conserve and restore Victoria’s environment.

There are nine National Landcare Award categories and six Victorian Award categories.

National Landcare Award categories:  

• Landcare Farming Award
• Innovation in Agriculture Land Management Award
• Individual Landcarer Award
• Partnerships for Landcare Award
• Coastcare Award
• Junior Landcare Team Award
• Young Landcare Leadership Award
• Indigenous Land Management Award
• Landcare Community Group Award

All Victorian winners of the National Landcare Awards categories will proceed as finalists (representing Victoria) at the 2020 National Landcare Awards.

Victorian Landcare Award categories:

• Joan Kirner Landcare Award
• Landcare Network Award
• Dr Sidney Plowman Travel & Study Award
• Heather Mitchell Memorial Fellowship
• Urban Landcare Award
• Environmental Volunteer Award

Nominations are encouraged from groups, networks and individuals involved in protecting and enhancing their local environment and improving agricultural productivity. They include:

• Sustainable farmers & professional farming systems groups
• Indigenous Landcare groups & individuals
• Urban Landcare groups including ‘Friends of’ groups
• Landcare groups
• Coastcare groups
• Individuals
• Environmental volunteer groups
• Junior Landcare groups (including day care centres, primary and secondary schools, youth groups)
• Youth groups including Scouts & Girls Guides
• Young Landcare leaders
• Natural resource management agencies
• Local government
• Research agencies
• Agricultural co-operatives, industry associations, suppliers or individual primary producers.

Entries close: Sunday 7 July 2019

More information: on criteria and how to nominate for the 2019 Victorian Landcare Awards go to www.landcareaustralia.org.au/landcareawards2019

Sights and sounds from the Camp Out 2019

Posted on 6 June, 2019 by Asha

If you couldn’t make it to the Camp Out on the Mount 2019, we now have available an audio recording of the panel and song from the Sunday morning. Or you may have come along but enjoyed it so much you’d like to listen again! Many thanks to Leonie van Eyk and the Little Habitat Heroes for recording this and putting it together to be shared.

The audio features a Welcome to Country from Uncle Michael Bourke, followed by further welcomes from Connecting Country, Little Habitat Heroes, Harcourt Valley Landcare, and Maree Edwards MP. Local legend George Milford then facilitates a discussion between local experts, including Terri Williams (Bendigo TAFE), Michael Bourke (Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation), Ian Braybrook and Marilyn Bennet (authors of ‘Sarah’s search – a silk odyssey’). They speak about the values of the mount from the perspectives of the environment, culture, and heritage. It finishes with local musician Eva Popov singing her song, ‘Seeds that grow’.

Click here to listen, or click the ‘play’ button below.

Also, please enjoy these lovely photos of some of the kids who went down to the revegetated area at Old Silk Worm Farm after the panel. Leonie and the Little Habitat Heroes helped them find new plants that had grown to the same height as them, to take their photo with!

Harvey and Gulliver Ward with a revegetated Hakea decurrens (photo by Leonie van Eyk)

Ted Macarthy with a revegetated Acacia (photo by Leonie van Eyk)

Victorian Junior Landcare biodiversity grants

Posted on 6 June, 2019 by Asha

Victorian schools and other groups with young Victorians that want to work on a biodiversity project can apply for the 2019 Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants. These grants offer funding for projects that involve and educate young Victorians in valuing and actively caring for our natural environment. For further information: click here

Who can apply: Schools, kindergartens, childcare centres, Scouts, Girl Guides and youth groups.

Grant funding: Up to $5,000 is available for projects comprising direct action (i.e., projects with an on-ground component), indirect action (i.e., projects with an environmental education component), or a mix of both.

Type of projects supported by this program:

• On-ground projects that restore, protect, enhance, or develop habitat for native flora and fauna, and/or address threats to biodiversity, e.g., weed invasion, habitat loss.
• Projects that increase opportunities for children to connect with their natural environment, e.g., a school excursion to Healesville Sanctuary.
• Projects that educate and raise awareness among young people of the benefits and importance of biodiversity and a healthy environment, and/or how they can contribute to environmental improvement.

Grant guidelines: click here

Frequently asked questions: click here

How to apply: To access the application form log into the Landcare Australia Communities portal (or register if you haven’t applied for a Landcare Australia grant before). Click on ‘2019 Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants’ and then click ‘create application’. You can save your application as a draft and log back in to finish it later.

Applications close: 3.00 pm on Friday 21 June 2019

Launch of 2019 Wheel Cactus season

Posted on 20 May, 2019 by Asha

The Tarrangower Cactus Control Group continues to ‘wage war on Wheel Cactus’. Here’s some information for the 2019 season launch:

We’re very pleased that our Mount Alexander Shire Tarrangower Ward Councillor, Stephen Gardner, will be ‘cutting the ribbon’ for the launch of our 2019 season of Community Field Days, on Sunday 26 May at 10.30 am.

Thanks to our sponsors and supporters, including Parks Victoria, Mount Alexander Shire Council and North Central Catchment Management Authority, we hold these field days on the last Sunday of every month from May to October, to demonstrate how best to destroy Wheel Cactus.

Please come and join us for a rewarding morning in the outdoors. We supply all the necessary equipment; all you need are sturdy shoes, long sleeves and pants and a hat.

The location for this field day is in Cairn Curran Rd. To get there, follow Watersons Rd to Cairn Curran Rd, turn left and follow the road around the reservoir and the property will be on the left opposite the reservoir; the route will be well signposted. The morning’s activities always end with a delicious BBQ lunch and friendly chat. These events are family friendly, but children must be accompanied by a parent at all times. If you have any queries please contact us via our website at www.cactuswarriors.org

Cactus Warrior volunteers at work on a Community Field Day (photo by Lee Mead)

Launch of 2019 season of Wheel Cactus season
When: Sunday 26 May 2019 at 10:30 am
Where: Cairn Curran Rd, Baringhup VIC (follow Watersons Rd to Cairn Curran Rd, turn left, continue around the reservoir and the property is on the left opposite the reservoir)
Bring: sturdy shoes, long sleeves and pants, and a hat
Further info: contact Tarrangower Cactus Control Group via their website at www.cactuswarriors.org

Nuggetty to Shelbourne railway walk – 19 May 2019

Posted on 16 May, 2019 by Asha

Join Nuggetty Land Protection Group for a walk from Nuggetty to Shelbourne along the old railway track this Sunday. A community bus will carry you to the start of the walk. The walk from there is approximately 13 kilometres to Shelbourne Railway Station. However the bus will meet walkers at the intersections of roads so you can have a lift back to your car if you need to.

When: Sunday 19 May 2019 at 9:30 am

Where to meet: Nuggetty Peace Monument, Nuggetty School Road, Nuggetty VIC. Parking is available.

What to bring: Lunch. Tea and coffee will be available at Bradford Siding. Wear walking shoes, hats and other weather-appropriate clothing.

Bookings and more information: Please make sure you book by contacting Jane Mitchell (0457 729 132) or Christine Fitzgerald (0419 347 408) from Nuggetty Land Protection Group.

The event will be cancelled if weather inclement.

Do stuff that matters with Intrepid Landcare

Posted on 15 May, 2019 by Asha

Intrepid Landcare will kick-start in the Mt Alexander region of central Victoria in August 2019 with a weekend retreat for passionate young people!

The retreat is open to anyone aged 16 – 35 years who is up for making a difference and having some good fun doing it.

Intrepid Landcare retreat

Where: Castlemaine Gardens Holiday Park, Castlemaine, VIC

When: Friday 9 August to Sunday 11 August 2019

Further info: CLICK HERE to apply or for further information

To avoid disappointment, please submit your application as soon as possible!

The leadership retreat will be the perfect place to connect to other young like-minded people, hear from awesome inspiring speakers, get your hands dirty with an action-packed weekend of adventure, conservation, cultural immersion and discovering what opportunities exist across the Mt Alexander and Central Victoria regions with Landcare.

To make these opportunities accessible to as many young people as possible, successful applicants will be generously supported by North Central Catchment Management Authority and Connecting Country through funding from the Victorian Landcare Program. This support covers all catering, accommodation and a carefully packaged leadership development program tailored to meet the needs of young people passionate about the environment.

CLICK HERE to download the flier and share it with your friends!

Nestbox monitoring with Muckleford Catchment Landcare – 19 May 2019

Posted on 14 May, 2019 by Asha

Want to find out who’s hiding in the nestboxes in Walmer? Join Muckleford Catchment Landcare this Sunday to look for threatened Brush-tailed Phascogales and other wildlife. They will use a special camera to do a live-stream of what’s inside the nestboxes, and enter data into the Atlas of Living Australia.

When: Sunday 19 May 2019 at 10.00 am
Where: Walmer Conservation Reserve (Muckleford-Walmer Road, Walmer VIC)
More information: call Beth on 0431 219 980

Sugar Gliders in a Connecting Country nestbox (photo by Beth Mellick)

Maldon ‘Living Treasures’ walk – 1 June 2019

Posted on 13 May, 2019 by Asha

Maldon Urban Landcare Group (MULGA) is holding a walk around some of Maldon’s ‘Living Treasures’ on Saturday 1 June 2019 at 9.30 am, starting at the rotunda in Maldon Shire Gardens in High St, Maldon VIC. This is your chance to discover some of Maldon’s very old trees, and also learn how to identify local indigenous eucalypts. It will be an easy walk to Bill Woodfull Reserve and Maldon Primary School, followed by morning tea. The walk will be cancelled if it’s raining.

CLICK HERE to learn more about MULGA’s work mapping and protecting Maldon’s ‘Living Treasures’.

For more information, contact MULGA Secretary Bev Phillips by phone (0407 770 350) or email (maldonurbanlandcare@gmail.com)

Yellow Box (Eucalyptus melliodora) at Bill Woodfull Reserve, estimated age 530 years (photo by Bev Phillips)

Mother nature – plant a tree for Mum this Mother’s Day

Posted on 7 May, 2019 by Asha

Along Forest Creek, Castlemaine, a transformation is taking place. Two years ago, the state government removed a large area of poplar trees, just down from Patterson Bridge on Duke Street, to make way for native species and encourage wildlife back to the area. Last year, Castlemaine Landcare Group, with help from many fantastic volunteers, planted 1,500 plants – trees, shrubs, grasses and sedges. Despite dry weather, their growth has been dramatic.

This Mother’s Day, they want to plant more! A mammoth planting event is planned for Sunday 12 May at 9.30 am at the former poplars site, where Duke Street crosses Forest Creek. Anyone and everyone is invited to come down to plant, celebrate Mother’s Day, and share a cup of tea or coffee.

Castlemaine Landcare would love to see this area restored for the community to use and to increase local biodiversity. Come and see the difference a year makes and how you can help – bring your Mum, kids, family and friends!

Please wear stout footwear and gardening gloves. The ground is rough and there are some hazards like old blackberry brambles, tree stumps and roots. Morning tea will be provided.

Where: Forest Creek at Patterson Bridge on Duke Street (near Happy Valley Road intersection) Castlemaine VIC

When: 9:30 am to 12 noon on Sunday 12 May 2019

Parking: Limited parking is available on Happy Valley Road, or park on Duke Street (near Best Motors) and walk 200 m to the planting area

More information: Please email Christine at christinekilmartin01@gmail.com

Frankie Cook is looking forward to planting a tree for mum along Forest Creek (photo from Castlemaine Landcare)

Learning under the stars – Camp Out on the Mount 2019

Posted on 16 April, 2019 by Asha

Over 130 people attended the popular Camp Out on the Mount last weekend! Every year we invite people to gather for a fun night of camping and learning, to celebrate the beautiful Leanganook/Mount Alexander and the work that Landcare and Friends groups do all year round.

Saturday evening commenced at Leanganook Camping Ground with a beautiful Welcome to Country from Aunty Kerri Douglas representing Dja Dja Wurrung. She invited everyone to take off their shoes and connect to country around the campfire. Harcourt Lions Club prepared and served a delicious BBQ to the crowd. Once the coals in the campfire had settled in, the Mellick-Cooper family carried on tradition by setting up their damper-making table for all to share.

As the sun set, Mike Hayes from Parks Victoria gathered a group of about 50 together to set out on a spotlighting night walk through the bush. The group included all ages from babies to teenagers to adults. The group spotted two Brush-tailed Possums – a delight for everyone, but especially special for our visiting students from France!

On Sunday morning, campers were woken by a chorus of birds and a sunny morning. Things kicked off again with morning tea provided by Murnong Mummas, followed by a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony with Uncle Michael Bourke. With a further welcomes from Maree Edwards MP, Connecting Country, Little Habitat Heroes, and Harcourt Valley Landcare, local legend George Milford then facilitated a discussion between local experts, including Terri Williams (Bendigo TAFE), Michael Bourke (Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation), Ian Braybrook and Marilyn Bennet (authors of ‘Sarah’s search – a silk odyssey’). They spoke about the values of the mount from the perspectives of the environment, culture, and heritage.

Local musician Eva Popov delighted us with her song, ‘Seeds that grow’, encouraging everyone to join the chorus around the campfire. The song is about the mount and the revegetation planting done by Little Habitat Heroes.

Little Habitat Heroes volunteers ran a lovely Bush Playgroup where kids could do things like play with clay and colour in pictures of wildlife while listening to the talks and singing.

Keen participants then joined a special activity to clean native Tree Violet seed ready for planting, kindly donated by Frances Cincotta from Newstead Natives. All were encouraged to take some seed home to grow their very own Tree Violet, which provides habitat for native birds and other wildlife.

To wrap up the weekend, everyone was invited to make their way down to the Old Silk Worm Farm site to see the heritage ruins and the amazing land restoration work done. Work so far includes pine removal at past Camp Out on the Mount events, and revegetation of 900 plants by Little Habitat Heroes with support from Connecting Country. Free ‘Camp Out on the Mount’ t-shirts, designed and printed by Big Tree T-shirts and funded by Mount Alexander Shire Council, were a great souvenir for people to take home.

This free annual event was organised by Connecting Country, Little Habitat Heroes and local Landcare groups, supported by funding from North Central Catchment Management Authority through the Victorian Landcare Program, and Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests. Connecting Country and Little Habitat Heroes would like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who helped to make the weekend a success, including everyone who volunteered their time to make sure things ran smoothly.

Maree Edwards MP saying a few words on Sunday morning (photo by Robyn Miller)

Jarrod Coote from Harcourt Valley Landcare talking about Landcare on the Sunday morning (photo by Robyn Miller)

Marilyn Bennet and Ian Braybrook speaking on the Sunday morning panel (photo by Robyn Miller)

Bonnie and Nina listening to panel of speakers (photo by Robyn Miller)

Camp out on the Mount 2019 (photo by Leonie van Eyk)

Exploring at the old Silk Worm Farm site (photo by Robyn Miller)

Connecting Country staff cleaning Tree Violet seed (photo by Heather Barrett)

George Milford interviewing Terri Williams (Bendigo TAFE) and Uncle Mick Bourke (Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation) (photo by Leonie van Eyk)

Jodi from Little Habitat Heroes (photo by Robyn Miller)

Eva Popoz singing her song ‘Seeds that grow’ (photo by Robyn Miller)

Gathered around the campfire on Saturday night (photo by Robyn Miller)

Auntie Kerri Douglas giving Welcome to Country on Saturday evening (photo by Robyn Miller)

Smoking ceremony on Sunday morning (photo by Robyn Miller)

Harcourt Lions Club volunteers getting ready to serve a BBQ to a hungry crowd (photo by Robyn Miller)

Uncle Mick Bourke on the Sunday panel (photo by Robyn Miller)

Reminder to register: Camp Out on the Mount 2019

Posted on 21 March, 2019 by Ivan

Just a reminder to register for the Camp Out on the Mount 2019!

CLICK HERE to visit the booking website and register for this free event. This helps us to prepare for the right amount of people for each activity and create a fun environment for all (and provide plenty of food!). Updates will also be emailed to all who register closer to the weekend, with further information on activities and what to expect.

For more information, CLICK HERE to visit our web page about this year’s Camp Out.

When: Saturday 6 – Sunday 7 April 2019
Where: Leanganook Camping Ground, Joseph Young Drive, Mount Alexander Regional Park, Faraday VIC
What to bring: Camping gear and supplies, food for Sunday breakfast, gold coin donation or Saturday night BBQ, weather-appropriate clothes, sturdy shoes and sun protection.

If you have any questions, please call Asha on (03) 5472 1594 or email asha@connectingcountry.org.au

Local couple donate $1 million for vital habitat links

Posted on 21 March, 2019 by Ivan

In a major act of biodiversity kindness and long-term vision, local residents Caroline and Terry Bellair have donated savings of $1 million to Bush Heritage Australia to convert private property into nature reserves and help create habitat links for plants and animals to adapt to a changing climate. Terry and Caroline are members of Friends of Campbells Creek Landcare and cherish their local environment and the achievements of their active Landcare group.

Some of the inspiration for the couple came after hearing Jeroen van Veen from Bush Heritage talk at an event organised by Connecting Country in Campbells Creek in 2018, called ‘Planting for the Future’ – part of our ‘Future-Proof your Restoration’ series. This event featured three guest speakers on the topic of adapting to a changing climate (click here for details). Jeroen spoke about Bush Heritage’s private property conservation program and some of the amazing outcomes the organisation has achieved through purchasing private properties with high conservation value. For example, Bush Heritage is working to link up isolated bits of habitat around St Arnaud and Wedderburn in northwest Victoria. Habitat fragmentation is a huge conservation challenge, with many areas of forest cleared for farming and mining, resulting in small, disconnected habitat havens and climate refuges.

The day after the Connecting Country event, the family began the process of donating a million dollars to Bush Heritage. The original plan was a bequest in their will, but that was soon changed to an immediate donation, allowing them to see the impacts of the Bush Heritage purchase. Over 15 years, Bush Heritage has bought more than 1,500 hectares to connect habitat in the Kara Kara-Wedderburn Landscape.

For more information on the Bellair’s generous donation, click here.

Caroline and Terry Bellair have donated a generous and long-lasting gift to the planet. (Source: Meredith O’Shea, The Age)