Draft Flood Management Plan – Feedback due by 13 March
Posted on 9 March, 2015 by Connecting Country
The North Central CMA, in conjunction with the Mount Alexander Shire Council and a local Steering Committee, is in the process of finalising the Castlemaine, Campbells Creek and Chewton Flood Management Plan and is seeking public feedback on the Draft Plan. Feedback is due by Friday 13 March 2015. You can send your response by email to shaun.morgan@nncma.vic.gov.au.
The plan includes 10 recommendations for flood management, including the construction and enhancement of a number of levee banks, the development of a shire plan for floods, planning scheme amendments, flood warning systems and some vegetation removal downstream of Alexandra St in Campbells Creek.
Thankfully the draft plan does not recommend the wholesale removal of native vegetation from along the creeks as an approach to flood mitigation. The flood modelling undertaken by consultants GHD indicated that widespread vegetation removal along the creeks would not be an effective approach for flood management.
Following this feedback period when the final version of the plan is subsequently developed, Connecting Country does not wish to see any additional recommendations for the removal native vegetation and habitat. As such, we will be making a submission to the draft plan which supports the use of flood management approaches that minimise or, preferably, avoid the removal of native vegetation and other riparian habitat features.
A copy of the draft plan is available for downloading (CLICK HERE) and you can go to the North Central CMA website for further information on the overall process and other background information (CLICK HERE).
The website of the Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests also has information which may be of interest to people considering making a submission (CLICK HERE).
Sutton Grange Landscapes in the Big Picture
Posted on 8 March, 2015 by Connecting Country
Often the vestiges of early European colonisation are easier to see in the landscape – bricks, rusting metal, earthmoving, fences, the (child-sized) handprints in mortar – and they attract our eye, more readily, or easily. We often don’t see the many markers of indigenous life – scar trees, ovens, middens – even though the indigenous seems more enduring; still evident more than 160 years later and in use for many hundreds of years before that.
The granite, redgum woodlands of Coliban Park in Sutton Grange was a perfect landscape to explore, interpret and discuss regional land use history at our first workshop for the year, ‘The Big Picture” on Sunday 1 March 2015. We were able to see artifacts of white settlement sitting alongside those of the first Australians, and our expert presenters Deirdre Slattery and Gerry Gill helped us to interpret them. Duncan Barber provided us with familial insight, adding to the story – and the sense of scale, and history. We were also prompted to consider the contemporary challenges of managing – and shaping – the land.
A very special location, expert presenters, and an enthusiastic group keen to know more about this part of the world and the factors that have shaped land use, and thus the landscape, over time. Many thanks to Jess and Duncan Barber for their hospitality and generosity, to Deirdre and Gerry for sharing their knowledge, and to Ann-Marie Monda who represented the Connecting Country Committee. For more information on the session, including links to resources, images and photos from the day, go to our Education Program section and click on the 1 March workshop session.
Note, we still have vacancies for the rest of the autumn workshops, especially the April 19 and May 8 sessions – download a registration form – registration – autumn – or contact janet@connectingcountry.org.au.
Mount Alexander Shire Council – Environment questionnaire and workshop series
Posted on 5 March, 2015 by Connecting Country
The latest Mount Alexander Shire Environment and Sustainability Newsletter (Autumn 2015 Edition) has just been distributed to subscribers. To sign up for this quarterly newsletter, there is a link available on the council’s Environment webpage (click here).
There are two items within the latest newsletter that may be of particular interest to Connecting Country members and supporters.
1. Questionnaire.
The council have commenced the development of their next Environment Strategy. As part of this process, they are interested in learning what local residents and groups consider to be the 5 highest priorities for environment and sustainability in the Mount Alexander shire. A very short questionnaire from council can be accessed by following this link (click here).
2. Workshop Series
As a nice complement to Connecting Country’s own series of landscape restoration workshops, the Mount Alexander Shire are running a series of ‘Sustainable Living’ workshops during 2015. It includes a range of interesting topics covering biodiversity, waterways, gardening, soil health and activities in the local bushland. More information is available on their website (click here).
Fire planning and control burns – opportunity to have your say
Posted on 5 March, 2015 by Connecting Country
The Victorian government is reviewing the effectiveness of target-based control burning, and are currently accepting submissions from individuals and community groups. The closing date for public submissions is 13 March 2015. A press release about the review was released by the Premier Daniel Andrews (click here) and there is further information available about how you can make a submission and the scope of the inquiry from the Inspector-General for Emergency Management (IGEM) website (click here).
Connecting Country is intending to make a submission to this review.
There are two locally-based groups that have a number of concerns about the current control burning regime, and the effectiveness of the blanket 5% annual burning target in reducing fuel and reducing risk to human life and assets.
– Living with Ecology and Fire or LEAF (click here to view their website)
– Friends of the Box Ironbark Forests (click here to view their website)
Local residents and groups may wish to make their own submissions to this review.
Butterflies and Moths of Central Victoria – Baynton Sidonia Landcare group’s first seminar for 2015
Posted on 3 March, 2015 by Connecting Country
Julie Whitfield, seminar presenter, ID’s butterflies at a recent workshop.
“Who does not love butterflies?” is the question that ecologist Julie Whitfield poses before she enumerates all the reasons that we should value butterflies. Among them: pollination services that they provide; being part of the food chain for birds, other insects and frogs; and simply being beautiful.
Julie will be the speaker at a seminar organized by Baynton Sidonia Landcare group on Sunday 29th March 2015 from 1.30 pm to 4.00 at the Baynton Hall, Darlington Road, Baynton.
The seminar is entitled “Butterflies and Moths of Central Victoria” and there will be an illustrated talk that will range over identification, conservation and useful resources.
The illustrated talk will be followed by a hands on workshop which, sadly, has restricted numbers. The workshop runs from 4.15 to 5.30 pm at the same venue. The workshop will include learning the process of identifying a pinned (i.e. dead) specimen and each participant will receive a bundle of resources to take home and a butterfly-friendly seedling.
You are welcome to book for both sections of the seminar, but please note that landholders of the Baynton Sidonia area will be given preference for the restricted number of places in the hands on workshop.
Afternoon tea will be served during the seminar. The event is free and children are welcome. Booking is essential by contacting Clare on 54 234 152 or clare@knco.net by Thursday March 26th.
7 March 2015 – Celebration Event for Doug Ralph
Posted on 2 March, 2015 by Connecting Country
To celebrate the life of Doug Ralph, there will be an event this Saturday (March 7) at the Rotunda within the Castlemaine Botanic Gardens. For those that wish to attend, Connecting Country has been provided with the following information for distribution:
The event will start at 12 noon & the more ‘official’ proceedings will begin at 1 pm.
It is hoped that it will be a relaxed & informal gathering with the opportunity for people to offer something ( word or song or anecdote etc) by way of celebration of the man we all loved so well & to pay our respects & give thanks for the oh so many ways he touched our lives
There will be a blackboard at the event for those who wish to participate & an MC to keep us in check.
Bring your own picnic lunch & your memories & let’s celebrate the life of Doug Ralph.
Contact Bronwyn Silver 5475 1089 for further information
Hot, but not heated – Bill Gammage at the 2015 Workshop Launch
Posted on 27 February, 2015 by Connecting Country
It was over 35 degrees celcius outside – and probably hotter inside the Campbells Creek Community Centre – but that didn’t deter around 300 people from attending the launch of the Connecting Country 2015 Workshop Program on Sunday 22 Feb 2015.
copies available at stonemans bookroom
The main attraction was historian and award winning author Bill Gammage, who spoke about ‘1788’* aboriginal land management and ‘fire stick farming’. Drawing upon the early records of Colonial explorers and European settlers, Bill has described a systematic and complex system of aboriginal land management throughout Australia, from coast to coast, which included planned and selective burning, to create conditions for prey and plenty. It’s a new way of looking at the Australian landscape; which has led to plenty of conjecture and debate amongst scientists and lay-people alike. Undoubtedly, Bill’s book has struck a chord in the community on many levels.
What is it about the book that draws this level of interest and engagement?
Perhaps because the scope of his text is large enough to encompass – and also exclude – many and varied views, and perhaps because there is always much difficulty in moving from the big picture, down to the more specific and locally relevant scale. For instance, what do central Victoria’s Box Ironbark forests (and their myriad species) need/tolerate/resist in terms of fire duration, intensity and timing? And how does this compare with granitic landscapes on the eastern side of Mount Alexander, or on the basalt plains to the west? And what value do we place today on the areas described as ‘scrub’ – so full of shrubs, ground-layer plants, logs and leaf litter that provide critical habitat for so many declining woodland birds and other species.
Bill’s challenge to all of us is to view our landscape, on both in the large (continent-wide) and lesser (catchment, regional, local, property) levels with fresh eyes.
How much do we really know and understand the inter-relationships of animal, plant, human – and how have they been altered over the past 200 or so years? How can we possibly work to benefit all? We can surmise, through the research of Bill and others such as Ron Hateley**, how it was prior to 1788, but what for the future? How can we learn and benefit from both indigenous and scientific ecological knowledge?
Ultimately, it all comes down to our own particular lens through which we view the world, and our landscapes.
bill, janet, brendan, marie and trent
Many thanks to Bill, to Dja Dja Warrung Traditional Owner Trent Nelson for welcoming us to his Country and talking about the contemporary challenges for all of us, to Mal Brown (Scarlet Consulting) for facilitating the session and as always we thank our Committee members, especially Brendan Sydes and Marie Jones who presented on the day. Thank you to the many Connecting Country volunteers and staff members who made the day a success. Also thanks to Alice Barnes from Sovereign Hill who generously audio-recorded the session and has made it available for us to share with those who couldn’t make the event or had to be turned away because of the venue limitations.
Some images from the session are available in our Education and Resources Section (Click here). To see what people are saying afterwards, or to comment on the presentation, go to the Forum page (click here). We hope to have the audio from the presentation available on our website soon.
To sign up for one or more of the Autumn workshop sessions register HERE (NB: the session on the 1st March is now fully booked).
For more information about our education program, contact janet@connectingcountry.org.au or phone 5472 1594.
* Bill uses the term ‘1788’ as shorthand for the beliefs and actions of Aboriginal people at the time of first European colonisation in Australia.
** Ron Hateley’s book, “The Victorian Bush – Its ‘Original and Natural’ Condition.”, published by Polybractea Press, provides a comprehensive and compelling perspective on vegetation patterns prior to European colonisation of Australia.
Vale Doug Ralph
Posted on 25 February, 2015 by Connecting Country
Connecting Country is greatly saddened by the news that Doug Ralph died of a heart attack earlier this week.
Doug was involved from the very earliest discussions about the need for a community-based landscape restoration program in the local area, which grew into the idea of Connecting Country. In his gentle, friendly and inclusive manner, he played a major role in bringing together people from across the Mount Alexander Region for this common purpose. Then, as Connecting Country’s first president, he laid the foundations for the organisation it has become. He continued to maintain a keen interest in the subsequent years after stepping back from a committee role, and always generously provided assistance and advice to the staff and committee when asked. As recently as December last year, Doug led a team of birdwatchers drawn from Connecting Country members and supporters on an excursion to one of his favourite patches of local bushland near Fryerstown (click here). His knowledge of the ecological and cultural values of Box-Ironbark forests was vast and insightful, and his passion for it was inspiring.
The Friends of the Box Ironbark Forest have a moving tribute to Doug on their website, which gives further insights to this great person (click here).
We pass on our sympathies to his family at this tough time.
We will miss him.
Doug Ralph consolidating Connecting Country’s relationship with the Norman Wettenhall Foundation (Beth Mellick – Executive Director) in the very early days of the organisation.
Are you a River Detective?
Posted on 24 February, 2015 by Connecting Country
Are you a school, parent, community or Landcare Group member passionate about your local waterway and environment ?
North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) is on the lookout for passionate people keen to engage the next River Detectives recruits. The River Detectives environmental education program has been introducing primary school students to key river health and water-quality concepts for several years.
Water quality testing at Kangaroo Creek, courtesy of Sandy Scheltema
The first training session will be held on March 3, with volunteers encouraged to apply by February 28.
To register a school of become a River Detective facilitator, contact Nicole on Tuesdays and Wednesdays on (03) 5440 1892 or email Nicole.howie@nccma.vic.gov.au.
Further details about River Detectives are available on their website (click here) or contact:
Communications Officer, North Central CMA
PO Box 18, Huntly VIC 3551
t: 03 5448 7124
e: info@nccma.vic.gov.au
1 March 2015 – Join us for The Big Picture in Sutton Grange
Posted on 20 February, 2015 by Connecting Country
Inspired to do, say, and learn something more after the Workshop launch?
Connecting Country’s autumn workshop series kicks off a week after the Bill Gammage launch, with the first session on Sunday 1 March 2015, 10.30 to 3.30pm, at Sutton Grange. “The Big Picture” will provide an overview of the indigenous and post-colonisation history of our region, using a very special Sutton Grange farming property as the setting. Access to this private property is rarely available, and so this is a one-off opportunity to see some amazing natural and cultural features. Guided by expert presenters, participants will gain a better understanding of the land-use history (inc. social, political influences) that shaped our landscapes, from before European settlement through to today. There are some places for participants still available for this session.
After “The Big Picture”, we’ll bring the lens down slightly further on Friday March 27. “Making Connections”, again in Sutton Grange, will look at landscape ecology and how – and where – landholders can create or enhance habitats areas on their property to benefit wildlife movements, in this case, woodland birds.
Our third session on Sunday April 19, “To Plant or Not to Plant” will get down at ground level to consider the pros and cons of revegetation – what method to use (natural regeneration, tubestock, direct seeding) and how to do it, as well as the plant species to choose.
The final session on Friday May 8, will look at how to evaluate the success, or progress, of your restoration project. “Nature’s Stocktake” will look at ‘landscape health’ and take it’s pulse with ways to benchmark, monitor and evaluate, before, during and ‘after’ your project.
The autumn workshop series will take place in the eastern part of the region, while our spring workshops are to mostly occur in the west. The workshops are aimed at people who are managing areas of 4ha/10 acres or more on their own properties – or as part of a Landcare group – and so first preference will be given to those people. However, the first workshop should be of interest to anyone across the region. Places are limited, so register early. (Lunch, drinks and other snacks will be provided at each workshop from the locally-renowned Castlemaine Abundance Kitchen Enterprise – CAKE. Education materials, hand-outs and other resources will also be provided.)
Still keen to know more?
Click on the Education and Resources section and you can be a virtual work-shopper.
For more information contact janet@connectingcountry.org.au or 5472 1594.
4 March 2015 – NCCMA Future Farming Expo
Posted on 10 February, 2015 by Connecting Country
The North Central CMA, in partnership with Goulburn Broken CMA and Murray Landcare, is proudly hosting the third annual Future Farming Expo. This year’s expo will be held in Moama and will cover a broad range of topics to enhance the long-term sustainability and profitability of farms. Expert speakers will be sharing new ideas and the latest research on farm management.
Among the speakers will be leading soil scientist Declan McDonald, who will be presenting on regenerative farming practices that utilise greater soil depth to enhance soil health and secure long term profitability. Declan has the rare ability to draw on the latest global research in a way that is engaging and has immediate practical application in your business. His presentation will allow farmers to improve their soil management skills and hopefully re-discover the joy in improving soil health.
Concurrent sessions this year will feature a diverse range of topics including the latest in climate science and what it means to you, irrigation upgrade success stories, value adding through stacking livestock enterprises, online marketing and the new strain of calicivirus.
When: Wednesday 4 March 2015
Time: 8.30 am to 4.00 pm
Where: Rich River Golf Club Resort, Twenty Four Lane, Moama NSW 2731
Cost: Free event
RSVP: Places are strictly limited, RSVP is essential by 10 am Monday 2 March 2015 to the North Central CMA by emailing info@nccma.vic.gov.au or phoning 03 5448 7124
New Edition of ‘chat’ – January 2015
Posted on 10 February, 2015 by Connecting Country
The January 2015 edition of the North Central CMA publication ‘chat’ is now available and can be viewed by clicking on the link on this webpage (Click here). Amongst other items, this issue has a request for 2015 Volunteer Recognition Event Submissions, a description of environmental watering in the Gunbower Forest and an EOI for the River Detectives Program 2015.
Autumn 2015 – Fungi Workshops with Alison Pouliot
Posted on 10 February, 2015 by Connecting Country
Daylesford-based naturalist, Alison Pouliot, has announced her Fungi workshops, forays and seminars for Autumn 2015. A selection of those that still have places available are listed below. For the full details and bookings, follow this link to Alison’s website (click here). I would also recommend having a look through the sample of photos in the photo archives on her website, which has an amazing array of photos from life within the forests around the Daylesford area and from beyond across south-eastern Australia.
Friday 24 April, Trentham, VIC
Foray: The Fungal Forest – Fungus Foray in the Wombat Forest
12:30 – 15:30
Cost: 35-
Saturday 25 April, Trentham, VIC
Workshop: Fungus Identification Workshop – Meeting with Mushrooms
10:30 – 16:30
Cost: 55-
Friday 01 May, Mt Macedon, VIC
Foray – The Fungal Forest – Fungus Foray at Mt Macedon
12:30 – 15:30
Cost: 35-
Saturday 02 May, Riddells Creek, VIC
Fungus Identification Workshop – Meeting with Mushrooms
10:00 – 14:30
Cost: 55-
Sunday 03 May, Creswick, VIC
Workshop – A Mushroom Encounter
10:30 – 16:30
Cost: 80-
Central Victorian Landscapes Study – Submissions Sought
Posted on 10 February, 2015 by Connecting Country
The Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (formally the Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure) is undertaking a Landscape Assessment Study of Central Victoria. The study is one of six across regional Victoria to ‘support the recently released Regional Growth Plans‘. Connecting Country’s main area of interest – the Mount Alexander Shire and surrounds – is almost entirely encompassed within this central Victorian area (click here).
From correspondence received from one of the consultants engaged to assist the state government with the study:
“The studies will evaluate and document the visual character and significance of landscapes across Victoria. This document will help guide regional planning to protect and manage these landscapes into the future.
Late last year we started investigating where visually significant areas and views may be in the study areas. As part of this process we asked representatives from local government agencies for their ideas. Agencies included councils, Catchment Management Authorities and Heritage Victoria. Members of our project team are now visiting these sites taking photos and recording information to support the final report.
The study area for Central Victoria is huge! We need help to find out where the significant landscapes are and understand what is important to local communities. I am contacting you as the representative of your community or environment group to invite your members to participate in the study. We would like to receive photos and comments describing the landscapes that are important to you and your members. This information will help us understand:
· the characteristics of the landscape
· the most significant, scenic or beautiful landscapes, views and features
· possible threats to the significant landscapes
· the intangible or non-visual aspects of the landscape, such as its cultural, heritage, social or ecological importance. ”
They request that photos and comments be submitted via their project website (www.dtpli.vic.gov.au/landscapestudies). The process includes completing a form on the website, uploading photos and marking on a map the location of the photos. The draft report will be prepared in March 2015, so they are keen to receive photos and comments by Sunday 1 March 2015.
It is still unclear to Connecting Country how the information is to be collated, prioritised and ultimately used. It is probable that Connecting Country will make a submission to this process, which highlights the wide-ranging important landscapes throughout the local area that are worthy of protection and management – many of which have a subtle or complex value which cannot be properly documented in a photograph. Local communities members or groups may wish to make their own submissions as well.
Bill Gammage Workshop Launch – Seeing History, and the Land, Anew (NB: Altered Venue)
Posted on 3 February, 2015 by Connecting Country
We’ve had a great deal of interest in the presentation by Prof. Bill Gammage that will launch Connecting Country’s Workshop Program on Sunday 22 February 2015 (Note venue change to Campbells Creek Community Centre – but still starting at 4pm). Even though Bill’s publication ‘The Biggest Estate on Earth: How Aborigines Made Australia” was published four years ago, it’s still continuing to create interest, debate, discussion, criticism, and applause. This is your chance to hear from Bill first hand.
Bill is a much awarded academic who has spent over a decade researching ‘The Biggest Estate’. We welcome the opportunity that Bill’s talk gives Connecting Country and the wider community, to look at our local landscapes through an historical lens, to consider another view, and to generate discussion about our landscape and our connections with it. We also hope that others who would not normally come to our talks and workshops might come along to find out more about what we do.
Bill’s book is broad in scope and context, taking a whole-of-continent approach and challenges the conventional history. Bill argues that aboriginal people managed the land with much more complexity than the colonialists and historians recognise/d and we should look more closely to it, and to indigenous knowledge and history, for clues and guidance. This level of complex, ongoing (over thousands of years) indigenous knowledge meant that the land was managed in ways quite specific to the local situation and topography, yet it linked to the broader landscape.
Much of the conversation of late has focussed on the burning question of burning. Bill’s book talks about the ways in which Australians up until 1788 managed the land through fire, and how in the subsequent 200 plus years, much of this intricate knowledge – of specific plant types and species, of landscapes – and the understanding of various fire regimes has been lost, and the lasting evidence is neither seen nor appreciated in that context.
The issue is perhaps not about the finer detail of ‘burning the bush’, but in seeing anew our landscapes and whether we are able to really understand them and also the implications of our management actions. Bill asserts that Aboriginals before 1788 had a clear objective in land management – ensuring food, survival, sustainability – and used their knowledge of plants and animals to achieve it.
The other main aim for the event is to launch our 2015 Workshop Program, “Working with Nature to improve your Property”. We are gathering together another fantastic array of presenters, practical topics and properties from across the region and hope to address some of the questions that Bill’s book raises: How does one ‘read’ a landscape? Or interpret the cultural/settlement history of one? How much do you know and understand about the plants and animals on your own property? What’s your objective for your land? And we’ll also look more closely at the burning question with fire ecologists and CFA experts.
More information and registration forms for the remainder of the Workshop Program will be available at the launch, or you can download them HERE: Please note that places are limited and we have a preference for participants who are managing properties of acreage (>4 ha). Contact Janet@connectingcountry.org.au or 5472 1594 for further details, or to book for the launch. Please note the Venue Change – to the Campbells Creek Community Centre, on Elizabeth St in Campbells Creek.
Positions Vacant – 2015 Works Crew
Posted on 2 February, 2015 by Connecting Country
Employment – Environmental Works Crew
Do you want to work outdoors? Do you want to make the natural world a better place? If yes, then this could be the job for you.
With funding from the Australian Government, Connecting Country is implementing a long term program to protect and enhance native vegetation at a number of sites across the Mount Alexander Shire and immediate surrounds in central Victoria. Connecting Country is seeking enthusiastic people to form its 2015 Environmental Works Crew. Work will include tree planting, fence construction, weed removal and pest control – with training to be provided.
For more information on the program, and also for a copy of the full position description, click HERE. The roles are a fixed term positions, starting in early April 2015 and concluding in October 2015. Previous experience is useful, but not essential.
To apply, send your CV and a brief cover letter to “Confidential – Works Crew Application, Connecting Country, PO Box 437, Castlemaine, VIC, 3450” by 5pm Sunday 1st March 2015 or by email to jarrod@connectingcountry.org.au
For more information regarding the project and the position, contact Jarrod Coote by phone during business hours on (03) 5472-1594 or email to jarrod@connectingcountry.org.au.
2014 Crew Members collecting eucalypt seeds for revegetation
2014 Crew Members constructing a pest animal cage trap
Merry Xmas from Connecting Country
Posted on 24 December, 2014 by Connecting Country
Best wishes to all of Connecting Country’s members, supporters and other interested people. Thank you all for your encouragement, ideas and contributions to our organisation’s Landscape Restoration activities during 2014.
We hope that you all have a relaxing and enjoyable time over the Christmas – New year period, and we look forward to your involvement again in 2015. We’ve got a big year planned, with lots of exciting and informative events and activities to get involved with. Bird-watching, phascogale surveys, workshops and other education forums, tree-planting, Landcare activities and more.
The Connecting Country office will be closed from the afternoon of Wednesday 24 December 2014 and will re-open on the morning of Monday 5 January 2015.
Some colourful local moths to keep an eye out for during 2015.
Bill Gammage to Launch 2015 Workshop Program
Posted on 24 December, 2014 by Connecting Country
Historian, award winning author and adjunct professor in the Humanities Research Centre at the Australian National University (ANU), Professor Bill Gammage will launch the 2015 Connecting Country Workshop series on Sunday February 22, 2015 at the Castlemaine Golf Club (in the clubrooms, near the corner of Rilens Rd and Pyrenees Hwy, Muckleford).
Bill’s most recent book, ‘The Biggest Estate on Earth. How Aborigines made Australia’ won several prizes for history and literature when it was published in 2011 and pieces together details of land management strategies from around Australia, stating that Aboriginal people managed the land in a far more complete, systematic and scientific way than has often been recognised. He challenges the myths that Aboriginal people were careless nomads and that the pre-colonial ecology was purely ’natural’. Based on his research findings from around Australia, Bill will talk about how our knowledge and learnings of the past can inform current land management.
‘The Biggest Estate’ raised plenty of discussion and debate amongst scientists when it was published and this is an opportunity to hear first-hand of Bill’s historical perspective. You can view an earlier video of Bill discussing his book here. Download the launch flyer and spread the word.
Bill Gammage grew up in Wagga, and was an ANU undergraduate and postgraduate before teaching history at the Universities of Papua New Guinea and Adelaide. He wrote The Broken Years on Australian soldiers in the Great War (1974), Narrandera Shire (1986), The Sky Travellers on the 1938-39 Hagen-Sepik Patrol in New Guinea (1998), and The Biggest Estate on Earth: How Aborigines made Australia (2011). He served the National Museum of Australia for three years as Council member, deputy chair and acting chair. He was made a Freeman of the Shire of Narrandera in 1987, a fellow of the Australian Academy of Social Sciences in 1991, and a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2005.
The launch will begin at 4:00pm and be followed by a BBQ dinner to celebrate the start of Connecting Country’s ‘Working with Nature to Improve Your Property’ Workshop Program for 2015, supported through funding from the Australian Government. This year’s program is aimed at property holders in the Mount Alexander region who are seeking information, resources and practical skills to improve, protect and restore their land. More information will be available on the evening.
There is no cost to attend the event. RSVPs are not essential, but are greatly preferred for catering purposes. Contact Janet on 5472 1594 or janet@connectingcountry.org.au for more info or to book.
TFN appeal to save the Long Swamp
Posted on 24 December, 2014 by Connecting Country
Trust for Nature (TFN) has launched an appeal to protect the Long Swamp wetland which stretches almost 200 ha on the Moolort Plains, east of Maryborough. Long Swamp was once the jewel in the crown of the Moolort Plains wetland system, the only Deep Freshwater Marsh in the region. The area is of crucial importance in providing habitat for a small and dwindling population of Brolgas.
There is currently a unique opportunity to restore the Long Swamp because two of the other three landowners that own land on which Swamp is located have expressed interest in selling. TFN:
‘This is exciting news – there is an opportunity to permanently protect more than 90% of the wetland. Funding has been sourced from government and philanthropic sources, with a brand-new major donor contributing a substantial sum Trust for Nature is now an estimated 70% of the way to having the funds to purchase and restore this unique and precious wetland.’
To find out more about the appeal and how to donate, click here.
More information about the Moolort Plains can be found in Geoff Park’s blog where there are many posts about the birdlife and natural features of these wetlands.
Connecting Country gets birdy on Annual Bird Count Weekend
Posted on 11 December, 2014 by Connecting Country
The Annual Bird Count has been a Castlemaine Field Naturalist Club event held on the first weekend in December for some fifteen years, and in the last few years Connecting country staff and members have participated as well. The weekend of the 6 and 7th of December 2014 saw two teams of bird enthusiasts from Connecting Country scouring the Mount Alexander region for our feathered friends. One team was led by myself (Tanya Loos) and Doug Ralph, and we visited the Fryerstown forests on Saturday. Another team was led by Chris Timewell to the Baringhup and Nuggetty area on the Sunday.
Our group had plenty of beginner birdwatchers – great to see you all enjoying yourselves!
Doug is a passionate advocate for the forests of the Fryerstown area, in particular a special patch which is coursed through by Columbine Creek. Here, our group wound our way slowly along the creek for a few hours, admiring the beautiful old trees and the wonderful intact understory. We saw Blue Pincushions in flower! They are all dried up elsewhere in the region.
Bird-wise we faced some tough conditions, with strong winds making bird movement and sounds tricky to pick up. We saw plenty of Musk Lorikeets, and good views of Olive-backed Orioles.
The bird of the day was a Leaden Flycatcher, fluttering and foraging in cassinia shrubs. Leaden Flycatchers are an uncommon visior to the region – for pics and information on this lovely bird, go to the Natural Newstead site (click here).
It’s not all about birds though! We were also delighted to see thriving populations of a blue butterfly known as the Imperial Hairstreak. This butterfly has a special relationship with ants – the ants protect the caterpillar and pupae, in exchange for the sugary exudate from the caterpillars. Jane Mitchell took these lovely photos, and for more on this species see the Castlemaine Field Nats website (click here).
Imperial Hairstreak on a Daphne Heath (left); Imperial Hairstreak on a Wirilda- the pupae and ant activity was observed on this type of wattle (right)
Our group saw 14 species of bird during our foray into one of the hidden gems of the region. Many thanks to Doug for showing us this special and presently unprotected spot. A copy of our completed datasheet – using the Connecting Country Birdwatcher’s Monitoring Kit – can be viewed here.
Chris and his small team made a day of it, and visited five sites including bushland in Baringhup and the Nuggettys, the Loddon River, and Cairn Curran. An impressive sixty-four bird species were recorded (click here to see the completed datasheet). The highlights were a pair of White-backed Swallows on the northern side of Baringhup (a species rarely seen in the region), as well as White-fronted Chats, a Rainbow Bee-eater, three Caspian Terns, Chestnut Teals and a pair of Sacred Kingfishers. Kerrie Jennings captured a wonderful portrait of a Whistling Kite near Cairn Curran.
A Whistling Kite