6 September 2014 – Do you have a head-scratching plant?
Posted on 28 August, 2014 by Connecting Country
Do you have a head-scratching plant on your place?
That’s a plant which looks like it might be a weed – but you’re not sure. And you don’t want to pull it out in case it’s a nice friendly native – but you don’t want to leave it there if it’s a going to take over the place in a couple of years!
Often we want to know what a plant is when it is still very small and easy to control – like these Cape Broom (Genista monspessullana) seedlings coming up in a Castlemaine garden.
If that scenario sounds familiar to you, then ‘Landcare in The Library’ can help! On Saturday 6th September there will be a ‘Weed or Native?’ plant identification drop-in session in the Castlemaine Library foyer between 10am and 2pm.
Experienced local botanists Paul Foreman, Ern Perkins, Bonnie Humphries & Karl Just will be on hand during the session to help solve your mystery plant woes. Just bring along some sample leaves/flowers/fruits from the plant you want identified. Alternatively you could bring some photographs of the plant.
Remember, if you don’t know what it is then it could be a native so don’t pull out the whole plant – samples are good! And if it’s an orchid you would like identified, just take some photos as they’re too vulnerable to be damaged.
While you’re there you can have a look at the range of botanical resources available at the library to help you in the future. There will also be free local flora guides, weed guides and other resources to take way.
Contact: Max Schlachter – 5472 1594 or max@connectingcountry.org.au.
Mount Alexander Shire Community Grants
Posted on 27 August, 2014 by Connecting Country
Each year Mount Alexander Shire Council allocates funding to support a range of local community-based projects and initiatives through the Strengthening Our Community Grants Scheme. The funding round for the 2014-2015 financial year opened on 22 August 2014, with applications closing on Friday 26 September 2014 at 4pm.
There is a Sustainability & Natural Environment category as part of the grants scheme. In this category there are grants up to $3000. Applicants are asked to address one or more of the following themes:
- Climate change, greenhouse & energy
- Land & biodiversity
- Urban development, planning & sustainable transport
- Waste & resource efficiency
- Water
The Council’s Environment Strategy Action Plan (4.6MB download) sets out specific objectives against the above themes.
More information and the application form can be found on the MAS website.
31 Aug 2014 – Cactus Control Field Day
Posted on 27 August, 2014 by Connecting Country
The Cactus Group’s next Field Day will be held next Sunday 31st August 2014. It will take place in Goughs Range Road south of Maldon, starting as usual at 10.30 am. The way to the site will be signposted from the corner of the Maldon-Newstead Road and Goughs Range Road. A map showing the location can be downloaded here.
For further information ring Tony Kane on (03) 5475 2973.
Crown Water Frontage Licences
Posted on 27 August, 2014 by Connecting Country
We have become aware that the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) are now renewing crown water frontage licences across Victoria. Licence holders should receive a letter and information package from DEPI soon. This letter is being sent to around 10,000 licence holders across Victoria.
The following information has been provided by DEPI regarding the licence renewal process – which makes for an interesting read about how these areas are managed, irrespective of whether you have property with water frontage or not. If this is relevant to you and you’d like further information, you can contact the DEPI Customer Service Centre 136 186 or visit the DEPI website . Continue Reading »
Birdwatchers aplenty at the Castlemaine Botanic Gardens
Posted on 26 August, 2014 by Tanya Loos
The Castlemaine Botanic Gardens has been all aflutter with burgeoning birdwatchers this month! A Beginners Workshop was held on the 2nd August 2014, followed by an Intermediate Birdwatching Skills Workshop on the 16th.
The workshops were presented by Tanya Loos, Habitat for Bush Birds Project Coordinator and Geoff Park, bird photographer and naturalist from the Natural Newstead blog. Both keen birders, it was interesting to note that the key messages of both workshops were quite similar!
- Get yourself at least one field guide to the Birds of Australia (The ‘Pizzey and Knight’ was the preference of the presenters, but they also acknowledged that the others were also very useful – Simpson and Day; Slater; Morcombe).
- Use the field guide and observations in your local area to get to know the features of the main woodland bird families (groupings) such as thornbills, whistlers and robins.
- Use your field guide to nut out key features such as field marks and behaviour. Field marks are the particular feather patterns, coloration, size, shape, bill structure, etc that help us distinguish closely related groups of birds.
- Knowing what are our typical local species also helps. It narrows down the range of possibilities for a new unknown bird that you have seen or heard.
Write-ups and photos of the workshops, and a list of resources are available: Beginners Birdwatching and Intermediate Skills.
It was really inspiring and heartwarming to see how everyone is keen as mustard to get out in the field and enjoy birdwatching, and bird monitoring. To this end, a Community Bird Monitoring Kit is in preparation. This kit will have a list of local bird species and families, a how-to guide on bird monitoring, an Excel data-recording template for those of you who are computer-orientated, and hard copy data-sheets as well. Coming soon!
Update on the Green Army programme
Posted on 20 August, 2014 by Connecting Country
On 2 August 2014, the Federal Government announced that the Green Army is ‘open for business‘. Successful Project Sponsors were announced, as were the successful applicants to become Service Providers. They have also put a call out for young people (aged 17 to 24) to join a Green Army team. The details are available on the Green Army website (click here).
Connecting Country shared community concerns about some elements of the Green Army program and decided not to seek funding in the first round but will instead wait and see how the program develops.
Some of the projects announced in Round 1 are in the North Central catchment area (click here to see the full list). The nearest to the Mount Alexander Region is the Bald Hill Conservation Project near Kyneton (with the Macedon Ranges Shire Council being the project sponsor).
24th Aug 2014 – Aboriginal Landscapes of the Baynton and Sidonia districts
Posted on 15 August, 2014 by Connecting Country
On Sunday 24th August the people of Baynton, Sidonia and surrounding districts are being offered a rare opportunity to learn about how Aboriginal people lived in the area up until 180 years ago.
Baynton Sidonia Landcare group is holding a seminar titled “Aboriginal Landscapes” and is delighted that some members of the Taungurung Clans Aboriginal Corporation (TCAC), who are Traditional Owners of this part of Victoria, will be offering some Aboriginal cultural workshops. Dr Gerry Gill, formerly of La Trobe University, Bendigo, will also give an illustrated talk and show a film he has recently made.
The Seminar will run from 2 pm to 8 pm on Sunday 24th August at the Baynton Hall, Darlington Road, Baynton. Participants are advised to wear warm clothes as some sessions will take place in a marquee. The Seminar is free and refreshments (including dinner) are provided.
Booking is essential, as places are limited, by phoning Clare on 54 234 152 or emailing clare@knco.net.
Taungurung cultural objects laid out for workshop participants to examine and admire.
Ms Trish Terry, Country and Community Strategic Initiatives Coordinator with the TCAC, said, “We are so pleased to be working with a Landcare group like the Baynton Sidonia group. People in the community are becoming increasingly interested in and curious about Aboriginal cultural heritage and it is great when a Landcare group acts as a conduit for that information to get out into the community. We look forward to working with them on future projects.”
After a Welcome to Country, members of the Taungurung Clans will run workshops on Stone Tool Making and Story Telling. Continue Reading »
24th August 2014 – Direct Seeding Workshop in Campbells Creek
Posted on 14 August, 2014 by Connecting Country
The Friends of Campbells Creek Landcare group would like to invite landholders interested others to participate in an information day on direct seeding techniques on Sunday 24th August, 2014.
The day’s activities will be a demonstration of the advantages of direct seeding of native plant species. It will be a great opportunity for land owners looking for an economical way to restore native vegetation on their properties.
The workshop will be presented by experienced local direct seeding experts Ian Higgins & David Milsom.
Two methods will be demonstrated to attendees. A manual technique ideal for small scale applications. Also, a mechanical method suited to any large scale revegetation project.
Demonstrations start at 10.00am and go through the morning until 12 noon.
Demonstration site location: 250 metres South of the end of Lewis Drive, Castlemaine. Follow the signs along the walking/cycling trail. Parking available.
A light lunch will be supplied for attendees.
Welcome new CC committee members
Posted on 12 August, 2014 by Connecting Country
Malcolm Trainor and Saide Gray
At the July 2014 Connecting Country committee meeting, two applicants were endorsed as new members of the committee – Saide Gray and Malcolm Trainor. Both have been long-term supporters of Connecting Country, and also regular attendees at our talks and field days. Welcome and thank you!
A summary of the backgrounds of these two new committee members, and also summaries for the rest of the committee, is available on the CC website (click here).
The current committee continues through until the Annual General Meeting, which is to be held in early-mid October 2014 (more details to follow soon).
Saide and Malcolm have replaced Maurie Dynon and Lynne Josephs, who both tendered their resignations from the committee for family reasons. Thank you to both Maurie and Lynne for their contributions – and particularly Maurie who was one of the founding committee members of Connecting Country back in 2008-09, and has been a significant contributor to the organisation ever since. Maurie will maintain a link with Connecting Country through his tireless work with the Guildford Upper Loddon Landcare group.
2014 Communities for Nature Funding Opportunity now open
Posted on 11 August, 2014 by Connecting Country
The Victorian Government has launched the 2014 Communities for Nature Small to Medium Grants funding opportunity. The grants aim to support practical action by community groups, schools, and volunteer organisations to deliver measurable environmental outcomes through on-ground works.
The Funding Opportunity will provide $3 million to community groups seeking one year grants of up to $50,000 (GST inclusive). Projects that will be completed by 31 December 2015 are eligible for funding.
Applications can be submitted online up until 4.00pm Monday 1st September 2014.
More information can be found on the DEPI website You can also contact the Grants Information Line on 1300 366 356 between 8.30am and 5:00pm Monday to Friday.
New edition of ‘chat’
Posted on 11 August, 2014 by Connecting Country
The July 2014 edition of the North Central CMA publication ‘chat‘ is now available and can be downloaded here. The issue includes highlights of the forthcoming 2014 National Landcare Conference and information on courses, resources and funding opportunities.
Our woodland bird surveys – what are we finding?
Posted on 7 August, 2014 by Connecting Country
Our resident bird expert, Tanya Loos, is midway through Connecting Country’s 2014 Winter bird surveys. She is monitoring 50 sites that are located on public and private land throughout the Mount Alexander Region. Some are within ‘intact’ woodland, some are in woodland restoration areas (e.g. re-planting areas) and some are in lightly treed farm paddocks.
A birds-eye view of a birdwatcher, Tanya.
Annually, the 50 sites are visited twice in Winter and twice in Spring. Each site covers two hectares, and all birds seen or heard within this area over a 20 minute period are documented. By the end of August 2014, we will have completed four years of bird monitoring across these sites. Many thanks to the landholders that have allowed us to undertake these surveys on their properties.
During the 2013 surveys, 104 bird species were documented – six of which had not been recorded during the previous years of survey (including three species flying overhead – Great Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Straw-necked Ibis; and three using habitats within the sites – Black Kite, Tawny Frogmouth, Banded Lapwing). Click here for a list of all bird species detected so far. Many specialised woodland-dependent species have been recorded, although none are considered to be particularly common.
Last year, Connecting Country staff comprehensively analysed the data collected from our 2011 and 2012 bird surveys. A copy of the full final report is available (click here), or alternatively, shorter summaries of the main findings are also available (click here and here).
Keep your eyes and ears open for the imminent launch of Connecting Country’s new ‘citizen-science’ bird monitoring program that everyone can get involved with. A local bird and habitat identification guide is also to be released in the near future.
2014 National Landcare People’s Choice Award
Posted on 5 August, 2014 by Connecting Country
It’s up to the public to decide who will be this year’s National Landcare People’s Choice Award winner. There are sixty-nine finalists across nine diverse categories. Have your say by voting for the nomination you believe represents the most outstanding contributions to Landcare. Click here to find out more information about the finalists and how to vote.
The Norman Wettenhall Foundation – a very strong supporter of Connecting Country since its inception – has been nominated for an award in the Partnership for Landcare section. This is the first time that a philanthropic organisation has been nominated for this national award. This is an opportunity for the public to promote the relationship between Landcare and philanthropy, and we encourage voting for the NWF.
FTLA Newsletter
Posted on 5 August, 2014 by Connecting Country
The latest Farm Tree & Landcare Association Newsletter is now available and can be downloaded by clicking on the banner above. The issue includes the latest information on grants, awards, events and competitions.
2014 Wimmera Master Tree Growers Course
Posted on 5 August, 2014 by Connecting Country
Project Platypus and other Wimmera-based organisations are hosting a course on tree growing, which will be held over 8 days from mid-September to early-October 2014. The course is also open to Landholders outside of the Wimmera, and the organisers can help organise accommodation if participants need to stay overnight.
To find out more about this course and/or to register download this flyer.
8 August 2014 – Talk on Australian mammals
Posted on 5 August, 2014 by Connecting Country
The guest speaker at this month’s Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club meeting is Graeme Watson. The topic of Dr Watson’s talk is the Biogeography and distribution of Australian mammals. Those who have attended his talks to the club in the past will know of his great ability to make seemingly complex topics accessible to a lay audience, and in an entertaining manner.
The talk is being held in the Fellowship room behind the Uniting Church on Lyttleton St, Castlemaine (next door to the Castlemaine Museum and Art Gallery). The evening commences at 7.30pm on Friday 8 August. Members and visitors are all welcome, and there is no cost for attendance.
17 Aug & 4 Sept 2014 – Landcare Workshop Series
Posted on 5 August, 2014 by Connecting Country
Two free workshops on Creativity, Innovation + Problem Solving will be held in the North Harcourt Hall on 17 August and 4 September. The facilitator will be Lisa Smith, from ‘Minds at Work’. The focus of these workshops will be on a fresh approach and new ideas for engagement within community groups.
Whilst the activities will revolve around Landcare membership, the workshop will be open to all community groups and interested individuals.
The workshops are an initiative of the North Harcourt/Sedwick Landcare Group and are jointly sponsored by the North Central CMA. Registration must be made by 13 August. See this flyer for all the details.
2014 National Landcare Conference
Posted on 5 August, 2014 by Connecting Country
The 2014 National Landcare Conference will take place in Melbourne’s Crown Conference Centre from September 17th to 19th. The Conference program will be based around the theme – Celebrating our history, growing our future – and promises to be the key knowledge sharing event for the Landcare community as it reaches its significant quarter of a century milestone.
The early registration date for the Conference has been extended to August 25th.
You can find out more about the Conference and how to register by clicking on the banner above.
11 August 2014 – FOBIF AGM
Posted on 5 August, 2014 by Connecting Country
A foggy morning in 2013 on the Mount. Photo by Bernard Slattery
The Friends of the Box-Ironbark AGM will take place on at 7.30pm on Monday August 11 in the Continuing Education Building, Templeton St, Castlemaine . At the end of a short business meeting, guest speaker George Milford will talk about the history of Mount Alexander. Visitors are welcome to attend.
You can download this flyer or check out the FOBIF site for more details.
Wild about Ants
Posted on 1 August, 2014 by Connecting Country
If you were in Newstead on the afternoon of Sunday 6th July 2014, you be excused for thinking that a revolution was underway. You’d struggle to believe that instead almost 200 people came along to the Community Centre learn about the invertebrate family Formicidae – or otherwise known as the humble ant.
Dr Alex Wild was indeed a wildly entertaining and engaging speaker, and he had an amazing selection of accompanying slides. His talk covered the three main reasons we should care about ants:
1. There’s so many of them
2. They interact with so many other plants and animals
3. They drive major environmental processes
Undoubtedly there’ll be a lot more people of all ages wandering across central Victoria with a new respect for these extraordinary creatures. Maybe one day we’ll even have a guide to the identification of local ant species! Connecting Country and the Norman Wettenhall Foundation were proud to be able to support the Newstead Landcare Group to run this event. Congratulations to Kate Sandiford from Newstead Landcare in particular for her efforts.
For people wishing to continue their study of ants further, Kate has identified the following books on the biology, behaviour and unusual social structure of ants and their colonies – all except the last book are available through the Goldfields Library Corp libraries:
- Adventures among ants: a global safari with a cast of trillions. by Mark Moffett
- Journey to the ants: a story of scientific exploration. by Bert Holldobler and Edward O. Wilson.
- The lives of ants. by Laurent Keller and Elisabeth Gordon
- Secret lives of ants. by Jae Choe, Jane Goodall and Dan Perlman
The CSIRO also has an amazing section of their website devoted to Australian ants, their biology and their identification (http://anic.ento.csiro.au/ants/ or also http://www.antwiki.org/wiki/Australian_ants).