Local Workshops for Volunteers and Community Groups
Posted on 3 October, 2012 by Connecting Country
Mount Alexander Shire Council has funded three workshops for volunteers and community groups. They are being organised by the Mount Alexander Volunteer Network and will be held in October and November this year. The three workshop topics are:
1. Working Together: Effective communication and good conflict resolution
Presenter: Sam Luxemburg
Sunday 14th October, 10 – 3pm, Ray Bradfield Room, Mostyn St, Castlemaine, $20 per session, light lunch provided.
2. Avoid Burn Out: from survive to thrive
Presenter: Clare Fountain
Monday 15th October, 6.30pm – 9pm, Senior Citizens Room, Mechanics Lane, Castlemaine, $10 per session, light supper provided.
3. Good Communication: person-centred counselling skills
Presenter: Sam Luxemburg
Venue TBA, Castlemaine, 6 sessions Tuesday 9, 16, 23, 30 October, 13, 20 November, $60 for all sessions.
For more information and to a booking, phone the Mount Alexander Volunteer Network on 5472 4842 or email mavn@cch.org.au
Farm Tree and Landcare Association newsletter
Posted on 3 October, 2012 by Connecting Country
The latest Farm Tree and Landcare Association newsletter is now available. It includes information on the new Victorian Landcare License Plates, a range of funding opportunities and events, a discount offer for FTLA members (which includes all current Connecting Country members) and new resources. It can be downloaded here.
12 & 13 October 2012 – Castlemaine Rural Event
Posted on 1 October, 2012 by Connecting Country
The Norman Wettenhall Foundation and the Bjarne K Dahl Trust are presenting a Castlemaine Rural Event on the Friday 12th and Saturday 13th of October. The two days are packed full of activities including a Eucalypt identification session, a botanical illustration workshop, bird watching, dinner with guest speaker at Buda, and an historical talk by Raimond Gaita.
The full program including costs and registration details for the various activities is available here. There are a small number of spaces remaining. If you are interested in participating contact Beth Mellick on phone on 5472 1316, 0431 219 980 or email beth@nwf.org.au.
20 October 2012 – Indigenous Plant Use
Posted on 1 October, 2012 by Connecting Country
Dr. Beth Gott of Monash University will share her research findings in a special presentation about the indigenous cultures that have managed this land for thousands of generations. This is an opportunity to learn about the plants indigenous people used and how they used them, from food and medicine to ornaments and glue.
The evening will be held at the Baynton Hall, Baynton, and is hosted by the Baynton Sidonia Landcare Group. All are welcome to a BBQ at 6.30 pm which will be followed by the presentation which starts at 7.30 pm. Bookings are essential with RSVP’s required by Wednesday 17 October. Please note any special dietary requirements at the time of booking.
This event is presented by the Baynton Sidonia Landcare Group with financial assistance from the North Central Catchment Management Authority and the Commonwealth Government Bushfire Recovery fund.
For more information and to RSVP contact Clare from the Baynton Sidonia Landcare Group on 5423 4152.
Native Grasses: Short Courses Now Open
Posted on 1 October, 2012 by Connecting Country
Would you like to improve your native grass identification skills? Are you interested in learning more about managing native grasses?
Expressions of interest are now being accepted by the North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) for two native grass identification short courses. The two-day courses are expected to be held in Bendigo during November 2012 and will cover identifying features, importance and ecology of Australian grasses.
One course will cater for professionals working in agriculture and natural resource management, with the other course tailored to farmers, Landcare members and Trust for Nature covenanters.
The interactive courses will be presented by local botanist and ecologist Paul Foreman and will involve lectures and hands-on experience in the laboratory, followed by a field trip.
Expressions of interest are required no later than Monday 15 October, 2012. Please note that expressions of interest will only be accepted from people living in the North Central CMA region. Places are strictly limited.
The courses are funded by the Australian Government’s Regional Landcare Facilitator project hosted by the North Central CMA, the Victorian Government’s Landcare Program and Trust for Nature.
For more information contact Communications Officer, North Central CMA on (03) 5448 7124 or email: info@nccma.vic.gov.au
Back by popular demand – Eucalypt Identification Workshops
Posted on 26 September, 2012 by Connecting Country
Participants at a 2011 Eucalypt Identification workshop in the Botanical Gardens, Castlemaine
Following on from our booked out 2011 sessions, Connecting Country are pleased to announce another series of Eucalypt Identification Workshops, funded through the Bjarne K Dahl Trust.
In October and November 2012, Connecting Country shall be running workshops in five locations across the Mount Alexander Shire. The sessions aim to provide participants with the skills needed to identify some of the common eucalypt species to be found in the region, and to provide them with a greater understanding of the life history of this group of iconic Australian trees.
Presented by Greg Guy, a botanist and lecturer from Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE, there will be a classroom-based discussion on the biology and ecology of our local eucalypts, with a special emphasis on our rare and endangered species. This will be followed by a ‘walk and talk’ session to identify some local eucalypts in their natural habitat, and will conclude with a fun classroom-based session where all participants will learn to identify eucalypts on their own. Participants will be provided with a resource CD and also a copy of Leon Costermans ‘Trees of Victoria and Adjoining Areas’ – an excellent field guide containing descriptions and illustrations of the vast majority of eucalypt species found in south-eastern Australia.
The workshops are being held from midday to 4pm in Maldon (Friday 12th October), Newstead (Sunday 21st October), Chewton (Sunday 28th October), Harcourt (Sunday 11th November), and Taradale (Sunday 18th November). The cost for attending the workshop is $15 per person ($10 for members of Connecting Country) and afternoon tea will be provided. The field session of the Maldon workshop has the added bonus of having guidance from Leon Costerman’s himself.
For more information click here. Bookings are essential as places are limited. To reserve your place, contact michael@connectingcountry.org.au or call 5472 1594. If you were on the waiting list from last year, we have your details and you will be contacted shortly.
New Edition of Chat
Posted on 26 September, 2012 by Connecting Country
The September edition of the North Central CMA newsletter ‘North Central chat’ (formerly known as Groundcover) is now available. The edition includes articles on the new Victorian weeds and pest animal legislation, the new Landcare is For Everyone (L.I.F.E.) campaign and a Native Grass ID Short Course.
10 October 2012 – Hear Don Watson reflect on “The Bush”
Posted on 25 September, 2012 by Connecting Country
Don Watson at his home in Woodend
Don Watson is currently completing a book on the Australian bush. He will be revealing some of his insights into the Australian landscape as a prelude to the Muckleford Catchment Landcare Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 10 October. Don’s presentation will commence at 6pm and will be accompanied with soup and refreshments.
This landmark event is being held at the Castlemaine Golf Club, Pyrenees Highway, Castlemaine. Members of the public are very welcome for the talk and soup prior to the AGM which will commence at 8.15pm.
To find out more about Don Watson click here.
For catering purposes Muckleford Landcare would appreciate a RSVP: mucklefordlandcare@gmail.com
Consultation Paper Released on Native Vegetation Clearing
Posted on 21 September, 2012 by Connecting Country
DSE has recently released a consultation paper entitled Future directions for native vegetation in Victoria: Review of Victoria’s native vegetation permitted clearing regulations. From an environmental, social and agricultural perspective, this report is important. Its overall context is a review of the current Victorian native vegetation policy. Specific attention is given to the efficiency and effectiveness of vegetation clearing regulations.
Stakeholders and the community are invited to provide feedback about:
- issues identified with the current permitted clearing regulations
- the four priority reforms and five supporting reforms proposed to address these issues
- Issues related to implementing the proposed reforms.
Details for submitting feedback are published here. The closing date for submissions is 19 October 2012.
Dinosaurs Discovered in Newstead
Posted on 20 September, 2012 by Connecting Country
A good crowd gathered at Newstead Community Centre on Sunday 9 September to hear palaeontologist Pat Rich from Monash University give a fascinating presentation on Victoria’s ‘polar dinosaurs’.
Pat’s talk described the work that she and her husband Tom have been involved in for many years and the types of dinosaurs that lived in Gondwana, when Victoria’s latitude was 70 degrees south. This was followed by a ‘show-and-tell’ session with some bones. Pat and Tom have been responsible for the discovery of virtually all of the dinosaur fossils in Victoria and they brought along some great examples of their discoveries. Apparently Australia is not a particularly fertile landscape for fossil hunters because of its geological stability and deeply eroded surface, but there are a few locations – Cape Otway and Western Queensland – where dinosaur bones are found. So far, there have been no complete skeletons found in Victoria – only tantalising bits and pieces. These are often matched up to complete skeletons from other parts of the world for identification.
It was interesting to learn that, like Landcare, none of their work would have been possible without the help of volunteers. Tom estimated that at least 50 years worth of volunteer hours have gone into their work. They have also received in-kind support from many organisations, including the use of helicopters, mining equipment and, most creatively, bamboo poles from the Royal Botanic Gardens! No doubt the potential for a company to have a dinosaur named after them (Qantasaurus) helps.
Connecting Country received a Foundation Project Grant for this project, which is part of the Victorian Government’s $12 million Victorian Local Landcare Facilitator Initiative to provide local Landcare support.
Landcare Bushdance a Blast
Posted on 18 September, 2012 by Connecting Country
The Mount Alexander Landcare Bushdance held on Saturday 8 September was a great night despite the inclement weather. The 90 or so attendees made the most of the music being played by James Rigby and Jane Thompson, with a band that included the diversely talented Ian Higgins on fiddle.
The dance was put on for the Landcarer community and everybody else as well. As it turned out, a large number of attendees fell into the ‘everybody else’ category. It was great to see so many fresh faces at a Landcare event, and hopefully it has made Landcare a bit more familiar to a new generation.
The Bushdance was kindly supported by North Central CMA, Madderns IGA, Sprout Bakery, Stoneman’s Bookroom and the Newstead Natives Nursery.
A big thank you to all those who helped out on the night and to Nikki Valentini from Castlemaine Abundance Kitchen Enterprise for the delicious soups.
40 Seconds of Nest Box Action
Posted on 16 September, 2012 by Connecting Country
Connecting Country has installed two trail cameras to film activity at a nest box on a covenanted property on the outskirts of Castlemaine. (Thanks to the folks from the North Central region of Trust for Nature for use of the equpiment). The box contains a nesting female Brush-tailed Phascogale (Tuan) which is a great result for Connecting Country’s nest box project and for the Tuan population itself.
All landholders with Connecting Country nest boxes installed on their properties will soon receive a nest box survey field guide that will assist them with performing surveys of their own boxes. The results of these surveys will help Connecting Country determine the extent and health of the Tuan population across the region. A summary of the data from the first two years of nest box surveys will also be provided soon.
In the meantime, please enjoy the attached video clips that show the comings and goings at a nest box located in a Box-Ironbark Forest ecosystem. There is also a clip of a Sugar Glider, kindly supplied by the Chewton Bushlands Association, that shows the animal lining its nest with eucalyptus leaves. The most interesting feature of this clip is that the Sugar Glider is using its tail to carry the leaves.
Click here for footage showing a Brush-tailed Phascogale carrying nest material to its nest
Click here for footage showing a Sugar Glider continuing to watch the Brush-tailed Phascogale occupied nest box.
Click here for footage showing a Sugar Glider carrying eucalyptus leaves by it’s tail.
The Sugar Glider pictured here is the same one featured in the second video clip. As you will note from the image below, the Brush-tailed Phascogale is hot on the Sugar Glider’s heals, turning up about 20 minutes later to see what might be amiss.
Mother phascogale turns up to check on the brood.
Barkers Creek Local Action Plan – your feedback sought
Posted on 14 September, 2012 by Connecting Country
Local Action Plan Workshop participants discussing potential projects along each section of Barkers Creek.
The draft Barkers Creek Local Action Plan is a synthesis of the aspirations of three Landcare groups and the ideas of forty community members. The plan is now available for public comment and feedback.
Barkers Creek Clean-up Project Officer, Michael Luke commented that the ‘Local Action Plan is a big part of the Barkers Creek Clean-up Project. It has been developed in conjunction with the Barkers Creek Landcare Network and the local landholders who live along the length of the creek. We had over 40 people attend the community workshop in June. We wanted to find out what is important to the local community about Barkers Creek and what suggestions they have for the future management of the creek. We were very excited when twenty-five project concepts came out of the workshop. This draft Local Action Plan has been developed directly from those proposals.’
The Barkers Creek Landcare Network consists of the Barkers Creek Landcare and Wildlife, Harcourt Valley and the North Harcourt/Sedgwick Landcare groups, and receives support from Conencting Country. Once finalised, the Local Action Plan will help the three local Landcare groups to plan their activities into the future, and also to assist them in applying for grants and future funding opportunities. It will also be a useful resource for landholders and other community members living along and near the creek.
The draft plan is available for public comment and feedback. The plan can be downloaded here. For more information about the project or to provide comments and feedback about the plan, email michael@connectingcountry.org.au or call 5472 1594. Comments close on the 28th of September. If you are a landholder along the creek and have not contacted us before – please get in touch!
14 September 2012 – CFNC meeting on Cryptograms
Posted on 6 September, 2012 by Connecting Country
Cassia Read will be the guest speaker at next Castlemaine Field Naturalist meeting on Friday 14 September. Her presentation is entitled Miniature wonderlands of the dry country: What you miss when you don’t walk on your knees.
Cassia has been studying and working in the field of ecology for the last 15 years, starting out with a botany degree at Melbourne Uni and followed by a range of jobs including Fungimap coordinator, researching the evolution of plant architecture, and reporting on the impact of climate change on biodiversity in national parks. She is currently doing a PhD at Melbourne Uni on biological soil crusts of the Mallee and Wimmera.
Cassia is a member of a local group of moss enthusiasts who regularly go on short field trips. The group is working towards producing a guide to mosses in the area. More information on this can be found on the Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests website.
The following is an abstract of her upcoming CFNC talk.
Arid lands across the world share a common ecology with low rainfall, few trees and shrubs, and intriguing carpets of cryptogams protecting the soil (mosses, lichens, fungi and more). Otherwise known as biological soil crusts, these communities of cryptogams are full of interest; they exist at the soil surface in harsh environments and act as ecosystem engineers. Follow me on an exploration of these intriguing microcosms, around the globe and in our own arid lands of north west of Victoria to see their beauty, discover more about their importance and to understand how we can use this knowledge to manage our dry country.
All are welcome and encouraged to attend. The meeting commences at 7.30pm, and is being held in the hall behind the Uniting Church in Lyttleton St, Castlemaine.
For those interested there will be a short excursion the next morning. The group will meet at the Octopus building on Duke St (opposite the Castle Motel) at 9.30am.
Applications Now Open for Strengthening Our Community Grants
Posted on 6 September, 2012 by Connecting Country
Applications for the Strengthening Our Community Grants Scheme for 2012–2013 were opened by the Mount Alexander Shire on the 29 August 2012. Applications close 12 October 2012.
Application forms and Guidelines are available from:
- Mount Alexander Shire website
- 25 Lyttleton Street or 9 Halford St Castlemaine
- Community Development Administration Assistant on 5471 1744
Information Sessions will be held at the following locations and times:
- Maldon Neighbourhood Centre, at the corner Edward and Church Streets, 11 September 2012, 12noon – 1pm
- Ray Bradfield Room, Victory Park Castlemaine, 13 September 2012, 1pm – 2pm
- Ray Bradfield Room, Victory Park Castlemaine, 13 September 2012, 6.30pm – 7.30p
The following information relates to the Sustainability and Natural Environment Category of the Grants scheme.
Aim
To support the implementation of Council’s Environment Strategy 2010-2014 thereby improving the sustainability and resilience of the natural and built environments of the Mount Alexander Shire.
Objectives
Council’s Environment Strategy contains 44 objectives under the themes of:
- Climate change, greenhouse and energy
- Land and biodiversity
- Urban development, planning and sustainable transport
- Waste and resource efficiency
- Water
Proposals for funding under this category should identify which theme the project will address. Applications demonstrating relevance to a particular objective or particular objectives, particularly how the project will assist Council implement an objective or objectives, will be highly favoured. The Environment Strategy is available from www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/environment.
Funding
Grant requests made under the Sustainability and Natural Environment category may range from $500 to $3000 (total amount $40,500). Only in exceptional circumstances will grant requests exceeding these amounts be approved.
Castlemaine Children’s Literature Festival
Posted on 4 September, 2012 by Connecting Country
Castlemaine Children’s Literature Festival will be held during the next school holidays (1–7 October). The week is packed with activities for all age-groups and Connecting Country will be presenting a session on Thursday 4 October between 10.30am and 12.30pm. The session is aimed at 7–10 year olds and will begin at Buda with a reading of Rachel Tonkin’s book, Leaf Litter. The group will then go to Kalimna Park for a treasure hunt. The cost is $12 and bookings are necessary. For further details about this session and the rest of the week’s activities click here for a Festival program.
Public Sessions on Invasive Species
Posted on 4 September, 2012 by Connecting Country
The Department of Primary Industries is inviting interested organisations and individuals to come along to one of several free information sessions about Victoria’s proposed invasive species legislation. The new legislation aims to modernise Victoria’a approach to the management of invasive species and provide greater flexibility to respond more effectively to biosecurity threats.
The information session in Bendigo will be held at the DPI Centre (Epsom), Midland Highway, Epsom on Wednesday 12 September, 10.30am–1.30pm.
To see the full DPI media release click here.
Latest Edition of ‘chat’
Posted on 4 September, 2012 by Connecting Country
The North Central newsletter formerly known as Groundcover has been renamed North Central chat. The August edition includes information on the Winjallok celebration of 25 years of Landcare, the results of a recent national Landcare survey, and a summary of Australian Framework for Landcare which focusses on the future of the Landcare movement and achievements to date. There are also two articles on Connecting Country. The newsletter can be downloaded here.
9 September 2012 – Afternoon Tea with Dinosaurs
Posted on 4 September, 2012 by Connecting Country
Dinosaurs don’t tend to crop up much in Landcare talks – especially in our area, where the sedimentary rocks are too old to contain the remains of anything that walked on land. But there have been dinosaur fossils discovered in Victoria, and some of them will be making their way to Newstead Community Centre during Landcare Week.
Renowned Australian palaeontologists Dr Tom Rich and his wife Professor Pat Vickers-Rich will be giving a talk on ‘Victoria’s Polar Dinosaurs’ at the Newstead Community Centre on the 9th of September, and they’ve promised to bring some ‘real dinosaurs’ with them.
Victoria’s Polar Dinosaurs roamed the earth over 100 million years ago when Australia was still linked to Antarctica. Much of this southern continent lay inside the Antarctic Circle and the animals that lived there were highly adapted to the extreme climate. Pat and Tom will talk about the “mega- and microfauna” of the time, and discuss possible causes for their demise.
Much of what we know about the animals that lived in ‘Polar Australia’ comes from the work of this industrious couple, especially at Dinosaur Cove on the Otway coast, where they tunnelled for fossils using mining equipment and explosives. Their work over the past 40 years has been recognised internationally and they are also award-winning authors of numerous books about Australia’s dinosaurs. The talk is free and afternoon tea will be provided. Please RSVP to Max by the 5th September.
When: Sunday 9th September
Where: Newstead Community Centre
Time: 3:30pm
8 September 2012 – Landcare Bushdance
Posted on 3 September, 2012 by Connecting Country
As part of National Landcare Week, the Mount Alexander Landcare Bushdance will be held on Saturday the 8th September at the Castlemaine Town Hall.
The Bushdance will be a chance to celebrate Landcare in the Mount Alexander Shire and to thank all of the volunteers who contribute countless hours to enhance our natural environment. The Bushdance isn’t just for Landcare members – everybody is welcome to come along and have a fun night. With Jane Thompson, James Rigby & Friends providing the music, this should be an excellent night.
The Bushdance has been kindly supported by a North Central Catchment Management Authority ‘25th Anniversary of Landcare’ grant.
Supper will be provided, as will tea, coffee and cordial; BYO alcoholic beverages. The night will be free for Landcare members and $5 for non-members. Kids are welcome. For catering purposes, please RSVP to Max Schlachter by 5th September (max@connectingcountry.org.au or 5472 1594).
When: Saturday 8th September
Where: Castlemaine Town Hall
Time: 6pm – 10pm