Want to Develop a Whole Farm Plan?
Posted on 10 December, 2011 by Connecting Country
DPI’s FarmPlan21 team are holding a FREE accredited training course (six four-hour sessions) for interested landholders.
Topics covered include SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats); Soils and Land Classing; Weed Identification and Management; Biodiversity; Development of Action Plans; Review Whole Farm Plan; and Computerised Mapping.
Date: 8 February to 14 March 2012
Venue: Maldon Community Centre, Francis Street, Maldon
RSVP: 11 January 2012
A light supper will be provided.
Visit this site for an expression of interest form.
For further information, please contact Kevin Moschetti, Project Officer – Whole Farm Planning, FarmPlan21; telephone: 03 5430 4804, mobile: 0409 351 286 or email: kevin.moschetti@dpi.vic.gov.au
Presentations available from 25 Years of Landcare Conference
Posted on 9 December, 2011 by Connecting Country
Presentations from the Growing sustainable communities – 25 years of Landcare 1986-2011 conference are now available.
At this conference on 15 November 2011, more than 350 Landcarers, supporters and agency staff joined together at the MCG to mark Landcare’s first 25 years in Victoria and explore issues and opportunities for the future.
The Victorian Landcare gateway will provide a thorough evaluation of the conference online shortly. Presentations delivered at the conference can be accessed here.
New Landcare Position at Connecting Country
Posted on 9 December, 2011 by Connecting Country
Connecting Country is pleased to announce that it is one of 60 organisations in Victoria that have been successful in their bid to host one of the new Landcare Facilitator positions. The new local facilitator will be part-time and will work with landcare groups in the Mount Alexander Shire.
Connecting Country is excited by this development. It will enable the work that the organisation is already doing with landcare groups to be strengthened and extended. Further details on the role of the new facilitator in supporting local landcare groups will be posted here soon.
For more information on these new positions see the media release from the Minister for Environment and Climate Change.
Photographing our Bushlands
Posted on 6 December, 2011 by Connecting Country
Connecting Country and Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests have produced a good quality colourful A2 poster containing 63 photos highlighting the beauty of our local bushlands. Member of Connecting Country and/or FOBIF can buy it for $15 from Connecting Country at The Hub 14/233b Barker St (entry through glass door on Templeton St— Please bring exact money). The poster is also available at Stonemans Bookroom and the Castlemaine Tourist Information Centre in the Market Building. Click here to see a larger version of the poster.
Alison Pouliot and the International Year of the Forests
Posted on 29 November, 2011 by Connecting Country
Over many years, well-known photographer and fungi expert Alison Pouliot has taken superb images of our local bushlands. On her website she notes that her photos concentrate on the design, diversity and connectedness of living things and that her background in research ecology has provided her with the ideal framework to seek and understand the subjects of her photography. Alison spends about half of each year in Europe and from there she has sent us a series of photos to celebrate the International Year of the Forests.
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Recently Alison wrote reflectively on the importance of connecting with forests across the globe. The following is an extract from her essay which was originally published in the Castlemaine Independent:
When I first set foot in the local forest here in the European Jura a decade ago, I didn’t hear my footfall. There was no familiar crack of dried leaves and sticks of the Australian bush’s tangled understorey. There was no warning call from pardalotes or treecreepers alerting all to my intrusion. And there was no shrill incessant ringing of cicadas above a chorus of buzzing insects.
The full essay can be downloaded here.
Apart from photographing the local environment, Alison regularly conducts her own workshops on fungi. Click here for information on her 2012 Autumn Fungi Workshops.
Two New Local Environmental Positions
Posted on 28 November, 2011 by Connecting Country
Barkers Creek Cleanup Project Officer
The Barkers Creek Landcare Network is seeking a suitably qualified NRM project officer to undertake extension work as part of the Victorian Blackberry and Gorse Taskforce projects. This part-time position will involve visiting landholders along Barkers Creek north of Castlemaine and assisting them to develop woody weeds management plans.
Closing date for applications is 30 November, 2011.
Click here for full details.
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Natural Environment Officer
The Mount Alexander Shire has invited applications for the position of Natural Environmental Officer. The successful applicant will support programs and processes related to environmental, habitat and land conservation and biodiversity sustainability, provide a source of advice on natural resource matters to the community and other parts of Council, and assist in the development of key environmental strategies and plans.
Click here for a position description.
Exploring a mystery
Posted on 28 November, 2011 by Connecting Country
On Sunday November 20 a group of 26 people were conducted on a tour of mysterious rock patterns in the vicinity of Mount Alexander. The tour was organised by some local landowners.
The patterns are in the form of a long line ascending a hill slope, and culminate in a carefully constructed semi circular shape resembling that of a serpent. They are based on the natural rock formations of the mountain, filled out with rock additions. They were ‘discovered’ in the early 1990s, but older residents of the area have noted that they have ‘always’ been there. Click here to read more on the FOBIF website.
Calling All Twitchers – 3 & 4 December
Posted on 26 November, 2011 by Connecting Country
For more than a decade, the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club has been participating in the Annual Bird Day (also known as the BOCA Challenge Bird Count). On this day coordinated by Bird Observation and Conservation Australia, groups are encouraged to record as many bird species as possible, and their abundance, in areas across the whole of Australia. As well as being a fun day, it also records important information on the long-term changes in bird diversity across the landscape.
Chris Morris, organiser for the Castlemaine area bird surveys, highlights that there are competition rules to follow:
* All observations must be made within 40 km of the central point (in this case, central Castlemaine)
* For a bird to be recorded, it must either be (a) seen by at least 2 members of the team, or (b) heard calling by 3 members of the team.
* All observations must be made within a single day (which can be either on the Sat 3 Dec or Sun 4 Dec 2011).
* Each team must have at least one experienced birdwatcher.
Every year, Chris Morris organises a number of teams (with at least 3 people each) to survey different parts of the Castlemaine area. If you are interested in joining one of the existing teams, or perhaps forming a team yourself, please contact Chris Morris on either 0418-996-289 or cjs.morris@bigpond.com.
To see last year’s results from the Castlemaine area, click here.
Funding for Environmental Flood Recovery Works
Posted on 25 November, 2011 by Connecting Country
The North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) has received funding from the Australian Government for a Natural Disaster Environmental Recovery program to support the community to undertake environmental flood recovery works.
This funding has been provided for projects that:
- Repair damage from the recent floods to previous environmental protection works such as revegetation or fencing,
- Protect or enhance environmental benefits from the floods such as natural regeneration.
The funding guidelines for the Natural Disaster Environmental Recovery program are now available and can be accessed on their website. A PDF version of the guidelines is also available and can be downloaded here.
As well as the goals and activities outlined in the funding guidelines, there are additional areas of support for partner stakeholders which are outlined below. (Goals 1 and 2 can be found in the funding guidelines document.)
Goal 3: To address threats to the ecological resilience of priority Ramsar wetlands.
Activities to achieve goal
- Revegetation, restoration and enhancement of native vegetation
- Construction of wildlife corridors that create connectivity between isolated patches
- Construction or repair of fences that will protect significant native vegetation that has responded positively to flood events
- Control of weeds that have been spread by the floods
- Control of pest animals that pose an increased threat to native vegetation because of the floods
Goal 4: To reduce the impact of pest plants and animals in particular Weeds of National Significance on high quality vegetation.
Activities to achieve goal
- Weed control efforts that focus on areas of native regeneration in an effort to improve success of native regeneration. Target species; Willow; Blackberry; Gorse; Bridal Creeper; Tamarix.
- Pest animal control that focuses on areas of natural regeneration in an effort to improve success of native revegetation.
For further information, contact Pheobe Smith at North Central CMA (phone: 5440 1811; mobile: 0419 177 620; email: phoebe.smith@nccma.vic.gov.au)
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Connecting Country is still accepting funding applications from landholders and groups to undertake Yellow Box Woodland projects in the Mt Alexander region. For more information and/or to download an application form click here.
Parks Victoria Photo Competition
Posted on 19 November, 2011 by Connecting Country
Parks Victoria is encouraging anyone who has taken a winning photo while out and about in Victoria’s parks to enter its photo competition on Facebook. Great prizes on offer include the Anaconda Grand Prize of a $2,000 voucher, and four category prizes of two nights’ accommodation in Wilderness Retreats in a park. The categories include Scenery, People, Best Animal or Plant, and Best Comment.
The competition is open until 19 December. You can enter as many times as you like. To enter the competition click here.
19 November – Shane Howard Gig Still Happening
Posted on 18 November, 2011 by Connecting Country
Despite the recent fire at the Elphinstone Hotel, the Shane Howard gig will still take place this Saturday night rain, hail or shine. The evening will be an information session, recruitment drive, and fundraiser for the Elphinstone Landcare Group. Gold coin entry.
The evening will start at 5pm. Click here for more details.
Contact Beth on 0431 219 980 if you need more information.
Local groups Recognised in Kookaburra Awards
Posted on 17 November, 2011 by Connecting Country
Two dedicated local groups – the Tarrangower Cactus Control Committee and the Chewton Domain Society – were recently recognised for their outstanding contributions at the 2011 Parks Victoria Kookaburra Awards ceremony.
Parks Victoria’s Kookaburra Awards recognise and honour individuals and groups who have made an outstanding contribution to Victoria’s parks. Both groups received a certificate of recognition for their work in the Castlemaine area.
Local Parks Victoria Ranger Team Leader Noel Muller said the work of these two community groups makes a real difference to the local parks and the community. Connecting Country congratulates both of these groups for their amazing efforts.
Representatives of the Tarrangower Cactus Control Committee (Tony Kane and Ian Grenda) and Chewton Domain Society (John Ellis) with Parks Victoria Ranger Team Lead Noel Muller (top left) at the 2011 Parks Victoria Kookaburra Awards.
Second Eucalypt ID Workshop
Posted on 17 November, 2011 by Connecting Country
Marie Jones, president of Connecting Country, wrote the following report on the second Eucalypt ID workshop in Castlemaine:
The second Eucalypt ID Workshop proved a challenge to those who were there – from some who knew very little about our local trees to those who had a good understanding already. The organisers were also challenged when the power at the Botanic Gardens Tea Rooms wasn’t on at first, and then half way through the presentation went off completely! Ever enterprising though, we all managed exceptionally well – a walk through the native section of the gardens put the theory to practice and then we had a lively session looking at samples of different eucalypts for identification using the key provided. Thanks to Michael Luke and Greg Guy for an informative and entertaining workshop.
The last two Eucalypt ID Workshops will take place on November 26 in Newstead and November 27 in Sutton Grange. Both are booked out. Connecting Country is currently planning its 2012 educational program and details will be announced as soon as available.
Greg Guy explaining an ID marker.
The group at work on their samples.
Need Trees?
Posted on 15 November, 2011 by Connecting Country
The organisation Fifteen Trees supports community groups, landowners and environmental groups by providing them with trees for planting. The trees are paid for by individuals and companies who wish to make a contribution to the greening of our native environment.
There is no charge for the trees. Private landowners can have up to 60 trees (in lots of 15) while community groups (planting on public land) can apply for a lot more. The organisation only asks that you send them photos of the trees/plants two weeks after they are planted. To find out more about how you can obtain free plants for your property click here. (Note that the website says that you can use your own local nursery if you send them the details, or you can use one of the existing affiliated nurseries – the nearest of which seems to be the Neangar Nursery in Eaglehawk. If you are to pursue this opportunity, Connecting Country recommends using advice from a local nursery specialising in locally indigenous plants to ensure that you get appropriate tree species for your property.).
Wheel Cactus Activities – 14 & 27 November
Posted on 14 November, 2011 by Connecting Country
Wheel Cactus, Walmer. Photo: Bronwyn Silver
The last field day for the year will be held in Waldrons Lane, Baringhup, on Sunday 27 November, starting at 10.30 am. The Cactus Committee’s AGM will be held after the field day. Everyone is welcomed to attend the AGM.
Also, Ian Grenda is giving the Maldon Action Quarterly Lecture on Monday 14 November, at 7.30 pm. It will be held in the Athenaeum Hall High Street, Maldon. Entry by gold coin donation. Ian will be talking about the history of the campaign against cactus and the role of the local community in this campaign. Again everyone is welcome..
For further information contact Tony Kane timkane@ozemail.com.au.
Eucalypt Identification Workshop in Maldon
Posted on 11 November, 2011 by Connecting Country
Greg Guy explaining an identification marker.
How long have eucalypts been in Australia and are they unique to this continent? These were some of the questions answered in Connecting Country’s first Eucalypt Identification Workshop held at Ian Grenda’s property in Maldon on 6 November.
Michael Luke and Greg Guy took the 15 participants through a detailed exploration of eucalypts with particular emphasis on those common in Central Victoria. Information covered botanical features, distribution, regeneration, adaptive patterns and variations within species.
Greg explained the use of a ‘key’ to identify different species and participants were given hands-on identification practice using various collections of fruit, bark, juvenile foliage and buds as markers.
Participants test their ID knowledge.
Three further Eucalypt ID Workshops will take place this year. All are booked out. Connecting Country is currently planning its 2012 educational program and details will be announced as soon as available.
Farm-Tree and Landcare Association Newsletter
Posted on 8 November, 2011 by Connecting Country
The latest Farm-Tree and Landcare Association newsletter includes information on a Community Weed Management Survey, Scholarships, Business Planning Sessions, a Youth Volunteering Report and Landcare at the UN. It can be viewed by clicking here.
Two Events to Celebrate 25 Years of Landcare
Posted on 8 November, 2011 by Connecting Country
The 25th Anniversary of Landcare Conference will take place on 15 November at the MCG. It’s a chance for Landcarers and supporters to come together for a day of high level speakers and an extensive range of workshops and seminars.
The day will provide an opportunity to:
- share successes over 25 years with inspiring stories of landscape change
- learn about growing the landcare movement in the next 25 years
- meet Landcarers and likeminded people from around the state
The Hon Ryan Smith, Minister for Environment and Climate Change will deliver the official welcome at the 25th Anniversary of Landcare Conference.
Guest speakers include John Williams, Andrew Campbell, Kate Auty, Alexandra Gartmann and Landcare co-founder Joan Kirner. A history panel lead by Pam Robinson with guests Joan Kirner, Rob Youl, Horrie Poussard and others will reflect on key milestones in Landcare’s past 25 years.
A futuristic panel led by Kate Auty, joined by Alexandra Gartmann and Cate Barham, will discuss the way forward for Landcare for the next 25 years and beyond. Over 25 workshops will be offered on sustainable primary production, a healthy Landcare community and our environment, challenges and solutions. Click here to view the complete list of workshops and speakers.
Registration for volunteers is only $27.50. Register online by following this link:http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Y39VMSD . For more information go to:http://www.landcarevic.net.au/25years/conference/conference-information or contact David Rooks on tel: (03) 5952 3331, Mob 0418 115 935 for hard copies.
Registrations have been extended until Thursday 10 November.
The second event is a celebration of the North Central 25th Anniversary of Landcare on Friday 25 November 2011 at Bress Winery in Harcourt. This will be an opportunity to catch up with old friends and listen to guest speaker Shanaka Fernando (business entrepreneur of ‘Lentil as Anything’, a-pay-as-you-feel cafe in Melbourne). Also enjoy the mesmerising sounds of Kinja, local violin and didgeridoo duo. Click here to see the details.
Chilean Needle Grass Field Day
Posted on 8 November, 2011 by Connecting Country
Marie Jones, president of Connecting Country, wrote the following report on the recent Chilean Needle Grass Field Day.
Thanks to Ian Grenda and his crew for hosting the Chilean Needle Grass Field Day on the last (and very cold) Sunday in October. Thirty three people listened to Matt Sheehan describe the characteristics of this cursed grass so that there would be an improved chance of identifying it and then doing something about it before is spreads even further.
Everyone then got up close to the seed heads using magnifying glasses as this is the easiest way of identifying the grass.
After this session we all had some exercise by digging up or spraying wheel cactus through the area – another effort at stopping the spread of this weed – and I still have a prickle in my thumb to show that I was there! A bush BBQ also helped to keep everyone warm – a great day in great company.
A Chilean Needle Grass Steering Committee meeting will be held at the Hub meeting room this Thursday (10th November) at 4.30 where we will be updated on events and keep planning for the future. Claire Coulson (DPI) will be there too to explain the program she is operating in the area. If you are interested in coming, please email Connecting County (info@connectingcountry.org.au) so that we can provide enough chairs!
Matt Sheehan addressing the group.
Click here for more information on the Steering Committee meeting to be held on 10 November . This post also contains a link to more information on Chilean Needle Grass.
Draft Forest Creek Plan – Timeline for Feedback Extended
Posted on 4 November, 2011 by Connecting Country
In the recent posting on the draft Forest Creek Management Plan (click here), it was stated that any feedback and comments would need to be sent back to Connecting Country by the 15th November 2011. The timeline for feedback on the plan has subsequently been extended to the 4th December. Our apologies for the confusion this may cause. Please feel free to contact Chris or Krista at Connecting Country to discuss any aspect of the draft plan (ph: 03 5472 1594 or email: info@connectingcountry.org.au).