15 October 2011 – Frog Night

Posted on 12 October, 2011 by Connecting Country

The Baynton Sidonia Landcare Group is holding a Frog Night on 15 October between 6pm and 9pm.

There will be a presentation by Dr Graeme Watson, a twilight walk through a local wetland and a free BBQ.

To book and find out the venue details, contact Clare on 5423 4152 or email clare@knco.net Click here to view the flier.

Vacancies for Community Assessors

Posted on 12 October, 2011 by Connecting Country

The Australian Government is seeking applications from people interested in becoming community assessors.  Community assessors play a crucial role in environmental and sustainable natural resource management by representing community perspectives on a range of funding decisions. Assessors can be involved in assessing funding applications for government funding under the Caring for our Country initiative and the Action on the Ground element of the Securing a Clean Energy Future plan.

Relevant knowledge and experience includes:

• broad community knowledge and experience in managing natural resources
• knowledge of local natural resource management issues and opportunities
• knowledge of sustainable farming practices (including commercial fishing and aquaculture)
• knowledge and experience in practices and technologies that can reduce the emission of greenhouse gas from the agricultural sector and/or increase carbon stored in soil.

Applications close at 8am on 26 October 2011. More information about the positions and the application form can be found at www.daff.gov.au/communityassessors

16 October 2011 – Frogs Field Guide Launch

Posted on 10 October, 2011 by Connecting Country

The North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) Waterwatch and Landcare team is launching the Frogs Field Guide.

The guide is for anyone interested in learning more about the frogs that call the north central Victoria region home. It is a handy size, great to use in the field and contains lots of information that can assist with identifying a frog, its eggs or tadpoles.

All frog enthusiasts are encouraged to come to the launch where guest speaker, Ray Draper, will talk about the frogs found in the north central Victoria region. Ray has over 40 years of experience with frogs and has monitored Growling Grass Frogs (Litoria raniformis) throughout western Victoria for the last 35 years. Ray will also talk about a potential threat to frogs, the amphibian Chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium), which can cause a lethal disease in many frog species.

Date:                Sunday 16 October 2011
Time:                10:00am – 12:00 pm
Venue:             Andersons Mill, Creswick-Newstead Rd, Smeaton

Booking are essential. A picnic lunch will be provided. RSVP to reception@nccma.vic.gov.au or telephone 03 54487124 by Thursday 13 October.

14 October 2011 – CFNC meeting on Dianellas

Posted on 7 October, 2011 by Connecting Country

At the next Castlemaine Field Naturalist Club meeting on 14 October there will be a presentation by Geoff Carr on Dianellas: their biology, ecology and taxonomy.  The evening will begin at 7.30pm and the venue is the Uniting Church Hall. All are welcome.

Geoff Carr is a founding director of Ecology Australia and has been a botanical consultant for 30 years. He has an exceptional knowledge of the ecology, taxonomy, distribution, conservation status, horticulture, management and revegetation of the Australian flora, particularly that of south-eastern Australia. Geoff has published over 400 papers, reports and other publications.

There will be an excursion the next day, Saturday 15 October, led by Geoff Carr to sites in Harcourt area with a high diversity of Dianellas. The trip will be a hands-on tutorial focussing on the differences between species (and hybrids).  The excursion will begin at the Octopus building on Forest St (opposite motel), and depart at 1.30pm on the dot.

13 October 2011 – Innovative Farming Options Field Day

Posted on 4 October, 2011 by Connecting Country

An ‘Innovative Farming Options Field Day’ is scheduled for 13 October 2011. It will be held at Ko-Warra Native Grasses Nursery (537 Echuca-Mitiamo Road, Echuca) between 9.30am – 4.00pm.

The field day will provide landholders and community members with the opportunity to:

• hear from key note speakers regarding sustainable land practice options on farming land where irrigation has been significantly reduced, or ceased completely,
• see on-farm trials and demonstrations of native grasses, agroforestry, sandalwood and  revegetation,
• network with farmers and others to share experiences, lessons and advice.

The field day is delivered under the North Central CMA’s Regional Landcare Facilitator and Adopting Sustainable Farming Practices projects, and is supported by the Commonwealth Government’s Caring for our Country initiative and the Shire of Campaspe. This is a free event with lunch provided.

To register your interest in the field day (and for catering purposes) please RSVP to the North Central CMA by 5 pm Tuesday 11 October 2011 on (03) 5448 7124 or info@nccma.vic.gov.au.

6 October 2011 – The fascinating world of seed propagation

Posted on 4 October, 2011 by Connecting Country

Malmsbury District Landcare Group is holding their next general meeting on 6 October 2011. The evening will include a special presentation, ‘Selecting, collecting and preparing indigenous seed for propagation’ by guest speakers John Walter and Bob Newton. Everyone is welcome.

The start time is 7.30 and the venue is Laureston Community Hall, Lauriston. For further information, contact Bill Mudford from Malmsbury District Landcare Group, wmudford@bigpond.net.au.

Green Drinks Night

Posted on 4 October, 2011 by Connecting Country

A Green Drinks night was recently organised by the Mount Alexander Shire Council’s Healthy Environments team. The gathering took place on Friday 9  September in the Public Inn, Castlemaine. It was an opportunity for the MAS Council’s Healthy Environments team and sustainability, environment and friends groups to find out what each was doing and how they might work together. As well, information was provided about the MAS Community Grants Scheme.

Marie Jones, president of Connecting Country, commented that it was “a wonderful initative that was appreciated by all who attended – as was indicated by the noise level of the animated conversations! It was great to see fresh faces both old and new and it certainly showed the need for these types of events to happen.”

If you would like to find out more about the Shire’s Community Grants Scheme, check the MAS website and watch the local newspapers. Information about Community Grant information sessions can also be found here.

13 October 2011 – Presentation on Direct Seeding

Posted on 4 October, 2011 by Connecting Country

The Friends of Campbells Creek and Connecting Country are pleased to announce the first in a series of evening presentations on different vegetation management techniques.

David Millsom, a direct seeding specialist, will present the first evening seminar from 7.30 pm on Thursday 13 October in the Campbell’s Creek Community Centre. The evening will comprise of two sessions.  The first session will cover the technical aspects of seed collection, genetics, seed propagation methods and the development of direct seeding. The second session will cover application of these methods with several case studies illustrating what is happening elsewhere in the region. Refreshments will be available between sessions.

David farmed near Pyramid Hill for 30 years and converted 1,000 acres of his farm to native vegetation. He is a board member of Seeding Victoria, responsible for technical issues, and has worked for Greening Australia for almost ten years as a project facilitator and technical development officer for direct seeding. David’s latest project is the development of the change in delivery method for Wattle Grow inoculant and the subsequent reduction in costs.

David says, “based on 20 years experience, some of the science research and case studies that I will present contradict some people’s myths and established ideas”.  David’s objective for the evening is to help people choose and use the most technically appropriate/cost effective methods of revegetation.

Please join us for what will be an interesting and informative evening. For more information and to RSVP please contact krista@connectingcountry.org.au or call Connecting Country on 5472 1594.

2011 Connecting Country AGM

Posted on 3 October, 2011 by Connecting Country

Ann-Marie Monda and Carla Meurs at the 2011 Connecting Country AGM

Can you farm in a different way? Is farmland degraded land? These are two of the questions Ann-Marie Monda and Carla Meurs from Sutton Grange Organic Farm addressed in their inspiring and informative presentation to Connecting Country’s AGM on 26 September 2011.

Their farm is organically certified and consists of 205 acres of granitic sandy loam. Rainfall is between 400 ml and 1000 ml rainfall a year. They run 75 goats and produce the award winning Holy Goat organic cheese which they sell at Farmers’ Markets and through a distributor who supplies outlets in regional Victoria, Melbourne and  Sydney.

Bushland with Hedge Wattle in foreground.

Twenty-nine percent of the farm is bushland and two percent is infrastructure. The benefits of protecting this extensive bushland include the maintenance of seed banks, the protection of pasture provided by birds, insects and windbreaks and the beauty of this land which they believe benefits the goats and people.

The farmland zone is sixty-nine percent of the total land and supports substantial stands of native grasses which are deep-rooted, perennial and drought tolerant. Kangaroo grass and Wallaby grass are particularly beneficial in providing vital minerals and fibre for the goats. They described their successful efforts in increasing levels of phosphorous, calcium, magnesium, iron and PH levels in the soil. They have also recently trialled an innovative method for controlling Capeweed.

Ann-Marie with some of this year's kids. 21 September 2011

Ann-Marie and Carla concluded their talk by explaining their vision for the farm. They distance themselves from the conventional idea that growth means more goats and producing more cheese which could eventually be exported. Instead they view the growth of their farm in terms of sustainability, quality and generosity for their goats, the land, people and the soil.

Other news from the AGM

1. Connecting Country Coordinator, Chris Timewell, gave a comprehensive report on progress over the last 12 months. The vast majority (90%) of the years annual project targets were achieved, and often significantly exceeded.  Twenty separate on-ground works projects were developed with landholders, and many others are in progress.  Over 400 nest boxes have been installed. 260 of the boxes have been monitored, with many found to support tuans or Sugar Gliders.  Three field days were all booked out, and more than 200 community members attended evening talks on a range of topics.  Planning for another successful year ahead is already well underway.         

2. All members of the Management Committee were re-elected and retained their current roles.  Click here to view a list of members with short biographical details.

3. Jodie Odgers, North Central CMA, updated us with the latest Landcare news and announced the recipients of the Victorian Landcare Grants. Information about these grants will be posted on this website when a complete list is available.

4. Two Connecting Country members, Damian Kelly and Robin Feary, won the random membership renewal prizes. If you are interested in becoming a member of Connecting Country, click on the links below:

• Individual membership form (which can be posted or emailed back)
• Group membership form (which can be posted or emailed back)

Family Fun Day is a Great Success

Posted on 29 September, 2011 by Connecting Country

A huge crowd of over 700 people gathered at Victory Park in Castlemaine on Sunday 25 September to celebrate nature in our backyards.

Children enjoyed the huge range of activities including face painting, jumping castle, badge making, butterfly wing creating and water watch. They filled out nature passports, danced with Swifty the Parrot and Tilly the Platypus and collected nature cards from the Connies.  The biggest hit of the day was the live native animal display by Tooko which included Dingos, a Cape Barren Goose, Possums, Turtles and a 2m long Python.

The nature information stalls gave away a huge amount of information about local environment groups including Trust for Nature, Parks Victoria, Connecting Country and local Landcare Groups.

Connecting Country would like to thank Victoria Naturally, Trust for Nature, the Norman Wettenhall Foundation, MECU, IGA, Bakers Delight and KR Castlemaine for helping to sponsor the event as well as the many volunteers who helped to make the day such a success.

Close encounters at the Family Nature Day, September 2011

Reporting sick or dead wildlife

Posted on 28 September, 2011 by Connecting Country

Wildlife Health Surveillance Victoria investigates reports of sick and dead wildlife from free ranging populations in Victoria to understand baseline health, detect changes and identify risk factors. The organsation is based at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, Werribee. For more information, including contact details if you see sick, dead or dying wildlife, click here.

Good News for Landcare

Posted on 28 September, 2011 by Connecting Country

Connecting Country is preparing an expression of interest for a Local Landcare Facilitator through the just announced DSE’s Victorian Local Landcare Facilitators Initiative. This expression of interest would be made on behalf of the Landcare, Friends and environmental groups in our area.

We’d love to hear the thoughts of local landcare members about this ASAP – Is it a good idea? Would your group support our application? How would it be managed? What other questions do you have?

To discuss this opportunity you can email or call the numbers below. Also, keep an eye out for a planning meeting so that we can get ourselves organized.

Marie: 5472 2892, goldenpoint@aanet.com.au
Chris: 5472 1594, chris@connectingcountry.org.au
Krista: 5427 1594, krista@connectingcountry.org.au

Details on the Initiative

This program is a fixed grant of up to $50,000 p.a. for up to four years.  The funding is available for the salary and operating costs of a part-time Landcare Facilitator.

Under the guidelines a new Landcare Facilitator would be based within the local communities they support and would

• support on-ground NRM delivery;
• build local community capacity to enable groups to be self sustaining;
• undertake community engagement and build partnerships;
• assist with planning, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting; and
• secure project grants and other funding.

More information can be found on  http://www.landcarevic.net.au/

September edition of Groundcover

Posted on 27 September, 2011 by Connecting Country

9 October – Metcalfe Landcare Planting Day

Posted on 23 September, 2011 by Connecting Country

Metcalfe Landcare’s next planting day will focus on indigenous understorey shrubs underneath mature eucalypts along the banks of the Coliban River. Plants will go straight into the ground with no staking, guarding or jute matting.

When:   Sunday 9 October 2011
Time:   10.00am onwards
Where: Enter site from Red Gum Bridge over the Coliban River, Kyneton-Metcalfe Rd, in the middle of the township of Metcalfe. Look for the flags to guide you.
Wear:   Suitable clothes, gloves and sturdy boots. Gum boots might be useful if we need to bucket water from the river.

BBQ lunch served on site.

Deb from Metcalfe Landcare writes that this will be a great day for families as the planting sites are all fully fenced with stiles for getting in and out. The group would LOVE to see everyone helping out on the day. The weather is expected to be sensational and the setting is beautiful at the moment.

For further details, ring Deb on 5423 2030.

Reminder about Connecting Country’s AGM and Family Fun Day

Posted on 20 September, 2011 by Connecting Country

This is a reminder about two significant Connecting Country events that are coming up soon.

The first is Connecting Country’s 2011 Annual General Meeting will take place on Monday 26 September at the Ray Bradfield Rooms, Castlemaine. The evening will begin with a presentation by Ann-Marie Monda and Carla Meurs from Sutton Grange Organic Farm (producers of Holy Goat cheese) and the election of the next Connecting Country committee. This will be followed by a project update from Coordinator, Chris Timewell, and the presentation of Victorian Landcare Grants to local recipients by Jodie Odgers (North Central CMA).

For catering purposes, please RSVP to krista@connectingcountry.org.au or call 5472 1594. For more details about this event, including links to membership forms and the full agenda, click here.

The second event is the Family Fun Day which will take place in Victory Park on 25 September between 11am and 2pm. For a number of months, a small committee with representatives from Connecting Country, Trust for Nature and the Norman Wettenhall Foundation, has been meeting regularly to plan activities related to the theme of ‘nature in your backyard’. A large turnout on the day is expected and the park will be alive with all sorts of happenings.

Click here to view the Family Fun Day website.

CACTUS KILLERS WANTED!

Posted on 19 September, 2011 by Connecting Country

The Tarrangower Cactus Control Committee and Parks Victoria will hold their next community field day on Sunday 25 September starting at 10.30 pm.  The field day will be held near the intersection of Watersons and Tarrengower School Roads.  Follow the signs from the intersection of the Bridgewater-Maldon and Watersons Roads, Maldon.

 The field day is an opportunity to enjoy some time outdoors while helping to eradicate Wheel Cactus from our district.  No experience is necessary and everyone concerned with the natural environment is most welcome.  Dress for the occasion in warm clothes and sturdy footwear.  The day will conclude at about 12.30 pm with a free sausage sizzle and cuppa. For more information, contact

Wheel Cactus from the Tarrengower area (Photo from DPI).

Farm Tree and Landcare Association News

Posted on 19 September, 2011 by Connecting Country

The lastest news update for FTLA includes information on funding, submissions and opportunities, events and resources. It can be downloaded here.

Researching Forest Creek

Posted on 19 September, 2011 by Connecting Country

Historian, Robin Ballinger, at Campbells Creek Community Hall

Sixty-five people turned out at Robin Ballinger’s talk on the environmental history of Forest Creek on 8 September. Robin used many early documents and maps to demonstrate the interaction between the indigenous people, squatters, goldminers and the local environment.

She outlined the early geological history of the Forest Creek and the relationship between the Aboriginal people, the Dja Dja Wrung, and the land prior to white settlement. Robin then described the impact on the landscape and the Jarra people of the mass influx of squatters which followed the 1838 publication of Major Mitchell’s diaries.

This pastoral development was followed by the gold rushes and the devastation of Aboriginal life continued. Gold mining had an enormous impact on the landscape in a very short time. However, while in 1852 there were 25,000 people, by 1854 Forest Creek was virtually deserted. The easily-obtained gold had all but gone.

From the 1850s onwards, the actual course of Forest Creek was changed. The creek was straightened to facilitate mining operations and reduce flooding in the town. The emphasis continued to be on controlling the creek, not controlling mining.  An 1871 report emphasised this utilitarian approach to the environment. Revegetation was advocated to address the forest devastation noted in this report but only because future mining operations would need timber.

Robin also drew attention to the conservation efforts that began in the 1930s and continue to this day.  She concluded by raising the question of what exactly are we trying to preserve given that we cannot hope to restore Forest Creek to its original state.

The talk was the last of the three formal Connecting Country educational talks for 2011, although details are soon to be published on a revegetation evening to be held on 13 October and a series of Eucalyptus identification workshops in Oct/Nov. However, Connecting Country is now also planning its 2012 educational program. If you have any comments on this years’ program or suggestions for next year, let us know by calling Chris or Krista on 5472 1594.

Symposium – Major Mitchell: Australia Felix

Posted on 14 September, 2011 by Connecting Country

September marks 175 years since Major Thomas Mitchell traveled through our region, Jaara Country, Central Victoria,  Mount Alexander Shire. To recognise this event a  symposium and exhibition entitled Major Mitchell: Australia Felix has been organised. It will take place in the Castlemaine Town Hall on 24 and 25  September 2011 between 10 am – 4 / 5 pm. The exhibition will include paintings and prints by Eliza Tree and Major Mitchell and guest speakers at the symposium will include Dr Ian Clark, Gregory Eccleston, John Tully, Gerry Gill, John Read and  Ian Higgins. Click here for more details.

25th Anniversary Landcare Grants

Posted on 9 September, 2011 by Connecting Country

Community groups in North Central Victoria interested in enhancing or protecting the natural environment have until Monday 10 October to apply for funding courtesy of the Victorian Government’s 25th Anniversary Landcare Grants.

To celebrate the 25^th Anniversary of Landcare, the Victorian Government has announced $60,000 of funding to assist local community groups.  The grants of $1,000 – $5,000 (ex GST) are for groups to hold events and undertake on-ground activities that will benefit the health of the region’s land, water and biodiversity – a mandatory component of the funding.

Attached are the guidelines and the application form. For further information, contact Jodie Odgers, Regional Landcare Coordinator, on (03) 5440 1883.