Victorian Environment Friends Network

News & Newsletter

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Recent News and Upcoming Events

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Barwon Rivercare Planting
Sunday 30 Aug 09
A community planting day will be held on the north bank of the Barwon River where it meets Batson Street. Hawthorn and blackberry have been removed over the past two years and it is now ready to plant seedling and native grasses. Planting will commence at 10am. A BBQ lunch will be provided.
A team from Conservation Volunteers Australia will be doing further work on the site on Monday and Tuesday and we are looking for some people to work with them.
This site is steep so please wear suitable footwear. Stewart Mathison 5267 2054
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How much water do our rivers need? with Dr Geoff Vietz, Alluvium Consulting
7.30pm Wednesday 2 Sep 09
South Warrandyte Hall 66-68 Hall Rd South Warrandyte (Melway 35J8)
Geoff will discuss how river flows maintain the physical and ecological health of river systems and identify how much water is required to maintain a healthy river. He will speak in the context of both rural and urban settings, touching on the often harsh realities of water management in Australia.
Enquiries LynMeredith ManninghamEnvironmentSeminars 9840 9326
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Wattle Day at Wattle Park
Melways 60J12
10-3:00pm Sunday 30 Aug 09
Lots of family activities, tree planting, sausage sizzle 'possum lady, Tramways band and more.
Enquiries SueFenton 9564 1643
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Network's Biennial Conference to be held from 11 to 13 September 2009 at Grantville => See Http://
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What does your garden grow? –Victoria 2009
Tuesday 15 Sep 09
West Gippsland CMA Office 16HothamSt Traralgon.
The Weeds CRC has developed the What does your garden grow? materials to assist anyone speaking to groups or running courses on weeds. The materials particularly focus on garden escapes and controlling weeds in gardens and on the fringe of urban areas and bushland areas though parts are relevant to a wider audience. The course relates very strongly to the nursery industry program "Grow me instead'.

This workshop provides high quality training and free materials that can be used in a very flexible way
Contact GabyMitchell WestGippslandCMA 5175 7844 .0438 507 184 gabriellem@wgcma.vic.gov.au
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ANGAIR Annual Wildflower Show 2009
Anglesea, Aireys Inlet Society for the Protection of Flora and Fauna
19&20 Sep 09 Memorial Hall Anglesea
5263 1085 angair@pipeline.com.au
http://users.pipeline.com.au/~angair/mainpage.htm
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Sunday 20 Sep 09 - Fryers Ridge Nature Conservation Reserve
FoTheBox-IronbarkForests (MtAlexanderRegion) Bushwalk
Range of native plants, creekline vegetation, interesting rocks in the bushland behind Taradale. c. 8 km.
Meet 9.30am outside 30TempletonSt Castlemaine and carpool to the start of the walk. Bring water, morning tea and lunch. Walks normally finish mid afternoon. Non-members welcome. No cost.
Information BarbaraJohnson 5423 2773.
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Koala management in SE Australia with Dr Kath Handasyde, Melbourne University
7.30pm Wednesday 7 Oct 09
SouthWarrandyteHall 66-68HallRd SouthWarrandyte (Melway 35J8)
A mammalian ecologist specialising in native animals, Kath’s research areas include wildlife management, habitat fragmentation and general ecology. She will discuss landscape-scale koala management issues.
Enquiries LynMeredith ManninghamEnvironmentSeminars 9840 9326
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Friends of Brisbane Ranges Biennial Wildflower Show
Sunday 11 Oct 09 from 10am
Anakie Hall, Staughtonvale Rd, Anakie 3221
Contact HelenaLindorff helenal@pacific.net.au or JudyLocke 5367 2922
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~fobr/
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Sunday 18 Oct 09 - Forest Creek Track
FoTheBox-IronbarkForests (MtAlexanderRegion) Bushwalk
This walk will start in Chewton and follow Forest Creek through to Expedition Pass Reservoir using the Forest Creek Track and boardwalks allowing all year access. It will highlight the cultural and environmental history as well as the recent partnerships that have attempted to restore the balance between humans and nature. c. 9km.
Meet 9.30am outside 30TempletonSt Castlemaine and carpool to the start of the walk. Bring water, morning tea and lunch. Walks normally finish mid afternoon. Non-members welcome. No cost.
Information MarieJones 5472 2892.
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====> Other information:
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Register of Special Places
The VNPA Small Parks Project is currently seeking submissions from environment groups that may have a special area of land they would like to see investigated for inclusion in the Register of Special Places. This area of land may be proposed for either improved management or for inclusion in the reserve system or both. Each site will be assessed for inclusion in the short-listed 'Register' using the criteria:
    * Remnant vegetation condition, habitat and resilience.
    * Consideration of ecological processes.
    * Special species, communities or other values.
    * Cultural or heritage values.
    * Management requirements.
    * Political and social considerations.
    * Threats to the site - what would happen if we did nothing?
    * Corridors, stepping stones or links.

If you have a special area in mind that you would like to be considered for inclusion in the Register of Special Places or would like to discuss your idea, please contact YasminKelsall 9341 6507 yasmink@vnpa.org.au.
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Recreating the Country - A blueprint for the design of sustainable landscapes
Published by Australian Forest Growers on behalf of Ballarat Region Treegrowers, Recreating the Country challenges landholders and land managers in general to consider new ways of thinking about how we might reverse the inexorable decline and disappearance of Australian plants and animals from rural landscapes.

While integrating conservation and production has become the catchcry from foresters to dairy farmers, what can be practically done? This book provides the ‘stretch goals’ and the blueprint for ways of adding habitat and designing more ‘wildlife-friendly’ properties. It’s set to become the ‘bible’ for a new form of revegetation - the ‘biorich plantation.’ Integrated with other forms of vegetation, these would aim to enrich habitat potential across rural landscapes, not just for a lifetime, but in perpetuity.

Author Stephen Murphy asserts we have to rethink our revegetation strategies to match the sophistication of natural design principles. Stephen, with his wife Lina, has run a successful native plants nursery in central Victoria for over 25 years. He believes that even the most well-intentioned shelterbelts, Landcare plantings or mixed species farm forests lack the features to make them rich in critical habitat for wildlife, let alone capable of self-perpetuation for centuries to come. Pale shadows of a natural grassland, woodland or forest, they are destined to fail as a wellspring for native plants and animals.

At the heart of Recreating the Country are ten design principles, observed from nature, which set out to bridge the gap between farm forestry and environmental plantings and bring back the bush in rural landscapes.

Enquiries GibWettenhall BallaratRegionTreegrowers 5334 4643 gib@netconnect.com.au
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Land-carers living in Casey, Cardinia or Baw Baw will be interested in the latest offerings from Julie Weatherhead and Anthony Hooper who run the Living Classroom at Peppermint Ridge Farm. Since 1996, over 5000 people have participated in their extensive educational programs. Julie is an experienced environmental educator and ecologist and is passionate about protecting and enhancing our natural environment. Anthony has an extensive background in community development and the development of sustainable communities. See their latest at http://www.peppermintridgefarm.com.au/index.htm
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Victorian Volunteer Small Grants
Open for applications on an ongoing basis.
These Dept of Planning and Community Development grants are available to encourage local community organisations to attract new volunteers from diverse backgrounds and create new volunteering opportunities.
Eligibility: community not-for-profit organisations that involve volunteers at a local level.
Funding range of grant: up to $5,000
Program guidelines & application forms:
http://www.grants.dvc.vic.gov.au/web18/dvcgrants.nsf/AllDocs/02E6A4E787DD9401CA257180002C7188

Click on the links below to download the newsletter in PDF format.

FriendsNET 68 (PDF file) Aug 2009

FriendsNET 67 (PDF file) May 2009

FriendsNET 66 (PDF file) Feb 2009

FriendsNET 65 (PDF file) Nov 2008

FriendsNET 64 (PDF file) Aug 2008

FriendsNET 63 (PDF file) May 2008

FriendsNET 62 (PDF file) Feb 2008

FriendsNET 61 (PDF file) Nov 2007

FriendsNET 60 (PDF file) Aug 2007

FriendsNET 59 (PDF file) May 2007

FriendsNET 58 (PDF file) Feb 2007