Aboriginal Landcare Facilitator

In July, NAIDOC celebrations were held across Victoria. Many groups came together to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year’s theme ‘Because of Her, We Can’ gave us the opportunity to showcase the amazing work of our female Elders and leaders.

The Glenelg Hopkins CMA, in partnership with Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owner Corporation and Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation, recently celebrated the CMA’s flagship waterway project – Budj Bim Connections – at the Tyrendarra Indigenous Protected Area. Traditional Owners, local landholders, CMA staff, and members of the Southwest Environment Alliance enjoyed some traditional Aboriginal foods such as kooyang (eel), before taking a guided tour of the World Heritage nominated site from Gunditjmara Elder Aunty Eileen Alberts.

For further information contact Jackson Chatfield on 0419 504 541.

Corangamite

The Heysterbury District Landcare Network’s (HDLN) Connecting Corridors and Improving Productivity with Biofund project, supported by a Victorian Landcare Grant, is combining education and revegetation to help fire-affected farmers. The March 2018 fires interrupted some projects in the region, but all are now underway.

Students from Gilson College at Taylors Hill and Timboon P-12 School will join with Parks Victoria Junior Rangers to plant trees and learn about revegetation techniques and safety management from the HDLN during the spring planting season.

The HDLN have also been running community nursery events to teach students about native flora and the importance of biodiversity.

Bret Ryan has been appointed as Regional Landcare and Volunteer Coordinator. Bret has an extensive background in Landcare. He previously worked for the CMA as a Regional Landcare Facilitator and is a member of the Stony Rises Landcare Group.

For further information: visit www.ccma.vic.gov.au/what-we-do/community/landcare.aspx or contact Bret Ryan on 0433 569 972.

East Gippsland

Landcare groups in the region were inspired by a workshop run in Bairnsdale in May by Les Robinson. Titled ‘Passion Mashin’ the workshop was designed to reinvigorate groups by encouraging members to strengthen and then use their networks to grow memberships. It encouraged participants to think differently and challenge their current practices. 

The CMA’s Community Programs Committee undertook a bus tour to several sites across the region in May to review current projects and meet with Landcare volunteers. The committee was very impressed with the commitment and passion of the volunteers.

For further information: visit www.egcma.com.au/what-we-do/316/ or contact Carolyn Cameron on 5150 3582.

Access the magazine's index to search for other stories by author, title, and subject, here.

Glenelg Hopkins

A number of excellent community events that have brought people together to celebrate and learn about our natural environment have been held throughout the region in recent months.

The inaugural Cavendish Red Gum Festival attracted more than 1000 people on a wet and windy weekend in April. Participants enjoyed a range of crafts, food, music and art. The committee has decided to run the festival as a biennial event.

CMA staff were on hand at Sheepvention in Hamilton in early August to highlight local projects and discuss farming issues with the local community.

The biennial Lake Bolac Eel Festival was a great success in March. This vibrant festival attracts visitors from all over Australia. This year’s event celebrated Aboriginal culture, art, music, history and tradition.

For more information: visit www.ghcma.vic.gov.au/get-involved/landcare-and-grants/ or contact Tony Lithgow on 5571 2526.

Goulburn Broken

In early winter the region’s groups, networks and CMA staff were busy working hard on grant applications. Much effort has been put into making the most of the available funding. Our communities have had the greatest success with Victorian Landcare Grants. Accessing some of the larger grants, for example, Australian Governments National Landcare Program Smart Farming Partnership funding, is becoming increasingly difficult.

The planting season is underway with revegetation projects well into implementation thanks to the winter rain. Planting days are a great way to engage with schools and the broader community and get out into the landscape.

The Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford visited the region in July to highlight the Victorian State Government’s Recreational Fishing Grants that are available for local community groups.

For further information: visit www.gbcma.vic.gov.au/community_natural_resource_management or contact Tony Kubeil on 5761 1619.

Mallee

Landcare groups in the region have been busy with controlling rabbits, revegetation projects, monitoring and reporting. Many groups submitted applications for the 2018-19 Victorian Landcare Grants. Interest from local schools in applying for Victorian Junior Landcare Grants and Biodiversity Grants was also strong.

In the dryland regions landholders have finished sowing their crops. However, growers are anxiously watching the sky for follow up rain after a fairly dry autumn with sub-soil moisture levels tending to be low.

Mildura hosted the sixth National Malleefowl Forum in August 2018. For the latest findings from the forum visit www.nationalmalleefowl.com.au

For further information: visit www.malleecma.vic.gov.au/about-us/programs/community/landcare.html or contact Louise Nicholas on on 0409 615 846.

North Central

Preparing grant applications has kept the region’s groups and networks busy, with strong interest in the 2018-19 Victorian Landcare Grants. Eleven project grants and 44 group support grants were successful across the region.

Training for Landcare facilitators is the focus for the coming months. The training will be held in partnership with the Goulburn Broken CMA. The key topics include revitalising groups, engagement and building partnerships, and the basics of mapping.

Landcare groups and networks can now map projects and activities of any kind through the CMA’s online mapping portal, iMap. Free training workshops for groups and networks are available on request.

This year’s Chicks in the Sticks event will be held on 20 October 2018 in Echuca. Make sure you are on the North Central Chat newsletter mailing list to secure your ticket.

Regional Landcare Coordinator Tess Grieves is on leave until early October 2018. 

For more information visit www.nccma.vic.gov.au/landcare or contact Tess Grieves on 5440 1890.

North East

The CMA has welcomed Katie Warner as the new Chief Executive Officer. Katie was previously Business Development Manager and Deputy
CEO of the Goulburn Broken CMA.

The CMA is working with the Upper Ovens Valley Landcare Group and Myrtleford and District Landcare and Sustainability Group to develop and implement priorities for the Upper Ovens River Catchment Action Plan. This project is funded through the Victorian Government Water for Victoria project, which involves extensive community consultation to identify and implement community environmental, social and cultural priorities for catchments and waterways.

Landcare and other community groups in the region are now beginning to deliver their 2018/19 Victorian Landcare Grant projects. 

For more information: visit www.necma.vic.gov.au/solutions/landcare-community-groups or contact Tom Croft on 02 6043 7648. 

Port Phillip and Western Port

Congratulations to the groups and networks in the region that had a project supported through the 2018-19 Victorian Landcare Grants. Landcare received a boost in Whittlesea with a start-up grant to help the formation of the new Whittlesea Landcare Group.

The Intrepid Landcare movement is now underway in the region with the formation of the Western Port Intrepid Landcare Group following a successful leadership retreat in June for young and aspiring Landcarers.

With the completion of their five-year Australian Government funded projects, the CMA’s two Sustainable Land Management Coordinators, Anthony Dufty and Sarah Halligan, have moved to new positions. Regional Landcare Coordinator Doug Evans recently left his role after a sixteen-year contribution. Doug’s commitment, knowledge and wisdom will be greatly missed. Please see the story on page 24.

For more information: visit www.ppwcma.vic.gov.au/landcare/ or contact Barry Kennedy on 0447 821 559. 

West Gippsland

The region’s Landcare networks and groups have been extremely busy over the past few months with field days, strategic planning and training workshops.

The biennial Strategic Planning Gathering at Wilsons Promontory was a valuable two-day event filled with new ideas and networking. Topics included working with shires, branding projects, why retrospective mapping of Landcare projects is a good idea and prioritising projects. 

A coastal retreat hosted by Gippsland Intrepid Landcare in May saw 23 young people weeding along the Wilsons Promontory foreshore, surfing, listening to inspirational speakers and undertaking leadership training.

All of the region’s Landcare networks are looking to support new on-ground projects. If you have an idea for work you would like to do on your property, please get in touch with your local Landcare facilitator or coordinator.

For more information: visit www.wgcma.vic.gov.au/getting-involved/landcare or contact Marnie Ellis on 1300 094 262 (Kathleen Brack is on maternity leave).

Wimmera

Congratulations to all volunteers and support personnel on another successful planting season in the region. Thousands of new trees, shrubs and understorey plants have been planted.

2018-19 Victorian Landcare Grant projects are now well underway. Groups are implementing a wide range of activities including tree planting, on-farm demonstrations, engagement events, training, and community-based pest plant and animal control works. 

The annual Wimmera Biodiversity Seminar was held on 6 September 2018. The event will include a celebration of the 50-year anniversary of the establishment of the Little Desert National Park, an early precursor to the Landcare movement. 

Landcare partnerships with local Traditional Owners continue to grow. The community is planning a second Yunguip bark canoe event for later in
2018. This will be held in partnership with Barengi Gadjin Land Council to support community aspirations and celebrate the rich cultural values of the lower Wimmera River.

For further information: visit www.wcma.vic.gov.au/get-involved/landcare or contact Joel Boyd on 5382 9919.