FoTC Update: June 2009
This edition of FoTC Update contains the following:
- The ClimateWatch Program
- Planting Day with Conservation Volunteers Australia
- Media Release - Plans for Toolern Creek Regional Park go on display
- Media Release - National network of Landcare coordinators to continue
- FoTC Birds of Melton Gallery: link to Birds In Backyards Bird Finder
- Rare ant Myrmecia sp.17 Training Course: follow up information from John Wainer
- Friends Digital Storytelling at Footscray City Films
- "Sustainable Gardens": Book Review by Alex Smart of WRIVA
- Duck rescue mission in Caroline Springs
- Keep Australia Beautiful Awards
- Setting Up and Managing Big Projects
- Dingo Discovery Sanctuary and Research Centre Winter Open Days
- Sure and Steady - Safety Leadership Training
- Conservation Volunteers - Scheduled Planting Days
- Victorian Environment Friends Network - 13th Biennial Conference
- Biodiversity Conference - Biodiversity Across the Borders
- Threatened Bird Network(TBN) Workshop
- Toolern Creek Regional Park - Discovery Day
- NAIDOC Week Celebrations
- Waterwatch Mystery Sampling Event
- Walk for "Pink Ribbon Day"
- Melbourne Legacy Widows walk
Photo Gallery: New images
The following thumbnail images will open a new photo gallery tab or window.
Keep Australia Beautiful Awards (5 new photos)
Bull ant Myrmecia sp.17 (2 photos)
Birds by Nora Peters (7 new photos)
Bugs by Nora Peters(10 new photos)
Other recent bird images are Australian Magpie , Red Capped Robin , Barking Owl , Swift Parrot , White Faced heron , Pacific Black Duck , Willie Wagtail viewed in 'Birds of Melton'.
News
Friends of Toolern Creek's next meeting
Monday 6th July, 7.30pm at home of Lyn Holdsworth, 56 Westlake Drive, Westlake.
At the meeting, Alarna Gray will allow us to show our three minute story, a video about FoTC created over the June long weekend. Larissa Baglieri from Wildlife Victoria is our special guest and she will tell us about the wonderful work she does in helping the Wildlife. We will be showing Larissa's story Wild at Taylor’s Creek and Lyn's story Gathering at Big Red. The official launch of the video will be held in March 2010.
Read more about the three minute story.
The ClimateWatch Program
In response to the challenge of climate change, Earthwatch, Land & Water Australia, Melbourne University and the Bureau of Meteorology have developed ClimateWatch: a climate change monitoring program allowing Community groups, schools and individuals to participate with the scientific community in making observations and recording data.
Visit the Climatewatch website to read more about the ClimateWatch program
Planting Days with Conservation Volunteers Australia
On Saturday, 20th June, five well prepared and very professional volunteers from the Conservation Volunteers Australia helped us to plant 50 Poa Labillardieri, 100 Rhagodia parabolica, 50 Correa glabra and 100 Lomandra longifolia.
On Saturday 27th we planted 450 plants with the help of CVA volunteers Ahn Jeonghun, Cheu Yi Ting, Han JiYoung Kim JiYeon, Wendy Hopkins, Lee Seurghwan,Ben Mikus, Lance Mobbs and Anu Priya. The Friends of Toolern Creek members attending were Jason Priest, Simone and Lyn Holdsworth, Christine MacKenzie, Orion and Catherine Meeson, Cain Coffey.
Visit the Photo Gallery to view images of these two planting days.
Media Release - Plans for Toolern Creek Regional Park go on display
17 JUNE 2009 - Residents of the Shire of Melton will have the opportunity to contribute to the development of the new Toolern Creek Regional Park when the Park’s Master Plan goes on public exhibition next week.
The Master Plan will be available for public comment from Monday 22 June 2009 for four weeks on Council’s website, at the Melton and Caroline Springs Civic Centres or by phoning Melton Shire Council on 9747 7200.
Visit the Parks Victoria website to view media releases about Toolern Creek Regional Park.
Media Release - National network of Landcare coordinators to continue
5 JUNE 2009 - The Rudd Government today announced a national network of local Landcare facilitators will continue, with a total $33.6 million committed over four years.
FoTC Birds of Melton Gallery: link to Birds In Backyards Bird Finder
The Birds of Melton Gallery now provides easier access to detailed bird species information available in the Birds In Backyards Bird Finder identification tool.
While in Birds of Melton tab, click the bird image to display the available images for that bird. There is a new link shown at top of page 'Open birdname in Bird Finder', click this link to open the required bird detailed information on the Bird Finder website. Use Bird Finder to identify bird sightings in the Melton/Toolern Creek/Eynesbury areas. Click the 'Report new bird sighting' link to email details of new birds sighted and the location.
Rare ant Myrmecia sp.17 Training Course: follow up information from John Wainer
Following from the training course held on June 13th, John Wainer, ant expert from the Department of Primary Industry has provided a wonderful set of information on Australian ants. Click here to view or download the information.
He would be happy to look at any ants landowners might like to send in to
Department of Primary Industries, 621 Burwood Highway, Knoxfield, VIC 3180
The Myrmecia sp.17 bull ant is listed as a rare and threatened species. View images of this bull ant taken by Nora Peters at Harkness Rd recently. Click to view images in the Bugs Photo gallery.
Friends Digital Storytelling at Footscray City Films
A workshop was held over three days on the Queens Birthday weekend where seven people from the west were given the opportunity to tell their story about their passion for waterway conservation, using their own memories photos and narration. The hope was to inspire others to take up the cause, by showcasing their stories on a digital map of the West at the Living Museum Visitor Centre.
Three people from Melton told their story there was Larissa Baglieri (Wildlife Victoria), Daryl Akers and Lyn Holdsworth.
"Sustainable Gardens": Book Review by Alex Smart of WRIVA
Book review from Alex Smart of Werribee River Association (WRIVA) published by CSIRO Publishing
Duck rescue mission in Caroline Springs
Caroline Springs Animal Welfare Network are looking for people to help out with rescue and relocation of 20 dumped domestic ducks.
Contact Rana Hales by email csawnetwork@gmail.com or by phone on 0410 315 808 if you are able to help.
Keep Australia Beautiful - 2009 Sustainable Cities Awards
The Platypus comes to Melton
At the Keep Australia Beautiful awards held at RACV Club in Melbourne, Friends of Toolern Creek were finalists in the Protection of the Environment Award and received Special Commendation.
Click here to view photos of the Keep Australia Beautiful Awards night in our photo gallery.
Events
Visit the FoTC Calendar of Events page to view events in calendar format
Setting Up and Managing Big Projects
Monday 6th July, 10.00am - 3.30pm at Bendigo Pottery Function Centre, 146 Midland Highway, Bendigo
A Landcare Network Readiness Project Forum
Landscape scale projects are a high priority for funders, and a big opportunity for Landcare Networks. These big projects target action where it will have most impact within a landscape, and to integrate action between community groups, agencies and industry. This forum brings together Landcare Networks which have been running big projects to share with others what they are learning. Each session will have a mix of presentation and discussion about the issues raised.
RSVP to Clare Millen, Landcare and Community Engagement Unit, DSE, on (03) 9637 9824, or email clare.millen@dse.vic.gov.au.
Click here ... to download information on the forum proceedings.
Dingo Discovery Sanctuary and Research Centre Winter Open Days
Three sessions at 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm each Saturday and Sunday commencing June 13th and continuing through to last weekend in August.
Book into an encounter and education session and help to socialize the Dingo babies for their new lives at zoos and fauna parks around the world.
Click to download more information or visit the Dingo Discovery website.
Sure and Steady - Safety Leadership Training
Saturday, 18th July from 9:30am – 4.30pm at Hobsons Bay Civic Centre, 115 Civic Pde, Altona
(MEL map 54 H10)
RSVP: Please confirm attendance by 10 July
Safety training program on OH&S procedures for volunteering activities outdoors developed by Department of Sustainability & Environment(DSE). Included will be a visit to Werribee River, and the Werribee Open Range Zoo.
Click to download the flyer.
Conservation Volunteers - Scheduled Planting Days
The following planting days have been confirmed with Conservation Volunteers Australia.
- Saturday 20th June
- Saturday 27th June
- Thursday 2nd July
- Sunday 12th July
Victorian Environment Friends Network - 13th Biennial Conference
When the going gets hot ... Volunteering in a Greenhouse World
September 11–13 at Grantville Lodge, 200 Grantville-Glen Alvie Rd, Grantville
Click to download the Program and Registration Form.
Biodiversity Conference - Biodiversity Across the Borders
Was held on Friday 19th June at Ballarat University.
Topics under discussion at the conference include climate change and environmental process; fire ecology; vegetation dynamics; and fauna and faunal habitat.
Threatened Bird Network(TBN) Workshop
Friday, July 3rd from 9:00am – early afternoon at Western Treatment Plant, Werribee
This free training workshop presented by Birds Australia’s TBN will introduce volunteers to several research projects currently being undertaken throughout Australia. Presentations and field trips will cover topics such as ecology and conservation issues, followed by survey techniques and species identification.
Click to download the document for more information.
Toolern Creek Regional Park - Discovery Day
Saturday, 4 July from 11am To 4pm
Come and see the site for Melton’s new Regional Park and have your say on the draft plans. Guided tours available and sausage sizzle provided.
Enter From Bridge Rd, Melton South (Melway 343 B5)
Click to download the Flyer
NAIDOC Week Celebrations
'Honouring Our Elders, Nurturing Our Youth'
Monday 6 July from 2.30pm - 4.00pm at Melton Shire Community Hall, Cnr High & Smith Sts (Melways 337 C8)
This NAIDOC Week event is a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, heritage and culture.
For contact and program details download the flyer here and information about NAIDOC can be found at NAIDOC website.
An updated 'Get With It' brochure produced by our Reconciliation and Recognition Committee providing local and other information about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, media and heritage is available and can be downloaded here.
Waterwatch Mystery Sampling Event
Week of 20 – 26 July
The event is open to all Victorian Waterwatch groups and Waterwatch Coordinators, and its purpose is to establish Data Confidence levels and to test the equipment. This event is best suited to monitors who would like to build on their water testing confidence and who are interested in getting a Waterwatch Level 3 certificate.
Click to download document for more information. Contact Mikala Peters by email at Mikala.Peters@melbournewater.com.au or by phone on (03)9218 5603 for details on signing up.
Walk for "Pink Ribbon Day"
Sunday 25th October
The Diggers Rest Walking Group have invited our Walking Group to participate in a walk on 25th October 2009 for the Breast Cancer Foundation's "Pink Ribbon Day" to help raise funds for breast cancer research.
Melbourne Legacy Widows walk
Monday 26th October, 10:30am start
We are pleased to welcome 20 Legacy Widows who will join our walking group on Monday 26th October.
For your diary: Coming Events
Visit the Calendar of Events to view these events
- Naidoc Week : 5th - 12th July
- Schools Tree Day : Friday, July 31
- National Tree Day : Sun, August 2
- Land Care Week : Mon, September 7 to Sun, September 13
- Clean up the World Weekend : Fri, September 18 to Sun, September 20
- Platypus Festival : Saturday, Oct 10
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