Hello to all of our Landcare Members, Partners, Sponsors and Friends throughout the Bass Coast Landcare Network and welcome to the January edition of our E-news, the first one of 2021. In this e-news we feature many of the BCLN group's AGM news and important annual updates - such as a new community shed on Phillip Island and successful community mangrove planting day! Read on to get the latest info on the network, as well as grants, resources and upcoming events that may be of relevance to you.

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UPCOMING EVENTS 

Thanks to all who attended the ‘Opportunities for Carbon on Farms’ - with Joel Geohegan in December. If you missed out don't worry the recordings will be available soon; and there is another soil health webinar series coming up in February.

This is a seven-part webinar series hosted by AgriProve, a soil carbon project developer that facilitates landholder participation in the Emissions Reduction Fund, with renowned professional soil scientist Declan McDonald. Declan will dig into the science behind growing soil organic carbon, how to implement regenerative management techniques, and how to monitor and measure your success. Improving soil health and building soil carbon can improve the productivity of your soils.

The seven-part webinar series will support farmers participating in or interested in a soil carbon project. The series will cover best practice conventional and regenerative soil management to suit your soils, climate and enterprise.

Sessions will be interactive to answer all your questions on soil carbon. The series will support all farmers to better understand their soils, however there will be a focus on grazing systems in moderate to high rainfall zones.

When? Wednesdays 3 February – 17^th March 2021. Online via Zoom Seven-part series 12 – 1pm. Register your attendance by clicking here.

With the Landcare National Conference being delayed in 2020, many of us turned our attention to webinars. Landcare Australia organised several online events over recent months and will be continuing with them in the lead up to the Landcare Conference. All the recorded webinars are available on the Landcare Australia website.

The new conference date will be held during 2021 Landcare Week –Wednesday 4 to Friday 6 August, 2021 at the International Convention Centre Sydney. There are multiple events planned as part of the conference including the National Landcare Awards Gala Dinner and the National Landcare Youth Summit. A full day Field Trip program will shine a light on the diversity of Landcare projects in Sydney and the surrounding areas, including the impact on the environment, sustainable agriculture activities and local communities.

Click here to view for the National Landcare Conference website.​

GROUP AND NETWORK NEWS

In this newsletter, many of the groups that make up the wider Bass Coast Landcare Network have yearly updates and summaries of recent  Annual General Meetings.

Past AGMS: Korrumburra (Mid November) at the Outtrim Reserve,  Powlett Project (December 4th) at Dalyston General Store, Bass Valley (5th December) at the Gurdies Winery, 3 Creeks (5th December) at the Gurdies Winery, Phillip Island (December 12th) at the Koala Conservation Reserve, Kongwak Hills (December 20th) at Bill and Susan Banks’ “Yacht Club” and Anderson Inlet  had no AGM, due to covid-19 constraints and restrictions.

Upcoming AGMS: Wonthaggi Urban on Friday 22nd January and French Island  in September 2021. 

Due to the Covid 19 outbreak the activities for our group have been close to nil. The closest we came to an outing was a walk through Peter Lyons' forest looking at the great natural resource that natural vegetation is in our community. Some damage has been done by feral deer that have made their home there. Deer shooters claim it is difficult to shoot the deer as the kangaroos warn them when human hunters are in the area . Our group has a new secretary in Peter Lyon. He put up his hand to help our group when the long-time secretary Nicole May transferred to Melbourne. What a great contribution she made to Landcare in our area and though we will miss her the results of all her work will be visible for years to come. We are grateful for the unending support we get from the BCLN network. We hope Dave and his team keep up the great job they do for Landcare in this part of Victoria.

Anderson Inlet Landcare Group Membership Link: https://www.basscoastlandcare.org.au/andersoninlet.html

After 33 years, Phillip Island Landcare Group is excited to finally have a home to store their resources, as their Phillip Island Landcare Community Shed officially opened on Saturday 12 December, 2020. The new facility sits amongst beautiful gums just 100 metres from the Barb Martin BushBank community plant nursery at the Koala Conservation Reserve.  

The event was held outside the shed in glorious sunshine and the 40 attendees were treated to entertaining speeches on the previous Landcare ‘sheds’, a few words from the major sponsors, and some poetry from Mike Cleeland. 

The shed opening was marked with the cutting of a ribbon. In addition, the group unveiled a Life Membership honour board, a President’s honour board and a plaque recognising the momentous occasion.

Click here to view the full story on BCLN's news and events page.

Phillip Island Landcare Group Membership link: https://www.basscoastlandcare.org.au/phillipisland.html

A great morning and afternoon for our AGM was held at The Gurdies Winery, with hosts Bruce and Wendy providing a great venue.  And it was certainly a positive to catch up with our members face to face and not via zoom!

Lew Potter’s Presidents Report stated that the BVLG had continued to thrive throughout the year as the group continued to adapt and move forward, with more new members signing up to our Group which bodes well for the future of the BVLG.  Also a positive to see some new faces on the BVLG Executive.

We look forward to a great 2021 in Landcare, lots of plantings and lots of catch-ups.  Of course, one of the best ways to see this happen is to attend plantings together.  Let’s get those projects lined up!

Bass Valley Landcare Group Membership Link: https://www.basscoastlandcare.org.au/bassvalley.html

As we all start emerging from the cold wet months, months of lockdowns and restrictions brought on by Covid-19, we managed to have an AGM mid November 2020. 

Geoff Trease did a lovely walk and talk on seed collecting around Outtrim Reserve.  There were quite a few orchids and shrubs out in full flower, such a lovely little reserve, that everyone who enjoys nature should put on their to do list.  The committee remains the same, President: Melynda Dawson, Vice President: Marie Creed, Secretary: Paul Calvert, Treasurer and Board Member: Don Creed.  We hope we can get some guest speakers and have a few fun informative catch-up sessions in 2021.

Korumburra Landcare Group Membership Link: https://www.basscoastlandcare.org.au/korumburra.html

A small group of “Kongwakers” turned out at Bill and Susan Banks’ “Yacht Club” on Sunday December 20 to attend the Kongwak Hills Landcare Group 2020 Annual General Meeting. 

Committee positions were declared open but, as is the case with many other community groups, volunteer fatigue is an issue and we are struggling to find members willing to put their hand up for leadership positions. The current committee will continue to carry out their roles until March when we will meet again. Membership numbers and morale remain strong, so it is hoped members, old or new, will step up ensure KHLG’s survival beyond March. 

2021 sees a shift in focus for KHLG. With funding delays affecting usual planting activities, the group is looking to educate and provide opportunity for the local community to encourage and protect native wildlife. In conjunction with Wonthaggi Men’s Shed, specific “nesting boxes” will be produced as a safe home for local fauna such as sugar gliders and parrots. Property holders can then install these in relevant habitat to attract furry and feathered friends. 

Kongwak will also be encouraging the BCLN to be more proactive in supply of free or low-cost plants to groups for small unfunded projects. We believe many members and local landholders would be keen to plant 100 – 300 trees per year if they didn’t have to jump through the hoops of applying for Landcare grants and meeting the criteria for large projects.

Kongwak Hills Landcare Group Membership Link: https://www.basscoastlandcare.org.au/kongwakhills.html

The Powlett Project recently held its 156th meeting. The ten members present (plus Dave Bateman and Jye Andersen) represented about 260 years of Landcare experience. We review potential (and past) projects. The Powlett Project is, perhaps, 25 years mature, having planted probably more than two and a half million plants.

Brian Enbom is very much alive but has left the Powlett Project and the Board of BCLN after decades of leadership, mentoring, signing documents, hosting, planting and other sundry good times. Thank you Brian. You have our respect and recognition. We look forward to catching up in more sociable times ahead.

Finally, thanks to: BCLN staff, for getting on with the business, The Bass Coast Shire for our increasingly productive relationship, The West Gippsland CMA, for ongoing support and partnership, the landholders, volunteers, committees and all who feed us. Amen. Ps. And our funders!

Powlett Project Landcare Group Membership Link: https://www.basscoastlandcare.org.au/powlettproject.html

The 3Creeks AGM was well attended by 16 members and everyone immensely enjoyed the new freedom to catch up in person and meet new members in such a great setting. The meeting took just under 1 hour to complete, with all 14 office bearer positions filled and 3 ordinary committee members elected to help plan, shape and implement activities to ensure 2021 is a very successful and active year. Plans for social activities were already well underway by the end of the meeting!

The main changes to committee roles were Ray Kirk taking on the President role and Nick Sibly taking on the role of BCLN Board Representative. Nick congratulated and thanked everyone for getting through 2020 and for the contribution made to ensure 3Creeks remained an active and successful group despite the restrictions. Finally, Roger confirmed that 3Creeks is in a sound financial position, especially thanks to the ongoing successful wine fundraising effort that has proven to be a winner!

3Creeks Landcare Group Membership Link: https://www.basscoastlandcare.org.au/threecreeks.html

Thank you to everyone who came along BCLN's community mangrove planting day on Saturday 19th of December!

Together, we planted over 500 mangroves using different innovative methods, such as direct seeding and propagation in different types of seed trays. Mangroves provide an important linkage between land and sea, providing habitat and feeding grounds for wading birds, a safe haven for juvenile fish, crustaceans, sharks and rays and stabilisation of susceptible coastlines from erosion.

Nice work Estelle, Greta and Leila, featured in the photo. "Best Landcare day ever!" - quote from Estelle Bateman. We would like to pay our respects to Tim Ealey aka Dr. Mangrove and Brian Powell for their dedication to mangrove restoration efforts over the years.

BCLN acknowledges the support of Coastcare Victoria and the Victorian government.

GRANTS, TRAINING, INFORMATION AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR LANDHOLDERS

The Victorian Rabbit Action Network is inviting community groups and organisations to apply for their new grant program of up to $5,000 to raise awareness of the rabbit issue and best practice control methods. Applications are open until 29 January 2021.

The Victorian Rabbit Action Network is inviting community groups and organisations to apply for their new grant program of up to $5,000 to raise awareness of the rabbit issue and best practice control methods.

The Grant Program Closes 29 January 2021. For more information click here to visit the new VRAN website.​

Nominations are now open for the General Jeffery Soil Health Award for any individual farmer, land manager, extension specialist or educator making an outstanding contribution to improving soil health in Australia.

The award recognises, honours and celebrates an individual’s outstanding contribution to improving soil health through activities, promotes better management practices and provides a platform to promote what is being done to improve and encourage soil health at a meaningful scale.

Nominations close March 31^st 2021. Click here to find out more about the nominations process. 

The Victorian Government has released a new ten-year strategy for the future development of agriculture in Victoria. According to Agriculture Victoria, working with industry partners and the community will be critical to the successful implementation of this strategy. The vision is an Victorian agriculture sector that is strong, innovative and sustainable. 

Click here to read the strategy and have your say. 

Bass Coast Landcare River Garden is in peak production, with lots of work to be done. On 13th January we welcomed a new group of volunteers, from Interchange Gippsland. They are helping us keep on top of the weeds, harvesting produce and gathering fallen apples. Soon we will attend to the new planters that have been built by Chisholm TAFE horticulture students late last year. The group plans to come weekly - on Wednesday mornings. The 3 Sisters Trial, led by Lisa Wangman, is looking great. The corn is shooting up after the rain and pumpkins are trailing nicely. The sweet potatoes, apples and tomatoes are also doing well and will quite soon be ready to harvest. The River Garden is especially beautiful this time of year and, as you can see in the photo, the sunflowers are out. 

Click here to read about volunteering opportunities at the River Garden!​

Offset your Car Emissions in Local Planting Projects!

If you feel passionate about the environment and want to do your bit for our beautiful native flora and fauna, why not consider offsetting your car emissions with Bass Coast Landcare Network? Just click on your car's size to make a donation, which will cover the planting of enough indigenous plants to offset your car’s emissions for a year and contribute to restoring your own local landscape. 

All your friends and family will also see your complimentary car sticker showing your commitment to the Bass Coast environment. 

To offset your car emissions with BCLN click here.​​

Bass Coast Arc – Landcare Public Fund making projects a reality – Donate today to make a difference!

The Bass Coast Landcare Public Fund is a regional non-profit organisation focusing on conserving biodiversity throughout Bass Coast.​ The Bass Coast Arc – “Community Access to Public Space” concept supports community groups to work with public land managers to improve the environment of our public spaces and create appropriate access to these unique areas.

Your contribution, no matter how small, helps to protect native plants and animals in Bass Coast’s most ecologically important landscapes.

Click here to find out more about how you can assist this important work.​

What's your story?

We would love to hear from you and your Landcare group with stories and photos of what's been happening in your area and any suggestions of things that you would like to see in your E-news.

We look forward to meeting and catching up with you at upcoming events and activities around Bass Coast.

Until next edition, 

Happy reading, from the Bass Coast Landcare Network.