Garibaldi Environment Group

BIRD: linking the biodiversity community

Category: Landcare groups

The Garibaldi Environment Group has been established since 2000. The area covers the Garibaldi and Durham Lead districts south of Buninyong. The group is actively involved in several on-going projects. These include assisting management of Crown Land sites, and revegetation and rehabilitation projects along the Yarrowee River as well as a community based walking track along the river. There is also a focus on assisting small landholders with landcare information.

[edit] 2006 news

• Garibaldi No More Gaps project saw 23 people of all ages planting day on National Tree Day. We also hosted 10 CVA international volunteers at the South Durham Bridge site where they joined group members for more planting.
• The drought has curtailed our planting this year and will put a strain on earlier planting through having had so little rain throughout the year. 3 local projects are happening, though delayed through Leigh Catchment Group (LCG) funding for over 1.1 km of fencing of corridors and river protection and nearly 1400 local plants planned.
• CCMA Healthy Waterways Project is underway with work on poisoning and removal of willows started upstream of the South Durham Bridge.
• The Golden Plains Shire are also assisting in this area with woody weed control as part of their support for the community walking track.
• Offset planting of 600 plants for removal of plants for the new Garibaldi Bridge will be undertaken in 2007.
• Gorse Task Force work is being followed up by Good Neighbour Grant and group funds for works on Blackberry, Gorse and Patterson's Curse along the river.
• LCG Discretionary On Ground fund of $1000 is currently being used to protect remnant vegetation in Rava's Lane, Bibby's Lane and McKee's Road
• International Landcare Conference. In early October Kurtis, Jenny and Marianne attended the International Landcare Conference in Melbourne together with 1000 other delegates from all over the world. This was a pretty amazing experience with a lot of highs and some very depressing lows. The highs were some of the fantastic speakers, the realisation that landcare principles are now recognised around the world and the wonderful work that is being done. The lows are the realisation that the problems are immense and if we think we've got problems with environment issues, those facing people in countries in Africa and the Philippines for example are truly daunting.

The two speakers on climate change were also a highlight, as their presentations were so riveting but the scenario presented were grim if the world continues with business as usual. The LCG presentation by local Kurtis Noyce at the conference on NO PROPERTY TOO SMALL including the development of our brochures and highlighted the importance of working with urban and rural urban landholders as well as traditional farmers. This was very well received.

• Working bee in April to clean up the Garibaldi Bridge site and collect guards and do maintenance weed work.
• 2 workshops on nest box building (23 boxes built) and fungi (25 attended).
• 3 guest speakers this year.
  • Fred Cahir. Fred is a Research scholar and PhD candidate at the University of Ballarat and teaches Ecotourism there. He spoke to us of his research on the Wathawurrung people. His book on his research The Wathawurrung People's Encounter with Outside Forces 1797-1849: A History of Conciliation and Conflict' was to be published this year.
  • Rob Amor and Flavia Santamaria who spoke on their work with Koalas after the Anakie fires which were devastating for wildlife. Rob and Flavia had worked out a way of catching the injured Koalas so they were less stressed by the whole procedure.
  • Jenny, Kurtis and Marianne spoke of their learnings from the inspired presentations at the International Landcare Conference in Melbourne. Several locals hosted international visitors on tour for an evening of local hospitality. Feedback from the tour leaders was that this was the highlight of the tour &mdash well done! And it was fun and so interesting for us too. Our Tongan and Fijian visitors in particular have had a hard time of late.
• Ballarat Environment dinner saw Martin Scuffins receive the BEN Max Brooke Recognition Award for his work with his bird of prey shelter and all his other environmental work. Enviropacks which GEG was a part of with plant packs and the wildlife/fauna brochures, was also recognised with the BEN Community Group Award along with LCG, Ross Creek and South Ballarat Urban Landcare groups.
• Garibaldi Film night in August with our usual very enjoyable look into the past with Australian fare from the 1950's and Some Like it Hot. Money raised went to Martin's shelter.
• Several GEG members were also involved in filming of a different sort — a DVD made by the CCMA to celebrate 20 years of Landcare at the Garibaldi bridge site. We have a copy of this DVD and our group featured well.
• Film night fundraiser: LCG organised a Landcare night in late October that many GEG members attended to see the AL Gore movie An Inconvenient Truth which has been a source of more disquieting information and a wake up call for many. Money raised from this night went to Martin and the Sebastopol Wildlife Shelter run by Shirley Mitchell.

Thanks and congratulations to the past committee and its executive: Marianne Schrieke, Henrietta Camileri and Jenny Sedgwick. Welcome to the new office bearers: Marianne Schrieke (Chairman), Henrietta Camilleri (Sec) and Jenny Ryle (Treasurer). All are welcome to join in at any time through the coming year. And if you would like to support us through a $15 family membership and offer ideas for future speaker topics please contact Marianne.

GARIBALDI ENVIRONMENT GROUP DATES 2007 Meetings will be held on the 1st Monday of each month. Odd months will be general meetings, even months will be committee meetings. No meeting in July as this is our National tree day working bee and our Film Night will be held again in July/August. See Current Events for dates and speakers.

If you would like to find out more about GEG, and join us or our mailing list please feel free to contact us:

• Marianne Schrieke: Secretary 5341 3177 marianne@serendip.net.au
• Jenny Sedgwick: 0429 008 330 leighcg@ncable.net.au