Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests

https://events.humanitix.com/nature-art-soundscapes-presents-the-feathered-five

Our regular Walks program continued this year with the familiar diversity and interesting foci that FOBIF walks are known for.

• Euan Moore capably lead the final walk in 2024 near Crusoe Reservoir, Big Hill that gave us a great view back to Castlemaine.
• After a long dry summer, the first walk this year in March, lead by Francis Cincotta, saw the bush soak up the cool air and gentle rain on a 5 km circuit at Fryers Ridge Nature Conservation reserve.
• The Loddon River near Baringhup was the next walk with guest leader, Barry Golding, who shared local stories of geology, history and Indigenous culture. Thanks as well to the local farmers, Kerrie and Rob Jennings, who keenly supported the walk.
• On a cold, windy May day in Maldon, we walked and gazed in wonder at pre-1852 eucalypts scattered through Maldon. Thanks, Bev Phillips of Maldon Urban Landcare, for sharing informative and interesting talks about these trees and the work done by this group to protect them.
• With the arrival of winter, the annual FOBIF ‘Long Walk’ in June revealed some of the Leanganook’s hidden gems in thick winter mist, ably lead by Jeremy Holland. On the same day, an exploration of mosses in a gully in Chewton involved a lot of bending, creeping and crouching to get the right observations, guided by Cassia Read and Bernard Slattery.
• In July, Stephen Charman, shared information from his extensive historical research, of a section of the Coliban Main Channel at Malmsbury. A snapshot of how water was moved around in this dry region dating back to gold rush era of the 1800’s.
• Then in August, a misty, late winter mood descended on Mt Tarrengower for the walk off track that meandered up the north-western flank of the Mount. A diversity of flora and granite features were encountered, including some beautiful moss covered rock wells.
• A feast of ecological delights in Kalimna Park were identified by Karl Just on the September walk. Lots of interest and appreciation of the biodiversity of this Park was apparent.
• The final walk in October lead by Christine Henderson, occurred in the Fryers Ranges near Dearden Creek. Despite the dry conditions of this year, walkers were treated to some lovely displays of wildflowers and subtle signs of some orchids.

Thanks goes to Bronwyn Silver, for organising the 2025 walks program and for doing a thorough and well supported handover to our new walks coordinator, Gen Blades,  assisted by Lisa Hall.  The walks cannot occur without the support of the walk leaders who so generously share their expertise and knowledge

Many thanks to Gen and Lisa in facilitating the walks this year and to the various leaders for their care and attention to planning and executing very interesting and enjoyable walks.

Newstead Arts Hub is hosting the launch of Belinda Prest’s recently published book, Strangways & Surrounds: Plein-air on Djarra Country, on Saturday 8 November at 2pm with Professor Barry Golding, author of Six Peaks Speak. The book has more than sixty of Belinda’s drawings from her travels around her home in Strangways beginning in 2013.

In praise of Strangways & Surrounds:

‘Belinda’s detailed pen drawings pay homage to the stately and wizened old trees, powerful vistas and markers of human presence both humble and profound, that characterise the region.’
Eve Lamb, The Local

‘Her drawings are both delicate and evocative and they bear witness to the particularities of a place in time.’
Julie Gittus, author

Belinda will be signing copies of the book at the launch. It is also available at Stonemans Bookshop in Castlemaine. Cost is $50.

Everyone is welcome and refreshments will be provided.

Anyone  wandering the desolate tracks separating Kalimna Park from the Moonlight Flat pine plantations to the north east this week will see a remarkable sight: beautiful patches of Rough Mint Bush flourishing on apparently sterile rocky surfaces–sometimes right in the middle of the track! The Mint Bush is one of those which may be the frustration of the gardener: spectacular in the most unpromising of environments, it’s not so easy to grow in the civilised conditions of a garden. It’s particularly impressive right now, given that the bush is looking pretty stressed by the dry.

Prostanthera denticulata, Kalimna Park, October 2025: it’s a strikingly rich sight in our stressed bushlands.

You don’t have to go over to the pines to see the Mint Bush, however: if you check out walks 1 and 2 in FOBIF’s walks guide: the Kalimna Circuit Walk, and Kalimna North End, you’ll find Rough Mint Bush in flower there—and in company with lots of Chocolate Lily, Grey Everlasting, and sundry other flowering plants.

Rough Mint Bush can be found scattered around our region. It can be locally abundant—if you see one, you’ll probably see a crowd.

And while I’m on it, there’s another local plant which is described in the late Ern Perkins’s online plant guide, https://www.castlemaineflora.org.au/, as ‘scattered and sparse’ in our region: Rosemary Grevillea. It’s common enough as a garden specimen, but when you see it in the bush, the experience can make your day. The photos below were taken along the Campaspe river.

—Bernard Slattery

Grevillea rosmarinfolia, Campaspe river valley, October: it’s a common garden specimen, but to see it in the bush is special. Photo; Duncan Sharpe

Rosemary grevillea, Campaspe river valley, October. Photo: Duncan Sharpe.

So much is revealed about our local places when we venture out on foot. That is the main purpose of the monthly FOBIF walks. The 2026 calendar of walks is now being organised. Do you know a great walk in the local region? Great can be many things – wonder, curiosity, beauty, fun and enjoyable. Would you be interested in leading or co-lead a walk? Get in touch with Gen Blades, our friendly walks coordinator 0431 371 065. 

This month’s walk will be in the eastern slopes of the Fryers Ranges. We will begin from a  spot inside the forest on the Taradale-Fryerstown Road. From there, we will follow bush tracks and traverse private land to the Dearden Creek where we’ll explore a scenic section of the creek, before picking up the Dearden Creek track to the main ridge road. From there we’ll make our way north along the ridge on the road and side tracks before dropping back down to our parking place. We can expect to see all the usual October wildflower beauties. Bring drinks and food for morning tea and lunch stops along the way. Distance is approximately 7 km. 

To join in the walk, either meet at the Community House in Templeton Street at 9.20am in time for a 9.30am departure or, meet at Taradale Main Street opposite the Metro fuel station at 9.45am. Carpooling is encouraged due to limited parking at the starting point.      Enquiries: Christine Henderson 0417 529 392 or Gen Blades 0431 371 065

Common Cassinia, Fryers Forest, January 1 2015

Mt Alexander Shire Council is inviting residents to ‘have your say on rural land use’ by completing a survey.  For more information about this and the link to the survey, go to the Council’s website: https://shape.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/rural-land-use-strategy/rlus-community-survey

The website states, “The Rural Land Use Strategy will identify potential areas for rural activities, rural conservation and rural living as well as provide guidelines for development on these lands.”  The latter point regarding “development” is a complex one.  The survey canvasses what you value about rural land and what you think are the main priorities.  It asks what types of things you would like to see in rural areas, ranging from small farms, hospitality and living.  There is a section on rating of impacts, such as environmental, housing pressure and impacts on agriculture.  These areas reveal the competing interests in rural land uses – environmental, economic, hospitality, tourism, social and cultural. We love our rural area for values such as a healthy ecosystem and want to make sure that “development” does not degrade this.

Alarming results in the Victorian State of the Environment 2023 Report https://www.ces.vic.gov.au/soe2023 from the Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability is motivation enough for us to have a say in land use wherever possible. From this report, the overall summary of status assessments;  biodiversity, out of 42 assessments, one is good, six are fair and the remaining are poor or unknown; for forests, 26 assessments, three are good, nine fair with the remaining fourteen poor or unknown.  “more than 14 million hectares (60%) of Victorian land has been cleared, mainly for agriculture and settlements.” ces.vic.gov.au/soe2023/key-topics/land

Another issue is farmland and the dilemma of how to maintain sustainable, local food economies. This competes with the pressure to build more homes. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/periurban-planning-failure-a-ticking-time-bomb-20150213-13dw6r.html

The Shire conducted a community consultation as part of a Rural Land Study in 2014. This provides some historical context and interesting information and maps on the various zones that are identified as Farming, Rural Living, Low Density Residential, Rural Conservation, Public Conservation and Resources, water body. https://share.google/PS84gRV8Ii0UDP8jl

To find out if your property is in a rural zoned area, go to https://mapshare.vic.gov.au/vicplan/ then type in your address and read the planning property report.

Mount Alexander Shire have provided this forum for us to let them know what the community thinks and we urge you to take this opportunity to support our environment.