Author Archives: fobif

Is more fire an answer to the fire problem?

Posted on 18 November, 2024 by fobif

The 2024-5 bushfire season has started in Victoria, so it might be a good idea to draw attention to one important dimension of management practices. Readers will no doubt be familiar with this kind of notice, attached to trees to … Continue reading →

Posted in News | 2 Comments

Vale Naomi Raftery

Posted on 13 September, 2024 by fobif

It is with regret and sadness that we report the death from cancer of Naomi Raftery, FOBIF committee member for several years, and secretary from 2014-2018. In that period Naomi was an important part of all of our work, including … Continue reading →

Posted in News | 1 Comment

Fire: paying attention to the detail

Posted on 25 August, 2024 by fobif

Over 100 people packed into the Senior Citizens Hall last Tuesday to hear fire behaviour scientist Phil Zylstra question the science and logic behind current planned burning systems. The talk focused on current programs centred on the reduction of leaf … Continue reading →

Posted in Fire Management, News | Comments Off on Fire: paying attention to the detail

A gate? No worries. Cinnamon what? Who cares?

Posted on 3 August, 2024 by fobif

In January we reported on the closure of Loop Track in the south of the Diggings Park–a measure designed to limit the spread of Cinnamon Fungus. Track closures are a tricky matter, because there’s a constituency which believes it has … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off on A gate? No worries. Cinnamon what? Who cares?

Signs: where should they be, what should they say?

Posted on 3 August, 2024 by fobif

Readers may remember our reporting of a project to put new visitor info boards along the Goldfields Track. That was two years ago, and we’ve heard nothing till recently about the state of the project. Now we believe that the … Continue reading →

Posted in News | 1 Comment

Storm landscapes

Posted on 3 August, 2024 by fobif

Visitors to our bushlands can come across them surprisingly often: patches, usually quite limited in area, in which it seems that a monster has threshed around, snapping substantial trees and spreading havoc. Storm damage: sometimes it can be terrifying, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature Observations, News | Comments Off on Storm landscapes

Journey through fire

Posted on 22 July, 2024 by fobif

A good group rocked up in threatening weather for FOBIF’s July walk in the Fryers NCR at Drummond. Grey it was, and even misty, but great for walking. It might have been cold, but of course no one noticed, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Fire Management, News, Walks | 3 Comments

FOBIF July 21 walk: Drummond North/Fryers Nature Conservation Reserve

Posted on 14 July, 2024 by fobif

Starting on the Old Drummond Road, we’ll take a route centred on Nener Track. This short, pretty track is the site of abundant populations of two rare plants—Round-leaf Flat Pea and Fryerstown Grevillea. The route will give walkers a chance … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off on FOBIF July 21 walk: Drummond North/Fryers Nature Conservation Reserve

Ever wondered what that orange stuff is?

Posted on 27 June, 2024 by fobif

It’s all over the place. It’s quite attractive too…but what is it? If you’ve ever asked that question, as we have, the answer is at hand, in the latest edition of Wombat Forestcare’s wonderful newsletter. In a typically informative article, … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off on Ever wondered what that orange stuff is?

Birds of the Castlemaine region book

Posted on 26 May, 2024 by fobif

In 2018, BirdLife Castlemaine – the newest regional branch of BirdLife Australia – was launched, and has subsequently held regular walks, talks, nature diary days, surveys and other activities.  The geographic extent of the branch overlaps considerably with FOBIFs area … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off on Birds of the Castlemaine region book