Author Archives: fobif

Celebrating Australia

Posted on 25 January, 2014 by fobif

We don’t want to enter the debates that sometimes swirl around Australia Day. But here’s something Australian we can definitely celebrate: a small group of Silver Banksias flourishing near Forest Creek in Happy Valley. Readers of our October 2013 Post … Continue reading →

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Gormlessness confirmed?

Posted on 24 January, 2014 by fobif

The State Government’s Improving our waterways: Victorian waterway management  strategy is now out. The important background to this document is that Catchment Management Authorities have had staff cutbacks of around 25%, and DEPI hasn’t done much better. The Strategy is … Continue reading →

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Talk on Natural Regeneration

Posted on 24 January, 2014 by fobif

The opening event for Connecting Country’s 2014 education program will be a talk by Ian Lunt, Associate Professor in the School of Environmental Sciences at Charles Sturt University, Albury. His topic is “Natural regeneration in central Victoria: the biggest positive change … Continue reading →

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Summer reading 2: fancy a cruise?

Posted on 21 January, 2014 by fobif

Forget about that dream cruise on the Rhine, past turreted castles built by German madmen. What about a trip from Lake Weroona in Bendigo down to the sea at Portland, on a first class steamer along a noble canal? Such … Continue reading →

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What next for Wellsford?

Posted on 20 January, 2014 by fobif

The Wellsford Forest is about 15 kilometres NE of Bendigo. The Bendigo and District Environment Council is holding a forum on the future of this forest on February 6. Speakers include Rod Orr (Bendigo Field Naturalists) on the Values of … Continue reading →

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Yet another benefit from slowing down

Posted on 14 January, 2014 by fobif

The poet Les Murray has made the interesting observation that ‘the kangaroo has never heard of Australia.’ The point being that animals don’t see things the way we do. Nowhere is this more evident on a daily basis than on … Continue reading →

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Cactus Warriors spreading their news

Posted on 9 January, 2014 by fobif

The Tarrangower Cactus Control Group (TCCG)  now has 3 new videos on their website: Cactus Warriors: Who We Are; Cactus: Tackling the Problem and Cactus Warriors: the Wheel Cactus. The videos feature Ian Grenda, President of the TCCG, and  run … Continue reading →

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The colour of summer

Posted on 7 January, 2014 by fobif

Summer: it’s a time when the bush can look stressed and under siege—but also when it can offer some pretty good sights, especially in the late afternoon or early in the morning. Clouds of butterflies around flowering  bursaria come to … Continue reading →

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Forget about VCE results: here’s the DEPI report

Posted on 31 December, 2013 by fobif

DEPI has produced a report on its fuel management activity for 2012-13: Reducing Victoria’s bushfire risk on public land. The relevant sections can be found here and here. The report offers a four part scale of achievement: –‘fully achieved’ –‘achieved … Continue reading →

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FOBIF gets a gong

Posted on 29 December, 2013 by fobif

Over a hundred representatives of local volunteer organisations gathered at the Castlemaine Market Building in December as part of international volunteer day. Volunteers ranging widely in age and field of from Castlemaine Secondary students to visitors to care accommodation were … Continue reading →

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