Category Archives: News

Fun reading: is this a flashback, or a flash forward?

Posted on 28 March, 2022 by fobif

Given the spate of gold exploration licences being sought, and granted, in this region, we’d like to remind readers of a fun document which appeared as the pandemic was gathering pace, and may not have gotten the attention it deserved. … Continue reading →

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The middle of nowhere, on the outskirts of town

Posted on 21 March, 2022 by fobif

A strong group gathered yesterday in fine weather for FOBIF’s first walk of 2022. Mike Reeves had devised an ingenious route on the outskirts of Elphinstone: confined to a relatively small area, the walk wound through bushland gullies which could … Continue reading →

Posted in News, Walks | 1 Comment

Strategic fuel breaks 1: the prospects for 2022

Posted on 14 March, 2022 by fobif

As we’ve reported (see our posts, with maps, here, here and here), DELWP is planning to create Strategic Fuel Breaks (SFB) in our region over the next two years. Castlemaine households have been recently letterboxed about this program. Note that … Continue reading →

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Strategic Fuel Breaks 2: points of contention

Posted on 14 March, 2022 by fobif

Readers will remember that FOBIF’s major concern is that mulching of high value roadsides will be catastrophic both from a biodiversity and amenity point of view. Further, we are curious about the relationship between the SFB program and the Fire … Continue reading →

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A great discovery

Posted on 7 March, 2022 by fobif

There’s not a great deal to be rejoicing about right now, but here’s one thing, a report by John Walter in the latest edition of Wombat Forestcare newsletter: ‘As a regular visitor to our forests, woodlands and grasslands, I can … Continue reading →

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Fire’s On

Posted on 7 March, 2022 by fobif

Mount Alexander Shire residents may have received a couple of DELWP leaflets in their letter boxes last week, informing them of upcoming management burns. All are fuel reduction exercises—ecology is a secondary consideration, if it’s a consideration at all. For … Continue reading →

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The cliffs of lunacy

Posted on 7 March, 2022 by fobif

Decades ago Simone Weil predicted that ‘‘We will see throughout the country the most incredible absurdities—and they will appear natural.’ She was right on any number of fronts. One of the most incredible is car advertisements on TV and online. … Continue reading →

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Grevillea: check out a local speciality

Posted on 27 February, 2022 by fobif

Malmsbury Landcare and the Threatened Species conservancy have devised a project to map the distribution of our local rare Grevillea species, Grevillea obtecta – the Fryerstown Grevillea. The project uses a mobile phone app to capture and save data whenever … Continue reading →

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‘Nature in time’ show starts Saturday

Posted on 22 February, 2022 by fobif

The ‘Nature in time: images from Central Victoria‘ show at the Newstead Arts Hub is starting this Saturday, 5 March, 10am – 5 pm. The opening event will take place on Sunday, 10.30, 6 March. There will be refreshments and … Continue reading →

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Take a closer look!

Posted on 21 February, 2022 by fobif

The Newstead Arts Hub is hosting a photographic exhibition, ‘Nature in time: images from Central Victoria‘, in March. The exhibition starts on the 5 March and will be open all weekends in the month as well as Labour Day, Monday … Continue reading →

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