Category Archives: News

Call for photos

Posted on 25 June, 2019 by fobif

This year’s FOBIF exhibition will be a general one about our local Box-Ironbark Forests. TOGS Cafe in Castlemaine will host the exhibition in September and October 2019.   It will be our 6th photo exhibition at TOGS and our 10th overall. … Continue reading →

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First National Frog Count

Posted on 24 June, 2019 by fobif

Local frog expert, Elaine Bayes, has forwarded the latest information on Australia’s first National Frog Count: In just one year, FrogID has generated the equivalent of 13% of all frog records collected in Australia over the last 240 years. The … Continue reading →

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Mist, Whisky Gully and lots of fungi

Posted on 17 June, 2019 by fobif

A good sized group tackled FOBIF’s June walk yesterday on the east side of Mount Alexander. A dense mist shrouded the Mount early, but it soon cleared, and a pleasant cool day was just what was required for the occasionally … Continue reading →

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A creepy bride

Posted on 17 June, 2019 by fobif

It has a pretty name, and a pretty flower—after all, it was introduced into this country as a garden plant. Now it’s one of the worst invasive weeds in the country, a menace to the environment and agriculture. You guessed … Continue reading →

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Wouldn’t it be wonderful if fairy stories were true?

Posted on 10 June, 2019 by fobif

How long should we plan for? An interesting hint can be found in the May issue of the newsletter of the Australian Forest History Society, in a story by Roger Underwood, about New College Oxford, founded in 1379: ‘The chapel … Continue reading →

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Celebrating gold…and other things?

Posted on 10 June, 2019 by fobif

Parks Victoria has flagged the possibility of ambitious celebrations to mark the 170th anniversary of the discovery of gold in this region. They would take place in spring 2021. Another celebration possibility could be the 20th anniversary of the opening … Continue reading →

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Tackling the intractable

Posted on 10 June, 2019 by fobif

Users of Expedition Pass reservoir over the last year or so have noticed signs of serious stress in the Red Gums at the south western end of the dam wall, near the Golden Point Road. Reasons for the stress are … Continue reading →

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The promotion of lunacy 2: what are ‘prevailing community standards’?

Posted on 10 June, 2019 by fobif

A few weeks ago FOBIF wrote to several responsible persons/agencies complaining about car advertising which promoted unsafe and environmentally irresponsible driving. Recipients included the state Minister for road safety, the Federal Council for Automotive Industries, local MPs and the Ad … Continue reading →

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In a different light … an exhibition by David Oldfield

Posted on 3 June, 2019 by fobif

David Oldfield’s fascinating exhibition, ‘In a Different Light: Australian Native Flower Photographs in Ultraviolet Light’, opened last Sunday (2nd June) at the Newstead Railway Arts Hub. David points out in an introductory pamphlet that camera manufacturers go to great lengths … Continue reading →

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Life and death in the fire zone

Posted on 27 May, 2019 by fobif

The brilliant green in the photo below is Funaria hygrometrica, a moss which flourishes in fire ash. If you look closely you can see it’s growing in the ashes of a fallen tree. Harder to see, but still there, are … Continue reading →

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