Apologies for such a long delay between postings. Richard resigned back in August and we have been busy getting our new Coordinator, Michael Wright up to speed. What is wonderful is that Mick has hit the ground running with site visits to the reserves and properties which are taking the 20,000 trees funded from the Avatar movie. Plantings had to occur this spring.
Mick resides in Koroit and has been involved in many local landcare groups including Friends of Tower Hill and Killarney CoastCare group. His last position was with the Warrnambool City Council supervising participants in developing on the job skills by undertaking various environmental projects.
If you want to contact Mick he works Tuesdays and Wednesdays with his desk number being 5564 2607 and mobile 0459 524 556.
After such a wet winter, our next field day planned for Wednesday 27 October should be a winner. The focus is on wetlands - what attracts birds and wildlife to some wetlands and not others and what elements do you need to have a ecologically diverse wetland which will benefit so many of our regional species. The day starts at 10.00am meeting at the Caramut wetland on the intersection of the Hamilton Hwy and the Warrnambool - Caramut Rd intersection. The tour will then move to a the Wales property 6km north of Caramut to view a 20ha wetland developed 15 years ago which attracts a wide range of birds and animals including ducks, swans. egrets, spoonbills, stilts, herons, frogs, wallabies etc. Participants will be able to ask questions of our guest experts, Dr Michelle Casanova and Sue Mudford from Trust for Nature about how to develop or enhance a wetland on their own properties to create a wildlife haven.
We will finish up with lunch - so please contact Mick if you intend to come for catering purposes and for further details. B.Y.O gumboots, camera, binoculars, sun hat and chair.
Background on speakers:
Dr Michelle Casanova grew up in Lake Bolac in the western district of Victoria. She studied Marine Biology at James Cook University, then a PhD on water plants in the Botany Department of UNE in Armidale, working as a tutor and researcher there until 1998. Michelle now lives on a farm at Westmere, where they grow wheat, barley, canola, oats and fine-wool merinos. She has worked as a consultant on wetlands, and water plant biodiversity, and some of the work has been in documenting the diversity of a particular group of plants called 'charophytes' for the Australian Biological Resources Study through the Royal Botanic Gardens. Michelle is passionate about wetlands and biodiversity conservation and the necessity of incorporating conservation practices into productive agricultural systems.
Sue Mudford has professional experience in risk management, governance, community engagement, facilitation, regional development, biodiversity and conservation. She is actively involved in Landcare and conservation activities and is Regional Manager for the Glenelg Hopkins area for Trust for Nature. Sue lives on a property near Woorndoo and has extensive experience in developing and promoting wetlands and the importance of these habitats to the regional biodiversity. Recently Sue has promoted wetland protection by assisting to form the ‘Friends of the Brolga” group and with a membership of 400 people state-wide, interest by farmers in brolgas is high.
Cheers Karen WalesChair Basalt to Bay LCN
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