samantha in the press

McDonalds faces backlash in Tecoma, Australia
BBC
by Phil Mercer
2 Oct 2013

Wildlife retreat taking shape
Mail Newspapers
1 Oct 2013

Caravan park to be returned to bushland
Leader Newspapers
2 Oct 2013

60 year party planned for Menzies Creek Hall
Leader Newspapers
2 Oct 2013

biological control for wandering trad?

Yarra Ranges Council has supported Monbulk Landcare and other environment groups in their  call for the development of a biological control to assist in the management of Wandering Trad (Tradescantia Fluminensis).

A recent weedblitz saw enormous amounts of Wandering Trad
removed from our environment, but it's ongoing control is very challenging.

Wandering Trad is one of Yarra Ranges weed nasties and voraciously infests many of our natural waterways having a detrimental effect on biodiversity and waterway health.

Wandering Trad is ranked number 10 of worst weeds threatening biodiversity in Yarra Ranges and council spends much time assisting with its removal and control. Our Landcare and Friends of Groups also spend an enormous amount of time trying to control this week. Weather conditions of recent times have seen an explosion in the amount of Wandering Trad and its spread.

Wandering Trad very effectively smothers all other ground cover plants until it becomes the dominant species. It's very effective at spreading itself as small parts of the plant break off and produce new plants, particularly around natural waterways and drains.

It's removal is problematic, the more cost effective and safer alternatives to chemical treatments, like slashing, mulching and hand removal are not effective as control measures. Chemical treatments are difficult due to the risk to waterways, aquatic and semi-aquatic life forms. 

Given the challenges with this weed, it makes it a good candidate for research into a biological control and it's worth noting that a biological control program has been in progress in New Zealand since 2011. A successful control would save hundreds of thousands of dollars of future investment and deliver far better results for control than current methods, allowing natural biodiversity to recolonise its traditional areas.

Let's hope support of this initiative will see some focus given to the issue, environmental weeds are one of the biggest threats to biodiversity and it's great to see Monbulk Landcare  along with an affiliation of environment groups in the Dandenongs take the lead on the issue.

awesome ornithorhyn-kids - awesome again

It was terrific to be part of the third annual Awesome Ornithorhyn-kids Day, at the Belgrave Lake Park. Organised by the Southern Dandenongs Landcare Group (SDLG) and supported through a community grant from the Shire of Yarra Ranges, families had a great day learning about not only about our local platypus but the importance of habitat to all of our wildlife.

Today I was launching a new 'housing policy' for some of the local wildlife. Here I am with SDLG secretary, Vicki Boyle and some new homes for Sugar Gliders, Kookaburras and Rosellas.

SDLG and Monbulk Landcare Group have working away constructing an assortment of nesting boxes for our wildlife. The nesting boxes will be installed in Shire reserves at Belgrave Lake Park, Birdsland, Butterfield Reserve and Moores Road Reserve.

Part of the day's activities included banner painting led by local artist pictured here, Emma Johnson.

Kids very enthusiastically painted all manner and colour platypus on the banners, which will be used to the promote the event into the future.

SDLG were able to provide a myriad of activities for children including a wildlife display by Animals of Oz. Other activities included platypus art, storytime, singalongs and Rudy the One Man Band.

Many small hands were keen to pat the croc, not to mention the snake, frill-necked lizard and the bat too.

In speaking to onlookers I talked about the new 'housing program' and how important it was to continue to provide opportunities for our native animals to nest as pressure on our natural environment continued to increase. I also talked about the importance of retaining trees with hollows and how the incremental loss of trees with hollows, both legally and illegally, has had a large effect on wildlife over the broader landscape.

Here's Blair installing the first nesting box near Monbulk Creek at Belgrave Lake Park.

















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Glenn Brooks-McMillan from the Cardina Catchment Landcare Group spoke about the importance of healthy waterways for our local platypus population.

Another treat for people on the day, the local Powerful Owl roosting nearby. This species is listed as threatened and vulnerable in Victoria.








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Pictured here, Jackie Glenn, President of SDLG and myself.

The SDLG work tirelessly to improve our environment and raise awareness of environmental issues in the local community.

It was a terrific day out, very well attended, the SDLG intend to make Awesome Ornithorhynkids an annual event. Let's hope next year our nesting boxes have some residents.

do you plant here often?

Speed planting, the newest form of speed dating has hit Birdsland.

Landcare for Singles is the latest way to do your bit for the environment and perhaps meet that special person over a tube of eucalypt or a trowel.

Two planting days are being held at Birdsland with an after party at Burrinja where you might just meet your match.

Details are:

Planting Day 1 - being held to celebrate Special Volunteer Week

Saturday 14 May at Birdsland

11am to 1pm

followed by lunch

Planting Day 2

Saturday 18 May at Birdsland

11am to 1pm

followed by lunch

After Party

11 June from 7pm onwards

Burrinja Cafe

If you'd like to know more check out Landcare for Singles on facebook.

Registration is essential on the Shire's website.

samantha in the press - volunteers

Seen to be green
Mail Newspapers
by Casey Neill
9 November 2010

local landcare legend

It was terrific to learn that local environmental dynamo, Vicki Boyle, was awarded the Landcare "Individual Caring for Public Land" at the 2010 Port Phillip and Westernport Landcare Awards.

Vicki Boyle, Cr Samantha Dunn and Greg Coventry in front of "Nature's Highrise Apartment Block". Greg built the wonderful Nature's Highrise Apartment Block to use as a learning tool (see blog). Greg is a great example of Vicki getting volunteers on board. Greg has been helping Vicki weed down at the trestle bridge (the bamboo on Nature's Highrise was hand weeded by Greg at this very site!). Vicki has been talking to him about an idea for a learning aide to help teach people about the importance of tree hollows. From their conversation Greg built Nature's Highrise, which will be a great tool and a lot easier to carry around for the Southern Dandenongs Landcare Group than a bonafide tree hollow.

Vicki was nominated for the award by her peers in Landcare and I was pleased to assist by providing a letter of support. Vicki works tirelessly in our community, relentless in her passion for the environment and enthusiastic in harnessing the energy of others to work alongside her.

Vicki has been weeding the area near the Puffing Billy trestle bridge for over 15 years, initially starting alone, but through her actions she's attracted interest from all sorts of people to the point she was encouraged to start a friends group, which has evolved into the Southern Dandenongs Landcare Group.

She has worked around the Monbulk Creek region, throughout the Dandenong Ranges and in fire affected regions assisting with revegetation efforts. She has encouraged others to start Friends Groups along the Monbulk Creek to spread the enormous work load and ensure that no one is overburdened with task of tackling weeds in our environment.

She is truly the silent achiever, never one to blow her own trumpet and humble in her award by recognising all the volunteers who've helped along the way.

Congratulations Vicki, you are a credit to our community and our environment is a healthier one due to you passion and persistence.

interested in forming a monbulk landcare group?

Expressions of Interest – forming a Monbulk Landcare Group

The Shire of Yarra Ranges would like to gauge community interest in forming a Landcare Group in the Monbulk area. This has been prompted by a number of residents in the area who have expressed a need to create such a group.

Landcare is a grass-roots, volunteer approach to sustainable land management, that also provides community strengthening benefits. Forming a Landcare Group is a way that neighbours can benefit from the knowledge of each other, as well as free information and training sessions, access to grants, various schemes and liaison with state and local government representatives.

The aim is to see improvements in the environmental condition of natural resources in the area.

Landcare's strength lies in community involvement and will rely on your active support to function. Benefits are certain to outweigh the small amount of time needed by neighbours. I hope that you are able to attend this Start Up Session to get the ball rolling in forming the Monbulk Landcare Group.

When: Tuesday 24th November, 7.30 pm

Where: Monbulk Bowling Club, 11 Moores Rd, Monbulk (Mel ref 124 H1)

Please contact Kim Boswell, the Shire's Landcare facilitator, on 9294 6184 or email k.boswell@yarraranges.vic.gov.au to RSVP or if you would like further information.

fetes, thankyous and music aplenty

Yesterday saw Belgrave South Primary School run its annual Staxafun Fete, the school was packed to the rafters with locals enjoying the plethora of activities on offer. One of my personal favourites is rummaging through the trash and treasure, whilst my son was very happy to check out the lucky jars, show bags and pre-loved toys. It’s a great community event, well supported by local community organisations and the kid’s karaoke provided an entertaining backdrop to the day’s festivities.

School fetes are not only a mechanism to provide fundraising for schools, they provide an important opportunity for the broader community to come together and have fun and celebrate the good things about being a close knit local community.

From Staxafun to the Shire’s Thank You to our Environmental Volunteers.
The Shire of Yarra Ranges held a Thank You function in Olinda to recognise the outstanding efforts of our Friends Of and Landcare groups. Around 70 people from environmental volunteer groups around the region came together to celebrate their achievements.

Our environmental volunteers do an amazing job, whether it be weeding, removing rubbish, revegetating or raising awareness, their efforts are magnificent. Our environment would be far worse off if it were not for the endless passion and support we receive from our environmental volunteers.

Me with Vicki Boyle, madly passionate local environmentalist. Vicki can often been seen with her faithful black Labrador weeding endlessly near the Trestle Bridge in Selby.

From ThankYous to Oxfam’s World Music.
Oxfam held its World Music Café as part of The Basin Music Festival to promote it’s new campaign Sisters on the Planet - Women tackling climate change. The campaign highlights that climate change affects women the most, particularly those living in developing countries. But these women are fighting back, often leading the response to the climate crisis in their communities.

One of the Indian dancers performing for the Oxfam event.

The Oxfam Dandenong Ranges branch organised a terrific line up of entertainment including music and dance from India, The Kaaren Singers from Burma and Vox Congo, rhythms of Africa. It was great to experience such diversity of culture under one roof and the Hindu food provided by The Basin Hindu Temple caterers was delicious.

Judy Wolff, Dandenong Ranges Oxfam member and one of the organisers of the World Music Cafe.

From world music to local music
I finished off yesterday by going to see Claptonesque perform at Burrinja. What a thriving local community arts venue. With a wedding downstairs and a live performance upstairs the joint was jumping. The fight to save Burrinja has been long and sometimes arduous, but with VCAT giving the go ahead in December last year, its all systems go to build an outstanding performing arts centre for our local community with finishing touches now being put on the detailed design plan for the centre.

Dave McFarlane, lead guitarist and passionate Eric Clapton aficionado, performing at Burrinja.