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Wodonga Urban Landcare Network

Bulletin

for February 2020

Vale Daniel Seymour The Wodonga Urban Landcare Network acknowledge the valuable work of Our Native Garden volunteer manager Daniel Seymour and extend our sincere condolences to family and friends at his untimely death on Tuesday the 10th of December 2019. Daniel was a constant and key contributor to the community nursery and his presence is sadly missed.

Workshops, Field Days and Courses

Healthy Hectares North East – Starts Feb 2020
WULN in partnership with Mid Ovens Landcre is proud to introduce Healthy Hectares North East, a program designed to resource small property owners with skills and knowledge to make best use of their land and nature assets. The program includes series of presentations and field days for small property owners from the peri-urban zone of Wodonga across the North East CMA region. Healthy Hectares Field Day Topics will include:

Working with what you have – reading your property to best plan for its future
Homes and habitat- attracting wildlife to your property
The land down under- matching your dreams to your soils
When it rains it pours- water and your property
Not just living but thriving – choosing and caring for livestock
Invaders and escapees- managing invasive pests and weeds on small properties

For further information see https://wodongalandcare.org.au/wuln-projects/#hh
Enquiries please contact Healthy Hectares NE Project Officer Sophie Enders at healthyhectaresne@gmail.com
Check out the past programs and latest updates on the Healthy Hectares site at http://www.healthyhectares.org.au/

Working with What you Have – Healthy Hectares NE Workshop 1 – Sunday 23^rd Feb
8.45 start, Wooragee Centenary Hall, Beechworth-Wodonga Rd, Wooragee. The first workshop in the North-east Healthy Hectares series will cover reading your property to best plan for its future. You will hear from a range of local experts on how to recognise and make the best use of the natural values on your property. The workshop is delivered through informative sessions accompanied by a field trip to a local property. Topics include landscape features, cultural aspects, whole farm planning and risk management.
Book here: https://www.trybooking.com/BIBEL

Not for Profit People Conference – 24^th-25^th February
Melbourne Convention Centre, Melbourne.
This conference features experts working in some of the most successful NFPs in the country, as well as leading innovators from the corporate sector, government and academia. Each year, organisations come together to share the latest ideas and best practices for how to attract, manage, train and retain the best people for the NFP sector – ideas that could help transform your organisation. The six core streams of the 2020 Not-For-Profit People Conference are: Leadership; Managing people well; Recruitment; People and organisational strategy; Strengthening HR; Health and wellbeing.
Prices vary depending on organisation. Single day tickets from $352. For more information please see here.

WIRES Wildlife Rescue Accreditation Workshop – Saturday 7^th March
Albury. The Rescue and Immediate Care Course is WIRES introductory wildlife rescue and immediate care training. It is mandatory for all new NSW WIRES volunteers. This course consists of an online theory component and a 1 day practical workshop (the online component is to be completed before the 1 day workshop), covering topics such as work, health & safety, species identification, common rescue scenarios, safe handling techniques, first aid, physical examination and immediate care. The cost of the course is $125, and participants must be 18 years or over. For more information, or to book your place, please see here.

Bush Weaving for Women - Sunday 8th March
9am-11am. Join Indigenous artist Margaret Murray in the beautiful bush setting of Ryans Lagoon for an introduction to natural fibre weaving. Celebrate International Women's Day practicing traditional 'women's business' skills. Learn the basics of creating multiple use items from the natural materials that grow in our local bush. Please note this workshop will be held in an outdoor bush setting where there are no facilities. BYO camp stool/chair, hat and drink bottle. No cost but places are limited. It's important to register so that we have enough materials for everyone. REGISTER HERE A Parklands Albury Wodonga event.

Traditional Resources Walk ‘n Talk - Sunday 22nd March
9am-11am. Join Brendon Kennedy for a cultural interpretation morning on the unique Ryans Lagoon wetlands. A free Walk 'n Talk with Brendon Kennedy – cultural tour guide, traditional land manager and craftsman. Brendon was Victoria’s first Aboriginal Landcare Officer and has extensive experience in local bush crafts and interpreting country for community members. Learn about bushfoods and traditional land management techniques on lagoons of the Murray River. Bush tucker, materials for weaving, making tools and shelter will all be discussed as we walk. Please wear appropriate SunSmart clothing and hat, and covered boots. BYO water bottle. Please be aware there are no facilities in the reserve. Please register to attend: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/traditional-resources-walk-n-talk-tickets-92149653093 A Parklands Albury Wodonga event.

Farming Matters - For Our Love of the Land & Savory Global Network Gathering – 23^th-28^th March
Albury. This conference will highlight the many recent developments in regenerative agriculture including natural capital, environmental stewardship, and the innovative agriculture sector. The conference is being held in conjunction with the global gathering of the influential Savory Network. Allan Savory, noted developer of the Holistic Management decision making framework will be the keynote speaker.
Cost: Early bird full registration before 31^st January $330, day $220, otherwise between $440-$550, day registrations between @275-$330 (conference dinner, and other extras at additional cost). For more information, or to book your tickets, please see here.
NOTE: change of date – this event was advertised in the last edition of Regional Roundup as ‘Free Up Your Natural Capital, Albury 3 & 4 Mar. The event has been renamed and date changed.

Climate and Carbon in Agriculture Conference – 31^st March - 1^st April
Adelaide. The Climate Research Strategy for Primary Industries will bring together people from across a wide range of commodity sectors, primary producers, government, investors and researchers to arm attendees with the latest climate and carbon related information and strategies for the agricultural sector.
Speakers from across Australia and the world will be exploring the latest research on the relationship between a variable climate and primary industry, including:
-Domestic and international perspectives on climate change
-How the industry can and will work towards ‘net zero’ emissions
-Climate adaptation for agriculture
-A showcase of carbon innovation and technology, and
-An update on the latest CRSPI research, development and extension projects
Tickets start at $674.52 (inclusive of GST) for a one day pass, 2 day passes range from $562.10 to $1124.20. For more information, or to book your tickets, please see here.

National Landcare Conference – 11^th- 13^th November
Sydney. The 2020 National Landcare Conference will be held at the International Convention Centre, Darling Harbour in Sydney. The 2020 National Landcare Awards gala dinner will be held on Thursday 12 November, 2020 at the same venue. In early 2020, more announcements will come about the conference program and how you can get involved. Landcare Australia encourage you to please register your interest here for more information.

Opportunities to be Involved

Join your local Friends group
The Wodonga Urban Landcare Network has more than 20 Friends and Landcare groups taking action in local parks and reserves. Local volunteer stewardship groups do as much or as little as members are able, in the spirit of environmental stewardship. In Wodonga, Friends groups nurture nature by improving habitat for native birds and animals. They keep an eye on their park or reserve, reporting vandalism, dumping or issues like pests, erosion or pollution. Friends monitor wildlife; observe species, carry out surveys, install and maintain nestboxes. Friends help keep reserves free of environmental weeds. Friends raise awareness and engage the broader community in caring for our unique and precious reserves. Our groups include

Friends of Willow Park
The Bhutanese Community Farm
Our Native Garden Nursery
Baranduda Landcare Group
Friends of Whenby Grange
Friends of John Potter Park
Friends of the WREN Baranduda
Clyde Cameron Reserve Group
Friends of Lou Lieberman Park
Friends of Ewart Brothers Reserve
Friends of Felltimber Creek
Friends of Federation Hill
Wodonga Rail Trail Advisory Group
Bonegilla Rail Trail Advisory Group
Friends of Susan Campbell & Kent McKoy Reserves
Huon Creek Landcare
Friends of Four Ways
Friends of David Winterbottom Park
Leneva Castle Creek Landcare Group

All of our groups welcome new members. Please contact us for further information at facilitator@wodongalandcare.org.au or join up via our website https://wodongalandcare.org.au/join-a-group/

Parklands Volunteer programs 2020.
Parklands have both Park Stewardship and Volunteer Ranger programs starting in March 2020. Rangers take volunteers through a variety of practical park maintenance and improvement tasks like installing park infrastructure, planting native habitat, invasive species control and nest box monitoring. At the same time, you will learn about the local environment and how our local land managers and community groups are working to protect threatened species, improve habitat and link habitat corridors across the region. This is invaluable experience for those interested in, or studying for, an environmental career; a great chance to clear your head and get some exercise, or just a good way to give back to our community. All tools and any specific safety equipment needed is supplied. Register for upcoming activities through Parklands event listings here. For more information contact info@parklands-alburywodonga.org.au

Get Involved with the Winton Wetlands Weekly Volunteer Days – Thursdays 9am-2pm
Winton Wetlands Reserve, Chesney Vale. Join the Friends of Winton Wetlands and Park Rangers for weekly working-bees at the Winton Wetland Reserve. Activities will include tree planting and environmental restoration projects each week. All tools and safety equipment will be supplied, More information on the Friends of Winton Wetlands can be found here.

Wangaratta Urban Landcare Regeneration Group – Thursdays 9am-12pm
As long as it’s not raining, each Thursday morning from 9am to 12pm, The Wangaratta Urban Landcare Regeneration Group works in various bush-like spaces in Wangaratta, clearing weeds to give native plants the light and space they need to thrive, and sometimes planting natives too.
You’ll learn to pick an invader from a local, enjoy conversation with a group of people who like doing this sort of thing, and come to appreciate what’s been achieved here over the years. Please bring morning tea for a break at 10:30, and a water bottle.
Each Thursdays Ecoportal listing is updated with the weeks location about a week before, or you can contact Adrian Twitt on 0470 403 875 or 03 5721 5327 or at ahtwitt@gmail.com for the location or more information.

National Sustainable Living Festival – 1^st - 29^th February
Melbourne. The Sustainable Living Festival helps raise awareness and provides tools for change by highlighting leading solutions to the ecological and social challenges we are now facing. The festival includes home and lifestyle solutions, talks, demonstrations, art and film, performances, markets, and family activities- all to help promote sustainability and sustainable practices. For more information please see the festival homepage here.

Repair Café - Featuring Costume Jewellery Repairs – Saturday 1^st February
10am-1pm, Wodonga Senior Citizen Centre, Wodonga. This event has been re-located to the Wodonga Senior Citizens Centre (Havelock Street, between the Cube and old Wodonga Library building) due to building damage in the Sustainable Activity Centre.
The Sustainable Activity Centre (SAC) Repair Café is a free meeting place to bring along broken household items such as furniture, clothing, battery-operated appliances, scratched CDs-DVDs and bikes and learn how to fix them with the help of experienced, volunteer repairers. You can also bring along small, blunt garden tools like secateurs and we’ll show you how to sharpen them. Maximum three items per person per session.
This month they’re featuring costume jewellery – re-threading beads, attaching clasps and so on. Please note there will be NO soldering, bikes, devices or leather goods this session. More information on the Repair Café Albury-Wodonga can be found here.
The Repair Café is proudly supported by Halve Waste, with yummy morning teas donated by Kooka Brotha’s patisserie.

Winton Wetlands Quarterly Bird Surveys – Wednesday 5^th February
8.45am-2pm, Winton Wetlands Reserve, 650 Lake Mokoan Rd Chesney Vale. BirdLife Murray Goulburn is a small friendly group of birdwatchers who meet once a month for a day of birdwatching. Members are to meet at the Mokoan Boat Ramp, 650 Lake Mokoan Rd at 8:45 for 9:00 am start. After meeting at the Boat Ramp Carpark, you will carpool across the reserve for surveys then meet back at the Hub Cafe for Lunch. To RSVP, or if you have any enquiries or would like to get involved, please contact Kathy Costello on 5762 5755. More information on Birdlife Murray Goulburn can be found here.

Albury-Wodonga Field Naturalists Club Annual General Meeting – Friday 7^th February
7-9pm, Wonga Wetands Hall, 2377 Splitters Creek. Meeting commences 7pm.
Please bring a small contribution toward supper. You can RSVP to Veronica on 02 6021 2120. For more information on The Albury-Wodonga Field Naturalists Club Inc. please see here.

Wonga Wetlands with the Albury-Wodonga Field Naturalists – Sunday 9^th February
8-11am, Wonga Wetlands, Splitters Creek. Members are to meet at 8am. Please BYO morning tea. The leader for the morning will be David, to RSVP or for any enquiries, please contact him on 02 6021 2022. For more information on Albury-Wodonga Field Naturalists Club Inc. please see here.

North East Regional Sustainability Alliance (NERSA) meeting – Tuesday 11^th February
10am-12pm, Indigo Shire Offices, Albert St, Beechworth. The North East Regional Sustainability Alliance (NERSA) is a network of community sustainability groups which acts collaboratively with communities, agencies and organisations across the region. Meetings are held every two months in Beechworth. Anyone is welcome to attend. For more information please see here.

Wodonga Landcare Quarterly Gathering – Wednesday 19^th February
6-9pm, Birallee Park Neighbourhood House, 39 Emerald Avenue, Wodonga. Join members of the Wodonga Urban Landcare Network for a light supper, exchange of news, update of Landcare activities around Wodonga, and the latest in tools and resources. All are welcome. This is a great opportunity to find out what local residents can do (and are doing!) to improve our environment. Please RSVP to secretary@wodongalandcare.org.au

Turtle Fun Day - Saturday 22nd February
11am-1.30pm, Sumsion Gardens, Wodonga. Turtles are on the move in the area. Where do they live and what are they up to? Come along and celebrate the amazing survival of turtles in our local waterways with Turtles Albury Wodonga, Turtles Australia, and turtle expert James Van Dyke from Latrobe University Wodonga. There will be lots of live turtles on display, informative talks, kid’s activities and Sumsion Garden turtle spotting. Free BBQ and soft drink provided, with homemade gift shop items also available for purchase. A Wodonga Urban Landcare Network, Turtles Albury Wodonga event supported by Wodonga Council. Please register here to attend: bit.ly/turtfeb22

West Albury Wetlands with the Albury-Wodonga Field Naturalists – Saturday 22^nd February
4-7pm, West Albury Wetlands, Kremur St, West Albury. Meet 4pm at the Boat Ramp, Kremur Street, West Albury. Enjoy an afternoon wander along the West Albury Wetlands walk and see the many birds that live and visit this area. Please BYO refreshments. Contact Veronica on 02 6021 2120 to RSVP or with any enquiries. For more information on Albury-Wodonga Field Naturalists Club Inc. please see here.

Business Clean Up on the Murray – Wednesday 26^th February
9am-1pm, Albury. Get your team out on Business Clean Up Australia Day with a canoe based clean-up effort on the Murray River. Joining a Clean Up event is a great way to increase team cohesion, fulfil your corporate social responsibilities, and support your community.
Led by experienced Parklands rangers, this is a fun and very worthwhile event. You will paddle downstream collecting plastics and other debris along the way.

Bookings are essential to ensure we have enough canoes and equipment; $25 fully refundable deposit required to secure your canoe. Start and end locations will be confirmed direct with registered participants. Please book through Eventbrite here or contact us direct to make arrangements for your group at info@parklands-alburywodonga.org.au
Not for beginner canoeists. Children under 15 must share a canoe with a responsible adult. Please plan to dress sun-smart and BYO drinks and lunch/snacks.

Murray River Community Clean Up Paddle – Saturday 29^th February
9am-1pm, Albury. Come out before the heat of day and join a canoe based clean-up effort on the Murray River. We will paddle downstream collecting plastics and other debris as we go. Led by experienced Parklands rangers, this is a fun and very worthwhile event, which has made a significant impact over the years.
Bookings are essential to ensure there are enough canoes and equipment. $25 fully refundable deposit required to secure your canoe. Start and end locations will be confirmed direct with registered participants. Please register via the Eventbrite listing here.
(Not for beginner canoeists. Children under 15 must share a canoe with a responsible adult.) Please plan to dress sun-smart and BYO drinks and lunch/snacks.

BirdLife Ovens & Murray Waterbird & Owl Search – Sunday 1^st March
4.30-9pm, Kremur St Boat Ramp, West Albury. Birdlife Ovens and Murray are holding an evening waterbird walk and search for owls. Meet leader: John Saw at the Kremur St Boat Ramp with BYO mozzie repellent, seats and food. Please contact John Shepherd on 0417 274 380 to RSVP or with any enquiries. For more information on Birdlife Ovens and Murray please see here.

Gardens For Wildlife Photography Competition – 9^th -11^th March
Get snapping and enter a gardens for wildlife photo in Wodonga Show’s photography competition. Prizes for adults and children – a great children’s activity over the weekends! Entry is free. Photographs should have good technical quality, good composition and impact/appeal or tell a story.

All entries are to be delivered to the Wodonga Show Grounds between 11am and 5pm from Monday 9th March to Wednesday 11th of March. Photos will be exhibited during Wodonga Show Day Saturday 14th March. There are 1^st and 2^nd prizes for juniors and seniors. For further completion details and conditions, please the event details here.
This competition is being held by Wodonga Urban Landcare Network in conjunction with the Wodonga Show Society, with the generous support of a Victorian Landcare grant.

G4W Miniature Garden In A Pot Competition – Friday 13^th March 2020
Get creative and make a G4W miniature garden in a pot for the Wodonga Show’s Garden and Produce Section 2020. There are 2 prizes for both an adults and children section (4 prizes overall). There is no fee to enter. This could be a great children’s activity over the weekends!
Gardens for Wildlife miniature garden in pot can be made up of cuttings or plants and needs to incorporate Australian native plants and an Australian wildlife theme.

All Exhibits are to be brought to the Wodonga Show Pavilion between 4.00-5.00pm, Friday 13^th March 2020. All exhibits need to be labelled with entrant’s name and phone number.
Please collect exhibits between 4.00-5.00pm on show day (Sat 14 March 2020) or make other arrangements with the steward (Lee Beaumont) before show day.
Please contact Lee Beaumont on 0414 779 180 with any enquiries, or see here for more information.
This competition is being held by Wodonga Urban Landcare Network in conjunction with the Wodonga Show Society, with the generous support of a Victorian Landcare grant.

Murray Marathon Running Festival – Sunday 29^th March
Noreuil Park, Albury. Celebrate the amazing bush parks and trails surrounding the iconic Murray River in Albury and Wodonga with a run to suit every age and ability. This single day Running Festival will be held on sealed trails, including kids events, fun runs, marathon and half marathon. For the serious runner, the MMRF attracts runners from all over NSW, Victoria and the ACT to compete for a coveted MMRF Finishers Medal. The MMRF offers distances including the Marathon, Half Marathon, 12k Fun Run, 6k Fun Run and a 2k kids superhero dress up run. All runs start and finish at the beautiful Noreuil Park – on the banks of the iconic Murray River. Registrations close 26^th March. For more information or to register please see the Riverina Trails website

Walk the regional bush tracks and trails with the Border Bushwalking Club

1^st-2^nd February – 2 days canoeing on the Upper Murray River, TBD details here
1^st February – Roper Hut, Falls Creek details here
4^th February – Club Night, Walking in Iran, details here
5^th February – After Work Paddling, Albury details here
8^th-9^th February – Feathertop Full Moon, Harrietville details here
12^th February – After Work Paddling, Albury details here
14^th-16^th February – Cathedral Ranges, Taggerty details here
19^th February – After Work Paddling, Albury details here
26^th February – After Work Paddling, Albury details here
28^th February-1^st March – Bogong Overnight and West Peak Day Walk details here
4^th March – After Work Padding, Albury details here

Or, with the Murray Valley Bushwalkers

3^rd-8^th February – 3 Capes, Tasmania details here
22^nd-23^rd February – Ropers Hut Overnighter, Falls Creek details here

Our Native Garden Nursery – Volunteer Manager needed
Our Native Garden Nursery Inc. are seeking volunteers and have a place for everyone with an interest in native plants and nursery production. Particularly wanted is a volunteer to coordinate people, following the sad death of Volunteer Manager Daniel Seymour.
The Volunteer Manager is currently a volunteer position 9am - 2pm, 5 days a week but could become paid when the nursery income is sufficient to support payment. Job sharing is possible too.
Are you passionate about indigenous plants and restoring them into our local environment?
Do you love growing plants? Are you good at coordinating a group of volunteers?
Until they find a permanent volunteer to fill this position they need a roster of people to ensure the many thousands of plants are watered over the coming summer weeks. Any time would be gratefully accepted. If this sounds like you or someone you know, or you can help out in any way-big or small- please email a resume to ongnursery@gmail.com or please call 0418 579 331. Check out their website here for more information on the Nursery, volunteering, and the range of plants they stock.

Grants and Funding

Albury City Community and cultural grant program – Closes 12^th Feb
Provides eligible not-for-profit community groups and individuals, with funding of up to $3,000, to develop and present new projects, programs and activities, that have a direct benefit to the Albury community. Go to https://www.alburycity.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/community-and-cultural

North East Soil Health Community Grants – Closes 9^th February
(Potential applicants are advised that the current closing date of 9 February may be revised should bushfire impacted community groups wish to apply for these grants)
The North East Soil Health Project aims to improve knowledge exchange between farmers, researchers and industry on-farm management practices that will improve soil condition, particularly focussing on reducing acidity and hillslope and gully erosion in North East Victoria. Funding is available under the Securing North East Soils Through Knowledge Exchange project to support community groups across the region to undertake activities to increase awareness and adoption of land management practices that improve and protect the condition of soil, biodiversity and vegetation in the region. Specifically, the community grants component aims to promote awareness and adoption of on-farm management practices that contribute to reducing soil acidity and hillslope and gully erosion in North East Victoria.

As part of this project, nine eligible community groups in North East Victoria will be supported with up to $7,500 to deliver community soil-health related activities over the next three years, focusing on soil pH and erosion. Community grant applications will be assessed on a competitive basis through Expressions of Interest. Funded community groups will have up to 18 months to deliver and complete their projects. Applications can come from existing groups of more than 10 landholders, for example Landcare groups, BetterBeef groups, BestWool/ BestLamb groups, Dairy groups, Ecological farming groups or other farming industry groups. Through this process, nine projects will be identified for funding from February 2020. For more information, or to download an application form, please see here. Please direct any enquries to Samuel Gitahi, Senior Project Officer North East CMA, on 02 6071 6095
samuel.gitahi@necma.vic.gov.au

On-Farm Energy Tier-1 Grants – Closes 31^st March (or until funding is exhausted)
On-farm Energy Tier 1 Grants are now available to eligible primary producers. Tier 1 grants support projects that will improve energy efficiency, which may reduce energy costs and boost energy productivity. The grants will do this through actions including the purchase and installation of equipment that improves energy efficiency or enables own-generation capacity. The Government will provide a maximum grant of $50,000 (excluding GST). Grants will be provided on a $1 for $1 cash co-contribution basis (recipients are required to contribute at least 50 per cent of the total cash costs of the project).
To be eligible, primary producers must have had a type 1 or type 2 On-farm Energy Assessment. For full details and application details, please visit the On-Farm Energy Assessment application website here. If you're unsure about your eligibility or have a question about the application process please call the Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

On-Farm Energy Efficiency Grants
Primary producers in Victoria are invited to apply for an on-farm energy grant. The on-farm energy tier 1 grants are available to eligible primary producers until March 2020. You will need an on farm energy assessment, or an equivalent certified on-farm energy assessment conducted in the past 2 years, to access one of the grants in the Agriculture Investment Energy Plan. More information can be found here

Recreational Fishing Grants
Small Grants (up to $5000) open all year round. This is the 16th year of the Recreational Fishing Licence Trust Accounts operation, which sees funds derived from the sale of recreational fishing licences collected and invested into projects that improve recreational fishing across Victoria. For more information email rec.fishinggrants@vfa.vic.gov.au Apply here.

The R E Ross Trust Grants
The grants work around 4 impact areas. For Landcare groups the most relevant area is impact area D; the protection and preservation of Australian Flora and Fauna. Organisations must first submit an expression of interest for consideration by the Trustees and may then be invited to submit a full application. Applications are considered all year round. For more information go to: http://www.rosstrust.org.au/grants/apply-for-a-grant/

Wodonga Council Community Grants program – closes 24^th February
Wodonga Council has multiple grants and sponsorships open including Community Impact grants and Community Impact Partnership grants. These grants aim to empower community groups and organisations and help to make Wodonga a better city. Go to https://www.wodonga.vic.gov.au/About-Council/Our-Community/Grants-sponsorship

Give Feedback, Comment or Nominate

Wodonga Council Community Forums – Next Forum Monday 3^rd February
Wodonga Council's community forums allow the community to present on a topic to the council or to ask a question in an informal setting. The council will also share information on key topics. The forums are held several times a year and everyone is welcome to attend.
To present at a community forum, an application must be submitted by the Wednesday before the forum. Questions can be asked on the night. In 2020, forums will be held on the first Monday of the month from 6pm to 7.30pm in February, April, June and August.. The guidelines for the community forums and more information can be found on the council’s website here.

Tourism North East Employer Survey
Staffing and employment issues are frequently reported as concerns for tourism businesses in North East Victoria. Tourism North East is conducting a survey of regional business to get a better understanding of issues facing the industry. If you employ staff and would like to share your experiences they would welcome your input. To take a brief, anonymous, survey (around 10mins) please see here

National Carp Control Plan – National Carp Survey
The Fisheries Research & Development Corporation (FRDC) is inviting you to take part in an important three minute survey. The National Carp Control Plan needs your help to record where you have seen carp aggregating in high numbers to plan future carp control programs. FRDC is coordinating a large program of research and consultation to identify a smart, safe, effective and integrated suite of measures to control carp impacts. A key focus of this process will be to explore the potential use of biocontrol measures. For more information or to take the short survey please see here.

Resources and Inspiration

World Wetland Day – 2^nd February
World Wetlands Day marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance in 1971. Since acknowledging that wetlands are vulnerable to climate change and the changes in temperature, rainfall, extreme events and sea level rise that this brings, Governments, organisations, and community groups have celebrated by undertaking activities that raise public awareness of wetland benefits and value and promote the conservation of these areas. For more information please see here.

2019 RBMS Awards Night, Melbourne
On 15^th November, our president, Julie Hind, was one of 220 people who attended the 2019 RBMS Awards Night in Melbourne where WULN was a finalist in the "Involving Community in Waterway Management" category for its work with The Wodonga Region Waterways Action Plan. For more details of the awards, winners and finalists, please see here.

Bushfire Recovery Assistance Resources
Assistance is available to landholders/tenants impacted by the recent bushfires from a number of agencies, some of which include:

Affected farmers can access immediate financial support through both the Victorian Emergency Relief Assistance Payment by calling the VicEmergency hotline on 1800 226 226 and the Commonwealth Government’s Disaster Recovery Program Payment on 180 22 66.

Agriculture Victoria has a number of resources to help you manage livestock wellbeing and water quality, for both those directly impacted by fire and those impacted by smoke pollution and rainfall debris. Please see here for more information.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) is coordinating fodder relief for farmers affected by bushfires. The VFF has secured an agreement with the Victorian Government to facilitate the transport of fodder to affected regions. This includes reimbursement of freight costs for transport of donated fodder. Farmers in need are encouraged to contact the VFF on 1300 882 833. The following bushfire response information - designed to help farmers make practical decisions about looking after and managing livestock, focus’ on the steps after the immediate response. To view the short-term, medium-term and crop and pasture recovery action factsheets please see here.

Red Cross Emergency Grants
Emergency grants are open to people whose primary place of residence has been destroyed or rendered uninhabitable as the result of bushfires from 1 July 2019 to 28 February 2020. Your primary place of residence is the place you reside in on a permanent basis, whether as an owner/occupier or a tenant. A grant of $5,000 is available per household. Grants will be open until 30 April 2020. Please see here for more information.

Landcare Fire Recovery Resources
The Landcare website provides access to practical information for landowners recovering from fire, including livestock, pasture and soils, farm water and more. Please see here for more information.

Wildlife Victoria Fact Sheets
Wildlife Victoria have released two fact sheets on feeding wildlife during or after a bushfire and giving water to wildlife during a drought or bushfire. Download these here to ensure you are helping the wildlife you encounter.

Landcare Rescue Podcast
Landcarers have long been ‘rescuing the land’ and while doing so, telling tall tales and true. The formal Landcare movement is now 30 years old, and a new citizen storytelling website is giving Landcarers an opportunity to share their stories of what it’s like to tend to tired earth, conserve a stand of trees or look into a creature’s eyes as they rescue it from harm’s way. The Rescue Project calls for 500 word stories of restoration, protection and rehabilitation of riverbanks and tracts of bush or eroded beaches, waterways, gardens, farmland and native animals. To find out more about the Rescue Project, to read or listen to some of the inspiring stories, or contribute your own, please visit the Rescue Project website here.

Australian Platypus Conservatory and Alpine Shire Council to Raise Awareness Together
After reporting on the tragic death of a juvenile platypus caused by its entanglement in three elastic hair-ties at Bright in its online newsletter, Platypus News and Views, the Alpine Shire Council has responded to the Australian Platypus Conservatory by supporting the development of a Platypus Awareness and Conservation Strategy.
The strategy will aim the increase public understanding of the platypus's needs as well as the threats they face. It will also include installing educational signage at popular swimming and fishing spots, producing information leaflets and related publicity materials and supporting a special education program for schools to encourage students to become 'platypus aware'.

Along with The Australia Platypus Conservatory (who will deliver the school program), other partners in this initiative will include the North East Catchment Management Authority and the Upper Ovens Valley Landcare Group. Other community groups are also expected to play a role in this program, including the 1^st Bright Cubs, who already show great skill in organising local litter clean ups.
For more information on the Australian Platypus Conservatory (including how to subscribe to the newsletter) please see here.

Carbon8
Carbon8 is a farmer-led initiative that is responding to the current impact of droughts, floods and desertification by supporting farmers to increase the carbon in their soil and to help them transition to regenerative agriculture. For more information, please explore the website here.

‘A Hollow is a Home’ by Abbie Mitchell and Astred Hicks, $29.99
Published by CSIRO, ‘A Hollow is a Home’ invites everyone to take a look inside the world of tree hollows and the variety of Australian animals that take up residence within them. Perfect for children and adolescents, the book is full of colour photos, and engaging content. The CSIRO website also includes excellent teacher notes in pdf available as a free download.
The ABC Gardening Australia review describes it as a ”visually appealing and informative children’s book about the world of tree hollows and the 340-plus species of Australian animals that live inside them. Graphics and close-up photographs accompany facts about the birds, frogs, mammals and reptiles that rest, nest or hide in hollows.".

New Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Guide Published
The new Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Guide (October 2019) has been published to assist Landcare and environmental volunteer groups and networks that care for landscapes in Victoria to better understand the state's Aboriginal cultural heritage management process.
The guide steps out the process for meeting the requirements of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 and helps determine whether a Cultural Heritage Permit is required. The guide also provides the key Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Contacts by region and Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAPs). To view or download the guide please see here.

Wodonga Native Plants Lists: WULN now has a live local native plant species listing on our website. It is a simple listing of local area plants divided into plant types, with live links to relevant photos (mostly courtesy of the Friends of the Chiltern Mt Pilot National Park) and plant notes (mostly from Woolshed-Thurgoona Landcare). See www.wodongalandcare.org.au/resources
Indian Myna Traps: “You can have birds in your garden, you can have Indian Mynas, but you can’t have both!” These birds can gather in large flocks in urban areas and aggressively replace native birds. They cause property damage by creating large accumulations of droppings. They carry diseases and parasites dangerous to human health. They eat and contaminate livestock and poultry feed, can cause severe damage to fruit crops and garden produce, and can be extremely noisy. WULN now has 2 Indian Myna traps available for borrowing, with full instructions. Contact facilitator@wodongalandcare.org.au

CLEA News
For all the latest news from the Community Learning for Environmental Action (CLEA), Landcare Victoria Inc.'s peer-to-peer learning project please see their website here

SEED news:
For all the latest news from the School Environment Education Directory (SEED) North East Victoria you can subscribe to the newsletter here.

Issue 77 of the Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management magazine:
This issue focuses on Community Engagement. Read more here

Latest fact sheets from the Arthur Rylah Institute:
Factsheet: Improving our knowledge on fish and crayfish in eastern Victoria
Factsheet: Recording information on reintroduced aquatic habitat structures
Factsheet: Incorporating the life-cycle of Hairpin Banksia into fire operations planning
Factsheet: Threatened fish and crayfish in proposed Victorian timber harvesting coupes

Our thanks to WULN volunteer Beck Humphries, Bulletin editor.