DJERAN
(Noongar Season April/ May)
Click here for link to Six Seasons short film 'Djeran'
(films produced by Denmark Environment Centre)
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Green Skills Inc. Annual General Meeting to be held in Denmark WA on Thursday 27th April 2023,
starting at 5pm.
Green Skills invites members and supporters to our 2023 Annual General Meeting to be held at the Denmark Environment Centre in the large meeting room, rear 33 Strickland Street, Denmark WA.
The AGM will be followed by light refreshments and a presentation on fire in the Walpole Wilderness.
Please RSVP by email to the Denmark Office for catering purposes
ph: 98483310
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Photo above: Mural artwork by the students of the Denmark Golden Hill Steiner School - "Discovering and Documenting Together"
The art education activity was led by artist in residence, Angela Rossen, and formed part of the Green Skills Knowing Nullaki Festival - bringing together community, artists and educators, with story telling with First Nation's Elders sharing traditions and connection, in a celebration of the amazing biodiversity of the Wilson Inlet (Nullaki).
Photo credit: Rhian Thomas
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FIRE IN THE WALPOLE WILDERNESS
A PRESENTATION AT THE GREEN SKILLS AGM ON 27TH APRIL 2023 AT THE DENMARK ENVIRONMENT CENTRE MEETING ROOM AT 5PM
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Prescribed burning in the Walpole Wilderness Area has been under scrutiny for several years and has been monitored both by members of the Denmark Environment Centre and Fire and Biodiversity WA.
The scale, frequency and severity has been questioned, discussions have been had with Ministers, politicians, departmental staff and a hearing by the Standing Committee for Environment was conducted in August 2022.
Our presentation will focus on the prescribed burn which was implemented on an area of 14,800ha of high ecological significance in the Walpole Wilderness Area which is classified as Core Wilderness and comprising 3 complete forest blocks: Peak, Roe and Crossing and part blocks Rocky and Long.
This burn escaped on the 30th of November 2022 burning Mitchell block and parts of Sharpe and O’Donnell.
Catherine Spaggiari and Bart Lebbing followed and recorded the events while they were happening and visited the area numerous times, walking into some areas rarely visited to see the effect of fire on biodiversity and ecosystems and are happy to share their experiences with the Green Skills team at the Green Skills Annual General Meeting, on Thursday 27th April 2023, starting at 5pm.
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View of Mt. Roe (Boorabunup) after prescribed burn FRK_092.
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Green Skills Denmark project staff popped up our marquee at the April Koorabup Markets that were held at the Denmark Senior High School on Sunday 9th April, to encourage community behaviour change through promoting the "Be a GREAT Sort" waste separation education resources and messages. This project is supported by the WA Waste Authority WasteSorted Community Education grant program. Green Skills will be running a number of "Be a GREAT Sort" education activities to demonstrate how to reduce contamination of waste streams and increase recycling, including workshops that focus on using household food scraps for making compost (see poster below). This event was also an opportunity to promote the Containers for Change program, with Container for Change bins from our Green Skills Albany Containers for Change depot at 93 Stead Road Albany. Green Skills has a vision that these events and activities will encourage our community to get involved with recycling, upcycling, re-use and refusing over-packaged or single-use items in everyday routines and consumer choices. Thanks to the Shire of Denmark for the use of their general waste and recycling bins. |
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TOTALLY RENEWABLE DENMARK
UPCOMING COMMUNITY TABLE TALK
“Denmark has already shown it is serious about climate change with the wind farm creating 42% of our electricity needs plus a third of households and lots of businesses installing solar energy".
Totally Renewable Denmark is about making sure that local renewable energy is generating 100% of what we use and that we are taking steps as a community towards creating our low carbon future - driving an energy reduction revolution and transitioning to ‘electrify everything’.
The TRD working group is organizing a Table Talk event on 29 April 10 – 2pm venue TBC because we want to know what local householders and businesses are doing, what they are thinking about doing, what gets in their way and to share some of the ideas on what we can do together to step up to make Totally Renewable Demark a reality in our near future.
If you want to volunteer to help – give Louise a call 0429 409 231.
Want to be involved in the conversation of Denmark's Energy Future?
SAVE THE DATE: 29th APRIL '23
TOTALLY RENEWABLE DENMARK
- COMMUNITY TABLE TALK EVENT -
10am - 2pm Venue TBC More information to follow
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The Community Forum is a brilliant opportunity to hear more about Totally Renewable Denmark (TRD), what's happening in the region and to be involved in the conversation. Outcomes will feed into the TRD Action Plan currently being drafted.
About TRD: Totally Renewable Denmark is driving the change to a low carbon/ renewable energy future for the community of Denmark.
- Reduction Revolution - Waste, Energy & Resources - doing more with less
- A minimum output 100% Renewable Energy across all sectors in Denmark 24/7 by 2030
- 'Electrify everything' running off 100% Renewables
- Acting to reach Denmark's low carbon future - carbon emissions Approaching Zero
- ‘Generate’ local jobs, and local investment in Denmark’s low carbon future
- Inspire action locally and in other communities
BUILD MOMENTUM - INSPIRE - INFORM - ROOTS TO ACTION
A working team is meeting regularly to canvass where the opportunities lie to progress these objectives.
Funding from the Denmark Community Windfarm Inc. (Community Sustainable Living Fund) is supporting the efforts of this team to develop an Action Plan for the above objectives. The Shire of Denmark is supportive and has clear objectives in its Sustainable Strategy 2021-31 and its Action Plan to take a leadership role and to support community initiatives under a banner of Zero Carbon Energy.
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DENMARK KWOORABUP COMMUNITY GARDEN
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Denmark Kwoorabup Community Garden
Click HERE - a short YouTube Denmark Community Garden video
The Denmark Kwoorabup Community Garden is located adjacent to the Denmark Community Resource Centre in the south coast town of Denmark in Western Australia. The garden was established in 2019 by Green Skills in partnership with the Denmark CRC, and provides a wonderful opportunity for people to learn about growing organic vegetables and fruit. The fun and educational events and workshops are open to all. People interested in participating can contact the Denmark Community Garden's project manager, by email at Basil Schur, or phone Green Skills (98483310) or the Denmark CRC (98482842) office.
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CONSERVING BIODIVERISTY ON FARMS
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Image above: Tootanellup Wetland Cultural Survey Feb '23 with Paul Greenfelf, Larry Blyth and Ruth Maddren. Photo by Rhian Thomas
TOOTANELLUP TO KOI-KYENUNU-RUFF
STRATEGIC
BUSHLAND ECO-RESTORATION
Green Skills has been working with Cranbrook farmers, South Coast NRM, the Gillamii Centre, and State NRM has expanded its program of working to fencing bushland on farms forms a vital part of caring for biodiversity in the fragmented agricultural landscape between the Walpole Wilderness Area National Parks and the Stirling Ranges (Koi-Kyenunu-ruff). This forms part of Gondwana Link (https://gondwanalink.org/).
Recently a team of us have worked with four farming families to survey 720 hectares of high value bushland around Geekabee Hill. 438ha which requires new or replacement fencing. Over 9 threatened floral species are known from Geekabee.
The overall project aims to tackle remnant vegetation decline in the Forest to Stirlings biodiversity hotspot between Mt Roe and Stirling Range National Parks. Strategic sites include upland bushland on farms adjoining Stirling Ranges, Tootanellup wetlands, Lake Nunijup farms and Balijup Eco Sanctuary. Outcomes include:
- Protection of proteaceous rich areas including Kwongan heathland vegetation remnants on Cranbrook farms by installing stock exclusion fencing.
- Cultural surveys with Noongar elders and rangers and formulation of a plan for the Tootanellup wetlands
- Remnant vegetation assessments and protection plans on strategic farms in the Lake Nunijup district..
- Community engaged investigations at Balijup eco-Sanctuary and strategic planning.
The Green Skills Forest to Stirlings eco-restoration project is supported by South Coast NRM through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program,and has also received funding as part of the Western Australian Government’s State Natural Resource Management Program of the WA Government, the Koorabup Trust with additional assistance provided by landholders, the Gillamii Centre, Birdlife WA, and Gondwana Link.
Examples of bushland assessment reports include
Caloola Farm Cranbrook – Planning for Remnant Vegetation Conservation
https://greenskills.org.au/download/caloola-farm-cranbrook-planning-for-remnant-vegetation-conservation/
Planning for Bushland Conservation on the Preston Family Farm, West Cranbrook
https://greenskills.org.au/download/planning-for-bushland-conservation-on-the-preston-family-farm/
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Tootanellup Eco-Restoration Works ongoing
Green Skills is continuing to work with Carbon Positive Australia (CPA) on its exciting Tootanellup eco-restoration project.
In August 2021, a team of Tambellup Noongar Rangers helped plant more than 10,000 local trees and shrubs at Tootanellup as part of eco-restoration on the property. The team worked with Dr Geoff Woodall, CPA and Green Skills on this revegetation program (Yr 2 of project). Future plans for Tootanellup are ongoing ecological surveys and the planning for the construction of an eco-education facility, with funding support from The Koorabup Trust. A big thanks to all our numerous community donors and the hours of volunteer specialist input into environmental monitoring and eco-reports by Steve and Geraldine Janike.
Just a bit of history about the project: In 2020 Green Skills received support from the Koorabup Trust and Gondwana Link Pty Ltd to undertake a feasibility study for the potential for conservation property acquisition in the Forests to Stirling section of Gondwana Link. This property assessment project lead to the purchase by Green Skills Inc of the 50 hectare conservation property, Tootanellup, an outstanding and high-conservation worthy rural property strategically located between wetland and nature reserves west of Mount Barker in WA's south west. Green Skills has reported on the first year of activities at the Tootanellup Eco-Restoration Project, captured in a 3 minute YouTube video - click here to watch.
In February 2022 Green Skills coordinated a Bio Blitz wetland survey of the adjoining Tootanellup Lagoon reserve. A report on this is available at https://greenskills.org.au/download/tootanellup-wetlands-investigation-2022/
Green Skills continues to seek ongoing donor support to bring the long-term vision for this Tootanellup initiative to fulfillment. You can be part of this exciting new conservation opportunity by donating now. Background information and a donation form for the Tootanellup property can be downloaded at https://drive.google.com/.../1wr1aUoTtAKRSeq1MaHT.../view...
Watch Green Skills new YouTube video that captures going on country at Tootanellup with Noongar Elder Lynette Knapp - click HERE
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