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SUMMERTIME
Kinglake district is the traditional land of the Taungurung and Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. For some, Garrawang is Kangaroo Apple season in December moving into Biderap dry summer season in January/ February. Unlike our imported concept of four seasons, Kulin Nation’s seven seasons reflect movement of the stars, changing weather, and the life cycle of plants and animals developed over many thousands of years.
ACTIVITIES JUST GONE
In November an informative Australian Museum Frog ID webinar organised and sponsored by the Environmental Programs Unit of Murrindindi Shire Council at Kinglake Library showed the value of using the Museum free app to identify frogs (frogid.net.au). Some then went to Stony Creek Reserve in Kinglake West to use the app and enjoy the tranquil surrounds (see photo), but, no frogs this dry night unlike rainy late October. See photos of Victorian Smooth Froglet (Geocrinia Victoriana) taken previously at the reserve and the Eastern Banjo Frog/ Pobblebonk (Limnodynastes dumerilii) two of at least nine frog species in our district. Our Using a Chainsaw Safely theory and practical event in November was part of the Rural Skills program funded by the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) supporting a range of courses and workshops including fencing, pest plant and animal control, plant identification, pruning, plant propagating, and more. Installation of nest boxes in partnership with Birdlife Australia “Boxes for Birds: a Kinglake community nest box project” has been continuing on members’ properties and public reserves. Also, in November we met the CFA Vegetation Management Officer, North East Region about the CFA Joint Fuel Management Program.
COMING UP
Talk on Ants by great presenter Ron Litjens at Yea Butter factory in December (see below) hosted by Yea River Landcare Group. Further nest boxes to be constructed at a workshop early next year and we will advise members and friends of any emerging activities over December/January.
GET OUR BOOKLET
‘Caring for Your Patch’ covering backyard garden design, food growing, plant selection, weed and pest animal management and more, is available from Kinglake Library, KRNH, Kinglake Heritage Centre, local garden suppliers, Landcare events, some local shops and servos, and online from https://ugln.net/about/ resources/. On that site you can also locate detailed vegetation reports on selected local roads.
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
New members can contact Secretary John Stewart on 0419 858504 or johnstewart@ live.com to join for $16 per year. Alternatively, you can be added to our free ‘friends’ mailing list for notification of events.
Next meeting: 7.30pm Monday 9 December upstairs at Kinglake Memorial Reserve Hall. All welcome. First meeting in New Year on Monday 17 February.
Next events:
Friday 6 December 7.30pm Talk on Ants by Ron Litjens at Yea Butter factory. $10 non members, $5 members.
Nestbox installation further demo TBA. Contact Chris Cobern 0413 855490
Nest box workshop Jan/Feb 2025 TBA
Roger Cook
President
Kinglake Landcare Group
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