Murrumbidgee Landcare e-news No. 21 - April 2013
Murrumbidgee Landcare Inc (MLi) is a not-for-profit organisation representing community Landcare in the Murrumbidgee catchment. Our e-news is a project of MLi and the Regional Landcare Facilitator project, Murrumbidgee. Please contact us to have content included in our next, monthly e-news.
- Project updates
- Upcoming events
- Awards
- Funding opportunities
- News
- Landcare resources
- Landcare group meetings
PROJECT UPDATES
Monaro Landscape Connectivity project
Ecalpsekul is the title of one of four PlaceStories now produced as part of this project. Each PlaceStory tells of the project work done on a property on the Monaro to improve native vegetation connectivity.
Water for wildlife in the Riverina rangelands
On-ground works are well underway at two properties and plans are almost complete for works to begin on a number of other sites, including both private properties and public Travelling Stock Reserves.
Cross property planning
Recent project work has included:
- Whole farm integrated weed management strategies workshops
- Using native species to manage invasive weeds
- Whole of landscape connectivity mapping for the Junee cross property group
Jenene Kidston discusses the management of St John’s wort with the Humula cross property planning group at a field day in December 2012.
Murrumbidgee Landcare Annual Forum
SAVE THE DATE - 22-23rd August, Junee.
Keynote speaker: Phillip Toyne.
In the 1980s Phillip was the Director of the Australian Conservation Foundation. He teamed up with Rick Farley from the National Farmers Federation. Together they had a vision and the National Landcare program was born.
Community planting - Glossy Black Cockatoo project
1 May 2013 9.30am
Participate in planting up to 500 Drooping Sheoak seedlings as part of the Glossy Black-Cockatoo Project. Meet Fifty, a live Glossy Black-Cockatoo will be attending the day.
Koala head count
Organised by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Narrandera Common. Follow the signs from Lake Talbot Canal Bridge
Riverina Highlands AGM & Tarabandra Hills Restoration project.
For the past 4 years a dedicated group of landholders in the Tarabandra area of South Gundagai have worked together to connect areas of native vegetation across their properties.
When an ecologist visited the Tarabandra area some 5 years ago, he described the area as one of the most degraded Box Gum Woodlands in NSW. Whilst landholders were initially shocked by this comment, it has inspired the group to make a significant difference to their landscape.
Bidgee Behind the Lens
The Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority (CMA) is calling for entries in the 2013 Bidgee From Behind the Lens Photographic Competition.
The competition, offers great prizes across Primary Student, Secondary Student, Open Amateur, Professional and People’s Choice
Spray Safe and Save course
Free Herbicide use Training and Accreditaion
Are you a landholder in the ACT or in the Googong or Upper Murrumbidgee catchments south of the ACT
?
Are you working with herbicides as a Park Carer/landcarer in the ACT or in the Googong or Upper Murrumbidgee catchments south of the ACT? Now is the time to get herbicide use training and accreditaion for free.
Profitable regeneration of native pastures field day
The Riverina Highlands Landcare Network, with funding from the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority, is holding a Regenerating Native Pastures field day on Tuesday the 21st May. The field day will be held at 2 locations, Wondowie and Tumblong with the same information to be presented at each site.
Guest speaker will be Graeme Hand, holistic grazing advocate and CEO of Stipa (Native Grasses Association).
Landcare for singles - So do you plant here often?
Are you single in Canberra looking to meet new people, make new friends or even looking for romance? ACT Landcare, in partnership with Greening Australia and other Landcare organisations, is hosting a speed tree planting event at Williamsdale south of Canberra on Sunday 26 May.
In Safe Hands NSW workshop - Queanbeyan
"In Safe Hands" is a Safety Management System designed for community groups in practical conservation.
Schools Tree Day - 26th July 2013
National Tree Day - 28th July 2013
National Threatened Species Day - 7 September 2013.
Many hands connecting communities
3-5 Sep 2013 NSW Landcare and catchment management forum. Hosted by the Hunter-Central Rivers Region.
Eureka Prize for Sustainable Agriculture
Entries for the 2013 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes, Australia's premier national science awards program, will be closing 3 May 2013.One of the 17 prizes on offer this year is the Caring for our Country Landcare Eureka Prize for Sustainable Agriculture.
2013 NSW Landcare Awards
Nominations close 30th June 2013. Categories include:
•Individual Landcarer Award•Partnerships with Landcare Award•Innovation in Sustainable Farm Practices Award•Landcare Facilitator or Coordinator Award•Coastcare Award•Qantas Landcare Innovative Community Group Award•Westpac Agribusiness•Innovative Young Landcare Leader Award•Junior Landcare Team Award•Indigenous Land Management Award.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Community Environment Grants 2013
Previously known as Community Action Grants, the Community Environment Grants of between $5000 and $50,000 are available for community groups to protect or enhance the natural environment.
2013 Coles Junior Landcare School Garden Grant 
Coles are providing School Garden Grants of up to $1,000 to schools and youth groups to help create gardens in their grounds or community, such as bush tucker gardens, water wise gardens or veggie gardens.
Applications due by 10 May 2013.
NSW Environmental Trust Eco Schools grants
60 grants of $2,500 each for schools are available.
This program provides grants to schools to give them the opportunity to involve their students and community in developing and implementing environmental management projects.
The ultimate goal of the Eco Schools grant program is the development of environmentally sustainable schools.
NSW Environmental Trust Food Gardens in Schools grants
20 grants of $3,500 each for schools.
This program provides grants to schools to give them the opportunity to involve their students and community in developing and implementing environmental management projects.
The overall objective of the Food Gardens in Schools Program is to provide learning opportunities for students, teachers and other members of the school community about healthy sustainable living through growing and harvesting food in school gardens.
Welcome to our new Landcare Support Officer
Dear Landcarers,
It is with pleasure that I report that Alan Cole has joined the Murrumbidgee Landcare team as a Landcare Support Officer (part-time) until the end of the year. This position was funded with a grant to MLi from Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority, from their Community Partnerships Fund...
Carbon Farming Initiative - update
Invasive species survey
Survey: Who's tackling invasive species in Australia?
Every year across Australia tens of thousands of people give up their time to battle weeds, feral animals and other invasive threats to the environment, very often without payment.
LLS recommendations handed to the Minister
What have we got here? ...with Dr Dave.
New free CliMate App for farmers
Australian CliMate is a free iTunes app that can help farmers with better decisions about their farming operations based on recent weather and likely climate probabilities. Farmers can quickly interrogate the last 60 years of daily rainfall, temperature and radiation data for their loccation. Seasonal forecasts are provided based on current ENSO conditions.
A range of practical resources are available for Landcare community events and projects. Hardware, books and event equipment can be borrowed through the Murrumbidgee Landcare (MLi) office or through your Regional Landcare Facilitator. Other items are available for download.
See the catalogue of resources available for loan by Landcare groups.
Tree Dieback - a new factsheet
Dieback is a general term describing a widespread long-term decline in tree health. It may be caused by a range of factors but has widely recognisable symptoms. A new Greeening Australia factsheet provides information for land managers dealing with dieback.
Promoting activities and seeking volunteers
Resources available through Landcare Australia
The LIFE website has been updated to include a range of free branded resources that can be used by groups who would like to promote their activities using the LIFE campaign. You will find editable posters and flyers, as well as artwork for stickers, email signatures, and more.
LANDCARE GROUP MEETINGS
Kyeamba Valley Landcare Group - meeting
1 May 2013.
Meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month, from 7.30 pm, at the Ladysmith Memorial Hall (Tumbarumba Road, Ladysmith).
Molonglo Catchment Group - meeting
13 May 2013
The Molongolo Catchment Group usually meets the second Monday of every month, between 5.00 and 6.30 pm. Please feel free to come along and participate.
Tarcutta Valley Landcare Group - Meeting:
28 May 2013
Everyone is invited to attend a meeting of the Tarcutta Valley Landcare Group. Meetings are held on the 4th Tuesday of the month, from 7.30 pm, at the Tarcutta RSL.
