Yep, it’s on again (where does a year go!) This year from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 May. Landcare will be there to wave the flag as part of the natural resources area. There will be prizes and a new (well at least a revised) display too. But we need some help please. Contact Helen McClelland on 4930-1030 (M to F) or Craig at HRLN Office on 4934-8110 (M, Tu, F).

Got a worthwhile Project underway?

Need a little dough to help it happen?

Then don’t forget that the locally based Landcare Assistance Fund (LAF) might be able to help you. Applications for 2008 are now open and a grant of up to $1500 is available. Contact Craig at HRLN Office for details.

What’s Happened Recently:

Network Glenrock Weekend

A productive weekend for the 15 or so members and associates who gathered at our annual weekend gathering held at the Scout Centre at Glenrock in Newcastle in mid February. A skills assessment of those present was undertaken facilitated by Megan Tattersall was well received by all and those not present are encouraged to participate too. Wise Lives Now a resource written to promote environmental awareness in schools in a final draft form was shown by Education Ambassador, John Fitz-Gerald was tabled and is well worthwhile seeing. There was even some time spent in getting to know the local environment with a short walk which included part of the Yularbah Track towards Burwood Beach too.

SOFAR Expo – we were there!

Society of Frogs and Reptiles (Newcastle) held its periodic expo at Newcastle Jockey Club (Broadmeadow) on Sunday 16 March. Yes there were creepy crawlies in abundance and lots of knowledgeable traders and exhibitors as well as plenty of people visiting during the day. Landcare (and our friends from Hunter Wetlands Centre and Blackbutt Reserve Supporters) were there too waiving our flags on the sideline. Our presence was a reminder that creatures are part of and depend upon our environment. Thanks to Sue and to Rodney for helping out on the day.

Reports from Groups:

Muswellbrook

Muscle Creek Landcare Group - assisted Conservation Volunteers Australia with accommodation for teams working on the local Golf Club. The Golf Club obtained funding through the CMA to revegetate sections of the course fronting Muscle Creek.

Stephen Thatcher attended a Bugwise Course run by Australian Museum. Lake Liddell was the venue. This is another way to help evaluate projects. Start the program at Muscle Creek and at Lake Liddell.

Some success was had in getting residents fronting Possum Gully to clear their sections of their watercourse.

Kayuga / Dartbrook Landcare Group – have been maintaining trees planted in wetlands at Muswellbrook.

Lake Macquarie

The fine and professional LRO Bulletin (Issue 16) was produced in February and its six pages is a great method of keeping people informed in between issues of the Urban Landcarer magazine which the LRO also produces. If you have not seen it then contact …………………………….

Cessnock

Cessnock City Council are providing information on local Groups by way of a local flyer which gives up to a three line micro-sketch on ten local groups. Cessnock Landcare have in addition “advertised” their doings in the local newspaper too. Mount Vincent Landcare group are keenly interested in the new corridors project (Alps to Atherton) that should see corridors across the Hunter Valley floor from the Watagans to Branxton. Tumblebee Landcarers held a Water Watch training day and learnt about macro invertebrates. Wollombi Group produces a really great newsletter that is packed full of ideas as well as news. Buttai Group is looking closely at proposed mine extensions and accompanying infrastructure locally. One of the down sides of the June rains was a massive boost to local bamboo groves and Abermain group are once again at work keeping the weed down.

Newcastle

Shortland to Wallsend Group have had a work plan meeting and have had two planting days with over 1900 native ground covers planted out. A Work for the Dole Team at The Wetlands Centre in the Bucher Bird Gully site. Jenny Castles continues to be very active at numerous meetings and committees around western Newcastle.

Scone

Drought conditions in the Upper Hunter have prevented tree planting for almost three years but very welcome summer rain meant that the dormant program could resume. By the end of March tress (predominantly River Red Gums and Casuarinas) will have been planted out in the Kingdom Ponds on the edge of Scone. A stand of Red Gums planted in Parsons Gully two years ago have thankfully survived and now most are thriving. Concerns have been expressed about an Energy Australia proposal to build a sub station on the southern approach to Scone with the planned uprooting of trees.

Education Officer

The new puppet theatre (secured with a grant from Hunter Central Rivers CMA) has been built and is presently being painted thanks to the efforts of Helen McClelland. Current Puppet Show bookings continue to come in with a booking coming up at Nelson Bay and also one at the Kurri Aquatic Centre too. These shows can only be done with willing hands and not only do the schools often provide the manpower, but our member Sue Effenberger and her children will soon be the all important people doing the hands on work at a forthcoming show.

Moves are underway to bring on line a show of life size animal interactive puppets too.

Communications Officer

The finishing touches to the 2007 Annual Report are being done and will be available for distribution very soon.

The address list database is being revived thanks to information being provided by Helen and Rodney. The list when retyped will be circulated for amending / updating so that we can communicate to as many people as possible. Email and snail mail distribution is proposed to cover a wider audience. If you know of someone, who wants to be on our mailing list (either electronically or by hard copy), then just ley us know. By the way, this Newsletter’s content is very much determined by you, the readers. Constructive thoughts, items, links and (non copyright) articles and photos are all welcome and are received with rapturous enthusiasm.

Other Developments

Landcare Assistance Fund

2008 Grants are now open. If your Group has a worthy project and a grant of up to $1500 would be useful to “make it happen”, then drop HRLN a line on:

hrln@hunterlink.net.au or phone Craig at the HRLN Office on 4934-8810 and we will send you out a form and guidelines. You will however have to have the completed form in by July to be eligible for consideration.

Shortland Wallsend Group News

SHORTLAND TO WALLSEND LANDCARE

Shortland to Wallsend Landcare [SWL] have twelve permanent members.

Some of these Landcarers have been with the group for 16 odd years.

We are all getting a bit old and not sure how much longer the group can survive without a burst of younger energy to help us along with our projects in the future.

Field Days are most Wednesdays depending on the weather.

Summer starting time is at 8-00 am winter starting time is at 9-00 am.

We have a ‘Shared Morning Tea’ when the work is done.

This Group is supported by Newcastle City Council’s Greening Center and work sites to date have been on Council’s Parks and Reserves in the Shortland, Birmingham Gardens and Wallsend area’s.

The group resumed work early in February after prolonged ‘Christmas Break’ and held a Planning Meeting.

In early February was the first working day for this year when the group planted 500 native ground cover plants. It is hoped that another 500 plants will be planted before the end of this autumn.

They can be contacted via their Group Coordinator, Jenny Castles at:

7 Long Crescent

Shortland 2307

Phone 4951-1794

jencastles@hotkey.net.au

Money Money Money

We all keep a watch for opportunities for funding opportunities and one valuable tool in identifying grants is The Australian Green Grants Guide issued annually by Molino Stewart. This year’s guide continues the tradition with over 220 pages of information. There is too much to summarise here but the book is available for inspection at Network Meetings or it can be ordered online at: http://www.molinostewart.com.au/products/

2008 HRLN Calendar

The calendar is now available showing all relevant Network dates and some national dates as well as several deadlines for grants. Here are the next few months’ entries and more details will be added as information comes to hand so keep an eye out for changes.

April
19		Network Meeting – Scone area

May
2-4		Tocal Field Days – Paterson
12-18		National Volunteers Week
19		Operations Committee

June
5		World Environment Day
21		Network Meeting – Port Stephens area

July
27		National Tree Day
21		Operations Committee
31		Landcare Assistance Fund Grant Applns Close

Bits & Pieces

“I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority.”

E B White

US Author & Humourist

(1899-1985)

Hunter Region Landcare Network