| FROM THE CHAIR I am really looking forward to our AGM on 20 October, at Trulli’s in Meeniyan with GLaWAC CEO, Dan Miller as our guest speaker. Please see the notice below and book in early to secure your spot. If you’re interested in getting involved at a more strategic level, consider nominating for the Board. Five positions come up for grabs every two years. We’re a welcoming, cohesive group and new thoughts and ideas are always appreciated. Contact our secretary, Mark Matthews for a nomination form here. You may have noticed our e-news has a different look this month. We’re thrilled to have Phoebe Honey assisting us with communications on a contract basis. Phoebe comes from a rural background and her family are active in Landcare in East Gippsland. Regards, Jillian Staton |
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 SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY IN TACKLING WEEDS Spring is here, and for many that means weed management has moved up on the to-do-list. The most effective invasive species management is often achieved through a combination of techniques, also known as integrated management. South Gippsland Landcare Network has developed several resources to help you identify invasive species and use integrated management this spring: – Learn about weed Identification in South Gippsland here – Read our Weed Control Cycle brochure here – Read about weed management principles here |
| MONITORING THE ABUNDANCE & IMPACTS OF DEER On Sunday, 18 September SGLN and Tarwin Landcare Group held a field day to learn about a method for quantifying the abundance and impact of deer. Ami Bennett from Melbourne University spoke to the group about a methodology she developed, followed by a practical demonstration. The technique involved a combination of deer poo (pellet) counts (to indicate deer abundance) and plant identification and browsing score (to indicate deer impacts) along a linear transect of bushland. The group also inspected fenced exclusion plots which have been established to measure the recovery of bushland which has been severely impacted by deer. For copies of the handouts from the day please contact Nick Stephens here or read more here. |
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| WHAT’S ON |
 PLANT IDENTIFICATION TRAINING Learn the fundamentals of how to identify plant species on your property in this facilitated training with Dr Simone Louwhoff, lecturer at Federation University. When: Wednesday, 5 October, 2022 Time: 10am – 12.30pm Where: Traralgon South Community Hall Cost: Free and open to West Gippsland Landcare group members or network staff Learn more and register here This training is supported by West Gippsland CMA, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program. |
 WEBINAR: GRAPPLING WITH SOIL CARBON Agriculture Victoria’s Beef and Sheep Networks are holding a free webinar on the challenges of storing, measuring, and monitoring soil carbon on livestock farms. Key speaker: Robert White, Emeritus Professor of Soil Science at the University of Melbourne. When: Thursday, 6 October, 2022 Time: 7am – 8pm Where: Online via Zoom Register for the free webinar here For more information contact: Jane Court (Agriculture Victoria) |
 SGLN 2022 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Guest speaker: Dan Miller, CEO, GLaWAC All members of SGLN are warmly invited to attend the AGM. Special guest speaker this year is Dan Miller, Chief Executive Officer of the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC). When: Thursday, 20 October 2022 Time: 7.00pm Where: Trulli Pizza, 93 Whitelaw Street, Meeniyan, VIC, 3956 Tickets: $15 each (excluding credit card fees) Register here by 5.00pm Wednesday, 19 October 2022. For more information please see the link here. |
 HOODED PLOVER WORKSHOP Hooded Plovers are a shy, non-aggressive bird that live and breed on the beaches of South Gippsland. SGLN invite you to come and learn about these rare and quirky birds and discover how you can help protect them. When: Saturday, 29 October 2022 Time: 9:30am – 2:30pm Where: Venus Bay Community Centre, 27 Canterbury Road, Venus BayWorkshop: 9.30am -12.00pmWalk: 12.30pm – 2.30pm at Beach 5. Venus Bay Register your free place here. For more information please see the link here. This training is supported by funding from the Australian Government in partnership with South Gippsland Landcare Network. (photo credit: Glenn Ehmke) |
LANDCARE NATIVE SEED COLLECTION WORKSHOP Learn the fundamentals of how to identify and collect native seeds from Geoff Trease of the South Gippsland Seedbank. This session will also include a practical session in the nearby bush so bring secateurs if you have them and wear appropriate protective clothing such as closed toe shoes and sunscreen. This session is weather dependent. When: Wednesday, 23 November 2022 Time: 10am – 12.30pm Where: Outtrim Recreation Reserve Cost: Free and open to West Gippsland Landcare group members or network staff Learn more and Register here This training is supported by West Gippsland CMA, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program. |
 A GARDEN OF USEFUL PLANTSSEASONS IN THE GIPPSLAND HILLS Attendees at the Arawata Landcare Group AGM were treated to a presentation by Meredith Freeman about her new book A Garden of useful plants: Seasons in the Gippsland hills: “People have lived for many thousands of years in what is now South Gippsland, Australia. In the 1880s a young Englishman, unaware of the area’s long human history, set about clearing forest in the Strzelecki Ranges to establish a farm. Over a century later, Meredith and Gil Freeman came to live on nine acres of what had become productive grazing country”. Read more here |
| GRANTS |
 NOW OPEN: THE NATURE FUND The Nature Fund has been established by the Victorian Government to support high impact projects that deliver on the goals of Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2037, the Government’s plan to stop the decline of native plants and animals and improve the state’s natural environment. The Nature Fund is calling for proposals for investment through an Expressions of Interest (EOI) process. Minimum funding is $20,000. Projects supported through the Nature Fund will need to demonstrate their ability to make a high impact contribution to improving Victoria’s biodiversity and supporting the conservation of Victoria’s threatened species — for example, leading to the improvement in the conservation status of a listed Threatened Species. For more information see the link. |
 NOW OPEN: RESPONSIBLE WOOD COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAMThe Responsible Wood Community Grants Program is now open. The aim of the program is to support local communities develop, design and implement small community-based projects in their local area in conjunction with their local Responsible Wood certified company. The key benefits of this program are; supporting Australian communities to better access and enjoy their local sustainably managed and certified forests; and providing an opportunity to build community connection through planning, completing and benefiting from community projects. Funding available per project is between $2,000 and $15,000. For more information please see the link. |
 NOW OPEN: YOUTH VOLUNTEERING FOR NATURE Applications for the Youth Volunteering for Nature Fund are now open. The Youth Volunteering for Nature Fund is part of the Victoria’s Great Outdoors Volunteer program, which seeks to get more Victorians, from all walks of life, outdoors enjoying nature. Funding is available for a broad range of projects. The program is looking for innovative project ideas that champion environmental volunteering, have a positive impact on Victorian environmental, historic and/or Aboriginal cultural heritage values, encourage more young people to volunteer for nature and provide lessons for the future. Be quick – applications close Monday, 3 October 2022. Read more here. |
 NOW OPEN: STRENGTHENING RURAL COMMUNITIES – PREPARE & RECOVER PROGRAM The Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) Prepare & Recover program supports communities in remote, rural and regional communities across Australia to implement initiatives that prevent and prepare for future climate related impacts, or recover from existing disasters through the medium to long term process. Grants up to $25,000 are available for a broad range of initiatives to strengthen the capacity and capability of local people, organisations, networks, and systems that help communities to be informed, skilled, connected and resourced for the future. Specifically, SRC Prepare & Recover will support communities impacted by the 2019/20 Black Summer Bushfires. Applications close 5pm AEST 29 November 2022. For more information, please see the link here. |
| WHAT’S IN YOUR BACKYARD Joining forces with Junior Landcare, host of Gardening Australia and Landcare champion Costa Georgiadis is calling on Aussie kids to take part in the 2022 ‘What’s in your backyard?’ competition and share with him why their backyard is important to them. Learn more and get involved here |
 2022 NATIONAL LANDCARE CONFERENCEIn case you missed it, catch up on the latest from the 2022 National Landcare Conference. Please explore the video recordings, presentation decks and posters now available here. |
| SGLN STAFF CONTACTS Andrea Clifford: Landcare Facilitator (Western Sector) Monday, Tuesday, Thursday Nick Stephens: Landcare Facilitator (Eastern Sector) Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (half day) Cassie Wright: Projects and Education Coordinator Monday, Tuesday, Thursday Kirsty Richardson: Projects Officer (days still to be set) |
