Landcare Activities

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#99CC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03f8dfc3.jpg"> <div> <B>          <IMG SRC="0a66e2c0.jpg" border=0 width="110" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Landcare Activities"><U><B>Landcare Activities Calendar</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Landcare"><U><B>Landcare Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0408dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>BYWONG COMMUNITY</B></FONT><B>     </B><B>|</B><B>     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BYWONG COMMUNITY"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> Landcare Activities </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=398 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0408dfc3.jpg"> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="calendar_of_activities_2007"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>Calendar of activities 2008</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="727" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="247"><div> <B>Date</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="460"><div> <B>Event</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="0"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="0" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 132 WIDTH="247"><div> Sunday 30<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> November  and Sunday 7 th December</div> <div>  starting at 9am.</div> <bR> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="460"><div> We have a very large number of eucalypts growing strongly and in great need of planting.   We will make an attempt to get as many out on the Birchman’s Grove development as we can. </div> <div> Meet along Birchman’s Grove in the new estate, where you see a sign and signs of activity. </div> <bR> <bR> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="0"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="132" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="0" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="247"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="247" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="460"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="460" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="0"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="0" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <B>Meetings:</B></div> <div> Landcare Meetings are held at the Bywong Community Hall, Birriwa Road, Mac's Reef Road on the second Monday of the month at 7.30pm. </div> <div>   </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" >Contact - </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Chris Fowler (Secretary)  62369189 </FONT><A HREF="mailto:chrisft@spitfire.com.au" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:chrisft@spitfire.com.au"><U>(chrisft@spitfire.com.au)</U></A> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" > or Roger Good -  Convenor (6236 9048)</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Propagation activities</B> are held at Geoff Butler's place - 38 Birchmans Grove, Wamboin - Contact - Geoff Butler - 6236-9158</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <U>Committee decisions made recently</U></div> <div> I have mentioned on not a few occasions, that this particular group of Landcarers [Geary’s Gap/Wamboin] has become one of the most successful in the Yass area network with the prime task of annually raising thousands of seedlings for distribution and planting in our immediate area. </div> <div> This was a strategy implemented long before many of the present ‘membership’ became involved, with the deliberate intent of underplaying the social aspects and possibilities that might have presented themselves with such a large ‘membership’ – about 170 local residents are on our e-mail list. A recent survey of the of those on this list suggested that there was no disagreement with this strategy. The fact that the group, as a result of many successful seedling sales and planting campaigns has never been short of money, has meant that we did not really need to maintain a membership list in the conventional sense [other than an e-mail distribution list] and have never felt the need to pressure members with the collection of a nominal annual membership fee of $20. </div> <bR> <div> Perhaps, in part, because of this idea that our social cohesion would come from the propagation sessions both on Saturday mornings, [and for those who braved the winter chills, Wednesday evenings], and the regular planting sessions all over the local area, the only other really social gatherings have been the monthly meetings on a Monday evening. The committee, mostly through the very wide range of knowledge and contacts brought to the group by Geff Butler and Roger Goodand other longstanding members, has been reasonable successful in arranging some very interesting speakers for these meetings</div> <div> . </div> <div> But – the membership has not, in recent times, agreed. On more than one occasion a well qualified and interesting guest speaker has addressed a gathering of fewer than ten people. I surely do not need to point out that this can be something of an embarrassment to the person who invited and in some cases, persuaded the guest speaker to travel at their own cost and inconvenience, to address the meeting.</div> <bR> <div> Your committee has deliberated on these two points now for some time. The membership fee was a fairly straightforward decision. There simply was no need for it under our present loose group arrangement [and financial success] and it will be dispensed with. Inclusion on an e-mail distribution list would constitute ‘membership’.</div> <bR> <div> The monthly meetings needed longer discussion and introspection. The wider promotion of the meetings outside the regular e-mails of Landcare activities, was considered [the use of roadside bulletin boards and local newspapers in particular] but it was felt that these alone would not necessarily improve attendance numbers. [In fact, local newspapers have carried notice of all recent meetings, with no noticeable change to those numbers] The decision was made then, to cancel the few remaining scheduled meetings before the October annual meeting, to which a guest speaker would be invited as normal.</div> <bR> <div> Those of you who have placed your names on our e-mail distribution list and who feel that these decisions are not in the best interests of the group, are invited to attend the annual meeting and present themselves for election to the committee.The new committee will not be bound by the decisions. [Roger has indicated that he will not be available for re-election this year] </div> <bR> <div> In the meantime we will continue to actively promote our other important activities in the usual way, since it is apparent that that is the preferred interest of the majority of the present active membership.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Chris Fowler</div> <div> Secretary Ph: 62369189</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Useful websites:</B></div> <div> <I>Weeds:</I> Invasive weeds are among the most serious threats to Australia's natural environment and primary production industries. They displace native species, contribute significantly to land degradation, and reduce farm and forest productivity. A new weeds website was recently launched by the Australian Government. It includes information on identifying and managing weeds, grants, publications and other resources. Visit <U>www.weeds.gov.au/</U>.</div> <div>  </div> <div> <I>Birds:</I> <I>Birds in Backyards</I> guidelines, developed by Birds Australia, are relevant for any gardener wishing to create and sustain bird habitat. As natural habitats continue to be cleared, water becomes more scarce, and animals are required to move in response to climate change, developing environments that are more suitable for wildlife becomes even more worthwhile. Your garden and rural block have great potential to provide habitat for bird species that are currently in decline. The guidelines can be accessed at<A HREF="http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/spaces/guidelines.cfm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/spaces/g"><U> </U></A><A HREF="http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/spaces/guidelines.cfm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/spaces/g"><U><U>www.birdsinbackyards.net/spaces/guidelines.cfm</U></U></A><A HREF="http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/spaces/guidelines.cfm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/spaces/g"><U>.</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>List of vegetation suitable for Wamboin Area</B></div> <div> Kathy Cook recently had a site visit to herproperty by Lori Gould from Greening Australia. Lori has supplied two lists of plant species suitable for re-vegetating our block, both general areas and riparian areas (ie dam). While these are reasonably site-specific to her place at Wamboin, you may be interested in these lists as a general guide. There are two lists -</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id88.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reparian Vegetation List Wamboin"><U>Riparian Reveg</U></A><A HREF="id88.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reparian Vegetation List Wamboin"><U>etation List for Wamboin Area</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id89.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="General Vegetation List for Wamboin Area"><U>General Revegetation List for Wamboin Area</U></A></div> <bR> <div> The March meeting focussed on landscape design using sustainable materials.  Further information of this topic may be found on the following websites:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Sustainable Landscape Materials brochure <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.aila.org.au/environment/materials-01.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.aila.org.au/environment/mater"><U>http://www.aila.org.au/environment/materials-01.htm</U></A></FONT><A HREF="http://www.aila.org.au/environment/materials-01.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.aila.org.au/environment/mater"><U> </U></A></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Other related information<A HREF="http://www.aila.org.au/environment/DEFAULT.HTM" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.aila.org.au/environment/DEFAU"><U> </U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.aila.org.au/environment/DEFAULT.HTM" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.aila.org.au/environment/DEFAU"><U>http://www.aila.org.au/environment/DEFAULT.HTM</U></A></FONT><A HREF="http://www.aila.org.au/environment/DEFAULT.HTM" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.aila.org.au/environment/DEFAU"><U> </U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>