Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests

It is with regret and sadness that we report the death from cancer of Naomi Raftery, FOBIF committee member for several years, and secretary from 2014-2018. In that period Naomi was an important part of all of our work, including our publications, and especially in the running of our children’s programs. She exemplified the best qualities of an environmental activist: idealism and hard headedness, tolerance and firmness, thoughtfulness and good humour. Naomi was also involved in Connecting Country activities, and we fully endorse the following comments by Chris Timewell on her work in this area:

From 2011 to 2017, Connecting Country was extremely fortunate to have Naomi Raftery’s unwavering support and commitment towards achieving its conservation objectives – originally as a hardworking volunteer and member, and then also as a part-time staff member.  Naomi was the unsung hero behind the smooth running of field days, guest speaker events, committee meetings, restoration activities, and much more that Connecting Country undertook over this busy period.

In her humble way, she was invariably generous, friendly, patient, diligent, and insightful, and took steps to ensure that no-one would feel excluded or under-appreciated.  Naomi demonstrated a strong sense of fairness, social justice and ethical behaviour – and inspired her colleagues and others she met to raise their game.

Connecting Country, and many other organisations in Castlemaine and beyond, benefited from her passion for grassroots collaboration.  She knew the power of community groups to take meaningful steps at a local level towards making the wider world a better place.  Naomi was always among the first to put up her hand to offer help.

Her contribution and legacy is enormous, and she’ll be greatly missed. We extend our sympathy to her husband Sean and daughter Sophie.

Naomi speaking at a FOBIF children’s walk in Kalimna Park, 2014.

Christine Henderson will be leading the 6-8 km September walk in the Fryers Ranges. We will be meeting as usual at 9.30 am at the Community House in Templeton Street, Castlemaine and travelling by convoy to Taradale. If you would like to start at Taradale, meet at 9.45 am opposite the Metro service station in the main street. Contact Christine on 0417 529 392 for more information.

We would like to acknowledge the immense contribution of the six FOBIF committee members who chose to stand down at the 2024 AGM. Between them, these members served for over 75 years on the committee, creating a powerful legacy of environmental advocacy and education. We would like to thank:

• Marie Jones, a founding member of FOBIF and the 2024 recipient of the Joan Kirner Landcare Award, who served for 25 years on the committee.
• Bernard Slattery, who served for over 20 years on the committee.
• Bronwyn Silver, who served for over 15 years on the committee.
• Neville Cooper, who served for over 10 years on the committee.
• Lynette Amaterstein, who served for over 5 years on the committee.
• Jeremy Holland, who served for over 5 years on the committee.

We congratulate these wonderful people on their amazing efforts and hope they will still be around to assist the committee in the future, while taking a well-earned rest!

Here is a link to a summary article by Bernard on FOBIF’s achievements since 1998: FOBIF Since 1998.

Fifty-three  members and supporters came along to the FOBIF AGM on Monday 12 August. The evening began with a terrific presentation by local bird expert Geoff Park,Woodland birds in central Victoria – historical observations, current status and future prospects. A summary can be found here. minutes

This was followed by the formal part of the meeting. Minutes can be found here. The new committee members are Christine Henderson (President) and Lisa Hall (Secretary). Asha Bannon, Gen Blades, Frances Cincotta, Karl Just, Jo Matthews, Cassia Read, Sarah Day were elected as ordinary committee members. The positions of treasurer and vice president are currently unfilled.

Everyone is welcome to come to FOBIF committee meetings which are held on the second Monday at 6pm at the Community House in Templeton Street, Castlemaine. Contact Christine Henderson 0417 529 392 for more information.

The photos below were taken while people were chatting and enjoying the supper after the meeting. 

Our FOBIF AGM will take place at 7.30 on 12 August in the Senior Citizens Centre, Mechanics Lane (next to the library). After a brief AGM, Geoff Park will give a presentation on Woodland birds in central Victoria – historical observations, current status and future prospects. 

There are several vacancies on the FOBIF committee for the coming year and we are encouraging interested people to consider joining. There is a link to nomination forms and more information on the Geoff’s presentation  here.

In January we reported on the closure of Loop Track in the south of the Diggings Park–a measure designed to limit the spread of Cinnamon Fungus.

Track closures are a tricky matter, because there’s a constituency which believes it has the right to drive anywhere, regardless of the consequences. And so, almost inevitably, we have this:

Loop Track, July 28: a gate is ineffective against a determined and ignorant driver.

There are probably people who will never be persuaded to give nature priority over whatever they feel like doing: but it’s a fair bet that the majority of our community, given the right information, are willing to give the bush a fair go.

And here’s the problem: the notice on the Loop Track gate explaining why the gate is there is a fragile piece of paper encased in plastic. As of last week, it had fallen off the gate and was lying in mud.

As we’ve said before, clear and effective community education is far more important than any number of regulations, where the environment is concerned. A wide community consensus is central if problems like wood theft, rubbish dumping and track abuse are to be reduced.

And active ranger engagement with the wider community is a key part of that. Unfortunately miserly funding has rendered rangers an endangered species in our bushlands. And a respectful approach to nature is harder to encourage in a world where regular TV commercials encourage drivers to get out and bash the bush to their hearts content…