Author Archives: fobif

Disasters (2): are we paying attention?

While Europeans count the cost of last week’s catastrophe, it might be worth while considering our own situation. Although we at FOBIF are a bit worried about our tendency to repeat ourselves, here we go again: this is from our … Continue reading

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AGM 2021: Peas!

FOBIF’s 2021 AGM will be held in the Senior Citizens Hall, Mechanics Lane Castlemaine  (that’s right next to the library), on Monday August 9 at 7.,30 pm. The guest speaker will be Ian Higgins, who will talk about native peas … Continue reading

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Central West forests: on the whole, a good outcome

You wouldn’t know it from the thunderous silence in most of the media, but last Thursday the Victorian Government tabled its long delayed response to the recommendations of VEAC on the Central West forests. (see our reports on this saga … Continue reading

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Wildlife: what is it, and what should be done about it?

FOBIF  has made a submission to the Independent review of the 1975 Wildlife Act. The essentials of the submission are to support –removal of the protected status of deer –removal of native birds from the definition of ‘game’ –creation of … Continue reading

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June walk: up and over!

A strong group tackled FOBIF’s June ‘long walk’ yesterday. Led by Jeremy Holland, the group ambled along the eastern lower slope of the Mount before climbing steeply past Black Wallaby rocks and on over to Lang’s lookout. The promised steep … Continue reading

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A good reason for doing a local budget submission

Here are some fun facts: ‘Weeds cost Australia $3.9 billion per year in lower farm incomes and higher food costs. In addition, Commonwealth, State and local government spend at least $116.4 million each year on costs of monitoring, control, management … Continue reading

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Art most fowl!

Looking for something positive to do on the weekend? Try Art most fowl, an exhibition uniting two artists, Bridget Farmer and Rhyll Plant,at the Newstead Arts Hub, on weekends from 10 to 4, closing on May 30th. ‘Art Most Fowl … Continue reading

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A sanctuary at Cairn Curran?

Readers will remember that last year FOBIF supported a letter to the Premier urging the banning of recreational shooting of birds, a practice banned in every eastern state except Victoria. Regional Victorians Opposed to Duck Shooting (RVOTDS) running a petition … Continue reading

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Questions, questions…

A small group of FOBIF members took a stroll last week through a patch of the Fryers Forest slated for burning within the next two years. This is burn is coded CAS-0243 Glenluce – Columbine Creek and is in the … Continue reading

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What’s special about this?

A strong group took on FOBIF’s walk to Middleton Creek yesterday, our first open  walk for many months. Middleton Creek is a marvellous waterway, characterised by interesting twists and turns and rocky cliffs. Unfortunately it’s currently overrun with gorse and … Continue reading

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