Author Archives: fobif

Oops! FOBIF melts in the heat

Posted on 23 January, 2018 by fobif

Sorry folks: at some point in the production of the newsletter posted to members this week our walks program became scrambled. The details of the April and May walks became inextricably mixed up, making for an interesting geographical challenge to … Continue reading →

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Christmas wishes

Posted on 18 December, 2017 by fobif

The FOBIF committee wishes all friends of our forests a happy Christmas and a great new year. Our 2018 walks program will soon be available. We’ll see you in the bush in the new year! And on a sadder note: … Continue reading →

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Fuel for thought on fire

Posted on 18 December, 2017 by fobif

Fuel reduction burning is necessary, but not enough: that’s the conclusion of Tasmanian research released last Friday. The research, by the University of Tasmania, found that it would take an impossible amount of burning to reduce the impact of major … Continue reading →

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Jaara history: a way to the future?

Posted on 27 November, 2017 by fobif

Indigenous history shouldn’t just be the archaeology of a society frozen in the past: it should open up ‘glorious’ prospects: of a time when indigenous people will be accepted as leaders in this community. This is the view expressed by … Continue reading →

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New honour for Jaara elder Uncle Brien Nelson

Posted on 27 November, 2017 by fobif

At a ceremony in Melbourne last week senior Jaara elder Uncle Brien Nelson was included in the Victorian Aboriginal honour roll. For many years Uncle Brien has been one of this community’s most distinguished cultural leaders. In 2009 he was … Continue reading →

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Is it all the way downhill from here?

Posted on 27 November, 2017 by fobif

Guess what? Long unburnt box ironbark environments are more likely to recover from drought stress than ones which have been recently burned! This is one of the findings of the ‘Either side of the Big Wet’ research project, the gloomy … Continue reading →

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OK, we have some facts: what do we do with them?

Posted on 27 November, 2017 by fobif

A disappointing feature of the ARI gathering was the disconnect between the findings and any possible management implications. Several questions aiming to find a practical response to the research were batted away. It’s very obvious that there are in fact … Continue reading →

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Frogs wanted

Posted on 27 November, 2017 by fobif

The photo below shows two out of the three ponds created in Victoria Gully Castlemaine, by the Victoria Gully group. The ponds are designed to take runoff from nearby streets, and are to be planted with rushes and tussock grasses … Continue reading →

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Red Gums: good news vs bad news

Posted on 13 November, 2017 by fobif

So, what’s going on with our River Red Gums? We noted last year how lots of them were looking pretty dire, and this year is, if anything, worse: whole roadsides and paddocks in this region and beyond are looking pretty … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature Observations | 3 Comments

And on the subject of lerps, pardalotes and others…

Posted on 13 November, 2017 by fobif

While we’re on the subject of encouraging good bird habitat, readers may be interested in these two events: First, you can do your bit for the pardalote! Earth to pardalote is a workshop on how to create win-win gardens for people … Continue reading →

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