Author Archives: fobif

Heave ho! Weightlifter goes for gold

Posted on 3 August, 2014 by fobif

You often see fungi thrusting up through soil crust, but mushrooms heaving rocks out of the way are less common. The photo below shows one such effort. We weighed the stone at 725 grams! Fungi often perform remarkable weightlifting feats. … Continue reading →

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Mount Alexander in history

Posted on 30 July, 2014 by fobif

It was an important place to the Jaara people; grazed by sheep for nearly 100 years; listed as having been entirely denuded of useful trees by 1876; burned out by bushfire in 1901, and then washed out by a heavy … Continue reading →

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Is a historic place a relic?

Posted on 30 July, 2014 by fobif

What’s a historic place? The Victorian Environment Assessment Council is conducting an ‘Historic Places Investigation’, submissions for which are due to VEAC by September 12. FOBIF is making a submission to this process, arguing that a historic place is not … Continue reading →

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A stroll into the Gorge

Posted on 20 July, 2014 by fobif

Twenty two walkers enjoyed a fine winter’s day for the July FOBIF walk into Muckleford Gorge on Sunday the 20th. The walk was led by Deirdre and Bernard Slattery, and the group heard an informative talk from farmer Ian Garsed … Continue reading →

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Have another look at the Mount

Posted on 18 July, 2014 by fobif

It’s a special place to the Jaara people, has been exploited for its timber and heavily grazed; and now its role is primarily for conservation and recreation. It’s the biggest place in our region: Mount Alexander. At the FOBIF AGM … Continue reading →

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Fire planning starts again

Posted on 10 July, 2014 by fobif

Along with other interested parties, FOBIF has been invited by DEPI to express its ‘fire management priorities, issues or concerns as they relate to DEPI’s strategic fire management priorities, and also about fire prevention works’ in our area. This is … Continue reading →

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Why we should like ants

Posted on 10 July, 2014 by fobif

‘I like ants and this talk is about why you should like ants.’ That’s how entomologist Alex Wild started his talk to his audience of 140 at the Newstead Landcare event on Sunday. In a hugely entertaining talk, peppered with … Continue reading →

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Anonymous mound of dirt tells a story

Posted on 25 June, 2014 by fobif

The photo below shows a barely noticeable mound of dirt, covered with grass, next to the Limestone Track near the Tarilta Creek crossing. Passers by might not give it a glance: a pity, because this mound of dirt should be … Continue reading →

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Floods: here’s why

Posted on 25 June, 2014 by fobif

Floods can be complicated, but the fundamental cause isn’t: water falls from the sky in volumes too big to be confined within watercourses. These overflow onto flood plains. That’s it. There can be additional factors, of course: if vegetation in … Continue reading →

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Tassie fire chief: reduction target ‘no benefit’ to safety

Posted on 15 June, 2014 by fobif

At the risk of beating the same old drum on the five per cent burning target practised by the Victorian Government,  we reprint here reports from Tasmania on the island government’s parallel policy. The report is from the Weekly Times … Continue reading →

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