Author Archives: fobif

Comeback

Posted on 15 December, 2012 by fobif

The cup moth caterpillars have come in their millions and munched away, but it seems that they’ve gone to pursue their careers as moths, and the bush is responding accordingly. Green shoots are appearing everywhere, and things aren’t looking anywhere … Continue reading →

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Catch this

Posted on 12 December, 2012 by fobif

North Central Waterwatch has released a handy Fish Field Guide for waterways in the area bounded roughly by Donald in the west, Creswick in the South, Heathcote in the east and Swan Hill in the north. Native fish are little … Continue reading →

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‘Due consideration’: does this mean, ‘Not interested’?

Posted on 1 December, 2012 by fobif

FOBIF has received a reply from the Minister for Bushfire Response, Peter Ryan. We asked him if he had considered Royal Commission Monitor Neil Comrie’s recommendation that the five per cent burning target be revised. It’s now clear from the … Continue reading →

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Burning season under way

Posted on 25 November, 2012 by fobif

With DSE starting burns around Castlemaine, it’s worth clarifying what the Department’s targets are. The following has been supplied to us by DSE for land within the Murray Goldfields district: Zone: 1. Asset protection 2. Bushfire management 3. Landscape management … Continue reading →

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We have the answer, but where’s the answer? [and what’s Hawkeye?]

Posted on 22 November, 2012 by fobif

FOBIF has had another go at finding out what if anything the Government intends to do about the Royal Commission Monitor’s suggestion that the five per cent target be revised. The letter we received from DSE Director of Fire, Lee … Continue reading →

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State of the forests, 1870

Posted on 19 November, 2012 by fobif

Doug Ralph has supplied us with the text below, as evidence of 19th century attitudes to forest use. The report is from the Argus newspaper, and can be found on the National Library’s Trove website: “The following report of the … Continue reading →

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Questions to the minister…and answers

Posted on 18 November, 2012 by fobif

In October FOBIF wrote to the Minister for Bushfire Recovery, Peter Ryan, the Minister for Conservation, Ryan Smith, and the National Party member for Northern Victoria, Damian Drum, regarding the government’s planned burning program. We asked how the Government was … Continue reading →

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Fire meeting

Posted on 13 November, 2012 by fobif

On 1st November a concerned group of people from Castlemaine, Bendigo and surrounding areas, meeting in the Chewton Town Hall, decided to form a network to lobby and campaign for major changes to the State Government’s current and forthcoming fuel … Continue reading →

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A Spectacular Orchid

Posted on 2 November, 2012 by fobif

Three FOBIF members recently went to Old Coach Road in the Fryers Ranges to have a look at the Giant Sun Orchid Thelymitra aristata. In contrast to our normal small orchids this one was 81 cm (32 in)  and can apparently reach … Continue reading →

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Last walk for 2013

Posted on 30 October, 2012 by fobif

The last FOBIF walk of the year was to the Fryers Ranges on Sunday 21 October. Twenty-three people enjoyed a sunny walk along a series of paths including the interestingly named ‘No Name Track’ and onto Fryers Ridge. Richard Piesse … Continue reading →

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