Author Archives: fobif

Want to buy a premium penguin product?

Posted on 3 April, 2013 by fobif

The State Government’s decision to open National Parks to commercial development [see above] has its origins way back in the Kennett era, but surfaced more recently in a report published by the Labour Government in 2008. It’s called Victoria’s Nature … Continue reading →

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Moth empire to strike back?

Posted on 3 April, 2013 by fobif

As we reported in January, the cup moth devastation of our bushlands seems to be over. But the respite for the affected trees [which have only partly recovered] may be temporary. Tony Morton has sent us these observations from Glenluce: … Continue reading →

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FOBIF walk in Maldon Historic Reserve

Posted on 26 March, 2013 by fobif

A group of 20 eager bushwalkers emerged from their summer hiatus to participate in the first walk of the 2013 FOBIF calendar.  The walk was led by Chris Johnston, who has built up a considerable body of knowledge about the … Continue reading →

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The Selwyn Map: ‘quiet, calm…terrible, disturbing’

Posted on 25 March, 2013 by fobif

It’s a map ‘full of quiet calm, still, beautiful’, says Latrobe University historian Gerry Gill. There’s a ‘soft, comfortable, nostalgic light’ in it. But it’s also ‘terrible, disturbing’. Gill is referring to the Selwyn map, produced in 1852 and showing … Continue reading →

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Don’t try this yourself!

Posted on 21 March, 2013 by fobif

Bird netting which lies loosely on the ground can be a menace to small animals like echidnas…and also to snakes, as the picture below shows. Doug Ralph was asked by a local to help out when a brown snake about … Continue reading →

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‘Castlemaine’s first environmental cause’

Posted on 19 March, 2013 by fobif

The curious circular earth formation pictured below isn’t a mysterious religious site. It’s a puddling wheel, and if you want to know how it used to work, check out historian Marjorie Theobald’s article ‘Commissioner Bull and the Puddling Machines: Castlemaine’s … Continue reading →

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Flood management plan on the way?

Posted on 13 March, 2013 by fobif

About 100 people turned up to the first public consultation meeting on flood management on February 18 at the Castlemaine Town Hall. The meeting consisted of three presentations on flood issues by Catchment Managers and water industry experts—unfortunately rather repetitive … Continue reading →

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Rethinking rural land use

Posted on 11 March, 2013 by fobif

The Mount Alexander Shire is conducting a Rural Land Study in order to establish how rural land in the Shire should be zoned. Current zoning of rural areas derives from a 2004 State Government planning decision designed in part to … Continue reading →

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Where’s the heritage?

Posted on 27 February, 2013 by fobif

The photo below shows old sluicing pipes in the Fryers Forest. As they decay, they provide shelter for the growth of seedlings which will eventually hasten their destruction. Is this decay the gradual fading of our heritage? Maybe–if we identify … Continue reading →

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Ant behaving strangely

Posted on 26 February, 2013 by fobif

The ant pictured below is a member of the genus Rhytidoponera. The curious thing about it is that the creature is labouring to carry a shoot of moss [Pseudocrossidium crinitum].                     … Continue reading →

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