Category Archives: News

First walk for 2020

Posted on 16 March, 2020 by fobif

In perfect weather last Sunday a medium sized group started out at Mike Reeves’ property southwest of Elphinstone and completed a 6 km circuit through local bush. Much of the walk was on kangaroo tracks. Highlights were seeing many wattles … Continue reading →

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Show continues

Posted on 16 March, 2020 by fobif

The Photographers of the Goldfields exhibition at the Newstead Arts Hub is continuing for the next two weekends, finishing on Sunday March 29. Opening hours are 10 am to 4 pm. (Arts Open 2020 and the Newstead Open Studios finished … Continue reading →

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It’s open and clear

Posted on 15 March, 2020 by fobif

As the picture shows, the Kalimna Park loop track has a shiny new sign at the entry, making it much easier to find the start of the walk on the Tourist road. The metal box at its side contains copies … Continue reading →

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Kalimna: What you don’t know can hurt you

Posted on 9 March, 2020 by fobif

FOBIF has lent its name to the letter below, urging DELWP to take account of recent research on the Eltham Copper butterfly when it conducts its fuel reduction operation in Kalimna Park this autumn. This operation is a test case … Continue reading →

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Fire and the box ironbark: here’s some other stuff we should know

Posted on 9 March, 2020 by fobif

While we’re on the subject of fire in Box Ironbark systems, it might be worth while recalling important research conducted by scientists at the Arthur Rylah Institute in 2007, and published as Ecological burning in Box Ironbark Forests.  Thirteen years … Continue reading →

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Indigenous burning: an insight

Posted on 9 March, 2020 by fobif

Here’s something to think about, from Victor Steffensen’s book Fire Country–how Indigenous fire management could help save Australia [Hardie Grant Travel 2020]: ‘When it comes to Aboriginal fire management, the old people didn’t burn every ecosystem. Many people think that Aboriginal … Continue reading →

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Kalimna Park: the old might be new, and the new old…

Posted on 2 March, 2020 by fobif

A planned fuel reduction burn for Kalimna Park is due to take place this April. The burn will be in two sections on the western side of the tourist road, and total 34 hectares.   The burn will take place … Continue reading →

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Here’s a new friend you may not want to meet

Posted on 24 February, 2020 by fobif

The harmless, even charming looking plant below is Tribulus terrestris—variously called Caltrop, bindii, cat’s head, goat’s head, yellow vine. It’s a native of North Africa, now naturalised around the world, including Australia. It’s thought to have been introduced here as … Continue reading →

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Fire 2: Around and around the burning bush

Posted on 24 February, 2020 by fobif

Another part of the terms of reference is to investigate the matter of ‘hazard reduction.’ Although this has been a favourite theme of commentators wanting to distract the public from the fact that climate change might be making bushfires worse, … Continue reading →

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Fire 3: the human factor

Posted on 24 February, 2020 by fobif

Here’s a factor which should not be forgotten: human causes of fire. We’re not talking only about arson: carelessness or sheer ignorance are factors. The fire which seriously threatened the Canberra suburbs recently was caused by an army helicopter…And it … Continue reading →

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