Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests

Richard Piesse died peacefully on Saturday, December 28, after a short stay in palliative care at Peter Mac. Richard was a contributor to our community in multiple ways—he was a volunteer for the Chewton Domain Society and the Tourist Information Centre and was active in the Great Dividing Trail Association, the Field Naturalists Club and FOBIF. He led many walks in the region for these community groups. He was an active supporter of Ern Perkins and the Field Naturalists in doing quadrat surveys, and the detailed knowledge he had of the natural history of this region made him an invaluable supporter and participant in the production of FOBIF field guides.

Richard Piesse (in green cap) as FOBIF walk leader, Tarilta Gorge 2015

Richard moved to Melbourne to be close to his children some years ago. He had been sick for some time, but this did not stop him from regularly coming back to Castlemaine on the train to volunteer in the Tourist Info centre in Mostyn Street, and to go on bush forays with Field Naturalists and FOBIF members, the most recent being in spring 2024.

Richard loved our bushlands and was a knowledgeable and engaging companion to have on bushwalks. Pugnacious and incisive, he was nevertheless ever ready to engage in positive exchanges with forest officers in the best interests of land management. His passing is a loss not just to his family and friends, but to our community as a whole.

Richard in a copse of the rare Acacia sporadica in the Fryers Forest, 2022. In spite of serious illness, he made many excursions into the bush.

Changes are afoot in the management of Victoria’s state forests.  VicForests (the government-backed logging company) has been wound up and the government has released a survey on the future management of state forests. Here is a link to the survey with information from the Victorian National Parks Association: https://vnpa.org.au/take-action-wildlife-deserve-a-safe-future/

Take action: wildlife deserve a safe future

FOBIF will be making a submission, and it would be great if there were lots of responses from individuals who care about the environment. You have until 12th January to have your say.

In early December FOBIF sent a letter to Mount Alexander Shire Council requesting the adoption and resourcing of a Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan in the next budget. The letter prepared by Asha Bannon (& endorsed by 21 local environmental groups) was presented to the Council last Tuesday. A packed public gallery of supporters included representatives from Connecting Country, Harcourt Valley Landcare, Maldon Urban Landcare and Castlemaine Landcare. Karl Just, Marie Jones, Gen Blades & Lisa Hall spoke in support of the proposal. We were pleased to hear the response from the Council – that they support the development of a Biodiversity Strategy and that it will be funded in the 2024-25 budget. They also assured us that FOBIF will be involved in the process.  You can view the Council meeting here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_LZfGe7ujs

1. The FOBIF end of the year gathering is on next Monday (9 December) at 6 pm in Walmer. You can find all the details here. 

Setting for our breakup near the Walmer South Nature Conservation Reserve.

2. Last week we posted about the current FOBIF treasurer vacancy. The position is still open. Our temporary treasurer, Lisa Hall, will be at breakup next Monday so if you are thinking of joining the FOBIF team this would be the perfect opportunity to find out more. 

Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests is having a BBQ at Bronwyn Silver’s place in Walmer on Monday 9th December. It starts at 6 pm and the address is 1036 Muckleford-Walmer Road, Walmer.

BYO
* food to share, including something for the BBQ if you like
* plates, glasses, cutlery
* drinks
* a chair

All FOBIF members and supporters are welcome. We hope all former committee members will be there so we can raise our glasses to them for a job well done. 

Enquiries Bronwyn: 0448 751 111.

FOBIF breakup December 2019