Ecoportal

Women on Country Weave 'n Yarn with Aunty Valda Murray
2022-07-23 11:00 - 13:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Vic
Join Aunty Valda Murray for a women-only session on the banks of the beautiful Travellers Creek west of Wodonga.
Learn about the revival of traditional crafts in the local context and the varied uses of local natural resources for everyday living, all while getting hands-on practice in weaving techniques that have been shared for hundreds of generations.
When: Saturday 23rd July, 11am-1pm
Where: Travellers Creek, off Bidstrup Rd, Wodonga (Map on registration site).
What to bring: Please BYO water bottle, camp chair or picnic rug and dress for the weather.
Cost: No cost, but places are limited.
This community event has been made possible with the support of the Victorian Government.

Registration prior to the event is essential for communication, safety and insurance purposes. Please Register Here.

Wild Orchid Planting Project
2022-07-23 08:30 - 2022-07-27 17:00
Join our rewilding planting days and help bring endangered orchid species back from the brink of extinction.
Following hand collection of seed and careful propagation by the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Parklands are assisting Murray Local Land Services for the next week to plant thousands of delicate orchid seedlings back into protected areas in the region.
All hands are welcome to help get these seedlings into the ground.
Parkland are coordinating local volunteers and organising carpooling to the planting sites. Please register here to join the planting crew and receive further details of the planting days.

McFarlanes Hill Community Working bee
2022-07-22 09:30 - 11:30, 2022-07-08 09:30 - 11:30
Join Parklands Rangers for a short, sharp working bee on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month, delivering long awaited trail realignments, bush restoration and park infrastructure improvements in McFarlanes Hill Regional Park.

When: Friday mornings 9.30-10.30 am, followed by morning tea
Where: We will meet at the Hunchback Hill Mountain bike track parking area, off Felltimber Creek Road.
What: Activities will cover a range of tasks including removal of redundant fences, planting climate adapted seedlings, weeding, installing wayfinding signs, removing barbed wire from all but the boundary fences, improving drainage along the Granite walking trail, rehabilitating closed trails and removing redundant boardwalks.
What is provided: All tools, materials and personal protective equipment is provided as is Ranger induction and session leadership.
What to bring: Participants must wear covered shoes (boots) and long pants at all sessions, preferably long sleeves as well, and bring your own hat and water bottle. Current Covid safety measures must also be followed.

All are welcome. Please register for the mornings you intend to join us. REGISTER HERE

Border Bushwalking Club -The Big Walk in winter
2022-07-17 06:00 - 18:00
Forward planning – date may change a week or two one way or the other as we get closer.
The objective of this walk is to walk up into a light dusting of snow up the top of Buffalo – I think the chalet looks magical with a light dusting on it. We timed this right between lock-downs in 2020 and it was one of my favourite hikes for the year. Hopefully we’ll get the timing right again this year.
The walk starts at the carpark at the Park entry, and climbs steadily to the Gorge, is approx. 22km return and all on well-formed walking tracks.
Risks: even if we don’t have snow, there is likely to be patches of ice on the track higher up (I’ve previously found some and landed heavily on my back).
The track is likely to be very slippery on the mud and tree bark (especially the first/last 3km).
Bring a thermos and plenty of winter gear.
Note that this is grade 4 medium-hard as the likely cold/wet/slippery/icy conditions add difficulty to what is already quite a big walk.

Leader: David G
Phone: 0432 632 142 after 7pm the Monday-Wednesday leading up to the walk please.
For more information and updates about BBC activities, check www.borderbushwalkingclub.com.au

Wild Orchid Planting Project
2022-07-09 08:30 - 2022-07-13 17:00
Join our rewilding planting days and help bring endangered orchid species back from the brink of extinction.
Following hand collection of seed and careful propagation by the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Parklands are assisting Murray Local Land Services for the next two weeks to plant thousands of delicate orchid seedlings back into protected areas in the region.
All hands are welcome to help get these seedlings into the ground.
Parkland are coordinating local volunteers and organising carpooling to the planting sites. Please register here to join the planting crew and receive further details of the planting days.

Spotlighting Night Walk with Ranger Dan & Karen Retra
2022-07-06 18:30 - 20:30
What’s going on in the bush tonight? Join Parklands Rangers to find out!
Ranger Dan and special guest Karen Retra will lead you on a night adventure spotlighting for nocturnal native wildlife along the Murray.
You’ll be looking out for possums, gliders and owls, listening out for frogs and learning how to record wildlife observations simply using your mobile phone.
This is a family friendly event.

Where: Meet at the first car park on the right, immediately after crossing the bridge into the Waterworks park.
What to expect: We will be walking on natural, unpaved and possibly uneven surfaces. It may be cold.
What to bring: Please wear warm clothes, closed shoes and bring a personal torch, and remember; quiet is key!
Weather watch: This walk will go ahead unless there are floods, thunderstorms or heavy rain predicted.
Registration prior to the event is essential for communication, safety and insurance purposes. Click here to register.
This community event has been made possible with the support of the Victorian Government and the Ross Trust. Photo by A. Daeche

Spotlighting Night Walk with Ranger Dan
2022-07-04 18:30 - 20:30
What’s going on in the bush tonight? Join Parklands Rangers to find out!

Ranger Dan will lead you on a night adventure spotlighting for nocturnal native wildlife along Felltimber Creek.
Parklands have been working with the community restoring the native plants to the area in recent years to support native wildlife. We’ll be looking out for possums, gliders, owls and more…
This is a family friendly event.
Where: Meet off Lambourn Drive, opposite McGaffins track
What to expect: We will be walking on natural, unpaved and possibly uneven surfaces. It may be cold.
What to bring: Please wear warm clothes, closed shoes and bring a personal torch, and remember; quiet is key!
Weather watch: This walk will go ahead unless there are floods, thunderstorms or heavy rain predicted.
Registration prior to the event is essential for communication, safety and insurance purposes. Click here to register.
This community event has been made possible with the support of the Victorian Government and the Ross Trust. Photo by A. Daeche

Repair Cafe Albury-Wodonga Inc
2022-07-02 10:00 - 13:00
Do you have a broken household item you’d like fixed but need a hand to do so? Then this is your opportunity.
Our Repair Café is a free meeting place to bring along broken household items such as furniture, clothing, textiles and battery-operated appliances and learn how to fix them with the help of experienced, volunteer repairers. You can also bring along small, blunt garden tools like secateurs and we’ll show you how to sharpen them. Maximum three items per person per session. A donation is greatly appreciated for the repair of your items. This covers the cost of our insurance and supplies used for these repairs.
For more information see: https://www.facebook.com/repaircafeaw/
Repair Café Albury-Wodonga is proudly supported by Halve Waste, with morning yummies donated by Kooka Brotha’s patisserie.

Field day - Friends of Chiltern & Mt Pilot National Park
2022-07-02 09:00 - 14:00
Every month we meet to do some useful work in the Park (weeding, planting, infrastructure repair and installation etc). We often go for a wander after a short meeting where we consume the traditional Chiltern Bakery bun. Everyone is welcome. Call Mick Webster 0429017229 for more information. We always meet at Chiltern PO at 9am.

Border Bushwalking Club - Tawonga Gap circuit
2022-07-02 07:00 - 16:00
This is a loop walk starting from the Tawonga Gap Lookout. After a brief car shuffle, we head north along the ridge track through forest before turning onto the German Creek track which takes us back to the main Tawonga Gap road, with a very small creek crossing near the end. The walk is all on tracks but with several steep ups and downs (walking poles recommended). We should get good views across to snow-covered peaks. total distance is about 13 km. The walk is below the snow line but the weather could be cold, with icy puddles along the way.
No calls or bookings before Monday 27 June, please

Grade 3 Medium
Leader: Eileen Clark
Phone: 0412 042 195
Participant numbers:12
Final booking date: Thursday 30 June
Key risks and hazards: Cold weather, slippery tracks
For more information and updates about BBC activities, check www.borderbushwalkingclub.com.au

Planting Day, Eldorado
2022-06-26 09:00 - 12:30
The El Dorado Environmental Volunteers are having a planting day.
Please bring a hat, sunscreen, gloves and if possible a spade, bucket and secateurs.
Morning tea provided.

Habitat Walk 'n Talk with Sue Brunskill
2022-06-25 09:30 - 11:30
Join passionate native plant and wildlife enthusiast Sue Brunskill exploring some of the new walking trails on the Murray river, Kiewa river and tributaries. Sue is an experienced bush regenerator, horticulturist and teacher.
Each month Sue is leading a short walk exploring the natural habitat values of a different area and discussing stewardship activities to support the regeneration of native species.
Where: This month we will explore the habitat of McFarlanes Hill and Felltimber Creek. Meet at the start of the McFarlanes Hill walking track. Further directions on booking site.
What to expect: We will be walking hill slopes on a natural, unpaved and possibly uneven/rough grassed surface.
What to bring: BYO water bottle and hat. Please wear covered shoes and long pants for snake safety and dress for the weather.
Weather watch: This walk will go ahead unless there are floods, thunderstorms or heavy rain predicted for that morning.
Registration prior to the event is essential for communication, safety and insurance purposes. Click Here to register.

New Design Concepts for Improved Nesting Boxes
2022-06-22 19:00 - 21:30
Friends of Willow Park invites you to an information night about ‘NEW DESIGN CONCEPTS for IMPROVED NESTING BOXES. This has been made possible through sponsorship funding from the City of Wodonga.
On this Information Night we have invited Researcher and Principal Terrestrial Ecologist of Habitat Innovation and Management, Mick Callan, to provide his solutions to some of the problems that we have encountered with our conventional nesting boxes, with his development of ‘3D-Printed Hollows for Nesting Creatures’.
To book a place please select Bookings

Swanpool Environmental Film Festival 2022
2022-06-18 13:00 - 21:40
The Swanpool Environmental Film Festival is on again and this year will be screening on Saturday the 18th of June from 1:00PM.
Session One: Assoc. Prof. Michael-Shawn Fletcher, feature film ‘River’
Afternoon Tea
Session Two: Dr Kerryn Higgs, feature film ‘GrowthBusters’
Dinner
Session Three: Short Enviro Film Fest, feature film ‘Once You Know’
Tickets $30 includes catering by the Swanpool Catering Team. Bookings are essential and open on May 21st at www.trybooking.com/BYVCL.
Phone 0498 007 988 for enquiries.

Hidden in Plain Sight - a Nature Walk with Karen Retra
2022-06-18 09:30 - 11:30
Join naturalist Karen Retra for some fascinating insights into different ways of observing nature.
Do you use a smartphone? Karen will introduce the why’s and wherefores of recording your observations using your mobile phone, along with some of the apps that can make you an instant ‘citizen scientist’.
Prefer a pencil? Karen will introduce the concept of nature journaling as a way to record your encounters with nature.
This is a nature walk for the curious! Find out what’s hidden in plain sight on the River Red Gum trail and what you can do when you’ve found it…
Where: This month we will explore the Kiewa River at Baranduda. Find directions on our registration site.
What to expect: We will be walking on natural, unpaved and possibly uneven surfaces.
What to bring: BYO water bottle and hat, wear closed shoes and long pants, and dress for the weather.
Weather watch: This walk will go ahead unless there are floods, thunderstorms or heavy rain predicted.
Registration prior to the event is essential for communication, safety and insurance purposes. Click here to register.
This community event has been made possible with the support of the Victorian Government.

Power House - A renewable Energy Expo for residents and businesses within the Hume region.
2022-06-16 13:00 - 19:00
Renewable Albury Wodonga (RAW) and ACF-AWR are hosting a POWER HOUSE EVENT. This has been made possible through funding provided by the Hume Community Power Hub ‘Renewable Energy Readiness Fund’ in the Hume region, with major sponsorship matched by Mondo.
This event will incorporate two sessions: a daytime session for border area business and an evening session for residents. The purpose is to:

Inspire people to Electrify their Businesses and Residences to reduce emissions and save money
To showcase renewable energy developments in our area
To give businesses and residents access to information about renewables

The Business event will run from 1:00pm to 4:45pm

RSVP here for the Business Event

and the Residential event from 5:00pm to 7:00pm

RSVP here for Residential Event

The program contains diverse speakers delivering short sharp insights to the emerging energy transition, as well as providing access to installers and local businesses so attendees can have face to face conversations about their own renewable interests.
RSVP soon so that you don’t miss out on these events.

Have your say: Lower Kiewa catchment stewardship action plan
2022-06-15 00:00 - 23:59
Closing 15 June – have your say on the management of the Lower Kiewa catchment
Stewardship Action Plan for the Lower Kiewa
A Stewardship Action Plan is being prepared to guide management of land, water and biodiversity values in the Lower Kiewa catchment. This is an opportunity to support the community to connect and collaborate in catchment stewardship.
The North East Catchment Management Authority (CMA) are leading the development of the Stewardship Action Plan with input from a broader group of stakeholders, government and non-government organisations and the community.
RM Consulting Group (RMCG) have been engaged to support the North East CMA in the preparation of the Action Plan.

We want to hear from you
A key part of the action planning process is to capture community aspirations for the health of the Lower Kiewa catchment.
Over May and June 2022, RMCG are seeking input from the community to shape the Lower Kiewa Stewardship Action Plan. There are a number of ways in which you can share your views.
The link to the Lower Kiewa Stewardship Action Planning community survey and social pinpoint site is now live at
https://rmcg.mysocialpinpoint.com/necma-lower-kiewa-stewardship-action-plan
For more information, contact Sam Gitahi on 0418 145 240 or email samuel.gitahi@necma.vic.gov.au

Friends of the Kiewa River Community Working Bee
2022-06-11 09:00 - 11:00
As a follow up to our guided River walks, Parklands invite interested community members to participate in a short working bee improving the habitat value of the Kiewa River.
Come and explore the Kiewa river parklands, contribute to biodiversity conservation, and see if you can spot any rakali as we work!
Where: Directions on Humanitix registration site.
What we’ll be doing: We ask our River Stewards to do whatever is of interest on the day. Jobs to be done include removing a small volume of environmental woody weeds, stripping redundant fencing and preparing for planting. There will be options to match your capacity and interest, and light duty roles are many.
What is provided: All tools, materials and personal protective equipment is provided as is Ranger induction and session leadership.
What to bring: Participants must wear covered shoes (boots) and long pants at all sessions, preferably long sleeves as well, and bring your own hat and water bottle. Current Covid safety measures must also be followed.
Registration is essential for communications and safety purposes. Please REGISTER HERE

Benalla Sustainable Future Group AGM
2022-06-09 19:30 - 21:30
We invite you to attend our Annual General Meeting: 7.30 pm Thursday 9th June 2022 at the Benalla Uniting Church Fellowship Room.
Our Guest Speaker, Dr Lisa Rasmussen, is a Mercy Health clinician and holder of an Environmental Master’s degree. Lisa’s work in reducing the carbon foot print of Mercy Health has resulted in “Caring for People and Planet, Mercy Health’s Strategic Response to Laudato Si” – see the article on page five of our May Newsletter, ‘Helen Haines Meeting on Net Zero Agriculture’, where Lisa reminded the audience that achieving Net Zero will also require us to also consider the Scope 3 emissions embodied in the goods and services we purchase.
Lisa has titled her talk, “How might we truly reduce our carbon emissions, leading to a fair and just society. Laudato Si’ and Mercy Health’s approach to reducing its carbon footprint”.
Supper will be served at the conclusion of the evening.
