Ecoportal

Plant with us - David Winterbottom Park Community Planting Days
2024-06-21 10:00 - 12:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | Check the event listing for venue details, Australia
Join our community tree planting and nature talk with naturalist Karen Retra- a free family event.
10.00am-12.30pm on each day:

Friday 21st June 2024
Sunday 23rd June 2024

Each planting day will comprise:
10.00am — Community tree planting
12.00pm —Walk and talk with naturalist Karen Retra.
12.30 BBQ lunch
Please bring gardening gloves and wear sturdy shoes/boots and a water bottle. We’ll provide the tools and the plants.
FREE but please let us know you’re coming by registering here.
Meet at the shelter in David Winterbottom Park, near Yarralumla Drive.
See map below or view in google maps: bit.ly/dwpmap24
If arriving by car, we recommend parking on the median-like strip next to the main part of Yarralumla Drive (also marked on map).
Access from the main road as the road in front of the houses has a curb.
These plantings along Huon Creek are a community led project restoring native habitat, presented by Friends of David Winterbottom Park with support from Wodonga Urban Landcare Network.
Map of access, parking and meeting place

Murray Darling River Reflections Conference
2024-06-19 - 2024-06-20 | Check the event listing for venue details, Australia
The 2024 River Reflections conference will take place on 19 and 20 June in Albury, New South Wales – near the headwaters of the River Murray. It’s an opportunity for the diverse communities and industries of the Basin to listen and learn from one another, sharing what is known and exploring the latest information to ensure rivers for generations.
This year’s theme looks at the art of the possible when tackling complex problems and using the wisdom of the collective to shape a way forward. We are also excited to announce keynote speaker, adventurer and environmental scientist Tim Jarvis, AM.
The 2024 program includes networking opportunities, interactive workshops and sessions, and a field trip to Hume Dam and Noreuil Park.
Authority Chair, Sir Angus Houston will present the Early Insights paper, delivering on a commitment to share and test the Authority’s initial thoughts on how we might improve the Basin Plan and the way forward ahead of the 2026 Basin Plan Review. Conference breakout sessions will unpack the big issues in water from different perspectives.
Links are
Conference Page – www.mdba.gov.au/news-and-events/conferences/2024-river-reflections-conference
LinkedIn Event – https://www.linkedin.com/events/2024riverreflectionsconference7190932701472776192/

EOI open for Albury Wodonga Sustainable Living Festival
2024-06-19, 2024-06-12, 2024-06-05, 2024-05-29 | Hovell Tree Park, Hovell Tree Park, Hovell Tree Drive, Albury, 2640, Australia
AlburyCity and City of Wodonga are teaming up to bring you Albury Wodonga Sustainability Living Festival (AWSLF). This will form part of AlburyCity’s Riverside Vibes, to be held from 10 am to 3 pm on Saturday, 12 and Sunday, 13 October 2024.
You are invited to apply as a stallholder or workshop presenter across any sustainable and environmental theme.
To apply, complete the Riverside Vibes Market Stallholder Expression of Interest form, and let us know in the ‘Stall offering’ section, that you’d like to be part of AWSLF, and either what your store offering is, or that you’d like to host a workshop.
If you are interested in running a workshop please provide:

Title
Short summary of what participants will hear/learn about;
Name of the speaker/s;
Times available over the weekend and length of time required to present and Q&A; and
Fee (if applicable).

If you are interested in having a stall please inform us:

what types of products/ services you will provide;
preferred stall size;
any other important information.

Applications close online at COB 24 June 2024

MONTHLY REPAIR CAFE HASTINGS WORKSHOP
2024-06-16 13:00 - 16:00, 2024-05-19 13:00 - 16:00 | Hastings Community Hub, 1973 Frankston-Flinders Rd, Hastings, 3915
The Repair Cafe is a place where skilled volunteers fix, repair and mend household & personal items for reuse or repurpose. This helps pass on special skills and keeps the circular economy going in the community and items out of landfill. We are a not-for-profit community organisation which relies on kind donations from the community to also keep us going. Kids activities and light refreshments are available as part of the Repair Cafe services. We are currently running just one session per month (usually on the third Sunday of each month) at The Hastings Community Hub. We have a great group of volunteers but are also seeking more volunteers to assist in all areas of operating the Repair Cafe (on site and behind the scenes) as our visitor numbers grow. Training provided. Please inquire if interested in helping out or attending one of our next repair sessions – we would love to meet you!

Border Bushwalking Club - Mt Sugarloaf
2024-06-16 | Check the event listing for venue details, Australia
There are Mt Sugarloafs all over Australia and in fact the world. This one is on the Eldorado Rd near Beechworth so no passport is required.
The shortest route there is on little used 4wd tracks that climbs through some very pleasant forest. There are lots of ups and downs and some of the walking is steep but never such that your boots scrape your chin.
There is a very pleasant lunch spot with great views at the top.
The walk is a 16km circuit with a very short car shuffle if we have 2 cars.
Please ring me to book in.

Grade 3 Medium
Leader: Bernadette
Phone: 0419241687
Participant numbers:12
Final booking date: Wed June 12th
For more information and updates about BBC activities, check www.borderbushwalkingclub.com.au

Swanpool Environmental Film Festival 2024
2024-06-15 13:00 - 21:00 | Swanpool Cinema, 2386 Midland Highway, Swanpool, Victoria, 3673, Australia
After the successful 10th anniversary screening of the Swanpool Environmental Film Festival in 2023 Benalla Sustainable Future Group is pleased to support another Festival in 2024, working in partnership with Swanpool Landcare with support from Benalla Rural City and Winton Wetlands.
Three sessions commence 1.00 pm sharp at Swanpool Cinema and include afternoon tea and an evening meal.
Session one.
Guest Speaker Dr Mark Diesendorf Hon. Assoc. Prof. UNSW Sydney, Environmentalist, ‘The Path to a Sustainable Civilisation’.
Mark is Co Author of the book The Path to a Sustainable Civilisation.
Film ‘The New Corporation, The Unfortunately Necessary Sequel’.
Afternoon Tea.
Session two.
Feature film ’Finding The Money’, there’s another side to the national debt.
Film discussion, questions and answers with Dr Steven Hail Assoc. Prof. Torrens University Australia, Economist at Modern Money Lab, economics for a new era.
Dinner.
Session three.
Guest Speaker Margot Nash Filmmaker and Visiting Fellow at the University of Technology Sydney, screenwriter, and photographer including her short film ‘Undercurrents: Meditations on Power’, https://www.margotnash.com/.
Guest Speaker Bertram Lobert with an update on the Save Our Strathbogie Forest Federal Court case about planned burns in high quality Southern Greater Glider habitat. Title of Bert’s talk is ‘Wrong Fire – Wrong Place: planned burning in a Victorian foothill forest’.
$35 includes three sessions, afternoon tea and dinner. Catering by the Swanpool Catering Team.
Download the SEFF 2024 Menu.
Download Festival Flyer.
Download Festival Program.
More details in our May Newsletter.
Bookings essential on Try Booking – https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1206465.
Saturday 15 June 2024 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM (UTC+10).
If attending please be Covid Aware. Some masks will be available.
Swanpool Cinema
2386 Midland Highway, Swanpool Victoria 3673
Details on Swanpool Cinema website www.swanpoolcinema.com.au
Phone 0498 007 988 for enquiries.

Detox your Home - Wodonga
2024-06-15 09:00 - 12:00 | Wodonga Resource Recovery Centre, 29 Kane Road, Wodonga, Victoria, 3690, Australia
Toxic household chemicals, such as cleaning products, pool chemicals and pesticides can be safely disposed of for free at Sustainability Victoria’s Detox Your Home events, in partnership with local councils. Collected items are recovered for reuse or safely disposed of.
With community safety in mind, Detox Your Home events are drive-through (no walk-ins) and contactless.
This service is for household chemicals only.

The following items are accepted:

Acids and alkalis Aerosol cans (empty cans go in household recycling)

Anti-freeze, brake fluid, car body filler, car wax cleaners – ammonia based
Cooking oil
Coolant
Detergents, disinfectants and drain cleaners
Fertiliser
Fire extinguishers
Floor-care products and waxes
Fuels – petrol, diesel, kerosene, other
Glues – water-based and solvents
Herbicides and weed killers
Insect spray and pesticides
Nail polish and remover
Cosmetics
Oven cleaner
Thinners, turps and paint stripper
Pool chemicals
Rat poison
Solvents
Transmission fluid
Wood preservatives and finishes (oils and varnish)

See the full list of accepted items on our website.

For free registration and to nominate the time you will attend go to: detoxwondonga2024.eventbrite.com.au

Paint is not accepted at this event. Unwanted household paint can be disposed of at any Paintback drop off site.
If you can’t get to an event, here’s how to store unwanted household chemicals until you can safely dispose of them.
Any details you supply will be treated in accordance with Sustainability Victoria’s Privacy Policy.

Australian Association of Environmental Education (NSW) at the CSU Thurgoona campus on October 9-11th
2024-06-06 08:00 - 17:00 | Check the event listing for venue details, Australia
The Australian Association of Environmental Education (NSW) is holding its biannual conference at the CSU Thurgoona campus on October 9-11th

The details about the conference are available at: nsweeconference.org.au

Some people might be interested in talking/workshopping about the great community programs you are undertaking- via this form
but note submissions close June 14th.

Albury City - World Environment Day Walk and Talk
2024-06-05 16:30 - 18:00 | Kremur Street Boat Ramp, 419 Kremur St, West Albury, 2640
To celebrate World Environment Day, join our environment team Wed 5th June for a walk & talk along the river to learn about the grey-headed flying-fox and other local wildlife that call Albury home.

North East Regional Sustainability Alliance (NERSA) Bi-monthly meeting
2024-06-03 10:00 - 12:00 | CSU Go TAFE Wangaratta Campus, Tone Road, Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia
The North East Regional Sustainability Alliance (NERSA) is a network of community sustainability groups which acts collaboratively with communities, agencies and organisations across the region. Meetings are held every two months. Anyone is welcome to attend.
This meeting will be held in the video-conference room at the GoTAFE/CSU campus in Wangaratta. You may join us face to face or zoom in. Please contact Jenny Davies for the zoom link. Email address: jdjbdavies@gmail.com

Cultural knowledge sharing walk and talk
2024-06-02 10:00 - 12:00 | Northern Beaches, 2 College St, Wangaratta, 3677, Australia
You’re invited to join Uncle Dozer and Ji Atkinson from Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Education for a guided cultural knowledge sharing walk and talk around Northern Beaches Reserve, Wangaratta. Learn about the importance of culturally significant trees and traditional methods of caring for country.
Northern Beaches reserve is a remnant floodplain riparian woodland close to the Wangaratta CBD and joins the Bullawah Cultural trail.
Parking is available in the carpark near the Scout hall and this is where we’ll meet. Please wear sturdy shoes, dress for the weather conditions and bring your own water bottle.
Morning tea will be provided and places are limited so please RSVP early.
Booking link: events.humanitix.com/cultural-walk-gvlg
This event is presented by the Greta Valley Landcare group with support from a grant received as part of Glenrowan Solar Farm Community Benefit Sharing program.

Friends of Chiltern-Mt Pilot NP Field day
2024-06-02 09:00 - 13:00 | Check the event listing for venue details, Australia
Every month we meet to do some work in the Park.. Often there’s a nature walk after we consume our Chiltern bakery bun. We always meet at Chiltern PO at 9am. Contact Tony Murnane 0447256938

Repair Cafe Albury-Wodonga Inc
2024-06-01 10:00 - 13:00 | Wodonga Senior Citizens Centre, 15 Havelock Street, Wodonga, Victoria, 3690, Australia
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.

Kentucky State Forest NSW : Birding and Nature ; Joint Outing with O & M Birdlife
2024-06-01 09:30 - 15:00 | Check the event listing for venue details, Australia
Members please meet at the park near the Balldale Pub at 9.30am.
AWFNC leader Bernie 0490 497 032 and O & M Birdlife leader Rob 0419 411 614.
BYO refreshments for the day. Explore and enjoy where the leaders take us for the day’s outing.

Birdlife Ovens and Murray: Mt Granya Outing
2024-06-01 09:00 - 15:00 | Check the event listing for venue details, Australia
Welcome Winter with our June outing to the Mt Granya area led by expert birder, John Shepherd. Please meet at the Bellbridge toilet block for a 9am start (parking is available). Note that there is some gravel road driving during the day so people with sedans may wish to share a ride with a 4WD owner.
Program
Pre-lunch (morning tea sometime during this period)

Start at Granya campground and walk up to the Scout Hut area.
Drive up the Tallangatta Road to a gully and the end of Firebrace track – a short but steep walk up this gully along the track.
Drive to the watershed on this road to bird and have lunch, plenty of parking on the gravel.

Post-lunch

Drive the steep track out to Mount Granya summit, birding around the lookout and the communication towers.
Finish around mid-afternoon.

Bring

binoculars
boots or strong shoes
hat/beanie
a chair(s) and
morning tea
lunch
water

Border Bushwalking Club - Wahgunyah to Lake Moodemere return
2024-06-01 08:00 - 17:00 | Check the event listing for venue details, Australia
Welcome winter with a walk exploring a different section of the mighty Murray. From Wahgunyah we cross dry Sunday Creek to trace the river down stream through its flood plain to Lake Moodemere. There are many points of interest including magnificent old river red gums ( Eucalyptus Camaldulensis) and bird life. The walk will be approximately 13/16 kms depending on short diversions to see things. Walking surfaces include sealed cycle/bike track, dirt vehicle roads and rough 4×4 bush tracks. As we are on the flood plain there are no hills so easy walking but the length puts it into the medium category. If there is significant rain prior it could be muddy.

Grade 2 Easy-Medium
Leader: Ira
Phone: 0429059376
Alwyn
Participant numbers:16
Final booking date: Wednesday May 29. Please phone before 8pm.
Risks: Additional specific risks are other track users, falling limbs from trees, high riverbanks.
For more information and updates about BBC activities, check www.borderbushwalkingclub.com.au

Thurgoona Community Stewardship Drive
2024-05-31 09:00 - 11:00 | Check the event listing for venue details, Australia
Join Parklands Rangers undertaking a variety of practical park stewardship tasks in this beautiful reserve.
Learn how to remove the invasive plant species threatening this popular recreation area. This is an opportunity to work alongside our Rangers experiencing the ‘how to’ of caring for our local bush. No experience is necessary – our Rangers will help with plant identification and removal techniques.
Take in the fresh air, get close to nature and learn about the local environment and how Albury City and community groups are working to protect threatened species, improve habitat and link habitat corridors across the region.
When: 9.00 to 11.00am (2 hrs)
Where: Table Top Road, https://maps.app.goo.gl/BKnkiFEmbmZ1U1J98
What is supplied: All tools and any specific safety equipment needed.
What to bring: BYO drinking water. For your safety, please wear covered shoes (preferably boots), long pants, long sleeves and a hat.
Please register! Sometimes things change at the last minute and we need to be able to contact volunteers.
REGISTER HERE!
Thank you to Albury City Council for financial support for this program.

Heathwood & Pioneer Park Walk ‘n’ Weed
2024-05-29 09:00 - 11:00 | Check the event listing for venue details, Australia
Join Parklands Rangers undertaking a variety of practical park stewardship tasks in this beautiful reserve.
This is an opportunity to work alongside our Rangers experiencing the ‘how to’ of caring for our local bush. Tasks will vary month to month and according to the season and your capacity. You may be doing a flora survey, removing redundant fences, replacing barbed wire with wildlife friendly plain wire, weeding, checking nestboxes, removing tree guards and more. No experience necessary.
Take in the fresh air, get close to nature and learn about the local environment and how Albury City and community groups are working to protect threatened species, improve habitat and link habitat corridors across the region.
When: 9.00 to 11.00am (2 hrs)
Where: Meet on Poplar Drive: https://maps.app.goo.gl/WTEVzFVZ4NJpZ5fx9
What is supplied: All tools and any specific safety equipment needed.
What to bring: BYO drinking water. For your safety, please wear covered shoes (preferably boots), long pants, long sleeves and a hat.
Sometimes things change at the last minute and we need to be able to contact volunteers. Please register for the sessions you will attend.
Please register!
Thank you to Albury City Council for financial support for this program.

Living Plant Based: Diet and Climate Change
2024-05-26 12:00 - 14:30 | Beechworth Railway Station, 1B Harper Avenue, Beechworth, 3747
This month join us for a shared plantbased pot luck lunch and a discussion of diet and climate change and whether the Plant Based Treaty is a way forward.
BYO plantbased dish – if unsure a fruit platter or a bowl of cooked potatoes with hummus is perfect

Border Bushwalking Club - Bike by the lake 45kms return.
2024-05-26 | Check the event listing for venue details, Australia
A fairly cruisy ride beside the shores of Lake Hume and starting at Ebden reserve on the Murray Valley Highway. We will cross the Sandy Creek Bridge and stop for lunch on the foreshore at Tallangatta (BYO or buy something) before riding back to Ebden. The trail is undulating with some moderate gradients and is a mix of smooth gravel and sealed sections. Cyclists need to carry spare tube and puncture repair kit, water, snacks and warm/wet weather gear.
Suitable all bike types.

Grade 2 Easy-Medium
Leader: Ian Trevaskis
Phone: 0425782983
Participant numbers:8
Final booking date: Friday, May 24th
Risks: Other cyclists, highway crossings, possible rain, wild animals.
For more information and updates about BBC activities, check www.borderbushwalkingclub.com.au

Border Bushwalking Club - Kiewa river track
2024-05-25 12:00 - 16:30 | Check the event listing for venue details, Australia
A short notice, shortish Saturday afternoon easy walk for those who don’t spend that time watching footy. The club has not walked this track since 2019. We may add an extension of a few kilometres along Wodonga Creek if time permits. 9 km with a possible four kilometre extension.
NOTE: there will be no carpooling organised as this walk is just out our back door. You will be given the start point when you phone to book in.

Grade 2 Easy-Medium
Leader: Ira
Phone: 0429059376
Participant numbers:15
Final booking date: 8.00 PM Thursday May 23. later date, due to short notice.
For more information and updates about BBC activities, check www.borderbushwalkingclub.com.au

Bright Area Victoria : Birding and Nature
2024-05-25 09:30 - 15:30 | Check the event listing for venue details, Australia
Leader for this outing is Jenny phone 0429 446 383. Saturday 25 May.
Members please meet at the toilet block in the park next to the bridge over Ovens River, Porepunkah at 9.30am.
We will enjoy looking at the many different birding and nature areas located at Bright and surrounds.
BYO refreshments for the day.

Gardens for wildlife
2024-05-23 19:00 - 20:30 | Masonic Hall, 101 Appin Street, Wangaratta, 101 Appin Street, Wangaratta, 3677
The APS Wangaratta Inc. group will be hosting Sophie Enders, the Project coordinator for Swamps, Rivers and Rangers (SRR) at our May meeting. Sophie has extensive involvement in local conservation, having previously worked in the Bush Regeneration Team at Wangaratta Council. Sophie has long been involved in both bird and mammal monitoring in North-East Victorian region and works with community groups and private landholders as well as both government and non-government agencies.
One of the focuses of SRR is to encourage communities to plant native species to provide habitat and food sources for local native fauna. Sophie’s presentation will be on ‘Gardens for Wildlife’

Whistlestop High Tea 2024
2024-05-19 13:00 - 16:00 | Check the event listing for venue details, Australia
Back by popular demand is this gourmet bike ride on the High Country Rail Trail, with spectacular views of Lake Hume and the hills beyond.
The ride is 24 km from Huon Reserve, over the Sandy Creek Bridge, along the shoreline of Lake Hume to Tallangatta and return.
Bike riders leave Huon Reserve, off the Murray Valley Highway, at 1.30pm. Registration from 1pm.
Traditional 1950’s style high tea served at Sandy Creek Bridge and Tallangatta.
Tickets $30/adult, $10/youth, children under 12 free. Family group $60 (2 adults, 2 youth over 12)
Bookings WILL CLOSE Wednesday 15th to allow event catering.
Bookings are essential!

Slow Mushrooming - identifying edible fungi (Sunday)
2024-05-19 09:30 - 15:00 | Wooragee hall & community centre, Wooragee hall & community centre, 1001 Beechworth-Wodonga Rd, Wooragee, 3747
Fungi are diverse, delicious and sometimes deadly. With interest in foraging for wild food on the rise, learning to accurately identify fungi reduces both poisoning risk to humans and harm to the environment. This event will also be useful for those who just want to learn to identify fungi (and not collect for eating).
Wooragee Landcare is delighted to again host Alison Pouliot – ecologist, photographer and renowned presenter, for these popular sessions.
Developing the skills to find fungi requires slowness, not speed. The workshop will focus on assisting participants to identify a few edible species thoroughly, rather than many superficially. We will engage multiple senses to examine the major diagnostic features of edible fungi alongside their toxic lookalikes.
We will also follow the principles of ‘ecological foraging’ – an approach based on care, conservation and an understanding of ecosystem dynamics.
Following an interactive indoor identification session around a specimen table we will then head to a private property to search for fungi.
Please note that no fungi will be collected during this event.
Please bring your lunch. We will provide tea/coffee etc and a bikkie when you get there.
Bookings: https://events.humanitix.com/copy-of-slow-mushrooming-identifying-edible-fungi-2024-sunday
$45 for Landcare members; $55 non-Landcare members.
More information 0427 287 285
The landcare member price applies to a member of any landcare group, and you are welcome to join Wooragee landcare if you’re not a landcare member.
Note the workshops on Saturday and Sunday are the same, so just book for one of them.
This workshop is being presented by Wooragee Landcare. Financial support from Friends of Chiltern Mt Pilot National Park, Chiltern Landcare and Wooragee Landcare has enabled us to subsidize the tickets.

Border Bushwalking Club - Everton to Beechworth and return 30kms ride
2024-05-19 | Check the event listing for venue details, Australia
The ride begins at 10:00am at the former Everton Railway Station, Everton and is basically all uphill to Beechworth on the sealed Rail Trail. The bonus is a thrilling downhill freewheel to Everton. If we feel up to it we might do a 9.5km town loop before we find some lunch at one of the many cafes or grab a pie from the bakery.
Riders should carry water, snacks, spare tube and a warm jacket (for the downhill).
Suitable all bike types.
More info at www.murraytomountains.com.au

Grade 4 Medium-Hard
Leader: Ian Trevaskis
Phone: 0425782983
Participant numbers:8
Final booking date: Friday, May 17th
Other cyclists, highway crossings, possible rain, wild animals.
For more information and updates about BBC activities, check www.borderbushwalkingclub.com.au
