$118$/ 5(3257 %HOODULQH /DQGFDUH *URXS ,QF · Nursery volunteer or concession card holder $5 5. Election of Committee: 2019/20, half the Committee stands down. The following committee

Bellarine Landcare Group Inc A0052798K

ABN 11345426211

(Photo taken by Kelly Scott, from Wisp Creative)

2018 ANNUAL REPORT

___________________________________________

Annual General Meeting

7.30pm Wednesday 10th April 2019 Marcus Hill Hall

AGENDA1. Welcome/Apologies:

2. Guest Speaker:Josh Griffiths - "Platypus - threats and challenges in a changing landscape."

3. Minutes of the 2017 AGM and business arising.

3.1 President’s Report: Kate Lockhart3.2 Secretary’s Report: Jenny Calwell3.3 Treasurer’s Report: Sue Elliott3.4 Facilitator’s Report: Sophie Small 3.5 Nursery Report: Peter Schmidt 3.6 Other Reports: Geoff McFarlane – Rabbit Action Committee

4. AGM business

4.1 Confirm the amounts of the annual subscription feePropose that the fees for 2019/2020 be as follows.Property Greater than 1 Ha $40Residential Properties $20Nursery volunteer or concession card holder $5

5. Election of Committee: 2019/20, half the Committee stands down. The following committee members have to stand down as a result of serving their two years. They are eligible to stand again.Sue ElliottPeter SchmidtBernie MalonePeter Smith

(The chair to announce the nominations have been received prior to the commencementof the meeting. If insufficient nominations are received to fill the four vacancies the chairwill declare those nominated elected and call for further nominations to fill any vacancies.)

6. Wine tasting and refreshments

BELLARINE LANDCARE GROUP INCInc. No: A0052798K ABN 11345426211

President: Kate Lockhart Secretary: Jenny CalwellTreasurer: Sue Elliott

P.O. Box 431, Drysdale Vic. 3222Facilitator: Sophie Small [email protected]

Office Bearers 2018-19

President Kate Lockhart

Vice President Bernie Malone

Treasurer Sue Elliott

Secretary Jenny Calwell

Committee members Peter SchmidtPeter SmithPeter BerrisfordBeth Ross

Landcare Facilitator Sophie Small

Nursery Coordinator Fiona Love

Presidents Report

On behalf of the 2019 BLG Committee, welcome to our Annual General Meeting. Thank you to each of you, as active member of our organization, for your contribution to the continued growth,relevance and success of the Bellarine Landcare Group Inc. Special acknowledgement to our retiring executive members, Peter Berrisford and Peter Schmidt, for their intellect, integrity and commitment to Bellarine Landcare. Peter Berrisford, our longest serving Treasurer, was in the position for 10 years from 2007-2017. Peter Schmidt has applied his intellect most notably to thesteering committee of the BSC-BLG Nursery, and in 2019 it is in very good health, and also to the Mannerim Memorial Grants and Signage.

The Committee has generally met at the Bellarine Environment Centre in Swan Bay Rd on the fourth Tuesday of every month, except December; sometimes we’ve met at 1890 Portarlington Rd Drysdale. The 8 Executive Committee have work together very effectively, utilizing our various skill sets to share the diverse work-load.

I would like to specifically thank our tireless Executive Committee: Treasurer: Sue Elliott for your financial professionalism, energy, efficiency and thoroughness ineverything you do, including supporting Sophie with the monthly newsletter.Secretary: Jenny Calwell for taking on the challenge of secretary. We love your efficiency.Nursery Committee of Management: Peter Schmidt for your consummate and practical professionalism and for also taking on the signage and current federal government grant process for the Mannerim Memorial Indigenous Garden.Nursery, Botanical and Propagation Expert: Beth Ross for your tireless commitment to the plants of the Bellarine and constant enthusiasm towards their preservation through propagation and promotion, and your work raising the profile of BLG through the Facebook site.Bellarine Catchment Network rep and CFA liaison: Peter Smith for your quiet thoughtfulness and constant practical contributions.The Professor: Bernie Malone for your Vice-Presidential support and natural resource intellect.The Elder: Peter Berrisford for your mindful wisdom, good governance and representation on Landcare Victoria.

Extra special thanks to some very exceptional contributors -Rabbit Rabbi: Geoff McFarlane for your persistence in the rabbit resistance along with Dick Simonsen and Bob Beveridge and Diana Primrose as key members of the Rabbit Committee.Grant Guru: Louise Beames for your clarity of thought, budgeting brilliance and optimism.

It’s been another busy year with projects completed, in progress and initiated.

Projects Completed 2018 CCMA Landcare Grant 1718 ‘Koala Corridors’ - $13,200 to assist 8 landholders

to undertake revegetation of 5.2 Ha of land. Victorian Rabbit Action Network, $ 3740 Grant – Rabbit Control Field Day, 18

March 2018, 50 people in attendance, Rabbit / Gorse Control workshop and working bee June and August.

This grant was administered through the Rabbit Action Committee, meeting monthly. Thanks very much to revolving Chairs: Geoff McFarlane, Bob Beveridge & Dick Simonson; Secretary: Diana Primrose; Committee: Liddy Neville, Joan Vlahovic, Shane Richardson. Thanks very much for your commitment to the eradication of rabbits, a critical step in any Landcare project. Thanks also for Geoff’s contribution to Landcare at a state level.

Victorian Gorse Taskforce Grant – Gorse control on eight properties, $6500 (Complete June 2018). Profile raised at rabbit field day with gorse/rabbit harbour being mulched. Thanks to Graeme Brown for supporting Sophie to bring some Portarlington landholders together.

Projects Ongoing Mannerim Memorial Indigenous Garden – ongoing guidance and maintenance

continues with working bees on the third Sunday of the month. Thanks to Joy Schmidt and Lynne Mason for leading the friends’ group, ably supported by PeterSchmidt for taking on the Federal Government grant implementation process. Successful Centenary Remembrance Day with 120 people including young families. It really was a brilliant morning of reflection with many exceptional contributions. We’ve submitted a ‘Victoria Remembers’ grant application for a Mark Trinham wildlife sculpture of the cypress tree to approx. $30,000. Thank you to the manymembers who regularly come to the working bees particularly Heather & Peter Williams, and Liddy Neville.

CCMA Landcare Grant 18-19 “Koala country” $11,802 for on ground works and flora booklet reprinting.

CoGG Mason’s Creek Incentive Scheme Round 1: Seven landholders around Drysdale Landfill, revegetation and nest boxes - $40,000 (Complete Dec 2019). Masons Creek Round 2 – in process for works to take place in 2020

Drysdale Landfill Revegetation – CoGG funding provided for Facilitator’s support & advice.

Victorian Gorse Taskforce Grant - $2600 to work with 4 Landholders Bellarine Community Health ‘Nurture yourself in Nature’ Bellarine Rail Trail,

interpretation signage, seating, distance markers. $24,800. Drysdale Bypass - VicRoads plant species consultation with Facilitator Fauna nest box building project with St Leonards Men's – for 8 fauna species. So

far 60 boxes sold, 40 through Bellarine Bayside Committee of Management for two of their Reserves, with a specialised nest box camera purchased through donation of $1000 from Swan Bay Environment Association & an ongoing monitoring program for all boxes in the planning phase.

Members information walk in March 2019 at Pt Richards Reserve inspecting nesting boxes and understanding long term weed management by Bellarine Bayside and Friends of Pt Richards Flora and Fauna Reserve.

CCMA Land Health Program – final year of 5yr project, soil monitoring - Lisa Miller, Southern Farming Systems, field day at Conroy / Nicholson’s property in July.

Events and Activities Attendance at local events with BLG Information Trailer – Red Gums Open Garden

2018, St Leonard’s market with Friends of Edwards Point, Nov 2018, Bellarine Show & Wallington Strawberry Fair, March, 2019

Geelong Sustainable House Day – October 2018. Landcare volunteers led indigenous garden tours - 200 people attended Drysdale property.

Nursery Open - 4th Sunday of the month. Very successful. Planting Days – 6, including 5 on private properties as part of our CMA ‘Koala

Corridors’ Grant and one at the new Drysdale Sporting Precinct. BLG Meetings with Guest speakers – 10 (140 people) Involvement in school enviro days and talks to classes – 4 (300 students) TAFE work experience students – 2 Support for Landcare Victoria Inc’s Forum in Queenscliff in May 2018.

Advocacy, Advisory & Partnerships Advocating on environmental issues and supporting partner organizations, such as

in Moolap Strategic Plan (Salt works re development), Quarterly COGG Drysdale Landfill community advisory group and delegations to the

EPA. Special thanks to Ros Ellinger, Peter Kronborg and Patrick Coutin for their work.

Alcoa 575 site demolition & development Bellarine Secondary College & Bellarine Landcare Group Nursery; Pest plants and animal advice and action on public and private land Bellarine Rail Trail stewardship, weeding and participation with the COGG Rail Trail

advisory committee;

Grants Numerous grant applications submitted; recently being awarded Department of Social

Services Volunteer Grant $2650 for working bee tools.

Thanks again to Beth Ross for her professional oversight and practical support during the year with our Nursery Coordinator, Fiona Love. Special thanks here to Sophie Small and Peter Schmidt, and Peter Smith for work on the nursery regularly going beyond the calls of duty. And thank-you to Fiona Love for her infectious enthusiasm, energy and professionalism in taking the Nursery to new levels as Coordinator.

We must make particular mention of our facilitator, Sophie Small. Sophie has undertaken her many and diverse tasks to a high professional standard. The consistent, persistent, and thoughtful manner in which she communicates with us is exceptional. She works very effectively with our strengths and fills in the gaps. We are fortunate to have her living and working with us. I want to recognize her work in the many forms of community engagement, including:

Private property and Rail Trail Projects e.g. BCN Vic Track Grant and on ground works;

Member of BSC and BLG Nursery Committee Representing BLG at a wide range meetings e.g. CCMA coordinators meetings. Building community capacity with 50 landholder site visits. Building partnerships; Bellarine Bayside, St Leonard Men’s shed, Victorian Gorse

Taskforce Field Day May 2019, Victorian Rabbit Action Network Leaps and Bounds workshop in Queenscliff, February 19.

Assisting BLG Committee with planning and priority setting Supporting natural resource management projects e.g. support for Rabbit Action; Identifying and developing project grants and funding; Reporting and evaluation on projects; Supporting other groups and stakeholders; e.g. liaison with BCN members.

BLG is a member of the BCN (Bellarine Catchment Network) and we share office accommodation and resources in the Bellarine Environment Centre, Swan Bay Road. We have worked hard this last year to improve how we work increasingly more effectively and efficiently to support each other and the various member groups. Thanks to Matt Crawley for your endless support of all the staff in the BCN office including Sophie and all the groups around the Bellarine.

There are many less conspicuous supporters to gratefully thank – Brenda Richardson for website management, facilitating online communications & site development, Numerous BLG members who work directly with Sophie every time she calls: Graeme Brown and Bruce Robinson. Also to David Lean for putting his hand up to sit on the Corangamite CMA Lower Barwon Community Advisory Committee;

Thanks to all our partners; a few kids; some grandparents; they all play an integral role in keeping our Landcare community working and learning together. In my case, thanks Justin for coming home in time for my departures and to our kids for occasionally pulling on the gloves for Landcare but mostly for going to bed on time on Tuesdays and Wednesdays!

Lastly, I hope you can all see that I am pleased to have served as President for the past year or so. I hope you have all gained a sense of my passion for Landcare and its capacity to engage people and change landscapes. I appreciate we all have more work to do but feel that we have made some good progress in the past year with new members, initiatives and rising nursery production and volunteers. I hope each of you feel you can speak freely with me as we continue to learn and work together with everyone over the next couple of years.

Thank you for your contribution and support,

Kate Lockhart

Post Script

In 2015 a new BLG Constitution was approved and this is the fourth year of its application. Instead of the whole committee of 8 being obliged to stand for re-election, four will stand down. The other four will remain, should they so wish. The committee only need to meet 4 times a year.

So this year Peter Schmidt, Peter Smith, Sue Elliott and Bernie Malone will stand down and hopefully will resubmit for re-election.

It is important to note that the Committee is committed to continuity and succession and we encourage members to step onto the Committee, and carry the baton from long serving senior members. New members under this system will have the opportunity to gain knowledge from the longer term members during their first year.

I now call for new members of our Committee.

Secretary’s Report

This is my first year as secretary of BLG and I have found it to be a rewarding and enjoyable experience, working with a committed and enthusiastic group of people.

I have also enjoyed volunteering at the nursery half a day a week and would highly recommend this to any members who have some spare time and want to make new friendships and learn about our local indigenous plants. Thank you to Fiona, our nursery manager for doing a fantastic job and making all the volunteers very welcome.

Currently there are 140 financial members of BLG and we hope to increase our memberships inthe coming year. Renewals for the 2019/20 year will be emailed in late June. New membership subscriptions received by BLG from 1/4/19 will be added to the 19/20 membership year. We encourage members to use the online payment system as the process is quick and easy.

I would like to thank the members, the committee and Sophie for their support. I would especially like to thank Sue, Kate and Beth for the extra help they have given me and Brenda for her expert assistance with the database.

Jenny Calwell

Treasurer’s Report

The BLG committee voted to move bank accounts during the year from WBC to the Bendigo Community Bank because we felt it was in keeping with our core values relating to community involvement.

We also managed to offer tax deductible benefits to people who donate via Landcare Australia and we are very grateful to all those who have donated in this way. An important note to remember is to clearly identify that you are donating to Bellarine Landcare Group and whatever project you may wish your donation to go towards. We’ve experienced a couple of teething issues but are currently resolving these with the help of Landcare Australia.

We continue to report in a transparent manner and maintain compliance of our Landcare Victoria, ATO and personnel obligations.

Further to our financial reports of last year we have included the BLG / BSC Nursery in our accounts this year to illustrate the complete financial picture of the Group.

Our BLG general account was reduced by $12,000 this financial year and we continue to look for innovative ways to raise funds through memberships and other means in order to keep up with administration costs such as insurances, rent, motor vehicle as well as contributing towardsour facilitator’s position.

Lastly, I’d like to say how much I have enjoyed being the Treasurer over the past couple of years – the team work and support at BLG has been just fantastic.

I have no doubt it will continue.

The following pages show the financial reports.

Sue Elliott

Balance Sheet 2018

Bellarine Landcare Group Inc.

As at 31 December 2018Balance Sheet Comparative

Account31 Dec

201831 Dec

2017

AssetsBank

Cash Reserve 68,535 119,022Cheque Account 25,156 3,509BLG Easy Saver 19,000 0Paypal Clearing Account 0 234Total Bank 112,691 122,765Current AssetsAccounts Receivable 2,405 13,170Nursery Funds at bank 41,116 0Total Current Assets 43,521 13,170Fixed AssetsMotor Vehicle 10,909 10,909Less Accum Depn MV (4,909) (2,727)General Acc Exp-Office Equipment incl Computers

1,801 1,801

Less Accumulated Depreciation on Office Equipment

(1,801) 0

Nursery Buildings 74,800 0Nursery Fencing 6,700 0Nursery Stock 36,000 0Total Fixed Assets 123,500 9,983

Total Assets 279,713 145,918

LiabilitiesCurrent Liabilities

Accounts Payable 65 14,036GST Provision 380 419GST Clearing 4,126 3,442Accrued Annual Leave 8,881 4,891Superannuation Payable 0 2,547BLG General Surplus Funds Carried Fwd 57,953 69,862Grant Surplus funds carried forward 81,753 39,891VLFI Surplus funds Carried Fwd 23,563 24,638Suspense (Rabbiters cash on hand) (698) 0Total Current Liabilities 176,022 159,727

Total Liabilities

176,022 159,727

Net Assets 103,691 (13,809)

EquityGeneral Account BLG Equity (259,450) (259,450)

Retained Earnings 245,641 245,641Equity in BLG BSC Nursery 117,500 0

Total Equity 103,691 (13,809)

Financial Reports

Financial Activity by ProjectBellarine Landcare Group Inc.

All Projects1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018

B Health RT Proj

BLG BSC Nursery

BLG GeneralACC

CCMA VLG 16/17

CCMA VLG 17/18

CCMA VLG 18/19

MannerimMemorial

MasonsCreek Proj

Rabbit Action

VGT 2017

VGT 2018

VLFI Total

Income

General Donations $0 $909 $1,331 $0 $0 $0 $427 $0 $20 $0 $0 $0 $2,687

Grants Income $0 $0 $643 -$643 $6,000 $8,261 $5,455 $0 $900 $0 $2,600 $53,845 $77,061

Interest Income $0 $0 $521 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $521

Membership Subs. $0 $0 $2,501 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $2,501

Other Income $0 $0 $1,455 $0 $0 $0 $0 $4,123 $0 $0 $0 $0 $5,577

Plants & Materials Sales $0 $41,140 $4,394 -$1,346 $0 $0 $0 $927 $1,386 $0 $0 $0 $46,502

Total Income $0 $42,050 $10,844 -$1,989 $6,000 $8,261 $5,882 $5,050 $2,306 $0 $2,600 $53,845 $134,849

Gross Surplus $0 $42,050 $10,844 -$1,989 $6,000 $8,261 $5,882 $5,050 $2,306 $0 $2,600 $53,845 $134,849

Plus Other Income

Unacquitted Funds B/Forward $17,520 $41,685 $69,862 $6,853 $6,000 $0 -$140 $0 $3,158 $6,500 $0 $24,638 $176,075

Total Other Income $17,520 $41,685 $69,862 $6,853 $6,000 $0 -$140 $0 $3,158 $6,500 $0 $24,638 $176,075

Less Operating Expenses

Accounting $0 $0 $568 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $568

Advertising $0 $704 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $45 $0 $0 $0 $749

Baits& Chemicals $0 $0 $1,290 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $1,290

Bank Fees $0 $0 $107 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $107

Catering - Events $0 $0 $581 $0 $210 $0 $366 $0 $1,001 $0 $0 $0 $2,157

Contractor Payments $0 $0 $0 $0 $600 $0 $0 $0 $964 $0 $0 $0 $1,564

Depreciation $0 $0 $2,892 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $1,091 $3,983

Donations, memberships etc inc GST

$0 $0 $687 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $687

Event Promotion / Leaflets $0 $0 $43 $0 $500 $0 $0 $0 $6 $0 $0 $0 $550

Fencing $0 $0 $0 $0 $1,406 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $1,406

Insurance and Admin Fee $0 $0 $246 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $246

Internet Expenses $0 $0 $258 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $258

Landcare Equipment $0 $979 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $979

MV and Travel Expenses $0 $0 $1,292 $0 $0 $0 $0 $100 $0 $0 $0 $1,863 $3,255

Nursery Staff Remuneration $0 $32,732 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $32,732Office Supplies & Stationery etc

$0 $866 $378 $1,000 $0 $0 $15 $0 $10 $0 $0 $62 $2,331

Paypal Fees $0 $0 $42 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $42

Plants & Seeds $0 $0 $0 $3,364 $4,100 $0 $18 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $7,482

Project Materials / Supplies / Equipment

$0 $153 $546 $500 $0 $0 $355 $749 $1,143 $4,273 $0 $0 $7,718

Refreshments $0 $0 $120 $0 $82 $0 $21 $0 $50 $0 $0 $9 $281

Rent $0 $0 $870 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $870

Repairs and Maintenance $0 $6,762 $409 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $7,171

Telephone $0 $422 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $24 $0 $0 $0 $788 $1,234VLFI Exp - Annual Leave Accrual

$0 $0 $997 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $2,992 $3,990

VLFI Exp-Salary $0 $0 $10,217 $0 $1,800 $0 $0 $1,254 $0 $1,000 $0 $43,208 $57,479

VLFI Exp-Superannuation $0 $0 $1,180 $0 $0 $0 $0 $119 $0 $0 $0 $4,162 $5,460

VLFI Exp-Workcover $0 $0 $30 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $745 $776

Weed Eradication $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $154 $0 $0 $1,227 $909 $0 $2,290

Total Operating Expenses $0 $42,618 $22,754 $4,864 $8,698 $0 $928 $2,246 $3,220 $6,500 $909 $54,920 $147,656

Surplus c/fwd to Balance Sheet

$17,520 $41,116 $57,953 $0 $3,302 $8,261 $4,814 $2,804 $2,244 $0 $1,691 $23,563 $163,268

Year End Surplus $17,520 $41,116 $57,953 $0 $3,302 $8,261 $4,814 $0 $2,244 $0 $1,691 $23,563 $160,464

Facilitator’s Report

In 1872 Portarlington residents wrote to Baron von Mueller, Director of the Melbourne Botanical Gardens, requesting trees: “owing to the lack of trees, the district suffered much from want of summer dews and showers.” The Baron sent a small case of American and European trees to be divided among the householders.

147 years later BLG is still addressing the revegetation of the Bellarine, working with private andpublic landholders to revegetate using indigenous plants, providing habitat for native fauna, and shade and shelter for livestock.

Much has been achieved over the past 25 years since BLG’s establishment, with hectares of revegetation undertaken each year. It’s inspiring to work with landholders who are passionate about encouraging biodiversity on their properties, with the koala being a recent flagship species on which we have focused our revegetation attentions. A walk with Janine Duffy, Koala Clancy Foundation, at Ocean Grove Nature Reserve was one of the year’s highlights,

The BSC & BLG Nursery plays an essential role, as a hub of positive action, propagating, selling and educating the community, not just about the large, more obvious species, but also the small and delicate. The nursery now has 230 species on its propagation list. The Facebook site has been a great way of reaching out to new people and sharing knowledge about local plants and the ways they support our native fauna.

But, we are not just about planting trees! Rabbit management has been ongoing, with yearly field days to lift the level of community understanding of integrated rabbit control. Rabbits do terrible damage to our native vegetation - and it’s a strange old world where rabbits are endangered in their home country of Spain and Portugal. I recently attended a rabbit leadership course at Ned’s Corner, a Trust for Nature property, and was inspired by the learnings, includingwhat can be achieved with the removal of rabbits from our landscape.

Gorse, too, has been a focus over the past year, and it’s been great to work with the Victorian Gorse Taskforce on engaging with Bellarine landholders to control this weed. African weed orchid and Serrated Tussock are also emerging issues on which we wish to shine a spotlight.

In the second half of 2018 we worked with a whole range of Bellarine groups and individuals to get to the bottom of a spate of raptor deaths. 25 deceased Barn Owls, Nankeen Kestrels, Black Shouldered Kites were collected and tested. We liaised with Michael Lohr from Edith Cowan University, Pam Whitely from Wildlife Health Surveillance and Dr Mark Hawes from Agribio, La Trobe Uni. Starvation was a major factor of death, due to birds migrating to escape from inland drought. A small but significant number of individuals had traces of second generation rodenticides – rat baits in their systems. We compiled a fact sheet on the secondary poisoning of birds of prey associated with the use of rat bait.

And coming up, we have taken steps towards organizing a cultural heritage workshop with the Wadawurrung people, so that we can learn more about the history and culture of our land’s Traditional Owners, an essential step in growing our understanding of this land.

It’s been a pleasure working with everyone – from the BLG Committee, Rabbit Action Committee, Fiona Love and the Nursery team, & landholders and members over the past year towards common goals of supporting the flourishment of our biodiversity – and remembering to have fun along the way. At the risk of leaving someone out, particular thanks to Kate Lockhart for taking on the President’s role so capably, and being a natural at the role of MC for numerousfunctions, Sue Elliott, our efficient Treasurer, Jenny, our great Secretary, and Bernie Malone, wonderful support as Vice President … and to everyone I’ve worked with this past year.

Sophie Small

Bellarine Secondary College and Bellarine Landcare Group Nursery Report

Michelle Lang, Andrea Lindsay, Rae Sharp & Rochelle Finch – just four from the team of almost 50 wonderful volunteers!

Suddenly autumn is here, and at the Nursery it’s time to breathe a sigh of relief….. we have witha few thousand plants survived the summer, and those very hot days hovering about the 40C. But the watering and new shade blind system all worked as designed, so there was not even anemergency, but we did learn recently that Fiona snuck in on some weekend just to make sure!

The Nursery is looking marvellous, healthy plants and a good supply of them. The different greens, the different shapes and sizes of the tube stock make an interesting picture, and all this thanks to the vision of the committee of years ago that established the nursery. And now the continuing goodwill of Landcare and the School working together in a strong partnership, continues that vision.

Alison Murphy, who was Principal over the past years, helped with the renegotiation of the formal Agreement, has been appointed to a position in Melbourne. We thank Alison for her work and support of the Nursery, and support of the program taught by Leanne Hearn, and now Peta Wydeman. That means students are seeing and appreciating the work carried out by the volunteers and co-ordinator, as they move between plants and animals in the course of their study. Now the working relationship is professional and friendly and everyone has contributed tothis. Thank you to Leanne who is on maternity leave and a big welcome to Peta who brings her skills and style to the project. We would also like to thank Wayne Johannsen who is acting Principal, who has ensured that the transition has been seamless, and who has stated how valuable the project is the school. Lastly our thanks to the Susie for her maintenance work, including the ongoing project of the pond area, and to the Office staff for their assistance especially Kerri and Michelle for looking after the financials, including pay.

Fiona has now been with us for over a year and she has taken the nursery to new levels. Last year we propagated over 30,000 plants, thanks to the volunteers. Now we have groups pricking out, potting on and propagating by seed and cutting. Fiona’s enthusiasm and her ability to rapidly get her head around the needs of the program, thinking weeks and months ahead, have been formidable as the French might say! Even her Latin has improved so that spelling in the tricks of that language is accurate!! She brings a whole suite of skills and experience to the position and this is reflected in the growing numbers of volunteers, was well as the professional relationships with the school, and with other groups and organisations. We are indeed fortunate.

The day to day work of the Nursery would not be possible without the volunteers. These are the volunteers: Ab Abner, Daryl Barnett, Chris Blackmore and Wendy Stott, Mary and John Berger,

Kirsten Cooper, Monica Greene, Sharon Ferguson, Cheryl Hilton, Michelle Lang, Andrea Lindsay, Lynne Mason, Jane Morrow, Clara Oakleigh, Barry O’Brien, Don Phillips, Lucy Pope, Sam Raybould, Beth Ross, Craig Blackman, Denis Shandley, Rae Sharp, Julie-Ann Stotten, Alex and Wendy Tuechler, Jos Van Rooyen, Naomi Wells, Heather Wilson, Barbara Wilson-Browne, Barbara Perry, Scott and Kate Simpson, Rochelle Finch, Janet Michael, Jenny Calwell,Rita Matthews, Peter Smith, Brenda Richardson, Jane Sutherland, Ros Seed, Sylvia Spruit and Julia Waters.

Apart from the plant work, the main focus of course, volunteers have completed stage one of the shade blind project and are currently building stage two. They have also established the possum proofing of benches. This netting deprives these happy creatures of a nightly tender supper. And there is the ongoing other work of maintenance, cleaning, repairing, and tidying. There are large plant orders which are very good to have ahead of us, and these will keep the volunteers busy. Another aspect of the work is the collection and treatment of seed. This is a time-consuming summer task, which ensures good local provenance for our stock.

Another problem emerged when the Committee discovered that there was no insurance cover on the nursery. BLG vice-President Bernie Malone is investigating how we can get some cover in case of fire or storm, without paying an exorbitant premium. So hopefully by next summer’s fire and storm season we will have some cover.

Financially the nursery is doing better than ever. Our Sunday sales (last Sunday of the month), have contributed to this, as well as being a great time for education! This trend looks as if it will continue into the future. The detailed finances are available from our Treasurer and a detailed monthly report is presented to the BLG Committee and is tabled in the tea room.

I have enjoyed my contribution to the Committee of Management and the Nursery, and I leave this role very confident that with Beth Ross taking up of this position, (to be ratified of course by the incoming BLG Committee), the all important relationship with the school will grow. Beth is a volunteer extraordinaire! She is knowledgeable and able to share her enthusiasm with all types of people, and she loves to get her hands dirty! She, with Fiona, will take the nursery to new horizons.

Thank you,Peter Schmidt

Bellarine Landcare Rabbit Action Committee Report

The Bellarine Rabbit Action Committee has again met regularly over the last 12 months. Thank you to all members who supported the meetings and the events we organized. A special thanks to our secretary Diana Primrose for her excellent recording of our meetings.

We have again focused on promoting Integrated Rabbit Control to the Bellarine community. Over many, many years, Pindone baiting was the only tool people used. If most people had used Pindone baiting in conjunction with Warren Destruction as tools in rabbit control I think we would be in a better place than we are now with rabbit numbers.

This year rabbit numbers have increased rapidly as they have in other areas of the state. The release of the K5 vaccine over the last couple of years, unfortunately has only had a minor effect in our area, in reducing rabbit numbers across the Bellarine area. We know that we need to use two to three integrated rabbit control methods to have any long term effect on numbers. One of those methods must be warren destruction.

We ran a number of events this year to smaller groups of people as well as two field days.

We continue to work with Geelong City Council on rabbit control activities and are grateful for their support with our mail outs and funding for various activities. It great to see them again begin an integrated program on rabbit control on the Rail Trail and some reserves this year. Thanks also to Dick Simonson and Bob Beveridge, who have again been active in demonstrating our warren smoking equipment to groups. Dick has also been very active in marketing a number of kits here on the Bellarine and around the State.

To assist in Integrated Rabbit Control this year we have produced a calendar showing the time of the year to carry out various rabbit control techniques.We also produced another tool to assist landholders to undertake, and record, spotlight counts of rabbits, before and after control programs are carried out.This year we are again running an ACUP course in May. We hope to get another 10 -12 people through this two day course to enable them to be able to fumigate warrens on theirs or neighbours properties.

Finally thanks to Sophie Small for the wonderful support she has given to the committee in the activities we run. Sophie was recently able to attend a Victorian Rabbit Action Network workshop at Ned’s Corner up in North West Victoria on Integrated Rabbit control.Thanks again to our committee and cluster leaders for continued support. I hope we will be ableto continue to increase the participation of our community in Integrated Rabbit Control over theBellarine in the next twelve months. We definitely need to be more persistent than the rabbitsthemselves!

We hope you all can become involved.

Geoff McFarlaneChair

Checking the results of rabbit warren ripping works at the Rabbit & Gorse Control Field Day atthe Portarlington Golf Course, March, 2018