Author Archives: John Ross

‘Soil Change Matters’ international workshop

Posted on by April 5, 2014
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24-27 March 2014 in Bendigo.

Of interest to farmers, horticulturalists, ag scientists etc.

”You are invited to attend ‘Soil Change Matters’ an international workshop concerned with the scientific investigation of changes in soil and their effect on critical soil functions and ecosystem services.

The workshop is hosted by the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries, and supported by Soil Science Australia and the following Working Groups of the International Union of Soil Sciences – Global Soil Change, Soil Monitoring, Proximal Soil Sensing, and Digital Soil Mapping.

The workshop is designed to bring together practitioners in policy, science and management to address the questions –
• What is changing in soil?
• Why does it matter (impact, extent, critical thresholds, system collapse) or does it? Who cares and who pays?
• How do we measure change and are we monitoring important changes?
• How fast are changes occurring and expected to occur?
• Should anything be done about these changes – science understanding, technical ability to measure and monitor change, policies for intervention or prevention.”

http://www.soilmatters.org/index.html

Riff Raff – Full-on Chicago blues and beyond at the Bridge, Thurs 27 Feb 8:30pm

Posted on by March 6, 2014
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Shameless self-promotion!
Well I put the website together, so occasionally I get to indulge!

This is my hot new band with Doug Owen (vocals, guitar), Sean Hanrahan (lead guitar), Martin Myles (drums) and myself on electric upright bass.

Come early for dinner and stay for the show. $10 cover.
Bridge Hotel, 21 Walker St Castlemaine (near the botanic gardens)

Free mapping software: GIS

Posted on by January 20, 2014
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GIS stands for Geographic Information Systems. This is the type of software used by Emergency Victoria, the Powercor outage map, Victoria Land Channel, and Google Maps. This article introduces Quantum GIS, a free GIS application for Windows, Mac, Linux and Android.

64mystic

Quantum GIS software used to map 64 Mystic Drive. Fences, buildings, dams, etc, have been marked on separate layers. The base maps are from Land Channel and Google Maps.

What can I do with it?

You can:

  • Import existing maps, for example, property boundaries from Land Channel
  • Plot the location of particular features of your property.
  • Measure distances without having to march around with a tape measure.
  • Measure the area of an irregularly shaped paddock.
  • Superimpose a contour map.
  • Create layers for, for example, fences, water, buildings, geology, cropping.

The learning curve is a bit steep for the new user, but there is plenty of help available online, as with most open-source software. Here is an excellent Training Manual.

GIS software is a growing field of Information Technology and such skills are in demand. It has a multitude of applications in farming, forestry, mining, geography, epidemiology, conservation, defence and the social sciences.

Click here to download Quantum GIS.

qgisaustralia

Screenshot of Quantum GIS running on Linux

Newstead Live Music Festival

Posted on by March 6, 2014
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It’s on again from 24th to 27th January at various venues around Newstead.

See http://www.newsteadlive.com/

Tickets: Weekend $95 ($90 on line). Children under 13 free.
Youth under 18 $20 if accompanied by an adult .. buy at the festival.
Day ticket Sat, Sun $50…buy at the festival
Day ticket Monday, evening ticket Fri, Sat, Sun, $30..buy at the festival.

John Ross – websites and computer help

Posted on by December 20, 2015
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Websites: specialising in WordPress. With a bit of flair, a bit of help, a few carefully chosen add-ons, you can have a site…

and you will be able to update it yourself.

Computer help: Windows, Mac and Linux
Mobile: Android and iOS smart-phones and tablets
LAN

Landline: 03 5476 4126
Mobile: 0419 588 679

Community Bus every Thursday

Posted on by December 11, 2013
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Get picked up from anywhere (where possible) along the route (Yandoit/Franklinford/Clydesdale) in or out of Daylesford. The bus leaves Daylesford after 9am and returns at 10.30am. It leaves Daylesford at 1pm and returns before 2.30pm.
Bookings are ESSENTIAL – call 1300 44 35 34 before NOON the day before.
Child seats (0-7 years) and a hoist are available on request.

Second Yandoit History event a great success

Posted on by May 3, 2016
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Well attended by an enthusiastic crowd of about 80 people, the second Yandoit history event comprised a tour of a few of our iconic stone houses, established by the Swiss-Italian early settlers of this area. (Click on an image for a big slideshow).

Yandoit history in story – event no. 2

Posted on by November 20, 2013
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After our successful first Yandoit History in story event in August, the second event will be held on Saturday November 23rd 2013, 2.30pm until approx. 5.30pm. This time the theme is Yandoit Hills- stone Houses and the vineyards.
This second event will take the form of a short magical mystery walk around several old stone properties with underground wine cellars, followed by stories from memory keepers Betty Pedretti and Maurie Gervasoni. The event will be filmed and will contribute towards a local oral history archive.

This event is only available to locals or those with connections to Yandoit and Yandoit Hills. Numbers will be limited and RSVP is essential.

RSVP: to Nikki Marshall- mobile 0432 232 073 – nikki.marshall@oases.edu.au
or to Andrew Kimpton – mobile 0419311230 – made@yandoit.com.au

Once you RSVP more information will be provided about the location. BYO folding chair. Assistance will be provided to those who may have difficulty walking. Afternoon tea in the Swiss-Italian Style will be provided. A small donation is asked to cover food and other costs of the event.