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”Our local, Loddon River Powerful Owls have raised two youngsters again this season. Last year was a mystery – the birds were about but no young were seen. We are so lucky to have this incredible predator breeding successfully so close to town. The possums must be running scared at the moment!”
See photos at Geoff Park’s Natural Newstead blog: http://geoffpark.wordpress.com/
I have a couple of desktop computers here (box only, no monitor), which I will make available for free extended loan. So if your computer dies, or gets infected with something disgusting, you can have one of these until you get it fixed or replaced. They are not quite state-of-the-art, but more than adequate for net-surfing, email, word processing (with Libre-Office), etc.. Use your own monitor, keyboard and mouse if you can, otherwise I might be able to supply.
An old mate from Uni, Dr. Neil Barr, made it onto this list of “Ten Great Books About Agriculture” with his book on the transformation of farming communities.
Excerpt from a review in the Rural Society Journal:
“In this book, Neil Barr, Senior Social Researcher, Department of Primary Industries, Bendigo, critically examines Australian farming, with particular focus on the family farm. Having grown up in a family who tried to make a living in horticultural farming, he has first-hand experience of what farming families are going through: his book, as he states in his preface, ‘is a result of thirty years pondering over the joy, despair and paradoxes of farming life’. The family and personal successes and tragedies he chronicles are explained by social circumstances (wars, financial crises) yet are embedded in nature (drought, dust storms, floods). The combination of personal experiences (social issues) and objective reality (statistical data, figures, graphs, maps) makes The House on the Hill special. Easy to read – and of interest to people who live on the land or who plan a future in agriculture – it was written to help improve the sustainable management of land, water and vegetation. Yet it is of value for academics and students with an interest in Australian agriculture, in farming families, geography, demography, or the environment.”
It can be purchased from Booktopia, or can be found in many libraries.
This summary has been compiled from various sources by John Ross, in response to a thread on the Castlemaine Bushfire Help FaceBook group page.
It provides advice and links about managing animals in a bushfire. Continue reading
Present: June Smith, Stephen O’Connor, Roni Nettleton, Claire Collie and Benoit Oury, Adele Cammeraat and Kerrie Moore, Terry Willaims, Cheryl and George Teng, Ross Sartori, John Ross, Greg Pridmore, Steve Catterall, Cathy Westcott, Leslie McGilvray, Mary Grant, Alan Straub, Steph … Continue reading
Facebook groups for bushfire information sharing:
Castlemaine:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/504594886306492/
Daylesford:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/286331024825528/
See this page for transfer station opening hours and fees: http://www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/page/Page.asp?Page_Id=170&h=1
Note that the following items are recycled free of charge:
- Batteries (dry cell or lead-acid)
- Fluorescent lamps
- Oil
- Paint
- Paper (non-commercial quantities)
- Bottles
- Steel
- Car bodies
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.
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.