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We had a very successful AGM at the Northern Arts Hotel.  The feature speaker was Clive Willman. talking about the fascinating history of Forest Creek.  He was certainly a drawcard and more than 50 people attended.  The venue was perfect – thanks to the Northern Arts Hotel.
The committee was elected including a new member, Jack Piper – welcome, Jack.  The ‘winners’ are Christine Kilmartin (President), Gerry Egan (Secretary), Eiizabeth Eager (Treasurer), and committee members John MacIntyre, Malcolm Robins, Rosemary Hooke and Jack Piper.

Related document’s as follows:
minutes of the 2022 AGM;
Committee Report and 
Treasurer’s Report,

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Castlemaine Landcare Group Inc (CLG) will be held at 7.30 pm on Thursday 25 May 2023, and you are cordially invited to attend.The meeting will be held at Northern Arts Hotel, 359 Barker St, Castlemaine. Drinks (beer, wine, and non-alcoholic) will be available at bar prices, and we recommend that you purchase something to recognise the generosity of the Northern Arts Hotel in hosting us. CLG will provide a (free) supper afterwards.

We are very pleased to introduce an excellent guest speaker, Clive Willman.Clive is a well-known geologist, who has had a long career in government and the local mining industry. He has completed extensive geological studies of the local area for the Geological Survey of Victoria and is known as for his deep knowledge of 19th mining methods. Clive has contributed to international scientific paper and numerous books regarding Victoria’s geological history and has made educational films for the NSW and Victorian State governments. Clive is also long-term member of Landcare.Clive will speak at the annual meeting on the subject of the ancient origins of Forest Creek and how mining and agriculture has affected the local landscape since the gold rush. He will explain how Central Victorian streams owe their origins to uplift of the Great Divide, which was caused by Antarctica’s slow separation from southern Australia. Over the millennia, long-lived streams like the Loddon River, and Forest, Campbell’s and Barker’s creeks, have meandered but remained confined to remarkably persistent valleys. He will show how the latest high-tech Lidar imagery complements 1850s surveyors’ maps, old aerial photos, and the oral histories of long-term residents. These all help to unravel the history of Forest Creek and Moonlight Flat since 1851 and show how mining, farming and Chinese market gardening have all left their imprints on the local landscape.

Once overlooked, fungi are the exhilarating new poster organisms reconfiguring our understanding of the natural word and capturing the public imagination. Alison’s new book, Underground Lovers presents compelling questions and insights about fungi but is also an intimate celebration of their astonishing beauty and complexity.
The book is being launched at a number of places, including Hepburn Springs on WEDNESDAY 15 MARCH 2023. See this page for details.

On 4 October 2022, the Midland Express carried an article advising readers that the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (now the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action) was urging Victorians to seek advice before removing native plants from private or public land.

Castlemaine Landcare Group supports this request. 

The article explains that native plants can be challenging to identify so landowners are encouraged to seek advice from their local Council or DEECA. In Mount Alexander Shire, advice can also be sought from Connecting Country or a local Landcare Group.

The article continues:
Unless a valid exemption applies, a permit is required in Victoria to remove, destroy or lop any native vegetation, including paddock trees, grasslands, wetlands, riparian areas and any native plants in state forests, national parks and reserves.

This includes trees along fence lines between private and public land.
To avoid a penalty, apply for a permit to remove native plants or report suspected illegal removal, contact your local council for issues on private property or DEECA (tel 136 186) for public land issues.

To learn more, visit www.environment.vic.gov.au.

Our AGM will be at 7.30pm on Thursday 12 May, by Zoom. A formal meeting notice was sent on 27 April and it has all the information and documents. Please send an email to castlemainelandcaregroupinc@gmail.com if you want to be sent the meeting Zoom link

You are invited to come along for a guided bird walk for all ages and abilities, and explore our new ‘Bird walk for beginners’ brochure, featuring QR codes to access bird and habitat information. See the email of 20 March for more details.
When: Wednesday 6 April 2022 at 11.00 am.
Where: Leanganook Track, corner of Colles Rd and Murphy St, Castlemaine VIC. To view a google map link – click here
Bookings: Bookings are essential and tickets are limited. To book please – click here