Spring/summer 2024 newsletter

The Yarrilinks Loop

Quarterly Newsletter

Produced by Yarrilinks Landcare Network and covering Landcare and sustainable agriculture groups in southern Yarriambiack Shire.

A note from the Facilitator

This newsletter covers all the activities we’ve done over spring-early summer 2024.

I’m also pleased to share a little bit of news and a job opportunity! I’ll be going on parental leave in a few months, and Wimmera CMA (who host my position) are recruiting a temporary replacement. You can read more about this opportunity in the ‘News’ section below. If you or someone you know has a background in natural resource management, sustainable agriculture, and/or community engagement, please check it out!

Read on for an upcoming event and more about our recent activities.

- Alicia Merriam, Yarrilinks Landcare Facilitator

Upcoming Yarrilinks Events

Summer Bird Walk

10 am - 11am, Monday 3rd November, Lake Marma, Murtoa (meet at rotunda)

Join Yarrilinks and local bird expert Ross Barlow for a bird walk around Lake Marma! Please bring: Sturdy, closed toe shoes, hat, water bottle and sunscreen, binoculars and a bird book if you wish

To prepare, spend a bit of time outside just quietly listening to the birds around you. No need for binoculars or books - just a comfortable place to sit, watch and listen. Check out this episode from ABC Radio on Learning the Language of Birds.

Yarrilinks Meetings

Next: Monday 3rd February, Murtoa

The Yarrilinks committee meets approximately quarterly. Our next meeting will be on the 3rd of February, so if you would like an issue raised, please get in touch with Alicia.

If you are interested in joining the committee, or even just sitting in on a meeting, please reach out for a chat. We are always keen for new members!

Contact Alicia

Yarrilinks Membership

Become a member of Yarrilinks Landcare Network to show your support for the environment in your community. Best of all, it’s FREE!

Developing a membership base is how we demonstrate local support - this helps with funding applications, getting projects off the ground, and the longevity of the group.

Membership Form

News

Tue, Jan 21

Temporary Landcare Facilitator Position

Our Landcare Facilitator Alicia will be taking leave in 2025. Wimmera CMA, who host the position, are hiring a temporary replacement.

Wed, Jan 29

2025 Victorian Landcare Grants

We’ve started planning for the 2025 Victorian Landcare Grant applications. Contact us to learn how you can get involved in an environmental project.

Mon, Dec 16

Partnerships Against Pests: The next chapter

We’ve been successful in a collaborative grant application with Project Platypus as lead organisation. The project builds on previous Partnerships against Pests work to deliver $50,000 in training

Thu, Nov 14

A Wander at Lah Rec Reserve

After our November committee meeting, we joined some local residents for a stroll around the reserve, and learned about iNaturalist.

Mon, Oct 14

2024 Yarrilinks AGM

The 2024 Yarrilinks AGM was held at the Wheatlands Ag Museum in Warracknabeal and included a tour of the museum afterwards.

Mon, Nov 18

Landcare Grant Writing with Longerenong College

Alicia visited Longerenong College to talk to the students about the Victorian Landcare Grants process, and then the group travelled to Rupanyup Reservoir to check out a previous Landcare project.

Mon, Nov 11

Wrapping up our 2023 Victorian Landcare Grant Reports

We recently finished reporting on the 2023 Victorian Landcare Grants. Total funding of around $15.200 enabled us to leverage over $71,000 worth of in-kind contributions! Read more about what we achiev

Fri, Oct 25

Partnerships Against Pests Demonstration Day

We held a pest control demo day with Project Platypus as part of our collaborative Partnerships Against Pests project. Participants learned about feral cats, foxes and rabbit control, and we had demon

Mon, Oct 21

Planting trees for our community: a student perspective

Murtoa College student Alyvia writes an article on her class’s involvement in tree planting at Rupanyup Reservoir in winter/spring 2024.

Wed, Oct 16

Partnerships Against Pests: Minyip Weed Prioritisation Session

In this activity, we developed a priority list of weeds for the area informed by the community, through our Partnerships Against Pests project with Project Platypus. Read on to learn more about gazani

Tue, Oct 15

Buloke Woodland Wander

This spring we enjoyed a guided walk through a buloke woodland in Minyip with local nature lover Rae Talbot.

Other upcoming events/opportunities

Warracknabeal Community Garden - Volunteers needed for summer watering!

Warracknabeal Community Garden is looking for help with watering over the summer and beyond. If you are able to help please message the garden via Facebook.

Stay in the Loop!

Read previous issues or subscribe here

Alicia Merriam | Landcare Facilitator
0455 166 445 | landcare@yarrilinks.org.au

Yarrilinks Landcare operates on the Traditional Lands of the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk people. We acknowledge them as Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country, and pay our respects to elders past and present.