Friends of GlenFern Valley Newsletter No.2 Winter 2002

Friends of Glen Fern Valley

Bushlands Inc.

Newsletter

No.2 Winter 2002

Our Mission Statement as it applies to Glen Fern Valley Bushlands:

To conserve and enhance the diversity of native flora and fauna while preserving community access and encouraging education and compatible uses for the enjoyment of current and future generations.

Contact Us

Friends of Glen Fern Valley Bushlands Inc.

PO Box 1283

Upwey Vic 3158

Phone: AH 03 9754 1303 or 9754 7669

E-mail: glenfernbushlands@hotmail.com

In This Issue:

Welcome to new Members 1

What’s been happening? 1

Corporate Sponsors 2

Calendar of Events 2

Benefits of Membership 3

Membership Form 3

Welcome to new Members

The group is fortunate to have an active and committed supporter base, and many of our supporters have shown their commitment by becoming Members. A welcome to all our new Members, your ongoing support will help ensure the future of both the Reserve and the group.

We would also appreciate assistance with Flora or Fauna surveys, revegetation work, bushland management etc. so if you would like to contribute your skills and knowledge please contact us using the details above.

What’s been happening?

Success at Council. As you know, the Friends group has been working to secure the future of the land by lobbying Council to have it become a Reserve with a Committee of Management, rather than its present status of Crown Land. This moved a vital step closer to becoming a reality with the Council meeting on May 14^th2002. At this meeting Council considered a report on the land and in summary agreed:

- To write a letter to the Regional Manager of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DRNE) advising them that part of the site should be recognised as a site of local significance and it should be managed as a conservation reserve.

-Requesting that DNRE develop a full management plan for the site in conjunction with the Shire, including a strategy for funding the improvement and maintenance of the site.

-Advising that the Shire is prepared to become the committee of Management.

-Seeking DNRE support in providing funds to Council as Committee of Management to enable work identified in the Management Plan to be carried out.

-Advising that funding being considered by the Shire is a $50,000 allocation in the Budget for 2002/03, to provide some support to the Friends Group and to address urgent work.

This is a fantastic outcome and it couldn’t have happened without the support of all the Councillors and in particular Councilor Rob Hamilton. The Friends of Glen Fern Valley Bushlands have recognised this support by making Cr. Hamilton an Honorary Member of the group.

Applying for grants. The hard work is now ahead of us, and the group urgently needs funds. Long hours were spent getting together a grant application to the National Heritage Trust for fencing along the New Road section of the block and bollards for the front to try and stop the entrance of cars causing erosion and to try and eradicate the dumping of rubbish. We have also applied for a smaller community grant offered by the Upwey Community Bank. If successful, we intend to purchase equipment to make it safer to enter and exit the park via Glenfern Road, including visibility jackets, witches hats, large signs with arrows to show the entrance and road signs indicating to the traffic to slow down.

Working bees. Every 3^rd Sunday of the month Members, Committee and interested supporters meet on-site to take part in a working bee. These have been very successful to date with large amounts of Boneseed and Ivy brought under control as well as a huge amount of rubbish being removed from the site.

Flora and Fauna Surveys. Our Fauna and Flora groups have also been regularly carrying out vital survey work. New birds and plants are being discovered all the time and the information gathered will be vital in the development of an effective Management plan.

Committee meetings. The committee meets once a month and we welcome the attendance of Members. Please contact us using the details above if you’d like to attend.

Corporate Sponsors

Oscar, the proprietor of Ruby’s Café, Burwood Highway, Belgrave has generously become our first Corporate Sponsor by allowing the Committee to meet in the ‘Library’ at Ruby’s free of charge, which is greatly appreciated. The staff are very friendly and we found it a great place to celebrate our recent success. We look forward to toasting more successes at Ruby’s in months to come.

Naturally, any other businesses out there that can assist us would also be sure to receive a mention in our newsletter! Help with administration costs such as postage and stationary would be welcome as would machinery, tools, protective clothing etc. to help us look after the site.

Community Working Bee- All Welcome

Community working bee: Sunday 21st July At 9.30am The next community-working bee is a ‘Clean and Weed’ day so bring gloves, rubbish bag, hand tools, water, and, depending on the weather, a hat or wet weather gear. Entry for cars is via the Parks Victoria (Fire Access) gate on Glenfern Rd, Upwey (about ½ way along the land) The site reference is Melways 74G10. Finish time will be about 12:30 so bring along a picnic lunch if you would like to stay longer and meet other members of the group. Invite your friends and family for a fun and rewarding Sunday morning.

Members Diary Dates
-Flora Surveys held on: 1st Sunday of the month at 9.30am-11.30am

-Fauna Surveys held on: 2nd Sunday of the month at 9.30am-11am

-Working Bees held on: 3rd Sunday on the month at 9.30am-12.30pm

Next Committee Meeting- Thursday 18th July at 7.30pm at Ruby’s.

Next Flora Survey- Sunday 7th July at 9.30am

Next Fauna Survey- Sunday 14th July at 9.30am

Any interested supporters who would like to attend one of these activities please get in touch beforehand via the contact details above.

The site is a large one and experience has shown that it is not possible to find the working bee group if you arrive late. Members, please arrive on time or arrange beforehand where you can meet the group if you need to arrive late.

The Benefits of becoming a Member

As a concerned member of the community you would like to see the Glen Fern Valley Bushlands area reserved for the use and enjoyment of the local community and its considerable natural beauty and environmental values safeguarded and enhanced. Becoming a Member helps make that desire a reality.

Unfortunately, due to the cost of mail outs this is the last newsletter that will be mailed to non-members who do not have an e-mail address. Please consider becoming a Member (Membership form below) if you wish to receive the newsletter by mail in future. Alternatively, please provide us with an e-mail address if you wish to continue receiving the newsletter but do not wish to become a member.

We are endeavouring to have copies of our newsletter in a few local shops, libraries and community centres for interested people to pick copies up, please keep an eye out for them.

Membership Form

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FRIENDS OF GLEN FERN VALLEY BUSHLANDS

MEMBERSHIP FORM

Name

Group/Org

Address

Postcode…………………..Phone

E-Mail

Office Use Only:

Date Joined Member# Member Type
Annual Membership Fees for 2002

Individuals $10

Families $15

Businesses $50+

Student/Concession/Community Groups/ Schools - $By donation

PAID: CASH CHEQUE MONEY ORDER

Send cheque or money order made out to Friends of Glen Fern Valley Bushlands to:

PO Box 1283

Upwey VIC 3158

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