Our purpose and activities
Our purpose: To encourage and support engagement with and appreciation of all aspects of natural history in the environmentally diverse and fascinating Mt Alexander region through:
- fostering the study and understanding of the natural environment
- enjoying, preserving and protecting native flora and fauna
- promoting the repair of the environment and protection of endangered species and habitats
- working with other organisations to understand and care for our region.
Who we are and what we do
Members. The Club has about 100 members. While some members have specialist knowledge and others are beginners, all members have an interest in nature and the natural world.
Meetings are held on the second Friday of each month (Feb-Dec) starting at 7.30 pm. The meeting usually has a guest speaker who presents a natural history topic. Visitors are welcome to attend. See our ‘Monthly meetings’ page for details.
Excursions are held monthly, usually on the Saturday after the monthly meeting. Additional excursions are held from time to time. Excursions usually start at 1:30 pm and visitors are welcome. See the ‘Excursions’ page for details.
Roadside Clean-ups. The Club conducts 4 roadside clean-ups along a stretch of the Pyrenees Highway every year. Dates and further details are on the ‘Other Activities’ page.
Projects. Members can get involved in different CFNC activities such as vegetation surveys, bird surveys, weed control and photo-points. See our ‘Projects’ page for more details on these projects. Contact the club – castlemainefnc@hotmail.com – if you would like to be involved with any of these projects.
Submissions. Our club has a keen interest in the local environment and wants to help ensure that our local native flora and fauna is protected from threats to its long-term survival. From time-to-time there are opportunities for the club to comment and make submissions to all levels of government on issues as part of enquiries and community consultation procedures. You can see our most recent submissions here.
Honorary Life Members. From time-to-time the club may award Honorary Life Membership to members of the club who have given exceptional service to the club over many years.
Honorary Life memberships were awarded in 2015 to Ern Perkins, George Broadway and Rita Mills for their services to the club since its inception in 1976 (Castlemaine Naturalist 439). All had served on the committee for many years in various capacities as well as taking a lead on club projects that ran over many years and in some cases are continuing.
In 2024 Honorary Life memberships were awarded to Geoff and Geraldine Harris for their outstanding service to the club over many decades. You can read the citation for their awards here.
Our logo
Our logo is a painting of the Nodding Greenhood, Pterostylis nutans, a common orchid in our region. Artwork by founding club member Rita Mills.
Annual Reports
For a more detailed account of past club activities, our most recent annual reports may be viewed from the links below.