You will, no doubt, have heard that Avian Influenza (H5N1 Bird Flu) has reached Australia and is already having an impact on some species. The North Central Catchment Management Authority undertakes surveillance for bird Flu across our local catchments as part of State and National programs to protect people, industry and wildlife. They have provided […]
Avian Influenza update Read More »
Donald Hobern is an amateur lepidopterist and Vice-President of Moths and Butterflies Australia. He is also an internationally recognised biodiversity informatics specialist and was the inaugural director of the Atlas of Living Australia. Donald has a particular interest in the beautiful plume moths (Pterophoridae) and many-plume moths (Alucitidae). Their name derives from the fact that
Monthly Meeting: Friday 14th August, 7.30pm, 2026 by Zoom Read More »
This interesting walk will encompass the ANZAC Circle – a circle of 32 Yellow Gums planted to honour some of the local men and women who died in WWI. We will also visit the location of the WWII Air Observation Station and the Mount Tarrengower Tunnelling Company tunnel. Bev Phillips, President of MULGA (Maldon Urban
Excursion: Saturday 15th August 2026, 1.30pm Read More »
Join us for a pleasant walk enjoying the wildflowers along some roadside bush as we do our bit for the community. Meet: 9am near Tait’s Decorative Iron, corner of Willy Milly Rd and Pyrenees Highway, Castlemaine. Bring: Gloves, water, sturdy footwear. Garbage bags and safety vests supplied. Contact: Geoff Harris (mob 0418 392 183)
Roadside Clean-up: Monday 17th August 2026, 9am Read More »
Leader: Joy Clusker “Fungi search at the Oak Forest, Harcourt” There is a change of location for our fungi search owing to recent storm damage to the fungi at the Bullarto site. Instead, we will now visit the Oak Forest, Harcourt where Joy reports a better display of fungi. Of interest will be a fire-affected
CHANGE OF LOCATION – FUNGI SEARCH Saturday 11th July 2026, 9.30am-noon Read More »
Like many other kinds of animals worldwide, snakes in Australia are in trouble: many populations are declining. In order to reverse that trend, we need to understand why it’s happening and find evidence-based ways to conserve snake populations. In this talk, eminent researcher Professor Rick Shine describes research projects that have addressed that aim –
Monthly Meeting Friday 10th July, 7.30pm, 2026 by Zoom Read More »
Following some welcome showers of rain, the fungi are putting on a show. This month we are privileged to have as leader Joy Clusker, co-author of the excellent guide to identification of the “Fungi of the Bendigo Region”. Joy will take us to some fungi hot spots in the tall, damp forests around Bullarto, sharing
Excursion: Saturday 11th July 2026, 9.30am Read More »
The June meeting will be the first of our 3 winter meetings by Zoom for 2026. Brown Brood Frogs have sadly experienced a significant population decline across Victoria, attributed to habitat loss, altered water flows and the deadly disease, chytrid fungus. It is also likely that changes in seasonal rainfall, driven by climate change, may
Monthly Meeting Friday 12th June, 7.30pm, 2026 by Zoom Read More »
The Yung Balug Aboriginal Artefacts Museum houses a vast collection of important aboriginal artefacts, some found and donated by local farmers. The garden includes indigenous food plants (and a marvellous collection of Eremophila species). The museum entry is free but donations are appreciated with 100% of funds spent on housing an ever-expanding collection. After lunch
Excursion: Saturday 13th June 2026, 9.00am Read More »
Bev Lewis is a local artist with particular expertise in natural history illustration. Bev says of her work: “Why do natural history art? Why not take a photo? My aim is to do with the human eye and pencils more than can be achieved with an electronic ‘eye’ and pixels. Direct connection between eye and
Monthly General Meeting, Friday 8th May 2026, 7.30pm, Uniting Church Hall, Lyttleton St. Read More »