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So far Phil Darton has created 98 blog entries.

New Date for Friends of Red Hill Creek working bee – Wednesday, 13th May

Due to the weather forecast for tomorrow, the inaugural Friends of Red Hill Creek working bee at the Neerim South Wetlands has been postponed to:

Wednesday, 13th May, 9-11 am

If you have the following recommended protective gear, please bring the following for yourself;

·       Sun hat, sunscreen

·       Long protective gardening gloves (I am working on sourcing suppliers of recommended gloves)

·       Long sleeved shirt

·       Long pants

·       Gum boots or gaiters

·       High viz vest – (I’ve been collecting some spares from the op shops)

·       weeding tools

·       Kneeling pad

·       Coffee/tea mug

·       Water bottle

We’ll start with

* our Sign in sheet with your emergency contact’s details required.

* Safety and working bee plan briefing in light of our Annual Work Plan agreement with BBSC.

and finish with a cuppa.

Please note that our agreement does not include children, nor working with chainsaws, pruning and/or chemicals.

BBSC are very supportive of our start day arriving and we’ll be keeping in touch with them as our group hopefully evolves, progresses and settles into a regular cycle!

Please let Rose Breyley know if you have any questions prior to the day on 0412221327 (please leave a message if I don’t catch your call) or via email Friendsofredhillcreek@gmail.com

New Date for Friends of Red Hill Creek working bee – Wednesday, 13th May 2026-05-05T10:57:53+10:00

Coming Events: Friends of Red Hill Creek working bee; Bandicoots, Dunnarts, & Pizzas

There are two upcoming events and an extension to the deadline for Hunting the Giants.

Friends of Red Hill Creek Working Bee

With the support of Baw Baw Shire Council and under the auspices of the Neerim District Landcare Group, the FoRHC are having their first working bee.
Next Wednesday 6th May at 9-11am at the Neerim South Wetlands.
We’ll start with weeding, after introductions and safety briefing.
Please bring all your own tools eg garden forks, strong gardening gloves, sun protection and protective gardening clothes.
Just come along or for more information contact:

Rose Breyley

Friends of Red Hill Creek 
Neerim District Landcare
mobile 0412221327
Bandicoots, Dunnarts, & Pizzas
You are welcome to a pizza evening talk at the Neerim South wetlands.
Penny Richards will share her passion for conservation and stories of observing
elusive long-nosed bandicoots and white-footed dunnarts over several years on her
property at Neerim North. Join us for a slice of pizza, an evening walk with friends
at the wetlands and enjoy this local biodiversity hot spot.
Remember to bring a torch and warm clothing!
DATE
Friday 29th May
TIME
6 pm pizza, talk and walk until 8 pm
VENUE
Neerim South Wetlands, Railway Rd & Birdsong Rise
https://maps.app.goo.gl/t4UQmK1LbhKu1Rhg6
RSVP to:
Sandra McCormick 0407826649
or Phil Darton 0408351915 info@ndlg.org.au
this link takes you to the flyer for the event:
Hunt for the Giants – extending the tree hunt till the 10th May
You still have a chance to submit your favorite Giant on the form in the link below.
Or contact Phil Darton 0408351915
Coming Events: Friends of Red Hill Creek working bee; Bandicoots, Dunnarts, & Pizzas 2026-05-01T10:06:54+10:00

Hunt for the Giants – Phase 2: The Hunt Begins

Following the successful launch of the Hunt for the Giants program at Glen Cromie on the 13th March, the actual hunt begins!
We would love your help documenting and celebrating some of the significant trees in our region. If you are wondering “is my tree big enough?” – the answer is – if you think it is a significant tree then, yes, please share it!
Here is the link to the submission form. Manual submission forms are available if you prefer. If you know you have a big tree on your property but would like a Landcare committee member to visit and document it, please reach out.
While, of course it’s not a competition, hunters are also looking in the Jindivick and Labertouche areas, so Neerim District’s pride is on the line. Which area will take out the “tallest tree” or “fattest tree” category? Will we find a tree that predates significant clearing in our region? What stories will be told?
Get hunting – more than one tree submission is possible too!
For help or guidance contact:
Phil Darton
P 0408351915
or,
Helen Barclay
P 0410 123 405
Ps The Hunt for the Giants launch event was a great success – thank you to all who showed your interest and support.  Brett Mifsud shared his incredible knowledge with great humour and engagement.
Hunt for the Giants – Phase 2: The Hunt Begins 2026-04-13T15:32:27+10:00

Hunt for the Giants on Friday 13th March – Reminder

A quick reminder that the launch of the Hunt for the Giants is on this Friday, 13th March at 5.30pm at Glen Cromie Caravan Park.

Guest speaker is Brett Mifsud, a widely recognised leading expert on forest giants (trees that is).

A free BBQ dinner provided and kids welcome.

An RSVP link and further details are in the link to the Brochure at the end of this message.

 

Hunt for the Giants brochure 2 – Launch event

Hunt for the Giants on Friday 13th March – Reminder 2026-03-11T18:57:45+11:00

Hunt for the Giants launch

Everyone is welcome to attend a get together and BBQ at Glen Cromie Caravan Park on Fri 13th March starting at 5:30pm.
We will be launching our new project – ‘Hunt for the Giants’!
Community members across Jindivick, Drouin West, Neerim District and Labertouche are invited to join the hunt for the most significant trees towering over paddocks, bushland and roadsides. To launch the ‘Hunt for the Giants’, we’re excited to welcome special guest speaker Brett Mifsud. Brett has spent years documenting, measuring, photographing and climbing some of Australia’s tallest trees across Victoria and Tasmania, and is widely recognised as a leading expert on forest giants.

BBQ dinner, Guest Speaker, Info about the Tree Hunt, Kids welcome (playground at venue)

Please RSVP here for catering purposes.

For more info please contact:
Jindivick Landcare group: Helen Barclay P 0410 123 405 Jindivicklc@gmail.com

Neerim District Landcare: Phil Darton P 0408 351 915 Info@ndlg.org.auHunt for ther giants pic.jpg
Hunt for the Giants launch 2026-02-25T17:08:00+11:00

Neerim District Landcare Group meeting

Your local Landcare group is having its first committee meeting for the year this Friday, 13th February at 4 pm at the Neerim South Bendigo Bank meeting room.

You don’t have to be on the committee to come to the meeting.

All group members and other interested people are invited to come along to hear about some of the activities planned for 2026 and have your say if you wish.

If you want more information contact the Secretary, Phil Darton on 0408351915

Neerim District Landcare Group meeting 2026-02-08T16:13:17+11:00

1926 Bushfire 100 year anniversary commemoration

Please see below updated details for the 1926 Bushfires 100 Year Anniversary Commemoration, starting at 1pm on Saturday February 14 at the Noojee Train Station Heritage Precinct.
It’s terrific we’re able to span both Noojee and Powelltown communities on the day.
And we’re very lucky to have two fantastic historians with us in Peter McHugh and Peter Evans.
If possible, please let Wally Notman know if you intend on coming and for which parts. All are welcome for any or all of the day.
If there’s local fires of concern, or the fire danger rating is beyond high, the events will be cancelled. But Noojee Historical Society’s 1926 Bushfires Display will still be there for people to see at their leisure.
I’ve also attached links to a couple of articles from the Argus just after the fires for interest.
Please pass on to anyone you think might be interested.
Thanks,
Wally
0409 146 576

1926 BUSHFIRES COMMEMORATION

 

The Neerim-Noojee Forest Interest Group will gather again on Saturday Feb 14 from 1pm at the Noojee Heritage Railway Station Precinct to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1926 bushfires.

 

Known in those times as the Great Fires of 1926, this was truly a devastating event with much loss of life and property and untold flow on effects for our families, forests, farmland and communities.

 

The day will have 3 parts, so you’re welcome to join in any or all of them.

 

  • At 1pm – View the Noojee & District Historical Society’s 1926 Bushfires Exhibition in the Louvre Carriage Van and listen to Forests and Bushfire Historian Peter McHugh, as he leads us on an exploration of the fires and their long lasting consequences.

 

  • At 2.30pm – Meet at the site of Worlley’s Mill (https://maps.app.goo.gl/P9shD6sgNQfqmzPBA) on the Bunyip Rd near the headwaters of the Bunyip River, where forests and light railway historian Peter Evans will delve into the events leading to the tragic loss of 14 lives here exactly 100 years ago.

 

  • At 4pm – Meet at the Powelltown Hall with the locals and our historians to explore more of the 1926 fires, including the remarkable story of Florrie Hodges and the history of dugouts. For a gold coin donation, enjoy a light afternoon tea courtesy of the very welcoming Powelltown Hall and Church committee.

 

If you’re in need of sustenance before the event, Heritage Gifts and Coffee at the Noojee Station have assorted toasties, croissants and slices, as well as great coffee. BYO drinks and snacks for the drive.

 

Logistics wise, we’ll car pool as much as possible from Noojee. The drive to Worlley Mill entails 15 minutes on the sealed Powelltown Rd and a further 20 minutes via Turners, Learmonths Ck and Bunyip Roads…..gravel but good 2WD forest roads. The walk to the mill site is 200m on a gentle slope but uneven ground. Down to Powelltown from Worlley’s Mill site is 15 minutes via Bunyip and Learmonths Ck rds. Then 20 minutes return to Noojee.

 

** If there’s local fires of concern, or the fire danger rating is beyond high, the events will be cancelled **

1926 Bushfire 100 year anniversary commemoration 2026-02-04T14:45:59+11:00

Friends of Red Hill Creek – the New Start

Friends of Red Hill Creek — the New Start

10 years ago, the original Neerim South Wetland was opened and much farming land alongside Red Hill Creek was rehabilitated with the help of Neerim District Landcare Group. Coinciding with this, a Wetlands Friends Group formed and ran faithfully for some time, caring for the wetland in conjunction with Baw Baw Shire Council.

A new subcommittee of Neerim District Landcare Group is relaunching this environmental friends group for the Red Hill Creek reserves. Baw Baw Shire Council is also providing permission and further guidance.

Where we will focus

  • Neerim South Wetland (cnr Railway Rd and Birdsong Rise)
  • Red Hill Creek Wetland (Red Hill Crt)
  • Creekside walk (between Railway Rd and Neerim East Rd)

We will have regular working bees of weeding, mulching, litter collection and planting. Future community activities may include nature promotion events to raise awareness, celebrating the protection of our local environment. We hope to run our working bees on Wednesday mornings monthly, once our annual plan is finalized.

Would you like to help us make a difference at our local wetlands? Then, to find out more, please come to a free morning tea at the BBQ area at the wetlands from 10am-11am on Saturday 6th December. BYO chair and sunhat!

The $25 household annual membership of Neerim District Landcare Group membership is required to participate in the Friends of Red Hill Creek for insurance purposes.

Please contact Rose Breyley via email friendsofredhillcreek@gmail.com for more information.”

Friends of Red Hill Creek – the New Start 2025-11-22T14:23:32+11:00

Neerim District Landcare Group AGM

Just a quick reminder about the Neerim District Landcare Group AGM

When and Where: Friday 21st November, 5.00pm at the Neerim South Bendigo Bank Board Room

Come along and hear about the year’s activities, the plans for 2026, and elect a committee of management for next year.

 

Neerim District Landcare Group AGM 2025-11-19T16:42:13+11:00