Planting knowledge, growing connection: Newlands Primary students lead the way in Waring season
There was an unusual sight at Newlands Primary School one chilly morning in June: dozens of Grade One and Two students carefully planting seedlings in a narrow strip of land along Murphy Street.
Working with quiet focus despite their excitement, the children moved expertly through the steps they’d learned: checking the plants’ root systems, packing soil, laying mulch, and gently watering the seedlings once they were settled in the earth. The activity was part of a broader project to transform neglected areas of the school grounds into a thriving indigenous habitat corridor and wellbeing garden.
Students from Newlands Primary School planting.
My Place: Amy Sledziona
Amy Sledziona, founder of Friends of Malcom Creek. Amy Sledziona is a veterinarian and the founder of the reinvigorated volunteer group Friends of Malcom Creek, a tributary of the Merri Creek. Amy lives on the rapidly expanding northern edge of Melbourne where she identified a need for new locals to connect with and protect nature and waterways.
Fundraising Subcommittee Members (voluntary)
Merri Creek Management Committee Fundraising Subcommittee is undergoing a refresh. We are now looking for a number of creative, organised, and proactive specialist fundraisers to join us to lead and support our ongoing fundraising activities. As a Subcommittee member you’ll work with others and play a key role in planning what our fundraising future looks like and getting your hands dirty organising activities.
Birding along the Merri Creek by Jonathan Tickner
Long time Friends of Merri Creek (FoMC) member Jonathan Tickner has created this handy guide to birding along the Merri, and is kindly donating all proceeds to FoMC! You can purchase the book here.
From Jonathan, "(I'm) very pleased to announce the publication of my eBook, all proceeds of which will be donated to FoMC. The illustrated guide helps birders who are starting on their birding journey or who aren’t familiar with the creek, providing maps, detailed descriptions of locations and the birds you may find there at different times of the year. Plus, it is a celebration of the bird life along the creek, through my photography. A printed version of the book can soon be ordered too."
More about the book: A helpful guide to birders who want to explore the Merri Creek, enhance their birding skills and get to know the birds that visit the various habitats along the creek. The booklet includes detailed instructions of how to get to and navigate each location, clear maps, lists of birds that are found at each location at different times of the year, and stunning photographs of birds.
Doug Frood: a lifelong nature connection and hope for Curly Sedge Creek
As a child, Doug Frood was, in his own words, “that weird kid” – the one who loved insects, rocks and birds, and spent as much time as possible walking and camping in nature.
“Plants were my specialty,” he says. “Partly because I’m short-sighted and they don’t fly away like birds do. But also, I’ve just always had an affinity for them.”
That early passion for plants grew into a career as a botanical field ecologist. In the late 1980s and early 90s, Doug was working for the Victorian Government when he first spent time surveying grasslands along the Merri Creek.
Doug Frood at Curly Sedge Creek. Photograph by Annette Ruzicka Photography.
The nose knows: could this dog help save a critically endangered plant?
“I got Atticus when he was four months old, and he’s an absolute pocket rocket. He’s like 10 border collies in one,” laughs ecologist and conservation dog handler Annett Finger. “He has so much drive that I have to do some kind of work or training with him on every walk we take. If I don’t, he pesters me!”
That intense energy is now being channelled into an unlikely conservation partnership. Together, Annett and Atticus are working with Merri Creek Management Committee (MCMC) to try and detect one of Victoria’s most elusive native plants – the critically endangered Matted Flax-Lily (Dianella amoena) – at Curly Sedge Creek and the surrounding galgi ngarrk grasslands.
Atticus identifying Dianella. Photograph by Annett Finger.
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