Between the fast-growing towns of Beveridge and Wallan lies a narrow ribbon of land that time – and development – nearly forgot.

While much of the surrounding landscape was drained, dynamited and cleared for agriculture over a century ago, the Melbourne–Sydney rail corridor remained fenced off from livestock and protected from the plough.

Over many decades, this thin strip of land has become a biological time capsule. It is one of the last remaining strongholds of the Seasonal Herbaceous Wetland: an ecological community so rare it is protected under national law.

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The wallan wallan Regional Parkland Alliance was officially launched on the weekend! Our Alliance partners - MCMC, FoMC, WEG, and BEAM - met at the top of Green Hill looking out over Herne's Swamp all the way to Mt Fraser, and across the area that would make up the wallan wallan Regional Parkland.

The Hon. Ros Spence, Member for Kalkallo joined us, and spoke about the importance of natural spaces for the communities that will make up the far northern suburbs, and the importance of our Alliance to helping to bring the vision to life.

MCMC honours the life of Gil Freeman, an inspiring leader in our community of Merri Creek protectors and advocates. Gil was a giant at CERES, in Brunswick and more recently South Gippsland. Gil Freeman died after a brief illness in late March. He was 85 years old and is remembered with fondness and gratitude.

We thank Chris Ennis from CERES for permission to reproduce his tribute to Gil, with small amendments to his original article.

Gil Freeman, image supplied by Mark Phillips, Editor at the Brunswick Voice.

MCMC is seeking expressions of interest for someone with expertise (and/or qualifications) in accountancy, bookkeeping, and/or financial management, to join our Finance Subcommittee in a voluntary capacity. We value sound financial management as fundamental to our environmental, educational and advocacy goals.

In the upper Merri Creek catchment, the landscape is changing, with new suburbs spreading across plains that were once defined by wetlands and waterways. But just beyond the edges of development, another story is still visible: volcanic cones, remnant grasslands, and a creek system that continues to shape the land.

For local campaigner and former Mitchell Shire Councillor Rob Eldridge, who has been advocating for the establishment of a Regional Parkland here for decades, it’s a place that is full of possibility.

Early spring, looking towards Mt Fraser. Image by Michael Longmore.