See also the UBLN Quarterly Magazine - download the PDF at http://www.ubln.org.au/tree-talk/winter.pdf

The Upper Barwon Landcare Network newsletter for August 2010 now available - see the August UBLN "What's On" monthly bulletin (PDF format), or visit ubln.org.au for more information. The bulletin details upcoming workshops and local landcare groups meetings.

This month ;

Dung Beetle and Earthworm workshop

Dean Suckling is presenting this workshop on Thursday 5th August between 10:30am— 12:30pm in the Birregurra hall. The workshop will help participants understand the functions of Dung Beetles and Earthworms.

Interpreting Soil Test Results workshop

Cam Nicolson will lead this intensive workshop on Thursday 19th August between 10:00am—3:00pm in the Birregurra hall. Bring along your recent soil results to find out what the numbers really mean.

Jigsaw Farms trip

A bus trip has been organized to visit Jigsaw Farms near Hamilton on Tuesday 10th of August. The bus will depart the Birregurra hall at 8:30am and return late afternoon. Cost is $25 per person. RSVP is essential to the UBLN office by Friday 6th August.

Barwon Rivercare Meeting - Next meeting will be in the Uniting Church hall at 7pm on Thursday 29th July. Jenniy Gregory from DPI will be giving a presentation on `Geothermal Technologies’
Murroon Landcare Group - next meeting will be held at 12:30 pm on Friday 30th July at Jan and Peter Greigs’ property. The meeting will include a presentation on the Otway LEAF project. There will also be a brief presentation on the `structure’ of Landcare, the roles of the various bodies, and how they interact. BYO lunch. Tea and coffee supplied.
Irrewarra Farmcare Group - next activity will be on Wednesday 18th August. It is a trip to Lismore to look at some of the biological farming work that the Lismore Land Protection Group has been running. Bus will leave Irrewarra Football Club at 10am.
Wurdale Landcare Group - no plans for a July meeting. A quick catch up will held at the Dung Beetle workshop
to decide the August activity

Whole Farm Planning course

Starting early August this course will be run at the Irrewarra Football Clubrooms. It is based on the new FarmPlan 21 program and will include an introduction to iFarmer, a web based mapping tool with aerial image of your property.
Contact Nerissa Lovric 5233 5508 for further details.

Community Action Grants

The 2010 round of Federal Government funded `Community Action Grants’ are open for amounts between $5,000—20,000. Contact the UBLN office for assistance if your group has a project proposal. Further details at http://www.nrm.gov.au/cag/index.html

Growing the Next Wave of Rural Leaders in Western Victoria

Organized by WestVic Dairy, this 40 hour course is to be conducted at King Parrot Cottages starting on Friday 27th August. It is aimed at people who already have a leadership role in their community. Preference will be given to people involved in
Agribusiness or farming. Contact Karen Wales for further details on 5562 0021 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

A description of the nine-hole Winchelsea Golf Course, as experienced by visiting player Russell Karmel.

Set on approximately 40 hectares, the course offers tree lined fairways and regulation greens. A nine hole golf course (it has different teeing areas if you want to go around a second time), consisting of three par 3s, five par 4s and a par 5.

The Upper Barwon Landcare Network newsletter for July 2010 now available - see the June UBLN "What's On" monthly bulletin, or visit ubln.org.au for more information. The bulletin details upcoming workshops and local landcare groups meetings.

This month ;

• Soil Organic Matter and Soil Carbon Workshop - download the flyer (PDF)
• Focus farm group meetings
• Otway LEAF Project
• NAIDOC Week (National Aboriginal Islander Day Observance Committee)

The April edition of Surf Coast Shire Council's newsletter, "Groundswell", contains a major section on Winchelsea. It includes details of investments in Winchelsea and plans for Winchelsea's growth. Read more for the full articles on Winchelsea, or download the complete Groundswell as a PDF.

Surf Coast Shire Council has developed a draft Playground Strategy providing a rolling 10-year play for upgrades to playgrounds, new standards for playground development and plans for new and upgraded facilities. Four new playgrounds are earmarked for Winchelsea, providing major improvements, while one new playground is proposed in Wurdale.

This is Council's first playground strategy and is particularly important for young families. It has a strong focus on providing facilities in growth areas - from neighbourhood local playgrounds to larger regional and district playgrounds.

Register to receive the Surf Coast Shire news about Council activities by email, and you could win;

• A copy of the definitive Complete Guide to the Great Ocean Road. This invaluable and fascinating resource has been compiled by the principal author and photographer, Richard Everist, and a team of contributors.
• A luscious hamper of the fine produce able to be sampled by taking the Otway Harvest Trail, which winds through the scenic Otways hinterland.
• Six of the best local wines to accompany the feast.

Simply send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with the words "Email Contact List" in the subject line. Be sure to provide;

• Your email address
• Your full name
• The postal address to which your rates notices are sent
• the Assessment Number of your Surf Coast Shire property(ies), in the top right of the rates notice

This year's Senior and Junior Sportspersons Awards Night is to be held on Friday 11th June, at the Winchelsea Globe Theatre. Tickets on sale from Liz Tench at the Winchelsea Pharmacy (5267 2198 business hours, or 5267 2007 at home).

Entry is by prepaid ticket only!

$30 for adults, $15 for juniors (16 and under). Table bookings of 8 are also available).

The Upper Barwon Landcare Network newsletter for June 2010 now available - see the June UBLN "What's On" monthly bulletin, or visit ubln.org.au for more information. The bulletin details upcoming workshops and local landcare groups meetings.

This month ;

• The next Sustainable Farming Workshop - "Soil Biology" (next month, "Soil Carbon")
• New UBLN Executive members
• Fox Baiting
• Otway Agroforestry Network - Farm Tree Expo
• How 2 Make Things Happen 4U, part of the series `Growing the Next Wave of Rural Leaders in South West Victoria’
• Flora Training
• Barwon Water report
• East Otway Landcare Group
• Irrewarra Farmcare Group
• Wurdale Farmcare Group
• Murroon Farmcare Group

Winchelsea Community House has been awarded a Volunteer Grant from Department for Planning and Community Development towards recruiting new volunteers, training, childcare and advertising.  Volunteers are being sought for a number of roles - volunteers can use discounted childcare and its a great way to get training and refresh work skills, gain friends and feel worthwhile in the community.

Further details are available on the Winchelsea Community House website.

Winchelsea Guides celebrate 60 years and 100 years of Guiding world-wide - celebrations will be held on Saturday 5th June 2010 at St Johns Catholic Hall (in Harding Street, Winchelsea) at 2pm. All those involved in Guiding over the years are welcome to join in - bring any memorabilia to share.

Afternoon tea will be served and the oldest guide/leader present will be invited to cut the cake.

Enquiries to Yvonne Orchard on 5267 2630 (0448 672 630).

The Upper Barwon Landcare Network newsletter for May 2010 now available - see the May UBLN "What's On" monthly bulletin, or visit ubln.org.au for more information. The bulletin details upcoming workshops and local landcare groups meetings.

This month ;

• Landcare Celebration Weekend and Annual General Meeting
• Barwon Water information evening
• Murroon Landcare Group
• Soil Health and Farm Sustainability
• Focus Farm Groups
• Otway LEAF (Linking Environment And Farms) Project
• Irrewarra Farmcare Group
• Wurdale Landcare Group
• Fox Baiting
• From Waste to Energy

The Winchelsea Business & Tourism Association (BTA) has responded to recent newspaper articles encouraging Winchelsea to consider leaving the Surf Coast Shire. Councillor Lindsay Schroeter has reportedly said that other Councils would welcome Winchelsea – however, the Winchelsea BTA believes there are many benefits to remaining in Surf Coast.

Can you imagine riding your bike or walking from Winchelsea to Lake Modewarre - around the lake and on to Moriac; packing your bag with your picnic lunch; a day out with the kids.  The Lake Modewarre Committee of Management (LMCM) is currently working with V-line to investigate the use of the rail corridor as a walking/cycling trail from Moriac and Winchelsea to the Lake.

Term 2 dates to remember for the Helen Mary Kininmonth Kindergarten.

Following the CFA-declared end of the Fire Danger Period at 1am on Monday 22 March; residents in rural areas can again burn off, while residents in townships can burn off on Wednesdays and Saturdays between 10am and 3pm only.