![[ Random Image ]](https://leanganook.org/images/image_10.jpeg)
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
Wendell Berry
Changes to Localising Leanganook activities and e-newsletter
The editing group of Localising Leanganook has recently decided to make three changes:
- First, a return to initiating community conversations in collaboration with other groups. Localising Leanganook community conversations commenced after the Local Lives Global Matters Conference held in Castlemaine almost 10 year s ago, in October 2015, as a way of keeping the conference momentum going. However, during the covid and lockdown periods these conversations ceased. It’s time to reinstate them and we welcome your suggestions.
- Second, our monthly e-newsletter will focus on a feature article, exploring localisation in greater depth in our our region as well as innovations which challenge existing paradigms, showcase creative and sustainable local initiatives, and which incubate ideas and strategies to strengthen our community connection and resilience.
- Third, instead of the detailed ‘whats on and local groups’ sections under the various headings, we are, instead, updating our Localising Leanganook website to incorporate tabs for each of the headings. A brief description and image for each group and event will be included under the tabs with links to websites and/or Facebook pages, so readers can find further information and updates. This will make the newsletter shorter. Please note that this is a work in progress so it will take time and will require some constant updating. We welcome your input around suitable group and event descriptions plus images. Contact us via hello@leanganook.org
Feature Article: The Los Angeles fires: climate emergency, public policy and community preparedness failures – by David Holmgren
- Arts and Culture
- Food Growing, Farming and Food Security
- Ecology and Environment
- First Nations
- Sustainable Living Resources
- Building Community
- The Spirit and the Sacred
- Local Government News
- Workshops and Courses
- Letters
- Food for Thought
Feature Article- The Los Angeles Fires: climate emergency, public policy and community preparedness failures – David Holmgren
Are the Los Angeles fires a result of the climate emergency, public policy or community unpreparedness? Possibly all three. From my research over decades, living in one of the most wildfire-prone regions in the world, it looks much more likely that it’s more the latter emergencies than the former. Let’s start with the last: community preparedness failures.
LA might be iconic in its disconnection from nature and in its inability-to-fend-for-itself individually, in households, local neighbourhoods and informal networks. This inability and disconnection have grown over many decades due to generational affluence and urbanisation.
The rich neighbourhoods of LA, perched on steep slopes, are at risk of earthquake, wildfire and other hazards, and this reflects a relationship to nature that is more about ‘The View’ and social status than due diligence about risk, or productive use of the land around dwellings. While it is understandable that some of the most disadvantaged in the world might dwell and work in such places close to economic opportunity (including fresh volcanic landscapes capable of growing food), it seems odd that the affluent in information-rich modern societies with the internet at their fingertips, don’t conduct their own research and better prepare themselves for these risks. Instead, most choose to rely on social norms, public infrastructure, professional oversight, insurance, and if all else fails, the government, to cover those risks for them.
Perhaps reasonably, for the affluent in the upmarket hill suburbs associated with Hollywood’s glitz and glamour, a habit has developed of assuming that in the event of real need, the cavalry will arrive to protect these residents and their properties. The evidence from Hurricane Katrina, Lahaina wildfires or Hurricane Helene, amongst other notable disasters in the USA, should have been clear enough that the process of top-down defence, aid and recovery for victims of natural disasters can be as inadequate, dysfunctional and traumatising as the disaster itself. At least this seems to be the case for more disadvantaged working-class folk, be they Afro-American, Hawaiian or Anglo-Appalachian.
Permaculture design against disaster, especially the threat of bushfire (wildfire) in Australian rural, peri-urban and suburban communities has provided us with many learnings. One of the most profound is that even the best scientific research on the nature of wildfire, its sources and accelerants, and the best firefighting services (both volunteer and professional) are no substitute for individual, household and community level awareness and action in planning for, responding to, and recovery from, wildfire that impacts landscape, settlements and lives.
Unattended houses burn
Another more empowering observation is that while wildfire raging through fire-prone forest, shrubland and grasslands can exceed the capacity of the best equipped firefighters to contain, the defence of houses is much easier. The vast majority of houses which burn in wildfire are unattended and burn from ember infiltration after the fire front has passed. Most houses can provide critically important protection from radiant heat, even if those sheltering from the fire then fail to save the building from burning after the danger outside has subsided. In our own research and case study design following the 1983 Ash Wednesday Fires, we came to the conclusion that wildfire resistant or resilient design could be seen as a self-confidence trick we play on ourselves to ‘Stay and Defend’ rather than ‘Leave Early’, and so save our homes, assets and animals from the worst impact of the disaster. Following those same fires, research by CSIRO showed the presence of at least one able-bodied person (not professional firefighter) was two to four times more significant than any other site factor or design feature in determining whether a house burnt within the wildfire zone.
Slide from Joan Webster’s presentation at a post Black Saturday event
This evidence has not been overturned by research into later fires, even if the 2009 Black Saturday Royal Commission resulted in a policy U-turn in Australia from ‘Stay and Defend or Leave Early’ to ‘Leave and Live’. Since then, many more people have chosen to evacuate due to these policies, combined with media focus on climate-accelerated wildfire. Other factors such as declining capacity through aging and disability, and the decline in household and neighbourhood confidence and skills that I reference above, are also at play. However, there are still many people who do stay and successfully defend their homes, and in suburban neighbourhoods often manage to save houses of vacated neighbours, with or without the legal right to do so.
Having grown up in a bushfire-safe residential area, my introduction to this process was hearing Bill Mollison’s experience in the great forest fires that devastated the peri-urban fringes of Hobart, Tasmania in 1967. Mollison saved his (not at all bushfire resistant) house where, a few years later, we developed the permaculture concept and first garden. He did so with a mop and a bucket before saving another four homes in the neighbourhood, while another twelve burnt to the ground, all unattended. These stories repeat themselves with every large fire, so we no longer need scientific research to validate the lived experience of thousands who have actively defended. Similar stories have been reported from LA in recent weeks, where the more draconian forced evacuation policies, combined with fire-vulnerable building methods, contribute to giving the general public the impression that active household defenders are either super hero figures or mad risk takers.
I think it is important to point out that while many of the houses burnt in the LA fires were isolated in thick fire-prone chaparral vegetation, the vast majority seem to be in suburban-density neighbourhoods with full urban infrastructure and manicured, irrigated gardens. It could be argued that these places and people are not victims of ‘wildfire’, but urban fires spreading from one unattended burning house to the next. This same pattern can be seen in the worst ‘bushfires’ in Australia. However, over recent years fires such as those in Paradise CA, Lahaina Hawaii and now LA, show this extreme pattern of urban incineration, often with surrounding trees scorched by the intensity of the housefires but not having been the source of the fire that burnt the houses. These are not forest, bush, chaparral or even grassland fires, but urban ones, not so different from the Great Fire of London that led to urban building methods and regulations less prone to fire.
Building materials and methods
A lot of simplistic reactions to the LA fires suggested that houses built of ‘unburnable materials’ would be safe. This seems logical but reflects a misunderstanding of how buildings burn as a result of wildfire-generated embers that enter poorly protected but enclosed building spaces especially under floors and roof cavities. While flammability of building materials is an issue, it is less important than how well sealed and protected from embers the building is. Even more important, but little discussed even in Australia, is the fact that modern houses are full of furnishings and possessions that burn, producing smoke considerably more toxic than natural wood’s. It is these contents along with the construction methods that make for such intense housefires. More extreme cases like the American roofing system of bitumen tiles and PVC foamboard siding with thin stucco render makes my hair stand on end in disbelief that this could be common in wildfire-prone regions.
Slide from Joan Webster’s presentation at a post Black Saturday event
It appears that even opulent construction in the affluent Pacific Palisades and other neighbourhoods did not mean better construction methods than the generally poor building standards in the USA. These appear to take less consideration of natural hazards such as wildfire, earthquake and hurricane than the equivalent standards in Australia or New Zealand.
‘Climate’ as a cover for incompetence?
Apart from lax building and development controls, the problems of public infrastructure, especially water supply, and firefighting services not being up to public and professional expectations, sounds like it could be worse in the State of California than in other states. While I take some of the extreme public and political criticism of California in this regard with a grain of salt, some of the stories of incompetence and downright dysfunction do sound like they were major contributing factors to the impact of the LA fires.
As for the weather that created the conditions for the fires, I noted LA resident liberal comedian and commentator Bill Maher ridiculing the Mayor of LA, Karen Bass, for exclaiming that such extreme conditions hadn’t been seen for 14 years, prompting Maher’s comment that ‘Maybe look in the history books to see how our ancestors handled it back in 2011’.
So even true believers in the climate emergency on the political left are starting to notice that the climate story is being used to cover dysfunction in disaster planning and response services that, in theory, should be much easier to correct than anthropogenic climate change. While this focus on the failures of governance is always widespread following disasters, the declining capacity of individuals, households and communities to take responsibility for their own welfare, is generally seen as victim blaming.
Drivers of wildfire
Five years ago in Bushfire Resilient Land and Climate Care, I spoke to the competing narratives of lack of land management versus climate change being the primary drivers of the Black Summer bushfires on the Australian east coast in 2020/2021. Today I have become more convinced that a complex of policy, management and human behavioural issues were the primary drivers of those fires, while my confidence is declining that the severity of fire scale and impact were a result of worsening climate conditions. In fact, during that summer there were only three ‘blow up’ days that generated the worst fires and losses. Furthermore, my confidence is also declining in the narrative that worsening climatic conditions were anthropogenic in nature, and more specifically due to GHG emissions. I have even begun to consider the potential that nefarious anthropogenic actions may have been used to enhance or even create ‘natural disasters,’ as the powerful, global climate change industry, including the Fire-Industrial Complex, grows.
Arson remains a common malevolent source of fire (amongst many other human sources of ignition). This exercise of power, by those often at the bottom of society, is both ancestral and modern, but at many times throughout history, it has been used by elites in power struggles with enemies, and to control populations. The possibility that deliberate ignition, by conventional or technologically novel means, being used by powerful players in a supercharging of ‘disaster capitalism,’ combined with terror tactics to manipulate communities and whole populations, should not be dismissed out of hand. In periods of eruptive change and lack of faith in authority, it is natural that such so-called ‘conspiracy theories’ proliferate. But that viral proliferation doesn’t mean that they are not true, or at least include an element of truth. The assumption that powerful elites would never engage in such malevolence, or that if they did they would be exposed and held accountable, reveals a general naivety of history, both ancient and more recent.
Questions, curiosity and openness
Along these lines, I have viewed many videos of post-fire conditions in Paradise, Lahaina, LA and other recent severe fires in the US, showing ‘abnormal’ fire conditions with suggestions that novel Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs) especially microwave weapons caused ignition and destruction of houses, cars and other assets. Based on my extensive observation and decades of research, I remain sceptical but interested in these suggestions. While some claims (like unburnt trees but incinerated buildings) can be generally explained by a full understanding of fire dynamics, in some other cases it is more difficult to do so. The lockdown of fire affected areas makes it very difficult for independent investigators to make assessments, however those who manage to document the aftermath produce evidence and theories that leave me with more questions.
To ignore the possibility that nefarious theatre is being used to enhance belief in the climate emergency, presumably to get the public to accept draconian and rights-eroding government responses, is in my view unwise. However, ignoring such a scenario may be another form of wilful blindness afflicting environmentalists wedded to the urgency of the climate emergency at all costs. At the same time, I see the rising angst on the socially conservative right that ‘we-could-all-go-back-to-business-as-usual (Make America Great Again), if it wasn’t for the rise of techno-authoritarianism from a government beholden to green-left identitarianism, as also misguided. Further, like the angst on the left, it doesn’t naturally lead to an essential focus on modest, relocalised individual, household and community level responses in the context of rising levels of social and economic dysfunction and widespread corruption in the state-corporate nexus.
Slide from Joan Webster’s presentation at a post Black Saturday event
Permaculture diversity, modesty and resilience
While permaculture networks are not free of these divisive differences of interpretation – of both local and global events – permaculture starts with the individual, household, small business and community level actions that support local abundance and resilience in the face of change. From its origin on the post-bushfire slopes of Mt Wellington (Kunanyi), Hobart, half a century ago, permaculture has always included designs to plan, mitigate and recover from the adverse impacts of natural (and human-generated) disasters. While permaculture has no silver bullets, it provides a framework of ethics and design principles to draw together diverse strategies, techniques and behaviours, be they from indigenous and vernacular traditions or modern innovation, that can contribute to retrofitting our ecologies and habitats for more challenging times. This I characterise as the ‘energy descent future’.
As a long-affluent urbanised nation, Australia is no exemplar in either maintaining or rebuilding those capacities in wildfire vulnerable communities. Beyond being the origin of permaculture, I believe many regions around the world experiencing enhanced wildfire hazard and impacts can learn a lot from our country where the hazards have been longstanding and pervasive. At Melliodora Publishing we are committed to keeping the work of the late Joan Webster in print as the most useful distillation of how everyone can build greater confidence in surviving and thriving in regions afflicted by this most terrifying of nature’s processes. Webster’s work is distilled from hard evidence over many decades, and is empowering, independent of whether one believes wildfire is a sign of climate change, collapsing community capacity and know-how, dysfunction and incompetence of professionalism, nefarious elites stealing high value real estate, or God punishing us for our own evil ways as some in the US believe. In a world of accelerating uncertainties, I believe we need to focus on fostering abundance and resilience wherever we can, establishing trust and relationships with those around us, especially in our neighbourhoods, while keeping an eye out for forces both local and over the horizon that threaten our modest actions and yields.
David Holmgren, Permaculture co-originator, Melliodora, January 2025
Arts and Culture
THE SPACE BETWEEN- AN AFTERNOON OF LUTE MUSIC AT YANDOIT CULTURAL
When and Where: Sunday April 6th, at 3.00pm, at Yandoit Cultural– the old church in the bush, Uniting Church Rd, off High St, Yandoit
Rosemary Hodgson, one of Australia’s finest lute players, presents a magical afternoon of lute music in the excellent acoustics of Yandoit Cultural. The lute, an instrument of quiet contemplation, explores both sound and silence in this charming program. The concert will feature works by Philip Rosseter, Robert Johnson and John Dowland. Rosemary will be playing a 16th century lute for some of these pieces.
Australian lutenist, Rosemary Hodgson maintains a vibrant career as soloist and chamber musician. She has established an international reputation for outstanding concert presentations and solo lute recordings of captivating subtlety. A graduate of Melbourne University studying with John Griffiths, Rosemary completed her post graduate studies at the Royal College of Music London, with Jakob Lindberg. With a strong passion for music education, in 2019, Rosemary curated the inaugural Four Winds Lute School in Bermagui NSW, and in 2024 launched the Melbourne international Lute Festival in her hometown. She is a founding member of world-renowned period instrument ensemble La Compania & teaches lute at the University of Melbourne, Conservatorium of Music.
Cost: Suggested donation- $20/15 Bookings: https://yandoitcultural.org/bookings/
Cresfest- coming up this weekend
CresFest is about the joy of live music – playing it, hearing it, watching it, dancing to it, learning it and being inspired by it – it all happens in a lovely heritage town in central Victorian , harnessing the special warmth of our community of Creswick, just 15 minutes from Ballarat.
With our fourth CresFest in April 2025, audiences will enjoy three days of dance and music from a huge and diverse range of performers, from international stars to local newcomers will entertain you over the weekend of Friday 4 April – Sunday 6 April. With up to 18 small venues running at once, you’re guaranteed to get up close and personal with some amazing acts.
For more information and to book: https://cresfest.com.au/
Castlemaine Fringe Festival
There’s still lots happening up until April 6th- music, performances, open studios and much more. Check out the program: https://www.castlemainefringe.org.au/
Ilka White Upcoming Classes- Braided Rag Rugs and Intro to Band Weaving
FOR DESCRIPTIONS OF ILKA’S WORKSHOPS AND COURSES SEE HERE
TO EXPRESS INTEREST IN A PARTICULAR CLASS, MAKE CONTACT HERE OR JOIN ILKA’S MAILING LIST- https://www.ilkawhite.com.au/subscribe-1
Braided Rag Rugs – Online
Session 1- Saturday April 5th– – Introduction and braiding basics
Session 2 – Sunday April 6th – Further design possibilities, tricky bits and rug finishing
Learn a great way to recycle your old clothes and make fantastic rag rugs using an off-loom, spiral-woven braiding technique. We share an inspiring range of colour and design possibilities in this two day workshop. Beautiful and unique floor coverings are possible using contrasting colours, or you can blend patterned rags for a ‘carpet of flowers’. This braiding technique weaves in as we go so there is no stitching up required afterward. Bring your own material to recycle and find out what riches can come from rags… Cost : $125 (AUD) BOOK HERE
INTRODUCTION TO BAND WEAVING: INKLE LOOM WEEKEND IN CASTLEMAINE
and
Designed for beginners and those looking to expand their textile skills, you’ll learn the ins and outs of the versatile Inkle loom. Over the course of two days, we will: Cover the basics of Inkle loom setup and operation; Explore Inkle design and colour theory for eye-catching results; Learn to draft and follow an Inkle pattern; Practice Inkle weaving techniques to create colourful, sturdy bands; Complete a woven band of your own design.
Join Ilka for a weekend of creativity and textile tradition. You’ll leave with new skills, a handwoven band, and the confidence to continue your Inkle weaving journey at home. No prior experience necessary. All materials and use of Inkle looms provided. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today!
Price: $195 To Register: https://ilka-white.corsizio.com/event/677b36eb99d74784f7b019c8
Radius Arts
Exhibitions, workshops, films, yoga , music and more in Hepburn Springs.
An immersive series of photography by David Rosendale, created in DjaDja Wurrung country, Hepburn Regional Park & the Wombat State Forest. This spell binding series was created emerging out of the global pandemic. Closes April 12th.
Where: 76 Main Road, Hepburn Springs . Ph: +61 3 5348 1199 email- radius@designscope.com.au
Newstead Arts Hub
Sunday 6 April. 10am-3pm. Cornucopia workshop with Elizabeth Woodroofe.
Rudderless Exhibition. 5-13 April (2 weeks only). Weekends 10am-4pm.
Every Wednesday Art Hang. 11am-2pm. Free for all. Spend time in the company of other artists BYO art to work on
For more information about exhibitions and events: https://newsteadartshub.org/
Food Growing, Farming and Food Security
Hepburn Wholefoods
The weather is cooling, the leaves are turning and the days are getting shorter, autumn is upon us. Warm weather produce is still around for a little bit longer but they will be finishing up soon so enjoy them while they’re here. It’s a great time to be preserving these fruit and veggies to enjoy through the cooler months.
We are urgently looking for volunteers to assist with unpacking and displaying fresh produce and discounted produce on Thursdays, this could be every week, or every second week. We are hoping for 2 or 3 volunteers to help spread the work load. We anticipate this will take about 2 hours, perhaps less, before we open for our shift at 3pm. This will be counted as part of your volunteering contribution.You will be helping Wholefoods to maintain our wonderful produce offering, and keeping all our members happy! Training and support will be available throughout the role. If you are interested, please contact members@hepburnwholefoods.org.au
Opening hours: Mondays 9.30-11.30am; Thursdays 3-5pm; Saturdays 11am-2.30pm
Location: 11 Perrins Street · Daylesford, Vic 3460 ·
Find us here, and yes, you can join or renew your membership at the shop! Membership: $40 per year, $20 per year concession, FREE for volunteers. Website
Harcourt Orchard Keepers
Mixed Box: Apples and Pears
Grade: 1st, Size: 5kg box, REGULAR PRICE: $48, SPECIAL PRICE: $42
Containing over $48 value, this week’s special box contains 2 apples and 2 pears from our farm. All fruit will keep very well (for weeks) in the fridge, or ripen over a few days in the fruit bowl. Gala apples – very crunchy and nice and sweet, keep well, fruit has some surface spots but this doesn’t affect the quality of the fruit. Cox apples – small (perfect for lunch boxes), very sweet and crunchy, delicious floral flavour. Williams pears – just starting to go yellow, will become soft and juicy when ripe; Ya Li Nashi pears – juicy and crunchy, like a cross between an apple and a pear.
Gala Apples: Grade: 2nd, Size: 10kg box, REGULAR PRICE: $60, SPECIAL PRICE: $50
Our Certified Organic Gala apples are sweet and crisp. They stay firm and crunchy in the fridge for up to two months. Gala are usually a mix of sizes from large to small, the smaller fruit being a popular choice for lunchboxes. Second-grade fruit mostly have skin blemishes from a fungal disease called black spot. This is a cosmetic problem only! The spots are safe to eat and easily removed with peeling. Seconds may also be paler or have less coloured skin, but are still sweet, crunchy, and delicious. Gala are delicious eaten fresh, and are also good for tarts etc. as they tend to hold their shape when cooked (as opposed to cooking apples like Bramley which go very fluffy when cooked)
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Mt Franklin Organics
Edgy Veg Award
TASTE INSPIRED DISHES FROM 46 PUBS, CAFES & RESTAURANTS ACROSS 12 VILLAGES IN CENTRAL VICTORIA
Ecology and Environment
BARRY GOLDING SHARES STORIES ABOUT HIS BOOK: SIX PEAKS SPEAK
When and Where: Saturday April 26th, at 4.00pm, at Yandoit Cultural– the old church in the bush, Uniting Church Rd, off High St, Yandoit
Kingston resident and author, Barry Golding, will share stories about his compelling journey in southern Dja Dja Wurrung Country through the eyes of six iconic mountains in central Victoria. The featured mountains are today called Mt Kooroocheang [near Smeaton], Mt Beckworth [near Clunes], Mt Greenock [near Talbot], Mt Tarrengower [near Maldon], Mt Alexander [near Castlemaine] and Mt Franklin [near Daylesford]. Six Peaks Speak is an interdisciplinary and intercultural story across time, cultures, contested histories and unsettled relationships, uniquely traversing First Nations and unsettler, history, geology, ecology, anthropology and reserve management.
Barry will focus on some of the lesser known legacies in his book associated with Lalkambuk /Mt Franklin in our local area, with reference also to Gurutjanga / Mt Kooroocheang and Liyanganuk /Mt Alexander’ .
Rodney Carter, Dja Dja Wurrung Chief Executive Officer, says of the book: ‘The deep and painstaking research undertaken to bring this book together is significant and impressive. The narrative style, interweaving history of the locations with geology make this book unique, quite beautiful and accessible to a broader audience. It involves a discussion about deeply unsettling legacies, highly relevant today in Australia. It is indeed powerful and disquieting at the same time.’
Cost: Suggested donation- $10.00/8.00. Bookings: https://yandoitcultural.org/bookings/
Renewable Newstead- Solar Farm Open Day
Newstead’s Solar Farm Open Day on Friday 4th April, anytime between 11:00am to 3:00pm. This event is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to explore our innovative solar farm and learn about renewable energy sources. Flow Power, who owns and operates the facility, will have representatives on site to supervise visitors and explain the farm’s features.
Location: Captain’s Gully Road. Head out of Newstead towards Maryborough. Turn left onto Captain’s Gully Road which is approximately 3.8kms from the supermarket. Drive down Captain’s Gully Road for 1.1kms and the farm will be on your left.
- Guided tour of the solar farm
- Insightful presentations on solar energy
- Interactive sessions with energy experts
- Opportunities to ask questions and discuss renewable energy
RSVP: Please confirm your attendance by sending an email by Wednesday 2nd April to info@renewablenewstead.com.au with YES FARM in the subject line. We look forward to having you join us for an informative and enjoyable experience.
Flow Power – Sign Up Information & Help: 2-5pm, Friday 4th April @ Newstead Rural Transaction Centre
Are you considering signing up with Flow Power? We have discovered that Flow Power’s retail offer is not only competitive but often more attractive than other market offers available to local households. Meet the Flow Power Team- These experts will review your current electricity bill with you to determine if Flow Power’s pricing and deals are more beneficial than your existing arrangement. This opportunity is open to both households and local businesses. All are welcome!
We encourage everyone interested in sustainable living, buying from the solar farm or renewable energy to attend this event. Whether you’re an enthusiast or simply curious about Newstead’s very own solar farm, this open day is for you.Come and be part of a greener future. Bring Your Power Bills and Questions . We encourage you to bring your recent power bills and any questions you may have. The Flow Power team will be on hand to assist you and guide you through the process. If you decide to switch to Flow Power after these discussions, ensure you have your phone and email login details with you, as the Flow Power team will help you sign up on the spot
Local Community Benefit: Those who switch to Flow Power can choose to nominate a local club or organisation to receive up to $200, or they can keep $100 for themselves and allocate the other $100 to a Newstead community organisation of their choice. This generous initiative, funded by Renewable Newstead, is known as the Local Community Benefit program. How to Claim the Local Community Benefit- To be eligible for the Local Community Benefit, use the code 30-20 when you sign up for electricity from Flow Power. This code will link your account with the Newstead Solar Farm. After receiving your first FlowPower electricity bill, scan and email it to info@renewablenewstead.com.au with “LCB Claim” in the subject line. You can find more details about the Local Community Benefit on the Renewable Newstead website
RSVP: Please confirm your attendance by sending an email by Wednesday, 2nd April, to info@renewablenewstead.com.au with YES RTC in the subject line.
Bird of the month- Brown Thornbill
The Brown Thornbill is one of the typical “little brown birds” that are always moving fast in foliage and thus hard to identify. It is the only Thornbill species found locally with a red eye, which is a helpful distinguishing feature to look out for, though tough to see in certain light conditions.
Brown Thornbill with its distinctive red eye. Photo by Damian Kelly
Published by Connecting Country: https://connectingcountry.org.au/
The Brown Thornbill can be found in a wide variety of habitats along the east coast of Australia from northern Queensland around to South Australia as well as Tasmania. This adaptable species occurs in a range of habitats with a dense shrub layer, including wet and dry eucalypt forests, as well as heathlands and rainforests. Brown Thornbills have been recorded as high as 1200m in Victoria down to coastal areas. They can also be found in suburban gardens – in fact as I type this I am watching one have a good splash in a water bowl near my window.
A predominantly insectivorous species, it gleans most of its food from foliage and tree trunks as well as foraging on the ground. Occasionally it has been observed eating seeds, fruit and nuts when available.
Long term banding studies have shown that adults are predominantly sedentary although some movements occur from high zones to lower areas in winter. Young birds, however, do disperse to new areas when full fledged. Unlike some Australian species, Brown Thornbills do not have helpers at the nest and broods are raised by the pair. Nesting can occur from June to January, depending on the season and nests are built quite low down in dense shrubbery or even in grass tussocks. Nests are rounded, oval and domed with an entrance near the top. Materials include grasses, lichen, moss, and wool if available, bound together with spider web. Males and females appear very similar and juveniles are equally hard to separate from their parents once fully fledged.
Yimby Composting
We are looking for new composters particularly in Campbell’s Creek and North Castlemaine between Templeton St and Bull St. If you are interested please register here and come along to our YIMBY info session
Become a YIMBY bucket angel: Our composters work so hard collecting, composting and cleaning their buckets so they are ready to go for the next week’s collection. We would love to have some Bucket Angels to offer respite from the bucket washing when our composters are in need. The buckets would already be thoroughly rinsed and would just need a final soapy wash, dry and newspaper lining.
Weekly coffee pick up from Tog’s and Castlemaine Fresh
Bucket collector from the Baco. We collect about 80 honey buckets every fortnight from the the bacon factory. We would love some help with this collection, it would require a biggish vehicle or ute and the buckets then get stored in the shed at the Hub garden.
Donations of second-hand shade cloth so we can make more Beckley Bays (ideally 1800mm width and at least 3600mm in length)
Please get in touch with the YIMBY team if you can help. hello@yimbycompost.com
Biolinks- Become a Citizen Scientist in 2025
From nest box monitoring to nocturnal spotlighting and reptile surveys.
We have ample opportunities to do this throughout 2025 as we continue our monitoring program post the works undertaken in 2023 at our Spring Plains Watershed Repair Pilot Project.
People of all ages have an opportunity to participate in the program and the dates are set to accommodate school holidays. Your involvement helps us to understand what impact our work is having on ecosystems and enables us to refine this process.
Natural Newstead- Hawk Owls
Powerful Owls and Barking Owls (both hawk-owls) roost in similar types of locations, almost always amongst the dark foliage of trees such as Blackwood and Black Wattle.
Our other local hawk-owl, the Southern Boobook, is a common local resident. Their distinctive hawkish profile, a feature of Ninox owls, lacks the well developed facial disks of species such as the Barn Owl (see here for a comparison). This feature is used to direct sound to the ears and as a result Ninox owls are less well adapted to hunting in total darkness. They are regarded as mainly crepuscular hunters with most activity around dusk and dawn hours.
https://geoffpark.wordpress.com/
Wombat Forest Care
Landcare Magazine
The Summer 2024/25 edition of the Victorian Landcare & Catchment Management magazine has now been published! You can read Issue 89 online or download it in PDF format today.
This issue is a feature on innovative farming, including stories about:
Warrenbayne Boho Land Protection Group’s Whole Farm Planning workshops, where the group brings in experts to educate landholders on soils, sustainable farming, natural capital accounting, protecting waterways, remnant vegetation and biosecurity issues.
Biodynamic and integrated farming on Andy Marshall and Linda Scott’s property at Geragamete, where they have implemented farming systems that complement and support nature. This approach maximises biodiversity, provides significant income and offers the potential to connect with nature.
Equine landcare groups coming together to share knowledge and support eachother through the Victorian Equine Landcare Community of Practice, helping horse owners increase their land management skills and minimise common issues like erosion and pasture degradation.
North Central Catchment Management Authority
April edition of the North Central Chat
https://www.nccma.vic.gov.au/documents/1623/North_Central_Chat_April_2025.pdf
First Nations
DjaDjaWurrung Wurreka Newsletter
The Wurreka Newsletter, published on March 12th includes articles on:
- Healing and honouring the Guildford Big Tree, one year on
- Lalgambuk & Djaara’s Connection to Country on the path to World Heritage Listing
- Treaty Negotiations Begin
- “Our Companion”: Listen to Rodney Carter yarning about protecting gal gal (dingo)
- Discover Galkangu: Building with Djaara
https://mailchi.mp/djadjawurrung/wurreka-newsletter
Sustainable Living Resources
Repair Cafes
Repair Cafes are a wonderful volunteer-led initiative for enabling community members to fix everyday household items such as clothing and electrical goods and reducing waste. Below are the upcoming dates in April for the Repair Cafes in our region.
Castlemaine: Sunday 27th April, 10am – 1pm, Castlemaine Community House
Daylesford: Easter Sunday so no cafe this month
Creswick: Sunday 16th March, Easter Sunday 1 – 4pm, Creswick Community Centre Hall
Ballarat: Saturday 26th April, 1 – 4pm, Barkly Square
Bendigo: Every Thursday and Saturday, 10am – 1pm
Pedestrian and cycling works in McKenzie Hill
Mt Alexander shire has received more than $3 million in funding from the Federal Government, along with our own $750,000 contribution, to design and construct a new shared cycling and pedestrian pathway in McKenzie Hill. The new pathway will link McKenzie Hill to Castlemaine, and stretch for 3.6 kilometres along Ireland Street, McKenzie Hill to Parker Street, Castlemaine via the Castlemaine Railway Station.
When completed, the new shared pathway will improve accessibility and encourage more people to walk and cycle safely.
New Economy Network (NENA)- 2025 Conference
SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL AND JOIN US IN OCTOBER. The New Economy Network Australia (NENA) invites proposals for our 2025 conference, which will bring together practitioners, academics, policymakers, and activists to explore how ancient wisdom and innovative economic approaches can create thriving, sustainable, and inclusive societies.
The conference will be held at the Broadbeach Cultural Centre on the Gold Coast (Queensland), Friday 10th to Sunday 12th October 2025.
We welcome submissions across diverse formats, including practitioner presentations, academic research paper presentations, panel discussions, workshops, and experiential activities. Please submit your contact details, abstract, photo and bio via our ONLINE FORM HERE Please also indicate what type of conference activity you’d like to provide, and which conference theme your proposal connects to.
CONFERENCE THEMES: Indigenous Economies: Conference proposals are invited that share insights from ancient and contemporary Indigenous approaches to economic governance, including Caring for Country and Caring for Kin, and decolonizing economic systems. Bioregioning, Resilience and Place-based Economies: Proposals are invited that share frameworks, stories and case studies about innovative approaches to how we live, work and play in our local and bioregional places. This theme includes responding to climate change, rethinking energy, housing, food, land use and relationships with the non-human world.Rethinking ‘Wealth’ – Challenging Capitalism and Redefining the Good Life: Proposals are invited that explore alternative economic models, theories, and case studies that redefine wealth and prosperity; including managing the commons and strategies for redistribution and pre-distribution of shared ‘wealth’.Governance for the Common Good: Proposals are invited that foster discussion about policies and governance structures – at all scales of government, business and society – that support social & economic justice and environmental health.Movement Building from the Ground Up: Proposals are invited that explore approaches to movement building for new economies, through grassroots action and initiatives driving systemic change.Values in Action: Proposals are invited that examine the ethics and philosophies of new economies, including the ethical, ontological, and epistemological foundations of new economic systems.
MORE INFORMATION: Questions? please get in touch at nena@neweconomy.org.au
͏Creswick Trails ͏
Creswick Trails are world-class mountain bike trails that riders from across Victoria – and even other parts of Australia – are enjoying!
Check out the official website or follow Djuwang Baring on Instagram
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Grounded- Making affordable housing a reality before The Australian Dream becomes an urban myth
Community Land Trusts Report Launch – Wednesday 2 April, 6:30PM. Spots are filling fast! Reserve your seat and find out more about why CLTs are a smarter housing alternative – REGISTER FOR THE PUBLIC LAUNCH
Can’t make it in person? Make sure you secure your livestream ticket- REGISTER FOR THE LIVESTREAM
We’re just days away from unveiling Grounded in Affordability: The Economic Case for Community Land Trusts
As we head into another election, the cost-of-living increasingly dominates voter concerns with housing policies in the spotlight. At Grounded we are determined to break the housing cycle by flipping the script on treating housing like a stock market for property investors. We want to work with YOU on changing these policies that have been fueling inequality, speculation, and sky-high rents across the country.
Building Community
Castlemaine Free University
Degrowth Central Victoria
Kirsten Moegerlein who created this image (above) for the Mount Alexander Shire Eco Art Truck project. Check out what she has to say about the image here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGwQwZ8zJz1/
The Hub – Castlemaine Community Cooperative
We are excited to report that everything is in place for the Co-operative to try and buy the Hub on the corner of Barker and Templeton Streets in Castlemaine. The current owner wants to sell to us and a price has been negotiated. This is now our target. To buy the Hub, the Co-operative will borrow money from members (using a mechanism called debentures). Member-investors will be able to choose between 0% and 4% p.a. interest on funds they contribute for a 5, 10 or 15 year term. At the end of this term, their original amount will be paid back.
Our business plan, a disclosure statement, and summary offer has been sent off to Consumer Affairs Victoria and will be provided to you as soon as it is approved. All members, regardless of investment, will get a vote on the future of the Hub, and investment of any additional surplus generated by the Hub.
We have 15 weeks to seal the deal and WE NEED YOUR HELP! In April we will launch a campaign to build our membership locally ahead of us opening our capital raise (in June). We will kick-off by letter-boxing the whole town. Let us know if you can help letterbox the streets in your area. Even an hour of your time will help. Stay tuned for more details on our local campaign activities.
Maldon Walk
Maldon’s Government Reserve: More than a Camp for Cops and Crooks. Come walk with us – who knows who you will meet along the way?
As part of the National Trust Australian Heritage Festival, the Maldon Heritage Network, in partnership with the Maldon Neighbourhood Centre, invites you to step back in time and take a walk through the former Maldon government reserve and police camp to imagine the hurly burly of the goldfields and beyond. Established as the Police Commissioner’s camp by 1854, the area housed the first government buildings of Maldon, a township surveyed on the Tarrangower diggings in the same year. In February 1854 the camp at Tarrangower was described as ‘miserable’.
As quartz reefs were tapped and mined for gold, a more permanent population settled at Maldon and conditions slowly improved at the camp, with many of the early government buildings remaining in evidence today. On this walk through history a host of characters will tell you tall tales and true about the places on site that evidence the life and times of Maldon from the 1850s to the 1960s.
Place: Meet at the Maldon Post Office, 95 High Street, Maldon.
Times: Sunday 27 April 2025, 2:00pm-4:00pm and Sunday 18 May 2025, 11:00am-1:00pm (repeat walk).
This walk is free but prebooking is required at info@maldonnc.org.au or phone 03 5475 2093.
Please note that each walk is approximately two kilometres long and will take about two hours. Some seating is available along the way. The route of the walks includes some unmade paths and uneven ground.
Local Futures Webinars
Already underway, our Feminine Futures Webinar series will run fortnightly until the end of April.
We invite you to listen to the wisdom and inspiration of seven extraordinary women. Their broad set of expertise – spiritual, psychological, ecological, and economic – helps us reassess our worldviews from a feminine, living-world perspective.
Upcoming youth events in Hepburn Shire
The next youth initiative is our Bandstands Music Pop Ups across the Easter school holidays. We will be hosting events from 4 pm and 5 pm on:
- Friday 4 April in Trentham with special guest Eloise
- Friday 11April in Clunes with special guests Stevie Rigby and Arlo Autumnus
- Friday 25 April in Creswick with special guests the Creswick Youth Choir
Come support your local artists, keep an eye on the Hepburn Families Facebook page for more information.
The Spirit and the Sacred
Yandoit Sacred
When and Where: Next Yandoit Sacred Gathering- Friday April 4th at 5.30pm at Yandoit Uniting Church , Uniting Church Rd, off High St, Yandoit
We will then share our thoughts/feelings/experiences on what the word ‘sacred’ means for each of us. We will close with suggestions for the following Yandoit Sacred session, followed by home-made soup around the kitchen table for any who may want to eat together afterwards. You are invited to bring an ‘offering’ – something you might be doing, reading, thinking about, something physical you are making or something symbolic, that could be brought into the circle to be shared and/or blessed.
Local Government News
Where: Maine Foodstore, 290-292 Barker Street, Castlemaine VIC, Australia
Mt Alexander Council plans- Our Shire, Our Future 2025-2029
What matters to you? Get involved and help guide what we do and how we do it over the next four years.
Share your feedback before 22 April.
Have your say starts on Daylesford Community Facilities
The community engagement period for the Daylesford Community Facilities project has started. The project is investigating the potential of a community hub at Daylesford Town Hall, which will include a library, customer experience hub and multipurpose community facilities.
Review engagement materials and provide your feedback before Sunday 13 April.
How can you have your say? Visit the project page on the Participate Hepburn website to view floorplans, artistic images and complete the community feedback survey.
- Attend one of the drop-in sessions to discuss the project with Council Officers and members of the Project Advisory Group.
Hard copies of the designs can be printed on request at the Daylesford Library or the Daylesford Customer Experience Hub at Duke Street. Have your say
Statement on Hepburn Hub at The Rex
The Mayor, Cr Don Henderson, this week issued a statement expressing regret to our community in relation to the Hepburn Hub at The Rex.
This follows a media release published last week regarding the unauthorised release of the Local Government Inspectorate draft report on the Hepburn Hub at The Rex project.
Workshops and Courses
Letters
Letters welcomed : send to hello@leanganook.org
Food for Thought͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
This conversation — with my colleague Danny Almagor — was one of my favourites of recent years. Why? Because we — collectively — are integrating and honing in on the merger of the biophysical macro and the inner work micro, with respect to the stakes of our time.”
Listen below: This powerful exchange between two visionary thinkers offers a unique perspective on how we might navigate our most complex global challenges—you don’t want to miss it.
Emergence Magazine- An Essay- the Fault of Time
https://emergencemagazine.org/essay/the-fault-of-time/?utm_source=Emergence+Magazine&utm_campaign
Practising Transition
Every first week of the month we hold a specific webinar on a Transition Practice with a guest. On the third Tuesday of each month there is a collective wisdom sharing space. We align the theme of the webinars and the sharing space each month. The webinars take the form of workshops led by individual facilitators, while the Collective Wisdom space functions as an open space where everyone can share their learnings and experiences, from their unique contexts. This space encourages discussion and connection with others in the wider Transition movement. These two spaces complement each other and each can be attended as a one-off event.
The Compost Conversation articles…
- Be a better composter in 2025
- Would you like chips with that?
- Does composting really reduce greenhouse emissions?
- Reminder: All previous Compost Conversation articles are available on our website in our Resource Hub.
Tyson Yunkaporta on THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE’S HUSBAND