Volunteers in action ENews

Natural Resources Northern and Yorke Volunteers in Action ENews keeps you in touch with activities, events and opportunities, specific to volunteers who manage our natural resources in the Northern and Yorke Region.

Your contributions help us build on our network of volunteers. If you have an event, working bee or would like to share your volunteer groups story the please email DEWNRNRNYVolunteers@sa.gov.au  

Its Hoodie time!

It's Hooded Plover nesting time again.

Hooded Plovers or ‘Hoodies’ nest exclusively on beaches during August to March. Their nests are simply designed and well camouflaged therefore nests can be accidentally disturbed or crushed.

We have a small dedicated team of volunteers who monitor beaches regularly as part of the "Adopt a Beach" program. If nests are found then temporary fencing is erected around the nest. This is an important part in protecting the hoodie.

Colour banding is also an important part in protecting Hoodies. Banding makes it easier to follow individual birds overtime and gather important information such as distance and seasonal movements, juvenile dispersal and population demographics.

This year’s banding in the Yorke Peninsula is planned for 14 to 18 December.

You can find out more about Hooded Plovers by visiting Birdlife Australia Website http://birdlife.org.au/projects/beach-nesting-birds and you can Report banded birds direct to hoodedplover@birdlife.org.au.

If you would like to help monitor YP’s Hooded Plovers you can register you’re interested in this year’s banding, "adopt a Beach" program or if you would like more information about the Yorke Peninsula Hoodie Program please contact dewnrnrnyvolunteers@sa.gov.au

Image Caption:Banded Hooded Plover

Image Credit:Deb Furbank

Restoring the Past at Bimbowrie

Recently the Friends of Burra Parks visited Bimbowrie Conservation Park and worked at the Heritage precinct as part of the group’s annual works program. The six day working bee undertook restoration work on the heritage buildings using traditional stone masonry methods. This year the work focused on the South Australian Heritage listed Powder Magazine, blacksmith shop and Coach House. Restoration work included chipping out around cracks to repair with traditional lime mortar. Repairing and replacing stone, roof slate and repairing windows.

Rodney Rees, Regional Asset Services Officer said “this has been an enthusiastic project since three members of the Friends of Burra Parks participated in the Construction Industry Training Board, Heritage Buildings program, to give them the traditional skills and knowledge to faithfully conserve our historic buildings on parks.” 

Fifteen volunteers took part to protect the heritage buildings and each year the volunteers contribute over 400 hours of restoration. The restoration of the building is funded by DEWNR and on-park volunteer grants.

Friends of Burra Parks volunteer, Gary said it was "A fascinating experience to see cracked old walls chipped out, mortared up, lime washed and looking as they would a century ago, all in a couple of days."  Arthur said “It is a pleasure to contribute to a worthy cause with a group of great people.”

Three staff also took part including Rodney, and Rangers Kate McNicol and Peter Watkins. Kate said “The enthusiasm of the Group never fails to impress me.  It’s also a great opportunity for individuals to come along and participate with the Friends group and undertake works in a way in which the methods and skills used are unique.  The group always enjoys the time, we enjoy having them, and the amount of work they can complete in such a short amount of time is fantastic.”

If you would like more information or are interested in joining the Friends of Burra Parks please contact the Clare NRC on ph 88413400 or via dewnrnrnyvolunteers@sa.gov.au

Image Caption:Volunteer restoring the Magazine at Bimbowrie

Image Credit:Rodney Rees

Trees For Life Threatened Flora Project: Diary Dates

Put these dates in your diary for upcoming Trees for Life Working

Tuesday November 24
Spalding Blown Grass. Tarlee, Riverton and Spalding. Monitoring.

For more information about the working bees or to register your interest please contact Erica Rees via email
ericar@treesforlife.org.au or on 0408 812 677

Funding Opportunities

Bite Size Grants

Natural Resources Northern and Yorke’s Bite Size Grants The new ‘bite sized’ funding opportunity offers grants ranging from $200-$500 to boost small, short-term projects with a natural resources management focus.

Potential projects may fund training events, purchase of resources, contracting services or development of educational materials.

Applications will be regularly assessed throughout the year.
For more information or to download an application form visit the Natural Resources Northern and Yorke website; http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/northernandyorke/get-involved/grants-and-funding

Other Grants

Volunteer Grants 2015  -  Department of Social Services

Volunteer Grants enable community organisations to apply for grants of up to $5,000 to purchase small equipment items to assist their volunteers, assist with the reimbursement of fuel costs incurred by volunteers (and transport costs for volunteers with disability who are unable to drive), and contribute towards the cost of training courses and background screening checks for volunteers.  More information is available at:

https://www.dss.gov.au/grants/grants/funding-open-for-application/volunteer-grants-2015

Grants to increase industry capacity

The Minster for Agriculture and Water Resources, the Hon Barnaby Joyce today announced that applications were open for the National Landcare Programme Sustainable Agriculture Small Grants Round 2015-16. Grants ranging between $5500 and $55,000 (GST inclusive) are now available to increase industry capacity and support the adoption of productive management practices.

Applications will close 2.00pm (AEDT) Monday 7 December 2015

For more information, visit: www.nrm.gov.au/agsmallgrants or phone 1800 283 940

Campground Hosts celebrate 30 years of service

Did you know that campground hosting in Australia started 30 years ago at our very own ‪‎Naracoorte Caves National Park?

Campground Hosts cropped.jpgA huge congratulations goes out to the wonderful people who volunteer their time and welcome visitors to our parks.

These volunteers love camping and are passionate about the outdoors, helping in any way they can around the parks including assisting with maintenance and supporting park staff during busy periods like school holidays and long weekends.

This has been a hugely successful DEWNR program, with Campground Host volunteers contributing the equivalent of about 870 days last year, which is roughly 6,600 hours.

For further information about the program contact Lynn Newman.

Photo: Campground Hosts Phil and Rosalie Brown at Katarapko in 1995

Article courtesy of DEWNR’s ‘The Weekly’ newsletter

Just Eat It – a food waste story

We all love food.  So how can we be throwing nearly 50% of it in the rubbish?

Canadian food lovers Jen and Grant dumpster-dive head-first into the issue of consumption and wastage by surviving solely on food waste for six months.

Deliciously entertaining and deeply shocking, the film examines the way we grow, cultivate and purchase our food, and how the food we throw away is having a devastating effect on the Earth.

Friday 27 November, 7:30pm
The Joinery, 111 Franklin St, Adelaide

Please bring a plate for a shared community dinner.

EVENTBRITE BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL $5/ticket  www.adelaidenrcmovie.eventbrite.com

Proceeds to OzHarvest Adelaide.

Supported by Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board