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Natural Resources Northern and Yorke

29 January 2014

 
Volunteers eNews
 

In this issue

Northern & Yorke NRM Board Community Grants are now OPEN
INSURANCE - Are your volunteers covered?
Who are Landcare Association of SA
Biodiversity and Endangered Species Team Information Session & AGM
Get Involved - Volunteering Opportunities
Grants Open
Grants mini Bootcamp - hosted by Conservation Council SA
Events
Premier’s Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Volunteer Service OPEN
Australasian Bat Night March & April 2014
Volunteering in 2014

I hope everyone had an enjoyable and festive christmas and new year.

2014 promises to be a big year for volunteers in the Northern & Yorke Region. Our calendar is building rapidly with fabulous opportunities for everyone to get involved in managing our natural resources. Read about these opportunities below and in future Volunteers in Action ENews.

To assist groups in achieving thier goals, the Northern & Yorke NRM Board Community Grants applications are now open. See below for more information.

Natural Resources Northern & Yorke has 8 Community Rangers who are willing and able to assist and provide advice to volunteers and volunteer groups. Watch out in the next Volunteers in Action ENews for an introduction to the team.

If you or your group would like to share an event, story, photo or highlight an achievement please send them through to dewnrnorthernandyorkevolunteers@sa.gov.au.

Regards, Wendy Cliff - Volunteer Support Officer

 
 
Northern & Yorke NRM Board Community Grants are now OPEN

Open 1st - 28th February

Funding Amounts
The maximum grant for any project is:

  • Community Groups / Volunteer Groups – $10,000
  • Schools, kindergartens and other educational bodies – $10,000
  • Local Government - $25,000

All projects need to be targeted to meet at least one of the Board’s Strategic Directions including:

  • Farmer First
  • Cities and Towns
  • Sustainable Development
  • New Impact on the Landscape
  • Community Voice
  • Next Generation
  • Pest and Weeds
  • Water
  • Soil

How to apply
In order to complete your application, you will need to read the guidelines carefully and then complete the Community Grants Application Form.

Key contacts and assistance
Within each district the Community Rangers will be available to provide assistance. These staff members will be able to provide technical advice and support for the preparation of your application.


For further information please visit our website or phone the Natural Resources Centre on (08) 8841 3400.

   
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INSURANCE - Are your volunteers covered?

Legal liability is one of the greatest concerns that land managers have about working with volunteers.

Most property insurance policies will include public liability insurance and this may be all that is required to cover volunteers. However, before committing to any activity involving volunteers, land managers should seek advice from their insurer to ensure they have appropriate cover.

Often association memberships do not provide insurance cover, i.e. Landcare Australia, Friends of Park Inc., and require you to manage your own compliance to the Work Health & Safety Laws.

How can Natural Resources Northern & Yorke help?

We can provide volunteers with information and advice to ensure that volunteers are safe from injury and risk to health.

Volunteers that work in partnership with us on public and private land may be covered by SAICORP Insurance under certain criteria,

For more information, contact your local Community Ranger or the Natural Resources Centre on (08) 8841 3400.

 

   
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Who are Landcare Association of SA

Landcare Association of SA (LASA) is a community driven organisation, which is slowly rebuilding its membership base, improving its governance and finding its place in the SA Natural Resource Management world. LASA is an advocacy body for community Landcare groups and individuals and by its nature is independent from government and can provide advice and support where appropriate to landcarers.

In association with the other 7 peak community Landcare associations throughout Australia, LASA is a member of the National Landcare Network which has received funding and endorsement from the Australian Government to be part of the implementation of the Coalition’s National Landcare Programme (NLP). LASA will receive funding from the NLP to develop a State Community Landcare Plan. This proposed Plan will be developed during 2014 in collaboration with the State’s volunteer groups contributing to natural resource management, NRM Boards, NRM Council and the State Government.

We anticipate that over the next year or so community volunteer groups and individuals, will see the benefit of being members of LASA leading to an informed and engaged community. The success of the recent 2013 State Community Landcare Conference, facilitated by LASA, demonstrated to those involved in NRM that there is a need for community Landcare groups and individuals to discuss, engage and learn from their peers on a regular basis. LASA will continue to form partnerships and facilitate similar sectoral, State and Regional Landcare conferences in the future. Members will receive discounted registration fees to these conferences and network meetings.

In the near future we will be upgrading our website and providing a portal for community landcarers and other interested persons to access information and network with their peers.

If you would like to become a member, visit their website and complete their membership form.

   
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Biodiversity and Endangered Species Team Information Session & AGM

Sunday 16th February

10:30 am – 3:00 pm (lunch provided)

Barbara J Long Function Room (adjoining Town Hall), Clare

Everyone is welcome!
There is no cost to be involved with BEST and no commitment needed, come along and volunteer with us when you can.

RSVP: before 7th Feb to dewnrnorthernandyorkevolunteers@sa.gov.au or 8841 3400

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Information Session 10:30 am - 1:00 pm

  • What is Landscape Management? by Andy Sharp (Landscape Programs Coordinator
  • Ecological Monitoring for Prescribed Burning by Sara Ormond (Fire Management Officer
  • Native Bee Ecology & Seasonal Movement by Susanne Richards (Author of South Australian Native Bees - a glimpse inside their world)

Annual General Meeting 1:30 - 3:00 pm

  • Review of last 12 months
  • Reports from President & Treasurer
  • Re-election of Committee Positions
  • Projects for next 12 months

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Who are BEST?

The Biodiversity and Endangered Species Team (BEST) is a volunteer group established to protect and conserve the local threatened flora and fauna in the Department of Environment, Water & Natural Resources (DEWNR), Northern and Yorke Region.

Our members are passionate, enthusiastic, friendly and dedicated volunteers, who give their time to on-ground action for the conservation and preservation of our biodiversity.

Previous activities the BEST have been involved in:

  • Award winning Biodiversity Blitz held at Innes National Park (40 volunteers from 8 countries
  • Pygmy Blue-tongue Surveys
  • Heritage works at Troubridge Island
  • Fairy Tern Surveys
  • Biological Surveys
  • Bat monitoring
  • Pest plant control

Volunteering with BEST is fun, rewarding and enables you to participate in a range of volunteer activities in amazing places.

   
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Get Involved - Volunteering Opportunities

TARCOWIE LANDCARE GROUP - WORKING BEE

Sunday 2nd February

Join us to look after our patch and water our revegetation sites.

All working bees commence at 9 am from meeting point (June Jenkins house, 55 Chappies Rd. Meetings are held on the Saturday prior to the Sunday Working Bee)

For further information contact: Kieran Brewer 0427 902 326 or June Jenkins 8658 6119 june.jenkins@westnet.com.au.

 

CONSERVATION VOLUNTEERS - BROOKFIELD WOMBAT CONSERVATION WEEKEND

Brookfield Conservation Park, 1st - 2nd February & 1st - 2nd March

Join us for a rewarding weekend trip to help save Australia’s iconic Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat at Brookfield Conservation Park.

Volunteers will be involved in wombat warren and vegetation surveys involving the collection of data (documenting location using GPS, collecting scat samples, recording measurements of warrens).

Accommodation: Brookfield Conservation Park Homestead, Shared accommodation with shared bathroom facilities. Heating is available in the lounge room and ceiling fans are provided in the lounge and bedrooms. Please bring own sleeping bag and towel.
Project Departs: 8.00am Adelaide city
Project Cost: $120pp
Want more info? Visit our website, contact our Adelaide Office on 1800 032 501 or 08 8212 0777 or email adelaide@cva.org.au.

 

TREES FOR LIFE - THREATENED FLORA PROJECT

Yorke Peninsula, Tuesday 18th - Thursday 20th March

Help to protect orchids Caldenia intuta & macroclavia by assisting to control woody weeds on private properties and council reserves on the Yorke Peninsula.

For further information & to express your interest contact Erica Rees on 0408 812 677 ericar@treesforlife.org.au.

 

GOANNA MONITORING - VOLUNTEER FROM HOME

Your home, late April - May

Are you keen for a virtual treasure hunt for goannas, from the comfort of your own home?

We are seeking volunteers to review images from camera-traps as part of a goanna monitoring project in the southern Yorke Peninsula. Camera-traps are used to monitor the presence and distribution of goanna species in response to our fox-baiting program.  

When: late April – May to review camera-trap images.
Duration: approximately 5-7 days (over 3-4 weeks)
Equipment needed: personal computer at home (with all your creature comforts), Microsoft software (Excel, Picture viewer)
Duties: review all images, identify goanna species, record sites and image numbers in Excel spreadsheet.
Experience: basic computer skills use and managing files

 

INNES NATIONAL PARK – CAMPGROUND HOST(S) WANTED FOR 2014 SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

Innes National Park, positioned on the tip of the Yorke Peninsula, offers visitors fantastic opportunities to enjoy camping, bushwalking, fishing and surfing and much more. With over 200 visitors per day to Innes National Park, we need extra support over school holiday periods to provide an exceptional service to the public.

We are seeking Campground Host(s) to be based at Pondalowie Bay Campground and Stenhouse Bay Campground. Free Camping Provided.

What do Campground Hosts do?

  • Welcome campers
  • Assist visitors to select a camp site
  • Share information about campsite rules, facilities & attractions
  • Provide visitors with general park information using available brochures and fact sheets
  • Regularly check on facilities & ensure the campground is kept tidy
  • Liaise with the rangers regarding site conditions, facilities and any visitor issues.

To register your interest please send your information to dewnrnorthernandyorkevolunteers@sa.gov.au or phone the Natural Resource Centre on 88413400.

 

4 RIVERS PROJECT - REVEGETATION

Do you want to get out in the great outdoors and plant trees? Do you want to assist in the restoration of the Wakefield & Willochra Rivers?

Revegetation projects will be coming up in

  • Melrose: May - June
  • Auburn: July - August

Watch this space for more information in the next edition, or register your interest with Jennifer Munro jennifer.munro@sa.gov.au.

   
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Grants Open

NORTHERN & YORKE NRM BOARD - Community Grants 14/15

 See full article above for more information and links to the application form.

 

INDIGENOUS LAND CORPORATION - Land Management Funding Program

Applications are now open for projects aimed at assisting Indigenous landholders to manage land to achieve economic, environmental, social and cultural benefits.

This funding round invites land management proposals for:

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PLANNING UP TO $50,000 (GST exclusive)
or PROPERTY-BASED PROJECTS UP TO $100,000 (GST exclusive)

The first step in submitting an application is calling your nearest ILC Office on 1800 818 490 to discuss your proposal.

Applications close on Friday 28 March 2014. Visit our website for more information.

   
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Grants mini Bootcamp - hosted by Conservation Council SA

Want to be a better grant writer? Then this is your chance!

This half-day workshop provides an opportunity for grant seekers to:

  • Learn how to prepare to write a grant application
  • Get a clear understanding of what different types of projects grant makers can and can’t fund
  • Come face-to-face with some real live grant makers and assessors.
  • Practice assessing real grant applications.

This jam-packed and interactive workshop will include presenters who are grant makers, experienced grant writers and grant assessors, keen to share their experience and knowledge with you.

The skills of grant writing can be applied across many different sectors so everyone is welcome.

The program includes morning tea and opportunities to network with grant makers.

Date: Sunday 16th February, 9.30 am - 1.00 pm
Cost: $45 per person ($30 concession)
Note: As places are limited, payment upon booking will confirm your place.
New venue: Conservation Council of SA,
Level 1, 157 Franklin St, Adelaide
Please note: no disabled access.

Bookings are essential: 8223 5155; virginia.swan@conservationsa.org.au
 

   
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Events

FRIENDS OF BURRA PARKS - AGM

Burra, 5th February

The Friends of Burra Parks are holding their annual AGM.

Time: 6pm for drinks and meal - meeting starting around 7.30 pm.

Venue: Commercial Hotel, Burra in the 'cottage' room.

RSVP:  Wednesday 29th January to Maureen Wright at rivercharts@bigpond.com.

 

HART FIELD-SITE GROUP - 'GETTING THE CROP IN' SEMINAR

Clare, 12th March

Our annual Getting The Crop in seminar will be held in Clare on Wednesday, March 12th.

We will again be running with our half day format and thanks to our event sponsors, Rabobank Clare, you'll get to start the morning off with a gourmet breakfast burger. Make sure you put the date in your diary now!

While we can't give too much away in terms of our guest speakers just yet, we'll be sure to let you know as soon as the program is released so watch this space.

The GRDC will also be running their Farm Business Update For Growers at the same location, straight after our seminar, so you'll have the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone if you wish.

Full details will be available on our website as soon as they are confirmed.

   
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Premier’s Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Volunteer Service OPEN

Applications for the Premier’s Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Volunteer Service is open.

Do your volunteers go above and beyond? Ever wondered how you can let them know they are appreciated? You can! Nominate them for an award - the Premier’s Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Volunteer Service.

The Premier’s Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Volunteer Service program is now open for applications until 5.00pm, Friday 21 February 2014.

Awarded to outstanding volunteers, the program provides an opportunity for organisations and community groups to recognise and reward excellence and significant achievements by nominating one or more of their volunteers

Submit your application for this certificate for awarding at a one-off event or at key recognition events such as during National Volunteers Week, on Volunteers Day, at your Annual General Meeting, or even at a morning or afternoon tea for volunteers.

Who can apply: South Australian based volunteer-involving organisations and community groups.

How to apply: Online application and Guidelines are available by visiting our website. For more information phone the Office for Volunteers on 1300 014 712.

   
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Australasian Bat Night March & April 2014

Australasian Bat Night is a public awareness programme aiming to educate people about bats, to raise the profile of bats and debunk the myths and fears, to achieve better conservation outcomes and assist  people to live with bats.

The inaugural Australasian Bat Night was held in 2012. In 2013 bat specialists again teamed up with community and local government groups to hold over 30 bat events during March and April throughout seven states and territories and New Zealand,  some events attracting 100 - 200 people. 

Help make 2014 even better!

We are inviting local councils, land-care groups, Field Naturalists, eco and wildlife tourism operators, wildlife carers, zoos, sanctuaries and wildlife parks, museums and other community groups to participate by running bat activities during March and April of next year, anything from a Bat walk looking for microbat activity or watching a fly-out to building bat boxes or holding a Bat Festival.

ABS will be contacting community and local government organisations and individuals to register events and activities for 2013  but we need your help to make it even better and bigger through promotion of Bat Night.

We will be promoting individual  events on the ABS website, and our social media pages.

Check the ABS website to find out more and to register events. You can also register by sending details to Maree Kerr at batnight.ausbats@gmail.com.

   
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Dates for your Diary

February

  • 1st-2nd: Brookfield Wombat Conservation Weekend
  • 2nd: Tarcowie Landcare Group Working Bee
  • 2nd: World Wetlands Day
  • 8th: A day on the Green (Annie's Land, Watervale)
  • from the 9th: Arid Recovery Annual Trapping
  • 14th: Valentines Day
  • 15th: Spalding Rodeo
  • 21st: SANTFA Conference
  • 23rd: Tomato Festival (Adelaide Botanic Gardens)
  • 27th: GRDC Grower Update (Crystal Brook)
  • 28th: Rotatry Club Award Nominations Close

March

  • 1st-2nd: Brookfield Wombat Conservation Weekend
  • 2nd: Clean Up Australia Day
  • 8th: International Women's Day
  • 9th- 5th: National Groundwater Awareness Week
  • 10th: Adelaide Cup Day
  • 12th: Maitland Show
  • 12th: Hart "Getting the Crop in" Seminar
  • 12th: GRDC Farm Business Update for Growers (Clare)
  • 17th-18th: Ag Excellence Annual Forum
  • 18th - 20th: Trees for Life Threatened Flora Project Working Bee (Yorke Peninsula)
  • 22nd: World Water Day
  • 23rd: Wallaroo Make-a-Wish Annual Fun Run/Walk
  • 29th: Earth Hour
 
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