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  

Help those affected by the Pinery fire

Help people affected by South Australia’s devastating fire by donating to the SA Pinery Fire Appeal.

Donations can be made online, via cheque, or in person at any Commonwealth Bank branch. All proceeds raised will go to people affected by the Pinery fire, with priority given to those most in need.

The Appeal is being administered by the State Emergency Relief Fund Committee, which is independent to government, and supported through the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion. Full details about how to donate can be found on the Pinery Fire Appeal webpage;
https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/emergencies-and-safety/pinery-fire/pinery-fire-appeal

The Appeal is one of many relief and recovery activities underway to assist communities affected by the devastating fire in South Australia’s Mid North region.

Relief centres are operating at Balaklava, Gawler and Clare to provide emergency grants, accommodation and other assistance to the affected communities.

Information about other activities, and information for people affected by the fire, is available:
• visit www.sa.gov.au/recovery
• call the SA Bushfire Recovery Hotline on 1800 302 787
• ‘like’ the SA Bushfire Recovery Facebook page www.facebook.com/SABushfireRecovery
• follow www.twitter.com/SA_DCSI

BlazeAid

BlazeAid is a volunteer-based organisation that works with families and individuals in rural Australia after natural disasters such as fires and floods. Working alongside the rural families, our volunteers help to rebuild fences and other structures that have been damaged or destroyed.

Equally important, volunteers also help to lift the spirits of people who are often facing their second or third flood event after years of drought, or devastating losses through bushfires. BlazeAid volunteers work in a disaster-affected area for many months, not only helping individuals and families, but also helping rebuild the local communities.

BlazeAid volunteers:
Not just rebuilding fences, but helping rebuild lives.

“We asked you to come help us rebuild our fences but you guys have done way more than that, you have helped us rebuild our broken community.  For that we are forever grateful to you and all the amazing volunteers.”
Maree Perkins, Monto, Qld, 2013 Floods.

Camps are currently open in Hamley Bridge and Roseworthy. Volunteers commenced fencing on Monday 7 December on fire affected properties.

If you would like more information about how BlazeAid can help you or you would like to volunteer your time to assist Fire affected properties and families visit the website: http://blazeaid.com/

Photo:from BlazeAid website; BlazeAid Volunteers

Got a view on cockatoos?

Large flocks of little corellas – a common Australian cockatoo – can cause problems in urban and rural areas during the warmer months.

The most common problems are damage to trees, taking grain, and disturbing residents with their noise. They can also cause damage to wooden structures, shade sails, crops and buildings – particularly when they chew flashing or wiring.

You’re invited to contribute to a research project designed to help us better understand the behaviour of little corellas.

You can get involved by:
• completing the online survey
• attending a workshop
• helping to collect data from the field.

The research project is a collaborative project between the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources and UniSA’s Discovery Circle to inform a new Little Corella Management Plan for South Australia.

For more information and to complete the survey visit the Discovery Circle website. www.discoverycircle.org.au/projects/little-corellas/

The Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources aims to bring the voice of the community into environmental decision making.

Does your Group need a free website

Third year web design students at UniSA will be designing and developing websites for community groups in the first semester of the 2016 university year.

The final websites will be built using Word Press, probably the easiest and most powerful website content management system (or CMS) in existence today, making them easier for general volunteers to maintain and update.

The websites can be hosted at no cost to the organisation by UniSA on www.communitywebs.org and training sessions in web maintenance are run for group members each semester.

Additionally, second year documentary film students will be creating 3 and 7 minute documentaries for organisations also in the first semester of 2016. These must be of social, cultural (including popular culture) or historical significance to SA or even a local area within SA. Corporate or promotional videos do not qualify for this program.

So, if your organisation has a story to tell about a person, historical event or development that is of interest to the broader community, this option may be suitable for you.

For further information and to complete an online application please see http://www.communitywebs.org/current-opportunities.php

If you would like further information please contact Alice Dodd at Alice.Dodd@unisa.edu.au or phone 8302 4683.

Applications close February 14th, 2016

The Summer Sowing Season is now underway at the Trees For Life Nursery

The TFL Nursery has had many clients, including Local Councils, NRM groups and Friends of Parks groups. You may have been fortunate enough to obtain some funding for a revegetation project in your park and are looking for a reasonably priced supply of tube stock; it’s possible that TFL might be able to help you.

As the first sow dates for some species are this week, orders will have to be in ASAP, but we are more than happy to work with you on any questions/problems you may have.

If you would like to know more, we can be contacted on 08 8406 0500, or via email at BrettO@treesforlife.org.au.

Nominations for the 2016 Queen’s Birthday Public Service Medal are now open.

The Public Service Medal is part of the national system of Australian Honours and Awards, and is awarded twice-yearly by the Governor-General.

The Medal is designed to recognise ‘outstanding public service’ – whether through leadership, service excellence, improved productivity and efficiency, or innovation in program, project or policy development. All public sector employees can be nominated unless they are eligible for other comparable awards, such as the Australian Police Service Medal or the Australian Fire Service Medal.

You are encouraged to nominate any employee who has made an outstanding contribution, regardless of their age, length of service or classification level.

Details on how to nominate someone can be found at http://dpc.sa.gov.au/public-service-medal

Nominations must be received by close of business on Monday, 1 February 2016.

For more information, Matt Miles of the Australia Day Council of South Australia can be contacted via email: matt.miles@sa.gov.au or phone: (08) 8463 5437

Decade of success for Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary

The Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary (ADS) was created to protect the Port River dolphins in response to community concern about their wellbeing and has celebrated its 10th anniversary.

Sustainability, Environment and Conservation Minister Ian Hunter said ADS was one of Australia’s natural gems, offering a unique wildlife experience. “The sanctuary is home to one of the only established populations of dolphins living in a major city anywhere in the world,” he said.

“It is easily accessible by public transport, allowing visitors to stand on the shore and watch natural dolphin behaviour, such as feeding and nursing calves.

“There are now more than 120,000 people a year taking dolphin cruises and kayak tours, with thousands more enjoying the free, self-guided tour.

Mr Hunter said the sanctuary was a great example of government and community working together.

“For the past 10 years, it’s been a haven for 40 resident bottle-nosed dolphins – which continue to flourish and breed – and more than 200 dolphins that visit from Gulf St Vincent.

“The success of the sanctuary is due in no small part to the dedication of the local community and the recently-created ADS Action Group and its volunteers,” Mr Hunter said.

“The volunteers accompany sanctuary staff on water patrols and monitor the dolphins for signs of problems.

“They have helped raise public awareness about the importance of not feeding dolphins and appropriate behaviour around them, spending many hours talking with community members about how we can all help to keep our dolphins healthy.”

To find out more about the dolphin sanctuary visit;

http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/adelaidemtloftyranges/coast-and-marine/dolphin-sanctuary