Festival of Fungi – Alison Pouliot Encounters with Fungi in the Strathbogie Ranges
Australia is home to a staggering variety of fungi unlike any other, with The Strathbogie Ranges packed full of it’s own unique varieties. Thousands of undiscovered species await curious minds to discover and record them, and it’s this unknown world that brought people from across the state to learn more from fungi expert Alison Pouliot. Alison is a mainstay of the Festvial of Fungi, having captivated audiences with here huge breadth and depth of knowledge, but also her enthusiasm the elusive and misunderstood kingdom of fungi.
Festival of Fungi – Bioluminescence Projection Light Display
he grand opening of the biennial Festival of Fungi was a spectacular sight, with this years event held at the grounds of the grand old North Eastern Hotel in Euroa. Little Projector Company was back with their mesmerising light displays, customised and projected onto the walls of the pub for all to see. Over 100 curious souls entered the gate to see the Northo in a way it’d never been seen in its long history. Food trucks and a sausage sizzle delivered much needed tasty treats on the last of the cold autumn nights, with fire barrels becoming the focal points for laughter between locals and newcomers.
Adventures in Nature – Polly McQuinns to Gooram Falls
This route was our very first riparian walk, and is as popular now as it was then. With over 25 eager trekkers, this proved to be another fantastic walk. This is one of the all time greats within the Strathbogie Ranges, with every new corner feeling like a completely different walk. Stunning rocky gorges, cascading waterfalls, sheer granite walls and deep, serene pools of water just a few of the highlights that make this walk so special.
Awe & Wonder in Nature – Wearable Art Project
Robyn Thompson This exciting project was based at Euroa Secondary College during Term 3-4 where I was guest artist and Printmaker, working in collaboration with Teaching artist, Suzie Bates and her Year 10 – 12 students. I am based at Dookie where I practice as a Visual Artist and Community Cultural Development Practitioner.
Adventures in Nature – Mt Tenneriffe Walk
After being thwarted by the weather on our last attempt, the tides were turned and sunshine prevailed on what proved to be a glorious nature stroll. Not many people attempt Tenneriffe due to thinking that’s it’s not accessible to the public. It’s actually one of the easier walks to access, with the Parks Vic reserve starting at the end of Jeffries Rd. Anyone can drive right up to the reserve and walk straight in.
2022 Annual General Meeting
Hot on the heels of the Euroa Arboretum Open Day (V2.0), our annual general meeting was held the morning of Saturday the 19th of November, back at the Arb. Booking the shelter proved to be a prudent defence against the endless rains, which have thoroughly soaked every inch of the Strathbogie Ranges this year.
Awe & Wonder – Landscape Drawing & Painting with Anna Mackrell
The series of Awe & Wonder Art in Nature concludes with two linked workshops from local artist, Anna Mackrell. For the first workshop the ten participants arrived at Euroa Arboretum to find the welcoming scene of easels set up with paper and everything you could need readily on hand so that the participants could give their entire attention to sketching.
Awe & Wonder – Experimental Painting Workshop with Ann Cremean
Everyone attending the Experimental Painting workshop ‘played’ with paint, amongst some of the granite outcrops at Ruffy. Tutor for the day, Ann Cremean, first instructed participants on mixing colours. It was obvious from the laughter and chatter, that this experimenting with acrylic paints and different brushes was a lot of fun.
Awe & Wonder – Nature Journalling in Ruffy with Vanessa Melandrin
My favourite part of the session was an activity designed to really notice things in nature. We sat in the yard at the old Ruffy school and observed. We listened to the noises around us, felt the breeze and then selected an object to write notes on. To write detail about the colour, texture, pattern and so on. I selected an oak leaf. I picked a brown leaf from the ground to write about first – a simple leaf that wouldn’t take long to describe, and another more complex fallen oak leaf with more colour and visual intrigue to write about second.
Awe & Wonder – Printmaking Workshop with Dana Coleman
A group of people came together by an open fire at Polly McQuinn’s on Sunday to learn printmaking techniques from local artist, Dana Coleman. Participants walked around this wonderful spot collecting leaves, seed heads and natural objects. Dana then demonstrated how to monoprint these objects onto paper and create a rubbing with graphite. There was much fun and experimenting as people played with these printing methods.
Managing climate change adaptation in the Goulburn Broken
People from many different organisations gathered at the SSC Chambers on Thursday 30 June to find themselves in the midst of a highly motivated group from across the GB region with three International attendees. The key discussions centred around climate change threats and mitigation and importantly climate adaptation. The workshop was organised by Michael Spencer from the SRCMN and funded by the GBCMA.
Wildlife Drone Surveying Workshop with Field Master Systems
If you’re familiar with the Strathbogie Forest and it’s plight, you may also be familiar with one of it’s main residents. The Greater Glider is one of our lesser known, but equally cute tree dwelling marsupials. With a thick dark fur and long distinctive tail, the Greater Glider has been the subject of a lot of research. From academic institutions to citizen science projects, the mysterious critters have captured people’s imagination.
Fungal Adventure in the Strathbogie Forest
After an amazing string of good luck with events, the weather finally caught up to us and forced this fungal adventure indoors. Driving winds and constant rain made the prospect of 4 hours in the bush an uninviting proposal, event for the most intrepid of mycology enthusiasts. Instead, we were treated to comfy chairs, gas heating and hot tea at the Strathbogie Hall; a sacrifice everyone was seemingly willing to make.
Adventures in Nature – Tarcombe Ridge Walk
Our second Adventures in Nature walk showcased the dizzying heights and intense lows of the mysterious Tarcombe Valley. A mix of new and familiar faces was heartening to see. These walks are as much about exploring nature as they are about making new friends.Walkers met at the end of Donavans Rd before the now traditional …
Adventures in Nature – Rocky Ned Falls, Strathbogie Forest
Sunday the 3rd of April 2022 saw our small band of intrepid walkers tackle perhaps the most challenging SRCMN walk to date. Made up of newcomers and SRCMN walking veterans, the group was especially fit and motivated, managing to simultaneously keep up a cracking pace and take in all of the natural beauty and diversity on offer.
2021 AGM
Welcome to Helen McKernan, our new President This year’s AGM was a fantastic opportunity for the SRCMN committee and members of the public to get together in person after nearly 2 tough years of COVID. The hardship was not over yet though, as the gate lock at the Euroa Arboretum had decided to throw up …
Riparian Walk #3.6 – Seven Creeks, Strathbogie
After scouting this walk in February 2020, it felt like an eternity since we’d been to this part of the Seven Creeks. Our first ever riparian walk started at the most downstream publicly accessible stretch of the Sevens, so for our last walk, we thought we’d see what the top had to offer. Turn out …
Stop Mynas Strathbogie – Workshop #2 2019
The SRCMN’s final event for the year heralded our third visit from Darebin Parklands Senior Ranger Peter Wiltshire. Since our first workshop, Peter has guided residents of the Strathbogie Shire. For his third visit, we moved out of the every beautiful Euroa Arboretum and into the backyards of Euroa. To put everything we had learned …
Riparian Walk #3.3 – Mountain Hut Creek, Kelvin View
After a few “best of” walks, it was back to doing what we do best: finding and exploring new, obscure and beautiful riparian areas in the Strathbogie Ranges. This was our last walk of the year, and it was one of the most spectacular to date. A lot had changed in the month since the …
Riparian Walk #3.3 – Mountain Hut Creek, Kelvin View Read More »
2019 AGM
Conservation Group Plans For Next Decade of Work Strathbogie Ranges Conservation Management Network kicked off preparations for its 2020 to 2025 strategic plan when about 20 members gathered for the group’s Annual General Meeting in Ruffy on the weekend. Dr Jen Wilson, from the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, provided a review of recent projects …
Stop Mynas Strathbogie – Workshop #1
The Stop Mynas Strathbogie program was born from the success of last years Common (Indian) Myna workshop at the gorgeous Euroa Arboretum. We were luck enough to again have Peter Wiltshire, a Senior Ranger from the Darebin Parklands, talk with the group about the impact Common Mynas can have on native bird populations. He also …
Riparian Walk #3.2 – Wombat Creek, Strathbogie
Continuing the trend of revisiting previously explored riparian areas, the Wombat Creek didn’t disappoint. The previous visit was in March and the scenery could not have been more different. Knee high grass, still wet from the previous night’s downpour instantly dampened all hopes of keeping dry feet intact. The walk pace was fairly leisurely, with …
Riparian Walk #3.1 – Boatholes Creek to Mineral Springs, Ruffy
After a winter hibernation, the acclaimed SRCMN riparian walks are back and better than ever, with this new series of six walks. The format this time is slightly different, with new routes mixed with old favorites from previous walks. The first walk to kick off the new series and new season was the fan favorite …
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Under the Microscope 2019
On a stunning Euroa Winter’s day, 90 curious minds converged on the Euroa Football Club to learn about scientific research being conducted within the Strathbogie Ranges/Shire. An amazing lineup of speakers and fairly rapid timeline ensured that the audience was kept entertained while hearing the most important parts of what the speakers had to convey. …
Riparian Walk #5 – Hughes Creek, Tarcombe
With forecasts rapidly changing in the leadup to the walk, we weren’t sure what to expect from this unexpectedly fine Sunday morning. But as luck had it, the rain held off and made way for perfect walking conditions on the final walk in this series. An experienced gang of 7 rallied at the picnic ground …
Riparian Walk #4 – County Creek, Ruffy
It was a wintry but clear morning in Ruffy, where 21 nature enthusiasts met to tackle the County Creek gorges. Starting again at the Ruffy CFA shed before driving down to the starting point where the County Creek intersects the Longwood-Ruffy Rd, the tradition of the first part of the walk being the hardest was …
Riparian Walk #3 – Hughes Creek to Tarcombe
Despite the drizzle, 25 stoic walkers braved the weather to peruse this beautiful section of the Hughes Creek. Meeting at the Ruffy CFA shed, walkers piled into vehicles to the start point at Donovans Rd. The traditional pre-walk photo was taken before setting off down into the gorge. Rain from the chilly, saturnine night before …
Riparian Walk #2 – Wombat Creek
Our first walk for 2019 started with a bang, with 27 keen walkers setting out to explore the hidden gem that is Wombat Creek. With walkers from all over the state converging on Fergusons Rd, the cool, albeit dry conditions, were perfect for rambling down the creek. With the creek constantly rearing its head and …
Indian Myna Day
Sightings of Indian (Common) Mynas have recently increased within the Strathbogie Shire, with residents reporting birds not only in towns and along roads, but in farmland, kilometers from the closest towns. Indian Mynas are extremely adaptable, aggressive and intelligent birds that not only compete for nest locations with native species, but actively attack and destroy …
Roadside Vegetation Survey Presentation and Bus Trip
In 2018, the Strathbogie Shire commissioned Tim and Janet to undertake an unprecedentedly comprehensive survey of the Shire’s roadside vegetation health and diversity. What they found was a surprisingly diverse chain of ecosystems right next to our roadsides, something we take for granted every day. After delivering their recommendations to the council, the SRCMN knew …
Roadside Vegetation Survey Presentation and Bus Trip Read More »
Riparian Walk #1 – Strathbogie to Polly McQuinns
Our first walk in this new series of 5 walks took place on a beautiful spring morning. A chilly breeze soon gave way to perfect conditions, where 17 keen trekkers set out to conquer the Smiths Bridge to Polly McQuinns adventure. Knee high grass mixed with wombat holes, blackberrys, fence crossings and snakes made for …
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Riparian Walk #6 – Emu Waterholes Creek
The last, and by far the coldest of our riparian walks began on a dead still and very frosty Ruffy morning. Nonetheless the turnout was great with every walker set to make the most of the perfect winters morning. The Emu Waterholes Creek walk was the easiest in the series, and ambling along the gentle …
Fungimap – How to use a fungi app with Dr Sapphire McMullan-Fisher
The final event in the 2018 Fungi Festival saw a grey but relatively mild winters morning after a day of heavy rain; perfect fungi hunting weather. With a quick introductory talk on how to use the iNaturalist app from Dr Sapphire McMullan-Fisher, attendees loaded up their phones and set off hunting. The Euroa Arboretum proved …
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Fungimap – Fungi of the Goulburn Broken with Dr Sapphire McMullan-Fisher
The second last event in 2018’s Fungi Festival drew a crowd of both locals and dedicated fungi enthusiasts out of their homes on a chilly Friday night. Dr Sapphire McMullan-Fisher offered an introduction to the not-for-profit citizen science organisation called Fungimap, who work to increase fungi knowledge and conservation, as well as bring people with …
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Fungi Festival Malaysian Feast and Intro Talk with Alison Pouliot
The first event in the 2018 SRCMN Fungi Festival lineup was huge, with over 70 fungi enthusiasts turning out for a short intro talk and Malaysian feast at the Strathbogie Memorial Hall. With the Hall near maximum capacity, everyone sat enthralled as the fervent Alison Pouliot delivered her introductory talk to the inquisitive crowd. Even …
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Fungi Festival – Local Fungal Curiosities Workshop with Alison Pouliot
Following a highly entertaining workshop and Malaysian feast the previous night, the full day workshop with fungus expert Alison Pouliot captured the imagination of those who wanted to delve deeper into the bizarre world of fungus. Held at the Strathbogie Memorial Hall, attendees bore witness to a spectacular array of local, freshly harvested fungi. With …
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Riparian Walk #5 – Boatholes Creek Ruffy
The fifth walk in the series of six walks departed at 9am from the Boatholes Rd bridge in Ruffy. The walk started rather cold, with a small campfire warming walkers before they departed. The weather steadily improved throughout the day with optimal temperatures for 17 strong walkers. Even with more than a few creek crossing …
Riparian Walk #4 – Hughes Creek Gorge
The fourth walk in the series of six walks departed at 9am from Hughes Creek Rd. Walkers were greeted with perfect walking conditions, with a mild but sunny day proving optimal for seeing the Hughes Creek Gorge at its best, while also staying nice and cool. Almost immediately, the shoes were off for the one …
Riparian Walk #3 – Gerars Creek
The third walk in the series of six walks kicked off at 9am from the Ruoaks Link bridge and finished on the intersection of Peters Lane and Tames Rd (at the bridge). Severe weather warnings had been forecast, but by the start of the walk, the weather had held so it was decided to continue …
2022
Festival of Fungi – Alison Pouliot Encounters with Fungi in the Strathbogie Ranges
Festival of Fungi – Bioluminescence Projection Light Display
Adventures in Nature – Polly McQuinns to Gooram Falls
Awe & Wonder in Nature – Wearable Art Project
Adventures in Nature – Mt Tenneriffe Walk
Euroa Arboretum Open Day
2022 Annual General Meeting
Tree photography workshop with Alison Pouliot
Awe & Wonder – Landscape Drawing & Painting with Anna Mackrell
Awe & Wonder – Experimental Painting Workshop with Ann Cremean
Awe & Wonder – Charcoal and Ink Workshop with Ann Cremean
Awe & Wonder – Nature Journalling in Ruffy with Vanessa Melandrin
Awe & Wonder – Printmaking Workshop with Dana Coleman
Awe & Wonder – Patterns, Pathways & Mapping the Otherworld Workshop
Managing climate change adaptation in the Goulburn Broken
Wildlife Drone Surveying Workshop with Field Master Systems
Adventures in Nature – Big Hill Walk
Fungal Adventure in the Strathbogie Forest
Soil health and hydrology of a Strathbogie Tableland farm landscape
Adventures in Nature – Tarcombe Ridge Walk
Adventures in Nature – Rocky Ned Falls, Strathbogie Forest
2021
2021 Annual General Meeting
Fungi Lunch and Slow Mushrooming with Alison Pouliot – Festival of Fungi 2021
Fungi Workshop with Alison Pouliot – Festival of Fungi 2021
Bioluminescence – Festival of Fungi ’21
Riparian Walk #3.6 – Seven Creeks, Strathbogie
Riparian Walk #3.5 – Wallaby Gulley Nature Reserve, Upton Hill
2020
Riparian Walk #3.4 – Bald Hill Creek, Strathbogie
2019
Stop Mynas Strathbogie – Workshop #2
Riparian Walk #3.3 – Mountain Hut Creek, Kelvin View
2019 AGM
Stop Mynas Strathbogie – Workshop #1
Riparian Walk #3.2 – Wombat Creek, Strathbogie
Riparian Walk #3.1 – Boatholes Creek to Mineral Springs, Ruffy
Under the Microscope
Riparian Walk #2.5 – Hughes Creek, Tarcombe
Riparian Walk #2.4 – County Creek, Ruffy
Riparian Walk #2.3 – Hughes Creek to Tarcombe
Riparian Walk #2.2 – Wombat Creek
2018
Indian Myna Day
Roadside Vegetation Survey Presentation and Bus Trip
Riparian Walk #2.1 – Strathbogie to Polly McQuinns
Riparian Walk #1.6 – Emu Waterholes Creek
Fungimap – How to use a fungi app with Dr Sapphire McMullan-Fisher
Fungimap – Fungi of the Goulburn Broken with Dr Sapphire McMullan-Fisher
Fungi Festival Malaysian Feast and Intro Talk with Alison Pouliot
Fungi Festival – Local Fungal Curiosities Workshop with Alison Pouliot
Riparian Walk #1.5 – Boatholes Creek Ruffy
Riparian Walk #1.4 – Hughes Creek Gorge
Riparian Walk #1.3 – Gerars Creek
Riparian Walk #1.2 – Brookleigh Rd to Strathbogie Township
Riparian Walk #1.1 – Polly McQuinns to Gooram Falls
Strathbogie Forest Moth Night
2017
A Day with Dr James Fitzsimons
New and Part-Time Landholder Euroa Forum 2017
Revegetation Day – Ruffy
2011-16
Festival of Fungi – Alison Pouliot
Festival of Fungi – Puff Ball
Wild Strathbogie Art – Schools lead the way
Stories from Country Workshop Euroa November
Butterfly Festival – Euroa Arboretum
Bush Tucker Field Day
Stone Tool Success at the Arboretum
Butterfly Festival – Opening night at the ‘Lepidoptera’ Art exhibition
Butterfly Festival – Violet Town Lepidoptera Extravaganza
Trees and Climate Change – Talk by Dr Greg Moore