Blackwood & Barry's Reef Landcare Group

About: Blackwood & Barry's Reef Landcare Group

Blackwood & Barry’s Reef Landcare Group has been around for over 20 years. We are a group of local residents who are passionate about actively caring for the land, waterways, plants, animals, fungi…all the natural beauty of a very special part of Victoria. We undertake weed management, revegetation, citizen science activities and have fun along the way!

Our general meetings are held bimonthly at either the community room of the Blackwood Hall or the Blackwood Uniting Church St Martin’s Chapel.

Because much of our area of interest is in public (state/local government) ownership, an important role for us is coordinating with the public land managers regarding weed management. Our members report weed outbreaks before they become too large and costly to manage. And local residents can also do their part in stopping weeds escaping into the surrounding forest.

As a member of Landcare Victoria Inc and also Moorabool Landcare Network, Blackwood & Barry’s Reef Landcare Group taps into the resources of the wider Landcare “family”.

Follow Blackwood & Barry's Reef Landcare Group on Facebook:

Website:

https://www.blackwoodlandcare.org.au/

Updates

Caring For Country

Caring For Country: A Children's Festival Celebrating First Nations Culture and Indigenous Environment

We are excited to announce the launch of “Caring For Country,” a vibrant and relaxed children’s festival aimed at fostering curiosity and respect for First Nations culture and our local environment. Set to take place on Saturday, October 19, 2024, from 10 AM to 2 PM at the picturesque Blackwood Mineral Springs, this unique event invites children aged 0-12 from across Moorabool Shire to immerse themselves in a day of engaging workshops and activities.

Auspiced through the Blackwood and Barry’s Reef Landcare Group, the festival is designed to offer a rich educational experience led by local Wurundjeri and Wadawurrung Traditional Owners and a native plant specialist. The day will feature three interactive workshops led by:

● Djirri Djirri Wurundjeri women’s dance group
● Jenna Oldaker from Murrup Art, a Wadawurrung Traditional Owner and artist
● Jeremy Neal from Wombat Native Plants

The festival aims to build on the significant efforts of the Blackwood Reconciliation Collective over the past year. By focusing on children’s activities, the initiative seeks to enhance the community’s understanding and appreciation of Wurundjeri culture and the indigenous history of our area, particularly important given Blackwood sits at the junction of three different traditional countries.

In recent years, Blackwood has seen a growing number of young families presenting a great opportunity for local indigenous education. “Caring For Country” will continue the momentum of previous community initiatives, such as the raising of the Indigenous flag in 2022, the inclusion of a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony at the 2023 Easter Carnival and NAIDOC movie night earlier in 2024.

This project is supported by a generous grant from Moorabool Shire, reflecting the community’s commitment to reconciliation and cultural education. The event will also feature breaks for morning tea and lunch, with participants encouraged to bring their own picnic and blanket. In case of inclement weather, the festival will be relocated to the local Blackwood Hall.

You can register to attend the event here: https://tinyurl.com/35k4vf9k

Published: 15th Sep 2024 - Article Viewed 13 Times