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Events and News
View details of our regular activities, information about our
upcoming events and reports on past events and news by selecting the
links below:
Our Regular Activities
Valley Reserve
You could help us in our efforts to make the beautiful Valley Reserve
even better. We’d love to see you at one of our work party sessions.
These sessions are mostly held on the last Saturday of each month except
December and January. The entry to the reserve is from Waimarie
Drive/Wills Avenue (Melways reference: 70:G2). We meet at the amenities
block at 1:20 pm for a two-hour session.
Waterwatch
The quality of the water and the type and number of ‘bugs’ living in the
creek are important indicators of the health of Scotchmans Creek. We
have a specially trained Waterwatch team which does monthly testing at a
number of sites so we have long-term health measurements. If you are a
student studying waterway health issues or just have an interest in
water ‘bugs’ or chemistry, joining our team can provide valuable field
experience.
After an eight month gap in 2020 due to COVID-19 our Waterwatch sessions have resumed.
Meetings with a Guest Speaker
We invite expert speakers to make a presentation about various
environmental subjects at our Guest Speaker meetings. There are
always new issues and things to learn, so you can keep yourself informed
by coming along. We meet at Alvie Hall on the corner of High Street Road
and Alvie Road, Mount Waverley (Melways reference: 61:D11). The meetings
start at 7:30 pm.
School Activities
We can play host to your school students. Contact us to arrange a visit
from our group to your school or to arrange an excursion. We can talk
about Scotchmans Creek and Valley Reserve and the role that pupils can
play in maintaining these wonderful areas. We can also explain about the
storm water drainage system and how rubbish and pollution affect the
environment. Or we can arrange a mini-Waterwatch session where your
students can investigate the small creatures that live in the creek and
learn about water chemistry.
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Upcoming Events
2021 - Valley Reserve Work Parties -
Now that Covid restrictions are easing we are able to resume our work party sessions.
On Saturday 27th November we will have our last work party for the year, but without our
usual tea/coffee afterwards.
Please meet for registration at the usual place at the amenities block.
You will need to sign in with the QR code.
The Friends of Scotchmans Creek and Valley Reserve holds regular
work parties in the Valley Reserve, Mt. Waverley, throughout the
year.
The dates are usually the last Saturday of every month and the time is
1:20-3:30 pm. The meeting place is the area behind the amenities
block. Entry to the Reserve is via Waimarie Drive or Wills
Avenue, Mt. Waverley - Melways Reference 70G2. Please be at the
meeting place at 1:20pm. If you are late, there will be a map on
the door showing where we are working that day.
The work includes
planting, weeding,
maintenance and revegetation. After we have finished working we get together for a
cup of tea or coffee and a chat. Depending on COVID-19 restrictions we may not be able
to have our usual refreshments.
Have a look at the photogallery to see the buggy full of weeds
and some of the volunteers from our first session in 2021.
For 2021 the work party dates are:
27 February
27 March
24 April
29 May
26 June
24 July
28 August
25 September
30 October
27 November
If you enjoy gardening perhaps you would like to join us. We are
always pleased to see new faces. For further information you
could contact Kallisat Sears on 0419 373 725 or Monash Council on
03 9518 3723.
Work parties are not held on days of 30 deg. or more, or on days
of total fire ban.
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Past Events and News
Wednesday, 17th November 2021 - Guest Speaker - Andrew Sharpe from DELWP
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For our first face to face meeting since May, Dr Andrew Sharpe gave us an illustrated talk
"My Brilliant Wet Career in Water: Urban streams, interesting water bugs and environmental flows".
Andrew's presentation was informative and engaging. It covered his career in several aspects of water
investigation and management including the life of caddis fly larvae and how to allocate water resources.
Due to Covid restrictions we could not use our usual hall but were comfortable in the Mount Waverley
Community Centre instead where we were able to have 22 members and friends present.
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| Annual General Meeting held electronically on Wednesday 20th October 2021
Due to Covid-19 restrictions this year we held our AGM by zoom.
We had 16 virtual attendees, who were able to view and listen to the reports of the committee.
The following members were elected to the committee for 2021-2022:
| President: | Tony Walker |
| Vice President: | Rex Dusting |
| Secretary: | Sally Walker |
| Treasurer: | Fred Bullock |
| Ordinary Committee: | Danielle Cini |
| Ordinary Committee: | May Lee |
| Ordinary Committee: | Asher Judah |
| Ordinary Committee: | Alan Moore |
| Ordinary Committee: | Kallista Sears |
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| Planting Days in 2021
Due to Covid-19 only one of our expected planting days went ahead. However, the City of Monash
"bush" crew agreed to complete all the remaining planting for us.
With our funding from Melbourne Water we arranged the planting of
- 2000 plants in Crosby Drive Reserve downstream of the Crosby Drive cross over
- 2000 plants in Regent Street Reserve on both sides of the creek
- 8000 plants in Fairway Reserve on the north side of the creek and to the west side of Forster Road
We thank both the Monash Bush crew for their hard work and Melbourne Water for the grants to purchase the plants.
We hope to arrange grants for similar plant purchases for 2022.
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Thursday, 15th July 2021 - Planting in the Mount Waverley Wetlands -
As part of the remediation works undertaken next to Blackburn Road, Melbourne Water provided us with some plants
to undertake some re-vegetation in the wetlands near the entrance at the end of Lawrence Road.
In this COVID time we had a restricted planting session with limited numbers of members.
We planted about 530 plants in this area. These plants should provide an increase in the
number of flowering plants. Once the plants get established there should be a great display for all to see.
8 members came along on a mild and dry morning to beat the unexpected lock down that occurred that evening.
Look in the photogallery to see some of us at the end of the planting.
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Sunday, 20th June 2021 - Planting Day in Valley Reserve -
A Special Friends planting in Valley Reserve.
In this COVID time we had a restricted planting session with full COVID checkin and mask wearing.
As we have done before, we purchased some plants with Friends Group funds to add more
flowering plants to the area to the west of the amenities block in Valley Reserve.
12 members came along on a cold but dry morning to put 800 plants into the ground.
Look in the photogallery to see some of us busy in the Reserve.
WE should all see the results later this year as the plants settle in and start to flower.
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Wednesday, 19th May 2021 - Guest Speaker - Rex Dusting - Report on the State of the River - Walk Down Scotchmans Creek
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Our river officer, Rex Dusting, gave us an illustrated talk on the current situation
with Scotchmans Creek - with many photos showing changes over time
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This was our first opportunity to get back to Alvie Hall for a while and we were pleased to
have a good turnout.
It was great to be able to chat to our friends again.
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Sunday, 7 March, 2021 - Clean Up Australia Day -
This year we had a mild to warm day for Clean Up Australia and our efforts to remove litter from the
Scotchmans Creek Reserve.
26 volunteers gave us a hand and we collected 11 bags of rubbish. 5 of these bags
were collected upstream of Blackburn Road.
This year we found several face masks. This is very disappointing given that these masks could be infected.
We also found the usual plastic bags and bits of plastic. There was less of the expanded polystyrene foam which
breaks down into little balls. There were also very few cigarette butts which is pleasing.
Getting rid of the rubbish that finds its way into the Scotchmans Creek reserves is a
great way to make them better for everyone.
Have a look at the photogallery to see the bags of rubbish and some of the volunteers.
A big thank you to all the volunteers who came along to help us Clean up Australia.
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| Annual General Meeting held electronically on Wednesday 21st October 2020
Due to Covid-19 restrictions this year we held our AGM by email. Responses from members were
collated and used to inform the proceedings.
Members received electronic copies of the reports prior to the AGM.
The following members were elected to the committee for 2020-2021:
| President: | Kallista Sears |
| Vice President: | Rex Dusting |
| Secretary: | Sally Walker |
| Treasurer: | Fred Bullock |
| Ordinary Committee: | Kelvin Ferguson |
| Ordinary Committee: | Alan Moore |
| Ordinary Committee: | Tony Walker |
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| Planting Days in 2020
Due to Covid-19 none of our expected planting days went ahead. However, the City of Monash
"bush" crew agreed to complete all our planting for us.
With our funding from Melbourne Water we arranged the planting of
- 2000 plants in Crosby Drive Reserve just downstream of the Crosby Drive cross over
- 2000 plants in Regent Street Reserve on the west side of the creek
- 8000 plants in Fairway Reserve on the south side of the creek and to the west side of Stephensons Road
We thank both the Monash Bush crew for their hard work and Melbourne Water for the grants to purchase the plants.
We hope to arrange grants for similar plant purchases for 2021.
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| Sunday, 28 July 2019 - National Tree Day Planting -
The day started cloudy but soon we had a blue sky as 244 volunteers came along to help us plant
8,000 plants in the Scotchmans Creek corridor on National Tree Day.
This year we planted on the south side of the creek, so entry into Fairway Reserve was from Forster
Road near Wilga Street. Our volunteers had a pleasant walk along the gravel track to reach our planting site
just beyond the Stephensons Road overpass.
All 8,000 plants were in the ground by 11:30 am.
Thank you to everyone who came to help make this a very successfull
morning of planting.
We had great support from the local scouts and other groups such as SEWA International, the Dharmasoka
College Past Students Association Australia, the SriMithuru group and the Chinese Professionals Club
Australia - CPCA. The local community turned out in force as well. Our thanks go to all of these willing
volunteers.
The Scouts cooked their usual great sausage sizzle. This time by the banks of the creek.
Melbourne Water and their Community Grants Program provided the funding for the
plants and assisted with the cost of the refreshments. The City of Monash Bushland & Wetland Maintenance
crew laid out the plants and this year also created most of the holes. They were also willing to help new planters.
Here is the list of the 45 different species planted:
Acaena novae-zealandiae - Bidgee-widgee
Arthropodium strictum - Chocolate Lily
Austrostipa mollis - Soft Spear-grass
Billardiera mutabilis - Common Apple-berry
Brachyscome multifida var.multifida - Cut Leaf Daisy
Bulbine bulbosa - Bulbine Lily
Clematis aristata - Austral Clematis
Clematis microphylla var.microphylla - Small-leaved Clematis
Correa reflexa var. reflexa - Common Correa
Dianella admixta - Spreading Flax-lily
Dianella laevis var. laevis - Pale Flax-lily
Gahnia sieberiana - Red-fruited Saw-sedge
Goodenia ovata - Hop Goodenia
Hibbertia riparia - Erect Guinea-flower
Indigofera australis - Austral Indigo
Leptorhynchos tenuifolius - Wiry Buttons
Lomandra longifolia var.longifolia - Spiny-headed Mat-rush
Microlaena stipoides - Weeping Grass
Poa ensiformis - Purple-sheath Tussock Grass
Poa labillardierei - Common Tussock-grass
Poa sieberiana Var.sieberiana - Tussock Grass
Pultenaea gunnii ssp.gunnii - Golden Bush-pea
Rytidosperma Mixed - Wallaby Grass
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Wahlenbergia communis - Tufted Bluebell
Acacia leprosa - Dandenong Ranges Cinnamon Wattle
Acacia paradoxa - Hedge Wattle
Acacia strictophylla
Acacia verticillata var verticillata - Prickly Moses
Banksia marginata - Silver Banksia
Bursaria spinosa var.spinosa - Sweet Bursaria
Cassinia aculeata - Common Cassinia
Cassinia arcuata - Drooping Cassinia
Coprosma quadrifida - Prickly Currant-bush
Dillwynia cinerascens - Grey Parrot-pea
Gynatrix pulchella - Hemp Bush
Hakea decurrens ssp. physocarpa - Bushy Needlewood
Hakea nodosa - Yellow Hakea
Hakea ulicina - Furze Hakea
Kunzea leptospermoides - Yarra Burgan
Leptospermum continentale (heath) - Prickly Tea-tree
Leptospermum lanigerum (scotch ck) - Woolly Tea-tree
Leptospermum myrsinoides - Heath Tea-tree
Melicytus dentatus - Tree Violet
Pomaderris aspera - Hazel Pomaderris
Carex appressa - Tall Sedge |
This is a good mix of wildflowers, grasses and middle storey shrubs. Not only will
biodiversity be enhanced, but the way the planting has been structured will make maintenance a lot easier to cope with.
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Tuesday, 16 July 2019 - Planting Day next to Regent Street -
This year we were able to welcome back some of our friends from United Energy who now work for AGIG.
We had 2,000 plants to plant on the west side of the creek nearest to Regent Street.
The Monash bush crew had removed much of the grassed area to provide a clear place for us to plant in.
We have purchased these plants with
Melbourne Water grant funds. They were all put in the ground in very good time. The showers of rain later in the
day has helped to water them in.
Some of the species planted were:
Acacia melanoxylon - Blackwood
Eucalyptus radiata - Narrow-leafed Peppermint
Dianella leavis var laevis - Pale Flax-lily
Dichondra repens - Kidney Weed
Ficinia nodosa - Knobby Club-sedge
Gahnia sieberiana - Red-fruited Saw-sedge
Gonocarpus tetragynus - Common Raspwort
Goodenia ovata - Hop Goodenia
Hakea nodosa - Yellow Hakea
Melicytus dentatus - Tree Violet
Microlaena stipoides - Weeping Grass
Myrsine howittiana - Muttonwood
Olearia lirata - Snowy Daisy-bush
Poa ensiformis - Purple-sheath Tussock-grass
Poa labillardierei - Common Tussock-grass
Poa morrisii - Velvet Tussock-grass
Pomaderris aspera - Hazel Pomaderris
Pomaderris racemosa - Slender Pomaderris
Prostanthera lasianthos var.lasianthos - Victorian Christmas Bush
Stylidium armeria - Grass Trigger Plant
Veronica gracilis - Slender Speedwell
Baumea rubiginosa - Soft Twig-sedge
Bolboschoenus caldwellii - Sea Club-sedge
Carex appressa - Tall Sedge
Carex inversa - Knob Sedge
A great range of plants for this area. The plants that we have planted over the last few years
on the east bank have grown very well. This year's plants will start the
transformation of the west bank of the creek.
We must thank the Monash bushland crew for all the preparation of this new area and the hard work in
supervising the enthusiastic group of 15 employees of AGIG.
Have a look at the photogallery to see the happy planters and what the area looked like before and after the planting.
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Thursday, 11 July 2019 - Planting at Crosby
Drive with Novotel -
The conservation group from the Novotel Hotel in Glen Waverley supported us again this year.
Fifteen of their staff joined us in planting 2000 tubestock
on the south side of Scotchmans Creek east of Crosby Drive.
After a good morning's hard work, they rewarded themselves and us with a great BBQ.
Our thanks go to Novotel for their continued support with our planting program.
This was our first planting for 2019 with plants purchased with our
Melbourne Water grant funds.
Some of the species planted were:
Brachyscome multifida - Cut Leaf Daisy
Dianella admixta - Black-anther Flax Lily
Dianella leavis var. leavis - Pale Flax Lily
Cassinia longifolia - Shiny Cassinia
Dichondra Repens - Kidney-weed
Gahnia sieberiana - Red-fruited Saw-sedge
Gonocarpus tetragynus - Common Raspwort
Goodenia ovata - Hop Goodenia
Gynatrix pulchella - Hemp Bush
Hakea decurrens ssp physocarpa - Bushy Needlewood
Hakea nodosa - Yellow Hakea
Lomandra filiformis - Wattle Mat-rush
Melicytus dentatus - Tree Violet
Microlaena stipoides - Weeping Grass
Myrsine howittiana - Muttonwood
Poa ensiformis - Purple-sheath Tussock Grass
Poa Morrisii - Soft Tussock Grass
Pomaderris aspera - Hazel Pomaderris
Pomaderris racemosa - Sender Pomaderris
Stylidium armeria - Grass Trigger-plant
Wahlengerbia stricta - Tall Bluebell
Carex appressa - Tall Sedge
Carex inversa - Knob Sedge
A great range of understorey plants for the creek and we must thank the Monash bushland crew for all the preparation and the hard work in
supervising such an eager group of workers.
The new plants will help to thicken up the planting in this area and help to supress the weeds.
Have a look at the photogallery for some photos from the planting.
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Sunday, 16 June 2019 - Planting Day in Valley Reserve -
A Special Friends planting in Valley Reserve.
As we did last year, we have purchased some plants with Friends Group funds to add more
flowering plants to the area to the west of the amenities block in Valley Reserve.
Despite a very dry autumn we have had rain in the last few weeks and the soil has become more
moist.
We had a dry, sunny morning for our planting session and the eight Friends who came along
were able to get the 800 plants into the ground in just over a couple of hours.
Here is a list of most of the plant species that were planted.
Acacia genistifolia - Spreading Wattle
Acaena ovina - Australian Sheep's Burr
Billardiera mutabilis - Common Apple-berry
Bossiaea cinerea - Showy Bossiaea
Brachyscome multifida - Cut-leaf Daisy
Chrysocephalum semipapposum - Clustered Everlasting
Coronidium scarpiodes - Button Everlasting
Correa reflexa var reflexa - Common Correa
Daviesia latifolia - Hop Bitter-pea
Dichondra repens - Kidney Weed
Glycine clandestina - Twining Glycine
Hakea decurrens ssp physocarpa - Bushy Needlewood
Hardenbergia violacea - Purple Coral Pea
Hibbertia riparia - Erect Guinea-flower
Indigofera australis - Austral Indigo
Kennedia prostrata - Running Postman
Leptorhynchos tenuifolius - Wiry Buttons
Pimelea humilis - Common Rice-flower
Pultenaea gunnii ssp gunnii - Golden Bush-pea
Veronica gracilis - Slender Speedwell
Viola hederacea - Native Violet
Wahlenbergia communis - Tufted Bluebell
Wahlenbergia gracilis - Sprawling Bluebell
Have a look at the photogallery for a photo from the planting.
Our thanks to everyone who came along to help.
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For further information about any of these events, please contact Tony Walker, Sally Walker or any member of the committee
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