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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 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.
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
| Sunday, 30 July 2017 - National Tree Day Planting -
Come and join us in helping to plant over 8,000 plants in the Scotchmans Creek corridor on
National Tree Day.
The Scouts will be cooking a great lunchtime BBQ.
All tools are provided, just bring gardening gloves and wear sturdy footwear and your gardening clothes.
Melbourne Water and their Community Grants Program will be providing the funding for the
plants. This year the Monash Councillors' Discretionary Fund have provided a grant to cover the costs
of the BBQ. The City of Monash Bushland & Wetland Maintenance crew will be on-hand to help.
Date: Sunday 30 July, 2017
Time: From 10.00 am until about 1 pm
Where: Park at the end of Fairway Avenue, Mount Waverley, near the scouts halls for registration - Mel. Ref. 70:E5
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Wednesday, 16 August 2017 - Guest Speaker - Melbourne Water - Update
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Andrew Downing will give us an update on the recent works in the Mount Waverley
Wetland, the new litter trap, the renovation of the Dam Wall and the willow tree removal at Regent Street.
We hope to hear about Melbourne Water's plans for revegetation in these areas.
Chat to us over a light supper after the presentation.
Date: Wednesday, 16 August 2017
Time: 7:30 pm
Where: Alvie Hall - 314 High Street Road, Mount Waverley - Mel. Ref. 61:D11
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2017 - Valley Reserve Work Parties -
The Friends of Scotchmans Creek and Valley Reserve holds regular
work parties in the Valley Reserve, Mt. Waverley, throughout the
year.
The dates are 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.
For 2017 the work party dates are:
25 February
25 March
29 April
27 May
24 June
29 July
26 August
30 September
28 October
25 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 Sally Walker on 0477 006 774 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
Tuesday, 18 July 2017 - Extra Planting Day next to Regent Street -
We had a Special Friends planting in
the land next to Regent Street where the willows have recently been removed. We had a great response
to our plea for assistance from members and friends and we were delighted that Holmesglen Tafe were able to send an entire class of 13
students along to help.
We had 2,000 plants to help rehabilitate this area. We have purchased these plants with
Melbourne Water grant funds. They were all put in the ground in very good time. They have been well watered
in after the rain that fell in the afternoon and following day.
Some of the species planted were:
Cassinia longifolia - Shiny Cassinia
Coprosma quadrifida - Prickly Currant Bush
Daviesia leptophylla - Narrow-leaf Bitter-pea
Dodonea viscosa ssp. Spatulata - Wedge-Leaf Hop Bush
Hakea decurrens ssp. physocarpa - Bushy Needlewood
Hakea nodosa - Yellow Hakea
Kunzea leptospermoides - Burgan
Leptospermum continentale - (wet) - Prickly Tea-tree
Melaleuca ericifolia - Swamp Paperbark
Olearia lirata - Snowy Daisy-bush
Prostanthera lasianthos var. lasianthos - Victorian Christmas Bush
Stylidium armeria - Grass Trigger Plant
Microlaena stipoides - Weeping Grass
Poa morrisii - Velvet tussock-grass
Rytidosperma (mixed species) - Wallaby Grass
Themeda triandra - Kangaroo Grass
Arthropodium strictum - Chocolate Lily
Bulbine bulbosa - Bulbine Lily
Carex appressa - Tall Sedge
Gahnia radula - Thatch Saw-sedge
Gahnia sieberiana - Red-fruited Saw-sedge
Pteridium esculentum - Austral Bracken
A wonderful range of plants for this area where before we had difficuly establishing plants under the willows
and we must thank the Monash bushland crew for all the preparation and the hard work in
supervising such an eager group of workers.
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Thursday, 13 July 2017 - Planting at Crosby
Drive with Novotel -
The conservation group from the Novotel Hotel in Glen Waverley supported us again this year.
Twelve 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 BBQ.
Our thanks go to Novotel for their continued support with our planting program.
This was our first planting for 2017 with plants purchased with our
Melbourne Water grant funds.
Some of the species planted were:
Brachyscome multifida - Cut-leaf Daisy
Coprosma quadrifida - Prickly Currant Bush
Hakea nodosa - Yellow Hakea
Microlaena stipoides - Weeping Grass
Poa labillardierei - Common Tussock-grass
Poa morrisii - Velvet tussock-grass
Rytidosperma (mixed species) - Wallaby Grass
Themeda triandra - Kangaroo Grass
Bulbine bulbosa - Bulbine Lily
Dianella longifolia - Pale Flax-lily
Carex Appressa - Tall Sedge
Carex inversa - Knob Sedge
An excellent range of 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.
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Sunday, 2 July, 2017 - Planting Day in Valley Reserve -
A Friends planting in Valley Reserve.
As we did last year we decided to purchase some plants with Friends Group funds to add more
flowering plants to the area to the west of the amenities block in Valley Reserve.
A group of 12 volunteers aided by Darren from the Bush Crew planted 800 plants on a cold, calm,
sunny morning.
After the recent rains the ground was soft and digging the holes for the plants was easy.
We planted a range of mainly flowering plants on the south side of the path to provide an attractive
flower display in Spring:
Some of the species planted were:
Acacia genistifolia - Spreading Wattle
Acaena novae-zealandiae - Bidgee-widgee
Arthropodium strictum - Chocolate Lily
Billardiera scandens - Velvet Apple-berry
Brachyscome multifida - Cut-leaf Daisy
Convolvulus angustissimus - Australian Bindweed
Correa reflexa - Native Fuchsia
Dianella longifolia - Flax Lily
Dianella revoluta - Spreading Flax-lily
Hakea decurrens - Bushy Needlewood
Hardenbergia violacea - Purple Coral Pea
Leptorhynchos tenuifolius - Wiry Buttons
Pimelea humilis - Common Rice-flower
Pultenaea gunnii - Golden Bush-pea
Have a look at the photogallery for some photos from the planting.
Our thanks to everyone who came along to help.
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Thursday, 18 May 2017 - Guest Speaker - Trish McGee, the Sustainability Coordinator from the City
of Monash - How can we Reach a Sustainable Monash -
Trish took us through the Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2016-26 and spoke in general
about her role at Council. Questions from the floor showed a keen interest in Council's progress
in this area.
You can access this Strategy document from the Council's web site:
under Home / About Us / Council & Councillors / Publications / Environmental Sustainability Strategy
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Wednesday, 22 March 2017 - Opening of the Ted Mason Education Hub in Valley Reserve -
A group of Ted Mason's family, Friends and the Monash mayor, Rebecca Paterson assembled in the afternoon
to attend the official opening of the Ted Mason Education Hub.
The mayor gave a short speech outlining the many reasons behind this dedication.
Ted's son spoke briefly as did Alan Moore, our President.
The Education Hub is an excellent resource both for the Friends when we entertain school groups and for the passing public.
Have a look at the photogallery for some pictures from the ceremony.
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Thursday, 16 March 2017 - Guest Speaker - State Emergency Service - Monash Unit -
If you wanted to hear all about the SES - what they do, how they can help, and how you can prepare
for emergencies then you shoud have attended this meeting.
Jacque Quaine gave us a very comprehensive and informative presentation.
She also gave us a slide show of their activities which we watched as we had our supper.
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Sunday, 5 March, 2017 - Clean Up Australia Day -
Despite the early drizzle, a total of 32 volunteers came along to help us Clean Up Australia.
Twelve scouts and their leaders from a local Scout group came back from Valley Reesrve with loaded bags.
The wetlands are partially roped off due to earth works but we were able to collect some rubbish that
had been brought down
by the overflowing water and caught in the vegetation.
We found the usual take away food wrappers, a small number of drink containers and lots of bits of plastic.
including several drink straws.
At the end of the morning we had collected 16 bags of rubbish.
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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| Willow Tree Removal at Regent Street - Update -
Melbourne Water has undertaken willow tree removal work beside Scotchmans Creek
adjacent to Regent Street.
The Friends group supports this willow tree removal program to allow us to plant indigenous plants
where the willows now are.
All of the willows have now been cut down or reduced to stags which will be left as habitat.
The stumps have been poisoned so there should be no regrowth from what is left.
We will be planting again in this area in July and hopefully by then the ground under where these
trees are now will have been rehabilitated so that we can plant native plants there.
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| Saturday 28 January 2017 - Annual BBQ in Valley Reserve -
We had a most sucessful Annual Barbeque as we got together to celebrate our last year's activities.
Very pleasant weather encouraged an excellent attendance and a good time was had by all.
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| Thursday 20th October 2016 - Annual General Meeting and Guest Speaker -
Guest Speaker - Tony Walker, our vice-president - Valley Reserve - A Brief History -
Tony gave an illustrated talk on the history of Valley Reserve from the early subdivisions of the
area to its current status as a bushland reserve.
He spoke about the transformation of the original council reserve which was mainly grassed to the area we
see today with most of the area planted with indigenous plants.
He mentioned the name change of the Mt Waverley Drain to Valley Creek and the instrumental role of the
Friends group in getting this change made.
Tony has agreed to make his presentation available:
History of Valley Reserve - 20 October 2016 (a 500 kb pdf file of the text of his presentation)
History of Valley Reserve - 20 October 2016 (the full powerpoint presentation at 20.5 MB)
Annual General Meeting -
The normal business of the 18th Annual General Meeting was then conducted. This covered the President’s,
Waterwatch and Treasurer’s reports and the election of the Committee.
The President, Alan Moore, summarised the group’s achievements for the year which included the regular
Valley Reserve work party, planting projects, community events and events with local schools. The Waterwatch coordinator, Fred Bullock,
reviewed the team’s work for the year making some observations about the health of Scotchmans Creek and the Treasurer’s Report was
presented and accepted.
The election of the Committee resulted in the following:
| President: | Alan Moore |
| Vice President: | Tony Walker |
| Secretary: | Sally Walker |
| Treasurer: | Fred Bullock |
| Ordinary Committee: | Nira Jayasuriya |
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For further information about any of these events, please contact Alan Moore or Sally Walker
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