In January 2018 we were unable to hold our annual barbecue due to a forecast temperature of 39 degrees.

But in December the weather was milder and we had a very sucessful barbecue with a great turnout of members. Helen and John Clements from the Friends of Damper Creek Reserve came and we were also delighted to welcome our new mayor and Cr Rebecca Paterson.

The reserve was quieter than round the time of Australia Day and so more peaceful for our members.

Guest Speaker - Dr Joab Wilson, from Holmesglen Tafe - Birds in Cities -

Joab gave us a very interesting presentation on birds in cities and how cities provide places both of opportunity and of displacement.

He showed us how different bird species can find places to live and thrive. He also showed us how we can help to provide suitable places for many of the smaller species that struggle without suitable dense habitat.

Annual General Meeting -

The normal business of the 20th Annual General Meeting was then conducted. This covered the President’s, Waterwatch, State of the River and Treasurer’s reports and the election of the Committee.

The President, Tony Walker, started by reminding us that 2018 was the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Friends of Scotchmans Creek. The combined group was started in 2001. He 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. Carlie Dann our River Officer gave her first report of the state of Scotchmans Creek from Waverley Road to Stanley Avenue. Finally Fred Bullock presented the Treasurer’s Report which was accepted.

The election of the Committee resulted in the following:

President:	Tony Walker
Vice President:	Kallista Sears
Secretary:	Alan Moore
Treasurer:	Sally Walker
Ordinary Committee:	Fred Bullock
Ordinary Committee:	Carlie Dann
Ordinary Committee:	Rex Dusting
Ordinary Committee:	Kelvin Ferguson

 

James led an interesting discussion on the changes in drainage systems over the years and the issues involved in upgrading an aging infrastructure. He also noted the changes in vegetation cover from 1972 to the present time with increased tree cover in the cities parks and reserves and the decrease in the residential areas. These changes were shown by comparing large maps of the city with vegetation cover displayed.

 

After overnight rain and an early shower the weather was fine and the sky mostly blue - ideal planting weather.
Almost 160 volunteers came to plant over 8,000 plants in the Scotchmans Creek corridor on National Tree Day. As last year, among the volunteers were about 25 members of the Chinese Professionals Club of Australia. There was also a group of Srilankan volunteers as well - a great representation of the Monash community. All 8,000 plants were in the ground by 1 pm.
Thank you to everyone who came to help make this a very successfull morning of planting.

The Scouts provided a great sausage sizzle. Our thanks go to all the bush crew from Monash who laid out the plants and helped everyone with the planting.

We also thank Melbourne Water and their Community Grants Program for providing the funding for the plants and their support grant for the funding to cover the costs of the BBQ.

Some of the 45 different species planted were:

Brachyscome multifida - Cut Leaf Daisy
Bulbine bulbosa - Bulbine Lily
Chrysocephalum semipapposum - Clsutered Everlasting
Correa reflexa var reflexa - Common Correa
Einadia nutans ssp.nutans - Climbing Saltbush
Goodenia ovata - Hop Goodenia
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 sieberiana - Tussock Grass
Rytidosperma (mixed species) - Wallaby Grass
Themeda triandra - Kangaroo Grass
Wahlenbergia stricta - Tall Bluebell
Acacia paradoxa - Hedge Wattle
Bursaria spinosa var spinosa - Sweet Bursaria
Arthropodium strictum - Chocolate Lily
Carex appressa - Tall Sedge

 

Some of the species planted were:

Acaena Novae-zealandiae - Bidgee-widgee
Dianella leavis var laevis - Pale Flax-lily
Dichondra repens - Kidney Weed
Eucalyptus cephalocarpa - Silver-leaved Stringybark
Eucalyptus radiata - Narrow-leaf Peppermint
Gonocarpus tetragynus - Common Raspwort
Hakea nodosa - Yellow Hakea
Leptospermum lanigerum (scotch ck) - Woolly Tea-tree
Lomandra longifolia var longifolia - Spiny-headed Mat-rush
Melicytus dentatus - Tree Violet
Microlaena stipoides - Weeping Grass
Myrsine howittiana - Muttonwood
Poa morrisii - Velvet tussock-grass
Pomaderris aspera - Hazel Pomaderris
Pomaderris racemosa - Slender Pomaderris
Stylidium armeria - Grass Trigger Plant
Carex appressa - Tall Sedge
Carex inversa - Knob Sedge

A great range of plants for this area. The plants that we planted last year have grown very well. This year's plants will thicken up that area. We must thank the Monash bushland crew for all the preparation and the hard work in supervising such an eager group of students.

Thursday, 12 July 2018 - Planting at Crosby Drive with Novotel -

The conservation group from the Novotel Hotel in Glen Waverley supported us again this year. Twentytwo 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 picnic lunch.

Our thanks go to Novotel for their continued support with our planting program. This was our first planting for 2018 with plants purchased with our Melbourne Water grant funds.

Some of the species planted were:

Brachyscome multifida - Cut Leaf Daisy
Cassinia longifolia - Shiny Cassinia
Dichondra Repens - Kidney-weed
Goodenia ovata - Hop Goodenia
Gynatrix pulchella - Hemp Bush
Hakea decurrens ssp physocarpa - Bushy Needlewood
Hakea nodosa - Yellow Hakea
Melicytus dentatus - Tree Violet
Microlaena stipoides - Weeping Grass
Myrsine howittiana - Muttonwood
Poa ensigormis - 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
Dianella admixta - Black-anther Flax Lily
Dianella leavis var. leavis - Pale Flax Lily
Lomandra filiformis - Wattle Mat-rush
Carex appressa - Tall Sedge
Carex inversa - Knob Sedge
Gahnia radula - Thatch Saw-sedge
Gahnia sieberiana - Red-fruited Saw-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.

Have a look at the photogallery for some photos from the planting.

Dasarath is employed at the Bureau of Meteorology and gave us an excellent presentation on how climate change and variability affect the availability of water. This in turn impacts on ecological sustainability.
We were shown how the compounding effect of hot and dry conditions on land can produce higher temperatures in the surrounding sea water which results in increased moisture in the air and more significant rain events on land.
We were also shown many graphs showing how temperatures have been changing over time. I am sure that this presentation has given us much food for thought.

 

Peter has been photographing the fungi in Valley Reserve for many years. He gave us a very informative presentation explaining the different types of fungi he has found. By comparing photos of different species he showed us the various colours and textures they have.
We were very pleased with the excellent attendance at the meeting.

The Friends group hosted a 5 km walk through Valley Reserve and through the Mount Waverley Wetlands for our senior citizens. The seven attendees enjoyed the fine weather and the friendly chat as the Friends answered questions as we walked along.