When: This Saturday 25th February
Time: 9am-1pm, transport will be provided from the top of Mt Keira back to the garden
Cost: $8, included is expert guides with a wealth knowledge of local history and flora and fauna identification, transport back to the garden
Bookings: essential by contacting the Botanic Garden office on 4225 2636 or email botanicgarden@wollongong.nsw.gov.au

NOTES: Please bring lunch and water, wear sturdy covered shoes, a hat and comfortable clothing

This walk is medium difficulty and fitness is required

Would you like to further develop your skills in identifying and recognising native plants from weed look-a-likes?

This workshop will involve a guided walk around the Mt Kembla Ring Track near Wollongong.

Local botanist and Landcare Illawarra project officer Richard Scarborough will guide participants along the track looking at a range of native plants which are often easily mistaken for weeds they look like. Richard will give you some simple tips on how to tell them apart and show you a range of resources which can help you to avoid making mistakes in restoration activities.

When: Saturday the 24th of March 10am – 1pm

Where: Mt Kembla Ring Track. Meeting point details supplied on registration.

Cost: Free

Grade: Moderate (some steep areas)

What to bring: Bring your own snacks, water, hat, sunscreen, wear sturdy shoes, long sleeves and long pants – there are leeches and mosquitoes.

RSVP: Please RSVP by Friday the 23rd to secure your place on the walk, to Megan Rowlatt communitysupport@conservationvolunteers.com.au or phone 4229 7526.

Google Map

A whirlwind self drive tour of some of our Bushcare friends gardens. This is an opportunity to see how some volunteers have brought the bush into their gardens.  In doing so they have also minimised mowing, increased fresh smells and air quality and invited native fauna to live along side of their families. Everyone loves visiting natural areas, so why not bring natural areas home with you and create your own little patch of the bush?

Where: February 4 and February 11 (Approximately 8am – 2pm, both days)

Where: All over the LGA, Feb 4 is mostly southern suburbs and Feb 11 is mostly northern suburbs.

How: Self drive, visit as many or as little as you choose, though you MUST book in prior to the date to receive full addresses and additional information.

Cost: Free

Download Flyer for further details.

When: Friday 17th February 2012

Where: 7:30pm in the Gerringong Town Hall.

Coal Seam Gas Extraction is a major issue, and increasingly relevant for Kiama and the Illawarra: almost the entire Kiama Municipality is covered by Gas Exploration leases, and many surrounding areas as well.

To provide information about coal seam gas, Transition Towns Kiama, in conjunction with Pics and Flicks, is screening the highly acclaimed documentary “GasLand”, which features the experience in America with CSG. In addition, speakers will discuss what is happening with CSG exploration and extraction in our region, as well as the progress on renewable alternatives.

So book in Friday, February 17th, 7pm (program starts at 7:30 sharp) at Gerringong Town Hall. Entry is by gold coin donation. Supper will be available, provided by St Peter 7 St Paul Social Justice Group and Greenbox.

Presenter: Professor David Christian, D Phil
David is a professor in the Department of Modern History, Politics and International Relations at Macquarie University, having previously taught at San Diego State University. Since the 1980s he has been interested in world history on very large scales. In 1989 he began teaching courses on ‘Big History’, surveying the past on the largest possible scales. In 2004, he published the first text on ‘Big History’.

In 2008, Bill Gates listened to a series of David’s recorded lectures, and invited him to develop a web-based course for high school students. The joint US-Australia Big History Project was born. Since then, the web-based course has been trialled in US schools and will be piloted in Australian schools in 2012. David will share with us some of the resources he has developed, and his passion for teaching others about big history.
Big history is a discipline that seeks understanding of the integrated history of the cosmos, earth, life and humanity. Big history weaves together empirical evidence from scientific and historical disciplines into a single accessible story, one that explores how we are, how we got here, how we’re connected to everything around us, and where we may be heading.

Time: Sat 14 April 2012,  7pm-9pm
Big History: Why we need to teach a modern creation story, and how we’re teaching it
Description: Big history refers to the history of the universe, and reflects a modern, scientifically based story of our origins. Young and older generations need to understand this history because it will help prepare us for the many global challenges ahead. During this informal talk with slides, David will describe the background to big history, and the project so far.

Time: Sun 15 April 2012, 10am-12.00
Are we alone in the universe? Humanoid histories
Description: This is a question that used to be in the realms of science fiction, but is now entering the realm of serious science as we learn more about other planets. This question also tells us a lot about humanity, our past and future as the strangest species in the 4 billion year history of planet earth.

Book now!

Shareholders
•    Full weekend package: Accomm, talks, and meal: $120 per person/$80 per child under 18 yrs
•    Both talks + meal (No accomm): $80 per person
•    Sat evening talk & meal: $70 per person;
•    Sun talk only: $40 per person/$25 per child

Non-shareholders
•    Full weekend package: Accomm, talks, and meal: $200 per adult/$80 per child under 18 yrs
•    Both talks + meal (No accomm): $80 per person
•    Sat evening talk: $40 per person /$25 per child; with meal: $70 per person
•    Sun talk only: $40 per person /$25 per child

Fee for full weekend package includes:
•    2 presentations/discussion forums
•    Shared cabin accommodation for Friday & Saturday nights (view the rainforest cabins and property at www.benricketts.org.au, home to echidnas, wombats,  lyre birds and more)
•    Saturday night catered evening meal
•    Sunday morning tea/coffee and snacks

Price does not include:
•    Breakfast, lunch and drinks (BYO)

Book your accommodation and preferred cabin with caretakers Jeddah and Jake. Payment online required in advance.  Phone 0242-360-208 or email bookings@benricketts.org.au

Note. This event may be cancelled if there are insufficient participants

Venue: Futureworld at Lake Illawarra, Northcliffe Drive, (opposite Walker Street), Warrawong

Food security is an increasing problem throughout the world and with the current population above 7 billion,
shortages of basic food items have inflamed tensions in Africa and Asia. It has been said that the next war may
be fought over food and water – not over oil and land.

Should we be growing and sourcing more fresh food locally in a sustainable manner?
How can we change the way modern society is approaching food and its consumption and help them appreciate fresh local food?
We extend an invitation to all community members to join us to discuss some of the issues effecting food
production that will include: Land, Water, Food security, Food Miles, Organic production, Farmers
market, Agri-tourism, Home gardens, and Mining threats to pastoral land.

Speakers:
Lynne Strong – Business and marketing manager, Jamberoo’s award winning Clover Hill Dairies.
Robert Boyd – Green Gold vegies, Shoalhaven’s largest vegetable grower.
Denis Bagnall – Certified Organic farmer, Dapto Community Farm.
David Laing – Town planner, Cardno and Chair Property Development Council (Illawarra branch).

Cost – $10 per person (and $5 Concession). Light refreshments will be provided from 6.00pm.

Please RSVP by 14th February 2012 on 4274 2939 or info@futureworld.org.au

Download flyer here

When: Saturday, 11/2/2012

Time: 10am-2pm

Cost: $40

Bookings essential: 42252636

Bring 4x 300-400ml jars, an apron, tea towel, gardening gloves, hat, sunscreen and a smile!

Find out more about how to manage that weedy edge to your patch of remnant vegetation. This field day will look at a
range of integrated techniques to improve the health and condition of Illawarra’s native vegetation.

When: Saturday 25 February — 9am to 12.30
Where: 263 Curramore Rd, Curramore

The event will involve some walking. Please wear sturdy footwear, long trousers, long sleeved shirt and a sun hat. Bring wet weather gear, drinking water, insect repellent and sunscreen. Morning tea and a light lunch provided.

RSVP by: Friday 17 February
Phone: Michael 4224 9715
Fax: 4224 9669
E-mail: michael.andrews@cma.nsw.gov.au
Escarpment to Sea

Download Flyer

The program will include presentations about sustainable farming, improving the health of soils, the Australian Government’s Carbon Farming Initiative and opportunities to generate carbon credits through greenhouse gas emissions abatement and sequestration of carbon in soils and vegetation.  Field visits will explore the work of Lynne, Michael and Nick Strong on Clover Hill and Lemon Grove Research dairy farms.  The Strong’s are currently undertaking a large research project investigating the role and performance of perennial non-grass based pastures in coastal dairy farms

The Strongs are winners of the 2010 Landcare Primary Producer Award and the 2010 Southern Rivers Carbon Cocky award.

Draft Program:
Richard Eckard – University of Melbourne, Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre
Mick Keogh – Australian Farm Institute
Louisa Kiely – Carbon Farmers of Australia
Dr Neil Moss – SBScibus
Other presentations to be confirmed.

This field day is supported by the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country Program, Carbon Farming Initiative and the Regional Landcare Facilitator Initiative.

If you would like to register your interest in attending the field day, please email peter.pigott@cma.nsw.gov.au or phone on 4429 4449.

Well creating your own herbarium can be a great way to become familiar with the plants which are in your local area.

Learn some simple techniques in creating your very own herbarium for your Landcare or Bushcare site or even in your own backyard.

This workshop will highlight how to identify local native plants and how to keep records and samples.

Lynne Kavanagh will walk you through the simple techniques to get you on your way to creating your own collection.

You will be able to collect some species from the Bushcare site along Blue Divers Creek and come back and start your own herbarium!

Where: Towradgi Community Hall, Towradgi Road (near the Tennis Courts)

When: Saturday the 18th of February 10am – 1pm

This workshop is FREE. Morning tea and all materials will be provided on the day.

RSVP: by Wednesday the 15th of February to Megan Rowlatt 4229 7526, 0412 532 817 or email communitysupport@conservationvolunteers.com.au