Darebin Parklands Association

Darebin Parklands Association events February/March 2010

February information evening

Helen Maconachie, Melbourne Water’s river health officer for the Darebin Creek catchment, will speak at the DPA’s next information evening, on Tuesday 23 February. Helen will speak about Melbourne Water’s successful creek rehabilitation and erosion control works in the parklands and also provide a rundown of other improvement projects along the Darebin Creek. The meeting starts at 8 pm, in the parklands environment centre, Separation Street, Alphington. All welcome.

Get set for the Picnic Races

The fun and games of the Darebin Parklands Picnic Races returns on Sunday 14 March, from 12 noon – 4 pm. Bring your picnic lunch and try your hand at the boot toss, sack races, egg throw and more. With the King and Queen of the Mountain challenge up Mt Puffalo and Kinder Corner games for the littlies, there is something for everyone.

Can you spare an hour to assist the DPA to run the event? We need people to help with the games and on the membership desk. If you can assist, please contact the event co-ordinator, Ann Ritchie, at info@dpa.org.au.

From little things big things grow

Sunday was our last park care day for 2009 and we planted various native seeds into 672 tubes.

 
  
  
Robin and Lily hard at work. 

We have eight people who have taken these trays of seedlings home to become our DPA growers over Summer.

The materials have beed supplied by TreeProject which is a non-profit community organisation dedicated to revegetating the Victorian landscape with indigenous trees, shrubs and grasses.

Thanks to everyone who came along and helped out - despite the rain! One of our DPA committee members, Meredith, took some great photos on the day. Click here to browse the photo album.

Winners of the Photo Competition

Congratulations to the winners of the 2009 DPA Photography competition.

Michael Mann, Mt Puffalo, Adult Parkland Environment category

Anthony Jones, Rock 'n' Roll Australian National Trials Champ in traiing for the World Championships, People in the Park category

Tessa Jones, Early Morning Bark, Junior Ranger Parkland Environment category

Daniel Jones, Down by the pond, Junior Ranger Parkland Environment category

Alec Alder, Knights fighting, Junior Ranger People in the Park category

Each winner received a voucher for the Australian Geographic Shop, and has their photo published in the DPA 2010 calendar. The calendar contains 13 photos selected from the entries received, and the best 25 entries will be on public display at the Fairfield library.

DPA calendars can be purchased for $18 ($16 if multiple purchases) at Johnny F's Fruit and Veggies, 54 Wingrove St Alphington, or by completing an order form:

Download DPA 2010 calendar order form

What's on in Darebin Parklands in November 2009

Bushfire season – are you ready?

Department of Sustainability and Environment bushfire management expert Kevin Ritchie will speak at the DPA’s next information evening, on Tuesday 24 November.

 

Kevin has 23 years’ experience in managing land and bushfires here and overseas. He will speak on Victoria’s drought and bushfire history, the Black Saturday fires and the Bushfires Royal Commission and implications for places such as the Darebin Parklands and those who live near them.

 

The meeting starts at 8 pm, in the parklands environment centre, Separation Street, Alphington. All welcome.

 

November park care day

The DPA’s last park care day for the year will be held on Sunday 29 November, from 1-3 pm, at the rangers’ picnic table, behind the environment centre. We will be sowing native seeds into plant tubes as part of the community plant nursery project.

 

DPA members can take a box or two of tubes home and watch the seeds sprout over summer. The plants will then be used in the park, or we will donate them to schools and farmers along the creek for planting. Equipment and afternoon tea are supplied. Info: Karina, 9499 4338.