* We haven’t had a meeting since the last newsletter, but clearly will need to have one soon. Our AGM is in September and we would urge you to consider becoming part of the committee. It isn’t that onerous at all. And note that our secretary now resides in Apollo Bay. So Melbourne should be easy!
* FOGG office space – There hasn’t been much progress here. We haven’t done anything yet about applying to Heritage Care Victoria to seek out a volunteer to collate order and store FOGG’s material in our new office.
* Courses offered by Parks Vic – Margo has completed the training in Agricultural Chemical handling in Melbourne, others will be doing it through Landcare. It means we will be able to apply Roundup ourselves at working bees. We are making progress in getting a chainsaw accreditation course locally.
* JanBert Brouwer represented us at the Western Region sustainable water strategy forum. They discussed policy on securing water for urban and rural water users and the environment for the next 50 years. Janbert reported that the draft is very comprehensive and having Daryl Argyll involved, gave him some confidence that the environment will get its share. All allocations will be based on 3 different scenarios according to rainfall predictions. A draft plan is available (www.wcma.vic.gov.au) and the deadline for submissions is June 21.
* Local reference group of environmental organisations.
Under the auspices of the Victoria Naturally Alliance, FOGG were invited to join a local reference group that includes members from community groups and organisations that host volunteers. Basically the idea is to strengthen our groups so that we can better attract and retain new volunteers. As part of that some of you were sent a questionnaire on how you see FOGGS. We haven’t yet received the report. One outcome already is looking at how better to work with the Stawell Field Naturalists. I hope to add their activities to our calendar, and invite them to ours.
* Website: We get regular email via our website. Some are easy, some more complex. Students doing projects, requests for information for a potential theatre project, queries on how to volunteer in the GNP. The long distant collaboration between Frank in Apollo Bay and Margo in Halls Gap seems to work OK. I enter the information, he tidies it up for me and administers it. It’s not hard, if anyone else wants to get involved, please let me (Margo (or me – Frank)) know.