Contents

• Shower Head Exchange
• New Sounds Come To St Kilda Botanical Gardens
• St Kilda Indigenous Heritage Trail Walk
• Goannas
• Wildlife Victoria Needs Our Support
• Things To Do

Click here for the PDF version (0.9 meg).

Welcome

Welcome to the February 2007 edition of "The Eco", the newsletter for Friends of the Port Phillip EcoCentre.
Our aim is to provide an informative and entertaining snapshot of the activities, achievements and interests of all the wonderful people who contribute towards the goals of the EcoCentre, inspiring us to take
'local action for a global future'.

Do you have some news for The Eco? Contributions are always welcome.

Email info@ecocentre.com with your contribution and contact details.

TRIPLE-STAR RATED SHOWERHEAD EXCHANGE
SPONSORED BY SOUTH EAST WATER

Congratulations to Sue Phillips and the City of Port Phillip Environment Projects team on successfully submitting to be a pilot Council for the water-saving showerhead exchange scheme. The program, involving free distribution of 1,000 - 2,000 showerheads to local residents is expected to launch in mid February. The showerheads are supplied by South East Water.

This follows the initial exchange program launched in October 2006 which saw 200 showerheads distributed, conservatively estimated to save 2 million litres of water per year.

This represents significant water savings to the CoPP community; and energy savings due to reduced hot water used.

The new exchange scheme aims to engage diverse and multiple areas of our community, focussing on CALD residents, community groups and elderly residents, residents of lower socio-economic backgrounds, schools and youth.

The Showerhead Exchange will be launched at the EcoCentre Open Day, 25th Feb. CoPP residents can bring in their water bill and old showerhead and exchange away!! Showerheads will be available at the EcoCentre and some CoPP Assist Centres and some libraries after that time. For details call: 9209 6777.

E c o     E x p o

I n f o   &   P r o d u c t s
Waterwise Gardening     Balcolny Gardens
Greywater Rainwater     Energy Saving    

E c o h o u s e     T o u r s
Bushfood BBQ Cake & Lamingtons LIve Music

   K i d s    A c t i v i t i e s
Boomerang Painting
Climate Change Science Show @ 12pm

S h o w e r h e a d
E x c h a n g e
Port Phillip residents bring your water bill, old showerhead and exchange for a new water saving one. More details: 9534 0670 (bh)

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NEW SOUNDS COME TO ST KILDA BOTANICAL GARDENS

Since October 2006, Ariel Valent has spent Friday mornings at the historic gardens, creating new music inspired the by natural surrounds and the stories of the local area. Instruments include the vibraphone, piano accordion, kalimba (African thumb piano) and body percussion.

“Each week I choose a different spot , soak in the atmosphere, observe the local fauna (such as cockatoos, ducks and humans), talk to whoever approaches and use it all as source material for creating new music”.

Valent has also penned songs Just Me and the Fish and I Made Friends with a Seagull; and collaborated with local musicians and poets and scored a piece for choir and vibraphone to will be sung by East St. Kilda based community choir Resonance .

“Whether under a big tree, in the steamy Conservatory or among the roses, I’ve always found something to rouse my creative spirit; and met wonderful people: St. Kilda old timers, visitors from across the globe, power walkers, mothers groups, gardeners and lots of children.”

Thanks to a Cultural Development grant from the City of Port Phillip, Ariel will present Sunday concerts on February 25, and March 4, 18 and 25: various styles from ecologically inspired hip-hop to ambient jazz improvisations with different guests each week.

Where: St. Kilda Botanical Gardens, Blessington St. (near the EcoCentre)

When: Sundays February 25, March 4, 18 and 25, 2007.
Concerts run 2pm – 3pm

Other details: Free of charge. Suitable for all ages. Sit on the grass, or bring a picnic rug or chair. Shade available. If very wet, concert will be cancelled.

Public Info: www.portphillip.vic.gov.au
or (03) 9525 6295

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ST KILDA INDIGENOUS HERITAGE TRAIL WALK

By Joss Wyss

The opening event of the Yalukit Wilam Ngargee, People Place Gathering, was conducted at St Kilda Junction on February 1.

The full moon witnessed a new beginning in cultural understanding as those present were introduced to the landscape and culture of the Boonwurrung people.

City of Port Phillip Mayor, Janet Bolitho joined more than 90 people to gather and walk the Indigenous Heritage Trail from West Beach, through the southern section of Albert Park Reserve to the ‘Ngargee (aka Corroboree) Tree’ at St Kilda Junction. Another 40 people had already gathered at the Tree. This was the opening event of the Yalukit Wilam Ngargee, the St Kilda Festival’s 2007 Indigenous Cultural Celebration.

Walkers were welcomed to country by Boonwurrung Elder, Carolyn Briggs, and treated to a unique journey of indigenous, ecological and historical evocations by guides Fay Ball, Neil Blake and Meyer Eidelson. On arrival at the Ngargee Tree they were enlightened, entertained, and involved in the art of

indigenous cultural dance; possibly performed for the first time in 130 years at the 600 years plus River Red Gum.

The dance capped off a truly unforgettable and magical blend of natural, spiritual and historical conjurations of place, a fantastic insight into our St Kilda/Melbourne home, and an exciting bringing together of time, people and culture. Interest in the Walk was overwhelming; and due to safety and communication issues with moving large groups across the city, many people could not be accommodated. However, another walk is planned for Thursday, March 8. Those who missed out or are interested can book through the EcoCentre website www.ecocentre.com

The St Kilda Indigenous Heritage Trail Walk was sponsored by City of Port Phillip, Parks Victoria, and Port Phillip EcoCentre; and Coordinated by Bo Svoronos, City of Port Phillip Indigenous Arts Officer.

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GOANNAS

by Ian R Levy

  The Melbourne metropolitan area has increasingly replaced natural landscapes of woodlands, heathlands and open forest. Suburban gardens accommodate Ring Tailed Possums and Brush Tailed Possums and some native birds, however most of the original fauna is locally extinct.

  The general absence of hollow-bearing trees; and the failure of home gardens to accommodate a diversity of smaller species naturally excludes larger predator species such as the Lace Monitor Varanus varius.

  One hundred years ago, the Lace Monitor - a very large tree climbing goanna was present in the eastern forested fringe of Melbourne, but now has been virtually pushed to extensive forest reserves and national parks of the Upper Yarra Valley past Healesville and Warburton. If you venture further east into forested areas of Gippsland the Lace Monitor becomes more common (although recent bushfires would have had a devastating effect!).

  The Lace Monitor, or Tree Goanna as it is sometimes called, is also found in suitable forest habitat of the Murray Valley and eastern Australia generally.

  It is a very large lizard growing to two metres in length and is a fierce predator of any living thing small enough to swallow, such as nestling birds, lizards, mice and rats, huntsman spiders, beetles and a large specimen can devour a Ring Tailed Possum! It will also scavenge for dead animals.

  In Victoria, the Lace Monitor is active from about October to April and it hibernates in a hollow limb during the remaining colder months. Old growth forest is a necessary habitat for these animals.

  Usually solitary in habit and ranging over a large territory of forest, scratching around the base of trees, swiftly climbing tall trees, gripping the trunks with powerful talons and inspecting hollows with its long forked tongue which detects scents of food items.

  These goannas deposit their eggs in termite nests. The termites rebuild their damaged nests thereby protecting the goannas eggs which hatch several months later.

  The huge lizards can be very imposing, and if you do encounter one in the bush, its first instinct is to flee. It will race up a tall gum tree and try to keep to the opposite side of the viewer, and it may peer back at you.

 A Lace Monitor requires a very big area of open forest, so small reserves are just not large enough to support a viable population. What a pity urban planning does not include larger areas of fully protected wilderness so that spectacular wild life can be cherished close to home.

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WILDLIFE VICTORIA NEEDS OUR SUPPORT

Lorikeet hatchling found on the ground in St Kilda Botanical Gardens following strong easterly winds: Who do you call??

WildLine 0500 540 000

Victoria ’s 24 hour wildlife rescue network

The recent bushfires highlighted the fact that south eastern Australia is one of the most fire-prone areas on Earth. As our bush has adapted to regenerate after fire it seems reasonable to assume that our wildlife populations are similarly adapted. But what of the injured animals?

Wildlife Victoria Inc is a volunteer-based not-for-profit organisation that provides the community with a 24 hour wildlife rescue network across Victoria. It responds to around 7,000 calls every year to assist injured and orphaned animals and is supported by numerous volunteers who rescue and rehabilitate Victoria’s wildlife.

Naturally, providing appropriate care and medication for injured wildlife takes great commitment and resources. AS a community we are reliant on the good will and dedication of the Wildlife Victoria volunteers who care for our natural treasures. We can all assist them with financial support.

All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

www.wildlifevictoria.com.au

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Things to do

Sun 4 March 2007, 3 pm for 3:30 to 5.

MUSIC, POETRY, ART -  ST KILDA

St Kilda Music & Poetry Inc. presents CLASS ACT

Kate Walker & string quartet

Tim McMillan , acoustic guitar

Poetry feature : Eddie Creaney - the poets of Scotland plus : Photograph exhibition: Garth Richards

Sun 25 Feb - JECO Future Directions Workshop 

10am - 1pm, including lunch. 

We're brainstorming where and how JECO should be focusing our energies in 2007 and we'd love to have your input.

Sun 4 March. 9:30 - 12:30

Clean up Australia Day

Join one of our member organisations, the B'nai B'rith Environment Group (BBEG) as they clean up Australia along the Black Rock Foreshore -

Thursday March 8, 7—9pm:

St Kilda Indigenous Heritage Trail Walk

Featuring Carolyn Briggs, Fay Ball, Meyer Eidelson and Neil Blake plus indigenous cultural dance performance.

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