More than 120 people including volunteers, nurses and Peace of Mind patrons made their way to the coast to participate in a variety of activities as part of the Peace of Mind Foundation’s family retreat for brain cancer last weekend. Read more
Tag: event
Wildflower and Art Weekend a success!
The annual ANGAIR Wildflower and Art Weekend was greeted with a glorious spring day to welcome locals and visitors to the event.
This year featured a hands-on amphibian, reptile and insect experience by Roaming Reptiles, which was greatly received by children and adults alike. Read more
ANGAIR Wildflower and Art Weekend
It’s back! The annual ANGAIR Wildflower and Art weekend will be held this September. Read more
Are you an artist? Get on the trail today
Registrations are now open for local artists to join the annual Surf Coast Arts Trail for 2016 which is happening over the weekend of 13- 14 August. Read more
Free breakfast at Moggs
Dog’s Breakfast Friday 22 January 2016 8-10am
Bring your furry friends down to Moggs Creek Beach (near the river mouth) on Friday 22 January 2016 between 8-10am for a free breakfast for dogs and owners. Read more
Annual event signals start to spring
Spring has definitely sprung with the warm weather welcoming the ANGAIR Wildflower and Art Exhibition on the 19th and 20th September.
The event attracted locals and visitors of all ages the area to explore the variety of stalls ranging from floral arrangements, propagation stalls and walks and rambles around the Anglesea area.
There was a lot of interest in the GORCC activities, attracting children and adults of all ages with colouring ins, puzzles and valuable information on local flora and fauna.
GORCC Conservation Supervisor Georgie Beale said the weekend was a great opportunity for local organisations to raise awareness about the work being completed in the area and answer public questions.
“There was a good mix of everything on the weekend with lots of local organisations represented.
“It was great to see people of all ages enjoying the activities we had on offer and finding out more about GORCCs role in the community,” she said.
ANGAIR is a dedicated volunteer group that aims to protect and maintain the indigenous flora and fauna in the Anglesea and Aireys Inlet environments. For more information about volunteering in your local area visit our website.
What were your highlights from the day? Share them with us in the comments below.
Visitors & locals get involved in open event
Australia Day weekend saw crowds flock to the foreshore to enjoy the spectacular weather. The GORCC Open Day was held on the Saturday of the three day holiday, with a marquee set up on the Elephant Walk Reserve in Torquay.
The successful event attracted approximately 160 locals and visitors who came along to have their say, learn about GORCC’s work and projects, enjoy the giveaways and prizes on offer or particpate in the fun, free environmental activities.
Not surprisingly the activity stall was the stand out favourite of the day providing entertainment and education to kids of all ages who made their own ‘insect hotels’, created their own Hooded Plover badges and more.
While the kids were busy creating their masterpieces, mums, dads and grandparents asked questions about the coast and had their say on GORCC projects. The GORCC’s Draft Coastal User Transport Strategy was on display as was information about coastal hazards and coastal safety.
The day also included promotion of GORCC’s Save the Hoodie Campaign. A sign featuring ‘Hamish the Hoodie’ was on display, giving people a chance to enter the #SavetheHoodie campaign and go into the draw for $1000 in prizes. More information can be found at www.savethehoodie.com.au and the competition closes on 1st April 2015.
A $1000 Quicksilver voucher is also up for grabs as part of this year’s Coast Survey.
Did you visit the GORCC Australia Day weekend stall? What did you think? Share your thoughts below!
Insects of Jan Juc – Free family fun this weekend
Not sure what to do this Father’s day?
Jan Juc Coast Action (JJCA) is holding the free ‘Insects of Jan Juc’ event this Sunday 7 September.
Plenty of activities will be on offer, including activities for the little ones. Children will have the opportunity to build ‘insect hotels’ as well as colour-in local insects drawn by local artist Amanda Carson.
The day will also include information about JJCA’s latest exciting project – the development of an online plant catalogue which has been funded by the State Government through Coastcare and is supported by the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (stay tuned for more on this project to be released soon!)
JJCA President Luke Hynes said the catalogue will be great way for everybody to identify and learn more about the indigenous species they see on the caost.
“It will allow non-specialist groups to identify any indigenous plant species by typing in the visual characteristics identified,”
Mr Hynes said the catalogue is also a good way of encouraging locals to plant native plants in their gardens.
“Those looking for plant ideas for their garden will be able to do a quick search using the desired characteristics and will find matching suggestions,” he said.
The activities will be followed by the JJCA Annual General Meeting and a free barbeque lunch.
For further information, phone Luke Hynes on 0406 113 438 or visit the JJCA Facebook page here.
Perfect day to get the gardening gloves on
Now is a better time than any to pop the gardening gloves on and plant a tree or shrub.
With School Tree Day today and National Tree Day this Sunday July 27, there is something fun and interactive happening near you.
Developed by Planet Ark, National Tree Day is an Australian environmental initiative aimed at promoting community planting of native trees and shrubs with a huge range of celebrities endorsing the day. Click here to see who is supporting the 2014 Tree Day.
Trees allow a canopy and habitat for wildlife, encourage biodiversity and produce oxygen, but they provide many additional benefits that you may not be aware of.
As stated by Planet Ark, near-by trees have a calming effect which can significantly reduce workplace stress levels.
Why are trees so important to our community?
- Trees have a calming effect which can significantly reduce workplace stress levels and fatigue.
- They muffle sound from nearby streets and freeways, as well as calm traffic.
- Tree plantings provides an opportunity for community involvement and engage all cultures, ages and genders in the important role of tree planting or tree care.
- Trees beautify communities and improve the views.
- Trees make great landmarks that can give communitie.s a new identity and encourage community spirit.
- Trees improve air quality by absorbing polluting gases and odours and filtering air particles.
- Trees save water as shade from trees slows water evaporation.
- Trees combat the greenhouse effect through carbon sequestration (the general term used for the capture and long-term storage of carbon dioxide).
You don’t need to dedicate just one day of the year to plant trees and shrubs. If you’re interested in getting the gardening gloves on any day of the year, click here for step-by-step instructions.
If you would like to find out about events near you, register your tree planting event, or learn more about the benefits of tree planting days click here .
Farewell Shorebirds
Five million sun-loving Aussie birds are embarking on an epic, 13,000 kilometer journey and you can track their process as part of a national Birdlife Australia event.
On a flight that would exhaust even the world’s most seasoned travelers, millions of birds leave Australia throughout autumn on their annual journey traveling great distances to countries such as China, Korea, Siberia and Alaska.
In their lifetime, migratory birds can travel more than 700,000 – as far as the moon and back.
Photo: Andrew Silcocks/BirdLife Australia
Birdlife Australia is following six of the 35 species that head north each year to escape the Australian Winter, exploring why they make this incredible journey and how they rely on Australia’s coast, wetlands and estuaries for their survival.
Those interested in following the captivating story of the shorebirds’ annual, global migration can sign up at farewellshorebirds.org.au and receive weekly videos and webcasts from Birdlife Australia.
Each webcast will mark the departure of another wave of birds and track their progress as they journey across the globe.
Webcasts feature Australian bird loving comedian John Clarke and are anchored by Sean Dooley, author of The Big Twitch, editor of Australian BirdLife magazine and holder of the Australian Big Year twitching record from 2002 until 2012.
Photo: Andrew Silcocks/BirdLife Australia
“Many Australians will be amazed to discover how these birds prepare for this incredible flight including many surprising facts—they shrink the size of their liver and stomach to make it easier to fly so far—this and many other fascinating shorebird facts will feature throughout the webcasts,” said Mr. Dooley
Birds featured include the Curlew Sandpiper—the most threatened of the 35 species, the Red Knot—whose journey stretches the length of the flyway (13,000 kms), and the Bar-tailed Godwit—known to fly 11,000 km non-stop from Alaska across the Pacific in 9 days.
The smallest of the group is the Red-necked Stint which weighs as little as two 50-cent coins.
The tiny bird is one of the many migratory birds that call our region home. Along surf beaches Saanderlings and Ruddy Turnstones, both migratory shorebirds can all be found while the Barwon River and Lake Connewarre are also important shorebird sites.
The ‘Farewell Shorebirds’ event will run from 10 April until 10 May 2014, concluding on World Migratory Bird Day.
Photo: Andrew Silcocks/BirdLife Australia
Watch the Youtube ‘teaser’:
Join the conversation at farewellshorebirds.org.au or use #FarewellShorebirds on Twitter.
Related posts:
 Spotlight on the Rufous Bristlebird |
 Endangered Tiger Quoll rediscovered near Lorne |
 Protecting our endangered locals |
 Wildlife require expert care |
Great Ocean Road Coast Committee Blog 