Celebrating Culture and Creativity in Gunning
On Thursday the 3rd of October, we hosted a lively school holiday program at the Gunning Shire Hall, where over a dozen local children crafted bush animals using straw and wool and learned about Aboriginal culture and games.
Under the guidance of Ronnie Jordan from Culture on the Move, the children created delightful creatures like birds, echidnas, and goannas using natural materials. Ronnie, a Pitta Pitta Wangkamahdla woman and professional artist, shared her beautiful weaving and traditional tools, while teaching the kids about Aboriginal culture.
To cap off the day, we played some exciting games, including ‘kal-ka-doon kee-an,’ a traditional Aboriginal game from north Queensland. In our version, the children threw a tennis ball inside a length of stocking, aiming for targets—a fantastic way to blend fun with cultural learning! We are grateful to the New South Wales Government for their funding through the Holiday Break Program, which made this enriching event possible.
Since 2017, Gunning District Landcare’s School Holiday Program has provided engaging activities for our community’s youth. To stay updated on future programs, contact Leah at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0488 027 653.
A Successful Community Planting Day at the Gunning Showground Bush Block
On Saturday, 28th September, the Gunning Showground Bush Block was a hive of activity as volunteers from Gunning District Landcare (GDL) and the Onerwal Local Aboriginal Land Council came together for a very special community planting day. With 24 enthusiastic volunteers, we were able to plant nearly 900 native grasses and flowers in the central area of the park, near the yarning circle.
The day was a beautiful example of community action at its best. Volunteers connected over caring for Country and enhancing a space that everyone in the community can enjoy. A special highlight of the day was the boundless energy and enthusiasm of the children who participated. Their drive and effort was infectious, reminding us all how important it is to involve younger generations in caring for the land.
Palaeontology School Holiday Workshop - Dalton
Over a dozen local children gathered at Dalton Hall on July 17th for an immersive palaeontology workshop with virologist and fossil hunter Dr Michael Frese from the University of Canberra. Dr Frese kicked off the workshop with the “Fossil Rock Anthem” music video, which explained key scientific principles like continental drift and geologic time with a dance party twist. The children were then captivated by an educational presentation, which gave them many opportunities to engage and make guesses about some of the pictures shown.
Planting Paddock Trees in 2024
Continuing on the successes of the two previous year’s Paddock Tree Projects, Gunning District Landcare received another round of generous funding from the Biala Wind Farm Community Grant in late 2023 to facilitate the planting of more paddock trees! In 2024, the funding enabled us to distribute 362 native trees, weed mats, cardboard tree guards, and sturdy steel mesh guards to 19 properties in the Gunning region.
GDL Volunteer Finalist at NSW Landcare Awards
Fungi Discovery Workshop
On Sunday 12 May, Gunning District Landcare hosted an enriching Fungi Discovery Workshop at Dalton Hall. The workshop featured ecologist and nature photographer, Alison Pouilot, who led participants through a comprehensive exploration of fungi, including discussing the vital role fungi play in the environment, such as breaking down plant and animal matter, transforming nutrients to make them available to plants, and recycling carbon. Alison also shared techniques to identify these often-overlooked organisms. Attendees were treated to a stunning display of mushrooms, mycelium, and lichens, meticulously arranged alongside their companion plants and substrates.
Resources for Planting Paddock Trees and Revegetation Projects
Autumn is a great time of year for planting, and whether you are planting paddock trees as part of GDL’s Paddock Tree Project or doing some revegetation of your own, there are plenty of resources available to put you on the path to success.
Habitat Restoration Planning Workshop
On March 24th, Gunning District Landcare partnered with Birdlife Australia to host a workshop addressing the decline of woodland bird species and the vital role of habitat restoration. The event, featuring speakers Margot Oorbeek from Birdlife Australia and Janet Heffernan of the Connectivity Crew, was both informative and inspiring.
Margot Oorbeek began the day with a presentation highlighting the challenges faced by woodland birds in our region. She outlined the stark reality: habitat loss, fragmentation, poor habitat condition, and invasive species have led to 51 species or sub-species classified as threatened or in significant decline in our region. Despite the sobering statistics, Margot underscored the potential for habitat restoration on private land to reverse this decline, benefitting both wildlife and agricultural productivity.
2023 AGM
Gunning District Landcare's Annual General Meeting took place on November 12, 2023, at the beautifully refurbished Dalton Hall. It was a lovely afternoon spent with members and representatives from local community groups to reflect on the past year.
The AGM featured a series of engaging presentations, offering snapshots of the diverse projects led by GDL. Vice-Chair Janet Heffernan informed the audience on threatened species, including her and GDL’s efforts to protect the Southern Pygmy Perch. She finished the presentation with shocking statistics about threats to our native wildlife - specifically that feral animals consume 481.7 million native birds per year and 1.3 million per day!
Coordinator Leah Samson detailed the recent Redfin Fishing Competition and updated attendees on the progress of the Showgrounds Bush Block project. Project Officer Kim Garsia highlighted the school holiday program and the various events and seminars held throughout the past year. Treasurer Susan Medway shared insights into the Paddock Tree Project, underlining the importance of replacing the ageing paddock trees scattered across our landscape.
The election, skillfully managed by Upper Lachlan Shire Councillor John Searle, retained familiar faces with John Storey, Susan Medway, and Scott Keyworth continuing as Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary, respectively. Janet Heffernan transitioned from Vice-Chair to committee member, joining Nerida Hart and Matthew Streat. We also welcomed our previous Coordinator, Sonya Duus, as our newest committee member. GDL was pleased to share our 2022-2023 Annual Report at the meeting, and it is available to download here.
Here's to another year of growth, collaboration, and positive impact in our community and environment!
Gone Fishing Day - Redfin Fishing Competition 2023
Gunning District Landcare proudly participated in the NSW DPI and Recreational Fisheries Trust’s “Gone Fishing Day” on November 4, hosting our second Redfin Fishing Competition for children and teens.
Fifty-six participants, accompanied by their families, fished along the banks of Meadow Creek. Despite the lack of catches, the event served as a valuable platform to educate participants about responsible fishing practices and conservation initiatives in their own backyard. Event judge and fish expert Mark Lintermans from the University of Canberra explained that the Redfin perch are voracious predators of the endangered Southern Pygmy Perch and other vulnerable native fish, and are one of the main threats to the native fish species in our local waterways. Participants learned about the importance of stopping the spread of Redfin both purposely and inadvertently through the transport of live fish.
Funding from the Gone Fishing Day grant allowed us to provide 30 fishing rods and reels to participants. Witnessing these young anglers acquire new skills and spend quality time with their families and fellow community members was truly heartwarming.
Thanks to everyone who participated and made it a great day. A big thank you also goes out to those who helped out - including Mark Lintermans, Kim Garsia, Matthew Streat, and Rubin Lees. A special thanks goes to the Gunning Scouts for putting on a great sausage sizzle for the hungry fishers. Numerous children left with fantastic prizes thanks to donations and support from Gunning Ag and Water Solutions, Yass Outdoors, Tackleworld Canberra, and BCF. Mark Lintermans also donated several copies of his book as prizes.