Hi Landcarers

It’s hard to believe that this week has finally come around. We have a busy few days of National Tree Day related activities.

You can be involved too! Our National Tree Day activities on Saturday and Sunday are open to everyone. If you only have a spare hour or if you would like to join us between 10am and 1pm, you would be welcome. Go to treeday.planetark.org and ‘find a site’ to register or just give me a call.

The Forbes activity is at Angus Clarke Drive (off the Central West Livestock Exchange (CWLE) Road. Parkes will be using a site backing on to the waste depot, but entry is via the Condobolin Road.

I wanted to mention our Fishcare Volunteers this week. Many of you would be aware that the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) run a program that is evidently one of the most successful volunteer programs in NSW.

Volunteers run workshops, get involved in local community fishing events, surveys and school programs (including Eco Day involving our local schools). Through this involvement they have a platform to educate anglers and the wider public about fishing rules, how to fish responsibly and help in a range of activities.

If you have a keen interest in fish, fishing and the conservation of fish resources and habitat and are over the age of 18 this may be the role for you.

Current volunteers range from students to retirees, with many different backgrounds. They are expected to give approximately one day per month to assist the program.

Of course, training for volunteers is provided, once they’re successfully part of the program and they are issued with clear identification and gear to fulfil the role.

Brett Smith is the contact for our region. He is based in Dubbo and can be contacted on 6881 1222. I will pop the link to their website on the website article. Just go to the Looking at Landcare tab.

The Central West Local Land Services (CWLLS) are running a series of teleconferences to help irrigators understand how solar pumping can support their enterprise. Interesting.

You can phone in from home. Narromine farmer, Andrew Gill will be talking about his experiences in converting to solar and pump efficiency expert, Jim Purcell will also be presenting.

Do you remember Bruce Reynolds, former ABC rural reporter? He will be hosting the teleconference, with sessions on Friday, 12 August, Monday ,15 August and Monday, 22 August.

Numbers are limited, so if you would like to be involved, contact Karin Stark on 6841 6510 or email karin.stark@lls.nsw.gov.au

It is just over five years since our Project Officer, Gerald Carnie passed away suddenly. Gerald was partially responsible for relocating our office back in 2011 and for CWLL hosting the NSW Landcare and CMA Conference, that same year and was very kind and patient with me when I started with Landcare in that same year.

A lot has happened with Central West Lachlan Landcare in the past five years (mostly good, fortunately) and the ground work for positive, exciting, new opportunities doesn’t normally just happen through luck. It is with vision and planning that he and many others brought to Landcare long before I came along that we are fortunate to be able to build on now.

He left a legacy with Landcare and also through his family and we are fortunate, at least from the Landcare side, to be able to continue this on.

As usual, links to items in this article are available on facebook or on our website at centralwestlachlanlandcare.org and I can be contacted at our office on 02 6862 4914 or email me at cwllpo@hotmail.com

Until next week, happy Landcaring!