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Image: 11W one sunny morning
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Be a Plover Lover this Summer!
For many of our local residents, like the Hooded Plovers (Thinornis rubricollis), Spring and Summer is an important time of new beginnings. Along the Ocean Grove coast, "Hoodies" are breeding, nesting and raising their young between September and March. They create shallow depressions (aka "scrapes") just above the high tide mark where they will lay one or two eggs. These birds are listed as vulnerable in Victoria and their choice of nesting site means they are in direction competition with humans and animals at the busiest time of the year. Disturbance can drive them away from their nest and chicks.
But you can play a role in protecting the Hoodies. This Saturday we are partnering with Barwon Coast to run “Meet the Neighbours” at 13W, encouraging dog owners and other beach goers who regularly walk along the beach, to do their bit for the Hoodies and other coastal and marine fauna. And we’re calling on volunteers to cast a watchful eye on the Hoodie nesting sites during the annual Rip to River Fun Run to be held on 31 December. Read on for more details on these events, and more, beneath.
Ocean Grove Coastcare wishes you a Happy Christmas and summer holidays!
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Upcoming events
We welcome all of our volunteers to come along to one, or all, of these events to learn more about Coastcare and meet like-minded people. If you would like to know more about any of these events, please contact us at oceangrovecoastcare@gmail.com
Meet the Neighbours
Help raise awareness about coastal and marine life, amongst local dog owners and other beach goers.
This Saturday 3 December
8:30am - 12:30pm
13W beach access way, Ocean Grove
Christmas dinner
Join the OGCC committee for an informal meeting and Christmas celebration dinner.
7pm, Thursday 15 December
Ocean Grove Bowling Club
RSVP - oceangrovecoastcare@gmail.com
Warralily Christmas Market
Help out at the OGCC stall at the market to raise awareness amongst new residents about the natural coastal environment.
4-9pm, Saturday 10 December
Warralily T Park, Coastside Drive, Warralily
Portarlington Mussel Festival
Lend a hand at the OGCC stall and help spread the message about the important coastal environment.
Saturday 14 January
Portarlington
2017 Monthly meetings
Throughout 2017 the OGCC committee will meet on the last Thursday of each month at the Ocean Grove Bowling Club.
All welcome.
7pm - meeting start
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Welcome new committee
The OGCC Annual General Meeting was held on Thursday 19th October. Our Committee was re-elected and we once again welcomed Fran McAloon as President. Fran returns to the role for a 3rd year. Thanks Fran for your hard work over these years and for putting your hand up again! You’re a whiz!
Thanks also to our past committee members and to our elected committee for 2017:
Vice President – John O’Reilly
Secretary – Margot Busch
Treasurer – Jackie Scally
Committee members – Lyndon Otaway, Kate Staben and Andrea Dennett
Over 230hrs of volunteer time in 2016
This year has been a busy one for OGCC. Between our working bees, film nights and attendance at community events our volunteers have contributed more that 230hrs of work in the past year. Our diverse projects have included:
- Events: participating in Portarlington Mussel Festival, Mountain to Mouth, Festival of the Sea and stalls at the Bellarine Farmers’ Market to raise community awareness about the natural coastal environment.
- Revegetation and weeding days: including three planting days and two Polygala weed removal days.
- CCMA Coastal Grant: This year, Coastcare was successful in receiving a Coastal Small Grant from the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority. This funding has been used to enable our planting days as well as the ongoing removal of Polygala.
- Rubbish removal: conducting Clean Up Australia day at the foreshore.
- Film nights: Two film events Last Paradise and Melbourne Down Under, both of which highlight the beautiful and fragile planet we inhabit.
- Education: including supporting Bellarine Catchment Network in the delivery of an environmental education activity with the Ocean Grove Nippers, participation in the Geelong High School Environment Festival and at the OG Library Sustainability Talk.
Thanks to all our partners and volunteers that have supported OGCC during 2016, in particular Barwon Coast and Bellarine Catchment Network.
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Images (clockwise from top left): 7W working bees, Clean Up Australia Day, Portarlington Mussel Festival and Last Paradise film night,
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The Real Ocean Grove booklet
In partnership with Bellarine Catchment Network, OGCC will contribute to a new booklet that shows the fabulous flora and fauna of our town, taking people’s knowledge of Ocean Grove’s natural environment beyond the beach. The booklet is intended to be completed by mid-2017 with 5000 copies distributed thereafter. This project has been made possible by grants from Ocean Grove Connected Communities and the City of Greater Geelong.
Ocean Grove Coastcare Guardians project
Coastcare will work with Bellarine Catchment Network and landowners around the southern end of Hodgson St and President’s Ave, including the Lookout Reserve area, to undertake weed control and indigenous plant revegetation . The aim of the work is to protect and enhance the coastal reserve area. This project has been made possible by a grant from the City of Greater Geelong.
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Help protect the Hoodies!
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Birdlife Australia are calling for volunteers to help ensure the safety of Hooded Plover nesting sites during the annual Rip to River Fun Run on Saturday 31 January. If you are able to lend a hand please contact Andrea Dennett:
andreadennett@bigpond.com
or oceangrovecoastcare@gmail.com
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Christmas presents that don't cost the Earth
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Melbourne Down Under
Support local filmmaker Jarrod Boord who is the talent behind this stunning documentary providing a sneak preview into the abundant marine life of Port Phillip Bay. This beautiful film makes Christmas gift for family and friends!
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Ditch that wasteful wrapping paper this Christmas and use a reusable jute bag instead!
Through purchasing an OGCC jute bag you are also supporting us in our endeavour to halt the use of plastic bags and other single use plastics in our community.
The jute bags are only $5 and available at Driftwood Cafe, Ocean Grove Fresh Fruit and the Book Grove. Also keep an eye out for them at the Bellarine Community Farmer's Market on the third Saturday of each month at the Ocean Grove Park.
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Say NO to single use plastics
Coastcare made a submission to the Victorian Parliamentary enquiry regarding a Bill about plastic bags. The Bill supports a ban on single-use bags, polystyrene packaging of fresh produce, and plastic microbeads (such as those in toothpaste and facial scrubs). The Bill will be considered in February 2017, and we hope to hear the Victorian Government announce a ban shortly after.
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Did you know?
In the lead up to Summer, here's a little quirky fact....According to the Guinness World Records, the tallest sandcastle ever made was constructed in Connecticut, USA, in May 2011. It was 11.53m tall.
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Got a story to share?
Have you got a local coastal story to share? Perhaps it's a poem, a photo or a piece of artwork that describes how you feel about the coast.
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