Cardinia Shire to be the new FoodBowl?

It was recently reported that the Cardinia Shire would like to Kooweerup Swamp area to become a food bowl due to proximity to markets, access to water and fertile soils.
I hope this becomes a reality, but it is hard to see it actually happening as the rampant development around Pakenham continues to devour quality farmland.

Divisional Football - Another view

There has been a great deal of opinion and comment about the state of football in the Gippsland region.
As a keen follower of football, I would like to offer some ideas which may be cause for a great deal of discussion or disagreement, but here they are, and I hope the debate continues until a sensible, non parochial solution is reached
Firstly, I congratulate the EDFL for the introduction of a points system and for allowing Garfield to join the competition. I think both are very progressive initiatives, and although there have been some critics, I believe in the long term it will benefit football in this area.
Some people have said they see no advantage in the points system, as a side like Nilma Darnum will not be affected next year due to the loyalty component of the points system.
If you take a longer term view, the Nilma Darnum list will eventually need to be replaced due to retirements and player movements.
Where will these replacement players come from? Nilma certainly won't be able to repeat the recruiting campaign that led to this year's Premiership. Nilma, as with most other clubs, will have to build from within and develop players.
It is therefore interesting to look at the ladders across all grades of football this year, the Grand Finalists had a well performed seconds side, but were near the bottom in all junior grades. This does not bode well for a future under a points system where success can not be purchased.
The other contentious area is the admittance of Garfield to the EDFL and the discussion surrounding Divisional football.
Divisional football with promotion and relegation makes for an interesting competition all season, as teams fight to avoid relegation. The Amateurs for example, have always had divisional football and it has allowed clubs to find a level where they can be competitive and rebuild.
A metropolitan model, such as the Amateurs, does not neccessarily translate into a country scenario due to junior grades and netball.
In the discussions about divisional football, netball appears to have been neglected.
The success of a country club is all about how well all grades of football and netball can operate together. It is about involving families, not just senior football teamsl.
My proposal for divisional football is as follows.
Allocate points for each team in all grades of football and netball based on where they are placed at the end of the home and away season (14 points for 1st, 13 points for 2nd etc).
To acknowledge a premiership, add three points per premiership, regardless of the grade.
The results of this exercise, based on this years (2009) results under this scenario are interesting.
The next issue is, how do you get two divisions? Garfield is now part of the EDFL, but I believe a minimum of three other teams need to join the EDFL as this would allow for a Division 1 of ten teams, and Division 2 of eight teams.
This would make for two viable divisions and allow for promotion and relegation to occur.
The EDFL should continue to seek to recruit two additional teams to create a 10 team Division 2.
This may not be possible for 2010, and the EDFL may have to be a 15 team single division for a year or two, but 18 teams in two divisions is achieveable in the short to medium term
New teams should enter via Divison 2 and earn promotion to Division 1.
In addition to Garfield , who would these new teams be? In the past, other teams have come in and out of the old WGFL. Teams such as Korumburra, Yarragon, Kilcinda Bass, Tooradin and Phillip Island have all competed in the WGFL at some stage. EDFL is geographically similar and could be attractive enough for these teams to consider a move.
Imagine if it could happen next year, and all new entrants would enter via Division 2 and based on the criteria I have discussed which is derived from consistency across all grades of football and netball, the ten teams in Divison one would be Ellinbank (three netball premierships), Poowong, Nar Nar Goon, Dusties, Buln Buln, Lang Lang, Bunyip, Cora Lynn, Kooweerup & Catani.

Division 1 would therefore reward consistency across all grades of football and netball and encourage clubs to build a sustainable future.

Our Football Club

One of the longest running institutions in Bunyip is the Football club.
For those of you who follow local football, you would be aware that some teams in this area have spent a great deal of money to buy success.
Clubs that embark on this path may get short-term success, but in the longer term, one wonders if this is a sustainable approach.
Bunyip Football Club is building a sustainable future and this year, is fielding a senior team with the vast majority of players “home grown’ – a product of a well run junior program. So Bunyip, the Bulldogs are building a sustainable competitive future versus the quick fix of a purchased future.
It is however, not just about the senior team. Bunyip has enjoyed success over all grades in recent years, and the results are demonstrated not only on the field, but also off the field.
Under the Presidency of Alan Wright, the club over the past couple of years, has improved the ground lighting, upgraded the change facilities and renovated the social rooms. Bunyip now has a first class facility for its sporting teams and the community.
On field, a very experienced coach, Steve Henwood, leads the club. Steve has worked hard to develop the local talent coming out of a well-run junior program and the results are starting to materialise.
Bunyip has also had two of its outstanding juniors promoted to AFL level with Shane Mumford gaining regular senior selection at Geelong and Ben Ross now holding a regular spot in the Kangaroos line up.

Bunyip Football club and the many volunteers, who contribute their time throughout the year, provides an outlet for over two hundred players each time there is a home game. If you add the netball teams that also compete and use the facilities you can start to see what an important part of this town the football club is.
I would encourage all readers of this Blog, to come down and see Bunyip Football Club in action – it is a great day out

Landcare 2009

Activities for Bunyip Landcare commenced on Thursday, May 7. This activity is the first of our “Whole Town Survey” days.
Bunyip Landcare, has been the recipient of a grant, which will allow the group to conduct a survey and map vegetation within the town.

Bunyip Landcare was assisted by a venture scout and students from St Paul's Anglican Grammar School in Warragul to help with the survey.
The species that was mapped on this day was is Eucalyptus Fulgens, which is rare in Victoria, but exists in Bunyip.


On May 17, the Bunyip Landcare Group will assist in Pittosporum removal at the Bunyip Pony Club.
Tree Planting is a regular occurrence throughout the wetter months and this year we will be planting trees at a number of properties.
The date for these plantings is May 24, June 14 & 28, July 5.
The group will schedule additional plantings in August and September

Bunyip Landcare Group welcomes new members and volunteers, so, if anyone would like to participate in these activities, or join the group, please contact the Secretary, Tony Williams (bat_tony29@yahoo.com)



http://www.landcarevic.net.au/

Black Saturday

Everyone had hoped that 2009 would start off on a positive note, but events this year have been anything but positive.
The long hot dry spell has made it tough going for farmers, and, this dry spell culminated in the horrendous bush fires which broke out on February 7.
At the time of writing, many of these fires are still burning and being bravely fought by many firefighters, both professional and volunteer.
These fires have been devastating and tragic.
The Bunyip Blog extends its deepest sympathy to all those affected by these fires.

Seasons Greetings

As we close out the year, it is a good time to look back at the past twelve months.
The Blog has covered a number of issues this year.
The Blog has looked at the events and groups of people coming together to improve and enhance our town and its environs, things that make Bunyip a great place to live. During the past twelve months Landcare has been covered and we have talked about the positive outcomes that Landcare delivers. Although there is not a great deal of Landcare activity at present, when the planting season begins, Landcare will always be seeking volunteers who want to participate in improving our environment.
The Blog was really impressed with the way the community rallied together and, as a result, seen the commencement of a new Scout Hall.
We saw individuals cherish the heritage aspect of the town with a number of older houses being returned to their former glory and the opening of the Little Road Chapel for weddings.
We saw residents come together in large numbers to remember those who fought for our freedom on Anzac day.
Another Bunyip tradition is the Agricultural Show. The Show committee put on a great show under difficult circumstances as one of the major attractions, horses, and could not be present due to the equine influenza outbreak. Despite this, it was a great day with many local groups contributing to the event. I hope there are more volunteers who can help keep this Bunyip tradition going well into the future
In February, the Blog paid tribute to Clive and Barbara Piper who reluctantly returned to the UK. Both were fantastic community minded people and they have been missed greatly.
The Blog reported on another individual initiative – Backyard produce. I do hope this continues, and, the Blog believes it will as the permaculture movement seems to be growing in momentum
The Blog also highlighted some threats to the wonderful aspect that is Bunyip via the “eyesore of the month” and we also saw some spirited comments surrounding the Council elections.
As we move into 2009, we are entering some uncertain economic times, the Middle East is still in turmoil and global warming is an issue we must face up to and address.
When one sees what is happening in the world, it reinforces why Bunyip is a great place to be. This Blog hopes Bunyip stays a great place to be.

In closing I would like to wish all readers and contributors of comments to the Bunyip Blog a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
I thank you all, including the Appendage, the Sfinkter and their anonymous mates, for you contributions and your spirited and passionate debate – it keeps me on my toes

Best Wishes

BUNYIP BLOG

It isn't easy being Green

Over recent months, many disparaging comments have appeared in this Blog regarding people who are environmentally aware.
The environmentally aware also contribute comments on various topics presented in this forum.
How can we change this?
Looking back a few years ago, in some instances, farmers and conservationists were quite polarized. Many farmers saw the conservation movement as a nuisance and a potential threat to their livelihoods.
The advent of Landcare saw farmers, with the assistance of grants, start to fence off creeks, create shelter belts on their farms and generally improve areas that were cleared when the land was opened up for agriculture.
It is worth noting, that it is not just about trees. It is about the protection of pasture from wind damage. It is about providing shade for stock on hot days and shelter from cold winter winds. It is about habitat for wildlife, It is about salinity protection and countering erosion.
The other interesting thing that started to happen was “greenies” started coming on to farms to assist with Landcare sponsored planting days. Many hands make light work!
It is amazing when, at the commencement of one of these planting days, you look at bare paddocks with a newly fenced tree run, and by the end of the day there are thousands of trees planted.
These days usually end around lunch time where the land owner puts on a lunch for the volunteers.
It is very pleasing to see two groups who were somewhat polarized a few years ago, now working together to create something that will have lasting value to the planet and improve the value of the farmers land.
It is not about “greenies”. It is about awareness of the benefits that Landcare and the conservation movement can deliver. It is about a sustainable future, and it is about preserving what we have.
It is also leading by example. I have known of some farmers who have not wanted to give up a ten metre strip of paddock to plant trees. They believed it would not be worth giving up this much pasture. When they saw the improvements that had occurred on neighbouring properties, they also joined the program.
So, to all those who continue to make disparaging remarks about “Greenies”: consider this an invitation to get involved in Landcare or the Bunyip Urban Landcare Group (BULG) and be part of the solution.