Christmas Hills Landcare Group
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Helping Landholders Learn
Building the knowledge, understanding and skills of our members is central to what we do. Each year we aim to deliver around six learning events, and to illustrate the diversity of what we have done to date, here is a selection of past events.
Image by Doug Evans2025
“Spiders in Christmas Hills” with Ben Kurek
Covering aspects such as spider taxonomy, anatomy and the importance of their eyes in identification, the different types of webs they make (or don’t), food, habitats and some unusual behaviours.
“Mistletoes: a key resource” with Professor Dave Watson
Covering Professor Watson’s research findings into mistletoes and the keystone role they play in ecosystems.
“Fish of Watsons Creek” with Kirsten Roszak, Lauren Johnson and Tim Fernando
Covering an overview of fish species recorded in Watsons Creek, a study into the creek’s River Blackfish population and a practical demonstration of electrofishing (that didn’t proceed due to high salt levels in creek).
“Right-way Fire”
Applying traditional burning practices to one of our four demonstration sites.
2024
“Breakfast with the birds” with Will Mitchell
Covering tips on observing local birds, then a short walk to see what bird species could be seen/heard in some of the local Christmas Hills habitats, followed by breakfast and a showing of ‘What the cameras saw in 2024’.
“Native orchids – pollinators and propagation” with Rudie Kuiter and Helen Richards
Insights into the small insects such as fungus-gnats, native bees, wasps and ants that pollinate our native orchids, many by sexual deception, followed by insights into orchid propagation and a show-and-tell display of a selection of potted orchids at various stages of development.
“The Message of the Lyrebird”
Special screening of a film exploring the lyrebird’s ability to mimic sounds.
“Healthy soils and pastures for horses” with Declan McDonald
Covering fundamentals of soil biology, physics and chemistry followed by field walk to explore the soil properties of the property’ paddocks.
“Housing for tree hollow users” with Dr Jess Lawton and Hayden Watt
Covering the findings of a recent inspection of all 290 (or so) nest boxes installed across Christmas Hills, a presentation on whether nest boxes are worth the effort and new artificial hollow options such as dual walled nest boxes and introduced hollows - hollow log and chainsaw.
“Bringing traditional Wurundjeri burning back to Christmas Hills”
Applying traditional burning practices to one of our four demonstration sites.
“Local grasses and how to identify them” with Matt Dell
Covering tips on how to recognise the more common native and weedy grass species that occur locally. Included a presentation, short walk to find grasses in the field, and then back to identify specimens people had collected.
2023
“What plant is that?” with Dylan Osler
A walk along Osborne Road, learning how to recognise some of the many plant species we can find in Christmas Hills, with tips on how to identify plants, and how you might survey your own property.
“Dealing with two insect pests” with Bronwyn Koll and Adam Upton
Covering the lifecycles and management options for controlling Queensland Fruit Fly and European Wasp.
“Geology of Nillumbik and Yarra Ranges” with Leon Costermans
A presentation on the relationships between geology, soils, landforms and vegetation in our local region.
2022
“Deer oh deer it’s the end of the year” with Nillumbik Council
Information session on eligibility to participate in a new deer control program, including the program funding, target area, funded works and safety requirements, and the professional experience, property assessment and deer control methods and safety precautions of the contract shooters. Followed by showing of ‘What the cameras saw in 2022’.
“2022 Great Southern Bioblitz”
A low-key moth night – no speakers, just a sheet and a light to see how many different species we can attract and record on the citizen science platform, iNaturalist.
“Waterbugs and Watsons Creek” with John Gooderham
Covering the sampling of aquatic invertebrates at three different sites along the Watsons Creek, and what they tell us about the health of our creek.
“Wildlife friendly gardening” with A.B. Bishop
Covering some of the principles and practices for wildlife gardening to make the gardens around our homes complement the nearby habitats and draw in some of the wonderful critters that also call Christmas Hills home.
2021
“Pollinators and moths of Christmas Hills” with Dr Luis Mata and Peter Marriott.
A double-header firstly with a presentation on the wide range of animals (invertebrates, birds, mammals, etc.) that are known to pollinate local indigenous plants and a wander outside to find pollinators. Then a break for pizzas before a presentation on the moths of Christmas Hills and then outside to see what has been attracted to the light sheet.
“Wildlife in Christmas Hills” with Chris Humfreys and Wild Action Zoo
An interactive live animal presentation focusing on frogs, reptiles, birds and mammals that can be found in Christmas Hills. Followed by showing of ‘What the cameras saw in 2020’.
“Aboriginal Agriculture” with Bruce Pascoe
An online conversation with Bruce Pascoe on what he has learnt from researching aboriginal agricultural practices.
2020
“Wyenondabool movie premiere” with Uncle Dave Wandin.
The first screening of a short video produced about our project to demonstrate traditional burning in Christmas Hills.
2019
“Reptiles of Christmas Hills” with Peter Robertson and Michael Alexander
Covering a presentation on the range of reptiles that occur in Christmas Hills, followed by a live display of snakes and showing of ‘What the cameras saw in 2019’.
“The Birds of Christmas Hills” with Caroline Wilson and Will Mitchell
A presentation on Birdlife Australia’s ‘Birds on Farms’ project, followed by splitting into small groups accompanied by a skilled birdo to undertake bird surveys at different properties in Christmas Hills. Included a breakfast feast.
“Wurundjeri burning comes back to Christmas Hills” with Uncle Dave Wandin
Demonstrating traditional burning practices under the guidance of Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Dave Wandin.
“Fungi Magic” with Alison Pouliot
Covering the diversity, ecology and curiosities of the fungi found around Christmas Hills and surrounds, including the basics of fungus identification, fungal ecology, the natural and cultural history of fungi around a display of local specimens, and a walk through the bush to see what fungi could be found.
2018
“Bats of Christmas Hills” with Lindy Lumsden.
Covering bats that occur in and around Christmas Hills, what their needs are, and what we as landholders can do to support the presence of bats. Included meeting several live captive bats, observing bats using spotlights and an acoustic detector, and to see what the harp traps had caught. Also include a showing of ‘What the cameras saw in 2018’.
“Best practice rabbit control” with Tim Bloomfield and Brad Spear
Covering what is required to control rabbits, and demonstrations of key control methods - rabbit baiting, warren fumigation, warren implosion using explosives, and warren collapsing using the group’s Rodenator unit.
2017
“Wurundjeri Tanderrum” with Uncle Bill Nicholson and Mandy Nicholson with the Djirri Djirri Dance troupe.
An insight into, and experiencing of, the culture of the Wurundjeri people, traditional owners of Christmas Hills, including a traditional Tanderrum and smoking ceremony to welcome us onto Wurundjeri Country and traditional dances. Lunch featured bush food themed pies, accompanied by salads created by members using a variety of bush foods.
“Nest boxes for the Eastern Pygmy Possum – assemble and paint” with the Yarra Glen Men’s Shed.
A practical activity, working at the Men’s shed to finish off assembly and painting of the 63 nest boxes designed to suit Eastern Pygmy Possums that the Men’s shed had been engaged to construct.
“Return of the Wurundjeri Firestick” with Uncle Dave Wandin and Victor Steffenson.
Covering how to read Country and how it tells you when it is ready to burn, see how the traditional firestick drill is used to start fire, and participate in a traditional burn.
“Birds of the night in Christmas Hills” with Ed McNabb.
Covering a presentation on owls, accompanied by a live animal display and a showing of ‘What the cameras saw in 2017’.
2016
“What have the foxes been eating? – part 2”
More washing the contents of the fox stomachs, drying the contents out, before bagging and sending to Barbara Triggs, author of “Tracks, Scats and other Signs” and expert in the identification of mammals from hair and bone fragments.
“How to lay pavers –dunnart habitat style” with Meg Cullen.
Included a practical demonstration on how to lay concrete pavers as artificial habitat for dunnarts and then installing around 40 pavers across the project site.
“Native orchids – protecting them, propagating them” with Helen Richards.
Involved looking around the property to see what orchids we can find, and selecting the best patch to protect with herbivore exclusion fencing, followed by a talk on how to propagate native terrestrial orchids.
“Bugs alive – discovering some of our local invertebrates” with Andrea Canzano.
Covered demonstrations of a range of invertebrate sampling methods to help us discover a small proportion of the rich and diverse invertebrate fauna that occurs locally, see what they look like up close, with a presentation on invertebrates and why they are important to our ecology. Followed up by ‘What the cameras saw in 2016’.
2015
“Local birds of prey” with David Baker-Gabb and Full Flight Conservation Centre
Featuring a presentation on field identification of Nillumbik’s raptors and live birds of prey flight display.
“So what have the foxes been eating? (part 1)” with Peter Voutier
As part of a fox trapping program, volunteers got involved in washing the contents of the fox stomachs, drying the contents out, before bagging and sending to Barbara Triggs, author of “Tracks, Scats and other Signs” and expert in the identification of mammals from hair and bone fragments. Peter also demonstrated the set up of soft-jaw traps.
“Protecting orchids from weeds and herbivores”
A practical activity locating orchids to determine a suitable area to protect, learning by doing by installing a herbivore exclusion fence and hand weeding of Briza maxima (Quaking Grass) and other grassy weeds.
“The Frogs of Christmas Hills” with Michael Scroggie
Covering the frogs of Christmas Hills, how to recognise them, what their habitat requirements are, and what we as landholders can do to support our local frog populations, in particular with our farm dams and garden ponds. Followed up by ‘What the cameras saw in 2015’.
2014
“Practical orchid management” with Karen Lester. Covering how we can manage native orchids that occur on our properties in Christmas Hills, including the use of cages and fencing to manage herbivores, managing weeds, hand pollination and the use of fire.
“Vipers, videos and venison” with Michael Alexander. A live animal display featuring snakes and lizards of Christmas Hills and surrounds, along with a screening of ‘What the cameras saw in 2014’ and a meal of spit-roasted pork (the locally sourced venison wasn’t available).
2013
“Breakfast with the Birds” with David Baker-Gabb.
Covering tips on observing local birds, and a short walk to see what bird species we can see/hear in some of the local Christmas Hills habitats.
“The good oil on soils” with Chris Alenson.
Covering what makes soil healthy, how you can tell how healthy or otherwise your soil is, and what you can do to improve the condition of your soil.
“Orchids of Christmas Hills” with Gary Backhouse.
Covering the different orchids of Christmas Hills, how to recognise and identify them, and their ecology.
“Living with Nature and Bushfire risk in Christmas Hills” with Owen Gooding.
A joint event with the Christmas Hills Rural Fire Brigade covering sustainable fire risk management, along with a selection of videos captured during the year by the group’s motion-sensing cameras.
2012
“Up the creek, without a paddle” with Dr Dan Borg and Eddie Tsyrlin.
Covering the geomorphology and hydrology of Watsons Creek catchment, and the fish and aquatic bugs that live within the creek, with aquatic invertebrate sampling at two sites.
“Christmas Hills IS where the wild things are” with Chris Humprey’s Wild Action Zoo and Richard Francis.
Run as part of the Christmas Hills Primary School Fair, it featured a live animal display and a presentation on the habitat values of Christmas Hills.
2011
“Learning about local fungi” with Bruce Fuhrer.
Covering photos and insights into the variety and ecology of local fungi followed by a field walk to look for examples of local fungi.
“Native pastures – recognising and managing them” with Kath Junor and Tim O’Donnell.
Covering how to recognise and identify native grasses, nutritional benefits, grazing management of horses, sheep, and cattle to encourage native pastures and support available from Nillumbik Shire.
“Two more methods for rabbit control” with Andrew Fischer and Frank Gigliotti.
Practical demonstrations of warren slumping using explosive charges and a new fumigation method that uses carbon monoxide.
2010
“Paddock and pasture management” with David Stewart and Penny Richards.
Covering grazing patterns of horses, sheep and cattle, and implications for pasture management, achieving and maintaining healthy pastures on local soils with little or no fertiliser, encouraging native pasture and basic property planning and paddock layout.
“Traditional Wurundjeri use of local plants” with Professor Beth Gott and Wurundjeri Elder, Aunty Vicki Nicholson-Brown.
Covering traditional uses of some of our local plants, strengthening our relationship with the Wurundjeri people, and observing the recovery of the bush after the 2009 bushfires.
2009
“Looking small – observing the early post-fire recovery of the bush”.
Practicing ‘looking small’ to see some examples of the bush recovering such as plant species regenerating from tree trunks, sprouting from rootstock or underground bulbs, or germinating from seed.
“Country in Common with Wurundjeri and Parks Victoria”.
Hosting an afternoon tea for 20 Wurundjeri people as the last stop on their bus tour looking at traditional country burnt in the 2009 bushfires..
“Helping each other post-fires”.
A neighbourly discussion two weeks after Black Saturday to share experiences, improve understanding of each others’ needs, and consider what we can do to help each other.
2008
“Bait stations and nest boxes”.
Practical demonstrations of assembling rabbit bait stations and nest boxes for Brush-tailed Phascogales.
2007
“Rabbits and Foxes – control options and support” with Greg Mitchell and Anthony Mann.
Covering biology and impacts of rabbits and foxes, control options available, including practical demonstrations of Pindone oat bait laying and warren fumigation, avoiding off-target impacts and support programs on offer.
“Indigenous Plant Propagation” with Julie and Kahn Franke.
Covering seed collection, cleaning, storage, dormancy, and sowing, propagation from cuttings, potting media, watering, pricking out and potting on.
2006
“Understanding Fire as a Property Management Tool” with Dr Robyn Adams.
Covering fire and regeneration ecology of local Christmas Hills vegetation, what fire can and can’t do for your weeds, issues to consider before and after burning setting objectives for your burn.
