Agriculture
2 May, 2023
Landcare pioneers seek next generation
ONE of the Loddon’s first Landcare groups formed 30 years ago and at the forefront of action to combat wheel cactus faces an uncertain future. Wychitella group has seen membership decline as farms are sold and active volunteers age. Long-time...
ONE of the Loddon’s first Landcare groups formed 30 years ago and at the forefront of action to combat wheel cactus faces an uncertain future.
Wychitella group has seen membership decline as farms are sold and active volunteers age.
Long-time member David Bird has stepped into the secretary’s position to keep the group running while the next generation of volunteers are recruited.
Janet Richardson, now 85, had been secretary for 15 years but has now retired to Melbourne, he said.
“Over the years farms have become bigger, there are less people and the ones still in the area are often busy just working their farms,” he said.
Mr Bird said the need for vigilance and action against wheel cactus remained important.
“There’s been a lot of work done over the years at Mount Buckranbanyule, Sunday Morning Hills and around Mount Egbert,” he said.
“In the early days, when taking a break we would come across wheel cactus on back roads and spike the plants. If you saw it you hit it (with an injection).
“We had a lot more people in the group at the time.
“It’s a never-ending job. Bush Heritage Australia has been doing a lot of good work at Mount Buckrabanyule.”
Mr Bird said wheel cactus plants were up to two metres high in some areas and had spread across the region.
“We keep patrolling every year ... injecting the plants is not a big burden if everyone chips in,” he said.
Mr Bird said he hoped younger people in the district would join the Wychitella Landcare Group to continue the work of the last 30 years protecting land in the area from the risk of wheel cactus and launching other initiatives.