ANGAIR receives occasional information from outside bodies that may be of interest to members – notification of future, planned conservation activities, updates from conservation organizations, extracts from other newsletters, etc.

Because of space limitations, often we are unable to include this type of information in the Newsletter. However, we are offering to send this additional information by email to any members who request this service. If you would like to receive this type of information, please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., requesting that you be added to the General Information Mailing List. We anticipate that there would be 2–3 emails per month.

Surf Coast Shire Grant

ANGAIR has been fortunate to receive a grant under the Surf Coast Shire’s Small Grant Program. This grant is for the purchase of additional microscopes to be used by both the Microscope  and Propagation groups. The newly formed Microscope Group meets monthly, and has proved to be very popular. ANGAIR intends to include some microscope work in the program we currently run at the Anglesea Primary School.

Restoring Manna Gum Forests in the Otways

ANGAIR has been asked to help with restoring the Manna Gum forests around the Conservation Ecology Otway area at Cape Otway. We offered plants, but they have many so we decided to help them plant their 72,000 trees. This will take place 14 & 15 June.

Lizzie and Shane Corke, co-founders of the Great Ocean Ecolodge. have offered us free camping on their land, and an invitation to all ANGAIR Members. An alternative will be to stay in Bimbi Park. It will be fun. So please think about it and put the date in you diaries. We will provide more information when it comes to hand.

Surf Coast Shire Weeds Brochure

The Surf Coast Shire has recently published a foldout brochure entitled Top 20 weeds – Anglesea to Eastern View. This is available on line at www.surfcoast.vic.gov.au, and also in hard copy from the Shire or ANGAIR.

Geelong Field Naturalists Club Lecture

"Vegetation dynamics of a long unburned coastal woodland. Changes 1971 to 2012" is the topic for the Geelong Field Naturalists Club’s Dick Southcombe Wider Geelong Flora Lecture on Tuesday, 11 March at 7.30 p.m. Ben Zeeman will be the speaker, and the lecture will be held at the Friends Room, Geelong Botanic Gardens, entrance at the intersection of Holt Road and Eastern Park Circuit.

From the AGM 21 February 2014 … Helen Tutt

FROM THE PRESIDENT’S REPORT:

Costa Georgiadis, recently used the terms Local and Legacy, words that certainly apply to ANGAIR:

• Local: ANGAIR’s focus is on this, our special, beautiful place of biodiversity.
• Legacy: Current ANGAIR members have been left with an extraordinary legacy from those whose vision established ANGAIR some 45 years ago, and those who continued the work to make ANGAIR an organisation that is respected for its expertise, achievements and hard work. Their passion, dedication and vision have been remarkably successful.

The Highlights of 2013

• 2013 has seen the continuation of implementing the changes recommended in the Administrative review of 2012. The administrative support provided by the grant from the federal Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has proved extremely effective and we hope to provide on-going funding of the position.
• We recently listed regular ANGAIR activities at a briefing with Sarah Henderson. It showed that ANGAIR is active in the environment on more than half of each month, a most extraordinary output for a group of volunteers and the Committee is extremely grateful to all ANGAIR members.
• Because of Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012, after due consideration, the Committee recommended to the AGM that the Model Rules be approved with some amendments to reflect ANGAIR’s structure and aims. (The relevant motion was passed at the AGM, and will now be submitted to Consumer Affairs, Victoria, for approval). Details of the Act can be found on our website.
• ANGAIR’s activities have been many and varied – environmental care; propagating indigenous plants; informative and social walks in the environment; helping plant indigenous plants in public places. Interaction with members and the community through the wildflower show, the ANGAIR website, and the monthly newsletter, contribute to our goal of spreading the knowledge and pleasures of our wonderful environment to our community and visitors. We have had many compliments about these activities.
• 2013 saw the establishment of a new ANGAIR interest group – the Microscope Group with the aim of increasing their knowledge and understanding of indigenous flora.
• We plan to introduce some microscope work into the programs we run in the local schools, using  two additional microscopes purchased with the help of the Surf Coast Shire Small Community Grant.
• There are many people to thank for their contribution to ANGAIR over 2013. From the Committee, Treasurer Jeremy Lewis has resigned after 3 years at the financial helm; also Doug Dalton who has been a valuable contributor, as has Assistant Treasurer Lynn Rayner. Others have also made significant contributions, in particular Philippa Hesterman who ensures the office and surrounds are in sound condition.
• Thanks are also due to many members of ANGAIR for extraordinary contributions, and to Year 9 students from St Bernard’s College who helped with the restoration of the environment at Soapy Rocks.

Committee of Management for 2014 – Elected Friday, 21 February 2014.

• President: Helen Tutt.
• Vice-President:  Neil Tucker.
• Secretary: David Williams.
• Treasurer: Peter Forster.
• Ordinary members of the Committee: Ellinor Campbell, Christine Forster, Roger Ganly, Ros Gibson, Dot Hutton, Les Lyons, Bill McKellar, Christine Morrissey, Carl Rayner and Christine Williams.

Helen Tutt