EarthChat: News from the Euroa Arboretum

This Tuesday 17th June on EarthChat at 12noon on Seymour FM!

There are always interesting goings on at "the Arb", and, it’s always a joy to catch up with the passionate and innovative folk who work there.

Ruth is delighted to welcome development manager, Cathy Olive, and grassy ground cover restoration coordinator, Bronte Haines to this week's EarthChat. Two remarkable people among many caring for the Arboretum, including a group of committed volunteers, who lovingly contribute to the Arb’s great work and its beautiful environment.

In consultation with local Traditional Custodians, (The Taungurung), the Arb offers an excellent example of thoughtful land regeneration and conservation including protecting threatened species, running one of only three Victorian Seed Banks, and developing an educational role in local schools and community to encourage a greater connection to the natural environment.

After extensive community consultation the Arb officially opened in 1996, and in 2000 the Arb received its first major funding from the Federal Government’s Natural Heritage Trust fund for establishment of the on-site Seed Orchard, to provide an accessible/sustainable source of indigenous seed for regional revegetation projects. The Arboretum began to generate income from plant and seed sales, growing approx. 60,000 indigenous seedlings per annum and providing seed to the Goulburn Broken Indigenous Seed Bank at Dookie.

From then on The Arb’s regeneration and conservation efforts and endeavours went from strength to strength including expanding its role as an environmental education facility, running field days and workshops to promote awareness of and research into local habitat protection and restoration activities. This now extends to creating bush kindergartens from Euroa and Avenel as well as primary school visits and regular field days to encourage a greater connection to the natural environment.

In 2022 the Euroa Arboretum received the Premier’s Regional Recognition Award for their long-term efforts to restore native grasslands, educate the community about environmental sustainability and inspire people on the value of the native environment.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit the Arb, it is a must! Only 160 kms from Melbourne along the Hume Highway, it’ll take you under two hours to get there. And it offers 24 hour access 365 days a year. The retail plant Nursery is open Monday & Thursday from 12 - 4 pm from late March - check the website for the date the Nursery opens each year. For the Arb’s full history, achievements, and events, It’s well worth a ‘surf’.

To help the Arb care for the bush and learn new skills you might like to join their team of fabulous volunteers on a Monday and/or Thursday, working in the Nursery, or in the Grounds, or in the Seedbank. Just fill out the form on their website. Donations are also tax deductible since the Arb is a not-for-profit, charitable incorporation.

 TUNE IN: SeymourFM, 12noon, Tuesday 17th June. Click here for Seymour FM's website. 

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Cathy Olive - Development Manager

Cath has worked in environmental education and landscape restoration in the Goulburn Broken catchment for the past 28 years. She is passionate about plants, people and wildlife – working to balance the needs of community and farmers with positive environmental outcomes.  She is inspired by biodiverse landscape restoration and working alongside Traditional Owners in managing country. The natural world is where she is happiest and most content. When she was little she would go camping and plant hunting with her dad. Her dad was a passionate “plantsman” and Cath has followed in his footsteps. Cath feels lucky to have been able to share her love of plants for the last 30 years through various roles, generally on Taungurung country – currently at the Arb.

Bronte Haines - Grassy Groundcover Restoration Coordinator

Bronte studied nutrition and food science and then completed her Masters in environmental conservation and restoration at Melbourne university. She has worked as a research assistant and teaching associate within the school of Public Health and at Deakin University, critiquing the role of traditional methods of food charity, and exploring the experience of food insecurity for people seeking asylum, and those accessing food aid across Victoria.

The plains of the Waring (Goulburn river) are her heartbeat, and she is captivated by the little plants that call the ground layer home. She loves the diversity and seasonal change that occurs within this layer, and working with these plants to increase ecological diversity and resilience. When not at the Arb, Bronte manages Avenel Fair Food and Wildflowers, where her passions for grassland ecology and food security find expression.