Thank you to everyone who joined our IT Support Training Day on Saturday 28th February 2026.   It was a valuable and energising morning, with thoughtful discussion about the digital challenges many of our Landcare groups face—particularly around retaining important data, emails and records during committee changeovers .Across the room, it was clear how easily vital information can be lost when groups rely on personal email accounts, and how much this can disrupt continuity for volunteer committees who are already stretched for time.

There was strong interest in the opportunities offered through the MOLC Google domain, including:

• Unique group email addresses

• Access to the full suite of MOLC tools and shared storage

• Secure, centralised record‑keeping

• Smooth transfer of emails and documents to new committee members

• Confidence that no data or email trails will disappear during transitions

These tools are designed to support groups long‑term, reduce administrative stress, and make volunteer roles easier to step into and hand over.

This training was proudly funded by the Victorian Landcare Grants program, helping us build capability and strengthen collaboration across our region.

Keep an eye out for our second training session, focused on Grant and Acquittal Report Writing, coming up in early May. This will be another practical, hands‑on workshop to support groups with essential skills.

We look forward to seeing you there and continuing to build strong, connected systems that support the great work you do.

Stanley Landcare have produced three brief ecological assessments for Lake Kerferd, Blue Gum Gully and the Spring Ditch & Wetlands Reserves. These assessments have identified habitats and species present at the sites and drafted management recommendations to highlight key actions to restore the areas.

Stanley Landcare Group ran two planting days recently on the 15th and 19th of October. The planting focused on establishing shrub species with about 50 planted. The presence of Sambar Deer in the Spring Ditch Reserve means that we have to use substantial wire mesh guards to get the plants established. In the longer term the plants will increase resources available for birds and arboreal mammals.

On Sunday the 6th of April Springhurst & Byawatha Hills Landcare Group hosted a talk by Turtles Australia’s Graham Stockfeld.  Graham gave detail on the 3 species of native turtle endemic to our area, their physiology and ecology including the threats impacting on them.  Highly recommended, the children attending really enjoyed meeting the turtles “in person”