The Morelan der, Edition 18, 2020-21

Bulletin of the Rotary Club of Moreland

EDITION 18|15 DECEMBER 2020

THE MORELANDER

JULIA CIRILLO

More frogs, less litter or how to look after the Merri Creek

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Award of Excellence for Club Bulletin 2018-2019

Moreland Rotary acknowledges the Wurundjeri people of the eastern Kulin Nations on whose unceded lands we conduct our business. Moreland Rotary respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past, present and emerging. Moreland Rotary also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.

Cover photo: Litter clean up on the Merri Creek (David Redfearn); inset: Growling Grass Frog (Julia Cirillo) THE MORELANDER

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Julia Cirillo: “More Frogs! Less litter!”

Improving Merri Creek and Moonee Ponds Creek water quality with the community. We were treated to an insightful presentation on this subject at our meeting on 9th December by the Waterwatch & Rapid response to Litter after Rainfall Coordinator at Merri Creek Management Committee. Quite a mouthful but an exceptionally good description of the valuable work undertaken by office bearer Julia Cirillo.

The first thing that strikes you about Julia is her passion for her work and ability to explain some complex issues.

This was readily apparent after speaking with Julia, not just from her personality but also from the realisation that she grew up near the Yarra and nearby creeks where she became an enthusiastic lover of the waterways and their inhabitants. Many in our audience could clearly relate to this from our respective childhoods.

Julia’s childhood passion has been sustained through her life with a focus on education both in a school environment and roles like her current position.

Julia presented an ordered sharing of her knowledge of the history of the Merri Creek leading to a summation of the key current issues and presenting some ideas on projects that the Rotary Club of Moreland could undertake.

Here is a summary of the points made by Julia during the presentation: Background overview Port Phillip Bay and Westernport River and Creek Conditions: To emphasise the nature of the waterway problems in Melbourne she pointed to results of recent analysis that showed that only 25% of rivers and creeks flowing into Port Phillip Bay and Westernport are in good or excellent condition with 75% are in moderate to very poor condition.

The analysis show that the dominant contribution issue to these results are man made changed land use patterns. ·

THE MORELANDER

Major threats to the Merri Catchment: pollutants and sediment pest plants and animals rapid urbanisation climate change modifications & diversions of water flow intensity of Stormwater litter Key problems: Stormwater Pollution Emphasised as one of the biggest issues in Melbourne – records showing 60,000 truckloads of litter (50% of this is cigarette butts) and other pollutants enter our waterways each year via the stormwater system Plastic – the majority of the litter picked up by community within the Merri creek catchment is soft plastics (RRLC project 2018-2020) Riverbed and Bank erosion Erosion due to land use change, lack of vegetation, high river flow and high rainfall, catchment imperviousness ie. storm water run off due to concreting up urban regions which lack appropriate sediment controls Weeds The spread of weeds has become an increasing problemsLoss of habitat for animal species Drastic effects on riparian system (esp from willows, salvinia, alligator weed) Sedimentation

Text: Trevor Moyle | Images: Julia Cirllo and David Redfearn

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Julia Cirillo: “More Frogs! Less litter!”

Project ideas for Moreland Rotary to consider:

Loss of in-stream habitat Predominantly caused by man made influences such as-: straightening and de-snagging of streams (floods) deepening of streams draining and removal of wetlands removal of rocks (riffles) changes to flow regimes (ie flooding, drought) Presence of barriers to fish migration The principal causes coming from: Fast flows in concrete channels Constructed weirs & waterfalls and dams, lakes, reservoirs Bridges and culverts · Low flows from use of water for irrigation etc.

Solutions: Adoption of Water Sensitive Urban Design, which involves “Integration of urban planning and development with the management protection and conservation of the water cycle as a whole” (Melbourne Water, 2004).

Improve water quality Reduce run-off Specific Design Solutions, including Constructed Wetland Raingardens Swales Tree Pits

THE MORELANDER

Julia described a number of areas of work where the club could get involved, either on our own or in supporting a community project: Revegetation and restoration of creek corridors Yam Daisy: plantings and celebrations Linking up Blue banded bees and the endangered Matted Flax lilies Weeding Tree and shrub planting Citizen Science: Frog Census Participation on FoMC Bird surveysWaterwatch programmes Litterwatch programmes

Julia’s attitude to her work is best summed up by her simple response to a question on what she would like to see in the Merri Creek in the future – “for children to be able to swim in the creek again and the return of former inhabitants such as many varieties of fish, frogs, birds and animals like the treasured Platypus."

It was refreshing to hear Julia’s vision and get confidence that our community is well served by people like her. However, we also realised that her vision can only be achieved from community participation, which hopefully will include a project in the near future led by the Rotary Club of Moreland.

Text: Trevor Moyle | Images: Julia Cirillo and David Redfearn

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About Rotary District Governor's Newsletter "Bruce's Bulletin" is the monthly newsletter of District Governor Bruce Anderson. There is a lot of information about the many Rotary projects and events across our District.

Simply click here to read the latest edition Members of Rotary are part of a diverse group of community and professional leaders working to address community and international service needs and to promote peace and understanding throughout the world.

Rotary districts are a way of grouping a number of clubs in a particular geographic area. The area covered quite often crosses state and even international boundaries.

Rotary District 9790 encompasses the northern Rotary clubs receive a charter suburbs of Melbourne and from the worldwide organisation - stretches north and north east of Rotary International.

Victoria to the Murray River and up into parts of NSW. A Rotarian belongs to a particular Rotary Club often near his/her For more information about home or work or sometimes Rotary District 9790, click here because of the club meeting time.

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Upcoming events and meetings A standing invitation exists for all readers of The Morelander to attend Moreland Rotary Club meetings and some of our other events. Please let us know if you intend to join us by ringing David Redfearn on 0448 852 747 or emailing on dredfearn@vtown.com.au (click on email address).

Upcoming speakers/events 16 December: Backyard Gardens update by Elly Gardner Chair:Russell Stuckey 23 December: Christmas breakfast at Sorrento Cafe 13 January: Monthly Board meeting Chair: President David Redfearn 20 January: Moreland Rotary Community Police Award presentation 26 January: Community brunch and Merri Creek walk for Australia Day Our Guest Speakers Moreland Rotary Club invites speakers to our club both from our local community and further afield. They come from a wide range of backgrounds and are invited because they hopefully inform and stimulate our members and guests. We feel that this is of value in fostering a deeper understanding of our diverse community and even providing guidance as to the types of activites and projects our club may engage in.

However the opinions expressed by our speakers do not necessarily reflect any official viewpoint of Moreland Rotary nor those of individual club members. Irrespective of this we always offer a warm Rotary welcome to all of our speakers.

click here @RotaryMoreland THE MORELANDER

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Rotary Leadership 2020-21

Rotary International: President: Holger Knaack (Susanne) , Rotary Club of Herzogtum Lauenberg-Mölln (Germany) District Governor: Bruce Anderson (Marilyn), Rotary Club of Strathmore Assistant Governor Group 2: Emma Davis, Rotary Club of Moreland Rotary Club of Moreland President: David Redfearn (Deanna)

Club Service Roles 2020-21

President Secretary Treasurer Club Service Community Service Vocational Services International Service and Assistant Bulletin Editor Membership and Rotary Foundation Local Environment Youth and Assistant Secretary Club Administration Bulletin Editor Australian Rotary Health Public Relations Club History Valued members Honorary Members

David Redfearn OAM Rosemary Freeman John Hoffmann Brian Bennett David Redfearn OAM Brian Bennett Trevor Moyle Trevor Moyle Jo Connellan Silvana De Pretto Nino Galgano David Redfearn OAM Rosemary Freeman Russell Stuckey Nino Galgano Richard McCarthy, Elly Gardner, Lee Garwood. Emma Davis The Hon. Kelvin Thomson, Helen Bailey, John Awler

District 9790 /Multi District Roles 2020-21

Assistant Governor, Group 2 District Community Service Chair and Australian Rotary Health District Legal Officer District Bulletin Editor and Peter Toomey Community Police Award Shine On Awards

Emma Davis Rosemary Freeman Nino Galgano David Redfearn OAM Brian Bennett

WHEN AND WHERE WE MEET: Moreland Rotary Club meets most Wednesdays at 7.30 for a 7.40 am start.

We meet at the Sorrento Bar, 801 Sydney Road, Brunswick, 3056 HOW TO GET A COPY OF THE MORELANDER: If you would like to receive our bulletin via email each week, email our editor at: dredfearn@vtown.com.au WHERE TO SEND FORMAL CORRESPONDENCE: Attention: The Secretary, Moreland Rotary Club, PO Box 219, Coburg, Victoria, 3058

Chartered 14 August 1996 - Sponsor Club Coburg Rotary Club | Incorporated 13 August 2019 Designed using Canva - www.canva.com

THE MORELANDER

Images by David Redfearn and logos from rotary.org unless otherwise specified.

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During the pandemic we have been meeting via Zoom on Wednesday mornings from 7.30-8.30 am and we have had some great guest speakers.

You now may be able to join us in person at our usual venue which is listed on page 8. Numbers are presently restricted so an RSVP is essential. You can still join us on Zoom though and the link is below.

Why not join us one morning? Simply ring David on 0448 852 747 the day before to RSVP and then go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87077765173 just before the meeting to join in.