18 Leigh News Inverleigh Nature Conservation Reserve.

Inverleigh reserve still flowering.

Due to the above average rainfall, the wild flowers of the Inverleigh Conservation Reserve are still flowering profusely. During a recent working bee, we found Goodenia, Chocolate Lily and Satin Everlasting, amongst others, still in bloom.

There were also plenty of birds and Kangaroos. The reserve is well worth a walk to have a look around at the moment.

Burning Season

Over the few months there will be a lot of burns conducted by the CFA, DEPI and farmers. I want to explain what the CFA is involved with here.

The local CFA brigades try each year to burn certain roadsides and reserves to both reduce the flammable fuel loadings and to also provide a fire break that can either stop a fire or provide an anchor point to help fight an oncoming fire. Often brigades help each other out and it is a great training exercise for all involved.

In a lot of instances, it also helps clean up a lot of roadside rubbish and reduce invasive grass species that can threaten native grasses. It also helps with habitat for small native animals.

So when you come across a roadside burn, one of the first things you see will be signs telling you there is a burn underway in the area. Sometimes there might be traffic controllers indicating what to do. When approaching the actual burn please travel at an appropriate speed as there can be smoke over the road effecting visibility, people working on the burn that are near the road, and often fire trucks working on the burn.

We always try to work as safely as possible and burning while controllable, does have an element of uncertainty as wind changes or gusts can upset the best laid plans and cause the fire to escape the controlled area.

So with this in mind always look out for the personnel around the fire as you pass in case they want you to stop or move in a different direction. Also look out for them so you can pass them safely. If there is smoke over the road then please put your lights on and drive carefully like you might in a fog. Put the air conditioner setting onto recirculate so the smoke will hopefully not get into the car.

Please concentrate on the driving and don’t get distracted by what is going on with the burn off, over the years we have seen some near misses so don’t let it be you who causes an accident.

Bannockburn Library & Golden Plains

Join fellow book lovers for all things books every month at your Library! Check online for details and bookings.

Alison Stuart writes historical romances and short stories set in England and Australia and across different periods of history. Join us for a discussion of her latest novel, Homecoming

Thank You

Over the last few months, we have been humbled by the support we have received from businesses, locals and community groups. We are still in the process of getting back on our feet after the floods last year but we wanted to say a huge THANK YOU, to everyone who has helped us.

Inverleigh-Leigh Valley Lions Club Not only provided funds for our EOY Celebration BBQ, but came down over the holidays for a massive working bee and clean up of our grounds, fixing damage and ensuring everything was ready for our students return to school. Haymes Paint donated the use of a humidifier to dry our school out and began painting our exterior. Rickie and the team are incredible and we are so appreciative of their generosity!

• Geelong Miniature Railway INC have done an incredible amount of work behind the scenes sourcing donations and replacement equipment. They also generously provided a Christmas gift for all of our students.

• Junk.com.au for their donation of replacement furniture.

• The staff at Westpac, Geelong West branch for their generosity.

• Shazzas Fruit & Veggies for providing the onions for our Flood Relief Bunnings BBQ

• Anaconda Stores for donating a replacement gazebo and tables. They came in super handy at our EOY Celebration BBQ

• Rebel Sport for donating some new sports equipment to replace items we lost in the flood. The soccer ball is already a big hit!

• Finally to the many local families (especially Carol and Ross Wilson and Mrs Rice) who have tirelessly donated their time, energy and resources. We are so grateful!

Shelford Duck Race

We are all so excited for the Shelford Duck Race! Our school will be running a food stall and a Gumboot Throwing competition.

Keep an eye out for our students and staff in their ‘Gumboot’ hats. Thanks for supporting our school in our major fundraising event.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Nicola Ross- Principal

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5267 1200

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For further information or to book a tour please call

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•Luxury Facials – 40 minutes

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Located in Inverleigh

Inverleigh Historical Society – We Need Volunteers.

We need volunteers - there are plenty of projects to get involved in at times to suit you and with the amount of commitment that suits you. We need ‘people’ people, computer savvy people, research hounds, creatives, people who have lived here a long time to people who arrived yesterday. If that sounds interesting to you and you want to know more,

PH: Jamie #0430 604 465 Email: jamie@allexcavations.com.au please give Christine a call on 0403 267 286. Meetings for 2023 will be short on bureaucracy and long on sharing and learning skills and discoveries over a cuppa. Everyone welcome. Inverleigh Public Hall, 4th Wednesdays, usually 2 pm. March meeting on Weds 22nd – topic will be ‘Effective photographing of documents and items for digitising’. Please contact Christine (0403 267 286) for details of the time, which is still to be set.