tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23152153786754147562024-03-14T05:40:31.828+11:00Merri StationeersA local group committed to replanting and improving the amenity of the land around the Merri Station in Northcote, Australia in partnership with Keep Australia Beautiful, VicTrack, Metro Trains, Darebin City Council and other statutory, business and community stakeholders.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315215378675414756.post-40326247847836891692017-11-09T22:05:00.002+11:002017-11-09T22:10:29.634+11:00Last Working Bee for 2017 this SundayHi everyone - been a long time since I updated the Stationeers' blog, apologies! There's been plenty going on for Merri Common over the past year, but also at my workplace, so I've struggled to provide regular updates.<br />
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First things first: our last working bee for the year is <b>this Sunday at 10:00</b> - please meet us at the Northcote Rifle Club (snacks and beverages on site) before getting stuck into the large triangle of land beside the rail intersection and Charles Street, opposite Caddaye's Corner. We'll be doing some in-fill planting between all the trees and shrubs we planted just ahead of this dry winter - a great way to catch up with your neighbours while making our neighbourhood a more beautiful place to live, come along, bring your kids/friends/parents and maybe a spade or two!<br />
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Second, we're grateful to have a grant from Darebin Council to help fund some artwork to be painted on the concrete slab that's holding up the new yellow deckchairs on the Common. The chairs will be on holiday for awhile while a crew from <b>Arts Project Australia </b>gets busy painting a mural - look out for James McSporran and James McDonald doing their thing.<br />
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I hope you've noticed how spectacular the indigenous grasses and shrubs are looking in the garden on the east side of the Station - we've had a little "<b>information plaque</b>" made to help locals identify the various species in the mix. Here's a little photographic montage titled "Angle Grinder, Three Cords and the Truth" to commemorate the installation! Our Chair, Rohan Griffiths, our Secretary, Janna Hilbrink and yours truly on the job, installing a plaque designed by our artist in residence Jela Ivankovic-Waters. Bit hard to read the plaque in the photos, but here's the gist if you're curious: <a href="http://merri-stationeers.blogspot.com.au/p/indigenous-plants-merri-station.html">http://merri-stationeers.blogspot.com.au/p/indigenous-plants-merri-station.html</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Idiot Presumes Mastery of Powertools"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=987ee1ebaf&view=fimg&th=15ce83621b2a9bd5&attid=0.1.2&disp=emb&attbid=ANGjdJ8BLT7dv1gPsg71W30DjufZCgyhD1nO2cy9wlw8geWDaQwN-RqjGO0JSfT0dHMazhnXFOymoZ6VUvTAodVr6ivxNOl8tX1f28l0h5VpvFeolELFahOjfu-MCdg&sz=w360-h640&ats=1510224495374&rm=15ce83621b2a9bd5&zw&atsh=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=987ee1ebaf&view=fimg&th=15ce83621b2a9bd5&attid=0.1.2&disp=emb&attbid=ANGjdJ8BLT7dv1gPsg71W30DjufZCgyhD1nO2cy9wlw8geWDaQwN-RqjGO0JSfT0dHMazhnXFOymoZ6VUvTAodVr6ivxNOl8tX1f28l0h5VpvFeolELFahOjfu-MCdg&sz=w360-h640&ats=1510224495374&rm=15ce83621b2a9bd5&zw&atsh=1" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Janna in Hi-Vis on Charles and Railway</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=987ee1ebaf&view=fimg&th=15ce83621b2a9bd5&attid=0.1.6&disp=emb&attbid=ANGjdJ9N0BpoZsijzm5Quh5md3p9yXnditUfkL_yKvjr0rg7eIAP_r_XSoRhWU2aH01y0la4-vh15ZgN5-1mNofwiExoHrgktdFyui8Ws_-XeF6PM8kyUwaUnJEc4YM&sz=w640-h360&ats=1510224495374&rm=15ce83621b2a9bd5&zw&atsh=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=987ee1ebaf&view=fimg&th=15ce83621b2a9bd5&attid=0.1.6&disp=emb&attbid=ANGjdJ9N0BpoZsijzm5Quh5md3p9yXnditUfkL_yKvjr0rg7eIAP_r_XSoRhWU2aH01y0la4-vh15ZgN5-1mNofwiExoHrgktdFyui8Ws_-XeF6PM8kyUwaUnJEc4YM&sz=w640-h360&ats=1510224495374&rm=15ce83621b2a9bd5&zw&atsh=1" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For your reading pleasure and maintenance crew edification (i.e. do not spray herbicide)</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315215378675414756.post-4252819502401292442016-09-21T11:43:00.003+10:002023-09-16T12:59:51.721+10:00Father's Day Planting and Prize SeatingThanks to those who came out on Father's Day to get some babies in the ground! We've been lucky to have some consistent spring rain to help get the new arrivals on their way.<br />
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The crew from Street Furniture Australia were with us for the morning and took a few happy snaps, below; there's also a great write-up on their <a href="http://streetfurniture.com/au/now/" target="_blank">website</a> .<br />
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Thanks again to Street Furniture Australia for providing the fabulous new "banana lounges," won by Stationeer Jela in their recent competition, sited and installed with the kind assistance of Darebin Council officers. The Common is used for a wide variety of activities by people of all ages, so siting was a challenge, but we consider we struck the right balance.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ci99swzY5Eg/V-Hk9SU8XZI/AAAAAAAAB8A/JQGsnYVWjJkzrzkc8qO7-j7beUa-6Dj2ACLcB/s1600/Merri-Common.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ci99swzY5Eg/V-Hk9SU8XZI/AAAAAAAAB8A/JQGsnYVWjJkzrzkc8qO7-j7beUa-6Dj2ACLcB/s320/Merri-Common.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Bananana" *doo doooo doo-doo-doo* as endorsed<br />by this small, black canine and accompanying primates</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CNI097FGxQE/V-Hk-Q2dmJI/AAAAAAAAB8I/355ovfvWyAguOl15Z7O1_re53bnRZubxgCLcB/s1600/Merri-Station-Sun-Lounges-install.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CNI097FGxQE/V-Hk-Q2dmJI/AAAAAAAAB8I/355ovfvWyAguOl15Z7O1_re53bnRZubxgCLcB/s320/Merri-Station-Sun-Lounges-install.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0juKlTv2nQo/V-Hk901612I/AAAAAAAAB8E/1QSFaU6KuAo8h-2forT1yWE6jypPWQyCgCLcB/s1600/Mike%2BLiam%2BConor%2Bat%2BMerri%2BStation%2BAugust%2B2016.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Liam, Conor and Mike Flattley on the job in the indigenous garden." border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0juKlTv2nQo/V-Hk901612I/AAAAAAAAB8E/1QSFaU6KuAo8h-2forT1yWE6jypPWQyCgCLcB/w400-h266/Mike%2BLiam%2BConor%2Bat%2BMerri%2BStation%2BAugust%2B2016.jpg" title="Liam, Conor and Mike Flattley on the job in the indigenous garden." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liam, Conor and Mike Flattley on the job in the Indigenous Garden<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EWUsG4ISOdw/V-Hk_m2cXAI/AAAAAAAAB8M/gdE0vL9ez0I0NFzkluZKVcmGNKQEojcfwCLcB/s1600/Working-bee.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EWUsG4ISOdw/V-Hk_m2cXAI/AAAAAAAAB8M/gdE0vL9ez0I0NFzkluZKVcmGNKQEojcfwCLcB/s320/Working-bee.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rohan Griffths getting it done <br />(foreground: The Rear Aspect of Heather Hesterman)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315215378675414756.post-42127713526619837312016-09-02T19:59:00.003+10:002016-09-02T19:59:47.098+10:00Father's Day is Planting Day!To continue our work so far this year we will be having another planting and maintenance day on Sunday 4 September from 10 am to about noon. We will be planting, weeding and pruning both sides of the station.<div>
<br />We know the place is looking great, but a beautiful garden is never finished - and it's a terrific way to meet your neighbours and connect with our community. Yes, we know it coincides with Father's Day, but what better opportunity for dads to show off their new tools than this?</div>
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Please meet at 10am at the front of the Rifle Club (Platform 1 side) and bring gloves (we will have some available) and any of the following tools:</div>
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<br />• Shovel or spade<br />• Fork<br />• Hoe<br />• Wheelbarrow<br />• Mattock<br />• Loppers<br />• Secateurs</div>
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<br />Refreshments will be provided!</div>
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<br />We are in the throes of completing a submission for VicTrack funding aimed at established stationeer groups. The maximum grant amount of $700 is not to be sneezed at and we have a lovely <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4w4fPgOEQ0UT0xxQ1pvTDkwVGU5LVFFRGJBZW43MldVaHdj/view?usp=sharing">letter of support</a> from Fiona Richardson, our "patroness". </div>
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<br />N.B. There will be one more working bee on 23 October, when we will concentrate on plantings west of the station. Save the date!<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315215378675414756.post-42158398414358411562015-03-18T18:02:00.000+11:002015-03-18T18:02:09.694+11:00Indigenous Plants on the Merri CommonThought we might share some of the work students at Northcote High School produced for us, identifying some of the indigenous plant species we've re-established on site at Merri Common. Check out our new page: <a href="http://merri-stationeers.blogspot.com.au/p/indigenous-plants-merri-station.html" target="_blank">Indigenous Plants @ Merri</a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315215378675414756.post-81131602729847635392014-07-22T16:11:00.005+10:002014-07-22T19:56:49.572+10:00Follow us on Facebook!At last, less verbose yet stunningly visual posts are now available to you, our insatiable readers, on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/merristationeers" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. I feel like we're following the trajectory of Samuel Beckett. Soon it will be down to a Twitter feed pregnant with meaningful silence and a photo of a wombat contemplating a rock, maybe a haiku or two about onion weed.<br />
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Meanwhile, contemplate the magnificence of the recent work by the City of Darebin at Caddaye's Corner. Great stuff from landscape architect Nadia Combe and her team, this adds so much to the precinct and has used many of the species planted on the Merri Common to give everything a much needed sense of continuity and character. Wonderful to have such a consultative approach to the neighbourhood's development from our Council's officers - thank you.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315215378675414756.post-48810116633628236632014-04-16T13:42:00.001+10:002014-04-16T13:44:15.203+10:00Autumn Working Bee and Barbeque - Sunday, 4 May 2014<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #000090; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
large section of the Indigenous Garden laid bare by the Metro cabling works and platform repair will need some hard work and TLC now that the
grimmest part of summer is over. Metro management has funded replacement plants and has made sure that mulch was
spread over the whole area, including large segments of Merri Common, to ready
the soil for replanting. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #000090; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">And so a Re-Planting Day has been scheduled for:</span></div>
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<b><span lang="PT-BR" style="color: #000090; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">Sunday,
4 May, from 10.00 till 2.00</span></b></h4>
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<span style="color: #000090; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Come to the Merri Common with some gardening tools - wheelbarrows, shovels, spades, picks - and an appetite for a BBQ lunch!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315215378675414756.post-47231157100371129432014-04-09T12:22:00.000+10:002014-04-16T12:24:07.805+10:00Plans for the Charles and Clarke St interface with the Station precinct<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In February the Stationeers submitted an entry to the "Transforming Darebin Competition" for the Rucker Ward category. Sadly we missed out on this terrific initiative, but below is the concept - we aim to push on with this through landscaping efforts and arts-based grant submissions in future.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-riCqPOTqPeo/U03ooF44C_I/AAAAAAAABcQ/kdFAUigDtqU/s1600/Stationeer+Plans.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-riCqPOTqPeo/U03ooF44C_I/AAAAAAAABcQ/kdFAUigDtqU/s1600/Stationeer+Plans.bmp" height="450" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315215378675414756.post-25207548067568699852014-03-24T13:04:00.000+11:002014-04-16T13:21:39.749+10:00Metro and the Indigenous Garden - a Sorry Tale of WoeBy now most will be aware of the devastation wreaked on the Indigenous Garden by various Metro works - first in installing a new, additional access pit to underground infrastructure in the middle of the garden bed, and then in undertaking repairs to Platform 1.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">awesome</td></tr>
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While access by VicTrack and Metro to their own land to undertake maintenance is perfectly acceptable, our plantings left specific, agreed access corridors for maintenance staff to access existing pits and infrastructure, which have been entirely ignored. We question whether the extent of damage inflicted was truly necessary.<br />
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As a result, the considerable outputs of community and contract labour, along with grant funding from the City of Darebin, have been all but swept away - we estimate only 20% of our plantings remain intact on this difficult site.<br />
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Apologies to everyone who has put in so much hard work on this garden only to see it substantially destroyed. Metro has apologised for the repeated error and will fund the replacement of the plant stock. We have recommended that in future Metro work teams first consult our committee, meet on site and gain assistance in navigating the crew around plantings.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315215378675414756.post-68700408981592002452013-08-20T18:37:00.003+10:002013-08-20T18:40:09.845+10:00Working Bee and Presentaton Ceremony: Rifle Club Mural and Nearby Gardens<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Sunday, 25 August</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">, promises to be an eventful day, for not only
will we have another working bee, but the Rifle Club mural and our tree
plantings will be officially celebrated! Darebin Mayor Tim Laurence will officiate.<br /><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
working bee will take place in the <b>Indigenous
Garden</b> and on the <b>western side</b>
of the track, including the <b>terrace.</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">People working in the
Indigenous Garden where we will do weeding, top-up mulching and infill planting
will need </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">hand trowels, spade, wheelbarrow,
broom/rake.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Those working on the
western gardens will be engaged in weeding, pruning (hedge) and rubbish
collection and will need to be supplied with shears, trowels, tarps/bags (for
weeds and rubbish).</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">As we need to shift
quite some mulch, the more wheelbarrows and spades you can bring the better.
And don’t forget to wear sturdy shoes and gloves, the latter especially when
you collect rubbish. Should you find any sharps, let me know and I’ll pick them
up with tongs and put them in a special container.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Start as usual is at <b>10.00 am,</b> but we will break at <b>11.45</b> to go towards the Rifle Club
where the ceremony will be held on the lawn or, if it rains, inside.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Refreshments will then
be served in the rifle club.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3JI3WKwe2Hc/UhMqlhsc2zI/AAAAAAAABag/YXlXka3s8x4/s1600/invitation.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3JI3WKwe2Hc/UhMqlhsc2zI/AAAAAAAABag/YXlXka3s8x4/s640/invitation.bmp" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315215378675414756.post-60205005093744592202013-07-29T18:21:00.000+10:002013-08-20T18:45:27.613+10:00Movie StarsDid you watch us on Gardening Australia on Saturday, 27th July? We did! We watched us heaps!<br />
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Great to see some effective community work profiled nationally. Well done everyone. Topped off the very next day by another tree planting frenzy beside the Rifle Club!<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/video/default.htm?clip=http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/tv/gardeningaus/prog_streams/onthemove_ep20_2013.mp4&title=On%20the%20Move">Watch the Story</a></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315215378675414756.post-20173989141475072432013-07-19T18:13:00.002+10:002013-07-19T18:17:08.716+10:00Rifle Club Mural and Working Bees for July and August 2013<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">The Stationeers have been busy this year with the
Northcote Rifle Club in commissioning the mural you see on the side of the club
building. The Stationeers and Rifle Club are grateful recipients of a community grant from the Darebin City Council (DCC) for the mural and associated
plantings.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;">The Rifle Club called for expressions of interest from community artists under advice from DCC and settled on Graffic Creative on reviewing their collective's portfolio of similar work. Jimmy B led a team of artists in designing, installing and painting the "nature and wildlife" themed mural, incorporating elements of street art to more traditional artistic elements.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IWmXJSV-OiA/Uej0c8R8eiI/AAAAAAAABZ8/9XK3huBO2l4/s1600/IMG_0663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IWmXJSV-OiA/Uej0c8R8eiI/AAAAAAAABZ8/9XK3huBO2l4/s320/IMG_0663.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yHn2O4qK2ns/UejxZKyYrnI/AAAAAAAABZY/YUQsV3AcQMo/s1600/IMG_0799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yHn2O4qK2ns/UejxZKyYrnI/AAAAAAAABZY/YUQsV3AcQMo/s320/IMG_0799.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-doKqDjfW57g/UejxZbiBlMI/AAAAAAAABZc/C9_IWBPO_zQ/s1600/IMG_0671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-doKqDjfW57g/UejxZbiBlMI/AAAAAAAABZc/C9_IWBPO_zQ/s320/IMG_0671.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 24px;">Looking good.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">The next stage is a community planting day on </span><b style="line-height: 115%;">Sunday 28<sup>th</sup> July from 10 am to
about 2 pm</b><span style="line-height: 115%;">. We will be planting mature trees next to the Rifle Club and the new mural.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;">If you are interested please meet at the front of the
Rifle Club and bring gloves and any of the following tools:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">Shovel
or spade</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">Wheelbarrow</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">Mattock</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">Crow
bar</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Refreshments will be provided</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">FUTURE WORKING BEE: Sunday 25</span><sup style="line-height: 115%;">th</sup><span style="line-height: 115%;"> August</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Activities: general maintenance of previous planted
areas</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315215378675414756.post-50366275251849473642013-05-17T22:01:00.000+10:002013-07-19T18:26:08.514+10:00Summer's Desolation, Autumn's PromiseAmazing - our plantings on the South-West site are looking incredible after only six months and a long, dry summer, helped in no small part by local residents stopping to pull the odd weed week after week. Thanks to everyone who continues to look out for the success of these plantings.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gpa9PvIOqmA/Uej24JGxNuI/AAAAAAAABaM/aca-zix_8q8/s1600/south+area+pt+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gpa9PvIOqmA/Uej24JGxNuI/AAAAAAAABaM/aca-zix_8q8/s320/south+area+pt+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">February 2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-njYerOpQKkA/T8N2i4mNObI/AAAAAAAAAyg/u3M5pwROcLQ/s1600/IMG_6157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-njYerOpQKkA/T8N2i4mNObI/AAAAAAAAAyg/u3M5pwROcLQ/s200/IMG_6157.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">September 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k9H-Vcz38Pw/UdK5pqBiDWI/AAAAAAAABXY/99c0q_GhUE0/s640/May+Merri.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k9H-Vcz38Pw/UdK5pqBiDWI/AAAAAAAABXY/99c0q_GhUE0/s320/May+Merri.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">May 2013</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The late Spring 2012 plantings in the Indigenous Garden have taken a real beating over the 2013 Summer - extra waterings from both Council and Noleema Services have kept everything basically alive, but a very dry Autumn sure hasn't helped. That said, it's not all bad news - we're looking at around a 60% survival rate, and a lot of specimens are coming back either from their own rootstock or from seed. Here are some samples of what you can find sprouting on site if you take the time to look closely:<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eSF-iMN6HZU/UdK7YOKd1eI/AAAAAAAABXs/b7iW0yVZzWI/s1296/bluebells+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eSF-iMN6HZU/UdK7YOKd1eI/AAAAAAAABXs/b7iW0yVZzWI/s320/bluebells+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tufted Bluebell<i> (whalenbergia communis)</i>, resprouting from rootstock</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SbcQ4VDq6sE/UdK7ZRloxlI/AAAAAAAABX8/N4308roJB14/s320/bluebells.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A more advanced Tufted Bluebell</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SbcQ4VDq6sE/UdK7ZRloxlI/AAAAAAAABX8/N4308roJB14/s1296/bluebells.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vguc_TLojLA/UdK7Xyeh0QI/AAAAAAAABXo/RASThW79l6s/s1296/chinese+scrub.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vguc_TLojLA/UdK7Xyeh0QI/AAAAAAAABXo/RASThW79l6s/s400/chinese+scrub.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Drooping Cassinia, or "Chinese Scrub," sprouting from seed<i> (cassinia arcuata)</i>. We didn't even plant this one - a hardy plant indigenous to the Merri area that has held on tight along the train line and has taken the opportunity presented by a freshly exposed site to sprout from seed and claim back some territory.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yejpbKP1tBs/UdK7ZGyxw9I/AAAAAAAABX4/Nocy7VKcAvI/s1296/chocolate+lilly+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yejpbKP1tBs/UdK7ZGyxw9I/AAAAAAAABX4/Nocy7VKcAvI/s200/chocolate+lilly+2.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k7CJk-YHAYo/UdK7ZyZXFoI/AAAAAAAABYI/UNUISkNLLsg/s1296/chocolate+lilly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k7CJk-YHAYo/UdK7ZyZXFoI/AAAAAAAABYI/UNUISkNLLsg/s200/chocolate+lilly.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chocolate Lillies <i>(dichopogon strictus)</i>, resprouting from root stock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Df4Hbmr-L5w/UdK7aTV6V2I/AAAAAAAABYM/JprwiJ34y-A/s1296/clematis.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Df4Hbmr-L5w/UdK7aTV6V2I/AAAAAAAABYM/JprwiJ34y-A/s320/clematis.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Man's Beard <i>(clematis microphylla)</i>, hanging on tight</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ygjRmSw-MxQ/UdK7bX9bDyI/AAAAAAAABYY/jqE0mQ10nEo/s1296/native+spear+grass.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ygjRmSw-MxQ/UdK7bX9bDyI/AAAAAAAABYY/jqE0mQ10nEo/s200/native+spear+grass.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Native Spear Grass <i>(austrostipa scabra ssp falcate)</i>,<br />
resprouting from root stock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-daAI3RXTVI8/UdK7dEQmTOI/AAAAAAAABYw/HdHGUHPmekI/s1296/wallaby+grass.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-daAI3RXTVI8/UdK7dEQmTOI/AAAAAAAABYw/HdHGUHPmekI/s320/wallaby+grass.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wallaby Grass<i> (austrodanthonia caespitosa)</i>, resprouting from rootstock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m48nVVRbX4k/UdK7brOVO0I/AAAAAAAABYc/i6IPCSpcHIU/s1296/nodding+salt+bush+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m48nVVRbX4k/UdK7brOVO0I/AAAAAAAABYc/i6IPCSpcHIU/s320/nodding+salt+bush+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nodding Salt Bush <i>(einadia nutans)</i>, sprouting from seed. A vigorous groundcover for<br />
difficult sites and a fantastic fodder plant for local fauna - sweet red berries. The leaves are salty.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
It can be tricky working out what's native and what's exotic at this early stage - personally I'm still going crosseyed trying to identify wallaby grass from buffalo or any other introduced species - but once these get going it will become quite clear. A good soak over Winter will give this site a much needed boost and with some infill planting we should see some decent results come late Spring.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315215378675414756.post-83382166664117814402013-04-11T21:59:00.001+10:002013-04-12T11:42:04.858+10:00Lo-Fi on Platform OneThere is no escape! Stationeers notice board now firmly installed on Platform One - information, photos, ramblings, working bee notices all right there in your bleary workaday commuting face, coming at you like a shark with knees every morning. Take heart, mortgage slaves and entrapped renters! Community Noticeboard For Make Benefit Glorious Station of Merri! Or for covering with tags, I guess. "Spetz" something something. Rivetting. Go crazy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6T9mfersCsI/UWdMLrB62cI/AAAAAAAABC8/dFgMAIN1Ib8/s1600/2013+-+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6T9mfersCsI/UWdMLrB62cI/AAAAAAAABC8/dFgMAIN1Ib8/s640/2013+-+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is also a train station for those seeking activities unrelated to notice boards.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comNorthcote Northcote-37.777791 144.990826tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315215378675414756.post-10772656661083667312013-03-13T22:31:00.002+11:002013-04-17T20:45:48.560+10:00Heartbreak Ridge<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4FKV0cYTpO0/UUWBxYqzMZI/AAAAAAAAA_s/_DyXy4Ust6Y/s1600/19+should+be+sepia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4FKV0cYTpO0/UUWBxYqzMZI/AAAAAAAAA_s/_DyXy4Ust6Y/s320/19+should+be+sepia.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merri Station, circa October 2012</td></tr></tbody></table>Okay, that was <i>exhausting.</i> Three working bees in short order over October and November finally delivered a life-sustaining outcome for our plantings on the North-East site, the Indigenous Garden. The boulders are now in place and looking stunningly megalithic. Grasses, ground covers and small shrubs are safely tucked into a thick layer of mulch. All this was made possible with a generous Community Grant from the City of Darebin - many thanks!<br />
<br />
When we started out this site was a large pan of what we thought was highly compacted, sandy soil. We got a rotary hoe through this, then covered this with a layer of the compost from SITA and let it settle for a good six months to develop some nutritious topsoil. However, when it came to cultivating we found this was not enough - our volunteer gardeners were downing spades and picking up mattocks and crowbars to break into the subsoil, which remained highly compacted and composed of sand, clay and shale to boot. Truly hard going. It took two working bees to get everything planted and yet another to apply extra mulch to give the plants a fighting chance in the coming summer. While it's always fun to work together, we really asked a lot of our weary volunteers this time - thank you everyone for your dedication and persistence in getting this difficult site sorted out. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GOo0rvoifsg/UUWBuLsZYFI/AAAAAAAAA_U/OTaSxBb4D2o/s1600/15+what+about+the+rabbits+george.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GOo0rvoifsg/UUWBuLsZYFI/AAAAAAAAA_U/OTaSxBb4D2o/s320/15+what+about+the+rabbits+george.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But what about the rabbits, George</td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DFn2bnz3LWo/UUWBnRGV7iI/AAAAAAAAA-c/I7iGQxqvcIw/s1600/1+Getting+Started.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DFn2bnz3LWo/UUWBnRGV7iI/AAAAAAAAA-c/I7iGQxqvcIw/s320/1+Getting+Started.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting Started</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qifWcITn4uU/UUWBpn_M9iI/AAAAAAAAA-s/Z8IyYu3eScM/s1600/11+production+line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qifWcITn4uU/UUWBpn_M9iI/AAAAAAAAA-s/Z8IyYu3eScM/s200/11+production+line.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt's Production Line</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HVhZHIs7Yjc/UUWBye37lZI/AAAAAAAAA_0/oKgxXE0mvY4/s1600/2+Matt+&+Kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HVhZHIs7Yjc/UUWBye37lZI/AAAAAAAAA_0/oKgxXE0mvY4/s400/2+Matt+&+Kids.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt's Slave Labour</td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FpcI29NSS2I/UUWBqKdueDI/AAAAAAAAA-0/-VOWvShwM-Q/s1600/12+you+bloody+ground+you.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FpcI29NSS2I/UUWBqKdueDI/AAAAAAAAA-0/-VOWvShwM-Q/s320/12+you+bloody+ground+you.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">take that, you bloody ground</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bhh2CDTy3wE/UUWBrIp5XcI/AAAAAAAAA-8/ml65rMnX_Os/s1600/13+you+bloody+ground+you.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bhh2CDTy3wE/UUWBrIp5XcI/AAAAAAAAA-8/ml65rMnX_Os/s320/13+you+bloody+ground+you.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ugh</td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;"></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ukjZ2-r9OIs/UUWB2yCUPII/AAAAAAAABAU/77232tchr1I/s1600/3+Kids+Into+It.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ukjZ2-r9OIs/UUWB2yCUPII/AAAAAAAABAU/77232tchr1I/s320/3+Kids+Into+It.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0yInbbnJHng/UUWB3SjgKpI/AAAAAAAABAc/AtDXSEtimqs/s1600/4+Crowbar+Gardening.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0yInbbnJHng/UUWB3SjgKpI/AAAAAAAABAc/AtDXSEtimqs/s320/4+Crowbar+Gardening.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">grunt</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oiKT-L2N4uA/UUWB9CoWUyI/AAAAAAAABA8/JlAXtyWOEQI/s1600/9+you+bloody+ground+you.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oiKT-L2N4uA/UUWB9CoWUyI/AAAAAAAABA8/JlAXtyWOEQI/s320/9+you+bloody+ground+you.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-itQrkOsAF0M/UUWB4fMwe6I/AAAAAAAABAk/Bk30hIT582k/s1600/5+you+bloody+ground+you.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-itQrkOsAF0M/UUWB4fMwe6I/AAAAAAAABAk/Bk30hIT582k/s320/5+you+bloody+ground+you.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">get in there, you bloody plants</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LMBHQZNOrjA/UUWBnwIGBiI/AAAAAAAAA-g/IIyC4hp3uMM/s1600/10+progress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LMBHQZNOrjA/UUWBnwIGBiI/AAAAAAAAA-g/IIyC4hp3uMM/s320/10+progress.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Progress</td></tr></tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-719KOX7eBYs/UUWB09pwXuI/AAAAAAAABAE/0GlsNiiQkZ0/s1600/21+progress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-719KOX7eBYs/UUWB09pwXuI/AAAAAAAABAE/0GlsNiiQkZ0/s320/21+progress.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h4SOX_1u_DM/UUWBtqdSXnI/AAAAAAAAA_M/A4hDxbynEZo/s1600/16+this+should+boost+boulder+sales.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h4SOX_1u_DM/UUWBtqdSXnI/AAAAAAAAA_M/A4hDxbynEZo/s320/16+this+should+boost+boulder+sales.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still smiling</td></tr></tbody></table><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-frZU-M3_z8M/UUWB9I00Y1I/AAAAAAAABBA/xV5QV71y9KM/s1600/8+Will+the+Waterer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-frZU-M3_z8M/UUWB9I00Y1I/AAAAAAAABBA/xV5QV71y9KM/s320/8+Will+the+Waterer.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dI_kIkYIvcw/UUWB6OoiLVI/AAAAAAAABAs/VxJluTg-ERo/s1600/6+Will+the+Waterer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dI_kIkYIvcw/UUWB6OoiLVI/AAAAAAAABAs/VxJluTg-ERo/s320/6+Will+the+Waterer.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Thanks to Stationeer Anna Deleeuw Poole for the photos, and also to Matt White for watering and watering and watering the new babies for days on end with about three or four hoses linked up from his property to the new plantings. Over this "angry summer" we've contracted Noleema Services to water this site every two weeks, with Darebin City Council helping out with extra watering in between. Thank you to both. It's been a difficult summer for so much plantlife in Victoria - if they're not on fire, they're dying of thirst - so it's good to still see these new plantings showing a bit of green among the brown! Watering regime notwithstanding, it seems a testament to landscaping with our drought-tolerant local species. We'll have to wait until late Autumn to get a sense of which plantings definitively survived the long, dry, hot spell and organise replantings as required. Meanwhile, the more established native plants in areas to the west of the line remain green and lush with very little rain all summer.<br />
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Meanwhile, we've had some progress on our archaeological finds: looks like the "wheel" we unearthed was a "ship tank lid" built by the Burney & Co foundry in Millwall, London, which operated in the 1860's and also from 1890 to the early 1900's.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rqx4CTvJ7sc/UUBd453S1_I/AAAAAAAAA98/GP_0osh5cP0/s1600/wheel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rqx4CTvJ7sc/UUBd453S1_I/AAAAAAAAA98/GP_0osh5cP0/s1600/wheel.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ship Tank Lid. As New. Still in Box.</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YQoZXMao-TE/UUBd8qMyNsI/AAAAAAAAA-E/-nbT3ciEeUo/s1600/ship+tank+lid+BurneyCo-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="315" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YQoZXMao-TE/UUBd8qMyNsI/AAAAAAAAA-E/-nbT3ciEeUo/s1600/ship+tank+lid+BurneyCo-11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's one we prepared earlier.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />
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According to an incendiary article by internationally lauded Director of the Unitied Nations Observatory on Ship Tank Research, Michael Pearson, whimsically titled <i>From Ship to the Bush: Ship Tanks In Australia, </i>Ship Tanks were used for ".. the purpose of containing, enveloping, preserving and securing from damage the several articles of merchandise and other goods, whether in the solid or in the liquid form, which are taken on board ships and other vessels to be transported or consumed..." Basically, it's a late Victorian era upgrade of the humble barrel. It is like a barrel designed by Iron Man if Iron Man had lived in 1893. I am not sure what sort of barrel Iron Man would make today but it would probably fight crime.<br />
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"The author, Michael Pearson, a heritage management consultant based in Canberra, has been intrigued by these objects for many years, having found them adapted for many purposes including dog kennels, water tanks, coolers for whale oil, eucalyptus distilleries, reinforcing collars for mine shafts, and perhaps most poignantly in the form of the beche de mer boiler used in 1881 by Mrs Watson as a boat for her escape from Aboriginal attack on Lizard Island. Mrs Watson died in her attempt." A cautionary tale indeed.<br />
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On removal from freight ships at the docks, Ship Tanks would have been further transported along train freight routes in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Their lids were likely used as frisbee-like projectiles by burly, shirtless, irritated stevedores fending off the zany rail-side antics of local children and Irish clergymen. Thanks to Roger Sykes and Heather Hesterman - and Michael Pearson, wherever you are - for the fruits of your stunning Ship Tank research!<br />
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Still no news on the bell. The Railway Museum drew a blank too. Oh, well... it's a bell.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315215378675414756.post-19552107873037114502012-09-18T23:21:00.000+10:002012-10-25T17:19:13.630+11:00Where the Dewdrops Cry and the Cats MeowK'boom - on Tuesday morning they landed mightily on the Common, delivered fresh by the redoubtable Kevin from the excavations at the <a href="http://paradenorthcote.com.au/" target="_blank">Parade Apartments</a> development on Merri Parade. Merri Merri Developments have very kindly helped us out with some of the enormous basalt boulders that lie just under the surface of most of our neighbourhood (as anyone trying to dig an ambitious trench in the back yard can bitterly attest).<br />
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These are going to look just fantastic when we plant out our indigenous garden on the north-east site in a couple of weeks. We're sorting out a backhoe and operator as we speak to get these placed just right (and a big thanks to Rob Wallace for his valuable advice on logistics). Details on our next planting day soon - meanwhile, a huge thank you to Russell Gordon of Merri Merri Developments and his foreman Michael Kildarry for coming through for us with the big rocks. Really appreciated.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where a Man is a Man, and the Children Dance... to the PIPES OF PAN</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315215378675414756.post-75450168258744058192012-09-16T22:20:00.000+10:002012-09-20T11:15:35.806+10:00South-West Site Sorted!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
An incredible effort from the hard-working crew who turned out on Sunday to get the south-west site (platform 2) all planted out. A beautiful day to get stuck into it with 28 big people and 22 smaller, more impressionable people making remarkably light work of a reasonably large area, keeping the task friendly, fun and well within our allotted time frame.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Community Labour for Make Benefit Glorious Station of Merri</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oxccXBAKbug/UFmsqRBgYsI/AAAAAAAAA6E/smSUHGOBGog/s1600/serious+business.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oxccXBAKbug/UFmsqRBgYsI/AAAAAAAAA6E/smSUHGOBGog/s400/serious+business.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serious Business - Allocating Unpleasant Tasks to the Children</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eCJvHvqL9Uw/UFmsuPTIZwI/AAAAAAAAA6M/OkHYCskHB9U/s1600/tower+building.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eCJvHvqL9Uw/UFmsuPTIZwI/AAAAAAAAA6M/OkHYCskHB9U/s200/tower+building.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Come, Friend. Together we<br />
Shall Build a Mighty Tower<br />
the Likes of Which this <br />
World has Never Seen" </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YTbjckqdQf4/UFmsm6jQk9I/AAAAAAAAA58/xd7VLLN7Bz0/s1600/recumbent+tower.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YTbjckqdQf4/UFmsm6jQk9I/AAAAAAAAA58/xd7VLLN7Bz0/s200/recumbent+tower.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I am Serious this is <br />
Going to Happen"</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IaxJacJhQAc/UFmsxDvnKBI/AAAAAAAAA6U/Pb8DELIqpfA/s1600/tower+of+power.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IaxJacJhQAc/UFmsxDvnKBI/AAAAAAAAA6U/Pb8DELIqpfA/s200/tower+of+power.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Look Upon Our Works, <br />
Ye Mighty, and Despair"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zy3MSxmzoKI/UFmr9RjJjFI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/F7Tw6N35SdU/s1600/IMG_7170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zy3MSxmzoKI/UFmr9RjJjFI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/F7Tw6N35SdU/s200/IMG_7170.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Oh, uh... was that a police helicopter<br />
or just a news crew"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7QZ8gU743tE/UFmsRGr552I/AAAAAAAAA5E/1ArRv7cVUpw/s1600/idyllic+child+labour.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7QZ8gU743tE/UFmsRGr552I/AAAAAAAAA5E/1ArRv7cVUpw/s400/idyllic+child+labour.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goodness me, this looks like the cover of a Council publication.<br />
"Harnessing our Youth: Plundering Childhood in Service of Early Retirement"</td></tr>
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All got busy with picks and shovels to dig holes and lovingly bed down the new arrivals.<br />
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On sites planted out earlier, drooping trees and plants were staked up, while nimble young fingers were once again put to good use pulling weeds.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meanwhile, in Soviet Russia: "ALL these weeds, Dad?"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Yes."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xossvu3iXsI/UFms0-QOemI/AAAAAAAAA6g/uM1VIUiootY/s1600/wheel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xossvu3iXsI/UFms0-QOemI/AAAAAAAAA6g/uM1VIUiootY/s320/wheel.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can anyone make out the writing? "London"<br />
something something. Obviously a bit too<br />
close to the biscuits at morning tea <br />
(or Nick's mattock).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TUTCOMAxXXY/UFmsKLbS7QI/AAAAAAAAA40/GQ6FeIKfsHs/s320/bell.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These terrific finds had Nick Harding and<br />
Rob Wallace going nuts, rooting about with<br />
mattocks and all but uprooting half the plants<br />
in the process...</td></tr>
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We had some fantastic archaeological finds: a bell and some sort of wheel, buried in the rubble that makes up the foundation of platform 2, likely dating from the 19th Century construction of the station.
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Morning tea and a barbeque lunch provided a great opportunity to relax and yarn with friends and neighbours, basking in the afterglow of what had just been achieved. It looks terrific.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5P1MBhz0exo/UFmsDxZNORI/AAAAAAAAA4g/9TCyzcJooPI/s1600/Morning+Tea.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5P1MBhz0exo/UFmsDxZNORI/AAAAAAAAA4g/9TCyzcJooPI/s320/Morning+Tea.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xko-lftNqQU/UFmsYG_l3VI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/1C70Whmw28s/s1600/lunch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xko-lftNqQU/UFmsYG_l3VI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/1C70Whmw28s/s200/lunch.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Is this double-cheese corn-dog beefy <br />
super-melt organic"</td></tr>
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Finally, all the new plants were watered in with the helpful assistance of the Northcote High School water cart - a community effort indeed.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rohan and Jela getting it done.</td></tr>
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Great photos as always from Anna DeLeeuw Poole. Thanks to everyone for coming along and making it a fun day for us all.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315215378675414756.post-41272211628084865262012-09-14T12:40:00.001+10:002012-09-14T12:40:23.115+10:00Planting Day this Sunday, 16 SeptemberHello all,<div>
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In case you've missed any emails or notices, our next planting day is this coming Sunday from 10 until 2 - we'll be planting out the area to the south-west of the station that we mulched back in May. Bring all those busy little fingers again! Morning tea and a barbeque lunch laid on. Come and spend a spring morning outdoors with us this Sunday - we meet near the entrance to Platform 2 (west side).</div>
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Cheers,</div>
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Mike</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315215378675414756.post-46845980717779232012012-05-20T18:30:00.000+10:002012-09-19T23:07:30.323+10:00Getting it Done (with Child Labour)No, it isn't the latest think-piece from the Institute of Public Affairs, it's Sunday's working bee! One of the best turnouts ever from friends and neighbours to help distribute two vast piles of organic compost across two new garden beds on either side of the train line. Thanks to everyone who came along to help and for sharing a sausage or two in the aftermath. As the photos attest, a heap of local kids were right in the thick of things, working hard and really helping us out with unflagging enthusiasm. A fun way to get a big job done, and an all-too-rare opportunity for neighbours to spend some purposeful time together.<br />
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30 cubic metres of steaming hot organic compost were generously donated by <a href="http://www.sita.com.au/commercial-solutions/organics-recycling/sita-organics/" target="_blank">SITA Organics</a> - it is tremendous stuff and will give our new plantings a real boost when we get them into the ground come September. We owe our immense gratitude to SITA for their donation and for their commitment to improving the local environment through supporting our community's activities.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zg14WiNxJno/T8N2DSnDSKI/AAAAAAAAAxw/R5peKObHzP8/s1600/IMG_6084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zg14WiNxJno/T8N2DSnDSKI/AAAAAAAAAxw/R5peKObHzP8/s320/IMG_6084.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Take that, you courtyard, you. SITA Organics delivers their steaming, hot, organic compost. Mmmm.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gqWvCSrOsgo/T8N2IK96HCI/AAAAAAAAAx4/n8EE-X-E7ZU/s1600/IMG_6126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gqWvCSrOsgo/T8N2IK96HCI/AAAAAAAAAx4/n8EE-X-E7ZU/s200/IMG_6126.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ugh this is hard going, where are the kids...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rsWIQIej_Vs/T8N2Sbg5lbI/AAAAAAAAAyI/Ivjk6n9qqFg/s1600/IMG_6135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rsWIQIej_Vs/T8N2Sbg5lbI/AAAAAAAAAyI/Ivjk6n9qqFg/s200/IMG_6135.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boys have we taught you nothing - do as we say, not as we do.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Xj9EEsootI/T8N8U3L_U7I/AAAAAAAAAz0/SEofuuETPDM/s1600/IMG_6131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Xj9EEsootI/T8N8U3L_U7I/AAAAAAAAAz0/SEofuuETPDM/s200/IMG_6131.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Much better.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--7P97WUCzV0/T8N2d4LzLGI/AAAAAAAAAyY/8_WAMmN-S_k/s1600/IMG_6152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--7P97WUCzV0/T8N2d4LzLGI/AAAAAAAAAyY/8_WAMmN-S_k/s200/IMG_6152.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahh nimble little fingers at work, it warms the heart.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-njYerOpQKkA/T8N2i4mNObI/AAAAAAAAAyg/u3M5pwROcLQ/s1600/IMG_6157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-njYerOpQKkA/T8N2i4mNObI/AAAAAAAAAyg/u3M5pwROcLQ/s200/IMG_6157.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South-West site filling out nicely.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AJ2ZyYRuslU/T8N2oQKVhiI/AAAAAAAAAyk/ythHmoAleD4/s1600/IMG_6167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AJ2ZyYRuslU/T8N2oQKVhiI/AAAAAAAAAyk/ythHmoAleD4/s320/IMG_6167.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He is inVINCEable</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8O_UJ_3WP9s/T8N3SMT6V_I/AAAAAAAAAzo/8WL0cmSJBk8/s1600/IMG_6192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8O_UJ_3WP9s/T8N3SMT6V_I/AAAAAAAAAzo/8WL0cmSJBk8/s200/IMG_6192.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JqsVPzkS1Eg/T8N3He7U8KI/AAAAAAAAAzY/FvyEpgPg53Y/s1600/IMG_6183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JqsVPzkS1Eg/T8N3He7U8KI/AAAAAAAAAzY/FvyEpgPg53Y/s200/IMG_6183.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The North-East site gets the Dickens treatment.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AfTxYQ_dIkI/T8N3Mq9NCoI/AAAAAAAAAzg/jieqbJMXreA/s1600/IMG_6189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AfTxYQ_dIkI/T8N3Mq9NCoI/AAAAAAAAAzg/jieqbJMXreA/s200/IMG_6189.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
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Thanks to Anna DeLeeuw Poole for the great photos. More updates soon, including some concept plans for the whole site for your perusal and input.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comMerri, Northcote VIC 3070, Australia-37.777363389516005 144.99300956726074-37.783638889516006 144.98313906726074 -37.771087889516004 145.00288006726075tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315215378675414756.post-57092581648839456752009-07-12T18:09:00.000+10:002012-10-12T18:10:39.725+11:00Getting Started: the North-West Site<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com