The combined Stock & Land and Sustainability group had an excursion to Winton Wetlands for our first session in March. Ably led by group member Charlie, and supported by Andy from the Regent Honeyeater Group, we went behind the scenes to look at the extensive work being undertaken to deal with pest weeds and create new plantings with the aim of eventually bringing back this large area to something like its original state. This will clearly be a job that will take decades, but is was great to see the enormous amount of work done to date.

While the convenor had the second session off, Neville fielded a wide-ranging general discussion on sustainability at this session.  He suggested that a new collective belief, emanating from the USA, that it was costing too much to achieve the atmospheric CO2 objectives already agreed on and we therefore should not even try, is starting to filter to Australia. The question asked - is climate change policy costing too much? Have we determined not to spend money on attempting to prevent climate change detrimentally affecting this planet? The larger context is whether we have decided to say to our great grandchildren - whatever problem we leave for you it's going to be your problem - not ours.

​John Lane

Sustainability got off to a good start at our first session in February, with much sustainability related news to catch up on after the summer break.

Neville facilitated the second session in my absence, starting with a discussion of the Los Angeles fires and the claims that water was not diverted from Northern California when it should have been. Much discussion ensued. Moving on to Australian matters, a recent investigation showing that, contrary to expectation Dingoes are still more or less purebred, also led to much discussion. It was thought that Dingo genes had been diluted by wild dogs.  Apparently not. This leads to the question - should we be culling dingoes? A 4-Corners programme concerning Wind Turbines and the problems getting the wider population to accept them also featured.  Thanks, Neville, for reporting back on the session.

On Friday 7 March, Charlie is taking us on an excursion to Winton Wetlands to see the work going on towards rehabilitating the wetlands and consider how different environments are managed there.  We will drive around a circuit not normally open to the public, looking at the different kinds of environments, different soils, and more.  Anyone interested in farming should find it equally interesting.   Meet in the car park at 10 am for car-pooling.  Bring a water bottle and a hat. 

With our joint coverage of Stock and Land this year, (we are holding the fort until a new convenor is found for Stock and Land), sessions and excursions which link sustainability and agriculture will feature.  Looking forward –we have an excursion planned in May to the property 12 km south of Benalla managed by Mark Foletta. Mark received the 2023 Award for Excellence in Diversification and Sustainability.  Keep an eye on upcoming newsletter reports for further details. 
​
John Lane, Neville Gibb and Charlie Corser