Hullo there Rewilders,

Great news! We are delighted to announce that

Founding members Nadine Samaha and Graham Ross joined President Alison Richards for the presentation last Wednesday night 25 October at the Malvern Town Hall. Thanks so much to Mayor Jami Klisaris, the awards panel, our hard working committee members, our auspice body Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria, our friends and supporters and of course, all our wonderful volunteers!  It's gratifying to be recognised as an organisation but more importantly, it encourages us in the work we do.

We're always happy to welcome volunteers, whether you're a new face or haven't been for a while, whenever you can make it!

And moving right along ... after a record dry September we've been lucky enough to get some cooler weather and a spot of rain, so we're forging ahead while we still can.

Working bees in November

For all working bees: Meet on site for a safety briefing, then work as directed. Dress for the weather, wear a hat, gloves, long pants and solid-toed shoes, stay hydrated.

Tools, gloves and other basic safety gear and first aid supplies are available from the Rewilding Trailer. Feel free to bring your own hand tools but don’t forget to label them!

In other news

• Chapel St

In September, Council called for feedback on plans ‘to transform Chapel Street into one of the great streets of the world’.

We wrote to point out that all great world streets have trees! And to urge attention to biodiversity including setting a target for indigenous species selection. Chair of the Chapel St Transformation Steering Committee, Cr Matthew Koce, has invited us to provide further input on priorities including parking vs space for cycling/pedestrians/streetscaping. We are consulting with other local environmental groups on a response; if you would like to be involved in those discussions, please contact us via the RS gmail or website.

• Pocket Parks:

Council has announced plans to build and/or improve 3 new pocket parks in South Yarra/Windsor

1. North-east corner of Balmoral and Perry Sts, South Yarra
2. 26 Osborne St, South Yarra
3. 55 Porter St/22A Grattan St, Prahran

These parks are all in the GreenLine zone along the Sandringham Line rail corridor. Councillors and Council staff have had our proposal for the GreenLine project featuring the Federally funded SY-Windsor Indigenous Heritage Walk since June 2022. We’ve had several meetings and much follow-up correspondence – but so far, no opportunity to discuss these pocket parks plans.

We will be writing to request that opportunity ...

A community consultation survey is open until Sunday November 5 via https://connectstonnington.vic.gov.au/pocket-parks

We urge you to respond. This is an opportunity to co-ordinate design and plant selection to

• Maximise biodiversity along the rail corridor
• Focus on indigenous and endemic species
• Provide wildlife habitat and
• Improve tree canopy

Let Council know the Stonnington community cares about environmental values and neighbourhood amenity!

Friends' events:

Higgins CAN Calling time on new coal and gas

Campaign launch and dinner

6.30-9pm Tuesday 31 October

Malvernvale Hotel 1321 Malvern Rd Malvern

With guest speaker Leigh Ewbank from CANA

Higgins CAN calling time on new coal and gas

ACF Malvern Nature’s Voice in Action

Community forum on Australia’s nature laws

6.45-8.30pm Friday 10 November

Hawthorn Arts Centre, 360 Burwood Rd Hawthorn

With ACF National Biodiversity Policy Adviser Brendan Sydes, Monique Ryan MP, Michelle Anandah-Rajah MP. MC: ACF Campaigns Director Paul Sinclair

ACF community forum nature voice in action

Victorian Environmental Friends Network

AGM 2023 and Awards Ceremony

10:00 am – 12.30 pm Saturday, 18^th November

Green Building, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton

RSVPs via VEFN AGM and Awards 2023

Yarra Riverkeeper AGM 2023

5-7.30pm Tuesday 21 November

Alphington Bowls Club, 28 Parkview Rd Alphington

The YRKA story – past, present and future

With previous Riverkeepers Ian Penrose, Andrew Kelly and Charlotte Sterett

YRKA AGM 2023

Do let us know if you have news about environmental events and activities in Stonnington and nearby - we're always happy to share.

NEW!  Save the Date

Sunday 3 December

Walking the Walk again! in partnership with Higgins CAN

A re-run of our successful event with Engaged Stonnington, along the proposed Indigenous Heritage Walk route South Yarra to Windsor and finishing with a picnic in the park at Windsor Siding.

All welcome!

Start time and other details TBA

Plus … watch out for more exciting news on the Walks front ...

Growing wilder!

Alison Richards (President) for the Rewilding Stonnington Inc. Committee 2023-24:
Nadine Samaha (Deputy President), Mary Mahoney (Treasurer), Julie Laidler, Marion Miller, Graham Ross, Kirby Roper, Grace Warner, Jason Whyte.