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Jac’s Pork n Black Beans
IS yummy and it IS easy.
Spiders in the garden
Readers may recall the column about ants. This time it is about spiders. Like ants, spiders can be a mixed blessing and we are guaranteed to have spiders in our gardens. Spiders do a wonderful job at keeping insects in check. Most spiders spin webs to ensnare insects, some spiders
Late April start for footy in 1975
Front page news in April was all about local football upheavals, as the Heathcote League commenced without Tooborac, which had been on-again, off-again, right up to the first bounce. The withdrawal left just Elmore, Heathcote, Colbinabbin, Rushworth, and Mt Pleasant which was given a bye in the opening round. Photographed
As the seasons change...
Gosh! Where did spring/summer season go? It feels like the busy season has been a bit of a blur. The weather is shifting, leaning towards much cooler nights, shorter days and longer nights. The flow of baby birds has ceased but the gathering of plover pairs on nature strips
Logistics
There was plenty of demand for firewood from Melbourne, with the bulk of the transport needs being met by the railways up until World War 2. Looking back to the pre-war years, The Argus newspaper estimated that Melbourne needed 500-600,000 tons of firewood each year, as well as 100,
Dire wolves, de-extinct?
Dire wolves were not a fictional species of wolf created for Game of Thrones. Dire wolves (Aencyon dirus) actually existed in the Americas and went extinct as recently as 10,000 years ago. Their remains show they were bigger and lighter in colour than the modern-day grey wolf (Canis lupis)
April 17, 2025
Forest yarns
It is hard to understate the amount of timber that was used for firewood in the early days, before people had access to electricity and gas. Almost every house had a wood stove in the kitchen, as well as fireplaces in other parts of the house. Many workplaces required timber
Anne’s chocolate cake
I’ve told you before that I can’t do light and fluffy – which is why I don’t cook sponges or cakes much. But my daughter’s friend, Anne, assured me that this was an easy-peasy, one bowl, one spoon chocolate cake – that ANYONE could make.
The majestic mountain ash
By Neil Laurie
Tragedy and heroism at Basin outlet
By Alan McLean
All About Wildlife
Butcherbirds
One bird that rarely gets identified correctly and is usually confused with a magpie is the butcherbird.
All About Wildlife
Emus - flightless, feisty and feminist
From as far back as my earliest memories I have had a passion for animals. All animals! Birds have held an extra special place in my heart though and there are a number of reasons why. Bird brains are very unique and many species of bird are highly intelligent -
All About Wildlife
Black duck rescue
I guess it wouldn’t be winter unless I had to take the plunge into the ice cold waters of one of our rivers, a dam or a creek.
All About Wildlife
Sharing spaces with microbats
One of the aspects of my wildlife work which I love so much is being able to make people aware of the creatures we share our environment with and work with them to make a difference.
All About Wildlife
Wedge-tailed Eagle comes into care
One of the most magnificent species I have the privilege to work with is the Wedgetailed Eagle.
All About Wildlife
Collared Sparrowhawk
Winter is a time when many birds of prey find themselves in trouble. After the hectic Spring and Summer breeding season is done and dusted I usually have a bit of a lull in the amount of new bird patients arriving at Bohollow which may last for a few weeks
All About Wildlife
Plovers in the drainpipe
I recently rescued and relocated four tiny spur-winged plover chicks from a day-care centre in Echuca.
