Feb 23, 2025 4 min read

Newsletter Sunday 23 February 2025!

Coming Up:

Wed 26 Feb - Working Bee: meet at 9.30 am at Ryder Cheshire Homes, 10-14 Donaldson St Ivanhoe. Followed by morning tea with home-made cakes, thanks to Alphington CWA.
Sat 1 March, 9.30 am - Working Bee: 9.30 am start, meet at 43a Sherwood Rd.
Sunday 2 March is CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA Day. We are not holding an official event, as we clean up whenever we need to. The closest event is at Ivanhoe Station, meet at 10 am in the Norman St carpark. For more information contact Robert Bender on 0487 331 728. Other events are being held in the Rosanna Parklands and Warringal Parklands/Banyule Flats - check the website https://www.cleanup.org.au/ for details
Thursday 6 March - Meet Up and Make It craft group 2pm in The Dish - all welcome.

Correction - the subway is older than first thought

Nilss wishes to correct the information about the subway published in January's Newsletter. Both The Herald and The Argus in 1926 reported that the Railways Department had decided to construct a subway instead of the proposed overhead bridge. So the subway dates back to the original station.

In February 1939 the subway flooded, due to the rain. The Sun News-Pictorial, 27.02.1939, reported on Page 16:

Seats Used To Make Path Through Flood - Railway employees saw to it that residents did not have to wade through deep water when the rain flooded the subway at Eaglemont station on Saturday. They placed seats from the station platform down the centre of the subway, and passengers walked along these to the higher levels while a gang of railwaymen worked to remove the water.

For more information follow the link to Nilss' History post at the end of this newsletter.

Enjoying the Fairy Garden

We had a lovely message last week: I spotted your fairy garden from the train and took my 6 year old there today and she absolutely loved it! We spent ages pottering around, peeking into the little doors & discovering magical things. Thought you might like to know it brings joy to the community. Thank you for making our neighbourhood so lovely.

Can you help us by donating some plants?

When the weather cools in late March into April (hopefully after some decent rain!) we will start planting out again, to fill in some of the gaps and replace those plants that have not survived the hot dry weather we have been having. Banyule Council has a scheme where you buy 10 plants and get 10 tubestock plants free, from either La Trobe or VINC indigenous nurseries. Indigenous are best, as it means they suit local conditions. One voucher per household each financial year. Applying for a voucher is a very quick and easy process online. More information on the link below.

If you are going to donate to us this way (financial contributions are also gratefully received!) please let us know. One of us can come to the Nursery with you if that is helpful.

https://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/Waste-environment/Environment-sustainability/Sustainability-and-stewardship/Indigenous-plants-voucher-program/Indigenous-plants-voucher-form

Colour on Alandale Road

We spotted this gorgeous little Crowea during the Alandale Rd working bee. At this time of year there is some colour, but you may have to look for it.

AGAPANTHUS

Please remove these seed heads so the seeds can't spread. These plants are spectacular when in flower but can be a problem because they like our growing conditions too much and spread very easily. They come from South Africa originally.