Graeme and Bev Trewin of Devenish have one of the last known Quandong trees (Santalum acuminatum) in the Goulburn Broken Catchment on their property.
Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA) Landscape Restoration Officer Jim Begley said the Trewins have always valued the trees on their hill, known historically as Quandong Hill, and Graeme remembers his grandmother saying there were once 6 trees on the site.
“Today there is only one tree left, with about 10 juvenile plants trying to survive” Mr Begley said.
As part of a Federal Government funded seed production program managed by Goulburn Broken CMA, the Trewins teamed up with Woka Walla Indigenous works crew last week to replant 50 Quandong seedlings back onto Quandong Hill.
The seed curnels were collected from the mulch under the old mother tree in 2014, and were sent with seed from one other population from the Murray River to a specialist nursery in Mildura to propagate, ready for planting this year.
The Woka Walla crew recently constructed a perimeter fence to protect the site into the future, and have been planting populations of diverse species across the catchment to create seed production areas.
The aim of the seed production project is to boost the genetic diversity and health of the seed of local native flora species for future use in revegetation programs.
The Woka Walla crew and Graeme Trewin planted Grey Box, White Box and Silver Banksia alongside the Quandongs, which added value to the 2 hectares of native shrub species direct sown on Quandong Hill this autumn.
“The hill was pretty rocky and hard digging today,” Graeme said. “But my father could never stand by and watch someone work, so I had to pitch in and help.”
Ashley Hurd from Woka Walla said. “This is the first time we have planted quandongs, so it is good to see them being revegetated back out there.”
This project is supported by the Goulburn Broken CMA and Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation through Australian Government funding.
Contact Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA) Landscape Restoration Officer Jim Begley for more information on 57 647 503.