Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA) CEO Chris Norman today thanked Shepparton Men’s Shed participants for building more than 80 nesting boxes for native animals and birds in the past year.
Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA) CEO Chris Norman today thanked Shepparton Men’s Shed participants for building more than 80 nesting boxes for native animals and birds in the past year.
“Volunteer Week, with its theme of ‘Thanks a Million’ is the perfect time to recognise and thank Shepparton Men’s Shed members who are helping us protect and enhance the Catchment’s natural resources by building these boxes that provide a safe environment for native species – some of them threatened – to nest in,” Mr Norman said.
Shepparton Men’s Shed members have been involved in the nest box building program for the past year, building boxes suitable for sugar and squirrel gliders, pardalotes and more recently bats.
Shepparton Men’s Shed co-ordinator Gary Gray said Goulburn Broken CMA Landcare Corporate Partnership Facilitator Karen Brisbane had approached the group about getting involved in the box-building project about 12 months ago.
“The project really appealed to us,” Mr Gray said. “Men’s sheds are all about supporting community and supporting men’s health – this type of meaningful project ticked all the boxes.”
Mr Gray said the box-building project was a collaborative effort.
“Karen has secured support from Bunning’s for things like screws and hinges and glue, and put us in touch with the local Shepparton Sporting Shooters Association who donated the plywood we use to build the boxes,” he said. “Dookie Men’s Shed members have also helped us build boxes.”
Each box has slightly different dimensions to suit each species. Once the boxes have been built they are installed by landholders and Conservation Management Network and Landcare members in trees across the Catchment.
Boxes have been installed at the Shepparton Botanical Gardens site, as part of the Dookie Biolinks project, in the woodlands around Heathcote/Whroo and on private properties in the Broken Boosey region.
“It’s been a real buzz for the blokes to know they’ve contributed to something so worthwhile,” Mr Gray said.
Mr Norman said the Goulburn Broken CMA relied heavily on volunteers, who gave up their time and “did their bit” to help the environment, to deliver its programs.
“The Goulburn Broken CMA is committed to improving the resilience of our waterways, biodiversity and landscapes but we can only do this with the support of community members,” he said. “I encourage anyone who is keen to get involved in natural resource management to contact us to find out more about the various volunteer groups we support and work with across the Catchment.”
• To find out more about Shepparton Men’s Shed phone Gary Gray on 0458 380 357 or email garygg@mcmedia.com.au
• To find out more about Goulburn Broken CMA programs and activities visit www.gbcma.vic.gov.au
Pictured: Gary Gray