Living Links Conference 2024 Success!

The Conference was an interesting and fun event with 70 people attending, at Tatterson Pavillion in Keysborough on Sunday 5th May 2024. Uncle Mark from Bunurong performed a Welcome to Country to open the Conference, with Trent Griffiths as the MC. Key presenters were: Anthony Bigelow – Convener of Victorian Environment Friends Network; Irene Kelly – Co founder of the Gardens for Wildlife Program; David De Angelis – Dandenong Creek Catchment health and condition with a focus on local reptile and amphibian species; and, Kim Boswell from The Forever Agenda talking about Volunteer Group Recruitment and retention of members. These presentations were followed by ‘World Café Discussion Tables’, facilitated by Zoe Squires, with the following topics and hosts:

Table 1. Goat Grazing for vegetation management and habitat restoration with Colin Arnold 
Table 2. Partnerships across the region with Anthony Bigelow (VEFN) 
Table 3. Community advocacy in the creation of Yalukit Willam Nature Reserve with Natalie Davey 
Table 4. Building a network of citizen scientists with Doug Evans (Maroondah CC)
Table 5. Gardens for Wildlife Network supporting community groups with Irene Kelly and Anne Makajani 
Table 6. Projects of The Friends of Dandenong Valley Parklands with David Lumb 
Table 7. Community walk and talks with Rosemaree Maclean (Friends of Braeside Park) 
Table 8. The power of demonstration gardens with Jenny Rowe (The Friends of Blind Creek Billabong) 
Table 9. Indigenous nurseries and the Friends of Braeside Park with Judith Sise 
Table 10. Attracting small birds back to the suburbs with urban ecologist Gio Fitzpatrick 

Lunch was followed by a Tatterson Wetland Tour with Jack Chittenden from City of Greater Dandenong.

A video has been made of the day and should be available on the Living Links website in the coming months. A survey was conducted of participants with positive feedback. The volunteers expressed interest in attending another conference in the future and many are also interested in attending a training course on Volunteer Group Recruitment and retention of members in November 2024.

A big thank you to all the amazing volunteers and the Living Links Committee Members who attended the conference and especially to those that helped with planning or running of the day: Anthony Bigelow, Judith Sise, Zoe Squires, Marion Douwsma, Trent Griffiths, and Kelly Brooks.

More pics of amazing volunteers below!