The Otway Barham Catchment Landcare group are pleased to invite you to the first ever Barham River Festival. This one-day festival is a celebration of our local water-supply catchment. There will be music and many demonstrations and family activities to participate in, including a river walk, electrofishing, macroinvertebrates surveying, guest speakers on the Spot-tailed Quoll and fire safety and much more - Put it in your diaries!

Register your Family: when you arrive and receive a FREE Family Show Bag which will include a great range of items and information focusing on sustainable living and ways to connect to this wonderful catchment.

Speaker Program:

10.15 ANDREW LUCAS- The How-to’s of a Transition Town

Andrew Lucas is the founder of Victoria’s first ‘Transition Town’ - “Transition Town Bell” made up of several Geelong suburbs. Transition Towns provide an inspiring vision and action plan as to how a community can transition to an energy lean, carbon constrained and relocalised future that is abundant, sustainable, pleasurable and resilient.

11.15 TONY EVANS- Put the Life back into your Soil - Soil Health and Composting

Tony from the Camperdown Compost Company will show you how to increase the efficiency of water usage and reduce reliance on fertiliser inputs. You will learn to understand the role of beneficial biology in plant growth and how to integrate this biology into your garden’s/farm’s fertility management.

12.15 FESTIVAL OPENING: Welcome to country with Richard Collopy, local Traditional Owner Representative and Chair of the Otway Barham Catchment Reference Group- Simon Pockley.

1.00 GUEST PRESENTER: VASILI KANIDIADIS

Presenter of ‘Vasili’s Garden’ TV Show now broadcasting for over 5 years on Channel 31 and SBS will join us to explore sustainable gardening/living, how to garden “with rather than against” the environment, demonstrating basic organic gardening tips and how to’s. Vasili has one of the highest rating outdoor lifestyle shows. Vasili will have copies of “Vasili’s Garden Classics- The Best of channel 31” and “Vasili’s Garden- From the Garden to the Kitchen Mediterranean Style” available for sale.

2.00 GREG PETERS: Making Connections with the Barham River

Greg is well known for his passion for protecting and restoring rivers. Environmental sustainability, river health and working within the natural environment are his key personal and professional drivers. Join us as he takes us on a journey about our Barham River.

2.30 STEVE REDDINGTON: (Barwon Water) Water Conservation and Efficiency

Learn about saving water and maximising water efficiency, both inside and outside the home, using the latest methods and technologies. Topics include fittings, appliances, rainwater systems, greywater systems and gardening

3.00 TREVOR PESCOTT: Fauna of the Otways

Trevor, a highly renowned Australian naturalist, conservationist and writer with a passion for the Otways, explores his interest and expert knowledge in Otway Fauna.

3.30 PETER POPKO: Valuing Environmental Connections

Psychologist Peter will explore how we connect to our environment and how these experiences can contribute to our personal health.

4.00 MY HOME, MY CLIMATE: makes it SIMPLE for households to become energy efficient. While energy prices continue to rise, My Home, My Climate will provide households with an understanding of what to look for, how to assess and where to save.

5:30pm AGM The Otway Barham Landcare Catchment Group. Become a Friend of the Barham River.
All speakers will be available throughout the day ….. so come….. have a chat!

Interactive Activities:

9.30am Meet at the Barham River Estuary and be treated to an Estuary Experience! Then follow the Barham River for 3kms to Great Ocean Road Wines Barham River Festival Venue. Unlimited numbers. Phone to book 52376904

9.30am Explore the West Barham with Greg Peters - for the adventurous who are prepared to get wet! Limited to 25 people.

Transport provided to the start of the adventure. Phone to book 52376904

11.00am Join the Barwon Water Water Watch team and explore the health of the Barham River at the confluence of the east and west arms of the Barham by searching and sorting our macroinvertebrate samples.

Participants will be transported from the venue. Great family activity! … and try some water quality testing.

2.00pm Electrofishing - a Corangamite Catchment Management Authority sponsored Activity. Electrofishing uses electricity to stun fish before they are caught. It is a common scientific survey method used to sample fish populations to determine abundance, density and species composition. Participants will be transported to the site from the venue.

Music in the Catchment: will be brought to you by Fern Heland, duo James Butt and Brad West and local koori music throughout the day.

Stalls: Community groups have been invited to have a Catchment Stall where they can raise funds for the organisation they support. Home industry stalls will be there to display and sell their products.

Display stalls: will include Agroforestry, Permaculture, Trust for Nature, ORCA, Barwon Water, CCMA, Colac Otway Shire, Parks Victoria, SOLN, Department of Primary Industries, Water Watch, Carbon Smart, Fisheries, SOLN Townies Landcare Group, SOLN Pest, Plant and Animal specialist, Otway Barham Catchment Landcare Group/Otway Barham Catchment Reference Group, Estuary Watch, Coast Care, Families Go Green, ACF Greenhome program, My Home, My Climate, Camperdown Compost Company, Apollo Bay P-12 College.

Food Stalls: Support our community groups by having lunch at the festival….. Cafe: Come in and relax, enjoy a wine, coffee and cake and enjoy the work of our catchment artist James Butt Parking available at the venue: drive up the entrance.

Drop off area for elderly and disabled

What to bring?

Some time to relax and enjoy our program- its speakers, the activities, the displays, the food, the music.

Bring your newspapers for recycling bundled up and drop them into the Apollo Bay Lions Club Trailer as you drive up to the Parking Area.

Mobile Muster would love to take old mobile phones.

Bring some soil samples and go to the Townies stand and test your soil PH.

Bring plenty of questions for our Speakers who are there as a community resource for the day.

Take Home lots of new ideas and connections about sustainable living and the memory of some great experiences in the Otway Barham Catchment.

The Otway Barham Catchment Landcare Group and the Otway Barham Catchment Reference Group thank you for being a part of this celebration.

We look forward to seeing you there!

When: Saturday 28th February

Where: Great Ocean Rd Wines, 3 kms along Barham River Rd.