• ANGAIR Inc Committee Meetings are held on the second Friday of each month at 7.30pm in the ANGAIR Natural History Centre, McMillan Street, Anglesea.    Social evenings with guest speakers are held on several occasions throughout the year.  Details are advertised in the Calendar of Events in the monthly newsletter and on the webpage.   The Annual General Meeting is held in February.
• Guided Walks are taken each month to a variety of areas to observe the flora and fauna, and to get to know the walking tracks in the area.  Special walks are also taken at Easter and in the summer holiday period.  Walks are advertised in the monthly newsletters, at the Anglesea Natural History Centre and on local community notice boards.
• Removal of Invasive Weeds.   ANGAIR members work regularly to remove invasive plants from flora reserves, heathlands, and coastal areas and to plant indigenous species in those areas. Information is provided in the ANGAIR Newsletter. Held in June/July each year,  "Weed Week" involves a concerted effort aimed at returning areas of our environment to their natural state.  ANGAIR has been successful in obtaining grants to assist with some of this work - to purchase tools, herbicides, plants, tree guards etc or to engage contracts when the scale of work requires larger equipment.
• Flora and Fauna Surveys are carried out and research documented in an effort to conserve the biodiversity and ecology of the area.  ANGAIR participated in a ten year regeneration study following the 1983 wildfire, while more recent research has focused on two rare species, the Rufous Bristlebird and Swamp Antechinus and in documenting significant flora in the area. Comprehensive plant lists are maintained for the various flora reserves.
• Education.  ANGAIR Inc plays an active educational role in talking to students and other community groups - developing an awareness and an understanding of the biodiversity of the area and in assisting school and university students with their research projects.
• Environmental Projects.  ANGAIR participates in a wide range of environmental projects in conjunction with Parks Victoria, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the Surf Coast Shire and Alcoa of Australia Limited who has a lease over a large area of heathland to the north of Anglesea.  Some of these projects include rehabilitation of disused gravel pits, restoration of eroded tracks and creek crossings, and planting of indigenous species.
• Land Acquisition.  ANGAIR has been very active in ensuring that land of high conservation value remains in public hands. The acquisition and protection of areas such as the Elizabeth Street Reserve, Ironbark Basin, Urquhart Bluff coastal heathlands and the Anglesea heathlands have certainly been greatly influenced by ANGAIR's involvement and financial assistance. ANGAIR is ever alert to policies and developments that may adversely affect the well-being of sensitive and significant landscapes and their flora and fauna.
• Register of the National Estate.  ANGAIR has been actively involved in making recommendations, which have seen large areas of land near Anglesea listed on the Register of the National Estate.
• Ecological Burns.  ANGAIR works with the Department of Sustainability & Environment, Parks Victoria and the Country Fire Authority in planning ecological burns to benefit the diversity of flora and fauna.
• Environmental Weed Booklet.  ANGAIR has collaborated with the Surf Coast Shire to publish Environmental Weeks: Invaders of our Surf Coast - a booklet which has been distributed to all ratepayers and residents.  Copies are available free of charge from ANGAIR and from the Shire Offices in Torquay.  This publication is most useful in helping people to identify and control those plants, especially garden escapees that are invading our grasslands, coastal dunes, reserves and heathlands.

Annual Wildflower and Art Show

Many residents and visitors explore the Anglesea and Aireys Inlet district each year to admire the amazing number of orchids and other wildflowers that grow throughout the region.

Most species flower in springtime and each September ANGAIR holds a Wildflower and Art Show in the Memorial Hall, McMillan Street, Anglesea.  The Show attracts visitors from all over Australia as the Anglesea heathlands are of international significance.  The proceeds of the Show are used for land conservation purposes.

The Show includes spectacular displays of native flowers and opportunities for people to take guided walks and bus tours to visit the bushland and flora reserves to see indigenous flowers in their natural habitat.  There are also native plants books on environmental subjects, cards and various forms of craftwork for sale. Alcoa of Australia Limited sponsors our  Show and we are most appreciative of their support.

ANNUAL  WILDFLOWER  SHOW 2009
19-20  SEPTEMBER  2009  IN  THE
MEMORIAL  HALL,  ANGLESEA

Resources and Library

ANGAIR Natural History Centre.   ANGAIR Inc is most fortunate in having the use of the  Natural History Centre in McMillan Street, Anglesea as a base for our conservation work. Through the cooperation of the Surf Coast Shire we have a facility that enables us to meet regularly, to carry out our administration, to discuss issues with various groups and individuals and to relax with our members in attractive, comfortable surroundings.

The ANGAIR Library including the Mary D White Collection is housed in the ANGAIR Natural History Centre.  The Mary D White Collection was bequeathed to the Surf Coast Shire by Mary White (1910-1996) who made an invaluable contribution to ANGAIR and whose outstanding knowledge of natural history introduced thousands of school children and adults to the wonder of the Anglesea Heathlands.  This Collection is comprised of Mary's personal library and photocopied posters of her original watercolours which were bequeathed to the National Herbarium.  The Library, which is continually being extended by ANGAIR, consists of an excellent collection of books, periodicals and other publications on a variety of natural history and environmental topics, and provides a most valuable resource for ANGAIR members and local residents and ratepayers.  The centre is open on Monday afternoons from Noon to 3.00 pm when volunteers are present to assist with enquiries and to issue loans.

If you would like to become a member of ANGAIR, please print out our form and send it with your subscription to the address indicated.  Please include a cheque or money order made payable to ANGAIR Inc.

Newsletter, Publications & Merchandise

ANGAIR Newsletters are published and posted to members each month.  The aim of the newsletter is to keep people informed about ANGAIR activities, local flora and fauna and conservation issues relevant to our area.  Copies of the Community Participation & Events Calendar from the current ANGAIR Newsletter are displayed at the ANGAIR Natural History Centre in McMillan Street, Anglesea and on local community notice boards.

In addition, ANGAIR has for sale, books, cards and brochures about indigenous flora and fauna.  The publications and other merchandise listed below are available from the ANGAIR Natural History Centre or by mail order.  All profits are used for land conservation purposes.

Other Publications

Coastal Vegetation of Anglesea-Airey's Inlet, Mary D White, $Aust6.00 72pp b&w drawings with brief field descriptions, scientific and common names.

Anglesea - A Natural History Study.  ANGAIR  $Aus15.00  87pp b&w.  A comprehensive introduction to the district - particularly the natural environment and its flora and fauna, local reserves and walking tracks. Includes ANGAIR Indigenous Plant List (see below).

ANGAIR Indigenous Plant List $Aus3.00    11pp b&w. Comprehensive list of indigenous plants found in the Anglesea-Aireys Inlet district with scientific and common names, month of flowering and habitat.

Orchids of the Anglesea District:  A Field Guide.  Second Edition, Everett Foster & Margaret MacDonald $Aus25.00    114pp colour photographs with detailed descriptions to assist identification in the field.

Birds from Anglesea to Eastern View, Pauline Reilly. $Aus3.00. 12pp b&w.  List of birds observed in various local habitats, aids with identification.

A Guide to Walks in the Angahook-Lorne State Park 2004.  Friends of Angahook-Lorne State Park, $Aus5.00  38pp colour photographs with detailed descriptions of 28 walks.

Some Thoughts on Creating a Bushland Garden. Geoff Clark $Aus5.00  16pp b&w with advice on creating and maintaining an indigenous garden.

Environmental Weeds: Invaders of our Surf Coast.  Free.  53pp colour. Descriptions and methods of control of introduced plants known to cause problems in areas of natural vegetation. Essential for gardeners in the area.

Merchandise:

Floral cards blank inside (with envelope)  $Aus 1.00 each
Floral cards blank inside (with envelopes) pack of 6. $Aus 5.00.
Cards: Anglesea Flowers - new designs by Ruth Hurst,  blank inside (with envelope)  $Aus 1.50 each
Cards: Anglesea Flowers - new designs by Ruth Hurst,  blank inside (with envelopes) pack of 6 $Aus 8.00  
Great Ocean Road card - photograph of view looking east towards Pt Roadknight  $Aus 1.00 each
Notepads -20 sheets printed with pink heath (Epacris impressa) design (with 20 plain envelopes) $Aus 5.00
Plastic mugs - printed with ANGAIR logo and pink heath (Epacris impressa) $Aus 5.50ea, $Aus 10.00 for 2 or $Aus 20.00 for 5
Metal Badge - ANGAIR logo in green, brown & gold on white enamel $Aus 5.00
Sticker -ANGAIR Logo (b&w ) $Aus1.00

Ball point pen ANGAIR logo $Aus1.50

Key ring tags - acrylic, printed with wildflower photographs (six designs) $Aus 2.50ea or $Aus 2.00ea for 2 or more

Windcheaters with embroidered ANGAIR logo, available in five sizes  $Aus 40.00

For further information contact us at: 

ANGAIR Inc, PO Box 12, Anglesea, Victoria, Australia 3230
Phone/Fax (03) 5263 1085. International Phone/Fax +61 3 5263 1085
Email: angair@pipeline.com.au
http://users.pipeline.com.au/angair 

Other useful links:

Surf Coast Shire
Department of Sustainability and Environment
Parks Victoria
Victorian National Parks Association
Otway Ranges Environment Network
The Anglesea and District Historical Society
Geelong Environment Council