By Tanya Steele
Local organisational leaders got their hands dirty for a cause in Yellingbo this week, joining a conservation group and school students to plant out the habitat for one of Victoria’s beloved faunal emblems – the helmeted honeyeater.
On Thursday 5 September the Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater Inc (FoHH) held its inaugural ‘Great CEO Plantout’, encouraging business and community leaders to play a part in saving the critically endangered state bird emblem.
The group planted 1200 plants in the Burrungma Biik – which are the misty lands in Woiwurrung of the Yellingbo Nature Conservation Area and home to the threatened bird population.
They celebrated over morning tea afterwards President Virginia Wallace said The Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater Inc. is the only volunteer-led group committed to saving the State Bird emblem from extinction.
“Times are tough for Victorians right now with the cost of living crisis, but the Helmeted Honeyeater is also experiencing its own cost of living crisis- homelessness or lack of habitat is a huge problem for our sweet bird with a big personality. And with only 250 left in the wild, their need for more habitat is critical to their survival,” she said.
Ms Wallace said they engaged with CEOs and businesses across Victoria to see if they could help them plant more habitat and raise funds so they can keep saving their favourite bird.
“We’ve written to over 100 Victorian companies and locally based businesses to ask them to support us in saving the Helmeted Honeyeater by increasing habitat,” she said.
“Let’s see our CEOs out of the office getting dirt under their fingernails as we improve the habitat for many of our unique native birds and animals.”
The plant out was originally supposed to be held on Wednesday with more businesses pledged to be involved but was pushed to Thursday due to weather conditions.
Students from Caulfield Grammar, Executive Manager at Melbourne Water Chris Brace, Head of Operations from Balgownie Estate Grant Flack, Australia Post Safety Systems and Governance Specialist Andrea Summits and Healesville Sanctuary Director Ross Williamson from Zoos Victoria joined volunteers from the FoHH group to plant on the day.
Mr Williamson said the weather on Thursday was a lot kinder.
“The team did a great job in planting 1,200 trees for the Helmeted Honeyeaters – there was a great bunch,” he said.
The small native plants are quite small and the group had aimed to plant over 1000 plants to make a real difference to the bird species and got well over that into the ground in short order.
Mr WIlliamson said when planting If the ground is moist, then it’s as simple as digging a small hole, dropping the seedling in, and firming the soil around them.
“As long as the roots are covered, it will take off. Pretty simple.,” he said.
Mr Williamson said he loved being involved.
“You’re doing something that has a long-term benefit for a critically endangered species. You can’t help but feel good about what you’ve achieved,” he said.
FoHH formed in May 1989 when the population of the Helmeted Honeyeaters reached a critically low level of 50 birds.
Mr Williamson said the key threat to Helmeted Honeyeaters is the lack of suitable habitat.
“These trees will turn an area of ex-pasture into good habitat, and it could be suitable for Helmeted Honeyeaters in as little as four years,” he said.
General Manager of Service Futures Melbourne Water Chris Brace Executive said it was terrific to be involved in the planting day.
“Melbourne Water is proud to be supporting a range of community projects through the Yarra4Life program to restore and protect habitat for the Helmeted Honeyeater across greater Melbourne,” he said.
“We remain committed to working together with the community to safeguard and enhance the precious habitat of one of our state’s emblems.”
After a productive day of planting, Ms Wallace said that FoHH would like to thank Australia Post’s People of Post program that provided them with the seed funding to kick start the plantout.
In May this year, Australia Post awarded grants to more than 150 grassroots community and not-for-profit groups across Australia, with each receiving up to $2,000 in funding through its annual People of Post grants.
Australia Post General Manager Community and Stakeholder Engagement, Nicky Tracey, said the seventh year of the program would once again help local organisations continue to make a positive impact on communities across the nation.
“At the heart of this initiative is Australia Post team members, who witness first-hand the incredible work community groups do every day across Australia. Our People of Post grants give them the chance to give back,” she said.
“We would also like to thank Pete Cromer for letting us use his Helmeted Honeyeater artwork,” Ms Wallace said.
Mr Williamson said the FoHH are a sensational group of volunteers and have been critical in saving this species from extinction.
“If you can’t plant a tree, help them to plant one on your behalf,” he said.
The event which was a first for the FoHH marks another vital step in the road to recovery for the critically endangered Helmeted Honeyeater and people can still make a donation at:
www.givenow.com.au/greatceoplantout
