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Publish date: 9 August 2024
The secret is now out! And the residents have started to move into their high-rise apartments.
Some time ago, a Buloke Times photographer spotted an impressive array of colourful birdhouses at the Donald Buloke Shire Council office, each getting a fresh coat of weather protection.
The photographer was politely asked to keep a lid on the scoop, as further consultation with land management stakeholders was underway.
Now, after active participation and consultations with residents and stakeholders, and with permit approval from agency stakeholders, this prime avian and insect real estate arts installation, dubbed "The Men’s Sheds Biodiversity Trail," is being erected.
Bouncing back from the October 2022 floods, this project has been a collaborative effort across Buloke, acknowledging our acceptance that things may never be exactly the same, but through community recovery, we can create something different—something that reflects our resilience and adapts to the new environment.
The boxes were crafted by dedicated Men’s Sheds teams in Birchip, Charlton, Donald, Sea Lake, and Wycheproof as part of skills-sharing arts recovery workshops.
The boxes are more than homes for birds and insects, they are a testament to the craftsmanship and creativity of our Men’s Sheds members, and the role Men’s Sheds play in enriching our local environment, fostering community connection, mental health and wellbeing.
There was scope to include additional boxes for Berriwillock and Culgoa as part of this project, recognising these areas as among the hardest hit by the floods.
Individual residents from Watchem, Nandaly, and Nullawil have since also expressed interest in participating in another round of workshops to contribute to the trail.
Locations:
This inception project will now possibly see more vibrant and creative bird boxes placed across the region, thanks to Buloke’s Mens Sheds, the input from Buloke and Northern Grampians Landcare, Parks Victoria, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), and local Traditional Custodians, to ensure alignment with environmental and cultural considerations.
We extend our gratitude to the Department of Fairness and Housing and Australian and Victorian Governments, and the Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing for their support and funding through their Community Recovery Programs. If you are interested in acquiring some avian real estate to erect at your home or as a gift for someone, get in touch with the Men’s Sheds.
Contact details are available online: www.buybuloke.com.au/mens-sheds.
And…a shout out to the Buloke Times photographer, thanks for pausing on the great reveal!
Picture 1: Some of the Men’s Sheds bird nesting box designs at Wycheproof.