Bellarine Catchment Network

31/05/2026

What an incredible day of community connection and environmental action at our Portarlington Cemetery planting day! 🌿

Together with the community and in partnership with the Geelong Cemeteries Trust , we planted an amazing 500 indigenous trees, shrubs, and grasses to help strengthen and support Portarlington’s wildlife corridor.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the day such a success. Every plant in the ground is a step towards healthier habitats and a more connected landscape for local wildlife. 🌼

30/05/2026

Last week we celebrated the incredible community of the Borough of Queenscliffe at the 2026 Community Service Awards Night. 🌿

Our amazing volunteers from the Borough Coastcarers were nominated for Community Group of the Year for their ongoing work restoring and protecting the biodiversity of Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale. Through their dedication, they’ve been helping remove invasive weeds from precious Coastal Moonah Woodland habitat.

Congratulations to all the volunteers on this well-deserved recognition and thank you for the incredible work you do for our environment and community. 💚

Interested in getting involved? We’d love to see you at one of our Borough Coastcarer sessions. Visit www.bgevc.com to learn more about our weekly sessions.

29/05/2026

🍃What a wonderful day celebrating the Official Opening of Bellarine Memorial Park. 🍃

It was fantastic to see the community come together to recognise this important new space alongside Geelong Cemeteries Trust , Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation , and Bellarine Catchment Network.

The day began with a beautiful Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony led by Ash Skinner from Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, acknowledging the deep cultural significance of Country and the importance of caring for the landscape.

Visitors enjoyed guided walks through the site towards Yarram Creek, explored the master plan, connected with the Geelong Cemeteries Trust team, and took part in hands-on landscape and planting activities focused on enhancing the local environment and biodiversity.

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to such a meaningful community day. We’re proud to be part of creating spaces that support reflection, connection, culture, and care for the environment. 💚

23/05/2026

⚓ Head down to the Barwon Coast Discovery Centre this Sunday 24th from 1pm–4pm and uncover one of Barwon Heads’ hidden gems! ⚓

Perfect for all ages, the Discovery Centre is packed with fascinating displays exploring local marine life, native plants and animals, regional history, geology, and even shipwrecks. Whether you’re a nature lover, history buff, or just looking for a fun family outing, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Entry is by gold coin donation, with proceeds supporting the volunteer group and helping keep the Centre growing and evolving.

📍 Barwon Coast Discovery Centre
🗓 Sunday 24th
⏰ 1pm – 4pm
💛 Gold coin donation entry

22/05/2026

🌿 You’re invited to the Official Opening of Bellarine Memorial Park 🌿

Join Geelong Cemeteries Trust for a special community celebration at Bellarine Memorial Park, held in collaboration with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and Bellarine Catchment Network.

The day will begin with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony led by Ash Skinner, followed by the official opening by Chair John Mitchell. Community members can then enjoy guided walks, landscape and planting activities, memorial information sessions, the Master Plan display, and a complimentary community lunch.

📍 Bellarine Memorial Park. 1681-1729 Bellarine Hwy, Marcus Hill, Wadawurrung Country VIC 3222
🕚 Official Opening from 11AM

Come together to celebrate community, culture, connection to Country, and the future of this beautiful space. 🌱

21/05/2026

We’re incredibly grateful to have received a solar donation through Geelong Sustainability’s Electric Homes Program.

BCN now has a 6.6kW rooftop solar system featuring donated Aiko solar panels and a donated Sungrow inverter, professionally installed by Winki Energy. This system will help offset our current energy use and provide low-cost, clean electricity to support our ongoing operations.

A huge thank you to Geelong Sustainability and Winki Energy for this generous opportunity and for supporting a more sustainable future 🌱☀️

21/05/2026

We have some tickets left for our Wadawurrung Walk on Monday the 25th of May in Portarlington! 🦅

Ash Skinner will be leading a session in this reserve talking about Wadawurrung history, culturally significant plants, animals and areas and the incredible work that Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation do within our region.

Book here: https://events.humanitix.com/wadawurrung-cultural-education-session-reconciliation-portarlington

This session is supported by the Victorian Government via the Tiny Towns grant program.

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements.

19/05/2026

🌟 Discover Purpose, Connection & Community at the 2026 Geelong Volunteering Expo! 🌟

Join us during National Volunteer Week and celebrate the incredible impact volunteers make across our community. Whether you’re looking to give back, meet new people, share your skills, or simply get involved, there’s a volunteering opportunity for everyone 💙

📅 Thursday 21 May 2026
📍 Geelong West Town Hall
⏰ 10am – 3pm
🎟️ FREE community event
🅿️♿ Free and accessible parking available

Hosted by Volunteering Geelong as part of National Volunteer Week and the Year of the Volunteer.

Come along, connect with local organisations, and discover how volunteering can enrich your life and strengthen our community.

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post with your networks 🙌

Image: Photo of some of BCN's wonderful volunteers!

19/05/2026

🌿 Join us for a day of community, connection, and caring for Country at the Portarlington Cemetery Indigenous Planting Day 🌼

Together with the Geelong Cemeteries Trust, we’ll be planting indigenous trees, shrubs, and grasses to help create a peaceful, biodiverse space for reflection, remembrance, and habitat support.

✨ What to expect:
🌱 Plant local indigenous species
🌼 Learn about native flora and biodiversity
🤝 Meet like-minded community members
🥪 Enjoy a free lunch together

❗RSVP❗ https://events.humanitix.com/portarlington-cemetery-planting-day

No experience needed — everyone is welcome! Tools, plants, and guidance will all be provided.

📍 Portarlington Cemetery
👟 Please wear sturdy shoes and bring gloves if you have them
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Free event | All ages welcome

Join us for a hands-on day of planting indigenous species at Portarlington Cemetery, in partnership with Geelong Cemeteries Trust.

18/05/2026

🌸Join us tomorrow, Tuesday the 19th of April, 10AM–12PM at Shortlands Bluff in Queenscliff to restore native habitat and remove invasive weeds. 🌸

Anybody is welcome to join us and volunteer, and we have a great time working together learning to identify weeds and native plants and connecting with members of your community.

🌿Details for the session 🌿
🐝Tuesday 19th of May 10AM – 12PM
🐸 Shortlands Bluff, Queenscliff, on Wadawurrung Country.
🦋Meet at the grassy area in the Shortlands Bluff lookout, at the end of Hesse Street, Queenscliff.

We provide gloves, safety glasses, water and pull some weeds, have a chat and enjoy nature!

This activity is supported by the Borough of Queenscliffe who care for our coastline.

For more information, visit our Events Calendar Website at www.bgevc.com