York River Conservation Society

26/05/2026

🌿Reconciliation Week Event🌿
This coming Sunday 31st May
Hosted by Shire of York at our Gogulyar Bilya Environmental Discovery Centre corner of Glebe and Clifford Streets, entry from Clifford Street.
All Welcome - ALL IN for reconciliation

🌿 ALL IN for Reconciliation 🌿

FREE Entry – All Welcome

Join us on Sunday 31 May at the Bilya Gogulyar Environmental Centre for two special Reconciliation Week events.

🕙 10am
Introducing York’s planned new Aboriginal River Trail

Join us for Morning Tea to hear about this exciting project and chat to Shane Lee, storyteller and Michelle Bateman, artist. Welcome by Lead Artist Dennis Noongali Kickett. New film and artwork for the Experience York App will be shown.

🕜 1.30pm
Introducing a forthcoming Truthtelling book
Nidja Boodjar Danjoo

Meet the Author, Dr Marion Kickett, talking about her book that recalls the experiences of Aboriginal people who lived on the York Reserve up to 1972.

Both projects proudly supported by the Government of Western Australia and the Shire of York.

11/05/2026

Yorkids Event
Gogulyar Bilya Environmental Discovery Centre
Cnr Glebe & Clifford Streets, entry from Clifford.
Saturday 30th May - 10am to 1pm
Yorkids can: Discover the world of WA’s unique wildlife. Interact with a range of native wildlife. Be inspired by the WA Wildlife Presenters.
FREE EVENT supported by Shire of York

03/05/2026

Carnaby’s Cockatoos in York. There have recently been sightings of a flock of approximately 30 Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos in the York townsite. The River Conservation Society is seeking to discover where Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos are obtaining water in York and surrounds. If you have a water trough, garden pond or other water feature on your property that they are visiting, or have visited recently, we would love to hear from you. If you have photos or film of them at the water that you would like to share with us, we would be very appreciative. Please email John Crook at [email protected]

Photo credit: © Andrew Allen CC BY 4.0 iNaturalist

03/05/2026

An entertaining and educational talk, "Solutions for dry gardens WA Annuals for pots, planters and paddocks" by Sue McDougall from WA Daisies was enjoyed by RCS members and friends on Saturday. Sue had a wonderful range of seeds, her special seed raising mix and seedling trays for sale which were quickly claimed by many in the audience. Now is a good time for seed planting and Sue's range of seeds can be found at https://wadaisies.com.au/
This event was made possible through Shire of York Community Funding.

17/04/2026

"Solutions for dry gardens
WA Annuals for pots, planters and paddocks"
A presentation and morning tea
$5 per person, FREE to River Conservation Society Members

Saturday 2nd May 10am
Gogulyar Bilya Environmental Discovery Centre
Cnr. Glebe & Clifford Streets York

There will also be a selection of seeds of WA native annuals for sale, perfect to plant in May for a colourful and wildlife friendly Spring garden.

Presenter: Sue McDougall
Sue served as Director of the Western Australian Botanic Garden for 4 years, leading a team of dedicated specialists devoted to conserving Western Australian flora. She has been answering gardening questions for over 30 years on talkback radio, presenting TV and writing for national publications. Sue is passionate about inspiring a gardening audience to appreciate their garden and outdoor areas and has a unique way of communicating technical gardening advice that can be understood by anyone. In the 2025 Kings Birthday Honours List Sue was awarded an OAM for services to Horticulture.

11/03/2026

Interested in our native eucalypts? You are invited to attend a talk and presentation on gimlet trees by Roger Underwood on Saturday 21st March at 10am at our environment centre. There will be morning tea and a chance to chat with Roger after the talk.

A forester, writer and historian, Roger has devoted his life to conserving and protecting WA forests. He will have his new book "York Gum" for sale at the talk ($20). He has previously given talks on our iconic York Gum so his talk this time will be on Gimlet trees, another one of our amazing Wheatbelt eucalypts.

An RSVP to [email protected] and a gold coin donation on the day would be appreciated.

20/02/2026

Large flocks of Corellas have serious environmental impacts that include a decline in tree health, a decline in abundance of native bird species and competition for nesting hollows. They also have the potential to increase the levels of nutrients entering watercourses via leaf/twig fall from defoliation efforts of the birds, erosion from digging into soil along riverbanks and depositing their droppings in roosts adjacent to water bodies. They also impact revegetation efforts by uprooting or sniping off newly planted seedlings. Corellas also have social and economic impacts, a report on Corellas in the Central Wheatbelt can be found through Wheatbelt NRM's webpage. Shire of York Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management Inc

Corella Management Notice

A coordinated corella management program will take place on Saturday 21 February, from mid-morning until dark.

Locations across shire owned and managed land.

Please see the notice below for details.

27/01/2026

Congratulations to our Chairperson John Crook who has received the Shire of York’s Community Citizen of the Year award for outstanding community contribution. John would like to say that this award belongs to all members of the RCS who assist in many ways to improve and protect York’s natural environment.

15/01/2026

We are delighted to be hosting at our Gogulyar Bilya Environmental Centre, a range of events on behalf of The York Festival for Ballardong First. Other events are being held at the Town Hall, Avon Park & Gallery 152. The full program and booking details for all Ballardong First events can be obtained from The York Festival webpage.

Events at the Gogulyar Bilya Environmental Centre:
Saturday 24th January
9am - 12pm - Ballardong Music Stick drop in workshop - FREE
1.00 - 3.00pm - Basket Weaving Workshop - TICKET REQUIRED

Sunday 25th January - Movie
2pm Journey Home, David Gulpilil - TICKET REQUIRED

Monday 26th January -
Talks & Truth Telling - FREE
10am - When the Roof Fell Away
Janet Osborne
Archaeology and History
Albany Campus, UWA

11.45am - Truth, Kinship and Care
Ann Hawke, CEO
Kinship Connections

1.30pm - The Black Pearle
Tracey Kickett & Audrey Narkle Nettle

3.15pm - Growing Up in York
Dennis Kickett

15/12/2025

Sunset over Gogulyar Bilya/Avon River after yesterday’s storms. We did not know of the tragedy unfolding at Bondi Beach when this photo was taken. We truly wish for peace on earth and goodwill towards all of earth’s people