On the shortest day of this year, Sunday the 21 of June, the “Winter Solstice Hammer-in” is being held at the Upper Yarra Museum in Yarra Junction between 10am and 4pm.

This is the first event held at the museum that is totally dedicated to blacksmithing and is being run in support of “The Tree Project” with the Australian Blacksmiths Association. Supported by blacksmiths from around the world, the project is creating a stainless steel tree with copper and stainless steel leaves that will end up being located at the town of Strathewen, which was affected by the bushfires earlier this year.

To support the project you can sponsor a stainless steel leaf for $20 or a copper leaf for $40, with the option of also having a name engraved onto the leaf.

The entry fee into the museum for the day has been slashed and only requires a gold coin entry. Food will also be available on site.

This current re-design will greatly improve the way the site operates, especially with regard to the way that everything is listed and updated.

Unfortunately, while the first stage of this re-design is taking place no updates will be made to any of the site content…hopefully this won’t take to long.

From The Age website as provided by AAP.

Govt may starve Yarra to help Melbourne

The Victorian government is considering starving the stressed Yarra River of more environmental flows to improve Melbourne’s dwindling water supplies.

Water Minister Tim Holding said water authorities were looking at suspending flows from the Yarra and Thomson rivers if water storages continued to fall.

The government has already broken a 2006 pledge to release an extra 17 billion litres of water into the Yarra to supplement reservoirs.

Mr Holding said storages had dipped below 27 per cent capacity and it was vital to investigate contingencies.

With no sign of the drought easing, the government is desperate to shore up Melbourne’s supplies before a planned desalination plant is completed in 2011.

“While we have to see what inflows eventuate over the coming months, it is important that we understand the impact of suspending some environmental flows should one of these options be needed,” Mr Holding said.

“We are particularly conscious that the Yarra River has been under stress as a result of the recent bushfires and the ongoing drought. This will be carefully assessed as part of this process.”

Melbourne Water will examine the impacts of suspending flows on the Yarra River and the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority will examine the Thomson River.

The info below is from an email i recieved recently from the Festival Coordinator, Dhanesh Trimmer.

On behalf of the festival committee I would like to invite you to attend the Official Opening of the 2009 Upper Yarra Harmony Festival.

WHEN: Wednesday 25 March
TIME: 2pm – 3pm
WHERE: Warburton Mechanics Institute Hall – Upper Yarra Arts Centre (3409 Warburton Hwy, Warburton)

WHATS ON:

– There will we a Welcome to Country Ceremony by Aunty Joy Wandin Murphy.
– Cr Cox, the Mayor of the Shire of Yarra Ranges will officially open the event.
– There will be an appearance by ‘Sin Frontera,’ (No Frontier) who will delight us with there South American musical grooves.
– The Tashi Lhunpo Monks will commence the construction of the Sand Mandala with a special blessing ceremony and will invite Aunty Joy to lay the first sand of the Mandala.

This special event will begin 5 days of fun and exciting activates in and around Warburton to celebrate Harmony through community, music, visual arts, cultural development, interfaith dialogue, our connection with the environment and much more. (visit www.harmonyfest.org for more details.)

The official opening is open to one and all…the more the merrier :)

The tickets are well priced and its always an interesting event.

(disclamier: i’m currrently the Vice President of the society)

In addition all of the pages that display the sidebar items will also show a small weather icon that indicates the current weather and a prediction of what the weather might be like in the next hour or two. The prediction isn’t the most accurate prediction i’ve seen, but like i mentioned, this is a trial to see how well the whole system actually works.

Also due to the nature of the trial and specifically the currently used internet link, the weather updates will only occur when i am at the location. If it works out ok over the next month or two, the system wil be updated to provide updates more frequently.

I hope you find it useful :)

While both the North and South parts of the “Kilmore East – Murrindindi Complex” are still burning, they have both been marked as “contained” on the DSE website, and while the weather has no doubt played some part in this, the bulk of the thanks has to go to the ground and airbased firefighters that have done a great job preparing the area over the past few weeks.

Well done to all involved and its great see the lovely Upper Yarra Valley finally returning to normality.

YouTube link

Raymond Crowe is Australia’s only Unusualist. For those not in the know an Unusualist is a master of intricate shadow puppetry, dancing jackets, ventriloquism, world class magic and brilliant audience participation.

His signature piece ‘The Shadows’ has become an internet phenomenon with over one million hits worldwide and features his astounding and intricate hand shadows to the Louis Armstrong classic ‘What a Wonderful World’.

Raymond was the first ever Australian to perform on the now famous NBC TV Special – “World’s Greatest Magic”, he was Spicks and Specks favourite guest for 2007, and has since appeared on the Tonight Show with David Letterman and in front of the Queen at the Royal Variety Performance in London.

Popular with the public and his peers alike, Raymond’s exceptional performance at the 2003 World Magic Convention earned him a standing ovation from over 3000 magicians – arguably the toughest audience in the world!

His invitation to lecture and perform at the MAGIC LIVE! Convention in Las Vegas last year is a testament to his world class talent and outstanding capabilities.

Raymonds unique brand of light hearted comedy, mischievous ventriloquism and exquisite shadow puppetry will guarantee belly laughs and gasps of amazement to those of any age.

Date: Monday 23^rd of March 2009 at 8PM
Location: Upper Yarra Arts Centre, Warburton
Bookings: (03) 59665040
Tickets: Adult $34.90, Conc $29.90, Kids under 15 $24.90, Family (2 adults, 2 kids) $99

Awareness message as at 1.25pm, Tue 17 Feb, 2009

The current total fire size for the Kilmore East Murrindindi Complex South Fire is approximately 75,744 hectares.

CFA, DSE and Melbourne Water fire fighters together with crews from the Tasmanian, South Australian New South Wales and New Zealand Fire Services will be joined by United States fire fighters today.

The ongoing focus of Woori Yallock Incident Control Centre includes the protection of life, townships, key infrastructure water catchments and areas of cultural, heritage and environmental significance.

No communities within the complex are currently under threat however residents will experience varying levels of smoke and fire activity.

Maroondah
Fire activity is still present in the Mount Riddell and Mount Juliet areas east of Healesville and a spot fire that occurred early this morning is currently being worked on by crews to contain. Controlled burning within these areas will continue today and residents can expect smoke and flame activity from these fires and suppression strategies. No properties are currently under threat.

Controlled burning north and east of Toolangi and west of Narbethong will also continue today to suppress fire activity. Residents should expect smoke and flame activity in these areas however no properties are currently under threat.

Crews will further patrol and black out other areas within the Maroondah Region today.

Healesville Community Meetings
Queens Park – Thursday 19th & Sunday 22nd February at 6pm

Yarra
Fire activity is still present in the O’Shannassy, Armstrong and Upper Yarra Dam catchments north and east of Mc Mahons Creek, no properties are under threat from these fire.

Controlled burning within the O’Shannassy catchment will continue today. Fire fighters will further patrol and black out in the Armstrong and Upper Yarra Dam catchments in addition to a contained fire east of Big Pats Creek. Residents should continue to expect smoke and flame activity from these fires and suppression strategies.

Residents in the Yarra Valley including communities in the vicinity of Warburton, East Warburton, McMahons Creek, Reefton, Wesburn, Millgrove, Yarra Junction, Gladysdale, Powelltown, Launching Place, Don Valley, Hoddles Creek, Woori Yallock, Yellingbo, Seville, Wandin and McMahons Creek, may also be experiencing varying levels of smoke from these fires.

Warburton Community Meetings
Mechanics Hall – Wednesday 18th & Saturday 21st February at 6pm

MAROONDAH/YARRA COMPLEX FIRE

Maroondah
Alert message as at 7:45pm 14/02/09

Fire activity is present in the area of Mount Riddell and Mount Juliet, this fire has travelled up the slopes of Mount Juliet. No properties are under threat from this fire. Residents can continue to expect to see a significant amount of smoke and some flame activity from these fires.

There is potential that airborne ash may fall in and around the Healesville area, however ember impact is unlikely. Residents are advised to remain vigilant due to a high level of fire activity still in the area.

There is still fire activity in the Donnellys Weir area. The communities of Myers Creek Road, between Donnellys Weir Road and Trench Farm Road, Donnellys Weir Road, Maroondah Parade, Trench Farm Road and Road 15 are no longer under direct threat from this fire, but still need to remain alert, due to a high level of fire activity still in the area. Residents will continue to see smoke in this area.

Controlled burning on Myers Creek Road is progressing and will continue during the day, residents will continue to see smoke and controlled fire activity in this area.

Burning in the Yellowdindi Road in the Blackrange Road vicinity has been successfully completed. Crews will continue to patrol the area. Residents can continue to expect to see smoke and fire activity in this area.

Controlled burning in the Toolangi vicinity is creating smoke impact on variable locations, dependant on localised wind conditions. No properties are under threat from this activity.

Yarra
Awareness message as at 7:45am 14/02/09

The fire activity in the O�Shannassy and Armstrong Catchments area has decreased and is no longer posing a threat. The community of Reefton and Armstrong Creek should remain vigilant and aware of localised changes in conditions.

Fires continue to burn in the vicinity of the Upper Yarra Dam, and East of Big Pats Creek, 3kms South of East Warburton. Residents are advised these fires do not currently pose a threat to communities, but should remain vigilant and aware of localised change in conditions.

Residents in the Yarra Valley including communities in the vicinity of Warburton, East Warburton, Wesburn, Millgrove, Yarra Junction, Gladysdale, Powelltown, Launching Place, Don Valley, Hoddles Creek, Woori Yallock, Yellingbo, Seville and Wandin may be experiencing increased smoke from these fires.

Community Meetings are being held at:
Mechanics Hall, Warburton Hwy, off Thomas Ave, Warburton, Melways 290 B4, Tommorrow 15th February 2009 at 6.00pm