“A big part of this project is connecting this native parkland with the wider community. It’s intended to be a shared space that we can all enjoy, so to have students from nearby schools be a part of this planting day really celebrates the true meaning of Nangak Tamboree,” Danny Reddan of the Darebin Creek Management Committee said on the planting day.
Nangak Tamboree translates to respecting/sharing/looking after the waterway in Woi-wurrung language of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people.
“It’s always great to have a chance to get out of the classroom and learn more about the world around us. This opportunity for our students to get their hands dirty and learn more about native vegetation and indigenous practices for maintaining the land has been invaluable.” Rosie of the Pavilion School said.
“It will also be great to revisit down the track to see how the plants have grown and know that we have been a part of that process of healing country that help protect the biodiversity and restore the culture of the area.”
La Trobe University has been working with Darebin Creek Management Committee, Melbourne Water and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Narrap Rangers (land care team) to restore the health of about 10 hectares of vegetation along Darebin Creek.
The last three years have mainly involved improving the health of Country through weed control and initiating a series of cultural burns to suppress weeds and promote the growth of indigenous flora. The process of cultural burning has already seen new growth of the critically endangered Matted Flax-lily.
The revegetation of Nangak Tamboree with 17,000 indigenous plants will contribute to a thriving biodiverse waterway corridor.
With much achieved in the project so far, it is great that La Trobe’s partnership with Darebin Creek Management Committee and Melbourne Water is set to continue for a further three years, from November 2023 until the end of 2026, with funding secured until that date. This is great news for the natural environment around our beautiful Melbourne Campus.
