For the past 5 years the Tarrangower Cactus Control Group (TCCG) has received funding from the Mt. Alexander Shire Council to provide free disposal of Wheel Cactus plants at the Maldon Transfer Station. This is to make it easier and encourage our local community members to manually dig up and…
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Lee and Costa at Vic Weed Conference in Echuca Cactus warriors Ian and Lee have just returned home after attending the Victorian Weed Society conference, held in Echuca. Both thought it was an excellent event. “There was a really broad range of topics covered” said Ian, “we heard about new…
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Our very own Cochineal bug in the Maldon Easter parade. Our next Field Day will begin the new Tarrangower Cactus Control Group project, with thanks to Landcare Victoria for funding. This project will involve introducing a new biocontrol tool, the Cochineal insect, and establishing a new multi-pronged strategy to destroy…
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Cochineal insects growing on a Wheel Cactus plant. The Tarrangower Cactus Warriors are slowly emerging from their summer hibernation (i.e. holiday) and planning has begun for this year's new project. The group has funding from Lancare Victoria (via North Central Catchment Management Authority) to introduce new integrated management plans to…
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Froggett Awards 2018 certificate - Tarrangower Cactus Group It was announced today the the Tarrangower Cactus Control Group has won the Froggatt Award 2018 for the category of Control and Eradication. This is a National award presented by the Invasive Species Council in honour of Walter Froggatt, who in the…
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Guest speaker Greg Lefoe informs the cactus warriors about the wonders of biocontrol. The Tarrangower Cactus Control Group sincerely thanks all our community members, volunteers and landowners, who have helped us to destroy many more Wheel Cactus plants during 2018. Whatever your contribution, cooking delicious food or injecting plants, it…
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Fellow Cactus Warriors Have you seen the latest issue of RACV's Royal Auto magazine? It contains an alarming article promoting the sale and cultivation of cacti! Online here: https://indd.adobe.com/view/e082e5e2-b0a2-40f6-ac67-487a06376210 We will send a letter to the editor with some facts and a photo, from Tarrangower Cactus Control Group. We're sending…
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Our last Community Field Day for this year is on Sunday 28th October, starting at 10:30am. Come and join us for a morning in the fresh air and learn how best to destroy Wheel Cactus. The location is 142 Whitlock’s Rd., Maldon. To get there, follow South Parkins Reef Road…
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National Landcare Community Group Award 2018 The Tarrangower Cactus Control Group was awarded the Victorian Fairfax Media Landcare Community Group Award in 2017 and so automatically became the Victorian State representative in the National award this year. Four members of the group (Lee, Ian, Tony and Jan, all long term…
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TCCG's current & past Presidents Lee & Ian at Government House receiving the Victorian Landcare Fairfax Community Group 2017 Award Last September the Tarrangower Cactus Control Group volunteers were declared the Victorian Landcare Fairfax Community Group of 2017. As a result, we will be representing Victoria at the 2018 National…
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29 July 2018 Poster Our next Community Field Day is on Sunday 29th July, starting at 10:30am. Come and join us for a morning in the fresh air and learn how best to destroy Wheel Cactus. The location this month is in Cook’s Lane, about 5 kms north of Maldon.…
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Thanks to ongoing funding from Mount Alexander Shire Council, the Tarrangower Cactus Control Group has been able to provide free loans of injector kits to many local landholders over the past 12 years. This has been a strong incentive to control Wheel Cactus on private properties and to be a…
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Cactus warriors in the 2018 Maldon Easter parade. Our stunning crow float, spreading seed (Easter eggs) over the crowd Congratulations to the Tarrangower Cactus Control Group 'cactus warriors' who entered another fantastic float in the annual Maldon Easter Parade, and won the 'Best Community Entry' award - again! This year's…
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This excellent example of before- and after-injection treatment of a Wheel Cactus infestation was at a property in Waterson's Road. (Photos courtesy of D. Gibson) It may seem difficult to believe sometimes, but the Wheel Cactus invasion can be defeated. This is thanks to many volunteers and landowners, contractors and…
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Wheel Cactus seeds are most commonly spread by crows (Australian Ravens) eating the luscious red fruit and later flying to a nearby tree to digest and excrete the seeds. So, the plants very easily spread from property to property, to parks and native bush, with no regard to fence lines…
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