News

A double Australia Day honour for Dandenongs legend

KALLISTA environmental activist Betty Marsden received a double honour this Australia Day - the Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia and the Mayor’s Lifetime Achievement Award from Yarra Ranges Council.
Mrs Marsden, a former councillor at the Shire of Sherbrooke, has been the president of the Save the Dandenongs League for the past 23 years.
From the 'FreePress Leader' by Kimberley Seedy

Yellingbo State Emblems Park proposal - AGM 2011 guest Jeff Latter

Jeff Latter from the Woori Yallock Creek Park Alliance gave an illustrated talk about the proposal to create the Yellingbo State Emblems Park.
This proposal which covers 2,200 hectares on Melbourne’s fringe will link the Dandenong Ranges to the Bunyip State Park and the Yarra Ranges National Park through means of existing public land, which includes Nature Conservation, Bushland and Streamside Reserves. It will be the only location where all three of our terrestrial emblems, namely the Helmeted Honeyeater, Leadbeater’s Possum and Pink Heath are to be found while Yellingbo recognises the name of the last known Aboriginal person, hence the name Yellingbo State Emblems Park.

60th Birthday Celebrations - October 2010

The 60th Birthday of Save the Dandenongs League Inc. was held in October, 2010, at Karwarra Australian Plant Garden, Kalorama. About 40 people attended on a fairly cold day including two of our Yarra Ranges councillors, Cr Samantha Dunn and Cr Noel Cliff, whose Wards cover most of the Dandenong Ranges.  Betty Marsden, as President, welcomed those in attendance including Shire Councillors and also read a list of Apologies. She indicated that a number of former committee members would give some reminiscences of the League in earlier times.

Recollections on the 60th Birthday of The Save the Dandenongs League

My wife and I live in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges at the gateway to the beautiful Lysterfield Valley, in the home that we created 60 years ago and where we still live.  I first became involved with the save the Dandenongs League when a group of local residents opposed the development of yet another basalt-rock quarry in that valley.  There was already a plethora of quarries in the area – one at Upper Ferntree Gully and another in Lysterfield.  With help from the Save the Dandenongs League we managed to overcome the proposed new quarry, some councillors lost their seats, and Sherbrooke Council became more environmentally friendly.

Presidents Page 2009

We have been involved in a number of issues throughout the year 2008. However, the small number of committee members has at times limited our activities. The first two items below are wins and the second two are losses.
SHIRE OF YARRA RANGES HOUSING STRATEGY
BACK PACKERS HOSTEL PROPOSAL, MONBULK
HISTORIC STAIRCASE, LILYDALE
MONBULK COMMUNITY HUB

Presidents Page 2007

We have reached the fiftieth edition of our newsletter which we currently call “Greenprint”. This has grown from very humble beginnings, nearly thirty years ago, to a more substantial version that we have today. It includes articles, press releases and photographs about the Dandenongs, and feedback from our readers suggests that many people enjoy its contents. Carolyn Ebdon has now taken on the task of being editor and is doing a fine job, following in the footsteps of Betty Hotchin who enhanced the publication with her own distinctive style.
Application for the “Castle” in Olinda.
The Warburton Trail.

Presidents Page 2006

Firstly I apologise that the League only managed to produce one newsletter last year (No. 48).  We are hopeful that this situation may improve later this year.  We have a fairly small Committee and most of its members are still in the work-force which makes their time to help us very limited. Nevertheless we have met fairly regularly during the past year and continued to monitor Shire Council agendas, local papers, respond to letters, telephone calls, e-mails etc. and attend meetings on behalf of the League.  I wish to thank most sincerely the office-bearers and members of the Committee for their support and various contributions over the year.

Birdsland 21st Birthday Celebration
Cr. Robyn Hale

May Moon MBE

May Moon together with Prof. John Turner called a public meeting in October 1950 that was attended by 200 people. Save the Dandenongs League was formed at that meeting. She was the league's secretary for 27 years.

Dandenong Ranges News - June 1973

DR-News page1
Official newsletter of the Save the Dandeongs League
Tree Planting ceremony celebrating the official opening of Kalorama Park on Sunday April 29th.
Official Vandalism 1973 - Once again Olinda village has been attacked by a team of Council employees wielding chain saws.