History, grasslands discovered at Tarwin
THE Tarwin Landcare group visited the local cemetery to learn more about the area’s history and grasses recently.
Ken and Marg Fisher, whose family have looked after the Tarwin Lower cemetery for generations, shared with the group stories of those resting in the cemetery including many notorious individuals, local families and early settlers.
Mr Fisher still looks after the cemetery to this day.
Local Landcarer Michael Buckley also shared his passion for the area’s native grasses, and delighted the group by pointing out rare indigenous grasses and shrubs.
“The cemetery is renowned for its orchids appearing in late winter/early autumn,” he said.
“They are commonplace, as the cemetery has not experienced grazing since 1888.”
Mr Buckley took the group around the cemetery pointing out many rare and precious grass and shrubs.
“Native grasses are very important, such as those found at the cemetery. To support one tree there will be 10 mid-story shrubs and 100 grasses,” he said.
The history of the area was also revealed at the cemetery. There are a number of family burial areas in the cemetery which tell a great story of farming in the area.
Farmer John Box shared his memories of the Black family.
“The Blacks and McMicking families have been very important to the local community,” he said.
“The Black family ran an enormous milk enterprise at Tarwin Meadows and was a major employer in the area.”
The group was impressed by the enormous monument to the Black family.
Farmer Marjorie Pearson talked of the Cashin family and showed the group local Granny Cashin’s grave, an important local farmer and the namesake of the creek in Middle Tarwin.
Today the cemetery remains divided into the Presbyterian, Church of England, and Catholic denominations.
In the 1900s the first set of identified trustees covered all of these denominations: Archibald Black (Presbyterian), William Cashin Jr (Presbyterian), William Fisher (Church of England), Harold Webster (Church of England) and Archibald McCaughan (Catholic).
The evening ended at the café the Cavity in Venus Bay, where the group continued to reflect on the past and tell stories.
Mr Buckley had grown several native plants, including the beautiful Tarwin Lily, which he gave to every member to take home.
Next year the group plans to continue to learn from the past and will look at local aboriginal history at Liptrap and the changing attitude to Landcare at the property of group president, Rod Cope.
For more information on Landcare in South Gippsland contact Jenny O’Sullivan on 0419 153 377.
Passionate speaker: Michael Buckley shares his love of native grasslands.
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Posted by brad on Dec 30 2014. Filed under Rural News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
