Rushworth Field and Game spreads conservation work to Girgarre

By Jemma Jones

Mar 29, 2025

Boxes painted and ready to be installed. Pictured are Charlie Cerchi, George Weeks, Graeme Wall and Geoff Hawking. Photo: Rushworth Field and Game Photo by Contributed

Hot off its win at the Campaspe Citizen Awards, the Rushworth Field and Game Club is putting its title as Community Group of the Year to good use.

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The club is expanding its conservation initiatives, extending its reach to Girgarre by strategically installing nesting boxes throughout the town.

In early March, the group carefully placed 12 nesting boxes for parrots and sugar gliders along the Girgarre-Stanhope Rail Trail, the Memorial Walk and near the soundshell in the Gargarro Botanic Gardens, providing safe havens for local wildlife.

The boxes will be monitored by the club over the coming months to see if the populations of parrots and sugar gliders increase.

Conservation officer Graeme Wall said “it was good” to work alongside the Girgarre rail trail committee to set up the boxes.

Member Charlie Cerchi installs the parrot box in Girgarre in an effort to increase breeding in the area. Photo: Rushworth Field and Game. Photo by Contributed

He said the Rushworth club was an active participant in the Hollow Replacement Program, which Field and Game Australia runs, which provides nesting areas for wildlife on trees that haven’t developed hollows for nesting.

“At Rushworth, we are committed to promoting our projects,” Mr Wall said.

“Results are continually monitored for success and failures.”

Along with hunting and clay target shooting, the club is passionate about conservation work in the wetlands around Rushworth and has enjoyed success breeding brolgas in the area.

The club has had help from other conservation groups and field and game clubs, including the Strathallan Landcare Group, which donated sugar glider boxes for the Girgarre project.