In the field of native plant propagation, cultivation, and preservation, the late Bill Cane was a towering presence, a brief history of Bill’s life can be accessed here. For some time now, preparations have been under way to establish in the Sale Botanic Gardens, a large bed featuring a collection of plants associated with Bill, and on the fourteenth of September 2022, on a sunny day, Bill’s family and a large gathering of native plant enthusiasts attended the public presentation of the garden and the unveiling of the commemorative plaque.

Following addresses by the Manager of Natural Environment and Parks, Tim Rowe,

and the Wellington Shire Mayor, Ian Bye,

Son Bill Cane junior gave the gathering an entertaining picture of his father’s many skills and exploits from a life devoted to native plants, their propagation, and preservation.

Son David then spoke about the making of the garden, the collection of the plants, propagation problems, and the successful completion of a garden bed that will feature flowering plants throughout the year.

Click garden pictures to enlarge.

The plaque was then unveiled by Bill’s children, Bill, David, Anne, and John, and following a presentation to the family, everyone present was treated to lunch and the gift of a native plant with which to remember the occasion.

A notable life remembered in a manner with which Bill would have thoroughly approved.

The Maffra Diversion Weir.

Prior to this weir being built in 1954, the Macalister River below Lake Glenmaggie was still in a largely natural state, with deep pools, shallows, and sandbars, and home to thriving populations of Tupong, River Blackfish, Short-finned Eels and other native fish. With the weir effectively preventing upstream migration, the Tupong in particular suffered, and in subsequent years virtually disappeared from this reach. Tupong spawn in the estuaries, and juvenile fish then make their way upstream to populate suitable habitat. The West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority is doing excellent work coordinating environmental flows down the Macalister to suit the spawning habits of various species of native fish, and a recurring item at meetings of the Environmental Water Advisory Group has been the need for a fish passage at the weir to once again allow upstream migration of these fish.  Happily the Victorian Government has agreed to fund the fishway, and on the eleventh of August, 2022, the Water Minister, Harriet Shing  visited the weir to announce the funding.

The project will be overseen jointly by the WGCMA, and Southern Rural Water who control the weir. This will allow a further thirty four kilometres of the Macalister to once again be home to Tupong and other native fish that move along the river.

A few kilometres upstream from the weir lies Bellbird Corner Riverside Reserve, where for twenty years a small group of volunteers has been revegetating former grazing land and restoring habitat for native flora and fauna. The return of these native fish to this stretch of the river will be another step in the important process of restoring the natural ecosystem of this beautiful small riverside reserve.