This photograph was taken on Friday the 27th of August 2004 as part of an event called 'Direct Seeding Expo'. This event was one of many held by the Wooragee Landcare Group in the early 2000s which aimed to educate the local community on certain agricultural and biodiversity conservative techniques. This particular event took place at the property of Lisa and Marcus O'Connor in Wooragee. This photograph shows a demonstration being given on a Hamilton Tree Seeder (a soil ripper). This machine is used to loosen tough, compact soil in order to prepare it for the planting of seedlings.This photograph is significant as it provides evidence of a project undertaken by the Wooragee Landcare Group in the early 2000s to educate members of the public on alternative and potentially more efficient methods of planting seedlings. The Wooragee Landcare Group has been instrumental in the co-ordination of programs relating to biodiversity protection in the local area, providing great assistance to landholders.Portrait coloured photograph printed on gloss paperReverse: WAN NA EONA2N2. ANN+ 2 4240 / wooragee, wooragee landcare group, marcus and lisa o'connor, direct seeding expo, direct seeding, seeding, seedlings, soil ripper, soil ripping, ripper, hamilton tree seeder, alternative planting, seeding methods

This photograph was taken on Friday the 27th of August 2004 as part of an event called 'Direct Seeding Expo'. This event was one of many held by the Wooragee Landcare Group in the early 2000s which aimed to educate the local community on certain agricultural and biodiversity conservative techniques. This particular event took place at the property of Lisa and Marcus O'Connor in Wooragee. This photograph shows farmer and Greening Australia Project Officer James Scholfield giving a demonstration on the Hamilton Tree Seeder (a soil ripper). This machine is used to loosen tough, compact soil in order to prepare it for the planting of seedlings. This photograph is significant as it provides evidence of a project undertaken by the Wooragee Landcare Group in the early 2000s to educate members of the public on alternative and potentially more efficient methods of planting seedlings. The Wooragee Landcare Group has been instrumental in the co-ordination of programs relating to biodiversity protection in the local area, providing great assistance to landholders.Landscape coloured photograph printed on gloss paperReverse: WAN NA EONA2N2. NNN 0 4240 / lisa and marcus o'connor, direct seeding expo, direct seeding, seedlings, seeding methods, wooragee landcare group, wooragee, james scholfield, greening australia project, hamilton tree seeder, soil ripper, ripper

This is a Grade V Arithmetic book used by George Bonnett at Allans Forest School. The Bonnett family farmed in the Mepunga area on the Childers Cove Road. The Allans Forest State School, number 1086, was established in 1871 and closed in 1993. The first Head Teacher was Mr Bradhurst. The school closed in 1903 and re-opened in 1905 as a half-time school with Mepunga East and in 1908 it resumed as a full time school. This book is significant because it was used by George Bonnett at the Allans Forest State School and is a memento of both the Bonnett family of Mepunga and the Allans Forest State School, a school no longer existing. It is also of antiquarian interest as an example of arithmetic school text books used early in the 20th century. This is soft cover book of 128 pages. The cover is grey with black print and black lines around the edges of the front cover. The book has a prefatory note, arithmetical exercises and advertisements for other school text books published by Whitcombe and Tombs. The cover is torn and soiled and partly ripped away. There is handwriting in black ink on the first page.‘George H. Bonnett, Allans Forest State School’bonnett family, mepunga allans forest state school history of warrnambool

During the Great Depression from 1929 to 1932, rabbit trapping was a means of survival for many people. Rabbits provided meat and pelts which were sold for making felt hats such as the Akubra. Rabbit populations are controlled in the 21st century by poisoning, destroying or 'ripping' burrows (warrens), biological control with rabbit haemorrhagic disease and myxomatosis, and by shooting. Rabbit-proof fences also prevent the spread of rabbits into some areas. (ref. Powerhouse Museum) Steel-jawed rabbit traps were widely used in urban and rural Australia from 1880 to 1980. This trap is symbolic of the battle that Australians have waged against burgeoning rabbit populations for over a century. Rabbits cause enormous damage to Australian soils and biodiversity. The introduction of rabbits to this country was an environmental disaster.Two iron rabbit traps. Each consists of a pair of jaws held closed by spring tension and a triggering mechanism. When the trap is triggered the jaws close over the top of the bridge, plate and tongue mechanism that is designed to trigger the trap. A chain is attached by a hook on the bent end of the trap's spring with a long steel spike looped over the last link of the other end of the chain. The trap is designed so that the metal jaws snap shut against each other when the trap is activated by the application of weight to the pressure plate. In use, traps are set with open jaws, buried lightly just below the surface of the earth. When an animal steps on the pressure plate, the jagged teeth of the jaws snap around the animal's leg, usually breaking bone and sinew. Thus the animal is immobilised.rabbits rural trapping

During the Great Depression from 1929 to 1932, rabbit trapping was a means of survival for many people. Rabbits provided meat and pelts which were sold for making felt hats such as the Akubra. Rabbit populations are controlled in the 21st century by poisoning, destroying or 'ripping' burrows (warrens), biological control with rabbit haemorrhagic disease and myxomatosis, and by shooting. Rabbit-proof fences also prevent the spread of rabbits into some areas. (ref. Powerhouse Museum) This trap was used in the Orbost district. Steel-jawed rabbit traps were widely used in urban and rural Australia from 1880 to 1980. This trap is symbolic of the battle that Australians have waged against burgeoning rabbit populations for over a century. Rabbits cause enormous damage to Australian soils and biodiversity. The introduction of rabbits to this country was an environmental disaster.A rusted iron rabbit trap which consists of a pair of jaws held closed by spring tension and a triggering mechanism. When the trap is triggered the jaws close over the top of the bridge, plate and tongue mechanism that is designed to trigger the trap. A chain is attached by a hook on the bent end of the trap's spring with a long steel spike looped over the last link of the other end of the chain. The trap is designed so that the metal jaws snap shut against each other when the trap is activated by the application of weight to the pressure plate. In use, traps are set with open jaws, buried lightly just below the surface of the earth. When an animal steps on the pressure plate, the jagged teeth of the jaws snap around the animal's leg, usually breaking bone and sinew. Thus the animal is immobilised. rabbit-trap rural