2026 Events Calendar
Please note that this is updated regularly with each new edition of Spikey Newsletter (schedule below), or as details such as booking information become available. See below the Events list for more specific upcoming event information, or click the Details link to go to Bookings.
Sailors Gully -Sunday 16th August 2026
Has two sites. One is in Woowookarung Regional Park, beside Dozed Track.
600 plants were planted in 2025 and a similar number are to be planted on Sunday July 12th 2026.
The other site is beside Lavery Ave, Mt Clear (map shown).
300 trees, shrubs and grasses were planted in 2025.
400 plantings will occur on Sunday 16th August 2026.
10am to noon.
Plantings will be beside the creek and along Lavery Avenue leading to Woowookarung Regional Park.
Soapy’s Dam - Sunday 23rd August 2026
Beside Elsworth St East, Canadian.
400 trees, shrubs and grasses were planted beside the dam in 2025.
This year further weed removal is planned with the planting of another 400 plants around the dam.
Plantings will occur on 23rd August.
School plantings
Students from Damascus College, Mt Clear College, Mt Rowan College and Woodmans Hill College planted 1700 trees, shrubs and grasses on the south side of Soapy’s Dam last year and will plant a similar number again this year.
Speaker: Dr Jane Fenelon. August 3rd
Turning the clock back - Advances in Bio Science to assist
endangered species. An evening with Monash University’s
Dr Jane C Fenelon on working with the fat-tailed
dunnart, the adorable (but feisty) model species
for thylacine de-extinction. Jane brings a wealth
of knowledge gained as a Researcher at Colossal
Biosciences Texas using genetic engineering and
reproductive technology for conservation biology.
Monday 3 August 2026 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Barkly Square Theatre
29 -35 Barkly Street, Ballarat East VIC 3350
Tickets $10. Students and children free, book here..
Opening of 10,000 Step Trail, August 5th
At Soapy’s Creek Bridge (No.11 on map) at 2pm.
Join MP Michaela Settle, Parks Vic, FoCC Friends and many others on August 5th at 2pm to open the 10,000 Step Trail at Soapys Ck Bridge.
For those that can, walk the trail in celebration!
The Trail
Walkers will start at Soapys Creek Bridge go up the Dementia Trail, visiting the Lookout, Grasstree Nature Trail, Amphitheatre, Baileys Track, Bunny Rail Trail, Penny Leaf Track returning via the newly completed section of track between Dozed Track and the Dementia Trail car park.
| Season About the Seasons | Spikey Issue Date |
|---|---|
| Mid-summer | End of January |
| Late summer | End of March |
| Autumn / Early Winter | End of May |
| Deep Winter | End of July |
| Early Spring | End of September |
| Spring / Early Summer | End of November |
About the Wadawurrung Seasons
Each Bird of the Month edition aligns with one of the six seasons recognised by the Wadawurrung people. These seasons reflect the deep relationship between Country, climate, plants, animals, and the cycles of change across the landscape.
| Season | Spikey Issue Date |
|---|---|
| Mid-summer | End of January |
| Late summer | End of March |
| Autumn / Early winter | End of May |
| Deep winter | End of July |
| Early Spring | End of September |
| Spring / Early summer | End of November |
These seasonal markers help guide ecological understanding and reflect the rhythms of Wadawurrung Country — from flowering plants and animal movements to weather patterns and cultural practices.