The plan for Thursday, 2nd November, is to wrangle the returning weeds in BW-32 and also BW-31 (if time and human resources permit). BW-32 is the area we took over from Council adjacent the Blacks Walk children’s playground abutting new park neighbours. Our sheet mulching there seems to be holding down the Wandering Trad that was rife in there (so far, so good).

Last Week

We didn’t have enough people last week to go back to FP-11 to finish off – but did get about 40 Carex planted – with thanks to Julie and Peter for water supply and delicious hospitality for refueling at morning tea time.

Conditions (last updated 07:00 2/11/2023)

Thunderstorm Asthma

The grass pollen season generally runs from October through to the end of December. During this season, many people experience an increase in asthma and hay fever and the possibility of thunderstorm asthma also arises.

Thunderstorm asthma is believed to be triggered by the combination of high amounts of grass pollen in the air, high temperatures, moisture and a particular type of thunderstorm. This can trigger severe asthma symptoms in some people including people who have not had asthma before. Melbourne experienced the world’s largest epidemic thunderstorm asthma event in November, 2016. Ten people, aged 18 to 57, died during or soon after the storm after developing severe breathing difficulties.

We’ve reinstated our monitoring of the Thunderstorm Asthma forecasts as part of our regular “conditions” monitoring for the next few months. We will also restart heatwave monitoring shortly too.

Weather

Rain: There’s a 5% chance of rain while we are working.
Storms/Weather warnings: None that affect us.
Wind: very mild strength SSE/SSW winds while we work.
Temperature: It should be a mild 11-16 degrees while we work.
UV: The sky should be cloudy – but the UV potentially ranging up to a possible >5 means we need our sun protection.
EPA Air Quality: Good.
Thunderstorm Asthma Forecast: Low/minor.

Risks to highlight

• Please bring water to maintain your hydration.
• Mozzies are about in shaded spots and still-ish air – best to have bare skin protected. We have repellent available.
• Wear appropriate clothes for the conditions – including a hat, long sleeves and closed-toe shoes.
• Hi-vis clothes/vests are recommended especially near the Garie Street road access to the car-park. Please take care when on the path to dump weeds etc.
• There are stumps, branches, lumps etc that may present trip hazards and eye-hazards under twiggy shrubs etc. We have some safety glasses in the PPE bag if you feel you need them.
• COVID, flu and RSV are still around – in fact, COVID cases have risen markedly. Please don’t come if you have any symptoms. We especially thank John D for his protecting us a couple of weeks ago – he had been notified that he was a close contact and did in fact become a case himself !
• No recent bull-ant incidents in BW-32 but there has been in BW-31 – so please be vigilant….

Apologies: Andy, Peter, Marlene, Megan, Nic and Graeme.

PS: You might like to visit Julie’s and her colleagues’ quilting show Unfolding at the Whitehorse Artspace gallery at the old Box Hill town hall – on show from 10/11 until 21/12.