Locals urged to march for forests

Victorians are urged to march for our forests at the Kyneton event being coordinated by the Bob Brown Foundation this Sunday.

Environmental campaigner Bob Brown is urging locals to join the Victorian ‘March in March for Forests’ taking place in Kyneton this Sunday and help call for an end to logging in our forests. 

The Kyneton march is one of nine forest marches set to take place across the nation on the day. 

The marches are coordinated by the Bob Brown Foundation, and Brown urges locals to “Rise up for native forests at a march near you”. 

“Right now, when we need forests the most, we are still destroying them,” Brown said. 

The local rally aims to highlight the importance of ending all logging in Victoria and calls for federal action to achieve a nationwide ban. Organisers say despite the Victorian government’s promise to end clear-felling as of January 1, 2024, logging by other names continues in the state, such as salvage logging. 

The march also calls for the large and regionally significant Wombat State Forest to become a National Park. The proposal for a new national park would permanently protect this habitat as a vital refuge for threatened and endangered species such as the greater glider and the rare mountain skink. 

The MC for the event will be Arj Barker and speakers will include Angelica Panopolous from the Victorian Forest Alliance, Allen Harvie from Wombat Action Group, Gayle Osbourne of Wombat Forestcare and Arlo Hill of School Strike for Climate Castlemaine. 

Organisers say that Australia’s native forest, the climate and forest-dependent wildlife are in a crisis, but believe that with action, there is still time to change it. 

The march begins at the Kyneton Memorial at 2 Baynton Street at 11am on March 24, and ends with a picnic at the Botanical Gardens with speakers and music. 

One artist supporting this cause is Peter Vadiveloo, a singer and songwriter based in Naarm, or Melbourne. Peter’s lyrics delve into a wide range of topics, and listeners have described them as political, funny, provocative, playful, moving and thought-provoking. His songs primarily revolve around environmental and social justice issues, highlighting his commitment to raising awareness and promoting positive change through his music. 

Hymn and Her will also be playing at the Botanical Gardens; the musical union of singer/songwriters David and Harmony Elias. Sharing original material, together they offer honest folk songs with soaring harmonies and lyrics for the soul. They have performed at events such as Maldon Folk Festival, SXSW, Kiama Jazz and Blues Festival, and played alongside artists such as The Teskey Brothers, Sarah Blasko and CW Stoneking. 

Groups supporting this event include Central Vic Climate Action, FoEM forests, Victorian Forest Alliance, School Strike for Climate, Wombat Forestcare, and Wombat Action Group.