Dr Bernadette (Bernie) Schedvin

 

 

Many years ago Dr Mary Bernadette Schedvin (Bernie) recognised the need to work towards a sustainable natural environment. She believed in thinking globally and acting locally.

For Bernie, this objective was best achieved on the Peninsula by working within the Landcare organisation. In 2006 she volunteered to be the inaugural secretary for the Main Creek Catchment Landcare Group and later, while continuing in this position, she volunteered again, this time to be the inaugural secretary for the Mornington Peninsula Landcare Network in which she played a key developmental role. Her wise guidance of both these groups led to her becoming a strong and highly respected voice for Landcare on the Peninsula.

The Mornington Peninsula Landcare Network brought together the numerous Peninsula Landcare groups, strengthening the local Landcare organisation and leading to a shared vision for a sustainable Peninsula environment.

This vision included an important activity which Bernie helped to implement, namely a plan to link remnant patches of bushland across the entire Peninsula with wild life corridors, (Biolinks). The ongoing realisation of this plan is helping to preserve and enhance the diversity and health of indigenous flora and fauna and helping to protect a sustainable natural environment for generations to come.

Bernie’s Biolink connects the bushland of Greens Bush to bushland at Arthurs Seat (GB2AS). It travels through private land along Splitters Creek providing safe passage for wildlife and enabling their access to previously isolated patches of bushland.

Bernie promoted sustainable farming practices.

The revegetation along Splitters Creek and its tributaries (see image), provides a local increase in biodiversity, increased wind protection for stock and substantially improved agricultural productivity for participating properties.

Bernie’s Biolink from Greens Bush to Arthurs Seat consists of a main trunk of continuous vegetation following Splitters Creek (yellow), together with a number of secondary links (white dashed), and a Refuge Area (green dashed).

The secondary links connect to local large bush patches, and provide additional paths to the main bushland. Additional shelterbelts (not shown), provide minor local wildlife links together with improving agricultural productivity and resilience to drought.

The refuge area is a large patch of residual bushland along the main biolink that provides a resting place for species moving to and from the park areas.

Bernie’s vision, commitment and energy have led to significant positive changes to the environment of the Peninsula. However it is the memory of the quiet, kind, wise and generous manner in which she encouraged these practices that remains in our hearts.