Special News

17 hours ago

June 5 is World Environment Day, so here are some photos taken over the years by FOCIS members of aspects of Churchill Island's natural environment for you to enjoy. Churchill Island is now open for small numbers of visitors. Please see details in our previous post. The island is looking wonderful, so enjoy! ... See MoreSee Less

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3 days ago

Phillip Island Nature Parks are re-opening shortly - with limits in line with Victorian government regulations. Here's an update from PINP volunteer co-ordinator Rachael Ferguson and some specific Churchill Island information:

WE’RE REOPENING ON FRIDAY 5 JUNE!

I am very excited to confirm that the Board agreed yesterday that we will be re-opening three of our venues from Friday 5 June.

The Penguin Parade, Koala Conservation Reserve and Churchill Island will re-open to visitors with restricted capacity, while the Nobbies visitor centre and Antarctic Journey experience are slated to re-open later in June.

The plan allows for up to a maximum of 100 visitors outdoors at each site, with a maximum of 20 inside the visitor centres at any one time. Based on these numbers, we can confidently implement appropriate physical distancing, and maintain enhanced cleaning and hygiene practices across our locations to ensure our team and visitors remain safe. We have also established a number of physical distancing measures at each site which we will talk to you about throughout next week.

Churchill Island will continue to offer farm demonstrations, without giving visitors the opportunity to participate in any hands-on activities such as cow milking and whip cracking. We also cannot guarantee sheep shearing every day until we secure a regular supply of woolly sheep! The retail space will be opening and we will confirm food and beverage operations over the next few days. ... See MoreSee Less

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1 week ago

Did you know we are now in National Reconciliation Week? We would like to share with you a Youtube video made by Bass Coast's First Nation's peoples in conjunction with several groups in Bass Coast Shire, including the area's Reconciliation Group, and Phillip Island Nature Parks (managers of Churchill Island). This beautiful short video can be found here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dClQWEZEpuo&feature=youtu.be Our thanks to all involved. ... See MoreSee Less

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2 weeks ago

Thanks to Phillip Island Nature Parks volunteers' co-ordinator Rachael Ferguson for organising the zoom get togethers, including the one for Churchill Island volunteers yesterday. Farm worker Chloe Dann took us for a zoom tour around the public/historic area of the farm. We saw lots of our favorite animals, Rogers Cottage and Amess House, the Visitor Centre with its newly sanded and polished floors, repainted or reoiled buildings, picnic tables being revamped, new garden beds - so much happening while the public is absent!! Here's 2 recent photos from Visitor Experience Manager Kate Adams: the farm barn newly stained, and the Visitor Centre floor newly sanded and surfaced. ... See MoreSee Less

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