Steve Murphy presented at our two university visits that fell in the first part of 2025. Federation University has come for 15 years straight as lecturer Singarayer  Florentine noted (and he's been with them all that time!). Florry remarked that it gives his mine and land rehabilitation students a totally different perspective than the 'economic' driver behind most forestry plantations.

Both field days had about 20-30 students. Steve  played his animist game again, where he shanghais students into playing a range of animals declaring what sort of habitat they like. Most of the students are enthusiastic, getting into their role by deploying funny voices.

Lachie presented at his drop slab hut. He has developed a range of props now that demonstrate the mortise and tenon process used.

The site is very dry but holding up well. The Lal Lal Falls have dried up as you can see below.

This was one of the most enthusiastic student groups we've ever had. Lots of questions and even a volunteer for our next bird survey. One of the students asked if she could revisit – Roger is going to take that on. Another student suggested we explore boring holes into trees to make artificial hollows, which solves insulation problems.


Steve's animist game was taken up with gusto. It engages the students and the performers make a real attempt  to channel their animal whether a pardelote or an antechinus. One 'lizard' chose a slow, Texan drawl.

Forest Systems field trip organiser, Dr Antanas Spokevicius,  has brought  30 Melbourne University students back yet again to our unique site in terms of planation models. Only ImLal prioritises biodiversity over economic and social values, he continues to assert.

Johann Van Der Merwe, the new GM of SUVO Minerals for its Victorian operations, welcomed the students at the gate. He is keen for us to look at ways of expanding beyond our 15ha to take up more of the 147ha kaolin mining buffer zone.

Biorich site designer, Steve Murphy, added a dash of animism into his presentation. He even included some role playing where four students were called on to channel the 'wants' of a lizard, pardalote and antechinus, so the students might empathise with the needs of other than humans. The students seemed more engaged than they usually are, so it's a strategy worth pursuing. 

​Lachie Park had some new props for explaining how he built the drop slab hut.

As we completed our short tour of the site, one student remarked to me that if she was animal, she'd like to live at ImLal. Steve seems to have struck a chord.
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Antanas brought 20 students to ImLal as part of his annual Forest Systems Field Trip on 24 February, 2022.

A few weeks later, 'Florry' Florentine from Federation University led his annual trip of land rehab and ecological restoration students to ImLal.

Both remarked on how "unique" our site remains, marrying both conservation and production.

We noted that three of the sequoia are now topping their guards!

Lecturer, Antanas Spokevicius, brought another  31 students back to ImLal in March 20121. He said of last year's visit: "This was a real highlight for the class and they absolutely loved it. Some have even been inspired to undertake careers in forest management – I know of one students who is now on fire crew for the summer purely based on this experience."

​This year the students were able to hear craftsman Lachie Park explain the process of building the 21C drop slab hut. He revealed how for him as a woodworker it had been a real eye-opener. "Most woodworkers are disconnected from the source of the wood they use. I've learnt the importance of provenance, of taking a more place-based approach." 

Some students were puzzled at the high-tech upgrades as though the approach ought to totally retrieve lost arts of the past. But this not a "hippy hut."  As the '21C' in its title implies, this is a 21st century reframing of the traditional drop slab hut, making it fit-for-purpose for a more sustainable future. 

We now have two lots of students visiting ImLal from the University of Melbourne. Dr Antanas Spokevicius included ImLal on a Forest Systems field trip comparing different sorts of forestry management. Some 30 Forest Sciences students listened to Steve Murphy present on the design principles behind a biorich plantation on 27 February, 2020.