What has happened in the past 3 months

A big thanks to Stephen, Madeline and Sam for helping Jackie replace 25 plants that hadn't survived from last October's planting.

Lions organized the annual “Tree Planting Day” close to Readings and managed to plant 300 shrubs.

June 6th was a wild and woolly day, and that's putting it mildly! But there were a few very brave souls who accepted the challenge. Amongst them were residents , not-so-local residents, Grade 5/6 from Mandama PS. and of course Tony Woolford who brought all plants,supplies and expertise with him . Fifty trees were planted in record time, due to previously prepared sites and teamwork! Remember, this was before the rains came and the earth was HARD! Fortunately for us, David G., who wasn't able to be there on the day, had during the previous week, loosened the soil by pick. Thankyou David, we would have been struggling in that wind for much, much longer, had it not been for your thoughtfulness. Working in pairs, one holding down all tools and buckets, while the other planted, we accomplished the plantings pretty quickly considering the circumstances. We survived and remarkably so did most of the plants! There is satisfaction in knowing that one day these trees will help create a wind break and bring some relief from strong prevailing winds. Thankyou Tony, Nuria, Andrew, Luis, William, Eva, Graham, David, Peter and Gr.5/6 Mandama. The next planting (Sept 20) will continue from that site, along the creek bank travelling northwards towards the shopping centre. This will assist stabilization of the eroded creek bank. Everyone is welcome to join us. Don't let the weather put you off, once you're out there, it's never as bad as what you think it would be, looking from the inside, out.

CVA are regularly working hard behind Winter Street clearing the banks, laying weed mat and mulch and planting poa grass.

Council are making huge improvements behind Winter and Bailey Streets, bulldozing unwanted vegetation, removing dilapidated fencing and even the old burnt out car body has gone! Culverts have been built over the sewer pipe to enable access of large trucks to continue this same work on the corner of Bailey Street. The rest of the year will see more weed removal ready for a HUGE planting in spring 2004.

THE MIGHTY 'F' GROUP !!! (Grove Road/Cobbin Farm area)

F Group at work planting

What will be happening in the next 3 months

CCMA have agreed to clean out the actual creek which is too dangerous for Friends to do.

Rotary, Mathew Flinders, Christian College (Junior) and Mandama have all organized their own planting days.

Seed Collection and Propagation

“… to recreate the creek as it used to be”

It has always been the intention for the Friends to collect indigenous native seeds along the creek, propagate them and plant them to recreate the creek as it used to be.

So this is about to happen, starting with information sessions to be held in November, collection of seed in December/January and propagating beginning soon after that.

It is important that you register before collecting seed to know what to collect, how much, how to store it and where to take it, as it is an offence to do so without a licence. We are allowed to use the resources at Barwon Community Nursery and a regular day will be set up on a weekly basis that Friends can volunteer their time to propagate the seeds. This way we will have a lot more plants at our disposal in the coming years to supply the increasing demand we are receiving from various groups to help replant the creek. Please phone Jackie to register your interest.

Birds observed over the last 12 months at 38°11'S 144°20'E

Lastly, but not leastly, thank you to our newsletter deliverers-Julie, Stephen, Madeline, Lionel, Lisa, Mickey, Graeme, Annette, Eric, Jessica, Eva, Pam, Kylie and Bob.