Sunday 4 October 2015

Celebrating 20 years of land caring and community spirit

The Progress Association is planning two special social events in November to celebrate the local landcare achievements and the community spirit that it supports. 
Everyone is welcome to attend both events.  
Twenty Years On Trivia Tournament 
On Friday night November 20 there’ll be a trivia tournament to celebrate two decades of local landcaring and fostering community spirit. 
This social event will be hosted by local Trivia Talent Tony Parrott. You can have a table of 2 or 10, it’s BYO nibbles and drinks. The emphasis will be on having fun and socialising and it’s an opportunity to gather up some friends for the festive season’s familiarities. There’ll be local questions, not so local questions, a few games and lots of laughter. 
The doors will be open from 6:00pm to get settled and social with the Trivia running from at 7-9ish pm.
To secure your table RSVP with the number of people on your table on facebook, by email coalpointprogress@gmail.com 

20 years of local landcaring BBQ
On Thursday 19th November a special lunchtime landcare BBQ will be held in Gurranba Reserve, the location of the 1st landcaring adventure all those years ago. 
Invitations will be going out but if you’ve ever been involved in local landcaring, on a reserve or in your own backyard we’d love to share the luncheon fare with you. The local environment is more biodiverse and beautiful thanks to your efforts. 

Of course if you’re interested in landcare and want to see what all the fuss is about or if you want to show your appreciation for the effort that the landcare crew have made you are most welcome to come along as well. RSVP for catering purposes on Facebook or by email coalpointprogress@gmail.com 

Time flies when you’re having fun and this blast from a past Chronicle seems like only yesterday. 
Chronicle Issue #72- December 1995Regenerators Run riot at GurranbaNovember 12, 9am. After Wilson’s mid week scouting mission had proved successful the scene was set for a dawn raid on Gurranba. The pre-emptive strike by Sam meant the enemy was unsuspecting and taken completely by surprise and The Regenerators did their deeds. 
They stormed the slopes, they crawled where others feared to tread, they took on the challenge and they succeeded. No Lantana too rooted, no Privet too private, no Asparagus fern was safe from the scrutiny and secateurs of The Regenerators. 
When the going got tough, we got tougher, the Alf-mobile was manoeuvred with all the skill that only rigorous training can provide. Jungle Jim defying the seemingly impenetrable Lantana securing rope after rope with teammate Ted, to rid the reserve of this invader, with Deric and Debbie forever vigilant.Then it happened…a surprise attack inflicted upon the unsuspecting Harry, a frontal assault more savage than any we had encountered, but in the true spirit of The Regenerators he brushed it off, smiled and continued to attack from the flanks, a credit to us all. 
Enveloped by the Lantana and thought missing in action, Betty and Arthur were seen to emerge victorious in their efforts to save the downtrodden and overgrown. Rescued, a struggling wattle whose demise would’ve been immanent as the Bitou Bush scaled the slopes. Rescued, a small gum struggling under the siege of Lantana. Rescued, some really beautiful little purple flowers whose identity remains a mystery. No amount of care was too much to save those that had struggled for so long. 
And just when the Lantana thought it would survive, a few shoots at the ready to sprout, Eileen and her trusty secateurs snipped off any such intentions. Fiona scouting the perimeter for any escapees, finished off many an isolated Bitou Bush and lone Lantana. The slopes scaled and scrutinised by Brian and John meant that the weed invasion had taken a serious blow. 
The Regenerators are a credit to us all. Although their numbers were few, 15 to be exact, we did make a difference, and afterwards, muscles a glow and satisfaction abounding, it was just really great to be a part of it. 
But there is still more to do, there is still more Lantana and there are plants to identify, trees to plant, garden beds to make… there’s something for everyone.
Whilst several of the original Regenerators have now fallen, their legacy lives on. 

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