March 6, 2016

Kokoda Lantana Weed Busters

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Bushcare, Bushwalks, Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve, Mt Gravatt Tracks, Pollinator Link | Tags: , , , , , |
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By: Michael Fox

Briefing time - 6 Mar 2016

Clean Up team sign-in

7am Sunday morning!

Site coordinator Heather Woods explained that an early start would avoid the heat and leave volunteers free for the rest of the day. After the team briefing, Heather deployed different groups:

The Kokoda Youth Foundation supports young Australians, inspiring them to do extraordinary things. We challenge their deeply held beliefs, allowing them to explore their limits and abilities, and provide them with opportunities for personal growth.It was an inspiration to meet and work with these young people.

Krista with Kakoda - 6 Mar 2016

Cr Adams with Kokoda Lantana Weed Busters

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Cr Krista Adams joined the Lantana Weed Busters learning more about our Bushcare work as well as taking the opportunity to meet some of Australia’s future leaders.

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Graham Quirk - 6 Mar 2016 low res

Lord Mayor Quirk with Clean Up team members

I had to opportunity to talk with Lord Mayor Graham Quirk as we cleaned up around the 2 Millionth Tree Planting at the Summit. I complemented the Lord Mayor on the Council support for our Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve. Now that Council officers lock the gate at night and clear up around the picnic area we have much less rubbish. Even the broken glass we were picking up seemed to be from older thin glass stubbies or older style beer bottles.

We also discussed the Pollinator Link project. I was proud to explain to the Lord Mayor of Brisbane that we now have our first first Certified Pollinator Link Garden in Sandgate and regular articles appear in Living in the Shires published by Harcouts Graceville. Now we just need to get our Council Parks meeting the Pollinator Link criteria with water for wildlife and nest-boxes.

Results - 6 Mar 2016

Clean Up success

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Clean Up success. Thirty volunteers scoured the Reserve and even with half working as Lantana Weed Busters there was still a huge pile of rubbish collected. Even a microwave dumped at Federation Lookout.

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Girl power - 6 Mar 2016 low res

Clean Up team sign-in

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However, I think the prize need to go to the Girl Power team who collected so much rubbish beside the road they had to return for extra bags and still struggled back to the Summit with two more full bags of rubbish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 6, 2016

Australia Day Green Heart Award

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Mt Gravatt Environment Group | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |
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Lord Mayor's 2016 Australia Day Awards

Laurie receiving Green Heart Award

By: Michael Fox

Mt Gravatt Environment Group was honoured on Australia Day with presentation of the Lord Mayor’s Green Heart Award – Organisation 2016.

 

 

 

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The award citation:

“Mount Gravatt Environment Group is dedicated to their local environment. Their mantra ‘bringing birds and butterflies back to suburbia’, is achieved by the careful planning and implementation of many projects within the local community including mountain and gully restoration and various flora and fauna projects. The group has been responsible for the rehabilitation of Fox Gully into a vibrant wildlife corridor.

The group works closely with other community organisations to ensure maximum outcome and benefits for Mount Gravatt.”

Laurie Deacon Family and Cr Adams

Cr Krista Adams, myself, Laurie and Sigrid with Green Heart Award

Our President, Laurie Deacon, Sigrid – representing the next generation, and I all attended the award ceremony. An impressive event held in City Hall and hosting an amazing group of individuals members who are giving their time generously to our community.

As with many community groups, the achievements acknowledged with this award are the combined efforts of many individual Mt Gravatt Environment Group members, as well as, some extraordinary community partners who provide support with training, equipment, plants, grant funding, research and boots on the ground. Thank you to:

 

 

 

 

October 1, 2012

Pick and shovel built a road up Mt Gravatt

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Mt Gravatt Outlook Development | Tags: , , , , , |
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Relief Worker road builders honoured

By: Michael Fox

Clare Boulter, President Mt Gravatt Historical Society, and Lord Mayor Graham Quirk have unveiled a plaque honouring the Relief Workers who first built what is now Mt Gravatt Outlook Drive. The plaque in the garden at Mt Gravatt Lookout was unveiled at a community event on 26 August.

The information for the plaque was researched by members of the Historical Society. The society publishes Mt Gravatt “Then and Now”, now including Volume 3 which covers stories and memories of long-term residents, who, by example and effort contributed to the establishment of modern-day Mt Gravatt.

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Cr Krista Adams introduced Lord Mayor Graham Quirk and Clare Boulter. Edited version of video taken by Mt Gravatt Historical Society.

Members of Mt Gravatt Historical Society with Lord Mayor Quirk & Cr Krista Adams

Quite spoken Clare has an amazing knowledge of our local European history. That knowledge is very valuable for understanding the changes that have occurred in the Reserve over the last hundred years. Knowledge of past land use helps in planning long-term restoration. For example, knowing that the forest was a timber reserve for railway building confirms our on-ground research that indicates average  tree age of around 100 years which explains the low incidence of nest hollows.

Second plaque with extracts from “Mt Gravatt Then & Now”

The second plaque with extracts from “Mt Then and Now” will be on display as well. Visit the Lookout look at the view over the city and port, read some history, go for a walk – keep an eye out for Koalas, then finish with a picnic or coffee at Echidna Magic.

 

February 14, 2012

2 Millionth Tree Planted on Mt Gravatt

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under BCC Action Plans, Fox Gully Bushcare, Mt Gravatt Outlook Development | Tags: , , , , |
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(l-r) Cr Ian McKenzie, Cr Norm Wyndham, Cr Krista Adams and Lord Mayor Graham Quirk

Brisbane achieved a milestone on Sunday 5 February 2012 when Lord Mayor Graham Quirk planted the 2 Millionth Tree at the Lookout picnic area on Mt Gravatt.

2 million trees! WOW!

Community volunteers starting on the next million trees

I am proud of what we have achieved with restoration of the two hectare Fox Gully Bushcare site. We have put in over 3,400 hours of community volunteer labour and we have planted just over 2,000 trees, grasses, herbs and vines. That is just 0.1% of 2 million, so I can truly appreciate what has been achieved by City Council teams, the contractors and volunteers right across the city.

Council and contractor teams

About thirty years ago I gained support of residents in Guthrie Street, Paddington and wrote to the City Council asking for street trees to be planted. I can now look at Guthrie Street on Google Maps and see those trees still growing and still providing shade  in our hot Queensland sun. Not every tree has survived thirty years. Some trees barely survived three weeks before being pulled up by vandals but the Council team persisted quickly replacing the damaged trees. The 2 Million Trees project has persisted against much bigger set-backs, like replacing trees lost in last year’s flood.

So I am now looking forward to another thirty years, watching 2 million trees mature and grow, right across the city.

 

January 23, 2012

Young Citizen of the Year and Lord Mayor’s Green Heart Award

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Bushcare, Fox Gully Bushcare | Tags: , , , , , , |
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(l-r) Michael, Lord Mayor Quirk, Sheamus

I was honoured on Friday night to join Sheamus O’Connor at the Cliff’s Cafe for the 2012 Lord Mayor’s Australia Day Awards.

Sheamus and I joined an inspiring group of Award winners honoured for their volunteer work after the January flood, protecting the Gateway Bridge from 150 metre section of the Riverwalk during the flood or helping disadvantaged people reconnect through a street soccer program.

Sheamus O'Conner, Young Citizen of the Year

The Lord Mayor honoured Sheamus, Mt Gravatt State High School Year 11 student, as Young Citizen of the Year for his passionate advocacy for the envirionment including his personal contribution to the restoration of Mt Gravatt Reserve. 2011 National Tree Day Sheamus led a team of fellow students and teachers in rehabilitating the degraded area at the entry to the Summit Track. Within an hour the area had been transformed from a barren wasteland into the makings of a great piece of wildlife habitat.

As a communty we can be proud to be represented by Sheamus who demonstrated his leadership style in his response to the Lord Mayor’s presentation.

(l-r) Michael, Cr Krista Adams, Sheamus

I was honoured to by presentation the Lord Mayor’s Green Heart Award in recognition of restoration work in the Fox Gully Bushcare area, flora and fauna research, ongoing community education with wildlife articles in Southside Community News and presentations at Mt Gravatt Men’s Shed and Griffith University Eco-Centre. The presentation of beautifully wrapped green watering can and tools added a nice bit of fun.

We particularly want to accknowledge the ongoing support Cr Krista Adams.