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First working bees for 2017

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We trust you’ve all had a wonderful break! Let’s launch the new year with an assault on the many weeds that have proliferated due to our recent humidity and storms. The weeds definitely did not take a break!

Planning is underway for this year’s working bees. These events are vital to protect and revitalise our creeks but they also offer some wonderful conversations and camaraderie! The McKay Brook Bushcare Group, shown below, is testament to this!

Click here to see what’s in store for January 2017.

 

Cottage Talks 2017

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Members! Place a cross on your 2017 calendars on the third Thursday of each month as a reminder to attend our Cottage Talks!

 A wide range of new topics will be covered in this year’s program, co-ordinated by Dale Borgelt. 

Click here for more info.

Mannikins in Brisbane

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Have you ever seen a Chestnut-breasted Mannikin?

These beautiful chestnut brown finches can be seen in long grasses and lantana thickets near water across Northern and Eastern coastal Australia, including right here in Brisbane. They eat grass seeds, usually from the stalk rather than taking them from the ground.

Click here to learn about these interesting little birds in Jim Butler’s first issue of “Feather Fascination” for 2017. Jim’s article includes a stunning photo supplied by Ed Fraser which shows a Mannikin feeding from a grass stalk.

Weeds don’t take holidays!

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Everyone at the MCCG wishes our friends and supporters a safe and festive holiday season and a New Year that is abundant with new life and new projects!
Although many of us are still enjoying a break, we’d like to remind you that our first working bee for 2017 will be on Saturday 7 January at McKay Brook.

If you can spare a few hours that afternoon, please contact Bryan Hacker. 


Check our Working Bee Calendar for more info and to see Bryan’s contact details.

MCCG farewells a friend

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The Moggill Creek Catchment Group has recently lost a founding member and one of our most staunch supporters.


Emeritus professor Graeme Wilson passed away peacefully at his home on December 14th. 
Please click here to view the death notice for Graeme in the Courier Mail. It provides an insight into the life and many achievements of our dear friend.

He will be deeply missed.

GREEN ARMY 2016 GRADUATION

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THURSDAY 15 DECEMBER – RAFTING GROUND SITE.

CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU to our Green Army trainees for their outstanding contribution throughout 2016. 

A graduation ceremony for each team will be held on Thursday 15 December at the Rafting Ground site near Boscombe Road.

Work for 2016 will end on 18 December and start again in mid to late January. 

For more info, please contact Adrian Webb on 0412 672 283.

Note: The Green Army is an initiative of the Australian Government provided for young Australians aged 17–24 years who have an interest in protecting their local environment. 

For more info, visit our Media Centre

Highlights of the 2016 Annual General Meeting

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2016 marks the 19th year of the MCCG’s operation. A very successful and well attended AGM (57 Attendees) was held on Monday 28th November.

A comprehensive and engaging report was provided by MCCG Chairman Warren Hoey.  It provided an insight into the diverse activities undertaken by the group and the extraordinary dedication of its section leaders and bushcare volunteers.  

Interesting facts 2015-16:

  • Membership now stands at 540
  • The Nursery distributed 14,106 free plants in 136 species native to the
    catchment
  • Volunteers donated 2590 hours of their time to 90 working bees
  • Our catchment has the highest Land for Wildlife uptake
    of any catchment in the Greater Brisbane area.

Interesting people:

Warren paid tribute to the MCCG’s many dedicated volunteers, in particular longstanding Newsletter Editor, Graeme Wilson.  He presented the Treasurer Joanna Yesberg with an award and expressed gratitude to members such as Gordon Grigg and Graeme Wilson who have remained loyal to the group since its establishment 20 years ago. 

Read more:

The full Chairman’s Report is available here. It holds reports and pictures from bushcare groups and projects, and it details some of the challenges ahead. It is a recommended read.  See also the MCCG Facebook page.

New management committee: 

Cr Kate Richards, Councillor for the Pullenvale Ward, presided over the election of the 2017 committee. Cr Richards commended MCCG’s initiative to convert delivery of its quarterly newsletters to email.

Guest speaker:


The guest speaker for the evening was Professor Rob Capon of University of Queensland’s Institute of Molecular Bioscience, who presented a riveting discussion about an exciting and simple new way to reduce cane toad tadpole numbers. Stay tuned to our website for more info – in the meantime, you can learn more about this initiative by clicking here.
 
Some new committee members for 2017 
(photo courtesy of Dale Borgelt)

WPSQ Brisbane Northern Seminar Series

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Location: Downfall Creek Bushland Centre – UBD Ref: Map 119 F16
Type: Event
Organiser: BCC – Community Conservation Partnership Programs
Contact: Kim Robbie: [email protected]
Seminar 1: Biological Control of Lantana – Is it a Reality?  Join special guest speaker Michael Day, Principal Entomologist with Biosecurity Queensland. Open the flyer to see details: {module_literature,i,189918}

Avian Residential Planning – Building Birds Nests

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Birds are remarkable builders and Jim Butler’s latest edition of “Feather Fascination” gives us an insight into the complexities and science of nest building.

Considerable effort is expended in creating these temporary homes which provide exactly the right conditions to ensure the survival of each individual species.

 Photo courtesy of Ed Frazer

Click here to open the latest issue of “Feather Fascinations” and learn about the extraordinary building behaviours of birds.