and abundant in chromosomes!!!

The Azure Kingfisher is arguably one of the prettiest and most colourful birds in our catchment. These little kingfishers live across the top end of Australia and right down the east coast, all the way to Tasmania.

An interesting fact: humans have 46 chromosomes in their bodies. 

Click here to open the June issue of Jim Butler’s Feather Fascination and learn all about the Azure Kingfisher, including just how many chromosomes their petite bodies hold! 

Are you concerned about the destructive effects of plastics on our global environment?

The theme of this year’s World Environment Day on Tuesday 5 June is “Beat Plastic Pollution“.

And right across the world, there is a groundswell of many people taking action!

What can you do about it? 

Make a start by taking a look at the World Environment Day website and be inspired by anti plastic pollution initiatives that are happening globally!

More info is also available on the United Nations website.

And, closer to home, this growing global movement is being celebrated at a World Environment Day Festival at Cotton Tree on Saturday 10 June. For more information, check their Facebook page.

We can all play our part and maybe World Environment Day 2018 will provoke some ideas about what each of us can do to join the Beat Plastic Pollution revolution!

 

Cat’s Claw Creeper poses a MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT to our catchment.

We are holding two free information sessions to offer guidance and to generate discussion about the best approaches to eradicate this invasive curse.

The two sessions are identical and open to anyone. 

Everything you need to know is provided in the flyer below. 

COME ALONG AND JOIN THE CRITICAL CAT’S CLAW CREEPER CRUSADE!

 

Our MCCG Chairman Jim Pope wears many hats! One of them is leader of the Huntington-Tuckett buschare group.

Jim has noticed that during recent weeks a mystery person has literally pitched in to continue his group’s work of spreading mulch at Blackbutt Place Park.

Thank you so much to our mystery mulcher for your efforts! 

It has lightened our load considerably and is of great help to us.

ps: if you’d like to join Jim’s next working bee or find another group that suits you, please check our Working Bee Calendar.

And this is our opportunity to recognise our very dedicated crew of volunteers.

Weeds never stop growing but our volunteers never give up! 

They generously donate their time once a month (or more often!) to wipe out the weeds in our various bushcare sites and replace them with sustainable local species.

Members and volunteers, you work is invaluable and we sincerely thank you for your ongoing care and commitment.

 Some members of our Huntington Tuckett bushcare team (May 2016)

National Volunteers Week runs from 21 to 27 May. See our Facebook page for more info!

There is no more remarkable or vibrant member in our group than Dale Borgelt, our Public Relations Officer.

Dale has contributed to the local community in countless ways for over 40 years.

Dale is the brain-child behind hundreds of successful MCCG events, including our annual Kids Days, countless meetings, community displays, cottage talks, guest speakers and our yearly stand at the Brookfield Show. 

Her community efforts have extended beyond the MCCG, and Dale has also contributed significantly to Neighbourhood Watch over the years.

We are very pleased to report that, at this year’s Brookfield Show, Dale’s services to the community were recognised when she was awarded the Brookfield Show Society Community Award for 2018.

Dale was presented with the award by Brisbane’s Lord Mayor, Alderman Graham Quirk, with the Hon. Jane Prentice (Federal Member for Ryan), Councillor Kate Richards (Pullenvale Ward) and Dr Jenny Paratz (President of the Brookvale Show Society) in attendance. Senior Sergeant Murray Watson of the Queensland Police Service also attended, representing Neighbourhood Watch, as well as Dale’s two daughters.

 Dale (centre) with (from left) Sgt Murray Watson, Jenny Paratz, Dale’s daughters, Graham Quirk & Kate Richards

We believe there is no more deserving recipient of this award and we would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Dale and sincerely thank her for her dedication, energy, sparkling personality and all that she brings to the MCCG.

Thank you to everyone who visited us in the beautiful Autumn sunshine at the Brookfield Show this year, and to all members who gave their valuable time to ensure we had a strong presence at the show.

As usual, our stand was beautifully presented, thanks to our PR Officer, Dale Borgelt. It featured maps and photos of the activities of our many bushcare groups, together with info about our upcoming Kids Day on Saturday 10 June.

We had a bonus reason to celebrate this year, when Dale was presented with the 2018 Brookfield Show Society Community Award! A very special and deserving achievement indeed – you can read more here.

Richard Woodhead, Geoff Lawrence and Ian Hancock looking after the MCCG stand at the 2018 Brookfield Show

Our latest Bush Bites article is a very thought-provoking piece about the probable consequences of climate change on plant life within the catchment.

What should we do to avoid losing species?

Please click here to read and enjoy the article. This one is guaranteed to get you thinking!

Could it be that we’re inadvertently contributing to the growth of “water weeds” in our creek systems?

Ed Frazer has penned a thought-provoking Bush Bites article which raises some ideas about why water weeds are so prolific in many areas of our waterways.

Ed has also put forward some suggestions about how these weeds might be managed.

Hopefully it will get us all thinking and sharing ideas! 

Blue Water Lily (Nymphaea caerulea) © Brisbane City Council

Do you have similar observations? 

Please share them with us and we’ll publish them as a “Bush Bite!”

Simply send an email to: [email protected]

The sight of a Pacific Black Duck inverted in the water with its legs in the air while it feeds is absolutely guaranteed to bring a smile!

This little duck will be familiar to us all, as they are widespread throughout the Catchment. In fact, they are most common duck species in Australia, and are also found in New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and parts of Indonesia.

Jim Butler brings us all the facts about these endearing water birds In our latest Feather Fascination.

Click here to learn more! 

Photo courtesy of Ed Frazer