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

Our latest Bush Bites article features a beautifully coloured snail which you may come across in your garden.

This is one snail that we should NOT be treating with snail pellets!

Click here to read more!

Brisbane is the most biodiverse capital city in Australia.

Brisbane City Council invites MCCG members to the latest seminar in its acclaimed Brisbane Biodiversity series.

Join them and guest speakers, Professor Darryl Jones, ecologist Stefan Hattingh and local bushcarer Heather Barnes to hear about “Backyard Biodiversity.”

Speakers will discuss Brisbane urban bird behaviours, gliders in suburban settings and White Hill Reserve biodiversity preservation.

Event details

• Date: Wednesday 9 May 2018
• Time: 6pm – 8.30pm
• Where: Belmont Services Bowls Club, 20 Narracott Street, Carina
• RSVP: Bookings essential. Book your spot through Eventbrite by 5pm on Tuesday 1 May.

For more information, phone Andrew Wills, Creek Catchment Officer on 07 3407 0215 or email the Community Conservation Partnership Program team.

In our latest Feather Fascination, Jim Butler introduces us to the Hoatzin, a bird (or is it a flying cow?) from the Amazon Basin.

Jim points out that the Hoatzin is a true herbivore, but this comes at a cost due to the energy which the bird must expend in order to digest its purely plant diet.

On the other hand, a bird much closer to our own homeland manages the demands of its strictly herbivorous diet very well.

Learn how the physiology of the Australian Wood Duck has evolved to balance the energy required for intensive digestion with the effort it must expend for flight by reading Jim’s article: Feather Fascination April 2018

And learn more about the very unusual Hoatzin!

Male Australian Wood Duck – Photo courtesy of Ed Frazer

Wondering how to fill in the daylight hours during the  Easter long weekend?

The soil is beautifully moist and the weather is perfect – so how about planting some natives on  your property?

Members can contact Bryan Hacker at [email protected] or phone 3374 1468 to arrange a time to pick up free plants from our Nursery!