News

Happy Days! Kids Day at the Cottage 2016

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Over 300 grown-ups and kids rocked up for a truly wonderful Kids Day at the Cottage on Sunday 12 June.

We had some standout activities presented by a group of talented and knowledgeable volunteers, to whom we extend our sincere thanks.

Martin Fingland’s 3 wildlife show sessions were as popular as ever and once again Gordon Grigg attracted lots of interest with his table of random curiosities!

Deborah Craig gave us a special demonstration on jewellery making with bamboo beads, Geoff Monteith spoke on insects, Jan Blok gave a talk on plant identification, John Stanisic provided some fascinating facts about snails and Andrew Wilson demonstrated how to pot seedlings.

Carolyn Parsons worked magic by turning our meeting room into a butterfly room! Her ladybird beetle fridge magnets were a huge hit with the kids!
 
We are particularly grateful to SEQWater staff for donating sausages for our sausage sizzle and to the Brisbane City Council Creek Catchment Program for helping out with hire equipment.  SEQWater also provided free water bottles and booklets.

And we would also like to acknowledge the efforts of Gordon Grigg, Gordon Wilkinson, Ian Hancock and John Crowley in making the day such a resounding success. 

Things that pierce the silence of the night

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Have you ever heard a lonely, mournful wail breaking the silence of the night?

Our July edition of “Feather Fascination” reveals the story of the remarkable suburban resident behind these sad wailing calls.

Click here to learn more.

What lies beneath?

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We’ve had some unwelcome guests (Tilapia) in the swimming hole near Creekside Street Kenmore Hills. 

Take a look at our Ferals Animal page to learn more.

BREAKING NEWS: New bird sighting in Brookfield

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On April 17th, a native bird which has never been seen in our Catchment was sighted at Adavale Street Brookfield!

This wonderful occurrence is described by Jim Butler, a local birdwatcher, in his “Feather Fascination” column in the June issue of “The Local Bulletin“.

From now on, you can also read Jim’s stories online right here on our website.

Click here to read this article and others published during 2016, and stay tuned to our Media Centre for more of Jim’s remarkable snippets about our wondrous local birdlife.  

BRIGHT RED LADYBIRDS …

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KIDS’ DAY AT THE COTTAGE – SUNDAY 12 JUNE!

10am-1pm. 
Join us at the Cottage on the Gold Creek Dam Reserve at the very end of Gold Creek Road, Brookfield for a day of FUN!

You can create beautiful bright red ladybirds for mum and dad’s fridge! 

Just one of the many activities you can enjoy on Kids’ Day!   

There is SO much for kids to make and do and enjoy, and it’s FREE! 


 Choose from the following or do them all! 

* Art and Craft activities    * Make jewellery to wear  
* Pot a seedling to take home   *ID the leaf shape of plants
* Talk to the Snail Whisperer!   * Look for camouflaged insects
* See a native bee hive working   * See display of local Dung Beetles

Or see furry, feathery or leathery native creatures in one of Martin Fingland’s three Geckoes Wildlife sessions, which will be held at approximately:

  • 10am -10.40am, 11am – 11.40am and 12noon – 12.40pm

For more info, please email Dale Borgelt : [email protected]

                    
       

MCCG is proud to offer Kids’ Day at the Cottage with all its attractions and activities for young people FREE, thanks to volunteers and expert presenters, supported by the Lord Mayor’s Suburban Initiative fund, the Pullenvale Ward Councillor and the BCC Creek Catchment Program. 

Calling all strategic thinkers

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(members and non members alike)

The MCCG is undertaking a vital strategic planning process over the next few months to determine our priorities for future activities.

Based on last review (published in 2011) and an evaluation of the impacts of our activities since then, our aim is to assess how effective we have been in our programs. We will seek to identify new challenges and concerns which have arisen in the last five years.
We will also be canvassing the views of our members and other people and groups who work with us or who have a keen interest in what we do. 

From this, we will develop our strategies and actions/projects for the future.
It is vitally important for us to continuously review our activities so we can prioritise how to best use our available time, resources and volunteer energies in the future.  We will post details on the website as we progress.

If you wish to participate in any part of the process, comment on one or more of the activities we are undertaking (listed below),  or if you believe  there are opportunities/issues which you think have been overlooked, please let us know!

Feel free to email  your views to our chairman Warren Hoey, or to any of the other committee members listed on our Contact Details page. We’re waiting to hear from you!

You are welcome to view our 2011 review and other relevant documents – please click here. 

MCCG projects and activities:

  • Kids Day at the Cottage
  • Photography competition
  • Nursery
  • Landcare services
  • Newsletter
  • Cottage talks
  • Bushcare group actions on public land
  • Riparian restoration in Rowena Park
  • Bird project
  • Creek Health Monitoring Program
  • Water Quality Monitoring
  • Platypus survey
  • Cat`s Claw Creeper control
  • Become a Committee Member

Come see us at the Brookfield Show!

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The Brookfield Show runs from 13 to 15 May at the Brookfield Showground this year.
Why not drop in for a chat?

We’re in a new spot down by the Cookery Pavilion.  Hope to see you there!

Click here to see more info about the show.

Flying Fur !!! The Secrets of Microbats -Postponed from 21April to later date

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This talk has had to be postponed to a later date – various permits and equipment required will not be available until later, and Dr Cole has also had to make changes to his scedule.  Watch this space for a new date.
Elusive secrets about the life of bats will be revealed by Dr Roger Coles from the School of Earth, Environmental and Biological Sciences at QUT.

The life of these animals is cryptic and shrouded in mystery. They are the only mammals capable of true flight – a shared ability that has evolved completely differently from birds.
 
Dr Coles will explain the prowess of ‘microbats’ at flying, navigating and catching prey in the dark using a precision, radar-like method called echolocation. He will demonstrate how the local forest bats do it and in real time, by tuning in to bats flying around the MCCG Cottage during the talk with the use of fancy electronics and colourful computer screens. As we cannot normally see or hear these small creatures hunting in the dark, some of their secrets can be revealed by using electronic ‘bat detectors’ and night vision scopes to make their sensory world audible and visible to us. Methods used to catch bats will be demonstrated as well.

When: TBA

Where: MCCG Cottage at Gold Creek Reservoir
Organiser: Dale Borgelt
Contact: [email protected] or ph: 3374 1035

Have your Say by 26 April – Weed & Pest Animal Management

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The QLD State Government is inviting property owners and other affected parties to provide feedback on the future management of weed and pest animals throughout Queensland.

Your feedback will inform the Queensland Weed and Pest Animal Strategy 2016-20 in preparation for the Biosecurity Act 2014 (the Act) commencing on 1 July 2016.

To have your say, visit the website or call the Department of Agriculture & Fisheries on 13 25 23 to provide a written submission.

Consultation will run until COB on 26th April.

Things that go BUMP in the night … Seminar 20 April

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The Brisbane Biodiversity Seminar series provides members of Land for Wildlife, Habitat Brisbane, Environment Centre and Creek Catchment groups an opportunity to hear speakers present on environmental topics while enjoying supper and a cup of tea with like-minded people from across Brisbane.  
 

This is the second free seminar for 2016. Presenters are Scott O’Keeffe (Urban Bushstone Curlew Research),  Frank Box (Northern Glider Network) and Sarah Bell (Natural Environment & Sustainability Branch, BCC).  They will discuss community initiatives, research and management strategies for managing Gliders, Bush-Stone Curlews and feral fox throughout Brisbane. 

Bookings essential. Please RSVP to Amanda Maggs:
    Email: [email protected]
    Phone: (07) 3178 6767 or  Mobile/Text: 0408 712 461