Helensburgh Landcare founder Merilyn House in front of the original Helensburgh railway station and glow-worm tunnel. It’s just one of many spots across the Illawarra that have benefitted from the care of volunteers. Photo: Graeme Burrill.
This month, Landcare Illawarra celebrates a quarter century since volunteers began work to preserve our natural environment.
The community-based organisation helps residents from Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama to become involved in a broad range of environmental repair activities.
Vice-chair Ailee Calderbank has been part of the group almost since its inception, and said while there was still plenty of work to do, there had been tangible improvements over the past couple of decades.
“We have rainforest, woodlands, grasslands and coastal areas, and none of these are terribly well preserved by the government,” she said.
“We’ve run long-term environmental projects to extend endangered ecological communities people might enjoy, like parks, beachside dunes. The wins we’ve seen is they’ve been maintained better.
“We’ve extended rainforest areas on private land, particularly around Jamberoo, Foxground, the hills behind Kiama, Tullimbar, Yellow Rock, and the Macquarie Rivulet area.
“We try to help landholders where we can and support them by supplying them with trees.”
The assistance goes two ways, with landholders giving volunteers access to native plant seeds that can be used to strengthen local ecosystems and provide a habitat for wildlife.
“Seed collection is really important because you really do need to know what you’re doing and not overcollect,” Ailee said.
“We have to be careful – eucalypts and wattles might be native but it doesn’t mean they’re the right tree for a certain place. That’s why we try to stay as local as possible, and at the same time we need genetic diversity for strong plant populations.
“It involves an enormous amount of record-keeping, and we’re lucky to have cluey people around.”
Curry’s Mountain Estate is one place that has supported Landcare Illawarra’s important work.
The estate has been a significant partner of Landcare Illawarra for 15 years, and will host the 25th anniversary celebrations on Saturday, 26 October.
Anyone who has been a part of Landcare Illawarra for these years, whether as a volunteer, committee member, landholder, friend or partner, is invited, with partners and families welcome too.
The evening will begin with a guided walk through the arboretum by Andy McNeil, the Curry’s Mountain Estate manager, followed by a brief AGM.
Then there will be a 25 years showcase featuring plant displays and a photo exhibition of groups past and present, and a presentation before a barbecue supper, live music and dancing.
Attendees are invited to submit any old photographs for display, and bring drinks and treats to share.
Anyone interested in signing up for a position on the committee is strongly encouraged.
New faces are also welcome.
“Landcare people are fabulous, I’ve met the greatest bunch of people through doing environmental work,” Ailee said.
“It attracts people who are switched on and want to do their best to help in every way, really kind people who share a lovely common ground.”
Registration for the evening is essential for catering purposes.
To purchase tickets, head to: 2024 Landcare Illawarra AGM and 25th Anniversary Celebration (humanitix.com).
For questions and photos, contact [email protected].
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