HALLIDAYS POINT LANDCARE GROUP

NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETING

When? Tuesday 2 February 2010, 7.30pm

Where? Hallidays Point Library meeting room (at the back of the library in Black Head)

A special resolution to amend the constitution of HPLG will be put to the meeting.

Enquiries: Alan Pursch p 6559 3365; m 0413 482 505;  apursch@bigpond.net.au

ROCKY SHORES HOLIDAY ACTIVITY

A Rocky Shores Holiday activity was recently held at Black Head. Sponsoring groups were Hallidays Point Library Plus, Hallidays Point Tidy Towns, and Hallidays Point Landcare.

Keith Davey, National Parks Discovery Ranger, led 20 children and numerous adults along the beach at Black Head and onto the rocky platform behind the Black Head pool. Everyone had a great time searching for and finding interesting anilmals and plants. Participants all learned a lot about intertidal animals and plants and their importance to the marine environment. It is certainly a tough place to survive! They also learned that the biggest threat to marine animals is plastic bags and other things such as plastic cigarette lighters that look like food - rubbish can kill whales and turtles by lodging in their digestive system so they cannot take in food and they starve to death. Abandoned nets, fishing lines and hooks often lodge in the mouth or around the legs of sea birds when they dive for fish. Many pelicans and cormorants become entagled in fishing line and when examined are found to have multiple hooks lodged in different parts of the body. Recently a young whale was sighted moving north dragging three fishing buoys.

Keith delivered a few very important reminders for all of us to look after our beautiful coastal environment. Thanks Keith!

LANDCARE NATIONAL CHAIRMAN VISITS HALLIDAYS POINT

Meeting the National President: L. to R.: Brian Long, Jerry Ellis, Ann Ellis, Pam Semmler, Neville Semmler, Eleanor Long, Alana Parkins, Alan Pursch, Ann Ryall.

L. to R.: National Chairman Jerry Ellis, Hallidays Point coordinator Alan Pursch, Hallidays Point secretary Alana Parkins.

The National Chairman of Landcare Australia Ltd., Jerry Ellis from Melbourne and his wife Ann, paid a visit recently to Hallidays Point to learn about the initiatives being undertaken by the local Landcare Group, and to share information about the latest developments nationally.

Landcare Australia Ltd. is a $10 million company, and with 60,000 members across nearly 2,000 Groups is Australia’s largest volunteer organisation. It was formed 20 years ago as joint initiative between the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Farmers’ Federation. Major corporations fund Landcare projects, while the Australian Government funds administration costs. In taking a leading role in caring for the land, it promotes itself as a sustainability group as opposed to an environmental group.

Hallidays Point Landcare Group has been around for over 10 years. It is a friendly and diverse group of locals (currently numbering 31), with a common interest in our beautiful natural environment, especially the unique rainforest reserves on our coast. All Landcare members are insured when working on Landcare projects. Working bees are held on a regular basis at Black Head, Red Head and Diamond Beach.

If you want to learn more about our local rainforests and contribute to a worthwhile community activity, phone the coordinator Alan Pursch on 6559 3365

HEAD-TO-HEAD OCEAN SWIM

Swimmers enter the surf.

Noeline Young from Black Head: winner of the women's 50-59 age group.

Fourteen year old rising swim star Kurtis Kavanagh from San Remo on the NSW Central Coast has taken out the Black Head Surf Club’s inaugural Head-to-Head Ocean Swim held on Sunday January 3.

In a time of 18 minutes and 53 seconds, young Kuris led home the 141 swimmers in the main 1.5km swim. Second home was Forster’s Jake Loring, with Craig Boettcher from Newcastle coming third.

The first three women home were Zoe Dowsett, Alicia Ieroianni and Ginaya Henare.

The shorter 700 metre swim attracted 80 entries, with the winner again being Kurtis Kavanagh. He was followed by Adam Holborrow and Sydney’s Jon Hawton. Women’s winner was Ginaya Henare, with Hallidays Point’s Emily Nash finishing second and Tracey Zammit from Curumbin Waters finishing third.

Race co-ordinator Vicki Smyth was thrilled with the success of this inaugural event. The 210 entries exceeded all expectations. All funds raised from the day will go towards the purchase of new equipment for the Surf Club.

It is likely that this will become an annual event, and with even more swimmers coming from around the state, a significantly greater number of registrations is expected for next year’s event.