Supporting Community Groups

SUPPORTING COMMUNITY GROUPS

8 October 2013

In 2013 Cradle Coast NRM provided support to community group volunteers enabling them to attend training and workshops.

The sponsorship helped increase the skills of volunteers and raise awareness of our natural environment. Small community group requests that support community group projects have been funded.

I NTRODUCTI ON Cradle Coast NRM has supported 18 volunteers from ten community groups to attend First Aid training.

Sponsorship for First Aid training was offered to all Landcare, Coastcare, Aboriginal and ‘Friends of’ groups in the Cradle Coast region for volunteers actively engaged in natural resource management projects.

Members of Ulverstone Coastcare, Penguin Coastcare, Threatened Plants Tasmania, Friends of Lillico Penguins, Shorebird Monitoring Group, King Island NRM Group, Tasmanian Land and Sea Council and the Upper Natone Forest Reserve Committee attended accredited First Aid training courses during 2013.

Cradle Coast NRM provided support to community groups to improve first aid skills and be more equipped to continue work on their local area projects with qualified first aid personal on hand at working bees .

Cooee Creek working bee

Six Workplace First Aid kits were supplied to Mt Roland Rivercare, Boat Harbour Progress Association, Tasmanian Land and Sea Council, Ulverstone Coastcare, Upper Natone Forest Reserve Committee and the Shorebird Monitoring volunteers.

“On behalf of the Upper Natone Reserve Committee, I would like to say thank you for the First Aid kit which arrived yesterday. We appreciate the support you have given us and it will be reassuring to have an intact kit available for working bees.”

Joanna Lyall, Secretary, Upper Natone Reserve Committee INFORMATION SUPPORTING COMMUNITY GROUPS

Friends of Burnie Penguins working bee

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S U P P O R TI N G CO MM U NI T Y G RO U P S

COMMUNITY GROUP REQUESTS Five community groups were supported in providing education, information and on-ground works assistance for the broader community during 2012 and 2013.

The groups supported were: · · · · ·

Heybridge Improvement Committee— Snake education talk Ulverstone Coastcare—Banner and signage at Buttons Creek Friends of Burnie Penguins– Small equipment supplies Cooee to Camdale Coastcare—Cooee Beach weed control Friends of French’s Road Nature Reserve—Pull up banner

Snake Education Michael Thow

Cradle Coast NRM also delivers Community grant programs from time to time. If you have an idea for a project, need assistance with project development or you would like to be kept informed of future rounds, contact your NRM facilitator.

“...feedback was fantastic - I have talked to so many people about it (the snake talk).

Also a mother was there with her boys, obviously petrified herself at times, but keen for them to get the 'right' messages about living with snakes…”

Michelle Towle, Heybridge Improvement Committee

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I N F O R MA T IO N S H E E T

C AS E S T U D Y – L I N K AN D L E AR N Link and Learn, a workshop event organised for community groups by Cradle Coast NRM, was held for the first time in November 2012.

Th e ev en t en co ur a ged openness and knowledge sharing between group members in the Cradle Coast region.

Members from 13 community group’s presented an overview of their achievements, shared experiences, and discussed ways to overcome challenges.

They worked together to identify solutions to common problems.

“Great forum and good to find out what’s happening in the local community.”

Anna Wind, Cradle Coast NRM Facilitator Team Coordinator provided insights into Cradle Coast NRM’s varied projects.

Presentations were heard from Friends of Lillico Penguins, Rubicon Coast and Landcare, Circular Head Landcare, Friends of Burnie Penguins, Wynyard Landcare, Penguin Coastcare, Sisters Beach Enviro Team, North West Environment Centre, West Coast Weed and Fore Management Group, Landcare Tasmania and DPIPWE’s Invasive Species Branch.

Th r o u gh th e Au s tr a l i a n Government's Caring for our Country, Cradle Coast NRM makes available information, resources and grants funding assistance to 45 Landcare, Coastcare and Friends of groups in North West Tasmania.

“There is a lot of work going on in the community and small groups can make a difference...”

Feedback from the participants at Link and Learn was very positive and there was support for making it a regular event.

A workshop session held towards the end of the event also revealed a desire to increase community engagement in environmental works, provide recognition to community groups, improve community group co n n ec ti o n s , str en g th en project management skills and to explore opportunities in carbon offsetting. Keep tuned to Cradle Coast NRM’s newsletter for news on our next Link and Learn!

C O M M E N TS F R O M TH E P A R TI C I P A N TS “Showcasing work was great, I learnt a lot from other groups.”

“I’m encouraged by the support from Cradle Coast NRM.” “I now understand the breadth and magnitude of the challenges in the region and the groups represented by the people here.”

“Encouraged to see so many people from so many groups.”

“I’ve been working in this field for over 20 years and I’m thrilled to see it still grows.”

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S U P P O R TI N G CO MM U NI T Y G RO U P S

V O L U N T E E R T R AI N I N G AN D R E C O G N I TI O N To support leaders in Landcare and recognise an outstanding commitment to volunteering, the four community group volunteers below were sponsored to attend the National Landcare Conference in September 2012 in Sydney: Graeme Stevenson, Wynyard Landcare Eugene Holloway, Rubicon Coast and Landcare Anna Holloway, Rubicon Coast and Landcare Andrew Potter, Turners Beach Coastcare Anthea Ferguson, Circular Head Landcare

The Rubicon Coast and Landcare group won the Coastcare Award at the 2011 State Landcare Awards and received a special commendation in the Australian Government Coastcare Award at the 2012 National Landcare Awards in Sydney.

Their special efforts to protect and enhance Port Sorell’s Rubicon Estuary have included weeding, indigenous species planting, path construction and maintenance. The group’s 43 members are involved in monthly working bees and often partner with other community groups and organisations to raise awareness of environmental issues.

Rubicon Coast and Landcare has been active since 1992 and is a great example of the commitment and achievements of our region’s community groups. The active participation of volunteers and the partnerships they form with other Cradle Coast communities showcases the NRM principle: We are all responsible.

This principle recognises that all Tasmanians receive benefits from the use, development and conservation of natural resources; and that we all share responsibility for managing natural resources sustainably.

Anna & Eugene Holloway and Anna Wind at the 2012 National Landcare Awards in Sydney

“My sincere thanks for facilitating my attendance to the 2012 National Landcare Conference. Certainly of great benefit to not only witness some of the great happenings around Sydney during the field trip I attended, but also very motivating to be amongst people from throughout the country during the conference.” Andrew Potter, Turners Beach Coastcare.

Rubicon Coast & Landcare Group Image: Phil Collier

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I N F O R MA T IO N S H E E T

AD D I T I O N AL I N F O R M AT I O N If you would like to find out more, or to be connected to a Coastcare, Landcare or ‘Friends of’ group near you please contact Cradle Coast NRM who will provide you with group contact details.

AC K N O WL E D G E M E N T Cradle Coast NRM acknowledges the considerable contribution made by each volunteer of Landcare, Coastcare, Friends of and associated groups in the Cradle Coast region to care for and manage our natural environment for the next generation to enjoy and learn about. The countless volunteer hours freely given is of great value. We thank you!

These projects were supported by Cradle Coast Natural Resource Management (NRM) through funding from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country

PO Box 338 1-3 Spring Street Burnie Tasmania 7320 Phone: 03 6431 6285 Fax: 03 6431 7014 E-mail: nrm@cradlecoast.com www.cradlecoastnrm.com.