The Northern Rivers Times Edition 133

HOPPY DAZE FOR NORTHERN WILD LIFE CARERS

By TIM HOWARD

When an amphibian biologist, a wildlife vet and a craft brewer join forces, the frogs of the Northern Rivers’ world heritage rainforests couldn’t be hoppier.

Yes, it’s fertile territory for dad jokes and good news for those of use afficted with croaky throat, that Seven Mile Brewing Company, Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital, Southern Cross University and Amber Gillett Art have teamed up to produce a distinctive new brew, the Knee Deep ginger beer.

As a ginger beer, the only hops in this brew come from Amber Gillett Art’s lifelike rendering of a Red Eye Tree Frog emblazoned on the can.

But the taste testers have given the recipe, brightened with the inclusion of local fnger limes, a thumbs up.

“It’s not one of those sweet, forally, craft brews,” said a punter at the launch of the brew earlier this month. “This is a proper ginger beer and the addition of the fnger limes have given it that bit of extra punch.”

Hopping down to your local for a taste test will do much more than quench your thirst.

A donation $1 from each can will go towards raising awareness and funds for research and conservation of frog populations and wildlife care across the Northern Rivers region.

The limited-edition brew, number-5 in the wildlife series, was unveiled at the Ballina-based craft brewery with the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital’s ambassadors, musician Tex Perkins, actor Joshua Sasse and journalist and meteorologist Magdalena Roze, lined up to lend their support.

Amid the festivity of

International Actor and Wildlife Ambassador Joshua Sasse, journalist, meteorologist and wildlife ambassador Magdalena Roze and Australian musician and wildlife ambassador Tex Perkins at the launch of Knee Deep at Seven Mile Brewery in Ballina.

the launch there was also some time for the serious stuff.

Amphibian expert at Southern Cross University

Dr David Newell said the outlook was not bright for native frogs, with many along Australia’s east coast being wiped out by disease, while locally habitat is shrinking for the unique Gondwana rainforest mountain species.

“Alongside multiple research projects, SCU has started a captive husbandry program dubbed project GRASP with the aim to undertake conservation translocations to bolster remaining populations,” Dr Newell said.

Dr Stephen Van Mil, Founder and CEO of the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital, said Australia’s native wildlife was not limited to cute and cuddly koalas and kangaroos.

“Our veterinarians are treating native frogs injured by cats and dogs.

Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital launch ‘Knee Deep’ ginger beer, #5 in the Limited Edition Wildlife Series brewed in collaboration with Seven Mile Brewing Company, Southern Cross University and Amber Gillett Art. To coincide with the launch of Knee Deep, Seven Mile Brewing is also re-releasing its popular Koala Lager, number-1 in the wildlife series.

There is a growing need for dedicated services to treat and rehabilitate all types of wildlife.

“’Drink beer, save

wildlife’ is our motto, knowing that by consuming this beverage (responsibly of course) you’re contributing to improving outcomes for our native fauna.”

Seven Mile Brewing co-founder and managing director Lou Wilson said he was thrilled to grow the range of special edition charity beers.

“For Knee Deep, we’ve taken our Wildling Ginger Beer and added a native twist,” he said.

“Inspired by the humble Green Tree Frog, which we are especially fond of, we’ve added some local green fnger limes into our blend to help cut through the sweetness and give a well-balanced zing.”

To coincide with the launch of Knee Deep, Seven Mile Brewing is also re-releasing its popular Koala Lager,

number-1 in the wildlife series.

Learn more about the University’s Gondwana Rainforests Amphibian Survival Program, aka Project GRASP, at www. scu.edu.au/GRASP

In other local craft brewing news Grafton’s Bent Bridge brewers have announced they are in the fnal stages of reviewing and testing their latest offering.

Inspired by the support of local sporting clubs they have come up with the Everlasting Mid - Session Ale, due for release in February/March this year.

The name is a tribute to the wetlands of the Clarence region and in particular the spectacular Kakadu in the Clarence, the Everlasting Swamp, north of Grafton.

Tasters to date say the brew ticks all the boxes of a quality sessionable mid: 1 can = 1 standard (3.5%ABV), fresh, crisp and in this case, enough hop and malt presence to keep things interesting.

And the team at Bent Bridge promise fans of the India pale ale brew they have something special in the pipeline.

A post on social media revealed there were two IPA recipes in the pilot tanks, duelling for supremacy, although there was no release date included.

DIARY OF A FLOOD SURVIVOR PART 25

By SAMANTHA ELLEY

It never ceases to amaze me how resilient people are.

It has now been 11 months since the February flood and in that time, we have had a second flood at the end of March, another major flood warning for the area, a shortage of materials and tradesmen, making it harder to rebuild and yet, I see constant evidence of people getting on with their lives.

Each morning when I walk the dog, I am heartened by evidence of houses that have stood achingly empty for months, now being gutted out, overgrown foliage removed and lawns mowed,

in preparation for renovations to start.

Each time I visit the shopping areas, there are new shops opening up.

The general consensus seems to be that as the holidays near an end and the year starts in earnest, people are finding their feet and their purpose.

On one of my walks, I came across what I think is one of the best representations of how the flood-affected communities have rallied against the aftermath of the worst flood in Northern Rivers history.

A small green blade of grass growing despite its concrete surroundings.

It may be a slow process, but every step takes us nearer to our goals and our new normal life.

Little steps.