Building Momentum for Christmas

the beach, in the bush, or on the footpath, there’s a good chance that it will end up in the ocean - so save a marine creature and pick it up before it gets there,” she said.

Sea turtle nesting season on the NSW coastline runs from November to March.

According to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE)

Northern NSW beaches are recognised as critical habitat for two threatened marine turtle species, the vulnerable green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the endangered loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta).

NSW beaches offer climate refugia (a location where a population can survive) as well as stretches of remote beaches where threats from visitation and development may be lessened, improving nesting success, hatchling emergence rates and survivability. There are significant data gaps in where, when and how our beaches are being used and the prevalence and impact of threats such as disturbance, light and marine pollution as well as climate change, on these turtle species.

The Department of Planning and Environment’s Saving our Species Program teamed up with Australian Seabird Rescue to develop NSW TurtleWatch, a citizen science program involving volunteers to collect valuable data for marine turtles nesting in New South Wales and their potential threats. To report any turtle tracks or turtle nest sites please contact NSW TurtleWatch on 0468 489 259

To become involved in NSW Turtle Watch please email: email turtlewatchnsw@gmail. com

Further information can be found at: seabirdrescue.org.au/

By Samantha Elley

While giving is always a great practice, Christmas is that one time of year where practice makes perfect.

Momentum Collective is once again running their Adopt a Family This Christmas campaign and are encouraging people to experience the blessing of giving to those doing it tough.

“We are collecting toys, non-perishable food and gift cards to bring warmth and happiness to some of our clients who are women and children experiencing domestic violence and homeless people in Northern NSW,” said a Momentum Collective spokesperson.

“We have already received over 150 items from the community and organisations such as Bella Blue and The Queensland Country Women’s Association.

“This collaborative effort aims to ensure everyone has a decent meal and feels the support of a caring community.”

For anyone willing to brighten another family’s Christmas this year, you can drop your present to Momentum Collective offices as below:

• 35 Wharf Street, Tweed Heads

• 4/79 Tamar Street, Ballina

• 138 Canterbury Street, Casino up to Broadwater to get what we need.

• 32 Prince Street, Grafton.

Donations need to be to Momentum Collective by 15 December, so they can distribute them in time for Christmas.

Sometimes

Last week the owner of the IGA in Woodburn sent me a message to say that at long last, work is starting on fixing up the shop.

She was excited as it has been a long trail of bureaucracy and paperwork to get to this point, but I am guessing there is a tinge of sadness, as the building has to be gutted and torn down.

This is because Woodburn only had a newly renovated IGA for a few months before the flood hit.

One lasting vision of February 28, 2022 was our friends, who live on the higher side of Woodburn, had raced into IGA to get supplies, thinking they would be stranded in their house as the waters came through.

She walked back with two bagfuls of groceries which were soon abandoned when they had to evacuate later that night.

I may have mentioned in a previous column that we have been using the neighbour system of getting those last minute groceries.

You know, when you are in the middle of cooking dinner and realise you don’t have that can of beans or avocado or not enough eggs?

Now, hopefully the new year will bring a new grocery shop for Woodburn and a trip to get sugar won’t mean disturbing our neighbours.

Little steps.