1. I am somewhere in the Outback, enjoying a great break in the red dust. First of all I wish you a happy, and above all, positive, meeting.
  2. First of all I pay my respects to the traditional owners and custodiansof the land on which we gather, the people of the Yugembeh language group, the Wangeriburra people.We pay our repsect to the elders of these communities past and present.
  3. Another exciting year has passed with the speed of light.Our Landcare group is doing well. Regeneration is not a matter of one-off’s. It is a matter of going on, sustaining, persevering. Find the right track, the best policy, and then starting up and going on. Weeding, planting, weeding, planting.
  4. In between we have to discuss the best ways to do that. Remove lantana, and if so, how much and how fast? Asking questions about weed-tolerance, maybe even zero-tolerance. Choosing the best ways of fund raising: nightwalks? We have to be creative, we have to work together with many others, and that in itself is a challenge. The Council and the Chamber of Commerce, Friends of Tamborine mountain and Concerned Citizens, the management of the sand quarry and the Progress Association; National Parks and the Bush Volunteers. Landcare is in the middle of this, and we have to stay there. We have always tried to be politically involved if necessary. And to stay away from politics if possible. We try to be a group right in the middle of the community, open enough for free, safe discussions on several topics, but also close enough top stick together. Even if we now and then disagree with choices within the group, we all benefit most from one united group. And none of us can win them all! May I thank critical members for their inputs. May I express my appreciation for each of you finally giving Landcare support, or at least the benefit of the doubt?
  5. Environment is the top priority for local residents. That makes our position as a Landcare group very strong, but it also makes us extremely vulnerable. Touch water, touch soil or touch wood: the community is up in arms. If you doubt, then ask Vanessa…. When the environment is involved, every local resident has an opinion. I should like to get these opinions in the organization.We rely on our constitution, and on the intelligence, dedication, experience and positive attitude of our members. Landcare does not go for one liners as ‘We will never be involved in ecotourism.’ or ‘We will always support ecotourism’. ‘We are against the greenwaste dump at the Long Road’ or ‘The greenwaste dump should definitely go to the Knoll Road’. None of these make sense.Landcare will have to decide its position every time an issue is raised. And then decide how to get the best outcome fort the environment, taking into regard interests of other people and organizations as well.
  6. In two years presidency I have experienced how hard it is to keep focus. We have to do so many things. The Environment is so complex, and the problems are so big, that the focus always tends to become diffuse. The organizationis growing, members come and go (‘go’ hardly happens, by the way…. It is mainly ‘come’). We have almost 180 members now. We go for 250 at the end of this year. Of course, Landcare is about planting trees, but without a well organized structure it leads to nothing. It is like a rowing boat: you better have 4 slow rowers slowly rowing in the same direction, than four fast rowers without any structure.
  7. We spent many hours in establishing a nursery and office. Outcome so far: minimal. Thanks to political issues we have lost momentum on that project. Despite huge efforts of National Parks, the Council and Landcare.Nevertheless we seek other options, which may lead to a better establishment of office, Tiles for Trees venue and nursery.
  8. Improving the administration, organization, fund application and networking has cost a lot of time, but the organization benefits from all these efforts. The outcome is very good. Funding bodies and other governmental organizations express their appreciation for the quality of our group. For our vision, our major plans (the Corridor Regeneration Project), our focus on outcomes (thanks to all of you involved in the on ground projects and the management of those) and for our efforts to improve our financial situation. The financial situation is healthy. We even have some funds we can use for projects and purposes we select ourselves. Plants, tools and office equipment may be bought from our own money. We even could give a donation for Zonta’s Make a Wish event.
    In the report about the funding by SEQ Catchments last year we proved that for every dollar we got, we delivered three dollars. Maureen, Liisa, Alan, Laurie, Cornelia, Doug you have done and are doing great things in keeping the whole thing running. And it is very, very important to keep our focus on the Escarpment Strategy and the Corridors project. They guide us, and provide trust for funds and grant suppliers.
  9. Communication is essential. Alan, and Live by Design, thanks for the production and sponsoring of the new website, and the newsflashes. Suzanne and Neil Burton and their business……thanks for taking over High Ground from Liisa, and sponsoring it now.
  10. Allison, Liisa, Ronda, Sue, Brian, Kelly, Glenys and many others thank you for your contributions to the news papers articles and many other ways of communication.
  11. Pest weeds are a major issue, as are pest animals. Our FADAM subcommittee is trying to reduce the impact of feral dogs and cats as good as possible. A very hard task, especially because of the many bodies and organizations involved. The fridge magnet is one of the other achievements. Tarla, Jim, Vanessa and others, thanks for your contributions to this sensitive subject.
  12. Almost hidden away behind personal computers, in obscure little offices, the biodiversity committee works on its database. Over 20,000 records of local wildlife have been recorded, and especially Jim, Mike, Harry, Pat and Stephen need our appreciation for this. We appreciate the cooperation with the TM NHA.
  13. The Tiles for Trees committee has been very active, starting up a major fund raising project on the mountain. It needs a lot of time, while the organization did not accept using our own funds for this purpose. Our funds should not be used for risk-ful projects, was the opinion. Fair enough. Nevertheless the committee has done a wonderful job establishing a great network on the mountain for the benefit of Landcare overall. 19 designs was the first result, six have been elected to go to the final round.
  14. In between raising the funds and encouraging the people to get the project going. Bronwyn, John and Sandy, you contribute much more to Landcare with this project than just a fancy way of creating an arts object and maybe raising some funds. The committee has raised about $ 10,000 for the start up. The publicity is very helpful for Landcare, and so are the first small financial contributions. I hope that the organization will treat this committee in a supportive way in the future.
  15. Judy started up her Piccabeen Bookshop. Landcare belongs to the very elite group of organizations privileged with a member so dedicated, to start up a corporate business and share the community group in the profits. Judy, we are very grateful for your initiative and ongoing efforts to keep it going.
  16. Regen. The magic word is regen. The on ground work by locals and volunteers from other groups, like CVA. I will not summarize again the square meters revegetated by Landcare, but they add up to several hectares at least. Including the areas where we do ‘bits and pieces’ it adds up to many hectares. Doug – may I say: our Doug – is always there with his knowledge, expertise and commitment. Always prepared to take on the responsibility.
  17. Cornelia, Doug, Kate, John, Julie, Steven: the new regen subcommittee will be involved in the –at the end – major activity of Landcare: weeding weeds and planting tees. Based on maps and plans. Embedded in the Corridors structure.
  18. The committee will have to guide that process, managing the working groups, CVA groups, managers and subcontractors on one hand, and organizing the conditions (including funding) on the other. Without this committee we would be nowhere. We are applying for new rounds of funding, bigger, and on more locations. We have applied for $ 20,000 at the Norman Wettenhal foundation, to map all creeks on the mountain.
  19. And that is not only the committee. I want to mention the major projects. I won’t mention names, because half of our membership is actively involved in one or more activities. The Tamborine Creek Corridor Contour Road, Ohia Court and Botanic Gardens
  20. Isn’t it a privilege to work in these beautiful forests along the creek. And the healthy exercise is include in the price!
  21. The Cedar Creek Corridor, where 35 members helped us out on Ragweed Saturday. From HoltPark to TamborineNational Park at the bottom of the mountain is one long Corridor along the Cedar Creek. Including Thunderbird park, where Landcare is involved, and regeneration starting up on other private properties, with possible Landcare involvement.
  22. Esme Street is our show case. Watch the transition on the slide (hit the enter key!!). Despite this success the local businesses hardly know this very accessible park. We need to publish more on this are.
  23. Dickson park, Knoll Road, The S-bends, the ButterflyGarden, RosserPark, Kalmia Court: all of these are area’s where volunteers of Landcare work on their environment. We are active all over the mountain.
  24. Not only on ground active members deserve our appreciation, so do several other supporters.Our network of governmental, environmental and local groups and organizations has expanded substantially. CVA, SEQ Catchments, BSC and QPWS are among a long list of organizations we have established and or improved a relation with. The financial support has been bigger than ever before and we still expect more funds.
  25. The local community supports us very much as well; most community groups are member of Landcare, and the Chamber of commerce and local businesses contribute to Landcare as well. We have given some support to corporate members, and hope to continue that this year. We joined the Chamber in organizing the Brisbane Expo presentation of TamborineMountain.
  26. What would we be without a committed, dedicated and knowledgeable management committee – members of which even help on ground! Cornelia, Stephen, Mike and Elizabeth always keeping us on the right track. Laurie responsible for the finances of the mob. Isn’t it great to have money to do nice things as well? To be able to buy plants if we desperately need them, even if no grants are available. Isn’t it nice that we can spend money on education, or advertising if necessary. Thanks Laurie.
    Alan has organized the administration very good, and for one reason or another still has time to do other things as well. I mentioned Judy, and her bookshop.
    John is always there, contributing wit a lot of on ground work, and with many ideas and suggestions. They make us think, over and over again.
  27. Two ex officio members are very much appreciated as well. Doug, as mentioned before, especially because of his shorts, beard and knowledge, Vanessa because of her ongoing support in Council, and of course because she is our patron.
    Vanessa, despite the critical remarks you have to endure from local residents, you have been a very important person for Landcare. We do not support Council per definition, but we are grateful for the support, from Joy Dreschner, Virginia West, the officers and above all from yourself. Thanks.
  28. And mentioning Vanessa I of course have to mention the snakes. We even had to go out as far as Koralbyn to catch a red belly black at a Saturday evening.
  29. I finished a booklet on snakes that is, or will shortly be for sale.
  30. And shouldn’t we love snakes? They are so cute!
  31. We have done much more. John created sets of butterfly attracting trees which we sold at last years garden festival
  32. We planted a tree at the DogPark – by the way, this trees needs to be replaced… don’t forget!
  33. Presenmtations at schools about the need for revegetation and rainforest preservation. And dozens of other activities.
  34. We organized and attended workshops on several issues, and learned from the local indigenous people about scar trees. And much, much more. Back to today now.
  35. I hope you will elect a new management team today of the same quality as last years committee. We don’t elect members because of their role in the organization – for instance being head of a subcommittee – but only because of their expected personal contribution. I liked the group of ten people. If you elect a committee with that size and quality again, that outcome would be good. And isn’t it wonderful to meet once a month in the nice setting of Eagle Heights hotel, together with other positive, environmentally aware Landcare members? The meetings are nice, friendly, and interesting. Go for it, and please elect a good team of positive, critical members.
  36. Two years ago you elected me as president of your organization. The main reason was that no-one else was available, let’s face it!
    Last year, you elected me again. Our major concern at that moment was to find a treasurer and secretary, so we were happy enough to have a candidate for the presidency. That election was in that sense straightforward.
    This time I ask more. If you elect me as president than you basically also support the continuation of the Landcare policy of the last two years. As far as I am concerned we will intensify the relations in and with the commercial market, we will go for bigger projects, more funding, more support for our own fund raising activities. We continue to respect different opinions, and discussions about them. We will keep the good relations with all – yes, all – community groups and governmental organisations. We will stay involved in political issues where relevant for revegetation purposes, and stay away from other political issues. And last but not least we will respect the will and guidance of the membership.
    Nevertheless we will show leadership as well.
    Let’s continue to further improve the environment of TamborineMountain.
    I wish you a good meeting and election.
    And please, have a bit of fun as well!