By Tanya Steele
The Friends of Koolunga Native Reserve celebrated 30 years of continued dedication to on 21 September with speeches, cake and even a video tribute from Costa Georgiadis.
The Friends of Koolunga group has worked extensively over the years to keep down the weeds in the reserve and it is a beautiful slice of native habitat in the suburban area of Ferntree Gully.
President Rowan Jennion who has been a member of the group for around ten years said in the reserve with the weeds, it’s really in what you can’t see.
“We still have a weed problem but the numbers are much reduced due to dedicated volunteer work and working with the council on priority weeds,” said Mr Jennion.
The anniversary event was held at Knox Council’s recently upgraded Fair Park pavilion and included a display of the rare and threatened plant species propagated by Knox Environment Society (KES).
There was also a wildlife display by the Black Snake Productions.
“This was a great way to connect volunteers to the plants and animals they work hard to protect,” said Mr Jennion.
Most recently in July, the group were successful in having the waterway running through the native reserve renamed from the incorrect classification as a drain and then changed to Wayut Creek (pronounced ‘wah-yoot’).
Friends of Koolunga members were joined by Mayor Cr Jude Dwight, members of Biodiversity at Knox Council, Melbourne Water, members of the KES and other Friends groups in Knox as well as well-known environmentalists Darren Wallace and Dr Graeme Lorimer. The event was supported by a grant from the Knox City Council’s minor grants program.
Knox Mayor Cr Jude Dwight took to social media to champion the group and said she was proud to thank the volunteers.
“It was the reserve that Knox almost never had,” her post read.
Mr Jennion said the group formed in 1994 after residents saw the bushland degrading with invasive weeds.
“There was a combined effort from the community, local environmentalist Darren Wallace and the KES to work with the local council to prepare a management plan and support a new friends group,” he said.
The group has been active in revegetating many areas throughout the native reserve to increase the diversity in species which support the entire food chain from insects, skinks, fish, birds, echidnas and possums.
“Over the years our group has supported Knox Council and KES with the rare and threatened plant species program to replant these in our reserve and preserve them for future generations,” said Mr Jennion.
“Volunteers have a constant job to keep invasive weeds out of the reserve or to minimise their impact,” he said.
“Weeds are constantly spreading from neighbouring residential properties which increases our workload, things like English ivy, sweet pittosporum and asparagus fern.”
Advocacy work has come hand in hand with the groups activities and Mr Jennion said highlights have included having a bridge installed over the creek and replacing old rotting bench seats.
“This was a positive impact for the local community that visit Koolunga Native Reserve and helps everyone to enjoy being out in nature,” he said.
President of Knox Environment Society Richard Faragher said they wish all the volunteers a very happy 30th birthday.
“This group has worked so hard to make their reserve an example of just what can be done by dedication and perseverance,” he said.
“The KES has been particularly pleased to help them increase the biodiversity of their reserve by supplying them with harder-to-source and grow resources such as Banksia marginata.”
“It’s one of the favourites of the Mr Jennion.”
Mr Jennion said the banksia marginata is quite loved by the local birds.
“It is a great replacement tree if you’re removing a weedy sweet pittosporum,” he said.
A key player of the group present was founding member Kathleen Loxton who was recently nominated for outstanding volunteer service in Knox.
In her time Ms Loxton has supervised numerous young people from local schools, Scouts, Guides, and groups involved in environmental projects in Koolunga.
The group will continue its vital work and meet regularly to maintain and preserve the local environment at Koolunga, meeting regularly each month every second Saturday at the reserve from 10am to 2pm at Old Forest Road in Ferntree Gully.
“One of the rewarding parts of my role is to see the positive impact on members of the community when they come together at our meetings to work on a task that benefits the environment.” said Mr Jennion.
“We always welcome new volunteers,” he said.
