Crooked Brook Forest Group
July 2014
Parkfield Planters in the forest
Thursday 26th June saw about 90 Year Five students from Parkfield Primary School venture out into our forest. They were accompanied by three teachers and about a dozen parent helpers. Whilst the forecast was for showers they were fortunate enough to dodge the very few spittings that were around. This is the eighth year that Parkfield Planters have been coming out and helping us with the revegetation of the old bare gravel pits. This year they planted about 380 seedlings in the lower car park alongside where the 2007 boys and girls (now Year 12s) had planted theirs. If you wander out there you may find a clay marker or three indicating the student and the rehabilitation year. Their efforts have been very successful with several of the older plants stretching toward 6m. In addition to planting they undertook an investigative walk to the lookout and dabbed the dam for freshwater aquatic macro-invertebrate species which they identified.
Our Association has really appreciated the rehabilitation work that the Parkfield Teachers have led. It has been great to have had such enthusiastic and well behaved children in our forest and they have made a huge difference to our forest environment. Good for you Parkfield!
Check out our new website. Tina Garbelini has set up the new version, it looks great. http://crookedbrookforest.weebly.com/
The Association is always keen to welcome new members, join us for a busy bee or to just find out what is going on contact me on 9728 0490 or [email protected]
Parkfield Planters in the forest
Thursday 26th June saw about 90 Year Five students from Parkfield Primary School venture out into our forest. They were accompanied by three teachers and about a dozen parent helpers. Whilst the forecast was for showers they were fortunate enough to dodge the very few spittings that were around. This is the eighth year that Parkfield Planters have been coming out and helping us with the revegetation of the old bare gravel pits. This year they planted about 380 seedlings in the lower car park alongside where the 2007 boys and girls (now Year 12s) had planted theirs. If you wander out there you may find a clay marker or three indicating the student and the rehabilitation year. Their efforts have been very successful with several of the older plants stretching toward 6m. In addition to planting they undertook an investigative walk to the lookout and dabbed the dam for freshwater aquatic macro-invertebrate species which they identified.
Our Association has really appreciated the rehabilitation work that the Parkfield Teachers have led. It has been great to have had such enthusiastic and well behaved children in our forest and they have made a huge difference to our forest environment. Good for you Parkfield!
Check out our new website. Tina Garbelini has set up the new version, it looks great. http://crookedbrookforest.weebly.com/
The Association is always keen to welcome new members, join us for a busy bee or to just find out what is going on contact me on 9728 0490 or [email protected]
June 2014
Our Association held one of our regular General Meetings on the first Friday in June. A good group were involved in receiving several reports and of course enjoying the homemade casseroles and desserts. My Chairman’s report contained the following comments concerning two of our well known members:
Ray Poad.
Today Ray Poad was buried at the Dardanup Cemetery. He was buried next to his brother Alex who had died three years earlier. I guess that is the end of an era for this locality, the Poad Brothers. A number of our group were in attendance. Ray died a week ago after having been admitted to care following a short period in residence in Australind. Ray was a founding member of this group. If you check out the Crooked Brook website you will see an image of his tractor at busy bees in the very early times. He certainly made a significant contribution.
Chris Shine. On the other hand Chris Shine is still alive today. Last Saturday his beloved Red Beechcraft dropped the number 5 con-rod and he then lost power somewhere over the Moody Cow. The Beechcraft needs about 350m to land and as the paddocks around are all too small he had to make a forced landing with wheels up. Applying all his training and skills he managed to land and survive. Vicki and I dropped in this morning; he is nursing a significant foot injury, bruising and abrasions but is happy to be alive. The Beechcraft, does not look so good. I, like many, will miss the glorious sound of that beautiful 9 cylinder radial engine.
So that is the good and bad news. We are developing the plan for the recognising of the 20 years of Crooked Brook Forest community activity. We will miss Ray, but perhaps we can arrange a fly over from Chris?
The Association is always keen to welcome new members, join us for a busy bee or to just find out what is going on contact me on 9728 0490 or [email protected]
Our Association held one of our regular General Meetings on the first Friday in June. A good group were involved in receiving several reports and of course enjoying the homemade casseroles and desserts. My Chairman’s report contained the following comments concerning two of our well known members:
Ray Poad.
Today Ray Poad was buried at the Dardanup Cemetery. He was buried next to his brother Alex who had died three years earlier. I guess that is the end of an era for this locality, the Poad Brothers. A number of our group were in attendance. Ray died a week ago after having been admitted to care following a short period in residence in Australind. Ray was a founding member of this group. If you check out the Crooked Brook website you will see an image of his tractor at busy bees in the very early times. He certainly made a significant contribution.
Chris Shine. On the other hand Chris Shine is still alive today. Last Saturday his beloved Red Beechcraft dropped the number 5 con-rod and he then lost power somewhere over the Moody Cow. The Beechcraft needs about 350m to land and as the paddocks around are all too small he had to make a forced landing with wheels up. Applying all his training and skills he managed to land and survive. Vicki and I dropped in this morning; he is nursing a significant foot injury, bruising and abrasions but is happy to be alive. The Beechcraft, does not look so good. I, like many, will miss the glorious sound of that beautiful 9 cylinder radial engine.
So that is the good and bad news. We are developing the plan for the recognising of the 20 years of Crooked Brook Forest community activity. We will miss Ray, but perhaps we can arrange a fly over from Chris?
The Association is always keen to welcome new members, join us for a busy bee or to just find out what is going on contact me on 9728 0490 or [email protected]
March 2014
A trip out to the Crooked Brook Forest will reveal our recent progress. The car park had to be changed a bit as there was too small a turning circle for the bigger busses. That has now been completed. The car bays are now bollarded and there is loads of parking space for you. There is still quite a deal of planting to take place to bring the surrounds of the parking area back to a natural undisturbed setting and our busy bee volunteers will rip the ground, spread topsoil and plant seedlings to get it off to a good start. That will take place this winter.
We have recently installed a new footbridge on the “Jarrah walk” because the old stepping stones were often submerged in winter. The new bridge will make the trail easy for all, wet and dry weather. Try it out!
Plans for a nature based playing equipment that may amuse the younger folk while adults chew the cud at the picnic tables will be discussed at the next committee meeting. This will be a significant project for and will involve a good number of busy bees, led of course by Rob Dixon.
Later in the year we will be celebrating the 20th year that this volunteer group has been operating. Can you imagine that, a group of volunteers consistently making a difference for 20 years?
Our visitor book comments reveal that Anne and Tessie write most often and that our forest attracts people from all over the world.
The Association is always keen to welcome new members, join us for a busy bee or to just find out what is going on contact Peter Robinson, Chairman 9728 0490 or [email protected]
A trip out to the Crooked Brook Forest will reveal our recent progress. The car park had to be changed a bit as there was too small a turning circle for the bigger busses. That has now been completed. The car bays are now bollarded and there is loads of parking space for you. There is still quite a deal of planting to take place to bring the surrounds of the parking area back to a natural undisturbed setting and our busy bee volunteers will rip the ground, spread topsoil and plant seedlings to get it off to a good start. That will take place this winter.
We have recently installed a new footbridge on the “Jarrah walk” because the old stepping stones were often submerged in winter. The new bridge will make the trail easy for all, wet and dry weather. Try it out!
Plans for a nature based playing equipment that may amuse the younger folk while adults chew the cud at the picnic tables will be discussed at the next committee meeting. This will be a significant project for and will involve a good number of busy bees, led of course by Rob Dixon.
Later in the year we will be celebrating the 20th year that this volunteer group has been operating. Can you imagine that, a group of volunteers consistently making a difference for 20 years?
Our visitor book comments reveal that Anne and Tessie write most often and that our forest attracts people from all over the world.
The Association is always keen to welcome new members, join us for a busy bee or to just find out what is going on contact Peter Robinson, Chairman 9728 0490 or [email protected]