We hope this Gecko finds you well and ready for a new year of weeding, seed collection and a bit of picnicking.

At the end of 2015 we had to bid a fond farewell to Ray Richardson, a long term member of our Bushcare community when he departed the mountains for a sun-filled retirement in Albury Wodonga. As well as bushcaring, Ray spent many hours developing and updating our display materials and the BMCC weeds website. He will be sorely missed by the Homeschoolers Bushcare Group in Lawson, the Bushcare Network and the Bushcare Office.

As many of you know, Eric Mahony has been appointed to the position of Bushland Operations Coordinator. The Bushcare Team is very pleased to have the opportunity to work more closely with Eric, who has a wealth of experience in Bushland Management both from earlier roles with the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority, NPWS and as one of Council’s Bushland Management Officers for many years. Eric is coordinating all of the Council teams that carry out Council’s on-ground Bushland restoration works.

There is a series of workshops coming up this year, its called “Bushcare Boosters”. These half day training sessions will increase awareness of bushland management issues relevant to your Bushcare sites. Modules include: site planning; how and why to prepare; site safety; how to keep the group coming back; fauna management and really getting to know your site well. We’ll have more details very soon.

So now the festive season is over – its back to work!

– Monica & Erin, for the Bushcare Team, Feb 2016.