FRIENDS of MARY - Wandering Weeders

A true friend of MARY

The River Walk is a great new experience, letting us get down to see the Mary River. We have watched the transformation following the removal of the impenetrable thickets of invasive weed species, including Cat’s Claw Creeper, Balloon Vine, Morning Glory, and all those Chinese Elms and seen all the replanting with plants which originally would have grown all along the Mary River banks.

Last year, Local Graham Parr was one man who walked the Walk, and watched the revegetation, and when he noticed that weedy vines were beginning to grow back over the newly planted trees, he started to weed them out. Friends were recruited to help, and a group was formed, under the auspices of MRCCC, “Friends of Mary – Wandering Weeders.”  They meet on the first Saturday of the month, at first in the afternoon, but when the heat started, now at 7.30 am.

As the dry Winter became a very dry Spring, Graham noticed plants suffering, so he started to hand water, filling his car boot with 2 litre bottles of water, lovingly carried to each little plant. “The Lord helps those who help themselves”, and so it came to pass!  Graham, working with MRCCC received a grant from the BMRG – Burnett Mary Regional Group, to buy a pump, hoses, buckets and weeding tools.

Graham and Chris with the new pump

At the first weeding day of 2020, the Wandering Weeders were delighted to get the pump set up at the weir and give the little plants a good drink. 60 metres of hose wasn’t quite long enough, but the dedicated Weeders formed a Bucket Brigade, finding the Lomandras, Figs, Casuarinas, Red Cedars and other plants amongst the long grasses, which are not being removed, as they are needed to provide soil stability until the native revegetation can establish.

Gerard & Graham priming the pump

Many of the Weeders are members of the Gympie and District Field Naturalists Club, but are still only a very small group, and would very much welcome help from anyone who is moderately fit.          ( Key Selection Criterion- “ can you climb a bank while carrying a bucket of water?”)

Many hands make light work

Meeting at the Gympie Touch Football Club, at 7.30 on the first Saturday of the month. Protective clothing is recommended, and you are welcome to bring your weapon of choice, (hoe, mattock, secateurs). Please contact Graham Parr for more information on 0418 151 049.