Children entertained in arboretum

The Pearl Beach Kids Club, an initiative of the Pearl Beach Progress Association, entertained the children during the school holidays with a range of activities including a Walk on the Wildside in the Crommelin Native Arboretum.

A crowd of over 100 residents and visitors, including 54 young people, gathered for the walk through the flora and fauna bushland setting of the arboretum.

Small groups were escorted by arboretum volunteers on a walking adventure along the trails where they identified indigenous and botanical species including birds, insects and reptiles.

The culmination of the morning saw a presentation by reptile and amphibian expert, Mr Hal Cogger, who has a Bachelor of Science, Master of Science and Honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Sydney.

He was assisted by snake handler Mr Peter Street and together they presented a live demonstration and hands-on experience with a variety of reptiles including pythons, blue tongued lizard and a turtle.

"It was extremely satisfying to see the enthusiasm and excitement of the young people when they were able to touch and hold these wonderful examples from the reptile world," said Mr Cogger.

Pearl Beach Progress Association communications officer Ms Lynne Lillico said feedback from the participants was positive.

Many of the children and their parents had never experienced the arboretum or encountered hands-on interaction with live reptiles.

Each child was presented with a certificate to commemorate their visit.

The Crommelin Native Arboretum was originally land ravaged for 100 years by cattle grazing, cultivation, logging, floods and fire.

"The Arboretum was named after Minard Crommelin to honour the important role she played in conservation and environment matters well before they were popular, and for her role in preserving the land on the hillsides surrounding Pearl Beach as Warrah Sanctuary, which was later included in Brisbane Water National Park," she said.

The Arboretum was the beneficiary of two bequests in 1986 and 1988, 10 years after it had been established.

During the first 10 years, the Arboretum committee, a sub-committee of the Progress Association, had to raise its own funds to cover development and maintenance costs.

The first bequest was by a cousin of Minard Crommelin, Mary Hartvel, who migrated to Pearl Beach in 1963 where she purchased a property and lived until her death in 1986.

Mary's estranged husband, Carl Hartvel, also migrated to Australia and settled in Pearl Beach in 1964.

He subsequently bought a property adjacent to Mary's where he lived until his death in 1988.

Both of these properties were bequeathed to the Arboretum, now an incorporated body.

"The proceeds have been invested by the Arboretum and the income together with member's subscriptions and donations have been used to cover maintenance and improvement costs since then," said Ms Lillico.

Media Release, 31 Jan 2013

Lynne Lillico, Pearl Beach Progress Association