Arboretum elects committee and appoints life member

The Pearl Beach Arboretum has elected a new committee at its annual meeting held at the Pearl Beach Memorial Hall on Sunday, October 27.

Office-bearers are president Ms Mary Knaggs, vice-president Mr Phil Rich, secretary Ms Victoria Crawford, treasurer Ms Frances Alter, IT manager and membership secretary Mr Gary Phillips and event manager Ms Di Swalwell.

Ordinary committee members elected were Mr Robert Payne, Ms Mary Van Der Westhuyzen, Ms Carolyn Marks, Ms Marijke Greenway, Ms Rachel Shea, Ms Gaby Crompton, botanist Ms Robyn McConachie and sculptor Ms Gaby Porter.

As well as being elected secretary, former president Ms Crawford was appointed an honorary life member.

Ms Knaggs said: "Victoria joined the Arboretum in 1995 and the Arboretum management committee in 2014.

"Victoria became treasurer in 2015 and president in 2019.

"She has remained an outstanding president for the last six years, during which time she has balanced her work with the Arboretum with challenging roles on the Pearl Beach Progress Association.

"Victoria has outstanding skills in leadership and project management and financial management.

"She is always willing to listen and to give frank and fearless advice and propose innovative solutions to problems as they arise."

SOURCE:

Website, 29 Oct 2024

Mary Knaggs, Pearl Beach Arboretum

First adventure with Clean4Shore

A cloudy, windy morning greeted the students and staff from Aspect Learning Centre on their first adventure with Clean4shore on Monday, November 4.

Wetsuits, booties and personal protective equipment were checked by the supervising staff, then it was off to Pelican island at Woy Woy, and into the mangroves, said Clean4Shore co-ordinator Mr Graham "Jono" Johnston.

"Chairs, pallet, beer keg, timber and six bags of small litter were collected by the team covering 200 metres of foreshore adjacent to Lion Park," he said.

"Further into the mangroves and on the high tidal marks, small hard plastics, mostly lids, lighters, pieces of hard plastic were collected plus soft plastics, balls and plastic bottles.

"Rileys Island was the next target, on the southern end adjacent to St Huberts Island."

Items found there included a damaged fibreglass tender, timber, drums, buckets and building plywood, which was loaded on board.

Mr Johnston said litter was still present on the western end of Rileys Island, and Paddy's Channel also required a clean.

A load of 220kg was delivered to Woy Woy tip.

SOURCE:

Social media, 4 Nov 2024

Graham Johnston, Clean4shore