The creek in our own backyard
Anyone who ’ s visited Yarraman knows it ’ s a beautiful part of the region that ’ s famous for fresh air , wildlife and nature . One of our favourite spots in Yarraman is the picturesque Yarraman Creek which flows through the Errol Munt Sports Reserve .
In this edition of BOLD , we meet Sue and Scott Reilly , president and secretary of Friends of Yarraman Creek , a small volunteer group of enthusiastic retired local residents who have replenished and revitalised this ecologically significant part of their local community .
What are the main goals of Friends of Yarraman Creek ?
Our main goal is to protect this area through restoration . We do this by stabilising the ground , preventing erosion , creating shade , building biodiversity and increasing the structural integrity of the creek . We know nature will take care of itself , but we just give it a little nudge along .
The creek has astonishing biodiversity including platypuses that breed here and over 160 bird species not to mention the echidnas , redneck wallabies and yellow bellied gliders .
We established the group in August of 2012 after Scott and I moved to Yarraman and bought a property that backed onto the creek . We noticed the environmental significance to the area but saw that the creek was full of weeds , rubbish and had attracted an unsavoury element . It had so much potential , but the beauty of the place had nearly vanished .
How many volunteers have ?
We have between five and seven volunteers . We meet every Wednesday morning and go out and work beside the creek for a few hours . However , it ’ s not all about hard work . We also enjoy meeting people , sharing stories and having fun . We also have a Duke of Edinburgh Award student who comes and helps out here after school with planting and seeding . Restoration is a journey and we have discovered so much about nature and often , about ourselves . After each working bee there is an opportunity for members to stay , relax , have lunch and socialise .
Tell us about your recent win at the 2016 Healthy Waterways Award ?
We recently won the healthy waterways stewardship award for 2016 . We were recognised for our efforts to protect this part of the world . We spent over 2,500 hours removing weeds and planting native vegetation and successfully restored this area to its former glory . For us to win is wonderful , as we are not supported by a University like many of the other groups . We were all simply thrilled to win it .
What are the challenges that your group is facing ?
We have climatic challenges , occasional floods and dry periods . Thankfully , we ’ re all able to meet these challenges by working with nature and implementing ways to resolve the challenges . We focus on recreating the opportunities for natural systems to restore themselves .
Yarraman is a great spot for a picnic or a rest on your drive up north . Take advantage of the hard work by the Friends of Yarraman Creek and enjoy the rich wildlife and beautiful plants . We hope the wonderful group of volunteers inspire you to get closer to nature and appreciate its beauty . For more information on the Friends of Yarraman Creek Group , visit www . facebook . com / yarramancreek4614
12 www . tr . qld . gov . au / bold BOLD .