It is with great pleasure that I can report once again that the NVCA has steadfastly pursued its agenda for a truly sustainable future over the past 12 months thanks to its small band of dedicated active members.

I would like to sincerely thank the outgoing executive committee - Georgie Allen for her secretarial work, often an onerous task, Carol our treasurer who once again has kept the books in order in such a professional way, vice president Phil Margolis and committee members Paul & Rhonda Davies, Wendy Wedge and Lyn Orrego.

Our SIGS project and GE Free Nambucca Campaign have been a significant focus this year, with the capable Kelly Tudhope at the helm.  With the help of the SIGS team in particular Lyn, Kelly has made solid progress on preparation of the academic paper and educational kits, whilst in her spare time growing a baby.  We are now working with consultants Up & Up to finalise design elements and formatting of the kits.  As part of the process Up & UP are assisting us to develop a new ‘look and feel’ which will be themed through the kits and adaptable to all future NVCA public material.  This will be very useful for our new website.  We are also developing an exciting new logo, as part of our image.  So thanks Kelly and crew for the brilliant effort to date towards a GE Free Nambucca.

The Sustainable Backyard day at Valla Beach in June was a roaring success thanks to the diligent work of organiser Rhonda Davies and her team.  This was Rhonda’s brainchild and after much thought and planning, the day had a bright and optimistic feel just as she had wanted.  We receive much positive feedback and requests for NVCA to hold a regular event.  Although we can all see the enormous benefits of holding more events and perhaps combining them our True Food Fairs, such days require enormous effort and will need careful thought, if we are not to burn out our already busy members.  Good on you Rhonda for a great idea and fantastic day.

In July the NVCA and NV Landcare launched the long awaited Nambucca Valley Vegetation Planting Guide, which provides much needed information about native species growing in the valley, as well as advice about environmental weeds and vegetation laws and policies relevant to the shire.  It has been very well received with copies at the libraries being taken up within a fortnight.  Thankyou Joy for your hard work on this wonderful free publication.

NVCA members participated in a couple of local actions last year.  We along with a number of residents gathered at the two old growth cabbage gums at the northern entrance to Nambucca Heads to voice objections to council’s proposal to destroy these majestic icons.  Some councillors thought they posed a danger to cars and people despite them being in a broad road reserve with no public facilities or car parking in the vicinity.  Our protest, media coverage, letters and petitions convinced the Council to back off and our icon trees continue to proudly stand at the gateway to our biggest town.

In august we joined with the Philosophers Café to host a morning tea for a hardy band of young anti nuclear cyclists as they cycled through the Shire on their way to Canberra.  Their trip covered 4,500km and finished in Adelaide on Nov 11.  It was encouraging to see such committed young people, determined to get the message out to as many as possible about the global threat of nuclear power and in particular the Federal Government’s proposal for 25 nuclear reactors along the east coast.  We gathered at the ‘Nuclear Free Nambucca Shire’ sign by the highway in Macksville and made the most of the media opportunity to reconfirm our commitment to a nuclear free shire.

Our equipment pool was expanded with the purchase of a digital scanner, digital project, a gas BBQ and a number of books and DVDs.  Thankyou, to those who researched prices and secured the best deals.

I would especially like to thank Wendy Wedge our quiet achiever, who has done so much this year.  Apart from being on the executive committee, Wendy has taken on website management, produces our regular newsletter, manages memberships and the asset register, organised the True Food Fair, assists on the SIGS team and any other thing she can possible help with…you’re an absolute angel Wendy, thankyou so much!

I would also like to acknowledge the work of our representatives on various committees.  Paul Davies on Council’s often feisty Estuary & Coastline Management Committee, Joy the NCC/NVCA rep on the Nambucca Bushfire Management Committee and Georgie on the Integrated Water Cycle Management Committee (whatever that was).

My return to the nursing workforce in March last year was the most challenging thing I have ever done.  I’m almost embarrassed to say that money is a wonderful motivator!  My time has certainly been stretched to accommodate training and shift work in my already hectic life and there is no doubt that my NVCA time (not to mention my partner Mark) has suffered over these last 10 months.  Thankyou all for being so understanding when I have not returned emails, responded to calls or acted on matters as promptly as I used to!  Hopefully as things settle down I will find a balance of workloads once again.

NVCA is a strong and respected group.  In particular our active members are a determined band of conservationists, whom I believe through the various experiences we’ve shared over the year, have an ever greater appreciation and respect for one and other.  I am proud of our integrity and deep sense of team work.  We have made real progress this year and all deserve to enjoy the pleasure of knowing the local environment is better off for our efforts.

Thankyou everyone for a great year in the NVCA.

Paula Flack

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