by Heather Anderson

The Dignams Creek Community Group AGM was held early this year to avoid the bitter cold that usually accompanies it. While the formalities are important, it was also great to take stock of what our community has achieved over the previous year and delight in many homemade treats.

Our outgoing President Sally gave a summary of highlights for the group including our very successful car boot sale and raffle as part of the National Garage Sale Trail that raised over $2300 to contribute to the ever-increasing insurance costs to keep our group running. The Feed Diggies sub-group continued to share the bounty from their fruit and veg gardens through the Share Shed and are making plans for their next working bee.

An update on the Nest Box project designed to provide opportunities for nesting yellow-tailed black cockatoos, glossy black cockatoos, yellow-bellied gliders and greater gliders emphasised the importance of the rare pockets of undisturbed habitat around Diggies. Residents have noticed changes in the patterns and species of birds at the creek, especially the increase in sulphur-crested cockatoos from up the valley. Fortunately for the cockies (unfortunately for the humans) there have been several raids on citrus and nut trees, leaving shredded leftovers in their path. This shifting pattern may be due to the loss of feed trees following the fires, with flocks finding a gold mine of delicious backyard fruit trees instead.

The Dignams Creek Landcare Group held a working bee targeting weeds in one of the small tributaries flowing into the creek – vinca, wild tobacco, turkey rhubarb and honeysuckle. The group also held a community event covering mapping and treating weeds, our successful grant and birdlife in the creek.

The bridgework continues and while an inconvenience for residents past Boundary Bridge, we have been lucky to secure some of the old bridge timbers to build a long table for use by our community. A trusty team was formed to go and take a look at the timbers and make a plan for the table.

The election of office bearers was a topic of much discussion, and after some toing, froing and reluctant acceptances our group is represented by Heather (President), Suzannah (Vice President), William (Secretary), Fiona (Treasurer) and Sally-Anne (Public Officer). A big thank you to outgoing President Sally and we look forward to seeing what the next year will bring!

Images

(Top) The AGM. Photo: Kate Gooden

(Bottom) Vice President of DCCG Suzannah and President Heather. Photo: Emma Anderson