“Crawling around in the sand looking for weeds was so rewarding! But seriously, I was made to feel so welcome by everyone. It is great to do something for and with the community,” they said.

With a growing band of keen volunteers turning up for the monthly ‘bitou bash’ working bees, South West Rocks Community Dune Care is going from strength to strength. 

The next working bee is this Sunday, October 28.

Volunteers are welcome to join in between 9am and 12.30pm at Back Beach. An indulgent morning tea with barbecue and salad lunch are provided. 

There will also be a brief Annual General Meeting before lunch, where volunteers can join in as much or as little as they want.

“No-one gets roped into committee work or anything they don’t want to do,” said SWR Community Dune Care president Ian Burnett. “So volunteers can rest assured.”

For the September bitau bash, 31 volunteers turned up to remove an estimated 65,000 bitou bush seedlings over about 2.8 hectares at South Smoky Beach, in the gorgeous sunshine with the sound of surf crashing on the sand.

“We’re gradually working south along the beach dunes,” said secretary Alan Hill.

“Thanks to recent grants from the NSW Environmental Trust, we’re spreading our work further toward Hat Head. We’re nothing if not ambitious and I reckon we may even meet up with Hat Head Dune Care group half way along the beach one of these years.”

During September SWR Community Dune Care also hosted 10 visiting volunteers from Sydney and Grafton, who worked with locals in the mornings and enjoyed the Macleay Valley in the afternoons and evenings. Kempsey Shire Council is a big supporter of the community environmental group, so the volunteers removed lots of morning glory and other weeds from the native trees at the Boyters Lane bird hide.

“It’s outside the area we normally work,” said Alan Hill.

“But this beautiful native planting is such a terrific achievement by the Council, that we like to help out to repay their support.” 

This coming Sunday volunteers will continue transforming the Back Beach dunes from a weed-infested wasteland to a stunning stretch of coastal rainforest. Each volunteer can choose fairly gentle work (such as bagging senna and ochna seed pods), or anything up to a big work-out tackling large lantana and bitou bushes.

What to wear

To take part even for an hour or two, wear enclosed shoes or boots (not sandals), long pants, long sleeves, sunscreen, insect repellent, a hat and take water. Gloves, tools and training will be provided. There is no obligation to join the group permanently. 

Volunteers are asked to meet at the footbridge (opposite Tasty Treats café) at Back Creek off Buchanan Drive South West Rocks at 8.45am.

(If you prefer mid-week activity, Arakoon Bush Care welcomes volunteers each Wednesday morning from 8-10am, followed by morning tea. Contact National Parks and Wildlife Services Ranger Cath Ireland on 0459 846 833).

For more information please see Facebook SWRcommunitydunecare, or website  www.swrdc.com.au, or phone Alan Hill on 0419 012 640.