"We don't want to put any volunteers off," said SWR Community Dune Care president Ian Burnett. "So we never want to make anyone feel guilty for not turning up if rain is threatening, nor for finishing early. Restoring native bushland is meant to be fun, after all, that's why we maintain such a big turnout of volunteers for our working bees."

This month will be a true 'bitou bash' working bee at South Smoky Beach on Sunday May 23 from 9am to 1pm.

Volunteers will walk along the beach dunes plucking seedlings of the invasive weed bitou bush, following up on the work of previous years.

"Bitou bush was the yellow-flowering weed which inspired a few people to start our volunteer group over 25 years ago," Ian said. "It was smothering all the native plants across the beach dunes and headlands over kilometres of coastline, and completely taking over the landscape.

"Volunteers started 'bashing' it in strategic areas and over time, with the help of significant grants from the NSW Environmental Trust, we've got to the stage that it's hard to find any bitou in many areas of the coast we care for. It's a real testament to the power of people working together to change what seemed like a hopeless situation."

If you'd like to join in on May 23 at South Smoky, this stretch of beach south of the lighthouse is spectacular, with crashing surf and amazing birdlife. And if you're lucky you may even spot a migrating whale.

You don't need to know anything about native plants and weeds, as training is provided.

"We're always happy to welcome new volunteers," Ian said. "And no one is obliged to join the group permanently. We understand people have busy lives, and some volunteers come only once or twice a year. We're happy with that - even an hour or two can make a big difference."

If you'd like to try your hand at Dune Care, 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.

Social distancing will be observed, and if COVID-19 restrictions at the time allow, a delicious morning tea and barbecue and salad lunch will be provided.

"We reckon our fabulous food is another reason our volunteers keep coming back every month," Ian said.

South West Rocks Community Dune Care has major funding from the NSW Environmental Trust to pay for bush regeneration contractors to tackle the large infestations of weeds. They also have an impressive turnout of keen volunteers who follow up the contractors' work and maintain it.

They have achieved award-winning success restoring huge areas of publicly owned bushland over 16 kilometres of coastline from the mouth of the Macleay River to south of Smoky Cape lighthouse over more than 25 years. The community group is also supported by National Parks and Wildlife Service, Kempsey Shire Council and Local Land Services North Coast.

Volunteers are asked to meet at 8.45am sharp on May 23 at the beach access track in South Smoky Campground off Lighthouse Rd, Arakoon.

For more information see Facebook SWRcommunitydunecare, or phone Alan Hill on 0419 012-640.

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