A favourite time of year for many, June has brought us EcoFiesta, Reconciliation Week, a Member Gathering and our biggest Community Garage Sale yet!
The action has been a little bittersweet though, as we farewell Luna, who has brought so much to our organisation over the past two years and will be sorely missed.
Funding long-term positions in organisations like ours can be really tough. That's why we're so grateful to everyone who has supported our fundraising efforts this year. With just hours to go, we're inching ever closer to our EOFY target, and donations are always welcome!
It's a jam-packed update this month, but before we dive into it I want to thank everyone who made a submission to the State Development Bill last week. The Bill aims to undermine environment and community to fast track development, and we're determined to stop it.
If you didn't get a chance to make a submission, don't worry - I suspect there will be plenty of opportunities for us to raise our voices together in the months ahead.
Thank you for all that you do. Please enjoy this edition of Paperbark.
Crystal, NQCC Coordinator
In this edition:
- Take Action
- Join Greening for Shade
- Protect Beautiful Queensland
- Report Koala sightings
- Wongalee Wind Farm: public comment
- Upcoming Events
- Youth Advocacy Workshop
- NAIDOC Celebrations
- NQCC Updates
- Heat petition update
- Green chats at EcoFiesta
- Members Event
- Reconciliation with TMSG
- Garage Sale success
- Rotary Club connection
- Qld Community Alliance
- Qld Budget Wrap
- Our Little Street Library
- Other Opportunities
- Town Common Walk & Talk
- Creekwatch on Yunbenun
- Conversations Training
- Connect with local groups
TAKE ACTION
Support the Campaign
If you believe Townsville City Council and other councils in our region should develop Greening Strategies, please throw your support behind our campaign!
Add your name to the bottom of our campaign page and share with a friend! Want to get more involved? Join our next volunteer meeting:
Campaign Meeting
2 - 3.30pm Sat 11 July
Queens Gardens, North Ward
Please RSVP by replying to this email
| ENDORSE THE CAMPAIGN |
Protect Places
NQCC has just joined the Protect Beautiful Queensland Alliance - and we're keen to get to work!
The Qld Government has just committed $111 million for growing protected areas, and we don't want the North to miss out!
Keen to get out and chat to other nature-lovers about the value of protected areas? Sign up to volunteer!
| SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER! |
Report Koala Sightings
Have you spotted koalas on the mainland recently? We know they are rare - but they are there!
If you spot a wild koala on the mainland, report it in the QWildlife app. This important data can help track the movements of local koala populations, and perhaps help protect their habitat!
Have Your Say
Wongalee Wind Farm is currently undergoing environmental assessments, and is open for public comment until 5pm Tuesday 7 July.
Located on Yirendali Country near Prairie, it is designed to operate alongside existing agricultural land uses and generate up to 1.4GW of energy. Project documents can be found here.
| LEARN MORE & HAVE YOUR SAY |
UPCOMING EVENTS
Youth Workshop
Do you have a young aspiring activist in your life, aged 9-16? We would love to meet them!
In August, we're co-hosting a screening of Damon Gameau's "Future Council" - an inspiring doco about youth holding powerful people to account.
In the next few weeks, we're meeting with as many students as possible to learn what matters to them, and to introduce them to advocacy.
Youth Advocacy Workshop
10am-11.30am Sunday 19 July
NQCC office, Railway Estate
| LEARN MORE & REGISTER |
50 Years of NAIDOC
Help celebrate culture, connection, history and achievement with Townsville NAIDOC!
Flag Raising Event
8.30-11am Sunday 5 July
Jezzine Barracks
Community March
9.30am Friday 10 July
Hinchinbrook Dr & Thuringowa Dr roundabout
Deadly Day Out (Community Event)
11am - 4pm Fri 10 July
Riverway Parklands
| LEARN MORE |
NQCC UPDATES
Feeling the Heat
1,571 Queenslanders signed onto our parliamentary petition calling for heat to be recognised as a natural hazard. Thank you to everyone who signed on! You can read the Deputy Premier's response here.
We don't trust that a review of the State Planning Policy will deliver for nature or climate adaptation. It's vital that local governments are on the front foot! It might even be time for Councils to start developing greening strategies to future-proof their communities...
Greening Chats at EcoFiesta
NQCC's EcoFiesta stall was pumping all day long, with face-painting, interactive displays and LOTS of chats about the need for a Townsville Greening Strategy!
Everyone we spoke to agreed that strategic greening around Townsville would boost wellbeing, amenity and help keep us safe from worsening heat.
Big thanks to our awesome volunteers - you brought smiles to many faces!
| READ ABOUT THE DAY AND OUR CAMPAIGN |
Members Event
Our biannual Member Events are always a highlight for us, but this one was a little bittersweet, as Luna's last one as our Community Campaigner!
Hearts and spirits were warmed by presentations, interactive surveys, woodfired pizza and plenty of great conversation with familiar faces - and fresh ones, too!
Thank you to everyone who was able to join us in thanking Luna, celebrating our wins and helping us gear up for the future.
| READ ABOUT THE NIGHT |
"All In" for Reconciliation
This year's Reconciliation Week theme (All In) inspired us to reach out to Townsville Multicultural Support Group, to connect some of the newest members of our community with some of the oldest enduring cultures in the world - right here on this continent.
This was a truly moving experience for so many of us involved. We look forward to walking together towards Reconciliation.
| READ MORE |
Thank You!
A huge thank you to everyone who donated, shopped, volunteered, spread the word, or lend us equipment - you helped make our Community Garage Sale a success!
Hundreds of volunteer hours made this event possible, raising over $6,500 to support NQCC's work, while giving pre-loved treasures a loving new home!
We hope to be back next year, so if you have any ideas for us, we'd love to hear them!
Rotary for Resilience
Addressing the Rotary Club of Mundingburra last week inspired an important take-away for all of us: organisations like Rotary are more important than ever for fostering community connection and resilience in a changing climate.
It was a pleasure discussing local environmental issues, and we look forward to growing this partnership in future!
Powerful Partnerships
As a member of the Queensland Community Alliance, we've seen unlikely partnerships take our work to new levels!
The best part? Any NQCC member can play a role! Greg has done just that, and he's shared his thoughts to inspire you! Keep an eye out for updates so you can get behind this important work.
| READ WHY IT MATTERS |
Budget Wrap
We were glad to see money for nature in Queensland's latest budget - particularly $330.5 million for reef water quality and $111 million for expanding protected areas.
On the other hand, oil production in the Taroom Trough will be funded with $19 million and $1.8 billion continues to prop up our ageing coal power stations - with no support for renewable energy.
A Spark of Joy
We all know that closer communities are powerful for climate adaptation and environmental protection. And a good book is good for the soul!
Say hello to NQCC's brand new (pre-loved) Little Street Library! Please feel free to swap a book if you're visiting or passing by.
Shout out to our supporter who donated it, and to the volunteers who painted it so beautifully and installed it so securely. It's a little spark of joy for us and our whole neighbourhood!
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
Town Common: Walk & Talk
In small groups, you'll explore the wetlands, mangroves and bird habitats of the Townsville Town Common. Along the way, you'll hear from local experts who are caring for these ecosystems, learn about their importance to our region, and see how you can get involved in citizen science.
Delivered by Healthy Waters Partnership Dry Tropics, Birdlife Australia, NQ Dry Tropics, Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare & EarthWatch Australia.
Various times available on Thurs 9 July. Bookings are essential.
| REGISTER |
Creekwatch on Yunbenun
Join OzFish in the monitoring of seven sites around the Island, over two days - including lab sampling, probe testing, fish and macroinvertebrate monitoring and riparian zone analysis.
Please bring enclosed shoes that can get wet, sun protection and drinking water.
When: 8am-2pm Fri 3 July
Where: Magnetic Island Ferry Terminal, Nelly Bay
When: 8am-12:30pm Sat 4 July
Where: Peterson Creek mouth at Geoffrey Bay, Marine Parade, Arcadia
| REGISTER HERE |
Conversations Training
Join Common Threads for training in values-based conversations to address the rise of the far-right.
You may have seen the latest polling showing growing support for far-right politicians in Australia. We're worried about what these extreme and perhaps widespread views could mean for social justice and the future.
Register for free and jump online to learn how to have values based conversations to help navigate some of the divisive talking points you might be hearing from friends or family.
What: Conversations Training
Where: Online (register for the ink)
When: 3pm Saturday 18 July
| REGISTER FOR FREE |
Connect with Local Groups
Looking to spend more time in nature during the cooler months? These local organisations hold regular meetings, walks, working bees and other activities to help connect you with our beautiful region and community!
Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare Inc. (CDTLI)
Wildlife Queensland - Townsville Branch
Native Plants Queensland - Townsville Branch
You can also find volunteering opportunities on the Townsville Environment and Volunteering Hub by the Healthy Waters Partnership for the Dry Tropics.
FURTHER READING
Australians taking legal action
on climate crisis
The Guardian
| READ |
What North Queensland thinks of Rinehart's idea of giving islands to Musk for satellite launches
ABC NEWS
| READ |
Farewell for now
As I wrap up my time as Community Campaigner at NQCC, I want to say a heartfelt thank you for welcoming me into this wonderful community. It has been a privilege to get to know so many passionate people and to support you in being a strong voice for nature. NQCC plays a unique and important role in North Queensland, and I am incredibly proud of what we've achieved together. I won't be far away, so if you'd like to stay in touch, I'd love to connect with you on LinkedIn.
Did You Know...?
It has never been easier to leave NQCC a gift in your will. This simple step can be undertaken any time, and will give you peace of mind that your passion for conserving nature will be a part of your legacy.
Even a small gift can be transformational for an organisation like ours. Learn more on our website, and reach out if you'd like to chat.
| LEARN MORE |
We work on the lands of the Wulgurukaba and Bindal Peoples, and acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of all North Queensland nations. First Nations sovereignty was never ceded. North Queensland always was and always will be Aboriginal land.
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