September was a whirlwind of Postcard Art, exciting campaign developments and our AGM! Hence September's Paperbark is only reaching you now. We hope you don't mind.

Our 2020/21 Annual Report has just been released, and we're very excited to share it with you. It outlines a lot of activities that we are incredibly proud of from the last financial year. We hope you enjoy the read!

This edition of Paperbark is packed full of recommended reading, calls to action and date savers. Why not treat yourself? Find a quiet place and maximise your enjoyment of this humble newsletter - you won't regret it!

In this edition:

• NQCC Updates:
  
  • AGM
  • Tree Advocacy Update - have your say!
  • Burdekin Update
  • St Benedict's Ecofest
• Actions & Activities: 
  
  • Art Auction: Sat 9 Oct 6pm
  • School Strike 4 Climate: Fri 15 Oct 9am
  • Green Drinks: Fri 15 Oct 6pm
  • Pitch Your Project
  • Townsville Waterway Forum
• Further Reading & Events
• Support Us

NQCC UPDATES

Annual General Meeting

On Wednesday 29 September we held our backyard AGM, which was a great opportunity to catch up with our members and share some updates about our organisation and our work. We also tabled our Annual Report and elected a Management Committee for the next 12 months.

NQCC Management Committee 2021/22:

President: Chris Pam
Vice Presidents: Alastair Birtles and Matt Garbutt
Secretary: Peter Hanley
Treasurer: Andrea Ubillus 
Ordinary Members: Linda Davis, John Connell, Cam Leitch and Tom O'Grady

Tree Advocacy Update

Early in September, NQCC Coordinator Crystal and Bernadette Boscacci took the opportunity to present directly to Townsville City Council's Community Health, Safety and Environmental Sustainability Committee.

Most Councillors present were very receptive to our recommendations for their Tree Management Policy, and we were later informed that it would be opened up to community consultation. We see this as a very positive outcome.

Please take the time to make a submission by Wednesday 13 October, to ensure Townsville's Tree Management Policy is of the highest standard possible!

Some points you might want to strongly support in your submission:

• The proposed Significant Tree Register - ask that this be made public and allow residents to nominate trees for inclusion on the Register.
• Proper community consultation and full transparency in the management of all our significant trees.
• The inclusion of significant vegetation communities in the policy - not just trees.
• Vegetation protection bylaws, to ensure the policy is enforceable. 
• Anything else that you feel strongly about - show them that you care!

Banter with Bob & International Rivers Symposium

Kennedy MP Bob Katter has spoken out against NQCC this month, following our statements promoting the environmental value of the Burdekin River and advocating for an integrated management approach.

While we won't take any of his comments too hard ("lily-pad lefties" is a new one on us!), we chose to respond in the form of an open letter (intended for Bulletin readers), which unfortunately was only published in part by the Townsville Bulletin.

We shared it with the Bob on social media, but he hasn't taken us up on our offer to meet... yet.

Meanwhile, rooted in reality and science, NQCC was represented last weekend by John Connell at the International Rivers Symposium in Brisbane, where issues facing the Burdekin River were raised to an international audience. More on this to come!

St Benedict's Ecofest

Last month, students got to creatively express themselves and their love for nature at our stall at St Benedict's Ecofest!

They painted rocks with their favourite things from nature and learned about the impacts of climate change on vulnerable species by stretching lolly snakes to their maximum tolerance.

Thanks to St Benedict's for the opportunity and to Matthew Garbutt for volunteering your time to engage with the conservationists of the future!

ACTIONS & ACTIVITIES

Postcard Art Auction - Not to be missed!

On Friday 10 September, Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts was all abuzz for the opening of their current exhibitions, including our Postcard Art Exhibition - "Nature: the wonder and the tragedy". 

We invite you to visit the exhibition or view our online gallery and choose your favourite pieces in preparation for our Fundraising Auction on Saturday the 9th of October!

The Auction will run from 6pm at Umbrella, with 125 artworks to auction off to loving homes.

There are opportunities to volunteer on the night and information here about making a proxy bid if you can't join us at the auction. With any other queries, please contact Tiff at [email protected].

#SchoolStrike4Climate: Fri 15 Oct!

Townsville school students will be holding a climate strike from 9am at Strand Park on Friday 15 October.

You can show your support by joining the strike, painting a placard, volunteering on the day, or sharing the event with your networks! 

Want to help but don't have Facebook? Reach out to us and we can put you in touch with the organisers.

Green Drinks

Following a morning at Townsville's School Strike 4 Climate, what better way to see out the week than an evening with others who share your passion?

Green Drinks is an informal and friendly networking event for people who care for the environment. We always have laughs, stories and information to share with each other!

Our last Green Drinks attracted quite the crowd (in quality AND quantity!) and we were thrilled to welcome several first-timers. 

Due to September's success, October's Green Drinks will be held again at Grill'd in South Townsville, from 6pm on Friday 15th October. Don't forget to bring a friend! 

As a member of the Dry Tropics Partnership for Healthy Waters, we are proud to promote the following events coming up in October and November!

Pitch Your Project CompetitionDo you have an idea that:

• Addresses one or more impacts to waterway health in the Townsville region?
• Is new and innovative and may not have been trialled before in Townsville?
• Is a proactive solution that is data and evidence-driven?
• Is collaborative in nature and inclusive to a range of organisations in Townsville?

If the answer is yes to the above, then read further!

The Dry Tropics Partnership for Healthy Waters is offering organisations and individuals the chance to get creative and submit a project idea to help improve waterway health in the Townsville region. DTPHW will support the implementation of the preferred project and the winning pitch will receive up to $10,000 for the successful project.

Submissions are now OPEN and close on the 20th October 2021.

Townsville Waterway Forum

Dry Tropics Partnership for Healthy Waters is pleased to present the 2021 Townsville Waterway Forum: Our Waterways, Our Priorities, Our Futures.

This Forum will feature a hybrid program, with both speakers and workshop to highlight innovative solutions to waterway health and management actions in the Townsville region. This will be an opportunity to hear from experts and engage in discussions whilst networking with other water quality practitioners.

Date: Wednesday 10 November 2021
Time: 10am to 5pm
Location: Rydges Convention Centre, Palmer Street, South Townsville

Tickets start at $40 and are limited, so purchase yours today!

FURTHER READING & EVENTS

Volunteering opportunities for October:

• Sort coloured lids at Shed 3- various dates
• Mundy Creek Landcare - Sat 16 Oct, 4-6pm
• GBR Clean Up @ Ross Creek - Sat 16 Oct, 8am-12pm (hosted by ReefClean and Tangaroa Blue)
• Goondaloo Creek Clean Up - Sat 16 Oct, 8am (hosted by Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare Inc.)

Further recommended reading:

• Dry Tropics Partnership for Healthy Waters Newsletter
• Wildlife Qld Townsville Branch September Update

Together We Can is a collection of everyday people, groups and businesses from all over the country who want more action on climate change. You are invited to join them for their online launch event on Tuesday 5 October, 5.30-7pm Qld time. RSVP here. 

If our Postcard Art Exhibition has ignited (or reignited) a love of nature-inspired art for you, don't miss the Sixth Hinchinbrook Birdlife Art Awards, on display at TYTO Regional Art Gallery throughout October. 

Do you have something to share with fellow Paperbark readers? Let us know! Email Crystal at [email protected] with the details. 

SUPPORT NQCC

Donate your bottles and cans when your recycle them! Our ID number is C100 283 66.

Make a one-off or monthly donation! We are currently supported by 10 amazing monthly donors - could you be our next one? Donations are tax deductible and it's secure and hassle-free.

Become a member! Pay as you wish for annual membership and help to amplify our voice.

Volunteer your time or services! You could assist at events or offer your expertise on one of our subcommittees.

Thank you for everything you do to make a difference. We think you're amazing!

Yours naturally,

Crystal and Tiff
North Queensland Conservation Council