The rain had only just eased enough for us to gather for our first Green Drinks of the year. There was something fitting about that - the air still heavy, the ground freshly washed - as new and familiar faces came together in community.

We were honoured to welcome Max Lenoy as our speaker for the evening. Max has recently joined NQCC as a Management Committee member and brings deep experience as a curriculum specialist in Indigenous education.

I hope our first edition of Paperbark for 2026 finds you refreshed, rejuvenated and ready for anything!

If you've entered the new year with a strong desire to: learn new skills, meet new people, live your values, take action in your community, or simply spend more time in nature, then we've got you sorted!

This year promises to be filled with opportunities to "think global, act local", with hands-on conservation activities, citizen science, political advocacy, fundraising, film nights, networking and more!

We look forward to having you join us this year in our strategic efforts for stronger nature protection and climate action. Thanks for standing with us!

- Crystal, NQCC Coordinator

Around 20 locals gathered for our final Green Drinks of the year to hear from Diana Condylas of Plastic Free Townsville (Boomerang Alliance). It was an evening filled with important updates, practical ideas, and great conversation about how we can all help create a low-waste future - at home, in our workplaces, and across the community.

AGMs at NQCC are never boring! We make them fun, friendly, and a chance to connect with our community. This year was no exception – with good food (thanks to our amazing volunteer and Treasurer, Monita), plenty of conversation, and a warm atmosphere that reflects the spirit of NQCC.

At this month’s Green Drinks we were grateful to be joined by Kara-Mae Coulter-Atkins and Dinny Taylor from the Healthy Waterways Partnership for the Dry Tropics, along with our current NQCC interns, to unpack the latest Dry Tropics Waterways Report Card.

Last week’s Green Drinks at the Commonwealth Hotel was one of those slightly warmer winter nights that made it easy to settle into good company and meaningful conversations. We were especially pleased to welcome Juanita and Sandra from Social Workers for Climate Action — a powerful alliance of social work practitioners, students, educators and researchers based at JCU, committed to recognising climate change as an environmental, social justice and human rights issue.

Despite a rainy day, the skies cleared just in time for a very special edition of Green Drinks by the Sea - and something was truly in the air. We were thrilled to welcome many new faces, alongside familiar friends we hadn’t seen for a while. It’s clear: our movement is growing.

This month, we were joined by two outstanding local champions for the ocean: Dr. Adam Smith and Jacinta Jefferies, representing both Reef Ecologic and the Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA). From marine science to underwater sculptures, their work beautifully connects community, creativity, and conservation.

With the cooler weather settling in, our latest Green Drinks at Grill’d felt extra cozy and comfortable—perfect for meaningful conversation and connection. We welcomed 19 attendees, including some new faces, proving once again that Green Drinks is a great space for locals to meet, share, and learn together.

This month’s guest was Peter Hanley from Amnesty International Townsville, a long-time advocate for human rights and committed community volunteer.

We were thrilled to gather once again at Grill’d for our latest Green Drinks, this time featuring an inspiring talk by Jason Lange, co-founder of Atlas Soils. With 25 attendees, the evening was filled with great conversations, new connections, and a deeper dive into the power of regenerative soil practices. Plus, we welcomed six new sign-ups to our NQCC newsletter.