A packed program of activities has occupied Blue Mountains Bushcarers since the last issue of Gecko. It’s wonderful to have Erin back – she’s hit the ground running – getting our Geckos back in order, organising yet another fantastic annual Picnic and also the native Bees seminar. More details about all of this are inside this issue, and also on our new website: bushcarebluemountains.com.au which Erin has also been hard at work on,

together with Hugh Todd (Explorers Reserve Bushcare Group).

A temporary farewell to Tracy – she’s taking leave for 12 months, and we’ll be finalising her replacement as soon as we can. I hope to be able to tell all Tracy’s groups who will be working with you in Tracy’s absence soon.

A recent highlight of this Autumn (how warm and dry it’s been!) was a planting session at the Lone Pine Bushcare site in Leura. Bushcare and Blue Mountains Rotary arranged for a group of international Rotarians visiting the mountains to plant 100 tubes, enjoy morning tea and hear about the benefits of Bushcare. My special thanks to Ray Wiles from Rotary, and to Gil Appleton and David Churches.

Enjoy the frosty mornings and blue skies – I think the mountains are magic in winter, but perhaps that’s a topic for debate at your next bushcare   session! I hope to see you there soon.

Monica Nugent Acting Team Leader