Bush for Life under threat

A small but dedicated group of volunteers works at Wirra Birra each fortnight, pushing back the weeds and helping to maintain the quality of the bush. Mostly retired, our volunteers put in a solid morning's work every couple of weeks, and form a vital part of our larger bushcare strategy.

The volunteers are a part of the Trees for Life Bush for Life program - a program that trains volunteers in bushcare techniques, then assigns them to a site where they can work on a regular basis. Co-ordinators from Trees for Life produce plans for each site, which then guide the bushcare activities.

Our team of volunteers - Penny, Sue, Jan, Pam and Brian - along with co-ordinator Peter have had a long involvement with Wirra Birra, dating back to the owners before last. In some ways, they know this place better than I do.

This week though, came the news that Trees for Life had missed out on ongoing funding for Bush for Life, with the announcement of the Caring for Our Country grants. The Minister who used to care about the Environment, made the usual excuses about grants being a competitive process, but coming just on the eve of International Volunteers Day this decision is a real slap in the face for such a well-established and successful program, and for the hard working volunteers who have made it so.

You can read more about Bush for Life and their achievements here. I'm sure the program will find a way to continue in some reduced form, but meantime I'll be letting the Minister Who Used to Have Scruples know how I feel.