We had a hugely successful planting event on World Environment Day on Saturday 2nd June at the recently created Mint Street Wetlands in Wantirna.
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Over 300 volunteers turned out on a cold but sunny morning to dig holes and plant over 3,000 indigenous shrubs and trees. The event included a BBQ cooked once again by the MacFarlane family.
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The event was organised and supported by the Knox Council Biodiversity team.
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","stylesMapId":"CK_EDITOR_PARAGRAPH_STYLES","linkList":[]},"dataItem-ji2zay8x":{"type":"Video","id":"dataItem-ji2zay8x","metaData":{"isPreset":false,"schemaVersion":"1.0","isHidden":false},"videoId":"FirstFriendsofDandenongCreek/videos/436187700141417","videoType":"FACEBOOK"},"dataItem-ji2zinsh":{"type":"StyledText","id":"dataItem-ji2zinsh","metaData":{"isPreset":false,"schemaVersion":"1.0","isHidden":false},"text":"Knox mayor John Mortimore welcomed and thanked all the volunteers and spoke about the importance of the wetlands for the local environment and community.
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\n\nGreat to see local politicians Heidi Victoria, Nick Wakeling, Samantha Dunn, Alan Tudge and Knox councillors John Mortimore, Jackson Taylor and Peter Lockwood roll up their sleeves and get involved.
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A huge thanks to the following:
\n\nJames Rose, Nadine Gaskell and the Knox Biodiversity team;
\n\nThe Box Hill Buddhist Group who provided over 50 volunteers;
\n\nThe Bayswater CFA;
\n\nThe FFDC committee and members including Anthony and Sam Bigelow and family, Matt and Jacqui Hansen, Bill and Neroli Jones, John Cull, Anita Infanti and the McFarlane family;
\n\nStudents and lectures from Swinburne;
\n\nKnox Council and counsellors for funding and supporting the event;
\n\nAll the volunteers.
","stylesMapId":"CK_EDITOR_PARAGRAPH_STYLES","linkList":[]},"dataItem-ji2zusun":{"type":"Video","id":"dataItem-ji2zusun","metaData":{"isPreset":false,"schemaVersion":"1.0","isHidden":false},"videoId":"7NewsMelbourne/videos/10156596568724301","videoType":"FACEBOOK"},"dataItem-ji2zw3r6":{"type":"StyledText","id":"dataItem-ji2zw3r6","metaData":{"isPreset":false,"schemaVersion":"1.0","isHidden":false},"text":"From Charlie Miller and Anthony Bigelow (President and Vice President for First Friends of Dandenong Creek):
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\n\nFollowing the major pollution events on Sat/Sun 19/20 May we wish to thank and acknowledge the support from the community. It has been so heart warming to see that we aren’t alone in this battle.
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\n\nOn Sunday afternoon we were interviewed by The Age, ABC news, ABC television news, Channel 7 and 9 news. On Monday morning we were interviewed on ABC Radio Sunrise program. The story appeared on Channel 7 Sunrise program. We even had coverage of the event in the UK Mail.
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\n\nAll this hopefully adds to pressure on the authorities to act and follow through. In particular we need the EPA to detect the repeat offenders, prosecute and fine them heavily to send a clear message our local community no longer tolerates this environmental vandalism. We call on our State politicians to support the EPA in this endeavour and act for the sake of the community, the animals and the overall health of Dandenong Creek.
","stylesMapId":"CK_EDITOR_PARAGRAPH_STYLES","linkList":[]},"dataItem-ji30iee2":{"type":"Video","id":"dataItem-ji30iee2","metaData":{"isPreset":false,"schemaVersion":"1.0","isHidden":false},"videoId":"FirstFriendsofDandenongCreek/videos/430668817359972","videoType":"FACEBOOK"},"dataItem-ji30kzjw":{"type":"Video","id":"dataItem-ji30kzjw","metaData":{"isPreset":false,"schemaVersion":"1.0","isHidden":false},"videoId":"FirstFriendsofDandenongCreek/videos/430665947360259","videoType":"FACEBOOK"},"dataItem-ji30uujh":{"type":"Anchor","id":"dataItem-ji30uujh","metaData":{"isPreset":false,"schemaVersion":"1.0","isHidden":false},"name":"Major Pollution Event","compId":"comp-ji30uuif"},"dataItem-jk6sukvc":{"type":"StyledText","id":"dataItem-jk6sukvc","metaData":{"isPreset":false,"schemaVersion":"1.0","isHidden":false},"text":"We had an amazing turn out of volunteers on National Tree Day Sunday 29 July. 150 plus people turned up to plant 4,000+ indigenous plants at the end of The Greenway in Heathmont. This is by far the largest and most successful National Tree Day event in the history of FFDC. When the plants mature they will provide important habitat for the survival of animals, birds and other critters in the area.
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A huge thank you to the following:
\n\nThe FFDC committee for organising the event and their efforts on the day.
\n\nThe Maroondah Bushland Management team for preparing the site and their leadership on the day.
\n\nChris and Lisa MacFarlane for organising the BBQ.
\n\nThe Maroondah Photographic Society.
\n\nThe Box Hill Buddhist Group.
\n\nThe 4th Ringwood Scout Group.
\n\nRotary clubs of Croydon, Southbank, North Melbourne and Essendon North.
\n\nFFDC members and all the other volunteers.
\n\nCr. Marijke Graham and Cr. Paul Macdonald
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We look forward to organising another big event on National Tree Day in 2019.
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