Two tree-planting activities in July were aimed at restoring the canopy of Casuarina and Tea Tree at Tidal River campsite along a sandy ridge behind campsites on 34th Avenue.
On Saturday 16th July, 36 volunteers removed tree-guards from Casuarina that had grown to 3 or 4 metres tall since we planted them between 3 and 5 years ago. We also planted grasses and the prickly Sweet Bursaria, but this time without tree-guards as these species have a lower risk of being grazed by the local fauna.
Only two weeks later, on Sunday 31st July, we were at it again for National Tree Day. We thank the 28 eager volunteers, including quite a few new ones, who planted 265 trees in bare areas along the ridge. We planted mainly Casuarina and Tea-Tree, with the time consuming work being the installation of tree guards to protect the plants from grazing deer, wallabies and wombats. We worked until 1:00pm then we called it a day as there were no more wooden stakes and the BBQ lunch generously supplied by Parks Victoria was ready.
The Friends of the Prom volunteers are saddened to hear Max has passed away on Tuesday 8th February 2022, aged 87. Max had been made a life member because of his valued contribution to our group over nearly 30 years.
He was a also one of the original nursery volunteers, that dedicated crew which visits the nursery every second Thursday without fail. We fondly remember Max as a steadying presence – friendly, reliable, practical and funny. We were so privileged to work along side Max all that time.
Our thoughts are with his family and close friends.
Max didn’t want a funeral. Instead his family arranged a series of functions in the district to celebrate his life including sharing pre-dinner drinks at the Stockyards campsite with Friends of the Prom volunteers after their Beach Clean activity on Saturday 26th February..
Friends of the Prom acknowledges the Traditional Aboriginal Custodians of Country throughout Australia and pay our respects to them, their culture and their Elders, past, present and future.