Newsletter July 2020 - June 2021

Riverwatch volunteers were saddened to learn that Charlie Weir passed away on 14 May 2020 at the David Berry Hospital at the age of 93.

Charlie’s innovative spirit and colourful personality was an inspiration to all of the Riverwatch volunteers and he was also respected by leaders in the Shoalhaven community .
​His dedication to the health of the Shoalhaven River was recognised by becoming NSW Landcarer of the Year in 2003.
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Charlie also received a NSW Maritime Medal for his contribution to improving the health of the Shoalhaven River in 2011.

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Even in Charlie's later years, Charlie would come along to Riverwatch's working bees and tell his tales of the history of the Shoalhaven River when he was growing up. Charlie spent some of his childhood at Riversdale on the banks of the Shoalhaven River, which is now part of the Bundanon Trust.

​Charlie will be sadly missed.

COVID-19

Shoalhaven Citizen of the Year 
Fortunately, during the original COVID-19 epidemic, the Shoalhaven was not locked down as was the case for the Greater Sydney Area. This allowed us to carry out some working bees during last financial year.
Peter Jirgens was awarded Shoalhaven Citizen of the Year for his outstanding volunteering work in the Shoalhaven for over twenty five years, in a number of community based organisations. 
This nomination covers his activities with the Cambewarra Rate Payers Association, Tapitalee Creek Landcare, Shoalhaven Riverwatch and the Shoalhaven Landcare Fox Control Program. 
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Golf Club
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A number of working bees were held at the Golf Club nursery and along the riverbank during the year. The riverbank work included planting 80 lomandra and 40 Crinum swamp lilies as well as repairing 135 metres of sand sausage.

From the nursery we donated 90 mangroves for the new Comerong marina and 100 mangroves to Lane Cove Landcare Group.

Pig Island

In October 2020 we continued our work on Pig Island with help from Fulton Hogan workers.
During the working bee we planted 150 mangroves, 45 Cassandras, 25 lomandra and 50 crinum lily (which are very hardy).
We also had enough volunteers to undertake some clean-up on Pig Island and Broughton Creek.

Clean Up Australia Day 

Riversdale​
Another great day cleaning up the River. Thanks to all those who attended the Clean-up Australia Day working bee for 2021. We had a great day cleaning up the river with 33 volunteers including 11 Fulton Hogan workers.
We managed to complete two working bees on the riverbank at Riversdale. The current construction of the new facilities does make entry more difficult as this is an official construction site.
However we managed to plant 95 lomandra, 44 crinum swamp lilies and clean up weeds around the power sign

Minnamurra River

Planting along Tapitallee Creek

Riverwatch was again asked by Sydney Water to undertake some restoration work at Minnamurra River.
In June, around 160 mangroves were planted by our 10 volunteers.
​Seems that there were no complaints about the lunch after the working bee.
While a great deal of bank restoration work is undertaken on the Shoalhaven River banks, the riparian network that feeds into the Shoalhaven River is also important.
To this end, Shoalhaven Riverwatch volunteers assisted the planting of around 370 plants along Tapitallee Creek in Cambewarra.
The plants were supplied by Local Land Services (LLS) and the project was managed by LLS. 
During the planting a LLS documentary video was taken showing our work. 
​See the final YouTube Video

School Education

In-Class Education

Nowra High Excursion

Nowra Christian School Excursion
Riverwatch continued during the Covid lockdown, with our Education Officer Ros Christie presenting talks to:
  • Nowra Anglican College Presentation for entire Year 8 in Auditorium 
  • Nowra High School Marine Studies In class presentation 
  • Shoalhaven River College Marine Studies In class presentation 
On a cold and wet March day, students from Nowra High School took part in a school excursion to Numbaa Island.
Once on the Island, the students were shown the bank restoration work undertaken by Riverwatch over the years as well as information about the local fish given by Riverwatch's fishing expert.
​A trip up Broughton Creek completed the excursion.
20 Year 8 students from Nowra Christian School undertook a school excursion along the riverbank at Mavromattes Reserve off Riverview Road.  The excursion included the purpose of groynes near the wharf and advantages of mangrove plantings along the foreshore. The students were able to see recent bank slumping after the floods in 2020 and the reasons why mangroves can act as a buffer.

Some statistics

During FY 2020-2021 Riverwatch volunteers achieved:

Volunteer Hours :                           475 hours
Value of Hours :                           $16,625
Mangroves Planted:                 750
Mangroves Propagated:            860
Other Plants Planted:                629
Length of sand sausage laid or repaired: 135 metres.
Users to website FY20-21:          968