Upcoming Guided Plant Walk 6th April Rogers Reseve

GUIDED PLANT WALK This Sunday 6th April 2.00pm Charles & Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve 3 Community Court (Entrance next to Highfields Recreational Centre) Highfields Qld 4352 A free Guided Plant Walk through the Rogers Reserve will begin at 2pm, Sunday 6th April 2014. Trish Gardner from “Friends of Rogers Reserve” will guide the group through the nature trail at the Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve and will share her knowledge on the wide variety of plants within the reserve, including those currently flowering and in fruit, along with other points of interest along the way.  BYO Camera, Water Bottle, Hat & Comfortable Walking Shoes etc  Further information: www.rogersreserve.blogspot.com  |  rogersreserve@yahoo.com.au www.facebook.com/charlesandmoteerogersbushlandreserve

DOWNLOAD THE A4 PRINTABLE PLANT WALK FLYER HERE...

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST IN JOINING THE FRIENDS GROUP HERE...

Plant walk a success at Rogers Reserve friends meeting 21/03/2014

Over 22 local residents interested in joining a "Friends of the Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve Group" attended a casual meeting at the Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve on Friday.  The group were treated to a guided tour through the eastern side of the bushland reserve by Trish Gardner.  Trish shared her extensive knowledge of the native plants within the reserve and explained the importance of the various layers of forest that make up the ecosystem.  The morning started off a little misty and the distinct sound of Eastern Whipbirds could be heard throughout the reserve.  The morning mist cleared giving ideal conditions for the group to catch up over a cup of coffee after the walk.

Councillor Bill Cahill attended the beginning of the walk and expressed his support and personal interest in the new friends group.  Frida Forsberg from the Queensland Greens travelled to Highfields from Beachmere, Brisbane to visit the reserve to experience the Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve in person after hearing about the recent petition.  Achim Eberhart from Toowoomba Regional Council attended the plant walk and then spoke to the group about the suitable options and guidelines for creating a friends group and listened to the groups ideas and suggestions for future projects for the reserve.

In accordance with TRC, the friends group will hold informal walks once a month along with a variety of different activities during the year including informal get-togethers, tree planting, weeding and educational events.   To register your interest in attending, please sign up to our mailing list here: http://eepurl.com/PwZTP

Some of the group prior to starting off on the plant walk at Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve 21/03/14

Trish Gardner explaining about "bush tucker" during the Plant Walk  at the Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve

Some members of the group spotted this beautiful Male King Parrot leaving a large nesting hollow at the Reserve. 

He was followed by his female partner who emerged from the hole once he flew off

The group looking at the Red-Olive Plum Tree laden with fruits at the Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve

Interesting patterns on the leaf of a "Coffee Bush" made by an unknown insect.

Trish explains the importance of the forest vines and their important role in the ecosystem.

The smallest member of the group enjoying the outing at the Rogers Reserve.

The Group inspecting the remains of the oldest tree in the Reserve, thought to be over a 1000 years old - now fallen within the reserve.

People Power Saves Reserve - Toowoomba Chronicle 21/03/2014

The Toowoomba Chronicle Newspaper has printed a report on the final outcome of the Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve Campaign.  "People Power Saves Reserve" by journalist Chris Calcino was published on 21st March 2014 and covered the positive outcome of the petition.

We are very grateful to the Toowoomba Chronicle for accurately reporting on the details of the petition over the last few months.


Read online article here:  http://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/people-power-saves-highfields-reserve/2205058/#comments

Victory - The Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve has been saved!

The Charles & Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve at Highfields has been Saved from any form of destruction thanks to 8 Toowoomba Regional Councillors. 

I am very happy to announce that yesterday Toowoomba Regional Councilors voted against the plan (Option A) by TRC’s Infrastructure staff to put a foot path through the Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve at Highfields, choosing instead our preferred option (Option B) to build the whole path on the roadside footpath precinct.

Eight Councilors voted for Option B after considering the extensive amount of public support for the reserve, and the large amount of information supplied to them through our campaign and through the Rogers family.  Only two councilors opted to vote for Option A.  We are very thankful to the 8 Councilors for choosing to vote for Option B that ensures the path will be kept exclusively on the footpath precinct and will not encroach on the endangered ecosystem in any way.  Option B also ensures that no trees or undergrowth will be cleared from the reserve and ensures that tree roots will not be damaged in the footpath area, which will be prevented by the building of small retainer walls and fences.

Toowoomba Regional Councilors agreed again (as was mentioned in the initial vote in January 2014), that a Management Plan for the reserve would be advisable. This management plan will involve local residents, the Rogers family and members of the "Friends of Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve" working with TRC to ensure that the endangered ecosystem is preserved.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who signed the initial petition, who sent emails, texts and letters to Councilors, who offered support, advice, assistance and knowledge of their particular fields to all work together to achieve this positive result.  The 8 Toowoomba Regional Councilors need to be commended for making such a positive decision.

In other news, we can confirm, based on a news report by High Country Herald journalist Miles Noller, that the rumored road widening for O'Brien Road, Highfields to 4 lanes, (which would result in mass tree-clearing and land loss within the Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve), is something that is planned to occur within 10 years as advised by Mike Brady, General Manager Infrastructure Services Group, TRC.  This is a serious issue that will need to be addressed in the near future.

I  wish that I could thank everyone who has been involved in this petition individually.  I have been inspired by the caring people of this community and the Toowoomba Region who have shown what community spirit is all about.  Your kind words, advice, encouragement and support will not be forgotten. Your respect for Mr and Mrs Charles & Motee Rogers and this generous gift they have given to our community is truly heartwarming.  Thank you again,

Kind Regards,

Judi Gray
Petition Organizer
rogersreserve@yahoo.com.au
www.rogersreserve.blogspot.com

Plant Walk at Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve on 21st March 2014

News Article from High Country Herald by Journalist Gary Alcorn 18/03/2014

A Friends Group for the Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve has been formed and will be hosting an informal Plant Walk this coming Friday the 21st of March at 9.00am at the reserve entrance on Community Court.  Trish Gardner will be sharing her knowledge of the interesting native plants within the reserve, which will be then followed by a BYO morning tea and get-together to discuss ideas and options for the Friends Group.  Please BYO morning tea, drinks and chairs.