Our President, Rex Dusting, posts the following message to all friends of the KKA:
KooyongKoot Alliance’s 2025
As we reach the end of 2025, we can look back on our efforts to improve the health of the KooyongKoot (Gardiners) Creek catchment:
- On the Ground Action: We and our Member groups have put in over 21,000 volunteer hours, planting 80,000 indigenous plants and collecting data along our creeks.
- Working with other stakeholders: We’ve worked closely with Councils, Melbourne Water and others to deliver projects and through a leadership role in the Gardiners Creek Regional Collaboration look forward to the release in the new year of a long-term strategic plan for our catchment.
- Building our Capacity: In February, we launched sub-committees to better harness our members and friend’s collective knowledge, experience and energy. This strengthens our organisation’s capacity to educate, communicate and operate safely and sustainably, as well as activities to improve our waterways and bankside environs.
- Securing Grants and Donations: We have successfully secured (but need to continue to seek) much needed funding for our on-the-ground improvements to support our Catchment Keeper and ensure that, long-term, we deliver for our community and environment.
- Building Community Support: This year, amongst our other activities to bring individuals and our community together, we successfully delivered Clean Waterways Expos at Blackburn Lake for Whitehorse and Gardiners Creek bankside for Boroondara Councils.
Thanks to You All
Our successes are all due to the enthusiasm, energy, and commitment of our members and supporters. Thanks again to Graham Ross, our tireless Catchment Keeper, who goes above and beyond, rallying people, driving change, and bringing big ideas to life. Also, thanks to the committee, the sub-committee leaders and the many others who quietly put in countless hours to keep the Alliance moving forward.
There is a special thanks and farewell to Pam Welsford. Since the very start of the Alliance, Pam was our Secretary, building all the corporate processes and systems, without which we could not function. It’s sad to see her go and wish her best for her future adventures.
For the coming year, we welcome Francesca Keaveney as Pam’s replacement and Gillian Jervis back to the committee as Treasurer. Many thanks to Chris Pettit who stepped in, at short notice, as Treasurer in Gillian’s absence.
We also acknowledge the First Nations peoples who have cared for country here for tens of thousands of years.
🌟Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 🌟
Finally, we want to wish you all the best festive season and a Happy New Year. Thank you for everything you’ve done to care for the KooyongKoot (Gardiners) Creek catchment.
Here’s to an even brighter 2026!