So much has been happening on the Protect Wooli front that we needed this second newsletter this month to keep you up to date.

AGM BUSINESS

The Annual General Meeting was held on 10 December in the Wooli Hotel/Motel. CCPA President Bruce Bird summarised our achievements this year quite an impressive list (as per the November newsletter) and business included a financial report from treasurer David Phillips. We are healthily in the black, thanks to membership fees, WAG Artshow proceeds, coffee-at-the-Bowlo andMain Street store proceeds, raffle and t-shirt sales and some generous donations. New steering committee members were appointed to replace retiring members Peter Wise, Paul Coves and Don Firth. Lyn Phillips andJanet Dunn volunteered to join the committee.

Other business included updates on discussions with CVC on the Emergency Action Plan and research strategy for the beach, and with state government via the Ballina Workshop in November and meetings with Minister Robyn Parker. For details of these, see December newsletter.

AT LAST….THE WEBSITE

The Protect Wooli website is at last online, after an enormous amount of time and effort. Huge thanks to Peter Dunn, also to Alex Webley for his technological expertise, generously funded by Roger Welch. Peter presented the website at the AGM with some suggestions how to navigate around it and get the most from it. It ‘s an important part of our communication with other members and groups and is designed to keep them up-to-date with developments. It also has an impressive gallery of photos of Wooli and environment, kindly shared by local photographer Juliet Thomasson, Leone Coper, Roger Welch, Margy Hewetson and others. The website is at protectwooli.com.au and is definitely worth a browse. Comments, suggestions and contributions are welcome and should be directed to petedunn@bigpond.net.au

Future newsletters, as well as notices and changes, will be posted automatically by email to those who register their email address on the website, so don ‘t forget to enter yours on the website homepage.

A TOE IN THE WATER

Brian Saye, CCPA member and surveyor whose family has had close ties with Wooli for many years, has volunteered to kick off the research into Wooli beach processes which will form the basis for long-term solutions to beach erosion. Brian will start surveying work in the New Year. Bob Stack, Wooli resident and civil engineer, has volunteered to help with this work.

Campaigns such as ours are completely reliant on the willingness of people to volunteer their time and effort and expertise, so big thanks go to Brian and Bob. More hands will be needed though to assist in data collection no qualifications are needed, just willingness to contribute a little time. Contact Brian at bsaye@bigpond.net.au or on (04) 2742-5744

“I REMEMBER WHEN…”

Long-time Wooli residents and folk who have visited Wooli for many years have stories, photos and memories of how the beach and river have changed over time. This local knowledge is a large untapped resource which would be an invaluable addition to the research to be carried out on Wooli beach and river processes as part of the Protect Wooli campaign.

As our engineering expert Tim Heldt says, “Wooli community is engaged in a learning journey. The remedies for beach erosion are poorly understood and a community-based collection exercise to gather photos, observations and ideas would be an interesting and enlightening event. The information would be collated into a database available to potential researchers and community stakeholders.”

With this in mind, we are planning an “I Remember When…” week to be held in February, to collect and collate memories, pictures and stories about Wooli beach and the river which will contribute to other planned research, like camera recording, sand movement, storm activity, etc. Stay tuned for news of this event and meanwhile, ferret out any of your memories and photos that would add to our knowledge bank. Here are some of the historical photos and observations we already have. Thanks to Leone Coper and Bob Stack.

NEXT MEETING

The next CCPA-Wooli meeting will be held in February, date uncertain at this point but a notice will go out to members and will be posted on the website.

T-SHIRTS GALORE

There is still stock of most sizes of Protect Wooli t-shirts available. The t-shirts are quality pure cotton, ideal for casual summer wear and are well-priced. Sizes range from 4 years to XL. All proceeds go to CCPA funds for beach protection. Show you care – see Nicki or Robert at Main Street store or Ian Rees at the Wooli Hotel/Motel.

AND FINALLY…..

Dunecare have done great work this year with sandtrap building and dune planting. They have designed an eyecatching leaflet for distribution to rental accommodation and Wooli businesses, urging people to give the dune a chance by using the designated beach access points and by being responsible four wheel drive users. Unfortunately it won ‘t be printed until early next year, but it will remind beach users that we all need to care for Wooli ‘s biggest asset, its beautiful beach.

 HAVE A SAFE HOLIDAY AND A GREAT CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR.

Newsletter contributions, comments and questions are welcome. Have your say contact Margy Hewetson (margarethewetson@yahoo.co.uk), Janet Dunn(janet.dunn@xtra.co.nz) or CCPA-Wooli atPO Box 173, Wooli.