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January 2005 - Margaret Suman
We are sad to say that this is the last report for Vodafone. Actually, we will not be sad about not writing any more reports but sad that this whirlwind of a year is coming to a close. We have enjoyed every minute of our year and believe we have worked hard to make the most of the opportunity. Working on a project like this full-time without having to break and earn a living has meant that we have achieved so much this year.
We love what we do so much that we don't want to stop and thankfully we don't have to! We were lucky enough to find funding for our salaries next year so we are able to continue the work that Vodafone World of Difference has helped us start.
The Nursery
As we mentioned in our last report, the weather this summer has really slowed plant production this year. However as the temperatures in January started to warm up, those seedlings started popping up and now we have heaps. We have even had the opportunity to grow some trees and shrubs that we were unable to grow in the past so we are thrilled to have more of a variety that we can now reintroduce onto the habitats. Plus it looks like we will have a surplus of plants to offer to other conservation groups in our area.
Because of the weather we delayed our holiday plans so that we could be sure that the seedlings had their best chance of survival. As our plants were much younger than we would normally expect in January we had to be extra careful that with the drier weather the seedlings wouldn't dry out. We certainly have felt the pressure, the whole of the winters habitat restoration programme relies upon us producing plants on time and sometimes mother nature isn't very cooperative.
We have also be busy with the constant maintenance at a nursery and we have had our share of fixing irrigation sprinkler heads, dealing with busted pipes, and building temporary shelter for plants.
Plant Numbers
We have done a preliminary count of the upcoming available plants and over 2500 are ready to go out early winter and 7500 are seedlings or small shrubs. If the warm weather keeps up, we will be able to plant a good portion of these 7500 by the end of the winter.
Volunteers
We just had to have one more celebration for our volunteers to mark the end of the Vodafone support. There were cream cakes for all and it was much appreciated. One volunteer did mention that she has never felt so welcome at an organization that she has volunteered for. We can't really take the credit... we attribute it to good strong coffee and lots of biscuits. Since our volunteers have been such a great help to us this past year, we decided the budget could allow for a proper morning tea every time they came. It is the least we could do.
We used to have volunteer Wednesdays and many weeks it has become Volunteer Monday and Wednesdays.
Mirror Trust
We now have another youth who comes on Wednesdays to help get some work experience. And he has only been with us one day and we think he is going to work out great.
Shayne, the young man we had last year is still in his job at a local nursery and we promised to come and visit so that he can give us a tour.
5 Year Planning Meeting
Recently staff and trustees of the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust met for an all day planning meeting. This is a time for everyone to have their say about their vision for the Trust over the next five years. It is also a time to look back and see how far we have come.
The good news for us is there was overwhelming support for the Nursery. I remember 3 years ago sitting in a meeting where we discussed closing the nursery and now it has become a very important fixture for the Trust
DOC Conservation Corps
Clodagh Byars the coordinator of the Con Corps in the Otago DOC Office, has already set contacted us to meet with their new intake of young students. We will work with them for several days at our Nursery and a few more days out at their habitat, Boulder Beach, collecting seeds in the Autumn and planting plants in the Winter.
Mainland Products Ltd family winner
We hosted two more family winners of the mainland cheese promotion at our nursery this month. We really enjoyed being part of their special day where they are shown the wildlife of the Otago Peninsula and it gave us the opportunity to show them what we are doing to protect penguins in a practical way.
We had a chance to reflect on this past year and we are still amazed at what a great year it has been. A few of the many things off the top of our heads:
- Public Awareness for the Trust
- Working with local schools
- Working with local conservation groups like DoC Conservation Corps, Task Force Green
- The Nursery becoming an icon for the Trust
Oh yes, and don't forget the cream cakes!!
Anita and Margaret
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