South Aussies show prodigious green thumbs

By Lisa Buss

L-R: CPO Col Telfer, MIDN Vincent John, PO Troy Pudney and CPO David Creaser, all members of the team working on dune restoration. Photo by Deanna Knott

Royal Australian Navy personnel in South Australia have once again joined forces with the City of Charles Sturt, Henley and Grange Dunecare and children from West Beach Primary School to plant more than 600 native coastal plants.

The different type of Navy operation was conducted in a section of coastal reserve at West Beach, Adelaide in support of National Tree Day.

The planting has become an annual event and is growing in popularity with Navy volunteers trebling this year.

The 29 personnel from Navy Headquarters - South Australia, Recruiting and Joint Electronic Warfare Operation Support Unit proved that they were more than capable of working on the land and a few of them even displayed quite prominent green thumbs.

They also removed a large amount of ‘introduced’ weeds from the sand dunes so the natural vegetation they are planting will become established over the next two years.

CPO David Creaser, who is a beachside resident in the City of Charles Sturt, said the RAN has a great record of sensible environmental management.

“We are keen to assist not only at sea, but also where the sea meets the shore,” said CPO Creaser.

“It is also very rewarding to be involved in a small way with the environmental education of young Australians.”

Navy Headquarters - South Australia is hoping to forge a long standing relationship with the Charles Sturt Council and West Beach Primary School to revegetate the adopted area.

The council is currently considering a proposal to erect a sign stating that the RAN is involved in revegetating the West Beach sand dune location.

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