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October 6, 2009
Community partners mark their milestones in the green
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In 2009, Anglesea Golf Club celebrates its 50 year anniversary and ANGAIR and Alcoa Anglesea are turning 40.
Rather than a more conventional birthday knees-up, the groups – all who have a strong history of community volunteering – decided to come together for a working bee to remove pest weeds from local crown land and then share lunch afterwards.
Alcoa Anglesea awarded a US$3000 ACTION grant to the Anglesea Golf Club to help with birthday celebrations of a different kind. ACTION grants from Alcoa involve the donation of money as well as labour performed by Alcoa employees towards a local community improvement project.
It is hoped that the removal of pest species such as Cape Wattle, Coastal Wattle and Bone Seed (a prolific weed) that compete for space and water with indigenous plants, will aid native regrowth.
Once these non-indigenous plants are removed, indigenous species propagated from seed by a local grower, will be planted in their place and hopefully return the native Anglesea bushland to its natural form.
Anglesea Golf Club organiser, Rachel Kane, said she was hopeful that as the bushland surrounding the course is restored to its natural beauty native animals will return to the golf course further enhancing Anglesea Golf Club’s reputation as a haven for local fauna.
ANGAIR was founded by a dedicated group of local residents from the Aireys Inlet & Anglesea who were dismayed by the proliferation of non-indigenous plants taking over the area. ANGAIR now provides guidance to locals on how to protect native vegetation and conducts a range of educational activities including bushwalks for local schools and residents.
Over its 40 years ANGAIR has gone from strength to strength and now organises regular weeding activities throughout the area, assists Universities, replants areas that have had weeds removed and holds an Annual Wildflower Weekend during the September school holidays.
Alcoa Anglesea Community Relations Officer, Anthea Doran said that ACTION events are an important part of Alcoa’s commitment to the Anglesea community.
“Encouraging and supporting our employees to volunteer is a key part of our commitment to the Anglesea community and it is great to see them helping out today.
“These events benefit community organisations like Anglesea Golf Club and ANGAIR but our employees who volunteer also get the opportunity to learn more about their community and to contribute in a practical way,” Anthea said.
Alcoa Foundation is a non-profit US corporate foundation with assets of approximately US$370 million. Its mission is to actively invest in the quality of life in Alcoa communities worldwide. Throughout it history, Alcoa Foundation has been a source of positive community change and enhancement, with over US$490 million invested since 1952.
October is Alcoa Foundation’s “worldwide Month of Service” – a time when Alcoa encourages employee volunteerism and celebrates volunteering activities at all its operations around the world. In 2008, nearly 40 per cent of Alcoa’s Australian workforce participated in Month of Service and the company is aiming for even higher numbers this year.
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