I live at the foot of Mt Gibraltar in Bowral NSW (height 863m). The remains of an open cut quarry are literally 200m from my house within the small bush reserve of the mount. Recently the Landcare group who look after the reserve paid for a stone wall to be built as a memorial.

It’s a striking and beautiful monument to the 100 years of operation of the Trachite quarry (1886 to 1986). The Trachite stone from this quarry may be familiar to you in buildings in Sydney such as the QVB and Commonwealth Bank buildings on George St, and the National Library building in Canberra.

The Landcare group regularly cleans up the undergrowth and cuts down non native pine trees to allow regeneration of the native temperate rainforest trees. This is a big job for the small number of volunteers but they do it out of love and pride in the local environment. Landcare groups around Australia take care of local environments, clean up creeks and prevent erosion.

A positive thing to do for themselves, their communities and their environment! No wonder we say the heart swells with pride.

In Positive Health, Canberra. Nel MacBean Speech Pathologist Canberra. Campbell MacBean Psychologist Canberra.