President’s Report 2025
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On behalf of the Association, I’d like to start by acknowledging the outstanding contribution of Lindsay Hope to Alexandra Headland. We lost Lindsay in early May.
A long-time resident, Lindsay led efforts from 1995–2000 to protect six hectares of forest now known as Alex Forest. He coordinated monthly conservation work for 25 years, contributed daily maintenance, and helped establish both the Forest and Foreshore Bushcare groups.
Vale Lindsay.
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The work of the Alex Community Association has been incredibly well supported over the last 12 months.
There are too many financial supporters to name individually, but special thanks go to the Alex Surf Club, who have generously supported Christmas in Alex and provided facilities for our AGM. Welcome to Helen the General Manager of the Surf Club who’s with us this morning. We also extend thanks to Sunshine Coast Council who through their Community Grants program, have helped our events through the year. Our thanks too to Northshore Boardriders Club, who continue to provide storage space for us - and a venue for committee meetings.
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The year for our Foreshore Bushcare group began last July with a cultural training walk, featuring an ochre anointing, with traditional owner Aunty Bridgette at Currimundi Lake. For the first time in some years, they returned to our original site adjacent to the HMAS Brisbane memorial to do some planting and clearing of vegetation around previously established plants.
In spring and early summer 2024, the main activities were planting of Pandanus, Casuarina, Banksia and Goatsfoot vine, and weeding south of the Surf Club. Early in 2025 the war commenced weeds north of the surf club - Barleria, Corky Passionfruit, Siratro Mother of Millions to name a few.
For National Volunteer Week in May, the Foreshore Bushcare group got to attend and learn at two sites Mudjimba and Shelley Beach. The Shelley Beach Pilot Project was particularly informative and applicable to our area here in Alex. A 600 square metre foredune site dominated by dense Cottonwood growth is being rehabilitated with over 500 native plants. This may also improve access for nesting turtles.
In June we met fellow nature lovers at a Bushcare Open Field Day held at Peregian.
In the coming months, we have a project to plant out around 300 trees and shrubs in a particularly sparse area adjacent to the caravan park at the northern extremity of Alex.
Mario Barbagello leads our Foreshore Bushcare team and speaks highly of Council and their many Bush care events through the year. Always professionally presented, interesting and topical. Thanks to Dan our Council officer, and to the team who turn up month after month thank you for your persistence but importantly your friendship.
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Mario for his sins also coordinates the Alex Community Markets. Our gratitude goes to Kodan and Candace and the team at Sunshine Coast Collective Markets, who kindly donate a portion of stall proceeds to the Association. Our Community Garden group is usually present at the markets, running a fundraising BBQ.
On that note, our Alex Community Garden continues to thrive. Thank you to Rhonda Panozzo, Gary and Glenda Coleman, and the many other committee members who keep the garden growing—both in plants and in people. The garden has hosted more events, social gatherings, and informative presentations over the past year. A special thank you to Rhonda, who, in addition to her work in the garden, has continued to serve as Treasurer for the Association as a whole.
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In terms of events, our biggest undertaking for the year was Christmas in Alex. After an uncertain weather forecast, we moved this year’s event by a week and hoped for the best! We were fortunate to then have perfect weather and a really strong turnout from families, performers, and the broader community. Special mention to Alex Rotary Club who support Christmas every year by running their world-famous BBQ.
In April, we were honored to again coordinate Alex’s only ANZAC event, a remembrance service at the Korean War Memorial on the headland. While the number of living veterans declines each year, it’s encouraging to see public attendance continue to grow.
Traffic and transport have been issues that the Association has lobbied for on behalf of Alex since our establishment in 2010. The Association is actively involved in several community reference groups We were pleased to finally see the reduction of the speed limit here on Alex Parade down to 50 km/h.
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We’ve had a number of new volunteers join us this year. Can I highlight one in particular in Sally Waghorn. Sally is now looking after our social media and doing a really good job. You can help her out simply by adding a Like or a share to any Alex Community posts you see on Facebook or Instagram. It just means more and more people find out about what’s happening in Alex and the work we do.
Finally, to Costa Georgiadis, from Gardening Australia, who’s a friend of Alex Community Association. Costa frequently emphasizes the value of community in his work. He highlights how community gardens and shared projects foster social connections, and improve mental and physical well-being. He often speaks about the positive impact of this work on individuals and the broader community, emphasizing the importance of connection and shared experiences.
So, to our band of volunteers, whether you’re digging out weeds, selling a family some tickets at Christmas, or slaving over a sausage sandwich, understand you’re doing much more than you realise. Thankyou for all your work.
John Hutchinson
15 June 2025
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