When I chat to Mark Fetterplace about his Coledale Bushcare group, I get to the most important question right off the bat: is it Sharkys, Sharkies or Sharkey’s Beach? If you’ve been in any community Facebook groups, you’ll understand why I asked.
“One of life’s big dilemmas!” Mark laughs. “Council has a vegetation management plan and they’re spelling it Sharkey’s so I guess that’s official.”
Controversy* out of the way, we get to the important stuff, the great things that the Bushcare group has done for the local site _ which extends from Headland Avenue to Sharkey’s carpark _ and the benefits that the 10 or so volunteers reap.
Mark founded the Coledale group in 2020. “It was my initiative. I’m claiming that one,” he said. “I wanted to do some bushcare there, so I approached council and met up with the natural lands officer, Daniel Sandona, on site and said I wanted to start a group, and my wife said she’d come along, so that was two of us.”
Gradually, and despite the enforced closures of all bushcare groups (and well, pretty much everything) during Covid, the group has continued to grow.
A lot of the work involves removing the extensive weeds that you’ll notice in abundance locally.
Tackling the removal of plants such as lantana, madeira vine, asparagus fern and morning glory has had enormous benefits for the land.
“We’ve got rid of a lot of weeds and a lot of native plants have spontaneously regenerated. That happens when you get rid of the weeds,” Mark explains.
“A few plants – particularly pittosporum, kangaroo apple and bleeding heart – come through very quickly [after weed removal]."
Ninety-nine native plant species have been observed on the Coledale site alone.
As for the benefits for participants Mark says, “It is great socially. We have fun. It’s very satisfying when we can see the bushland improving. To me, it’s restoring Country in a small way. It’s great exercise and great learning. New members have joined just because they want to know more about bush and plants.”
Council has a moratorium on new Bushcare groups, so now is the perfect time to jump into one of the already established ones. While Mark jokingly said he was hoping for “thousands” to join him on Tuesday mornings, anyone can help out for any amount of time.
“The main reason I do it is habitat increase for birds and animals," he said. "That’s really important."
Sharkey’s Beach Bushcare meets every Tuesday 8:30-10:30am and the first and third Saturday of each month. To get involved contact Mark on 0407 412 360.
For other local Bushcare groups, head here.
*A note on spelling from the editor
A couple of years ago, when the new signage for Sharky Beach went up, the Flame asked Wollongong City Council about the spelling issue. Here's what their spokesperson said at the time: "We know there is a lot of debate among residents about the correct spelling of Sharky/Sharkey and/or Sharkies Beach in Coledale. In Wollongong Library’s Local Studies Collection there is research showing that it is known by two names. The unpatrolled beach is known as Sharky Beach, while the reef at the beach’s northern end is known as Sharkies."
