Gundagai’s Bushcare Group is calling on bush lovers old and new to dust off the tools and reinvigorate efforts to keep the local environment healthy.
Mason and Miriam Crane are founding members of the Gundagai Bushcare Group. They often tell stories of a small band of dedicated locals that once met regularly to transform the town’s bushlands. They boosted grassland biodiversity on Mt Parnassus, and managed wetlands at Morleys Creek in the heart of town. Their standout achievement is restoring, protecting and raising awareness about the critically endangered White Box Grassy Woodland remnant at South Gundagai Cemetery.
Late in 2025, Murrumbidgee Landcare’s Local Landcare Coordinator, Leigh Mathieson, spent a morning with the Crane’s visiting the old sites and discussing the works that had been carried out and the future potential, and over lunch a plan was hatched to revive the local Bushcare group.
Bushcare is a volunteer movement made for people who love the bush and want to protect it but might not have land of their own to look after. It is essentially another name for Landcare where the focus is on restoring, protecting, and enhancing patches of existing bushland in and around our towns and urban areas. Volunteers typically help with activities like weed control, planting natives, erosion control, and general bush regeneration.
Bushcare isn’t just good for the environment, it is good for the soul. It provides a relaxed, social space for like‑minded people to catch up, learn new skills, and achieve something tangible together. Many people find that spending time in the bush, working alongside others, is a great boost for both physical and mental wellbeing.
It’s not all hard work though! Other activities Bushcare groups focus on include citizen science, and improving habitat and connectivity within the town’s environment. That could include putting up microbat hotels around town, surveying native flora and fauna or going on nighttime spotlighting adventures. There is also a regular BBQ to catch up and connect or just wind down from the fun.
Mason said “I am excited to kick things off again and see some old faces and new people who are interested. The key to our success was working closely with Council and other community groups, so I hope that can continue.”
To kick things off, we are planning an informal gathering to discuss the future of Bushcare in Gundagai. There will be a BBQ, and all are welcome!
Where: Yarri Park
When: Thursday 26 February, from 5:00pto 6:30 pm
RSVP: Please RSVP here, to assist with catering.
For more information on Bushcare or Landcare in the region contact your Local Landcare Coordinator, Leigh Mathieson, on 0428 616 350 or email lmathieson@mli.org.au
