Annual C4 2024 Wrap-Up

To all the Members and Friends of C4,

As the year rushes to a close, we can reflect on another year of gains and losses in
conservation in the Mission Beach area. C4 continues to actively pursue its goals of
environmental education and advocacy, habitat and wildlife protection and ecological
sustainability.

Thanks to our dedicated team of members and volunteers, we’ve made significant
strides in protecting critical habitats and engaging the community in environmental
stewardship.

• The Environmental Display Centre attracts visitors and locals;
• The Native Plant Nursery provides local native species of plants for gardens and restoration projects;
• The Norm Byrnes Arboretum has increased signage to improve species recognition;
• Forest restoration on Gurrbum Nature Refuge (now fully owned by C4) has demonstrated an evolution in ways of returning unproductive land into biodiverse habitat and improving connectivity for wildlife across the landscape.

• Connectivity in the Smiths Gap area is further enhanced by our purchase and protection of Djarawong (RP807619) and;
• Our involvement in the misunderstood and much-maligned ‘Cassowary Bridge’ over the Bruce Highway (it’s there now so we may as well make it work.)

We’ve been inspired by the support from community volunteers, schools, and local
partners. From beach clean-ups to education workshops, the energy and
commitment of our community have been truly heartening. Our partnerships with
local schools and overseas universities have seen students learning about
sustainability, and our corporate supporters have lent their resources to expand our
impact.

Of course, this year has not been without its hurdles. Health issues continue to have
an impact on the capacity of our volunteers, so we wish everyone the best for their
health in the coming year. Distressingly, habitat clearing continues as new owners move onto forested blocks of land, either ignorant of restrictions or knowingly
exploiting the unwillingness of authorities to take action. This is a continuing issue of
great concern to C4 which we will continue to raise in the coming year. We believe
there is enough cleared land available already for people who want land without
forest, so will continue to search for ways to reduce habitat loss.

Apparently inevitably, as traffic continues to increase, cassowaries and other wildlife
fall victim to road-strikes. Efforts in increasing driver awareness as well as improving
roadside conditions continue to be high-priority concerns for C4 and other wildlife
groups and agencies. Some road-strike victims can survive. C4 maintains a contract with the QLD Gov’t Dept of Environment and Science to care for injured, sick and orphaned cassowaries in the Garners Beach Cassowary Recovery Facility. After daily care by committed C4 volunteers, a number of birds have recovered, grown and been released back to the wild this year, while one was given a better chance of survival in a new home at Fleays Wildlife Park on the Gold Coast. (See post: Wilma returned to the wild!)

As we move into 2025, we are heartened by new and returning members bringing
innovation and enthusiasm to expand our conservation outreach. Please take some
time to visit our upgraded website at www.cassowaryconservation.org – a work in
progress on which we would appreciate constructive criticism. In addition to the
improvements in navigation and information, our website now includes an innovative
wildlife monitoring programme allows locals and tourists alike to enter data on
sightings of cassowaries which will contribute to improved understanding of their
situation. (Report all cassowary sightings here)

In 2025, C4 will be celebrating 30 years of continued conservation effort in the
Mission Beach area. Watch for ways that you can be part of this celebration, whether
you still live in the area or you maintain an interest from further away. An awareness
of our history is an important part of understanding where we are now, what we have
achieved and what obstacles still confront us to ensure Mission Beach remains a
haven for wildlife and people alike.

None of this would be possible without you—our supporters, donors, and volunteers.
Your belief in our Mission fuels everything we do.

As we plan for another impactful year, we invite you to join us:

• Become a member,
• Volunteer,
• Donate, or
• Simply spread the word about C4 and our work

Every bit of support helps us protect what we love most about Mission Beach.

Thank you for being part of our journey. Here’s to another year of conservation and community! May you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Warm regards,
The C4 Management Committee

P.S. Keep an eye on our website and social media for updates, events, and ways to
get involved in 2025!