C4 General Meeting Minutes: April 26, 2025

Date: Saturday, 26 April 2025
Time: 5:00 PM – 7.30 PM
Location: C4: 55A Porter Promenade, Mission Beach

1. Welcome and Welcome to Djiru Country – 5.12pm

  • Meeting opened by President – Peter Rowles
  • Welcome to Djiru Country – Leonard Andy

2. Attendance and Apologies

  • Record of attendees:
    • Peter Rowles
    • Peter Trott
    • Jeff Larson
    • Leonard Andy
    • Kate Blank
    • Ben Oldroyd
    • Madeleine Beekman
    • Ian Shankly
    • Joh Rowles
    • LeeAnn Hally
    • Steve McAlpin
    • Derek Blank
    • Chris Absalom
    • Valerie Boll
    • Cosi Stokeld
    • Sandy Ferris
    • Marilyn Hagley
    • Annie Jennings
    • Lou Szekely
    • Meryl Harding
    • Bob Jones
  • Apologies:
    • Helen Larson
    • Laurie Trott
    • Fiona O’Kane

3. Confirmation of Previous Meeting Minutes

  • Motion to accept the Minutes of the last General Meeting –  Moved by Peter Rowles, Seconded by Kate Blank, Carried.

4. Committee Role Appointment

  • Thanking Ross Mattingley and Lyn Mattingley for their service as Treasurer and Secretary of C4. We’re very grateful for their efforts of many years of service. 
  • Appointment of Treasurer: Fiona O’Kane
  • Appointment of Assistant Treasurer: Alison Campbell 
  • Appointment of Secretary: Kate Blank 
  • Moved by Peter Rowles, Seconded by Peter Trott, Carried

5. President Updates

  • Updates on key C4 activities – Peter Rowles
    • Cassowary Protection Initiatives
      • Encouraging our cassowary sightings data collection
        • Used to inform TMR to reduce road-strike
        • Used to understand and help protect corridors
        • Used to help wildlife managers understand behaviour and movement
    • Education Initiatives
      • Our Wall of Poo Project is a fun and educational citizen science initiative that builds on our existing Cassowary Sightings Project. The idea is simple: when people spot cassowary scats (poo), they record the location, date, and a photo—helping us track where cassowaries have been and what they’ve been eating. These submissions contribute to a growing dataset that supports cassowary conservation, habitat monitoring, and public engagement. Select scat samples will be featured on our “Wall of Poo” display at the Environment Centre, offering a quirky yet powerful visual tool to showcase cassowary ecology and the importance of community involvement in science.
      • We have been working in partnership with Carey Baptist Grammar and their innovative Carey Zero program to develop a hands-on education program for their year-10 students over the 2025 school year. The first groups will begin planting along Wongaling Beach this month.
    • Environment Protection Initiatives
      • We are undergoing weeds management in National Park in partnership with Terrain and Djiru; Looking to extend this program to Clump Point.
      • We are in the process of upgrading our MB Native Plant Nursery; Working bee to be announced for those interested.
      • We are looking at funding opportunities to build a new nursery out at Gurrbum.
    • Events
      • Mission Beach Wellness Weekend: A weekend of community-led events focused on nature, wellbeing, and sustainability, including C4 talks, workshops, and activities at the Environment Centre.
      • GBR50 and Back Roads Filming: We’re proud to be part of the GBR50 conservation celebrations, with ABC’s Back Roads visiting to capture local stories and efforts in cassowary conservation.
      • Monthly Morning Teas: A relaxed, friendly catch-up held monthly at the Environment Centre—everyone is welcome to drop in for a cuppa and a chat.
    • Vision for the future
      • Where do you see C4 in 10 years? We’d love to hear from you.

6. General Business

  • Increased fencing around Mission Beach (e.g. Wheatley farm) remains a concern, and we will continue engaging with landholders and CCRC to raise awareness about living alongside wildlife and promoting safe movement corridors for cassowaries.
  • We acknowledge some awareness of connectivity across TMB Rd (opposite Glows), where fencing left  a Cassowary Passage following consultations – thank you to everyone involved [IS]

7. Next Meeting Date

  • Confirmation of AGM to be scheduled for July 2025, date TBD.

8. Meeting Close

  • Thank you to all attendees. Meeting closed at 5.38pm

9. Guest Speaker – Steve McAlpin (approx. 5:40 PM)

Presentation: “Surviving the Sand: Research Insights on the Great Desert Skink”
Q&A

11. Dinner Break (approx. 6:45 PM)