DISTRICT Rotary clubs are preparing to deliver a gift of replacement plants on Saturday, November 14, to the fire-affected community of Cobargo on the NSW far south coast.

Around 4000 plants from three Rotary clubs (Weston Creek, Bega and Brindabella Rotaractors) will be given to needy people through the Cobargo Green Recovery Inc team.

The donation event at the Cobargo Showgrounds, 10am-2pm, aims to help the Cobargo community recover its green environment, and provide fun for families and people traumatised by the destructive bushfires and isolated during the COVID-19 health emergency.   

The Rotary Club of Bega will provide a barbecue and there will be live music, some fun competitions and a lolly-scatter event for children.

The Member for Eden-Monaro, Kristy McBain, will open the event and other community representatives, including Bega Valley Shire councillor Tony Allen and Zena Armstrong, president of the Cobargo Bushfire Recovery Fund, will be available to discuss aspects of Cobargo’s recovery. 

The plants have been grown over winter by senior Rotarians and volunteers in Canberra, and by members of the Rotary Club of Bega. The Plant Replacement Project has been led by Rotarian Margaret McIver with the aid of Paulene Cairnduff, the well-known Canberra horticulturalist whose Phoenix Garden Recovery group helped re-green Weston Creek following the 2003 fires. 

“Our Rotarians and friends started growing plants. Many of our members are older folk and we all were in isolation at home. But growing the plants gave pleasure and purpose to our volunteer growers”, said Ms McIver.

Most of the plants will be sorted and packed for transport in Canberra with the aid of the Council on the Ageing ACT (COTA), and by the Men’s Shed in Hughes.

Paulene Cairnduff said: “We understand something of what the Cobargo community is going through, and this is our gift with love”.

Another later phase of the Plant Replacement Project will provide street trees when Cobargo’s re-building and infrastructure is nearing completion.