Westpac gives us project funding

My bank manager in 2007 was Ray Lindwell located at our Westpac branch. Ray was a fantastic guy who could really take a joke so on a regular basis I would hassle him jokingly about how Westpac funds Landcare projects in Australia - how about he get them to kick the can for us. Eventually he caved in and passed our name to the man who arranges the grants from Westpac.

He called me at my work and said he had heard from Ray that there was a project that they might be interested in funding. I briefly outlined the project which was the rehabilitation and beautification of the Cascade Reserve surrounding the Cascade Pier. He asked how much funding was I after?  I asked him how much could I get? He said that the normal was to get $100 per staff member and we had 6 staff in the Westpac Norfolk Island branch but he could authorise grants of between $1100.00 and $6000.00 if the project was deemed worthy. He asked again how much I wanted and I said $6000.00. He laughed and said for me to fill out the application and he would see what he could do. I duly applied and to our astonishment and appreciation; we received $6100.00. 

Unfortunately we were then told by the Minister for the Environment Vicky Jack; that we were not permitted to work in that area just in case down the track it became a harbour. The search was then on for an alternative site. We settled on Headstone - the area where the monument sits and planning began for the work to begin.

We first had the excavator carve us a truck width track from Headstone Road up to the top of the rise to allow us maintenance access.

Our Landcare crew were joined by Ray and the Westpac staff and planting were done on the slopes and cliff edge. We planted mainly pines. oaks and flax as they are the most hardy of the Norfolk natives and best able to withstand the harsh winds that frequent this region and proximity to the coast. Unfortunately we all forgot to take a camera so I have no pics of the planting but here are some of the area afterwards.