To tell the truth...

To tell the truth, I never want to go to Bush Care. The idea of getting up at 6:30 on a Saturday, to scrounge around in the dirt and lantana, pulling up weeds and digging holes, with a bunch of old fogies, for no pay or benefit, somehow never seems appealing on Friday night at the end of a long week!! I would much rather sleep in, then enjoy a slow breakfast while reading the papers.

But, I just have to remind myself that I felt this way last month and I try to remember how I felt at the end of the working bee.

I remember the pride and satisfaction I felt with the good work we had achieved that day. I remember that I felt good for having done some decent exercise for once. I remember the excellent morning tea provided by Lois and the good company of the friendly and selflessly hard-working members of the group. But most of all I remember the way the park looked before the Bush Care Group was set up and contrast that memory with the way the park looks now after all the hard work that has been done.

This contrast certainly makes me feel that all the time I have put in has been worthwhile. And it inspires me to get up at 6:30 on a Saturday to scrounge around in the dirt and lantana because I know that what we do this time will make a big difference to our local environment in the future. Putting in a few hours at Moore Park once a month helps me to feel less anxious about the state of the environment because I know that I have done something small, yet significant, to help. More importantly I know that many others are doing the same. It gives me hope for the future.

Kirsten Hoban