For more than 20 years Christina Cheers has cared for the landscape surrounding Sunbury. During her time in the town, she’s been heavily involved with the Friends of Emu Bottom Wetlands Reserve, and cares deeply for the area. She tells Elsie Lange a bit about that love and why she is passionate about revegetation and local wildlife.
Tell us a bit about you and what you do?
I am deeply involved in matters environmental around Sunbury. My partner, Garry Bartlett, and I moved here 23 years ago, knowing no one. We wondered how to make friends, until we saw a notice inviting people to join Friends of Emu Bottom Wetlands Reserve (FoEBWR) with the purpose of revegetating the area. We thought it sounded a worthy thing to do, probably done by congenial people, so we joined and haven’t looked back.
When we joined, they were still removing vast tracts of gorse and boxthorn by hand and replacing with indigenous trees and shrubs. Starting with just 17 mature native trees, it is now a beautiful and much-loved recreation area. The work in recent years has involved co-operation between the Hume council, Melbourne Water and the Friends group.
With time, Garry took over as secretary-treasurer of the group, and after I retired I became president upon the retirement of our long-term president Ian Sutherland. Meanwhile, I had seen the need for greater co-operation among all the environmental groups along Jacksons Creek and its tributary, Riddells Creek, so that we could educate ourselves and the public, and act as advocates for the creeks and their environment. The group became known as Jacksons Creek EcoNetwork (JCEN) and now includes 12 Landcare and Friends groups representing over 250 volunteers from Sydenham just downstream of Organ Pipes National Park to Mount Macedon and Gisborne. We have sponsored the formation of a number of groups, including FoEBWR’s sister group in Sunbury, Friends of Holden Flora Reserve.
What’s your connection to Sunbury?
We live in the Emu Bottom area on a lovely rural block visited by mobs of kangaroos and lots of birds. The numbers of kangaroos visiting have hugely increased recently, as they are displaced by burgeoning development around the area. It is so sad to see the animals being barred from their own land.
What do you like about where you live?
I love the sense of belonging in a community. I love the rural atmosphere, the knowledge that I can walk a short distance and find myself in the countryside. We rather enjoy lunch at the local wineries too.
What, if anything, would you change about where you live?
I am hoping that all the new development will at least bring increased amenities. My feeling is that there is still too little to occupy the young.
Where is your favourite local place to spend time?
Well, of course the Emu Bottom Wetlands Reserve. There are some really beautiful areas to be explored along the creek behind the billabong. During lockdown, when we were only allowed an hour’s walk within five kilometres of our home, we discovered wonderful hidden places upstream from Emu Bottom or beyond Albert Road Reserve. Of course, there is always our morning latte in the shopping centre where we are usually to be found between 10-1 am.
Tell us something people would be surprised to know about you.
I’m pretty good at stitching tapestry!
