Shift to dune care was natural step for award-winning volunteer

While Wollongong residents often enjoy the pristine sands of Puckey’s Estate for a morning stroll or a weekend swim, Raewyn Proctor and her team work weekly to ensure the health of the dunes and protect the historical site from invasive species.

Wollongong City Council recognised Raewyn’s efforts last year by naming her the Dunecare volunteer of the year at the annual Environment Volunteer Awards. A mainstay of the Puckey’s Estate weekly group, Raewyn has become a vital volunteer in protecting one of the city's unique coastal habitats.

“We don't do it for recognition, of course, but it’s a fun night to get to meet all the other volunteers and see who’s being recognised. It’s a lot of fun,” she says.

Raewyn’s environmental journey began long before she moved to the coast. With a background in environmental science and more than 20 years in horticulture and garden design, she spent much of her life in the Blue Mountains.

“The Blue Mountains is absolutely beautiful, but there’s no beach,” Raewyn says, laughing. 

After moving to Wollongong six years ago and downsizing to an apartment with only a balcony, she found herself missing the dirt under her fingernails.

“I was missing gardening – not that Bushcare is gardening, but Bushcare meets a whole lot of needs, and one of them was to keep in touch with nature and the natural world,” she says.

Raewyn and her team meet every Thursday at Puckey’s Estate, rain or shine, to tackle bitou bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifera).

“The dune vegetation is being out-competed by bitou bush,” Raewyn says. 

“That’s our main task on the dune front… removing it. It’s not gardening – we’re not trying to make it look pretty – but we’re just removing what doesn’t belong there.” 

Occasionally, this removal work involves restoration as the group replants native tube stock – very small plants sourced from Wollongong City Council’s nursery to cleared areas to help the ecosystem recover its natural balance.

For Raewyn, the award came as a surprise and, while she said she was “a little bit chuffed” about it, it was only one of many rewards that the group received for its work. 

“We’re all there either for the social connection, doing something physical, or caring for the bush. For some people, it meets quite a social need,” she says. 

The Puckey’s group is a diverse mix, ranging from retirees to university students gaining practical credit for their environmental studies. The group even attracts international visitors, such as an English couple who joins the drop-in sessions whenever they are in town visiting family.

“You can work as hard or as soft as you like... there’s something for everyone. You don’t have to do the heavy work... there’s also picking out little seedlings and things like that,” Raewyn says.

“We always have a lovely morning tea together... the social element is a big part of it.”

Get involved

Wollongong City Council coordinates several programs, including Dunecare and Bushcare, to improve the city's natural areas. New volunteers are welcome to join the effort at Puckey’s Estate or other sites.

To find a group or learn more about the awards, visit the Wollongong City Council website or contact the Natural Areas Management team at (02) 4227 7111.