DEAR News Of The Area
HAPPY New Year and a great Australia Day to everyone in the Tea Gardens Hawks Nest community, and visitors.
I would like to provide an update on the Hawks Nest Tea Gardens Progress Association following our first Management Committee meeting for the year, held last week.
The new 2026 Committee includes Vice President Councillor Thomas O’Keefe, Secretary Bruce Murray, Treasurer Kay Jones, Jeanette Hart (also President of the Myall River Art Walk Group), and committee members Kath Verdon (Life Member), Leigh Allen (Life Member), Sherrie O’Keefe, and warm welcome to Joan Jenkin, Lois McShane, and Shirley Darch.
The Association has a full program planned for 2026.
One new initiative is our Guerrilla Gardening program, which targets public areas in need of care and maintenance. These small-scale volunteer works are intended to make practical, visible improvements to shared spaces.
We are also considering applying for Tidy Town accreditation later in the year, subject to how much we can achieve with the support of local volunteers and businesses.
First was Moira Parade Park Garden with a makeover, a number of wasp nests removed, rubbish removed, and the toilets cleaned before Australia Day celebrations.
The heavy graffiti in the men’s toilet will need to be overpainted despite efforts to remove.
The garden will now be further weeded, fertilised, watered, and well-mulched to ensure all plants are healthy.
Our Seniors Week celebration, themed “Live Life in Colour”, is scheduled for 21 March.
It will again be 100 percent self-funded by the Progress Association.
Supporting seniors remains a big priority for us, so stay tuned for our free community concert with music, and fabulous afternoon tea (plus great lucky door prizes).
Our major initiative for the year will be commissioning a professional cost estimate to renovate the Hawks Nest Community Hall.
This will form the basis for a grant application, supported by MidCoast Council, to seek funding for upgrades – particularly the damaged faded wooden floor, run down stage, broken curtains, aged stage lighting, poor paint job, and dated amenities.
It is competitive to get grant funding but with strong community support we are better placed.
We will also continue responding to relevant MidCoast Council strategies and plans, including the recently released Aquatic Strategy.
This includes advocating for improved heating for year-round access to the local pool, which may also require grant funding.
In addition, we will continue submitting reports and requests on behalf of the community.
We will also continue to advocate for improved telecommunications, signage, road repairs, and overall stewardship of our area.
To support this work, the Progress Association will be fundraising through Bunnings barbecues on 5 April and 8 June, with all funds raised directed back into local projects.
Please come along and buy a sanger from our volunteers.
The Progress Association is run entirely by volunteers, and its work depends on community involvement.
Residents are very welcome to help, whether by volunteering, joining a sub-committee, or attending meetings to share their views.
We hope to see you at our first General Meeting on Monday 13 April from 6.30pm at the Hawks Nest Community Hall.
Sandra Bourke
President, Hawks Nest Tea Gardens Progress Association.
You can help your local paper.
Make a small once-off, or (if you can) a regular donation.
We are an independent family owned business and our newspapers are free to collect and our news stories are free online.
Help support us into the future.
