Darling Downs Residents Association Inc.
Come and Get Involved
Volunteers
The Darling Downs Residents Association members are the lifeblood of the Association and have been managing the estate for more than 30 years in conjunction with the Serpentine Jarrahdale Shire.
Through the volunteer programs including busy bees, the equestrian open space and bridle trails have been developed and improved.
Volunteer projects including the construction of two outdoor equine arenas, slow warm up riding track, bush renovation, cross country jumps, improved car parks facilities, and improved trails to horse ride, walk, run and cycle on have resulted in environmental and social benefits to the whole community.
Volunteers
The Darling Downs Residents Association members are all volunteers. They are the lifeblood of the organisation and have been managing the Darling Downs Equestrian Estate for over 30 years since its inception in conjunction with the Serpentine Jarrahdale Shire.
Through the volunteer programs including Busy bees, the equestrian open space and bridle trails have been developed and improved over the years, including the construction of a volunteers machinery shed, two equine arenas, slow warm up riding track, cross country jumps, improved car parks facilities, and places to walk, run or cycle with or without your dog - resulting in environmental and social benefits to the whole community.
Our volunteers have contributed over ..............just working on the Busy bees last year.
What's involved:
Most of work is involved in four main areas;
Fire risk reduction management
Bush Regeneration
Declared weed removal
Tractor mulching of the long grass
What do volunteers need to bring?
On the day of the Busy bee, you will need long sleeve shirt and trousers, water bottle, work gloves, enclosed shoes or boots, sunscreen and a protective hat.
If the job is Fire risk reduction work, we will ask any volunteers that have a car and trailer, chainsaws or wiper snipers to bring them along as well. However if you don't have any of those implements, still come along as we also need many hands!!
Note we won't be lighting any fires, just picking up the dead branches and piling them up for a winter burn off later on
No experience is necessary for most tasks.
However there is an Induction training session required to be done prior to any volunteer being allowed to use our tractor and its implements.
Good physical fitness is also required for most of the work we do.
Fire Risk Reduction Management
Volunteer assist with the removal of branches and dead trees from the bridal trails and in the open spaces.
This helps in the aesthetics of the area in general but also reduces the fuel load across the estate.
Bush Regeneration
In the past, native plants species have been planted in areas of the open space to regenerate some poor soiled areas.
As the bushes grow hopefully they will attract more bird life into the area.
In the past 3 years alone volunteers have contributed over 1800 hours of their time just working on the busy bees.
What's involved:
Most of work involved includes:
-
Bush Regeneration programs
-
Declared weed removal management
-
Tractor grass mulching of the bridle trails and open spaces,
and there is usually a free sausage sizzle and drink after the busy bee, to relax and have a catch up after a few hours of volunteer work!!
What do volunteers need to bring?
On the day of the busy bee, you will need a long sleeve shirt and trousers, water bottle, work gloves, enclosed shoes or boots, sunscreen and a protective hat.
If the job is fire risk reduction work, we will ask any volunteers that have a car and trailer, chainsaws or whipper snippers to bring them along as well.
However if you don't have any of those implements, still come along as we also need many hands!!
Note we won't be lighting any fires, just picking up the dead branches and piling them up for a winter burn off later on.
No experience is necessary for most tasks, however there is an Induction training session that needs to be completed before volunteers can use the DDRA tractor.
Good physical fitness is also required for most of the work we do.
Volunteering is a powerful channel for change, as most people can get involved in some way.
Through the power of collective action, volunteers can make a positive difference in any community project.
Fire Risk Reduction Management
Volunteers assist with the removal of branches and dead trees from the bridal trails and in the open spaces.
This helps in the aesthetics of the area in general but also reduces the fuel load and summer fire risk across the estate.
In the past, native plants species have been planted in areas of the open space to regenerate some poor soiled areas.
As the bushes grow hopefully they will attract more bird life into the area.
On occasions in the past, there have been breakouts of declared weeds growing in the estate. Volunteers are organized at busy bees to pull or grub out the weeds hopefully before they reseed.
Once a volunteer has been through a short Tractor Induction training course, volunteers can assist in keeping the grasses in the opens spaces and bridal trails short during winter and spring. This helps in reducing fire risk in early summer but also helps in weed reduction management in the estate.
Vounteering
"Its good for our physical and mental heath and wellbeing"