BUSH BANTER

What is a weed?

I recently had the opportunity to see one of Esperance’s worst invasive weeds in its natural habitat - the destructive Victorian Tea Tree, Leptospermum laevigatum

Visiting northern NSW, I knew of course that this coastal shrub was where it should be, where it grows naturally and is an important player of coastal ecosystems. However, I still couldn’t help but shiver, reflecting on the march of seedlings colonising and destroying our Esperance bushland. This leads me to ponder the question, ‘What really is a weed?’ Where do we draw the line on a plant’s presence being healthy for the environment or destructive? Are all non-native species considered invasive? These questions can be more complex than you think.

A non-native species is simply a species that was not known to historically occur in the area naturally. A weed is a plant that is growing in an unwanted place. This could also apply to native species. For example, the common coastal wattle, Acacia cyclops , mightn’t be welcome to germinate and grow in your garden and thus could be considered a weed. It’s all about context. Additionally, the term ‘invasive species’ is generally applied to plants that have the potential to spread through the bush, outcompeting the natural bush and having a destructive impact. Victorian Tea Tree in Esperance is a classic example. It was originally planted as a shelter tree around townsites, or introduced to gardens for hedging, growing remarkably well in conditions very similar to its natural environment in NSW. At this point it may have only been considered non-native, and a welcome and purposeful addition to our Esperance landscape. But before long it escaped into the surrounding bush, where it began to dominate, and it is now considered an invasive species. Taking a step into the theoretical realm of ecology may seem a little boring, but it’s important to understand the layers of complexity of plants in our systems to understand how we manage them.

“Continuing the family tradition of giving back to the community”

01 A blue whale was spotted off the coast of Cape Le Grand on February 14, the first recorded sighting of the species in the area. Researchers from the Cetacean Research Centre WA were completing a bluefin tuna survey when the whale, estimated to be 18 - 20 metres long, emerged near their boat. While blue whales are an extremely rare sighting in Esperance waters, they are sometimes seen off the coast of Albany and Bremer Bay.

02 An artist aiming to paint 100 murals across Australia visited Esperance, completing three murals while in town. Patrycja Hannagan is driving around the country with her husband Ben and border collie Zen, raising funds for the not-for-profit mental health organisation Black Dog Institute as she goes. While in Esperance, Patrycja painted murals at homes in West Beach and Gibson, and on the outside wall of Luxe Floral & Home Co.

03 Esperance Hockey Association President Niccole Cooper was crowned the 2022 WA Good Sports Volunteer of the Year and the 2022 National Good Sports Runner Up Volunteer of the Year at the Good Sports Awards in Canberra. Niccole has taken on various roles at the club over the years, and was recognised for making it stronger and more familyfriendly, by going above and beyond the usual undertakings of a volunteer.

04 Esperance was named in the Tourism Sentiment Index’s Leading Places: The 100 Most Loved Destinations Around the World . Esperance ranked number 12 in the list, in front of other Australian destinations like Noosa (number 14) and Margaret River (number 66). The Index uses an algorithm to derive sentiment about tourist destinations from online conversations and content pieces to understand how tourists feel about destinations across the globe.

Positions Vacant

Parliamentary Electorate Offices

Electorate Officer –Maternity Leave Cover

Full Time/Part Time

Level/Award/Salary: ER 1 - 7, EREGA 2021, $84,582$102,124 per annum

Location: Esperance

Applications are invited for the above position at the Electorate Office of Hon Shelley Payne MLC, Member for the Agricultural Region, based in Esperance. In this role, the successful applicant will be required to respond to constituent enquiries, liaise with Government departments and other organisations, prepare and coordinate correspondence, perform administrative tasks, and assist in organising travel, events, and meetings. Visit: jobs.wa.gov.au and key in the above mentioned position title to access detailed information. For specific job-related information, please email: shelley.payne@mp.wa.gov.au

Closing Date: Friday 17 March at 5pm

TABLE TENNIS PLAYED AT THE SCOUT HALL

Thursday Mornings 9am11.00am. $5.00 each session.

OLD TIME / NEW VOGUE BALLROOM DANCING

Held at RAOB Hall every Friday, starting at 7pm. All welcomed, with or without a partner and we will teach you if you don’t know the dances. Contact Daryl on 0419370089 or Jan on 0420638851.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE TIDE

Do you know someone missing out because they don’t live locally? Why not treat them to an Tide subscription for only $5 per month? Head to www. esperancetide.com/subscribe to sign up.

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