3 minute read
Confidential items for consideration
By Madeleine Murray THIS IS a Christmas market with a twist. The Terranora end-of-year market will feature a classic car meet-up, as well as Santa on a fire truck provided by the Banora Point Fire station.
“This will be the third year we have done this event,” organiser Tess Easton told The Weekly.
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“We are expecting a bumper classic car crowd in the downstairs car park of The Pavilions marketplace and have 20 market stalls booked in for the top car park.
“This has become an annual tradition for the Terranora community.
Organiser Tess Easton with Santa
Car organiser David Sunter is expecting over 150 classic cars.
Jerome Williams will provide live music with his eclectic collection of instruments and evocative songs.
Memphis Mayhem Radio will be broadcasting live from the marketplace.
“Like many others, we are slowly rebuilding after the COVID crazies.” Tess said.
The Community Christmas Market is on from 9.30am to 1pm on Sunday, December 18. The Pavilions Marketplace is at 2-14 Henry Lawson Drive, Terranora.
Banora Point Fire station will bring their truck
The market is great for families DEVIL WEED: giant devil's fig is springing up everywhere and we can all help stop the spread
Devil’s fig - the bad news
By Madeleine Murray THE BAD news is that the fast-growing giant devil’s fig, an environmental and agricultural weed, is proliferating in the Tweed Shire following major flooding and land disturbance.
The plant (Solanum chrysotrichum) is easy to identify through the prickly stems and leaves and clusters of small white flowers. Numerous round yellowish berries contain about 50 yellow-brown seeds.
If not removed or controlled, giant devil’s fig can form large dense thickets, up to four metres in height.
Seeds are spread by water and contaminated soil, and through birds, flying foxes and other animals eating the fruit.
The giant form looks similar to devil’s fig (Solanum torvum) – height smaller, with smaller leaves and whitish/yellowish flowers; and tropical soda apple (Solanum viarum) – height smaller, large fruit of mottled appearance when immature. Smaller flower clusters of flowers, with longer prickles.
All these weeds have the potential to outcompete native plants and pasture grasses, and adversely affect livestock if eaten in large amounts due to steroidal glycoalkaloids that cause spine injury to people and stock.
The good news is that it can be controlled by physical removal and chemical control.
The plants are shallow rooted, so quite small seedlings can be carefully pulled out using gloves.
Larger seedlings can be dug out with a mattock and established plants can be spot sprayed with herbicides or the cut-stump method.
However, spraying will not kill the seeds in the fruit, so it is important to collect the fruit for proper disposal.
Rous County Council Weed Biosecurity Officers (02) 6623 3800 will provide advice on how to dispose of the fruit and other control measures.
For further information and identification tips, please visit: weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au/Weeds/Giantdevilsfig
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