FOGI. Friends of Granite Island.

Friends of Granite Island (FoGI) is a community-based organisation involving volunteers that share a common interest in, and commitment to, improving the natural environment of the Granite Island Recreation Park

The Friends of Granite Island are a very small group of volunteers which has been going for over 20 years. This dedication was recently recognized with a presentation by Minister Spears and Hon David Basham, and the commemorative planting of two Norfolk Pines on the island.

The volunteers meet on the Island every fortnight to carry out numerous jobs, weeding and clearing the planting areas of broken branches and rubbish. Slashing the winter grasses is always a big job. During the drier months we have had to keep the new plantings on the North side watered till they take hold due to the area being in a rain shadow and extremely dry.

We are absolutely delighted with the growth of previously planted Dianella, which is a favorite with the penguins for nesting, it has covered a large area of the sandy hill side. The pigface is also spreading well.

Now that the rains have arrived, we have set about planting bare areas adjacent to and on either side of the board walk with plants supplied by DEW. One of our volunteers has also been successfully propagating Casuarina trees from seeds gathered on Granite Island. The trees are being planted near the top of the embankment and behind our shed where there was a large bare area.

With the completion of the new Granite Island causeway due in December 2021, it is even more important to keep the unique ambience of the island both intact and further developed.

Most visitors comment on and appreciate the natural landscape, magnificent sea views, and the special wildlife, which includes penguins, two elusive wallabies, buff banded rails, quail, native rats, pacific gulls and even terns.

We are currently concentrating on what we like doing best, planting!

Anyone who wishes to volunteer with our group is more than welcome you can contact us through our Friends of Granite Island Facebook page or by email on [email protected].