For Narelle and Peter McKay, retirement wasn’t about slowing down — it was about finding new ways to give back. After three decades living and working in the Blue Mountains, the couple relocated to the Mid North Coast and discovered a renewed connection to the environment through the Wallabi Point Coastcare group.
“We lived in the Blue Mountains for 31 years,” Narelle recalls. “We were always aware of the bush, did a lot of bushwalking, but we both worked long hours. There just wasn’t time to get involved.” It wasn’t until they moved north and had a little more time on their hands that they found themselves wondering how they could contribute. A chance encounter with local volunteers Christine and David sparked their interest in the local Coastcare group — and they’ve been active members ever since.
That was three years ago. Now, they are dedicated members, Peter working with the group every Thursday and Narelle every second Thursday, to restore their local environment — removing invasive species like mother of millions and asparagus fern, and planting natives to support the regeneration of the local littoral rainforest.
Neither of them came in with much knowledge of weeds or bush regeneration, but they’ve embraced the learning process with enthusiasm.
“We didn’t even know what mother of millions was,” Peter laughs. “Now we hate it with a passion!” Narelle adds, “We walk the dogs and mentally mark the spots where weeds are so we can come back later and get them.”
With guidance from group leader Tony Wales, they’ve gained a deeper understanding of ecological restoration and why it matters. “Tony’s really great at explaining the big picture,” says Narelle. “It’s not just pulling weeds; it’s about bringing back the rainforest.”
“We love doing it and the other week we did planting and it’s really good that Tony’s explained to us the future rainforest retreat plan, of bringing the littoral rainforest back from rising sea levels. So that was really good. We were really excited about knowing why we’re doing stuff.”
Of course, it’s not all hard work. “We love our morning teas,” Narelle says. “There’s something really special about sitting down with like-minded people who care about the same things. It’s like finding your tribe.” Peter agrees. “It’s not political or about your background. It’s about the future — caring for the environment, for each other, for the community.”
That sense of shared purpose is at the heart of what keeps them coming back. “It feels good to be doing something,” says Narelle. “We can’t just sit back and say, ‘It’s all stuffed.’ This is our way of trying to help.”
Narelle and Peter’s commitment extends well beyond Thursdays. “We’re always picking up rubbish when we walk the dogs,” Peter says. “After the last flood, we even found a toilet on the beach!”
They’ve become keen advocates, encouraging others to get involved, correcting misinformation, and even calling out local markets selling invasive plants. “We saw a guy selling mother of millions in pots,” Peter says. “We were like, ‘Mate, that’s a serious weed!’ Haven’t seen him at the markets since.”
As part of Manning Coastcare’s 30th anniversary celebrations, the theme of “past and future” resonates strongly for the couple.
“We’ll keep doing this as long as we can,” says Peter. “Maybe eventually we’ll be the ones just clearing the path instead of bashing through the bush. But we’ll still be here.”
They’re also thinking about what comes next. “We need younger people to join,” says Narelle. “Otherwise, who’s going to keep it going? We tell our kids about it all the time. They’re busy now, but they get it.”
When they’re not volunteering, Narelle and Peter are constantly on the go — including dragon boating, Mahjong, Men’s Shed, exploring the wider natural environment, and attending MidCoast 2 Tops events such as the recent platypus day. “We try to learn something new every week,” says Narelle. “It all adds up.”
“We feel lucky,” says Narelle. “And we want to give back. That’s really what it’s about.”
