Volunteer is pretty Fry for a green thumb guy

A dedicated BushCare volunteer has received an annual award after 15 years of hard work.

Joseph Fry and Sandy McBride have been recognised for their 15 years of conservation work along Whalley Creek in Nambour. Photo: John McCutcheon / Sunshine Coast Daily

FIFTEEN years of conservation and restoring efforts have seen a hardworking green thumb awarded the Silver Mattock Award.

BushCare Volunteer Joseph Fry started the Whalley Creek BushCare Group 15 years ago with his wife Sandy McBride after noticing the lack of care provided to the Whalley Creek Bushland.

Mr Fry said he was very thankful for the recognition but the work he has done over the years was award enough.

"When I received the award, I thought it should be the city council that should get the award because I get so much out of it, I'm awarded every day when I go do my work and be with the birds and enjoying life," he said.

Sunshine Coast Council community conservation officer Ash Goodman said the council was happy to give Mr Fry the recognition he deserves.

"We are so proud to celebrate Joseph's remarkable work and contribution to council's BushCare Sunshine Coast program and the greater natural community," she said.

The award recipient has dedicated his time to leading the BushCare group who have been weeding and gradually removing camphor laurels along the creek line to improve the health of the ecosystem.

Mr Fry's wife Sandy McBride said maintaining and controlling the weeds was crucial in the forest regeneration.

"When the weeds grow along the ground the seedlings are not reproducing so we have to keep on top of those so that the forest will keep regenerating," she said.

Passionate about plants and wildlife Mr Fry said seeing the results was his favourite part. "We were covered with a lot of weed and we had lost a lot of birds because when you plant the local fauna you attract the birds and they come back," he said.

"When we plant the trees, they are so little and then after 10 years they are big and full of birds.

"The trees are already huge now and they are still growing."

With 40 groups and 1200 BushCare volunteers on the Sunshine Coast the 82-year-old said it was amazing that we were changing the whole city.

"It's where we live that's where our home is and we want to learn how to care for it and the animals because we are a lot happier if we do, it's amazing," he said.

Mr Fry said he started restoring the bushland after moving from Palmwoods to Nambour.

"We bought this little house in Nambour and when we arrived all the trees were in a mess here and the government gave us money to clean up the trees," he said.

"That's why we bought the house, we wanted to buy it because there was so much work to be done on the Whalley Creek."

Mr Fry was presented with the annual award by BushCare Sunshine Coast.