Mission Beach Netflix show Irreverent actors donate to cassowary conservation

A Netflix production crew working in the Far North has declared its love for the region and its wildlife by contributing towards a critical land purchase.

A NETFLIX production crew working in the Far North has declared its love for the region and its wildlife by contributing towards a critical land purchase.

Members of 10-part TV series Irreverent, filmed at Mission Beach have been running yoga classes and donating towards conservation group C4’s fundraiser to purchase “critical land” for cassowary conservation.

C4 president Peter Rowles said actors Russell Dykstra and Roz Hammond’s efforts had helped raise more than $7600, prompting a “low-key” thank you ceremony on Thursday.

“The actors said they had been awed by the region’s natural beauty and touched by the friendliness of the community, and were sad to be leaving after calling Mission Beach home for several months,” Mr Rowles said.

Irreverent actors Roz Hammond and Russell Dykstra (front centre), and (from left), C4 president Peter Rowles, vice-president Dr Helen Larson, secretary Peter Trott, and members Laurie Trott, Bob Jones, Cosima Stokeld and Joh Rowles. Picture: Jeff Larson

“Mr Dykstra said he was actively involved in bush care and conservation groups near his home on the New South Wales Central Coast and wanted to do something for cassowary conservation.

“He was thrilled to finally see a cassowary and his stripy chicks in Mission Beach just a week before the Cassowary Coast component of Irreverent wraps up and he heads south for studio filming.”

Mr Rowles presented Mr Dykstra with a copy of C4 member Laurie Trott’s recently published play, To Kill A Cassowary to thank him for his work. “One of the biggest single threats to the survival of the cassowary is loss of habitat through clearing and fragmentation of crucial corridors.

A 16ha block of land, formerly a banana farm, on Old Tully Road, Feluga was bought as a conservation purchase following revegetation work by Mission Beach conservation group C4. President Peter Rowles. Picture: Arun Singh Mann

“C4 has partnered with Queensland Trust For Nature to buy important parcels of land that provide critical habitat for cassowaries and other species. These are covered by protective covenants and sold to people who want to live amid nature and respect other species’ right to share the same habitat as them.”

Originally published as Mission Beach Netflix show Irreverent actors donate to cassowary conservation