April - National Parks Laws

Colin Watson OAM has been a stalwart supporter of NPA for very many years, as well as the Budawang Committee. He was awarded the "AGL Friend of the Century" last year. This is his reaction to receiving the award ....

I was greatly honoured at the Annual Awards of the Friends of National Parks at Rodd Island on Saturday, 3rd July, 1999, for being awarded AGL Friend of the Century.

I have had a long association with the outdoors and seen the growth of our national parks in this State since the war. I walked in many of our Crown lands before they were declared parks, and was on the State Council of the National Parks Association when we were able to support the Hon Tom Lewis MP, Minister for Lands, in the formation of the National Parks and Wildlife Act in 1967.

It was indeed an honour for the Budawang Committee to receive two awards, one for Fundraising and the other for Public Education. It was through our publications of the Northern Budawang Range sketch map by George Elliott, nine editions since 1960, and our guide books, Pigeon House and Beyond, Fitzroy Falls and Beyond, and The Man from the Misty Mountains by James Sturgiss.

Through the support of the authors, other assistance and the public, we were able to assist in the purchase of Corang Peak lease in Morton National Park for $72,600 when, in February 1999, the Hon Pam Allan MP [then Minister for the Environment] accepted the cheque.

Being a Life Member of the Coast and Mountain Walkers of NSW, I express gratitude to those members who were instrumental in the formation of the Budawang Committee in 1967, and those who assisted in the original submission on a Mimosa Rocks National Park (South Coast) in 1969. Myall Lakes National Park was another great interest and was able to assist the Bunning Inquiry into sand mining.

Over the years of having served on the National Parks and Wildlife advisory committees, National Parks Association committees and the Budawang Committee, it has indeed been a privilege to have been involved in preserving our natural environment and to have been a friend of national parks, and to have been able to give back in a practical way the joy and pleasure of this great land with all its natural beauty that it has to offer.