David and the woodlands
David Paull was appointed to the position of Western Woodlands Officer at the start of September this year. David is a professional zoologist and has worked as a wildlife consultant for the last 10 years, with much of this time devoted to the remnant habitats of western NSW. Most of his work has been in relation to biodiversity and impact assessment, and he has developed a good understanding of the machinations of government regarding these issues.
He believes that the conservation of our declining western ecosystems have been neglected by government, largely for political reasons. The way to address this problem is through popular input and linking of the various community players in the environmental debate. David is committed to informing the community of the issues involved in saving what is left of our woodlands – the pressure from usage of wood is likely to increase in the near future.
David is based in Dubbo as this is a more central location for the job of keeping pressure on the government and linking with the rural community. The principle issue at present is the saving of the ironbark and box woodlands in the north and central west (see his article on p 12). He also has an eye on the Riverina red gums and their poor state of protection. David will be working hard to achieve new additions to the national park estate in the west.
David can be contacted through the NPA Office or at woodlands@npansw.org.au
NPA keeps updating
State Council committees and the Journal Editor now have their own email addresses. These are:
biodiversity@npansw.org.au
pmc@npansw.org.au
reserves@npansw.org.au
editor@npansw.org.au
The contacts section of the NPA website (npansw.org.au) has been updated to reflect current email addresses for all staff and committees.
Southern Sydney Branch news
NPA display at Gray's Point Octoberfest
Our display highlighted local environmental issues, the conservation work of NPA and the activities program. NPA displays are an ideal way to generate interest in NPA and to increase our membership. Thank you to the display volunteers from Southern Sydney Branch.
NPA marine exhibition at Sutherland Library
NPA Marine Project Officer Miriam Vandenberg – with the assistance of Southern Sydney Branch Secretary, Gary Schoer – organised this very successful exhibition. The aim of the exhibition was to educate the public about the importance of protecting marine areas. It also highlighted NPA’s proposal to establish Curracurrong Marine National Park in the ocean adjacent to Royal NP. Thank you to Miriam and Gary.
Peter Vaughan
President
Southern Sydney Branch
Biodiversity as a focus in schools
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Guess what? IUCN-WCU has
set 2001 as International Biodiversity Year. Every year in May, Australia holds
"National Science Week". In 2001 the theme for schools in this week is
Biodiversity.
If you have any contacts in schools, see if you can offer your help NOW before the end of 2000. This will help that school plan to make a feature of Biodiversity during 4-13 May 2001. Invite the school to take up NPA membership. On 6 May 6 2001, NPA Sydney Branch will be hosting a celebration of biodiversity in Warringah involving Warringah Council, many schools, bush regenerators and other community groups. This will be written up on the wwildlife.com website. School children and teachers will be invited to submit wildlife reports to this website. |
Perhaps you could persuade a school to submit a wildlife report as part of an environmental unit of work about biodiversity in your area. Look at the wwildlife.com website for details.
Judith Bennett
Education Officer
Sydney Branch
Marine Project
Funds needed to continue work
The NPA Marine Project seeks the establishment of a system of marine reserves in NSW and adjacent waters to protect marine biodiversity and ecological processes, just as our campaigns on terrestrial lands seek similar ends. Yet we are starting from a poor beginning. At present, only about 0.05% of NSW waters are fully protected as sanctuary zones, or ‘no take’ areas, that protect all species. Even the recent creation of marine parks has failed to provide new sanctuary zones.
Our project has initially focused on raising community awareness by promoting our very diverse and beautiful marine environment. A photographic exhibition featuring magnificent underwater photos by local diver, Mike Scotland, was shown in Sydney’s southern suburbs, where it is generating positive interest and feedback (see also Southern Sydney news). The exhibition will tour NSW, together with a leaflet promoting marine conservation.
With the planning of marine park management at a critical stage, NPA is now aiming to influence the outcomes and increase the areas of sanctuary zones. As we develop strong community support, we hope the politicians will be convinced that the marine environment should be given the protection it deserves.
Donated funds for Miriam Vandenberg – our enthusiastic part-time Marine Project Officer during 2000 – have recently run out. Please help us to continue her work at this important time by making a tax-deductible donation now. Call Miriam on 9299 0000 if you want to hear about her work in more detail.
Andrew Cox
Executive Officer
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Office alert!! If you can: • use a photocopier, or • answer a phone, or • use a computer for office tasks, or • follow a filing system, and • give some regular time Then you could help us out in the NPA Office. |
There is ALWAYS something that needs doing. Please call Karen on 9299 0000 |
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Wandering Wildlife These school holidays, the Sydney Branch of NPA is introducing a new and exciting education program especially designed with children in mind. Come along on a fun, interesting learning experience with an NPA biologist. Bring your children on a learning adventure along a rock platform at low tide, a wander through Warriewood wetlands, or a walk to a secret waterfall. Take home a free info pack! Walks will be held every second Wednesday through the school holidays (Dec 20, Jan 3, Jan 17). Meet at 10 am at the Narrabeen Coastal Environment Centre, Lake Park Road, North Narrabeen (follow the Pelican Path). Bookings essential. NPA members $10 per adult, non-members $15 per adult. Children free. |
Vale Thomas White Moppett
While Tom Moppett has not played a major role in national park matters for some time, those of us who had the pleasure of knowing Tom at earlier times will be mourning his passing as one of the key players in the establishment of the NPA and subsequent drafting and turbulent passage of the National Parks and Wildlife Bill, 1967.
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Tom’s public interest in the bush began after meeting Jean Trimble on a skiing trip in the mid-thirties. They later married and she introduced him to the Sydney Bushwalkers Club; he was to be its Secretary 1939-40. Together this very fit couple set numerous walking and skiing records. Jean was the first woman to ski overland from Kiandra to Kosciuszko, and Tom carried off the swimming at the SBW carnival at Bushwalkers Basin. In 1940 he joined the air force and, as navigator in Lancasters over Germany, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Returning from the war he became President of the SBW from 1947-52, the longest term up until 1987. |
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During this period he played a leading role in the removal of shacks from North Era, Royal National Park, when the SBW purchased part of the problem area and returned it to the Park; and in the placement of the war-memorial plaque to bushwalkers located at the rim of one of Australia’s most inspiring vistas, Splendour Rock.
In 1956, members of the Northern Parks and Playground Movement in Newcastle, Rod Earp, Joe Richley and others, began talking about forming a National Parks Association particularly to take up the fight for a Myall Lakes National Park. A Sydney group – including Tom Moppett and Allen Strom who, in the Caloola Club, were also talking about such a formation – met with the Newcastle people and from negotiations the NPA jelled into three groupings – the National Parks Association State Council, the Hunter-Manning NPA Branch and the Central Region Branch.
In 1958, Tom was nominated to represent ‘Interests for the Study and Preservation of Fauna’ on the Fauna Protection Panel, a position he held for nine years, ultimately becoming Deputy Chairman.
Tom and Rod were the ‘smooth’ negotiators, Allen Strom and his group more impatient and perhaps abrasive in their political relationships. So the early days of State Council were very vigorous and dynamic and certainly not meetings to miss; the goal of an effective National Parks Bill was too important. The dynamic conflict of personalities proved useful to Minister Lewis, as was the irritating fact that Allen Strom was also head of one of Lewis’s area’s of responsibility. I can remember at least one deputation of which I was a member where the Minister was able to deftly split the party opposite. Ultimately, when the draft Bill was tabled, a serious rift began to develop within NPA as the largest NPA Journal ever set down 50 pages of criticism of the Bill’s matter.
Then, to add further insult to the ‘gentler’ negotiators, Henry Fairlie-Cunninghame and myself (editors) called an ‘unofficial’ General Meeting concerning the Bill. This very large ‘illegal’ meeting passed 15 motions concerning the Bill and the Minister. Minister Lewis threatened to drop the Bill, placing strong pressure on NPA. We now know that he did not probably largely because Tom Moppett had remained in a negotiating position, while many of us had fractured our official contact. However, the amended Bill did show that most of the issues raised in the NPA Bulletin had been remedied.
But in the turmoil we ultimately lost Tom, the saddest result of all. In a similar fashion the Hunter-Manning Region was fractured. The stakes on offer, an effective National Parks and Wildlife Service and its estate, had been the motivation.
Time does heal wounded relationships as we are able to stand off and coolly weigh up the pros and cons. One thing is clear – the particular brew of personalities within those early State Councils of NPA did produce the best result possible at that time. Even though Tom has passed on, some part of his style of living and doing things lies within all who walked with him along life’s trail. The world about him has become a better place for his passing by. NPA offers its sympathy to Jean and family.
Allan Fox
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