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Firewood – a burning issue
Bushwalking Open Day
Biodiversity Survey Manual
News from Three Valleys Branch
Profile – Beth & John Williams

Firewood – a burning issue 
NPA held a conference on firewood issues at Armidale at the end of May. Shirley Cook from Armidale Branch was the coordinator and it was held with the assistance of Bushcare (a Natural Heritage Trust program), NPWS, Armidale Dumaresq Council and Birds Australia. The proceedings will be published later in the year.

There were around 70 participants and 17 speakers. The conference was opened by Dr Sharman Stone, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment.

There were four main areas of discussion: the environmental impacts of firewood cutting, human health impacts of wood fires, alternatives to wood for fuel and how to achieve a sustainable firewood industry.

The conference was prompted by the release by the Commonwealth Government of a discussion paper, A National Approach to Firewood Collection and Use in Australia. Targets NPA regards as essential to minimise impacts include a compulsory licensing system for firewood merchants to ensure biodiversity protection, achieving air quality standards, and an action plan for NSW with cross-agency support.

NPA would like to thank the many people involved in organising the conference, the participants and the sponsors.

BUSHWALKING OPEN DAY 
A brilliant mid-winter's day greeted walkers for the second NPA Bushwalking Open Day, held on Sunday 3 June at Bobbin Head, Ku-ring-gai Chase NP. After an introduction by acting NPA President, Stephen Lord, an enthusiastic group of 23 set off at 10.30 am, led by NPA stalwarts George Daniels and Vivien Dunne. About two hours later they returned, eager to taste the cooking delights from the BBQ, which was prepared by Derek Dunne ably assisted by Barbara Hobart.

During the lunch break NPA Membership Development Officer, Michelle Johnston, led a group of children out on a wildlife discovery tour. Our sponsor, Alpsport, gave a demonstration of bushwalking gear, which was greeted with much interest. A second walk started soon after lunch, with upwards of 25 people.

Overall the open day was very enjoyable, and is proving to be an excellent way of promoting NPA and the bushwalking program. It is hoped that NPA Branches may be able to organise a similar activity in their area to help increase membership. Thanks go to Richard Thompson and the walk leaders. We now look forward to the next open day in November.

Karen Petley, 
Administration Manager

Biodiversity Survey Manual 
The NSW Minister for the Environment, the Hon Bob Debus, launched the new edition of the Community Biodiversity Survey Manual on 22 May at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. About 100 people attended the launch, including Ian Kiernan from Clean Up Australia. After the formalities, a seminar was held on surveying techniques.

A joint production of NPA and the NSW NPWS, this second edition focuses on providing easy access to the information within the manual. The need for the manual arose from the community biodiversity surveys held by NPA since 1994. They were so popular we were being asked to help others run their own, and we also wanted to ensure that NPA surveys were efficient and the information collected was useful.

One survey method in the manual is written for those who have never conducted a biodiversity survey. The other method is designed for people with previous experience and expertise. It provides a step-by-step guide from planning the survey through to reporting the results.

The 500-page manual is available from NPA for $104.50 (including GST) plus p&h.

Claire Carlton
Manual Editor

NEWS FROM THREE VALLEYS BRANCH 
We are a small Branch with a membership spread over many miles and covering three local government areas. Unfortunately, the local councils are not very attuned to protecting the environment, though there are signs that change is occurring slowly.

Nambucca Shire Council members were invited to attend part of the meeting of the North Coast Regional National Park Advisory Committee on 15 June, and appeared to appreciate what the parks can do for the economic development of the district through tourism. One of our members belongs to the RAC and said the Councillors' attitudes were most encouraging.

We have been very involved over the years with keeping an eye out for unsuitable development in our district, and as a result have made many submissions to our local councils. We have been heartened by the State Government's new coastal package (see Environment News), but hope that our councils take some note of it – we will be watching with interest.

James Tedder
Three Valleys Branch

Profile – Beth and John Williams 
Beth and John share an extraordinary amount in common apart from marriage, one son and two grandsons. They both graduated with a BSc with Honours in Botany from Sydney University and were Teaching Fellows in that department. They married in 1956 and the following year moved to Armidale where John lectured and Beth tutored in the Botany Department at the University of New England (UNE). They are keen photographers whose plant photos have appeared in many publications, including the Flora of NSW and the Flora of Australia.

In 1974 they were both founding members of Armidale NPA and the current strength of the Branch owes much to their consistent dedication. They are both deeply committed and concerned for the preservation of native flora and fauna and their different activities interweave and complement each other’s endeavours.


Beth and John Williams

In the 1960s John was appointed a member of the New England National Park Trust and variously served as Chair, Deputy Chair and Secretary. He subsequently served as Chair and Deputy Chair while a member of the NPWS Advisory Committee. He was involved in these voluntary positions for twenty-five years and meanwhile was researching the flora of New England NP.

His studies of the plant communities of rainforests, eucalypt forests and woodlands, granite heathlands, coastal sand dunes and sandstone, resulted in many valuable plant lists and reports. Through his lectures at UNE in plant taxonomy and ecology, John supervised and inspired new generations of botanists. John also taught in the highly successful Ecofest courses run from UNE’s Department of Continuing Education.

He is the author and co-author of many books on the flora of the New England Tablelands, as well as substantial reports on the flora of various NPs. With Gwen Harden and Bill McDonald he wrote a series of field guides and books on New England eucalypts and acacias, and rainforest plants of NSW and SE Queensland. He has also produced a series of inexpensive booklets on basic plant and rainforest flora identification.

To take a nature stroll in the company of this gentle man, whose vast store of wisdom he willingly shares, is a delightful privilege.

Beth’s conservation activism began in the 1960s with her concern over a road proposal through New England NP to link the tablelands with the coast. Beth is Armidale NPA’s most active member and indomitable campaign person, whose persistence, thorough research skills and commitment is legendary. Beth is always willing to share her knowledge and skills, be it on countless trips identifying birds and plants, researching and writing submissions, preparing displays or lobbying politicians.

During the last twenty-seven years as member of Armidale Branch, Beth has served as President, Vice-President, Secretary, Newsletter Editor and is currently State Council representative and Campaigns Officer. Beth transforms her passionate conservation zeal into logical and objective submissions that often result in government departments adopting her suggestions.

Her personal effort and dedication has been recognised by the Australian Government this year with the award of the Order of Australia Medal, for her contribution to conservation and the environment. It is well deserved.

There are myriad issues that Beth has been involved with. A small selection include the Native Vegetation Conservation Act and implementation, Transgrid, water reform, hydro scheme proposals on the Apsley and Styx Rivers, Gunnedah charcoal plant and the preservation of western woodlands. She has helped achieve new reserves in the Northern Tablelands, including Torrington SRA and additions to others including Oxley Wild Rivers NP.

Beth is an avid communicator willing to work with individuals, groups, organisations and government agencies. There are many local publications that Beth has contributed to including Family Outings Around Armidale and A Landholder’s Guide to Threatened Species in New England. With Peter Metcalfe and the Pasture Protection Board, she produced leaflets about the environmental values of travelling stock routes and another, in conjunction with Save the Bush, about the plight of regent honeyeaters. As an active member of the regent honeyeater recovery program, Beth has inspired local school children to plant ironbarks.

She is also active in Birds of Australia Northern NSW Group and is, with Andrew Ley and Damon Oliver, co-author of a number of scientific papers.

Armidale NPA members consider ourselves most fortunate in having such treasures as Beth and John in our midst. They continue to inspire all of us, as well as contributing substantially to the knowledge and protection of special areas.

Lynne Hosking
President
Armidale Branch


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