Archive for December, 2014

Louise Duff and Kim Wilson attending the IUCN World Parks Congress

Mandurah, 18 December 2014…The urge to know how to secure better protection for our Ramsar-listed Wetlands drove Kim Wilson to seek an audience with world renown Swiss scientist Dr Llewellyn Young at the IUCN World Parks Congress (International Union for Conservation of Nature) held in Sydney last month.

Ms Wilson was fortunate, as one of 4000 delegates from around the world, to have a private audience with Dr Young, who holds the position of Senior Regional Advisor for Asia and Oceania from the Ramsar Convention Secretariat.

Ms Wilson attended the congress in her capacity as Program Manager at the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council and said delegates heard current threats to the world’s Wetlands are similar to and greater than the decline facing global rainforests a generation ago.

“The same threats – population, urban development and non-sustainable use – are affecting Wetlands globally and it was interesting to note the awareness both inside and outside of the congress. The taxi drivers, the shuttle-bus staff – nearly everyone I encountered who knew that I was attending the Congress had the same comment. They all said ‘I’m not a Greenie but…I’m concerned about climate change and I hope your meeting gets it right!” I found that particularly interesting – it was as if they were seeking permission for acknowledging the environmental issues we face are real without being labelled accordingly.”

Ms Wilson also attended the Australian Ramsar Forum, which was held in conjunction with the congress and addressed by the Ramsar Secretary General, Dr Christopher Briggs.

“It was inspiring to see the themes we are pursuing here in the Peel-Harvey region of participation and collaboration being held as an example. What I took from attending these events is that by working together we really can arrest and reverse the decline. It also reiterated that here in the Peel-Harvey we are across world’s best practice in natural resource management in so many aspects of what we do in respect of community engagement, participation and collaborative management for protected areas,” said Kim Wilson.

Contact: Jane O’Malley, Chief Executive Officer, Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, jane.omalley@peel-harvey.org.au (08) 6369 8800

A new year will see a new line-up with the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council Board, with three new members joining the community organisation. PHCC chair Jan Star said she was delighted to welcome Paddi Creevey, Michael Schultz and Darralyn Ebsary to the board of the natural resources management entity.

“The Peel-Harvey catchment is at a cross-roads. There is an opportunity to engage prospective stakeholders of the Peel region in innovative solutions needed for sustainable development, and we have assembled an excellent board. Paddi Creevey OAM is a highly popular and caring community leader who needs little introduction. We are extremely pleased to welcome her, and we are very excited about our two other new members, Darralyn Ebsary of Tanglefood Winery who was formerly a Landcare Officer and Chair of Corrigin Land Conservation District Committee and Michael Schultz, a renowned NRM academic who was most recently program manager for Biodiversity at the South West Catchments Council,” said Jan Star.

The assembly of the new board comes at a critical point in the Peel Harvey Catchment Council’s ongoing development.

“We’re very excited about having these new members join our board at such a significant time in our history,” said Jan Star. “Midway through the 2014 year, we officially became the 55th Natural Resource Management region in Australia giving us national status. We released our NRM strategy for the Peel-Harvey in late 2014, and it will be presented to our board at their December meeting seeking endorsement. The final document will be released to the community early next year.”

The Australian Government has committed $3.6 million to protect and enhance biodiversity of the internationally significant, Ramsar-listed Peel-Yalgorup system during a four year timeframe. The Peel-Harvey Catchment Council is managing the project which includes landscape scale restoration, community engagement and planning across six priority sites in the 1.2 million hectare Peel-Harvey catchment.

ENDS

Contact: Jane O’Malley, Executive Officer, Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, Jane.Omalley@peel-harvey.org.au (08) 6369 8800

David Rennie and his friends delivered a message on caring for our Wetlands.

Pick up a piece of rubbish that could end up in our waterways, reduce your lawn and garden fertiliser, keep your dog on a leash near Wetlands wildlife – Thursday night’s audience at An Evening with David Rennie and Friends heard all these are simple actions anyone can do to conserve our fragile Peel-Yalgorup Ramsar-listed Wetlands.

The event, presented by the Peel Harvey Catchment Council, commenced at twilight with a peppermint leaf smoking ceremony in Mandjar Square. Wildlife photographer and passionate environmentalist David Rennie lead a colourful and committed cast featuring local elder Harry Nannup, nature poet Annamaria Weldon, Pip Newman from Men of the Trees, the Binjarreb Middars Dance Group and the Madjitil Moorna Choir.

Peel Harvey Catchment Council CEO Jane O’Malley said guests attending told her they were ‘captivated’ by the evening.

“Judging by the great attendance at this event, our community obviously cares. Feedback I received indicated people were impressed with the passion of the presenters and the way the conservation concept was interwoven. We were delighted to have David and his friends create such an engaging program, and particularly wish to thank the presenters who volunteered their time,” said Jane O’Malley.

Celebrating our Wetlands and raising awareness of the need for everyone to take ownership and action to counteract the degradation was the take home message from the night, according to David Rennie.

“It was a night of mixed emotions – I know people were entertained and moved and that was what we wanted. From my position on stage, I saw the realisation come into people’s faces that our Wetlands are under severe threat as they took in our message crafted in song, dance and story. People were asking me ‘what can I do’ – well, they can do anything that upholds the values of our backyard – a Ramsar 482 listed wetlands site!” said David Rennie.
Photo Caption: David Rennie and his friends presented a journey through our waterways and wetlands at Mandurah Performing Arts Centre on 10 December 2014.

ENDS…

Contact: Jane O’Malley, Chief Executive Officer, Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, jane.omalley@peel-harvey.org.au, (08) 6369 8800

Spend an Evening with David Rennie and Friends:

Mandurah Performing Arts Centre on 10 December 2014.

Passionate wildlife photographer, David Rennie, returns to the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre on Wednesday 10th December with some friends for an evening of imagery, storytelling, song and dance in celebration of the Ramsar 482 Wetlands. David Rennie says the evening’s entertainment will take the audience on a journey through our waterways and wetlands.

“There will be murder, deceit, anger, hatred, happiness, joy, love and laughter,” says David. “We have some amazing talent who have come together to celebrate our globally significant Ramsar 482 Wetlands and foster discovery, understanding and awareness of this treasure. Together, we can make a difference.”

The evening will include a spirited performance by Binjarreb Middars Dance Group, the Madjitil Moorna Choir, a recital from nature poet Annamaria Weldon, a special address by Pip Newman, Men of the Trees and 2013 Peel Volunteer of the Year, and an artistic visual tribute to the Peel-Harvey region by David Rennie which forms the introduction to his new book, ‘Art in Nature’.

As documented in the excellent episode of ABC’s Australian Story, David credits his love affair with photography to when he was lured out of his car by the sight of a passing bird overhead in 2007.

That moment prompted him to seriously get into his photography, learning the skills and buying the equipment to allow him to capture better and better photos. David’s passion led to his stunning photo, Near Miss, winning the prestigious Australian Geographic ANZANG Nature Photographer of the Year award in August 2013.

An Evening with David Rennie and Friends is presented jointly by the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, City of Mandurah, Lotterywest and the Australian Government. Guests are invited to linger in the foyer for coffee and cake after the event and explore the many displays from groups associated with the Wetlands providing information on how to become engaged with this world renowned asset. Copies of David Rennie’s new book, ‘Art in Nature’ will be for sale at the soiree.

What: An Evening with David Rennie and Friends, 10 December 2014, 6.30pm
Where: Boardwalk Theatre, Mandurah Performing Arts Centre
Cost: $15 Adults $10 Children $40 Family Pass
Tickets from www.manpac.com.au or www.peel-harvey.org.au

More on David Rennie

ABC David Rennie Australian Story Rerun – 5 December 2014

ABC’s Australian Story episode, An Unnatural History, about Mandurah’s award winning nature photographer David Rennie will rerun on Friday December 5 at 6.25pm on ABC TV: Don’t miss this excellent documentary, or your chance to celebrate the magic of The Ramsar 482 Wetlands during ‘An Evening with David Rennie and Friends’ at Mandurah Performing Arts Centre 6.30pm on Wednesday 10th December $15 Adults $10 Child $40 Family Pass from MANPAC Box Office

ENDS…

Contact: Jane O’Malley, Executive Officer, Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, Jane.Omalley@peel-harvey.org.au , (08) 6369 8800