Mike was best known to NPA members as our nominee (jointly with NCC) to the Western Regional Advisory Committee (and before that the Western Rivers Advisory Committee). He was also the NCC nominee to the Karst Management Advisory Committee (2007-2014). He passed away in February this year.
Mike, a long-time member and representative of the Linnean Society was a passionate environmentalist, zoologist and palaeontologist. He taught for many years at University of NSW, and ‘retired’ to Wellington where he was very involved in the local community including the Wellington Caves, and the Field Naturalists. He was Wellington’s 2024 Citizen of the Year.
The following is taken from the Wellington and District Leader FB page:
PROVIDING A wealth of knowledge and passion for his adopted home town of Wellington, Dr Mike Augee actively participated in a variety of community organisations in which he strived to build stronger until his death in Sydney on Thursday, February 20 aged 85.
His knowledge and expertise, especially with Wellington Caves, its history and what it can be seen as, was astounding.
Originally from Portland, Oregon, USA, Mr Augee became an Australia citizen in 1966 while studying at Monash University, Melbourne, where he enriched his career in research of echidnas and monotremes to become the author and co-author of many books about these animals.
He was a full-time lecturer and professor of biology at University of NSW and wrote the textbook for the first-year biology course at that university.
He had a unique ability to help people appreciate and strive to gain knowledge of the environment and this planet, and even taught now famous Dr Tim Flannery, the 2007 Australian of the Year and former chief Commissioner for Climate.
After retiring in 2000, Mike relocated to Wellington and at the invitation of Dr Mike Archer (Australian Museum director) he became involved in the dig to the bottom of the Cathedral cave to help unfold why Australian Megafauna became extinct.
He established a laboratory to study the unique fossil site at Wellington caves (bone cave) and also taught adult education there. He was awarded the Royal Zoology Award for his contributions to the better understanding of mammals.
Mike Augee was elected to Wellington Council in 2004 and served as deputy mayor for seven of the eight years on council.
He has been actively involved on many committees including the Burrendong Arboretum, Wellington Heritage Committee, Mt Arthur Trust, Caves Advisory Committee during which time he established the fossil trail in the Caves reserve with the Friends of the Wellington Caves, adding another dimension to the tourism and education of visitors.
In this time he travelled to Germany to meet one of the paleontologists who collected fossils in 1939 from the Phosphate Mine and from this knowledge, at his own expense wrote and published with Chris George and Bruce Welch an educational booklet titled “The Wellington Caves Book”, which until recently was still available for sale on the site.
Mr Augee also instigated a change of venue for the Wellington Markets from the main street to the old police station exercise yard – in years since, Rotary took up the baton and continues with the markets.
While a member of the Ponto Falls Committee, he was actively involved in the installation of an eco toilet at this popular camping site to prevent degradation and pollution.
As well, he presented his regular Dr Mike show on Binjang Community radio to become a familiar voice on FM91.5, a past-president, secretary and treasurer of Wellington Historical Society and Museum, a volunteer ranger for Mt Arthur Trust, a member of the Western Regions Environment Council, Editor of the Linnean Society, Committee member of Burrendong Arboretum, Member of Riversleigh Society, Wildlife preservation and the Mammal Society of Australia.
In 2024 Dr Mike was awarded the prestigious Citizen of the Year Award during Wellington’s Australia Day ceremony and celebrations.
One could say, Wellington had a unique species in Mike Augee.