South Coast Islands New South Wales

Helen Moody

For three years Helen Moody and Mike Jefferis led walks and kayak trips to, past or around the 61 islands of the NSW south coast. There are 20 coastal islands and 41 in the estuaries, rivers and lakes open to the ocean. Now they have written the first ever book on the islands, to be published by mid-2023. This isn’t a book just for walkers and kayakers. It’s a book for south coast residents, visitors to this area, and anyone who loves nature and discovering wild places.

Vale Jean Blackman

By Margaret Mitchell, friend and fellow bushwalker. 

Jean Blackman passed away on 8 March 2023. We thank Margaret for sharing these memories of Jean with us. Margaret walked with Jean on NPA bushwalks for 30 years. Margaret thanks the staff of the Summit Care Nursing home in Randwick for their care for Jean and their kindness. 

Jean gave such happiness to us walkers over many decades.  

The Gardens of Stone

nature’s wonderland on the frontline

Keith Muir, Wilderness advocate

Situated in the western Blue Mountains, the 30,000ha Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area is the heart of pagoda country and a wonderland of cultural and natural heritage. Unfortunately, its internationally rare pagoda landscapes overlie coal mines and now are slated for commercial tourism infrastructure development.  

In 2019 the Gardens of Stone Alliance of conservation groups published Destination Pagoda to promote how the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area could become a major visitor attraction for Lithgow.  

Nature’s Gifts and Politicians

Dr Graeme L. Worboys AM is an Honorary Associate Professor at the Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University. Bruce Gall is a former Director of the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service and is a member of the World Commission on Protected Areas.   

This is the seventh article in an 8-part series discussing our nature’s gifts

One of the greatest threats to nature’s gifts is not climate change or habitat destruction but the actions of our politicians. Our future leaders are generally attracted to a political career for reasons other than saving the planet. But there have been outstanding exceptions; some remarkable Labor, Liberal, Greens and even National Party politicians have made visionary contributions to protecting our nature’s gifts. With no disrespect to others who battled heroically to have parks created, we pay tribute to some of our political champions.