Spring 2026 – Page 2 – National Parks Association of NSW

Book Review The First Astronomers

Posted by NPA NSWon August 31, 2026August 31, 2026in Spring 2026Leave a comment

The First Astronomers: How Indigenous Elders read the stars.

By Duane Hamacher with Elders and Knowledge Holders. Published by Allen & Unwin 2022

Review by Anne Dickson, NPA Environmental Book Club

Duane Hamacher, an Astrophysicist, embraced an opportunity to learn from and collaborate with First Nations Elders and Star Knowledge Holders Ghillar Michael Anderson, Ron Day, Segar Passi, Alo Tapim, David Bosun and the late John Barsa, and the result is The First Astronomers. This collaboration enlightens the reader through new knowledge, awakens new ways of knowing the familiar sky and for me, rekindled memories of past star gazing experiences.

Nature Kids Spring 2026

Posted by NPA NSWon August 31, 2026September 3, 2026in Spring 2026Leave a comment

Noticing nature & its quintillions of amazingness

The Walking Volunteers join NPA

Posted by NPA NSWon August 31, 2026August 31, 2026in Spring 2026Leave a comment

Origins

Bill Orme, in his forties and in the midst of a busy career as a lawyer and NSW Privacy Commissioner, discovered the pleasure and recuperative benefits of long-distance walking, especially in Europe. In early 2000, however, he turned his attention closer to home in North Sydney when he set out with his grandson to circumnavigate the municipal boundaries on foot. Eventually, with the help of North Sydney Council and a group of helpers, the route he devised, that threaded its way through foreshore reserves, parks and pockets of bushland, became six linked walks publicised in brochures and maps.

Encouraged, Bill and his group went further afield to the harbour and its tributaries developing the 415 km Harbour and Coast Walk. Each new area explored revealed existing walking routes and other keen walkers locally promoting such walks. By 2004 the combination of these groups and individuals became known as the Walking Volunteers and, with the help of The Coastal Councils Group, the NSW Department of Planning and various land managers, paper brochures with maps and walks descriptions were printed and distributed by the contributing Councils.

Alpha-gal Syndrome: Be Tick Aware in Our National Parks and Bushland

Posted by NPA NSWon August 31, 2026August 31, 2026in Spring 2026Leave a comment

Victoria Fitzmaurice, NSW Central Coast

Being out in the bush is an opportunity to connect with nature, improve physical and mental wellbeing, and explore incredible beauty. However, as tick populations continue to expand across many regions, there is an emerging health issue along Australia’s east coast that outdoor enthusiasts should know about: Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS).

The environment wins the brumby wars

Posted by NPA NSWon August 31, 2026August 31, 2026in Spring 2026Leave a comment

By Greg Buckman

This article was originally published by the National Parks Association ACT in its June 2026 Bulletin (volume 63, number 2).

Love them or loathe them but brumbies, particularly brumbies in national parks, evoke strong emotions. Supporters see them as beautiful animals infused with the spirit of The Man from Snowy River (based on Banjo Patterson’s 1890 poem) and the World War One Light Horse Brigades. Opponents see them as destroyers of pristine waterways, delicate soil and small mammal habitats. One thing all sides might agree on though is that there are a lot of them in Australia: over 400,000, the largest feral horse population in the world. Of these up to about 25,000 have inhabited the Australian Alps National Parks (three-quarters of them in Kosciuszko).

A Rationale to Expand the Seven Mile Beach National Park

Posted by NPA NSWon August 31, 2026August 31, 2026in Spring 2026Leave a comment

Howard Jones, Gerroa Environment Protection Society

Seven Mile Beach is a beautiful natural area on the NSW South Coast, located between Gerroa and Shoalhaven Heads. Adjoining the beach is an area of around 2,000 hectares of biologically diverse coastal vegetation. This vegetation is disconnected from the hinterland and is habitat for seven endangered ecological communities and supports at least 13 endangered or threatened species.