Tag: AGM

NPA News Summer 2023

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Executive Committee


The Annual General Meeting and Annual Meeting of State Council were held in November. Welcome to the new Executive Committee, elected 18 November 2023

  • President: Grahame Douglas
  • Vice President: vacant
  • Secretary: George Pund
  • Treasurer: vacant
  • Members: Ian Donovan, Jonathon Howard, Ted Woodley

Thanks were given to all members who served on the Committee in 2022-23.

Annual General Meeting


The Annual General Meeting included presentation of the Annual Report and Annual Financial Statement. There were three presentations on current campaigns from NPA members Warwick Pearse, Tim Carroll and Paula Flack.

(L-R) David Stead, Julia Pucci, Deb Wilson, Frank Dennis, Leonie McGuire, Peter Wilson, Kevin Evans. Photo: Gary Dunnett
(L-R) Anthony Harris, Conny Harris, Paul Urquhart, Valerie Atkinson (standing), Pamela Dawes, Bandula Gonsalkorale (standing), Vera Segoh, Sheila Walker, Dilhara Gonsalkorale. Photo: Gary Dunnett
(L-R) Anne Reeves, Peter Reeves, Emily Rowland, Anne Dickson, Danielle Ryan (standing), Brigitte Nairn, Lynne Hosking, James Sherwood. Photo: Gary Dunnett.

NPA Volunteer Awards 2023 and Annual Dinner


For the first time since the Covid pandemic, we had a face to face gathering over dinner, at the NSW Teachers Federation Conference Centre in Surry Hills. Unfortunately our guest speaker wasn’t able to attend on the night. However, it was a great success with short presentations by our President, Dr Grahame Douglas, and CEO, Gary Dunnett. A highlight of the night, apart from catching up with old friends and meeting several people in person for the first time, was the presentation of the Volunteer Awards by George Pund, Secretary and David Stead, our MC for the evening.

Some awards were presented at the dinner, while others will be presented later.

Congratulations to all award recipients, and thank you to all who nominated someone for an award. Our volunteers are the beating heart of our organisation.

The NPA Volunteer Awards were established in 2004 to honour Prudence Tucker, a longstanding and dedicated member of NPA. The Awards recognise consistent, persistent, innovative and significant effort by members in support of NPA’s aims, projects and member activities.

NPA Award recipients:

  • undertake volunteer work for NPA over an extended period
  • support the objectives of the organisation
  • achieve results through exceptional effort or innovative means
  • show determination, perseverance and initiative
  • provide a role model to others.

Award categories and recipients

Activity Leadership

for contribution of leadership and coordination to the NPA Activities program over a substantial period of time.

Janet Rannard (Sydney)

  • Always well prepared​
  • Provides excellent commentary – features and history of places​
  • Constantly checking on walkers progress and welfare​
  • Has lead more walks to cover other leaders being unavailable​


Fritz Wehrmann (Sydney)*

  • NPA member for 19 years​
  • Nominated by the Wednesday walkers​

Local Achievement

for wide-ranging contribution to a Branch over a substantial period of time

Tim Carroll (Macarthur)

  • NPA member for 36 years​
  • Held various roles in the Macarthur Branch​
  • Has guided legal challenges to illegal works in reserves – notably Dharawal National Park​
  • Recently produced comprehensive maps of land available for inclusion in Upper Georges River National Park – this work superior to other proposals developed so far.​
  • Shoulders great work loads and provides friendly advice​

Lyn Orrego (Coffs Coast)


Recently joined NPA ​

  • Long term forest campaigner with local knowledge of the proposed Great Koala National Park areas​
  • Major and sustained commitment to the Great Koala Park Technical Working Group​

John Pile (Coffs Coast)

  • Recently joined NPA ​
  • Recognised koala expert in the Coffs Harbour Region ​
  • Consistently surveying for evidence of koala in Pine Creek State Forest​
  • Rallying opposition to the threat of logging by preparing submissions, engaging stakeholders & briefing media


Warwick Pearse (Sydney)

  • Championed the Jervis Bay new area proposal ​
  • Aims to manage for conservation areas outside reserves that support bio-diversity, threatened species & connect isolated reserves.​
  • Assessment of conservation value without reference to ownership – ‘tenure blind’​
  • Project in consultation phase & is receiving plaudits for the quality of technical analysis & strength of case presented​


Organisational Support

for contribution of time and effort in support of NPA’s organisational structure over a substantial period of time.

Bryan Johnstone (Armidale)

  • NPA member for 16 years​
  • Multiple branch roles including State Council​
  • Extensive knowledge in land management – his perspective is much appreciated in Branch decision making​
  • Deep understanding of World Heritage and Gondwana Rainforest parks in the Armidale region​


State Conservation

for contribution to substantial State-wide conservation outcomes that have benefited both NPA and the wider community.

Anne Dickson (Sydney)

  • past president of NPA​
  • Led preparation of NPA Strategy 2023-2027​
  • Driving force in Membership Committee leading membership engagement program (part of NPA Strategy)​
  • great insight into organisational dynamics with a deeply respectful approach to engaging with the diversity of views

​
Dave Gallan (Far South Coast)

  • Multi-term President of Far South Coast Branch & State Council member​
  • Works with a network of conservationists, researchers, community leaders & politicians to advocate for protection of the biodiversity of the southeast​
  • As a photographer and documentary maker has shown the values of his region to an international audience​
  • Has documented the generations of conservationists who fought for protection of the magnificent south east forests​

Excellence in Conservation

for outstanding and extended service in conservation and to NPA over a number of years.

Jane Judd (Sydney)

  • Representative on numerous statutory & community forums​
  • Displays a deep respect for First Nations culture, heritage & custodianship of land​
  • Leadership role in NPA’s campaign to protect The Pilliga from mining, infrastructure and forestry​
  • Contribution across environmental education, local advocacy, & state wide planning & policy development​


Ted Woodley (Sydney)

  • Member of Executive & State Council since 2007 ​
  • Worked tirelessly on the campaign against impacts of Snowy 2.0 scheme on fragile and unique Kosciuszko National Park (KNP)​
  • Mounted highly effective and technically sound arguments against Snowy 2.0​
  • Highly effective in engaging the media and has become a respected contact for reporters.​
  • At the forefront of NPA’s legal

*Sadly Fritz Wehrmann passed away last month. Fritz was nominated by the Wednesday group he walked with. The award will be given to his family.