habitat July 2012 - Australian Conservation Foundation

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ACF member stories Act local, think global Taking action on local wetlands and membership with Australia’s national environment organisation allows Nele Findlay to act local and think big. Nele talks with Corinne Habel. Corinne Habel (far right) and Dr Paul Sinclair (right) meet with Nele Findlay (second from left) and members of the Warriparinga Wetlands community group. ACF member Nele Findlay credits her mother for instilling in her a strong appreciation for the natural world. Nele grew up in Switzerland and her mother would take Nele and her siblings for long walks in the lower Swiss Alps as a way to keep them occupied and out of trouble. These walks inspired in Nele an appreciation of nature and a fascination with flora and fauna, especially flowers. The family moved to Australia in 1939 and Nele’s mother, a town planner, formed a keen interest in living a sustainable lifestyle—long before it became fashionable. Her mother was an early supporter of ACF. When she left home and became independent, Nele continued the family tradition of ACF membership. “For as long as I can remember, I have been reading habitat magazine,” Nele recalls. In addition to family tradition, Nele chooses to support ACF because of her concern about biodiversity loss and climate change. “The two issues go hand in hand, but we really need to act now in order to make changes to these urgent and pressing issues. ACF is one of the most effective groups in Australia making a real difference in these issues.” Nele also makes a real difference in her own community. An active member of the Warriparinga Wetlands community group outside of Adelaide, Nele and her team are revegetating the banks of the Sturt River at this site significant to the Kaurna people. The Warriparinga Wetlands provides a beautiful and restful oasis in an otherwise busy part of the suburbs. ACF staff was fortunate visit the wetlands with Nele and see her work. On the day we visited, the area was used by a number of bike riders and families taking a stroll. The area is also a popular excursion destination for local school groups. The area was established in 1991 to improve the quality of water from the Sturt River and to provide an area for recreation and education. Nele and her group have worked tirelessly, planting over 4000 trees, shrubs and many more ground-cover plants, including 25 species of local native grasses. Warriparinga is home to more than 40 species of birds including kookaburras, the Adelaide rosella and several species of small insect-eating birds that are declining elsewhere in Adelaide. Much of this rich biodiversity is due to the hard work of Nele and her friends. We congratulate Nele on her long and outstanding commitment to working with her community on local environmental campaigns and for her making a real difference to ACF through her continuing membership. Thanks Nele! Take action for your environment with an ACF membership at www.acfonline.org.au/membership CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR ACF 2012 COUNCIL ELECTION Nominate for ACF Council and shape Australia’s environmental goals If you care about preserving Australia’s natural icons and are committed to building a sustainable future for the next generation, nominate now for ACF Council. ACF elects its Council with representatives elected from each state and territory every three years. Nominations for the 2012 election open on 6 July and close 3 August. To nominate and to vote on the Council Election you must be an ACF Member. You can become a member today! ACF Council shapes ACF’s long-term objectives and policy objectives. Council also appoints ACF’s Board. As a Councillor, you will meet with Council three times a year, for a three-year term. You will participate in the work of Council committees which provide an opportunity to discuss and determine environmental policy of Australia’s leading environmental organisation. Being part of ACF Council is a rewarding and exciting opportunity. You will be work closely with some of the most talented and experienced Australian environmentalists and policy leaders on Australia’s biggest environmental challenges. Nominate now! For further information about ACF’s Council Elections, including a nomination kit visit: www.acfonline.org.au/about-us/governance or email council@acfonline.org.au If you are not a member, become one today and you will be eligible to nominate and vote. 18 habitat July 2012
sustainability environment community www.acfonline.org.au/greenhome Spark! Energy for change We look forward to working with the YMCA. Sarah Johnson on our new energy and leadership project. On 17 May GreenHome was delighted to be one of the happy 28 community groups and industry associations successful in the fi rst round of the federal government’s Energy Effi ciency Information Grants (EEIG) program. This fi rst round of successful grant recipients will share in over $20 million dollars to improve energy effi ciency in small businesses and community organisations nationally. Using energy more effi ciently is the cheapest and smartest way to cut pollution. Since 2005 GreenHome has helped thousands of Australians make informed decisions that have directly reduced their impact on the environment and helped to cut energy bills. We are excited to expand our energy education program through Spark! Energy for change, an energy education program in partnership with the YMCA. Like ACF, the YMCA is a not-for-profi t community organisation and we formalised a partnership in 2007 outlining a role for ACF to provide advice and assistance to YMCA to improve its environmental sustainability and a role for YMCA to facilitate connection for us to engage with their community. Spark! Energy for change aims to embed energy effi ciency literacy in YMCA community centres such as child care, health and Continued overleaf GreenHome habitat July 2012 19
Page 1 and 2: Australia Includes GreenHome and Ea
Page 3 and 4: Letters and tweets to the editor De
Page 5 and 6: Finally, with public pressure and e
Page 7 and 8: ©Newspix. Photo: Ross Swanborough
Page 9 and 10: Biodiversity The bearable lightness
Page 11 and 12: Fight or fl ight for Carnaby Cockat
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Page 17: Green events JULY NAIDOC Week July
Page 21 and 22: PLUS 2011/12 Ol man Nonno Fabian Ca
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Page 25 and 26: provides much needed environmental
Page 27 and 28: Ask the Economist Simon O’Connor
Page 29 and 30: Best of the best Travel blogs Eco t
Page 31 and 32: How do we promote the idea that peo

habitat July 2012 - Australian Conservation Foundation

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