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25th Anniversary 2016

Published 30 Sep 2016

Autumn 2016 newsletterDownload BushTracks Spring 2016

"I had the privilege, a few years ago, of speaking with a man named Peter Edwards about what motivated him to donate for so long.

He simply said "I wanted to be part of creating something much bigger than I could do by myself". I’ll never forget that conversation."

In the late 1990s I was working in the conservation policy field and I received a brochure from an environmental organisation called Bush Heritage Australia that caught my eye. It simply read: ‘We don’t beat around the bush. We buy it.’

The approach piqued my interest, and I was prompted to find out more. As I learned about Bush Heritage Australia’s projects and its philosophy I recall thinking what an energetic and effective group this was. As I continued my career I kept an eye on Bush Heritage and its work, and was increasingly impressed with its commitment to private conservation, indigenous collaboration and its science-backed approach.

As fate would have it, by 2011 Bush Heritage Australia was looking for a new CEO. By then, I knew the organisation well. I could see a well-run operation, outstanding governance, a strong board and a great team of people who were looking to further the conservation cause in Australia. I applied, and I was appointed to what I firmly believe is the best job in Australia, and I’m lucky enough to be here as we mark our 25th anniversary.

This is a celebration of Bush Heritage Australia’s growth from adolescence to maturity.

From those early days in the Liffey Valley of Tasmania to achieving our millionth protected hectare, Bush Heritage Australia has continued to evolve and inspire people to support its cause.

The success has been built on the hard work of thousands of people. Yet, in a way, the work is just beginning. Our job is to continue the journey so those that come after us inherit an organisation that is well placed to meet the challenges of the next 25 years and beyond.

And when I think about the work happening at places like Carnarvon and Naree, the protection of the Night Parrot at Pullen Pullen, our collaboration with the Central Desert Native Title Services team and the Birriliburu partnership and our plans for Hamelin Station Reserve, I can’t help but be encouraged about the future.

In achieving this milestone I want to say thank you for your support, your tireless efforts, your intellect and your passion. Without you, we could not have weathered the growing pains of an organisation in its infancy to become the highly effective, internationally recognised organisation we are today.

It’s something for which we can all be immensely proud.

CEO Gerard O'Neilgerard-signature





Gerard O’Neill, Chief Executive.

More from Bushtracks 25th Anniversary

BUSHTRACKS 30/09/2016

Bob Brown - a true success story

From those humble beginnings I could only dream that Bush Heritage Australia would grow to the scale we know today. Bush Heritage currently owns more than 1.2 million hectares of lands and is contracted to help in the protection of another 5.6 million hectares of Aboriginal lands and seas.

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Boolcoomatta is like a homecoming

For Bush Heritage Australia volunteer Nick Barratt, what began as a camping trip with mates turned into a deep affection for South Australia’s Boolcoomatta Station Reserve.

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Heike Eberhard

An environmental officer by trade and Bush Heritage volunteer in her spare time, Heike Erberhard explains why the work of Bush Heritage is vital to Australia.

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Olivia Barratt

Now at 10 years old, Olivia is a staunch advocate of the Night Parrot and is spreading the word among her classmates. It is Olivia and her friends that inherit the bush we as Australians leave behind us.

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Partners in conservation

The Greater Bilby is one of many creatures that have benefited from the meeting of western scientific research and traditional ecological knowledge, since Bush Heritage and our many Aboriginal partners began working together in 2004.

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A giant leap

The 2010 translocation of 30 Red-tailed Phascogales to Kojonup Reserve in Western Australia signalled a maturing of approach for Bush Heritage Australia.

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Rod & Annette

Rod Martin has supported Bush Heritage since the beginning, and he and his wife Annette recently made the decision to leave a gift to the organisation in his Will. Rod talks about why Bush Heritage is so important to him.

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BUSHTRACKS 30/09/2016

Sydney University at Ethabuka

Scientists from all walks of life are drawn to the red sands of Ethabuka Reserve to volunteer under the expert guidance of our research partners from The University of Sydney.

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