33rd Annual General Meeting – Friends of Parks and Nature
On Monday 25 May, around 60 Friends of Parks and Nature members attended the AGM.
Those attending in person had a chance to catch up with other members from a variety of groups over morning tea.
We were pleased to have one of our Patrons/Life Members attend – The Hon. David Wotton AM, who was the Minister for Environment when the Friends scheme first began in the early 1980’s.
Jason Irving, A/Executive Director, National Parks and Public Lands, and Stuart Paul, Director, Park Operations and Community Partnerships, gave a report from the Department.
After a roll call and Board member reports, the election of Board members was held. The positions of President, Treasurer, Public Officer, and two Committee members, plus two co-opted Committee members, were elected.
Your Board for 2026/27 is as follows:
President: Hayley Hogan
Vice President: Vacant
Treasurer: Debbie Curnow (new Board member)
Public Officer: Mandy Carter
Secretary: Pam Smith
Committee:
Mitchell Brennan Director, Digital Communications
Tricia Curtis Grants Facilitator
Duncan MacKenzie
Kelvyn Prescott (new Board member)
Don Ransom
Andrew Winkler
Bradley Clarke-Wood
Positions of Appointment:
Patrons:
Dr. Barbara Hardy AO
The Hon. David Wotton AM
Dene Cordes, PSM, OAM
John Schulz
Secretariat:
Manager, Volunteer Programs and Community Partnerships Unit – Gill Peacey
Admin Officer, Volunteer Programs and Community Partnerships Unit – Pam Smith
Hon. Auditor:
Bruce Evans
The subscription for membership remains at $20.00 per member group for 2027 – due 1 January, 2027.
Life Membership
Life Membership was presented to Duncan MacKenzie, OAM – who retired as President of Friends of Parks and Nature after ten years in that position.
Certificate of Appreciation
Certificate of Appreciation was presented to Kevin Osborn – who retired as Treasurer (and former Auditor), who had contributed 25 years of financial support to the Board.
A certificate and award was presented to both Duncan and Kevin, by incoming President, Hayley Hogan.
The meeting ended with a presentation by Sandy Carruthers, Executive Director, Biodiversity and Nature Economy – who gave an excellent presentation on: Responding to the bloom: recovery actions underway.
