Landcare Illawarra acknowledges the vital contribution of the late Tony Hepworth, Michael Swanson and Richard Scarborough.
MEMORIAL IN RECOGNITION OF THE LATE MICHAEL SWANSON
19.04.1942-19.09.2017
Michael Swanson was a major contributor to Landcare from 1999 to 2017.
He first got involved with Landcare when he moved to Albion Park and the Elizabeth Brownlee Reserve was on the back doorstep of his home.
He joined Tullimbah Landcare and took on the role of Chair and helped regenerate the Reserve.
The Reserve was an extension of his back yard and the native animals used to visit to feed and for water. A wild diamond python lived in the roof of his home. That was Mike living with nature.
Mike was an avid bird watcher and recorded over 100 species of birds in the Reserve.
Michael was the Treasurer of Landcare Illawarra from 1999 to 2017 and was amazing at being able to get grants. One of the grants he got in the years he was Treasurer of LI was “The Woodlands and Rainforest Project” – the funds for three years were $4,450,000. This was one of many grants he was successful in getting for Landcare Illawarra.
He then took on the role of Treasurer of South East Landcare, the regional Landcare body that encompasses the local government areas from Wollongong to the Victorian border, up to Cooma and Braidwood. This then resulted in him working with the Southern Rivers Catchment Authority. All on a voluntary basis.
He had a passion and love for life and nature and was a strong, dominant, opinionated character playing devil’s advocate in meetings, challenging the status quo, and questioning everything. It was often an entertaining dance to watch.
He worked with the young Landcare Coordinator Megan Rowlatt, and she came to him with an idea that we need to get the young people involved in Landcare and he helped implement her idea which is how the Intrepid Landcare Group started. When she told him about her idea he said Yes! What do you need? Megan hadn’t thought that far ahead yet, she said gloves! Mikes answer was consider it done. He encouraged those that came to him with ideas with passion and enthusiasm and encouragement. Yes, let’s do it! There are now over twenty Intrepid Landcare groups around Australia, thanks to the inspiration of Megan and Mike.
Mike was a friend and Landcare mentor to many and is a great loss to the environment and Landcare Illawarra. Thank you for making Landcare so enriching and fun and for all the adventures. His passion was always balanced by his dry sense of humour.
Landcare Illawarra is what it is today because of Michael.
(He was Landcare Illawarra)
MEMORIAL IN RECOGNITION OF THE LATE RICHARD SCARBOROUGH
24.5.1961-21.11.2021
Landcare Illawarra recognizes the contribution that Richard made for the environment in the Illawarra and the passion and expertise that he shared with others.
Richard was the Project Officer for Landcare Illawarra for many years conducting the Illawarra Woodland and Rainforest project which meant that locals had a wide diversity of tree species to choose from for revegetation projects. A wide diversity of local native trees means a variety of food sources for wildlife and that’s a very good thing indeed.
The Landcare Illawarra Committee was lucky to have the unique personality that was Richard Scarborough on their team. Richard was a knowledge hub on all things natural resource management like no other and he took every opportunity to share his vast expertise and passion with those who wanted to learn and there were plenty of lifestyle farmers in our region who wanted to learn.
Richard would go out to farmer’s properties and advise them what to do with their native bushland and in return they would let him collect native seed from their land. His passion was contagious.
Richard had a simple lifestyle and lived off the grid for many years on the old Foxground Nature Reserve, and he used to grow plants from seeds he collected himself. He also made beautiful furniture, with one example shown below.
THINGS THAT RICHARD TAUGHT US!
Richard drew this diagram to show us the SMART way to plant trees to achieve the best outcomes for the landscape, the native animals and the farm animals.
Richard used to tell us rainforest trees DO NOT need a pioneer canopy and it’s very important not to use wattles in this capacity. Why you ask? Well wattles are very fast growing and will compete with the rainforest trees for nutrients and water
So, if you want to use eucalypts and wattles Richard stressed it is important to segregate them and create competition free niches for rainforest trees.
If you follow Richard’s clever strategy you will have wattle and eucalypts for farm timber, furniture making and fence posts and superb rainforest trees for eternity.
Here is a tip: Rainforest species will grow faster in response to light competition and it’s ideal to plant the trees far enough apart to allow slashing with a tractor or ride on mower. Thanks, Richard, for sharing your passion and you were a natural treasure for Landcare Illawarra.
Thanks, Richard, for sharing your passion and you were a natural treasure for Landcare Illawarra.
Richard’s beautiful furniture making. A coffee table that he made for Megan Rowlatt.
MEMORIAL IN RECOGNITION OF THE LATE TONY HEPWORTH
06.09.1939-11.06.2023
Tony came to the Illawarra with his wife Yuming to retire to the beautiful Shellharbour area.
He was a retired teacher and was inspired by his love of the natural environment. He had Four University degrees.
Primary Education, Bathurst Teacher’s College, 1957.
Teacher’s Certificate, NSW Department of Education, 1962
Bachelor of Arts, New England University, 1966
Bachelor of Education Studies, Queensland University, 1975
Master of Education (Moral Education), Queensland University, 1986.
Tony produced a Landcare resource for teachers which is on the Landcare Illawarra website. https://landcareillawarra.org.au/landcare-resource-for-teachers/
When he relocated to the Illawarra, Tony restarted the Blackbutt Reserve Bushcare Group and coordinated and worked with the group for many years until ill health prevented him from continuing.
He used to coordinate National Tree Days with the children from the local schools to encourage students to participate in helping the environment. Tony used to lead the children through the forest where they would identify the different types of native flora and fauna. Blackbutt Reserve is home to a large colony of flying foxes. Tony would organize different educational activities for the children, and they would enjoy a sausage sizzle at the end of the day. In 2010 one of the children from the planting day said we had a great day and look forward to seeing our trees grow! In 2018 the Mayor of Shellharbour City Council acknowledged Tony in a Council meeting for his dedication to his work at Blackbutt Reserve and his work with the students to participate in tree plantings.
At the Blackbutt Reserve Shellharbour Council there is an area dedicated to Tony with a memorial chair placed there.
Tony was on the Committee of Landcare Illawarra and had many roles. He was Secretary, Chair and Vice Chair at different times. He had a gentle quiet nature, compassion for others, both human and fauna. He didn’t like conflict and worked quietly in the background.
Tony would often go overseas to a nature reserve in Sarawak Malaysia to work with the orangutans; he had a great passion for them.
Only after the last tree has been cut down, only after the last river has been poisoned.
Only after the last fish has been caught, only then will you find that money cannot be eaten.
(Cree Indian Prophecy)
Thanks, Tony, for your vision and passion for education and for the environment.
Memorial chair at Blackbutt Reserve.
