Ambre Hammond
Classical pianist Ambre Hammond is passionate about wildlife and the environment. In late 2011, Ambre accepted an invitation to become an ambassador for the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife.
Ambre will tell her fans and audiences about the amazing work of the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife, and will be an ongoing supporter of our organisation.
Ambre gave her first concert at age five, and achieved a world record when she was awarded her Associate and Licentiate Diplomas of Music (AMEB) both within the same year, at age 12.
Ambre performs solo and with orchestras in Australia and internationally.
Visit Ambre Hammond's website at www.ambrehammond.com
Watch a video of Ambre in Schifrin's Double Concerto for Piano & Trumpet, playing alongside James Morrison.
Julie Paterson
Julie is a painter, printmaker and designer of textiles. She owns cloth, a small & friendly fabric company sheset up 17 years ago locally producing textiles that are made by hand for the home and boutique commercial interiors.
She gets inspired by the Australian landscape, translating what she sees using sustainable materials and found objects. She works with a small team of people who love what they do making contemporary textiles by hand, the old fashioned way.
She lives by the beach, has a shop in the city and a studio in the Blue Mountains. Her fabric of choice is hemp, her favourite colour is old lady red, she prefers cycling to work and loves being cooked for.
Find out more about Julie Paterson and cloth at www.clothfabric.com.
JB Rowley
In 2012, JB Rowley accepted an invitation to become an ambassador for the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife. JB is excited to support the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife by raising awareness of the plight of the Mountain Pygmy-possum, and funds for the Mountain Pygmy-possum captive breeding program.
JB Rowley’s home in East Gippsland is also home to many endangered and threatened species including Pygmy-possums.
When JB was growing up, the Australian bush was her playground. She swam in the creeks with frogs, climbed trees looking for Koalas and searched for shy wildflowers. Australian animals were her friends and playmates. She chased lizards and snakes down hollow logs, looked after birds’ eggs, helped to raise baby birds and care for injured animals. The laugh of Kookaburras, the warble of Magpies and the song of Lyrebirds was a daily symphony while the hoot of owls was a nightly lullaby. JB’s father often took the family for Sunday drives to Errinundra Plateau meandering through the old growth forests - remnants of Gondwana.
All of these childhood experiences come together in JB’s book, Trapped in Gondwana, which takes children into an adventure through the Gondwana forests with a range of interesting characters such as Pari, the Mountain Pygmy-possum.
Another love JB developed as a child was the love of stories. When not in the bush, JB was usually curled up in the hay shed reading books. She sometimes stayed hidden in there so long her mother would send out a search party for her!
These days JB lives in Melbourne, Victoria and works as an educator and oral storyteller as well as a writer. As a storyteller, JB sometimes wears a turban and colourful clothes as you can see in the picture. She still loves the bush, animals and books.
Find out more about JB's book, Trapped in Gondwana, which is available on Amazon.
Jake Cassar
Jake is a professional youth worker, musician and bush craft teacher and is an inspirational “mover and shaker” in the community. Jake supports local charities and individuals with free musical performances and bush craft talks.
Jake is also well known for putting his hand up to help with many fundraisers to support local individuals in their time of need.
Over the years he has spent time fine tuning his survival skills and gaining experience in the 'University of the Bush’ -'clocking up over 1000 nights in the Aussie Bush!
He has spent time with Aboriginal communities learning and sharing knowledge in Kalumburu W.A (Kwiini people), Tennant Creek N.T (Waramungu), Bathurst N.S.W (Wiradjuri) and locally with the Darkinjung, Guringai and Dharuk people.
Jake has spent the past four years tirelessly devoted to the protection of our local environment, most notably the area known as Bambara. Jake has both worked and volunteered in schools and for social justice programs run by local organisations, to help our struggling youth stay on track.
Jake featured in a six part series for the History Channel “Tony Robinson Explores Australia” alongside former Australian of the year, Tim Flannery. Jake was honoured in 2009, with Gosford Councils Australia day award in the section of arts, culture and entertainment for his commitment to the local music scene, his dedication to reconciliation and for his assistance in the development of a curriculum for local Indigenous students.
Ian Mortimer
Ian Mortimer, the performer, has experience in theatre, music, film, circus, puppet making and design. He has spent time with indigenous communities and has been given permission to develop and dramatise indigenous stories (such as Tiddalick) by Central Desert elders.
He presents The Great Big Storybook Tiddalik The Frog show among many. His performances are engaging learning experience, using life size native animal puppets and a gigantic book.
The Great Big Storybook is a colourful comedy show based on the famous Aboriginal legend of Tiddalik the Frog. Performed within a beautiful 3D pop-up storybook, this much-loved dreamtime story tells of a frog who drinks all the water in the world. The 45-minute play addresses conservation and environmental issues through a range of themes relating to the wonders of water. Performers sing songs and narrate the story using delightful puppet characters that engage the audience in an unforgettable interactive theatre experience.
Click here for booking information.
Eminè Mehmet
Eminè is a Sustainability Ambassador, Interior Designer, Writer and Speaker. She is passionate about Design and Sustainability and intertwines these passions making them easily accessible to everyone, not just the experts. With a focus on ‘spreading the word’, Eminè helps decipher the green maze, bringing it back to ‘grass roots’ level in an easy formula that’s colourful and practical.
She is a Green Star Accredited Professional, Fellow of the Design Institute of Australia and a past President of the Design Institute of Australia New South Wales Council.
Eminè has appeared on television programs including “Bright Ideas” Channel 10, and “Home” on the Lifestyle Channel. Spreading the message of sustainable living, her writing has featured in publications such as Luxury Home Design Magazine and Grand Designs Australia Magazine.
Barbara Buttery
Barbara Buttery is delighted to be joining the volunteer ambassador team supporting the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife.
After an extensive corporate career spanning roles with American Express Business Travel in Sydney and New York and more recently with AMP Capital in Australia, she is keen to channel her Events Marketing experience to support endangered species in Australia.
"I was fortunate to spend time as a child visiting such wonderful destinations as Yellowstone National Park, Lord Howe Island and the Daintree Rainforest area and this has provided a real appreciation of the wonderful flora and fauna we all need to conserve," said Barbara.
Over the years, Barbara has dedicated time and fundraising to wildlife causes such as the Borneo Orangutan Society and the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya.
"When I started researching how many valuable programs are managed by the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife, I realised there are so many opportunities on our doorstep where you can literally roll up sleeves and get involved," Barbara said.
Barbara is planning to dedicate time towards raising awareness and seeking sponsorship with Corporates, working on Eco-tourism projects and helping the park rangers as a volunteer for many projects such as the Mountain Pygmy-possum captive breeding program.
