PAWS

Newsletter for Parks and Wildlife Supporters
Issue 1 Spring 2003

Photo © NPWS

Editorial

PAWS for thought

Dear Foundation supporters,

What do the director of a fishing company, an octogenarian sculptress and the Swiss consul-general have in common? Well they are all supporters of Foundation projects, bringing very different gifts and skills to the organisation.

You will find stories about each of them in this first issue of PAWS, the foundation's e-newsletter. And if the word PAWS has given you pause for thought, it is an acronym for Parks and Wildlife Supporters. We hope to bring you the stories behind the appeals and an insight into the individuals who make the Foundation's work possible. We will also bring you news about current events and appeals.

Mike Rowley, former managing director of Fortuna Fishing, had the only two licenses allowing commercial fishing within the 12 nautical mile limit of Lord Howe island. He found fishing off the island "absolutely magical" but gave the two permits to the Foundation so that nobody else could buy the rights he held. His donation was worth $250,000.

Albert Mehr, Swiss consul-general, raised $3333 to provide nesting boxes for Manly's endangered mainland fairy penguin colony. The money which he gave to the Foundation was raised through an unusual sponsored slimming competition – which saw Mr Mehr, his family and friends shed a lot of weight but gained the penguins some fine shelter.

Lady Griffin with a cast of the platypus sculpture used for the Foundation trophy Photograph © Linda Vergnani

Lady Jean Griffin, a sculptress and wife of former Lord Mayor of Sydney Sir David Griffin, donated a bronze platypus to the Foundation. The metal monotreme was mounted on a stout log of wood and became the much-coveted Golden Paw Perpetual Trophy in the Foundation's annual children's art competition.

It is through the generosity of a tremendous variety of individuals that the Foundation forges its success. You will find fresh opportunities to assist highlighted in each PAWS e-newsletter.

Readers' feedback is most welcome. Please email me paws@fnpw.com.au with your thoughts.

Enjoy this issue,
Linda Vergnani
Editor of PAWS newsletter

In this issue

• Gift from fisherman protects Lord Howe Marine Life

• Lady behind the Golden Paw Platypus

• Watching Green Gully's wallabies
  Foundation Governor Julian Gosse describes his first ever view of the magnificent Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies of Green Gully

• Prize Appeal for Fort Denison Dinner
  Donations sought for our auction

• Peach Journey
  Travel Australia and help the Foundation

• Penguin supporters raise over $10,000

• Fitzroy Falls wildflower walk opened
  If you can't get there yourself, enjoy these pictures and description of the area

• The Gap portrayed
  New signs show Gap's history

• Text only version

Top of page

Linda Vergnani, editor of PAWS e-newsletter, is an award-winning journalist whose work has been published in more than 25 newspapers and magazine on four continents. Passionate about the environment, she has written about everything from the echidna research of Dr Peggy Rismiller on Kangaroo Island to the growing threats to the world's coral reefs. A new Foundation volunteer, she is a managing partner in Express Editors a communication consultancy specializing in environmental writing, editing and project management.