A conservation celebration

The Phillip Island Conservation Society [PICS] was one of the first Conservation Societies to form in Australia in the 1960s and continues to be active today.

PICS decided to celebrate its 55th Anniversary at Berninneit on Friday, January 5 and Saturday January 6 with activities over the two days.

Ten Banners were featured in the Community and Function Room at Bernninneit telling the stories of significant events and outcomes that PICS had been involved in over the decades.

Of particular interest was the Banner titled Milestones that told in sequence the major happenings that had impacted positively or would have impacted adversely on the island's unique assets.

Children's activities included two sessions at Berninneit on Friday conducted by artist, Camille Monet where children made shearwater and whale puppets.

On the Saturday morning children enjoyed the annual presentation by PICS of Animals of Oz at Olive Justice Place. Both events were well attended.

Bass Coast Council supported this event and the celebration with grants.

The "For Our Future" films were screened all day Friday at Berninneit. The project over 12 months involved dozens of schools, organisations, artists, people, communities, conservationists etc, across Bass Coast Shire, and provides optimism for the future.

Saturday featured a series of talks on a variety of Conservation matters. Greg Johnson spoke of the history of the 1988 Saltwater Creek proposal at Ventnor, Rose Thomas of her experience as the first Coast Action Coordinator at Red Rocks and Kay Setches AM about the Summerland's Buyback when she was a Minister in the Cain and Kirner governments.

Linda Cuttriss followed with a talk about her book "500 Million Years on Phillip Island" and the changes in island land use.

Architect Terry Nott spoke of the impact of good and poor planning and Jeff Nottle about the history of over 40 years of PICS involvement with the protection of Western Port. Jeff was able to report on the announcement that morning that the Minister for the Environment, Tanya Plibersek, had rejected an application by the State Government to develop and operate a port facility to serve as a base for the assembly of components of Offshore Wind Farms at the Port of Hastings. The application was rejected because of unacceptable impacts on Westernport.

Jeff, who has been the PICS President since 2019 stepped down at the AGM that followed. His efforts and commitment in that role were recognised and acknowledged with acclamation.