Forever Wild invites you to discover Penguin Island with Dr Nic Dunlop.

Get up close to penguins and other incredible wildlife.

This small island is home to one of the largest colonies of Little Penguins in the State. The island plays an important part in the marine environment of Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. You’ll see a big variety of seabirds, many of which are rarely found on the mainland. Dr Nic Dunlop will lead this outing and educate us on penguins and seabirds alike.

Nic has been a citizen scientist for nearly 30 years, indulging amongst other things a private passion for the ecology of tropical seabirds off the Western Australian coast. His current day job is as the Citizen Science Program Coordinator with the Conservation Council of WA. Nic works closely with TWS WA on marine conservation and landmark mapping of our recent nationwide appeal for marine parks.

Itinerary

8.40am sharp Leave office Delhi St, West Perth.

10am ; Ferry ride from Shoalwater to Penguin Island

10.10am Nic takes us on a board walk- shortish walk around a small island - see some birds, talk about the penguins

12.30am Penguin discovery centre - watch the feeding and see the talk 20-30 mins

1pm ; Lunch

2.10pm Ferry ride home

3pm arrive at Delhi St or make way home yourself.

Places are limited

Date: Saturday 12th November 2011

Please note all times are approximate, We will aim to meet them. Feel free to make your own way there and meet us before we dock.

Leave from: The Wilderness Society Perth; 2 Delhi St, West Perth

If meeting us there; Ferry and cruises depart from the Mersey Point Jetty located at 153 Arcadia Drive Shoalwater (on the corner of Penguin Road). Allow 45 minutes to drive from Perth or Fremantle. There is plenty of free car parking adjacent and tickets can be purchased on the day from the Wild Encounters gift shop. Public transport via train and bus is also very good, please call Transperth on 13 62 13 or http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au for details.

Cost: $16.40 per person including return ferry and visit to Penguin Discovery Centre - we suggest you also bring snacks to eat on the go

How to book: Please call or email Sharna and pay on the day at Wild Encounters gift shop.

RSVP: Thursday 3rd November 2011

Email sharna.aquilina@wilderness.org.au or call 0450 605 701 or free call number 1800 030 641

All members of the Wilderness Society Inc were invited to attend.

It was also possible to attend the AGM by joining a meeting in one of our local campaign centre locations, connected via tele-communications to the Melbourne meeting.

Minutes of the meeting

Click here to view the draft minutes of the meeting.

The rest of this page has been left as it was prior to the meeting, for reference.

AGM Details

Date: Saturday 19 November 2011

Time: 2:00pm Eastern Daylight Time (see below for your local time)

Agenda: Confirmation of minutes of previous AGM; campaign report; financial report; other reports; election of committee; appointment of auditor.

Format: The meeting will be held simultaneously at the locations below, connected via telecommunications. It will be convened and facilitated from the Melbourne location:

Nominations for the Committee of the Wilderness Society Inc

All members are eligible to nominate for election to the Committee of Management of the Wilderness Society Inc. Nominations have now closed.  Download a nomination form. Read the TWS Inc Committee of Management Code of Conduct.  Nominations were to be submitted in writing by 20 October to allow other members to view the information in plenty of time before the meeting.

Details of nominations for the Committee of Management received by the deadline are here.

Meeting papers

AGM agenda

Minutes of previous meetings:

• TWS Inc Special General Meeting 11 December 2010 - Draft Minutes
• TWS Inc Annual General Meeting 11 December 2010 - Draft Minutes
• Facilitator's confirmation of the minutes of both meetings

Annual Review (incorporating Director's Report, Convenor's Report and Treasurer's Report)

Auditor's Report and Financial Statements

Nominations received for the committee (nominations have now closed)

Election rules (set by the Committee of Management)

TWS Inc Constitution as amended 11 December 2010

Modified Consensus Decision Making Policy (how we make decisions at TWS meetings)

View a copy of the letter sent to all members on approximately 15 September 2011 by mail or email notifying them of the meeting.

For further information please call 1800 030 641.

State and Local TWS Organisation Annual General Meetings

The 6th Annual LNG World Conference will be held at Burswood Convention Centre on 5 – 7 September. Delegates and speakers from Woodside, Shell BP and other major gas companies will be discussing the future of LNG and unconventional gas in the Asia Pacific. Can you come along and contribute to the discussion?

We will be conducting a peaceful protest by welcoming delegates and speakers to the conference and asking them to consider the serious environmental, social and economic problems associated with a Kimberley gas hub.

When: 8:00 – 9:00 am, Monday 5 September

Where: Burswood Convention Centre

Please come along before you go to work on Monday morning to help put forward this important message to LNG industry insiders!

In their rush to begin extracting gas from undersea reserves off the Kimberley coast, Woodside Petroleum has proposed building a huge gas hub at James Price Point (traditionally known as Walmadan).

The Wilderness Society is working with local people, Traditional Owners and community advocacy groups to oppose the gas hub at James Price Point and protect this stunning landscape for future generations.

Join us this Sunday

Show your support for the Kimberley coast by joining us this Sunday for a celebration of family and community on Cable Beach, Broome.

Hosted by local community advocacy group, Save the Kimberley, the event will feature live music and inspiring guest speakers. Let’s send a message to Woodside and Colin Barnett that local people will unite to see their country protected!

When: Sunday 17 July, 3.00pm – 5.00pm
Where: Cable Beach, Broome
For more information: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=188801294510398

Protect the Kimberley- community forum

Join us for a community forum on the proposed Woodside gas hub at James Price Point on the Kimberley coast. Learn about some of the reasons why the area is so significant locally, nationally and internationally. Also, find out what the alternatives are for processing Browse Basin gas: float it, pipe it or save it for our future!

When: August 9th, Tuesday evening
Where: The Palms Community Centre, Cnr Nicholson & Rokeby Rds, Subiaco
Time: 6:30-8pm
Cost: gold coin donation - refreshments provided

Guest speakers: Dr Steve Salisbury (Palaeontologist, UQ), speaking on the latest dinosaur footprint discoveries at James Price Point. Neil Mackenzie (Kimberley Traditional Owner), will be speaking on behalf of the Broome community about the local impacts associated with such a huge industrial project. Peter Robertson (The Wilderness Society WA), will be outlining the alternatives that exist to a gas hub located on the Kimberley coast, and why these options need to be seriously considered.

Bike to Broome Launch - Perth City

When: August 21st, Sunday
Where: The Murray St. mall, Perth City
Time: 11am-noon
What: "Bike to Broome" launch (music and guest speakers)

Bike To Broome is a 5-day, around-the-clock, tandem bike ride event from Perth to Broome, to raise awareness and to oppose the building of Woodside Petroleum’s proposed gas processing plant at James Price Point, 40 kilometres north of Broome.  Six pairs of riders, riding in shifts, will attempt to reach Broome within five and a half days - covering 2,368 kilometres...So come and see us off!

The Bike to Broome official website

Volunteer meetings in Perth

(We meet on Tuesday nights at City West Lotteries House, West Perth, from 5:30pm)

August 16th – Bike to Broome – creative session. Help us paint up some banners for the ‘Bike to Broome’ event which will leave from Perth on Sunday, Aug 16 and arrive in Broome on Friday, Aug 21

Sept 6th - Film night - Come and meet new volunteers and be inspired by the environmental award winning film Red Gold. There will be snacks provided!

Want to help - but can't make it our events?

The most effective way you can help is by writing a hand-written letter to our federal Environment minister Tony Burke explaining why you think companies should find alternatives for a gas hub at James Price Point, near Broome in the Kimberley.

Want help starting? Click here for a letter-writing guide made by environment group Environs Kimberley

Need inspiration?

For more information see:

www.wilderness.org.au/kimberley
www.savethekimberley.com
www.environskimberley.org.au
www.likenowhereelse.org.au/

The 2011 Climate Action Summit will be held in Melbourne from the 9th to 11th of April.

Featuring dozens of inspiring talks and skill-building workshops, this year’s event focuses on the theme ‘From the Ground Up’ and is a great opportunity to share information and collaborate to build the community movement for real action on climate change. 

On Monday the 11th participants will come together as a diverse movement to take part in an inspiring ‘No New Carbon’ action in Melbourne’s CBD.  Monday afternoon will provide an opportunity to present the outcomes of the summit and to relax and mingle with experienced climate campaigners over a few drinks.

For waged participants, the conference is $50 for Saturday and Sunday, or $25 for one day only.  If you’re not working, then it’s $10 per day.  There’s also a delicious low cost lunch available for $8 per day, which can be paid for online.

To register your place and pay securely for the Summit, click here.  You can also sign up for updates about the Summit on the easy online form.

There's one day a year when company directors are publicly accountable to their shareholders, and for Woodside, that day is Wednesday 20th April.

Many shareholders attend Woodside's annual general meeting (AGM) in person, and its the perfect opportunity  to explain, face to face, why they should support an alternative site for processing gas from the Browse Basin. Can you join us there?

Woodside must commit to floating LNG options, or piping the gas to existing sites in the Pilbara.

Media interview Peter Robertson outside Woodside AGM 2010

Anything less, will pollute one of the least impacted coastlines in the world (second only to our polar regions).

When: 9.00am, Wed 20th April
Where: Perth Convention Exhibition Centre, 21 Mounts Bay Road, Perth

Please wear a red t-shirt, and come along to show your support for the amazing marine life of the Kimberley and opposition to Woodside’s polluting industrial site.

Woodside Ltd is one of the joint venture (JV) partners for the development of gas in the Browse Basin off the Kimberley coast, and holds an approximately 50% share in the partnership. The other JV partners are Shell, Chevron, BHP Billiton and BP.

Notice of the 2011 Woodside AGM can be found via the company site here. If you would like to attend and ask a question about the Kimberley gas hub, or nominate a proxy to do so on your behalf, please contact Renae Williams on 08 9420 7255 or renae.williams@wilderness.org.au

You can also email these people today!

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke - tony.burke.mp@aph.gov.au
Woodside CEO Don Voelte - don.voelte@woodside.com.au
Premier Colin Barnett - wa-government@dpc.wa.gov.au

When: Saturday 9th April, 9.00am to 1.00pm
Where: Conference room, City West Lotteries House, 2 Delhi St, West Perth

To RSVP, or if you have any questions about the content of this workshop, please contact Renae Williams on 9420 7255 or email renae.williams@wilderness.org.au

Peaceful Community Action may include nonviolent direct action (NVDA), which is the focus of this workshop. This is an introductory workshop and will cover theory and principles of nonviolent social change; discussion on what nonviolence is (for example, is immobilising a vehicle violence?); small group planning; how to organise an action, legal rights and roleplays.

What is NVDA? Nonviolent direct action is a highly developed philosophy and strategy for social change that rejects both passivity and the use of violence. Nonviolence is an effective way to focus attention on harmful actions by governments and corporations, and ultimately prevent them.

Various methods can be used in campaigns for social change, including education and persuasion, civil disobedience and nonviolent direct action, and targeted communication via mass media.

One of the best Australian examples of successful NVDA is the protection of the Franklin River, in Tasmania, from being dammed and destroyed. Read more here.

Well organised NVDA can gain widespread public support as part of the wider campaign to protect the Kimberley’s globally significant marine and coastal environment from inappropriate and unnecessary industrialisation.

We are offering training in the hope that any community action is conducted in the most effective and safest possible way.

We are mindful that for this campaign to be successful and to avoid alienating the very people needed for support - all action must be well planned, peaceful and respectful.

Woodside LNG plant on the Burrup Peninsula, WA

Dr Sue Graham-Taylor will introduce the evening and speak about these pressures and the impacts from industrialisation of the region. Recognised with a Member of the Order of Australia, Dr Graham-Taylor, a former president of the Conservation Council of WA, has been involved with many policies and legislation of environmental issues through executive roles with a range of organisations.

Jane Bremmer and David Munut from Alliance for a Clean Environment (ACE) will give presentations on the air pollution impacts and failings of the Government study in this special presentation on the Kimberley gas hub.

The air pollution study on the gas hub is available to view via http://www.epa.wa.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx

Write your own submission (a letter) to the Government's environment assessment on the gas hub on the night - we'll guide you through it and provide key points that you may like to include. Submissions to the environmental assessment close 28th March.

Where: Conference room, City West Lotteries House, 2 Delhi St, West Perth

When: Wed 16th March, 6.30pm

This event is in support of Broome residents who recently held a community action about air pollution concerns and called on the companies not to build the gas hub at James Price Point. You can watch the Broome residents community action video on YouTube.

Please RSVP your attendance to wa@wilderness.org.au or call 08 9420 7255. The event is free, we hope to see you there.

Snorkel for sanctuaries 2011 poster - click for a larger version

This year’s ‘Snorkel for Sanctuaries’ theme is: “Protecting our marine life - from Weedy sea-dragons to Humpback whales. It will be held just south of Cottesloe main beach on Saturday March 12th from 10am.

March 3rd Update: The guided snorkel is fullly booked - but please feel free to come along to the talks and sign a petition!

WHAT: Talks by marine scientists & Snorkel to search for Weedy sea-dragons

WHEN: Saturday, March 12th @ 10am

WHERE: The Cottesloe sundial at Mudurup Rocks, just south of Cottesloe Beach (parking available 100m south of the Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club on Marine Parade)

Series of Events:

10am: Robyn Benken, from Cottesloe Coastcare, will give a brief talk on the beautiful, local Weedy sea-dragons and why they need protection. Dr. Jill St.John from The Wilderness Society will then explain what the greatest threats to our local Humpback whales are, and how you can help protect them.

10.30am: First guided snorkel session

11.00am: Second guided snorkel session

11.30am: If you missed out on booking and would like to snorkel yourself in this area we will leave up the dive markers and guides

When you arrive please register and sign a snorkel waiver form; also ensure you check out the snorkel map & sea life info. There will also be a number of stalls highlighting the importance of conservation action from The Wilderness Society WA and the Cottesloe Coast Care Group.

March 3rd Update: The guided snorkel is fullly booked - but please feel free to come along to the talks and sign a petition!

Did you know? The first ever marine park in state waters in the Kimberley is being created!

Currently the WA state government is looking to protect Camden Sound in the Kimberley, a part of the area where our amazing Humpback whales migrate each year to give birth to their calves. The government also announced three other proposed marine parks in the Kimberley region; 80 Mile Beach, Roebuck Bay & a ‘Northern Kimberley marine park’. No boundaries for these three parks have been released for public comment yet – but watch this space!

The greatest threat to Humpback whales & their calves in WA right now is the proposal for a massive gas refinery with a 6 km jetty & breakwater at James Price Point. This area is part of the whale nursery and needs protection instead of polluting industry. Sign our online submission to help protect our whales from this disastrous proposal.  

                                                ≈ Connect to protect ≈

Please remember to RSVP for the guided snorkel by contacting the marine community campaigner with your details.

The Wilderness Society and the Protect the Kimberley alliance are hosting a rally in the heart of Cottesloe for the community to connect and learn about government plans for the protection and industrialisation of the Kimberley!

What: We will have guest speakers, live bands, info stalls & face painting for kids!

When: November 28^th, 2010 @ 11am

Where: Cottesloe Civic Centre, Main Lawns, Perth

Wear: Red or Orange coloured clothing

This community event will bring together all of the major environment groups in WA - and it will be a great chance to take direct action and either sign a postcard or letter in support of real protection for the Kimberley.

To get regular update about the lastest kimberley news - join our 'Kimberley' & 'Perth updates' emails

If you are on facebook please RSVP for our event and invite your friends!

How can you be involved?

If you would like to be a rally ambassador please email jenita.enevoldsen@wilderness.org.au - Tasks would involve: helping promote the event, helping out at stalls and festivals prior to the event and on the day - being part of our crowd patrol team!

This is going to be one of the biggest rallies of its kind held in Perth on this issue - so please make an effort to tell some friends about it or even print out a rally poster and pop it up in your local Cafe!

Not in Perth? You can organise a solidarity event at your local beach:

1. Print out a rally poster

2. Write a message in the sand "Protect the Kimberley"

3. Take a photo of all of the above with you in it and send it to: jenita.enevoldsen@wilderness.org.au

Want to learn more about the governments latest annoucements? Click here

Guest speakers from the Wilderness Society WA & the Conservation Council of WA will be presenting a short update on 'Gas in WA' before the most powerful documentary of the year, Gasland premieres.

What: Presentation & Film night   When: 6:30pm, Thursday NOV 18  Where:  Luna Leederville Cinemas, Perth

Special deal: $13 adults & $11 concession (print this page out and bring it with you as an invite)

Guest Speakers:

Louise Morris from The Conservation Council of WA will be giving an insight into the soaring emissions profile of our state as more large scale industrial gas, coal and carbon intensive projects are approved. Raising the concept that Liquifed Natural Gas isn't so clean or green, she highlights where Coal & Coal seam gas projects are proposed for WA.

Renae Williams, of The Wilderness Society WA will follow up with a spotlight on the Kimberley - where currently the largest natural gas project in Australia is being planned for - the pristine waters & coastline, near Broome. This will set the scene for what will be one of the year's most powerful documentaries.

The Film:

Gasland is a Film inspired by an Amercian director when filmmaker Josh Fox is asked to lease his land for coal seam gas drilling, he embarks on a cross-country odyssey uncovering a trail of secrets, lies and contamination. A recently drilled nearby Pennsylvania town reports that residents are able to light their drinking water on fire. This is just one of the many absurd and astonishing revelations of a new country called GASLAND (sundance film festival winner).

Remember the Special deal:

$13 adults & $11 concession (If you print this page out and bring it with you as an invite)

Volunteer trip to the Great Western Woodlands, 2008

The agenda for the AGM includes presentations from staff on current campaigns, and from our national body, The Wilderness Society Inc. A PDF invitation is available here.

* Great Western Woodlands
* Kimberley
* Marine
* TWS Inc. Management Committee Convener Dave McKenzie - TWS Australia update
* AGM Proceedings

WA members are invited to nominate for positions on TWS WA Management Committee.
Nominations for the positions of Convenor, Secretary, Treasurer and four other office bearers must be received by Wed 20th Oct.

To receive more information, please contact WA Convenor Brad Boucher on bboucher@petermoyes.wa.edu.au

Kind regards

Dora De Luca
Office Manager
The Wilderness Society WA

The annual Kings Park Festival is on again this September with a heap of spectacular events and activities.

Map of the 'Gondwana Link' in South western Australia.

Keith Bradby is the coordinator of GondwanaLink - a visionary project which aims to re-connect the now fragmented country form the karri and Jarrah forests of the Margaret River area through the south west corner to the Great Western Woodlands and into the inland deserts. GondwanaLink is also part of the Great Western Woodlands Collaboration.

Western Australian plants have a continuous biological lineage older than the dinosaur. An immense diversity of life forms and survival techniques have evolved over the past 250 million years, but it seems the fight for survival is getting tougher.

We invite you to come along to a presentation and find out about this fantastic project which is restoring farmland, protecting remaining species and reconnecting habitats across the south west.

When: 16 September, 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM followed by light refreshments
Where: Biodiversity Conservation Centre - Kings Park, West Perth                              

Cost: Gold coin donation

Bookings: (08) 9480 3600

In this International Year of Biodiversity, the Kings Park Wildflower festival will celebrate both people and plants in the heart of Western Australia’s Botanic Gardens, surrounded by wildflowers in all their spectacular springtime glory.

See this event and others as part of the 2010 annual Kings Park Wildflower Festival here.

The Great Western Woodlands team is hitting the road for a number of public presentations on this amazing region and the conservation initiative.

Where & When

Southern Cross - Tuesday 14th September, Sporting Complex Lounge

Kondinin - Wednesday 15th September, Country Club Gordon Street

Lake Grace -  Thursday 16th September, Sportsman's Club Stubbs St

Ravensthorpe - Friday 17th September, Entertainment Center

Time

7pm

Free Event - Tea and Coffee provided

RSVP

Ph: 6460 4936 or email jessica.chapman@wilderness.org.au

Wayne O'Sullivan our project director will in his presentation cover aspects of the regions extraordinary biodiversity, why the area is globally significant and where things are at with the conservation initiative.

It is also an opportunity for us to hear from the community and there will be ample time for your input, questions and conversation.

Hope to see you there!