Professor Bruce Thom, Member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists

Human impacts on the coast of eastern Australia since 1788 have been dramatic if not devastating.

When looking at individuals who have made a difference, I am struck by the contribution of women in coastal science, advocacy and conservation. Although there are a few males who have done their bit, it is women who again and again stand out with passion and commitment for a better coast.

There have been a number of female biologists at Sydney University over the years. The recent death of Isobel Bennett (aged 98) reminded me of the pioneering nature of their endeavours as scientists and teachers. Isobel was inspired by Professor William Dakin. She made contributions to the ecology of the GBR and the shores of NSW. In a recent tribute Professor Len Zell commented:

She achieved high standing as an Australian marine scientist, not by education, but by sheer hard work, determination, attention to detail and a never-ending curiosity that tired me out lifting boulders on many reef flat.

Away from the world of science and into the combative world of conservation politics, the most prominent of all coastal advocates in eastern Australia is Judith Wright. Besides being one of Australia’s greatest poets, she worked tirelessly in the 1960s to protect the Great Barrier Reef.

Fran Kelly, the coastal advocate for The Total Environment Centre in 2003, made similar comments in Concreting the Coast:

In the past three years on the NSW coast there has been a rush by speculative landowners and developers – aided by local councils – to rezone, develop and generally reap the rewards of spiralling land prices.

Fran Kelly’s, concerns about bulldozing and concreting remain. She reviewed 450 inappropriate or controversial developments and land clearing activities in 2003 and noted the continuing devastation through cumulative impacts arising from what she saw as the actions of greedy and ignorant individuals often conniving with local councils. Many of those she interviewed, such as Frances Bray of Culburra, continue to maintain the rage against excessive development proposals in environmentally sensitive locations. Some, like Jill Walker of Sandon Point fame, are prepared to take major developers like Stocklands and the Minister for Planning to court. Jill scored a memorable achievement in 2007 with the Land & Environment Court recognising climate change as a factor for consideration by consent authorities.

There are many like Frances and Jill who are prepared to confront business and governments over new developments proposals. Women and men form local action groups to oppose what they see as inappropriate.

Another important female advocate of a very different type is Professor Sharon Beder. She is now recognised by Engineers Australia as one of Australia’s most influential engineers. Her present interests are more in issues of sustainability and environmental communication, but in the early 80s she challenged engineering orthodoxy with her publications on what she termed “sewer surfing”.

It would be remiss of me not to mention one other group of heroes who have had a continuing impact on the coast. Although not exclusively female, there are many so-called “care” groups which have been led by women. They have recognised the curse of coastal dunes, Bitou bush, requiring sustained investment of human resources to rid the coast of this menace.

I have had the privilege of working closely with a number of women (and men) in the NSW public service. Many will remain unsung heroes, but I must use this occasion to acknowledge those whom I worked with in the old Coastal Council of NSW between 1989 and 2004. In particular, Julie Conlon, who now faithfully administers the Coastal Lands Protection Scheme that obtains private land for public use.

I would like to now turn to two women who work at both national and regional levels. They have shown me and others what it takes to make a difference. Di Tarte helped establish the Littoral Society which later became Australian Marine Conservation Society.

The other woman is Pam Green. Pam has served on local council and for some years was Mayor of Eurobodalla Shire. Pam has played a major role in the establishment of regional NRM bodies in NSW and coordinates the national regional coastal entities. She is now chair of the Southern Rivers CMA.

Political action at the state level on coasts has been sporadic. But again there is one woman who stands out. I refer to Pam Allan. Prior to the 1995 state election she prepared and campaigned on a very powerful platform for the ALP on how we must protect the coast from excessive development. She became the Environment Minister in the new Carr Labor Government in March 1995. This government then proceeded to ban canal estates, introduce marine parks, enlarge coastal national parks to incorporate areas rich in rutile and zircon, and introduce the 1997 NSW Coastal Policy which is still alive today. Pam got this all started.

The contributions of some female scientists, poets, writers, historians, public servants, engineers, urban designers, dune carers/managers, and politicians highlights how those with passion and commitment can have an impact. These women have made our coast a better place. We must all recognise their achievements and strive as individual men and women to build on what they have done. The coast needs us.

This is an edited version of an address presented by Bruce Thom at the Mitchell Library, 12th February, 2008. A full version is available at www.wentworthgroup.org