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What a weekend! The 2008 Surfrider Foundation National Education Conference and AGM in Hobart was an outstanding success, with many interstate delegates vowing to return to Tasmania "real soon".
The Education Conference got underway on Saturday morning with Matt Dell (Hobart Surfrider Branch President) giving an inspiring presentation on the 10 year initiative he has been running to clean up Tasmania's remote wilderness beaches. Kristy Theissling from Coastalwatch then gave us some great insights on how to access latest website technologies to get the Surfrider message out there. Next, Chris Rees (Dept of Environment Tasmania) gave a thoughtful presentation on how government bureaucracies and community groups can collaborate to bring about positive environmental change. Andy Myers (ANU) then outlined cutting edge ways that marine researchers can manage and archive data through databases and networks. The morning session closed with former journalist and now Greens MP, Cassy O'Connor, explaining how to deal with the media when campaigning and providing some very useful political insights along the way. The afternoon began with Rebecca Hubbard from Environment Tasmania outlining the importance of establishing marine reserves (which unfortunately currently only represent 1% of Tasmania's coastline). Dr Stuart Godfrey (retired CSIRO scientist) and Peter Whish-Wilson then explained the critical importance and value of scientific research in a Surfrider campaign, using the long running Bell Bay pulp mill proposal campaign as an example. Gene Hardy from Surfrider Margaret River Branch (and SW Catchments Council WA) informed us about some innovative ways to increase awareness of the importance of looking after the coastal environment. Gene's presentation included the premiere of a brilliant 16 mm film 'Impact Zone' (which should be available via the Surfrider Australia website soon). Dr Mark Hemer (CSIRO) then focused on climate change as he gave a presentation on trends in Australian wave patterns and impact on vulnerable coastal areas. The afternoon concluded with a special presentation honouring the contribution that Stuart Ball, has made through his many years of wonderful work with Surfrider. Sunday's AGM saw something of a changing of the guard of the Surfrider Australia Board, with Chris Tola stepping down after many years of dedicated service and three new board members, Rex Campbell (Mornington Peninsular), Peter Whish- Wilson (Northern Tasmania) and Paul Maddock (Sydney Northern Beaches) being elected. We were also introduced to our new General Manager, Julia Chunn, who outlined her vision for Surfrider going forward. The rest of the day was filled with inspiring presentations from branch representatives from all around Australia outlining the great work that Surfrider is undertaking at the place where it really counts - the grass roots level. A massive vote of thanks to conference organiser Peter Whish-Wilson and the Tassie Surfrider crew for their tireless efforts in staging such a memorable and worthwhile weekend. Here's some more words from Gene, Kristy, Paul and Julia |
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Back in Hobart that night around 220 local surfers crammed into the historic Theatre Royal Hotel (our wonderful conference venue) for a showing of some of renowned film maker Tim Bonython's latest amazing footage (or as he called it, his 'home movie') of places like Ours, an unnamed WA offshore reef hell pit and of course Shipsterns Bluff. A big vote of thanks to Tim Bonython, long time good friend of Surfrider, who flew down from Sydney for the night to introduce the show. 
