New environment centre opened

A new environment centre has opened on The Scenic Rd, Killcare Heights.

The Strom Centre, in the Bouddi National Park, was formally dedicated by NSW Parks and Wildlife Service deputy director general Mr Tony Fleming on Saturday, October 6, before "more than 100 invited guests", according to Bouddi News editor Mr Lee Casey.

Mr Casey said that the centre was formerly the home of "inspirational environmentalists" Allen and Beryl Strom and their family.

"The Stroms bequeathed the land and buildings to the NPWS on condition that the 'property be developed and used as a centre for the administration and management of Bouddi National Park and for housing educational resources including the deceased's collection of papers, photographs and other material relating to Bouddi National Park and its surrounds'," Mr Casey said.

"The NPWS and the National Parks Association (NPA) combined to establish the Centre in accordance with the Strom's wishes."

A pamphlet delivered by the Killcare Wagstaffe Trust said that there were three main purposes for the Strom Centre.

It stated that this was to provide resources to facilitate research, environmental education and field work, which supports the management of Bouddi National Park, to provide educational resources including the Strom's collection of papers, photographs and other material relating to Bouddi National Park and its surrounds and to support the administration and management of the national park.

Mr Casey said that the NPWS funded the infrastructure and renovation of the cottage and garage, while the NPA, with the support of NPWS, the Killcare Wagstaffe Trust and the MacMasters Beach Progress Association was successful in obtaining a grant from the Environmental Trust of NSW to fund the cataloguing and archiving of the resources.

The centre would not be open to the public but would be available to individuals and groups on application to provide resources to facilitate research, environmental education and field work, which supports the management of the Bouddi National Park.

Killcare Wagstaffe Trust newsletter editor Ms Jeannette Theiring said that 35 Killcare Wagstaffe Trust members attended the opening and "enjoyed the speeches, bushwalk and barbecue and...seeing the converted garage".

"Noel Date welcomed us on behalf of the Guringai people who have been connected to this land for over 5000 years," Ms Thiering said.

"Gary Nipperess, Beryl's son, gave a sincere personal history on behalf of the family, dating back to living in the cottage in the 1960s.

"John Mackerras, president of the National Parks Association, spoke about the amazing diversity of nature."

Ms Theiring said the NPA had donated a large collection of reference books on birds, plants and other aspects of the environment.

"The local NPWS manager, Tom Bagnat, especially praised volunteers and their valuable efforts: bush-bashers weeding in Bouddi National Park, Killcare Wagstaffe Trust members manning the information centre on weekends and holidays, the members of Green Corps and those people who serve on the regional NPWS committees," Ms Thiering said.

Newsletter, 25 Oct 2007 Lee Casey, Bouddi News Jeannette Thiering, Killcare Wagstaffe Trust