Tour visits shell museum

A free coach tour organised by volunteers of the marine conservation group Ocean and Coastal Care Initiatives will include a stop off at the Ettalong Shell Museum on June 8.

The marine coach tour runs in conjunction with the celebration of World Oceans Day.

Event organiser Ms Jeannie Lawson of Umina said this would be the third time the group has held the tour which had been sold out in the past.

"Our tour will include a mangrove forests site tour and talk, a talk from world-renowned shell-collector Roy Gifford at the Nature's Harlequins Shell Museum in Ettalong Beach, beach morphology by coastal expert Phil Heaton, a rock pool ramble where we'll meet the residents of the rock pools, and a cultural heritage experience courtesy of Kevin Duncan from the Darkinjung Land Council," Ms Lawson said.

"Ocean and Coastal Care Initiatives was founded in 1999, so this is our 10th anniversary year.

"Our charter is to educate the general community about the marine environment and to raise awareness about marine conservation issues.

"Other activities happening over the next eight weeks include ecology course presentations for Port Stephens Council on June 3, display for Lake Macquarie Council's Catchment Connections Carnival on June 5, displays at the Five Lands Walk on June 20, displays at Gosford Council Headland Whale Watch talks on June 28 at Copacabana, display at Wyong Council for Mountains to the Dunes conference from June 29, and rock pool ramble for Tuggerah Scouts group on June 29."

The tour will provide two pick-up points for participants including Westfield Tuggerah shopping centre and Gosford railway station.

For more information and bookings, phone Margaret Roberts on 4396 4590.

Press release, 21 May 2009 Jeannie Lawson, Ocean and Coastal Care Initiatives