Thousands of volunteers work tirelessly to conserve and protect the environment of Geelong and the Bellarine. Their work often goes unnoticed. In 'The Work of Nature' the National Wool Museum and the Environment Department at the City of Greater Geelong worked with photographer Nicole Marie to showcase the significant contribution of environment volunteers in our region. Each of the eight people showcased in these portraits were nominated by their peers and members of the community for their significant contribution to conserving and protecting the environment. Jon Duthie - Friends of the Bluff Sometimes the work that volunteer groups put in to bringing back nature goes completely unnoticed. When Jon and his colleagues began work at the Barwon Bluff the site was largely devoid of any vegetation. Today most new residents and visitors to Barwon Heads don’t even know that the site is actually a revegetation site. Jon is extremely knowledgeable, dedicated and passionate and has contributed significant amounts of time to raising awareness about the marine and coastal environment. For over twenty years he has also helped to organise Festival of the Sea in Barwon Heads.Image showing an environmental portrait of a man standing on a beach with sand dunes and ocean in the background.environment, conservation, portraits, geelong, nature, exhibition, work of nature, geelong nature forum, volunteers, barwon heads

The interviews were recorded in 2000 by Bronwen Gray and Alan Young for the production of Unreserved, Stories from Truganina Explosives Reserve, animated stories from past residents, workers and interested people of the Reserve (subject to copyright 2004). Rob Andrew’s career was as an Environmental Health Officer with various councils around Victoria. As an Altona resident he became interested in the Truganina Explosives Reserve when he heard the site was to be sold. He was concerned that because of the prospect of commercial development the community would lose tranquil open parklands. Through his involvement with the Reserve he realised the historical, geomorphic, flora and fauna significance of the site. A primary source of information on memories of the Truganina Explosives Reserve and Altona,VictoriaDigital copy of original cassette recorded in 2000 and digitised in 2018native grasses, explosives, cheetham wetlands, cheetham salt works, doug grant, chirnside, cliff gibson, lava plain, brown coal, sand ridges, selwyn fault, rowsley fault, victorian coastal strategy, aboriginal stone artefacts, aboriginal habitation, aboriginal remains, red gums, casuarinas, altona skipper butterfly, orange bellied parrot

The Ballarat Branch Committee and girls of Lucas & Co. raised the money for the memorial window in Good Chapel of Saint Peter which is dedicated to the men of the Jervis Bay and all Merchant seamen who gave their lives in the world wars. To see a picture of the actual window go to VC database Mtsv record 0035.Regionally based support across Victoria provided crucial funds to the Mission for Seafarer welfare, activities and operations. This support was very often sourced either through a country Auxiliary group based in places such as Ballarat, Camperdown, Hamilton, Bendigo and other similar towns or centres. Op shops and CWA, Church Auxiliaries and other similar charities mainly operated by the womenfolk of the respective communities, recognized the vital importance of 19th and 20th C Merchant and Military Naval services to the development of Australia. The cumulative local fundraising efforts helped maintain the work of the Coastal based Mission services to seafarers.Rectangular brass plaque mounted to wood board.This window was erected by the Ballarat Branch of the Victoria Missions to Seamen and the Lucas Girls 1946.ballarat, lucas girls, lucas & co., 1946, window, plaque, ww2, world war 2, textile company, lucas clothing factory