Cr J Gall was a councilor on the Borough of Wonthaggi Council. The Borough included Cape Paterson, where Cr Gall saw 5 little penguins on the beach. He described them as looking for somewhere to nest – that is, to dig burrows in the coast adjoining the Cape Paterson sandy beach. At that stage, the Wonthaggi state coal mine had been closed for 4 years and Wonthaggi had more emphasis on attracting different industries. There was little interest in flora and fauna of the area at that stage. Cr Gall’s unusual sighting of the Little Penguins possibly nesting at Cape Paterson attracted derision from the other councillors, and also a sarcastic Editor's Note from the newspaper's editor - none of which was not surprising for that era. The Borough of Wonthaggi was later amalgamated with the shires of Phillip Island and Bass, plus other areas of a couple of others local shires in 1994 to form Bass Coast Shire Council, which quickly moved to a heavy emphasis on flora, fauna and the tourism industry related to the environment generally.The article clearly demonstrates the disinterested if not dismissive attitude of the Borough of Wonthaggi councillors and the local newspaper editor at the time towards observations of flora and fauna. However, the article is also an interesting record of 5 Little Penguins being sighted at a beach where they were not known to have previously been seen.Photocopy of Single column newspaper article, black print on white paper. Article has curved line border design on top, sides. Cut off in copy at bottom edge. Five paragraphs in main article, and 1 paragraph at bottom marked: Editor's noteSEN 13 - 7 - 72 (South Gippsland Sentinel Times newspaper, 13th July, 1972)little penguins, fairy penguins, eudyptula minor, penguin behaviour, borough of wonthaggi, cr j gall

This letter to the editor of the Wonthaggi Express newspaper was written by “ONLOOKER (name and address/supplied)” in 1969 at a time when the Phillip Island Penguin Parade was under the management of the Phillip Island Shire Council. There was very limited parking at the Penguin Parade at that stage, and visitor numbers on any night were not capped. It was not uncommon for many cars to be parked along the main road leading to the Penguin Parade. This was a cause of a great deal of concern as visitors to the Parade walked back to their cars in the dark along the main road after the Parade finished some hours after sunset. At that time there was no designated Phillip Island newspaper, with the Wonthaggi Express also covering some news from Phillip Island.The letter articulates the concern felt by many local residents and visitors to the Penguin Parade with regard to the lack of parking and other infrastructure for tourism on Phillip Island, and the Phillip Island Penguin Parade in particular. Having been published in the Wonthaggi local newspaper of the time, the Wonthaggi Express, also indicates that either there was no local newspaper being published on Phillip Island, or that the author submitted to both local newspapers in order to get their message across.Single column letter to the editor in 3 short paragraphs. Black ink on white paper. Photocopy of original article. 10-4-69 EX (referring to 10th April 1969, Wonthaggi Express newspaper)phillip island penguin parade, letter to the editor, parking problems, wonthaggi express newspaper, phillip island conservation society historical archive

Due to increased numbers of tourists in the post-World War Two era, and the increased popularity of the Penguin Parade, without sufficient public education or protection of the penguin habitat, many Little Penguins perished during the 1960s. Trampling, unsupervised interference with the birds, unrestricted access to their dune habitat, plus predation by foxes, cats and dogs, led to most of the rookeries outside of the Summerland patrolled areas - such as on the west and north Phillip Island coasts, and parts of the south coast - being obliterated by the mid 1970s.this article is highly significant as it was published shortly before the establishment of the Phillip Island Conservation Society Inc in 1968, which commenced agitation to make management of Crown Land by Phillip Island Shire Council and government bodies accountable for protection of wildlife habitat on Phillip Island.photocopy of newspaper cutting. Black print on white paper. 3--1-64phillip island, penguin parade, little penguin, habitat destruction, penguin parade committee, shell house,

The Premier, Sir Henry Bolte, the Victorian governors wife and daughter, and a retired ambassador to Germany visited the Summerland Peninsula, including the Nobbies and Penguin Parade during the 1960s.The article clearly shows that the government of the day felt the Penguin Parade was of great importance to the Victorian economy. Premier Bolte is described as "A great advocate for tourism". The VIPs were also shown the new kiosk and protective fencing at the Penguin Parade, significant because of criticism the management of the Parade and facilities there had received at that time.photocopy of newspaper article, cut from full page of newspaper23-1-64sir henry bolte, sir rohan delacombe, lady delacombe, , sir christopher and lady steele, phillip island penguin parade, nobbies, phillip island shire council, cr ernest booth, cr arthur j hamilton, penguin reserve committee, penguin parade visitor numbers

The article describes a fire incident which took place in January 1965 at Swan Lake, a water reserve at the entrance to Summerland Peninsula, Phillip Island. Due to an extremely heavy infestation of gorse (noxious weed) and natural tea tree scrub, along with poor vehicle access, the volunteer fire fighters could apparently not gauge the extent of the fire. A light plane operator visiting Cr Arthur Hamilton nearby was able to fly Phillip Island Shire Engineer, Jock McKechnie, over the lake to better direct the fire fighters. Swan Lake has many Bunurong Aboriginal middens and short-tailed shearwater rookeries, and, being not far from the Penguin Parade, a fire there posed a direct threat to the birds. The article is significant because it indicates the vulnerability of the Summerland Peninsula reserves to fire, the way the Shire Engineer, local bulldozer contractor and volunteer fire fighters tackled the fire outbreak. photocopy of newspaper cutting. Dark copying at top. Double column heading. Single column black text on white paper28-1-65 EXswan lake phillip island, summerland peninsula, bunurong aboriginal middens, short-tailed shearwaters, mutton birds, little pengiuns, penguin parade, jock mckechnie, cr arthur hamilton, fire fighters, , max stewart, jim jeffery