For five summers from 1987 to 1992 ATCV volunteers were landed on Rigby Island in Victoria’s Gippsland Lakes to “baby-sit” Little Terns (Sterna Albifrons) which breed in Asia and visit Australia in the Northern winter. By the mid 1980s the visiting population had dwindled dangerously due to predation and its very slow rate of reproduction. Conservation volunteers patrolled from dawn to dusk on a rotating 4 hour shift, educating visitors why they should stay away from the birds, and kept watch for pests. Terry Peacock’s logistics were heroic In support of the volunteers’ vigil: a boat, bunks, tents, tools, and a kitchen were bussed from Bendigo to Lakes Entrance. There were no outside funds at first, and only sale of promotional T-shirts together with small grants from the ANZ Bank and from Yellow Pages kept things going. Volunteers paid their own way to and from Bairnsdale railway station. Park Ranger and former ATCV employee Robert Brouwers with Helen Schneider (UK naturalist) and Tim Cox ‘maroon’ Tern Watch volunteers at Rigby Island in the Gippsland Lakes Vic >

In 2010 the status of the Little Tern populations in Australia was assessed under the ECBP Act and the determination was that, while the Gippsland Lakes population will continue to benefit from conservation action, they are no longer a threatened species.

White T shirt with ANZ in large blue letters with Tern Watch 1988 below

tern watch, atcv

Prime Minister Bob Hawke

Although determinedly apolitical ATCV/CVA has maintained good relations with all sides of politics.

Black and white photograph

cva, conservation volunteers, conservation volunteers australia, conservation volunteers new zealand, colin jackson, better earth, environmental conservation, volunteers, volunteering, corporate volunteering, education – environmental, carbon footprint, climate change, ballarat, safety, training, partnerships, victoria, vic, nsw, queensland, act, australian capital territory, nt, northern territory, western australia, wa, south australia, sa, tasmania, new zealand, californi1a conservation corps, atcv, bob hawke, prime minister, john mewton, tim cox

Colin Jackson, Phil Harrison and Garry Snowden were in Parliament House, Canberra, on the evening of 20 August 1996, to hear the Budget Speech by the new Federal Treasurer, Peter Costello MP, who announced: “…the Government will provide $42 million over the next three years to establish the Green Corps. The Green Corps will be open to young Australians aged 17 to 20 to demonstrate their commitment to the environment by working on projects to preserve and restore Australia's natural environment and cultural heritage. The projects will also contribute to their career and employment prospects through training, skills development, work experience and personal development.” Soon after, the Commonwealth advertised a tender for a manger for the new program. Phil Harrison orchestrated a flurry of faxes between Brisbane and Ballarat, as Colin Jackson, Madeline Townsend, Garry Snowden and John Fenton fine-tuned the document. National reach and credible record won ATCV the job to administer and manage Green Corps for the whole of Australia for five years (1997-2002) was won in November and the contract was signed on the eve of Christmas, 1996. At the national launch of Green Corps – Youth for the Environment held in sweltering Adelaide on 12 January 1997, Colin Jackson assure the responsible Minister, Senator Amanda Vanstone, that thirty six projects were already in place and that recruiting was going well.

Those who were there recall with awe the remarkable celebration that was the National Green Corps Conference on 21-24 February 1998 in Canberra. One hundred and one participants representing 71 past and current teams from around Australia, Treasurer Peter Costello, three other Commonwealth Ministers, and several “captains of industry” were on hand. Board member Sue Campbell remembers feeling “deeply moved” when Travis Schicchitano explained to the audience how much joining Green Corps had meant to him. Travis said: “Green Corps was an amazing hands-on practical experience, which has enabled me to learn and to fulfil my passion, the Australian environment.”

Black and white group portrait photograph.“It’s not every day that you get the Prime Minister walking in off the street, and one of my favourite moments was in 1997 when the Hon. John Howard made his visit to Head Office in Ballarat” – Colin Jackson

atcv cva green corps young australians for the environment commonwealth government prime minister john howard tony abbott mp michael ronaldson mhr senator amanda vanstone

Topics covered:Lists of achievements, officers, benefactors, accounts: priorities for 1983-4; Work featured includes Yarrowee River, Ballarat; Mount Worth; Wilson's Promontory & Port Campbell National Park, Mooramong heritage property,; donattion of first aid boxes by Ballarat School of Mines

This item is significant as it was the first annual report of a then fledgling organisation. It portrays the enthusiasm of board and volunteers to do work for the environment.

A4 17PP booklet, black and white printing, 15 b/w photographs

Green and yellow cover featuring 'echidna logo' and text AUSTRALIAN TRUST FOR CONSERVATION VOLUNTEERS - FIRST ANNUAL REPORT 1982-3

atcv australian trust for conservation volunteers yarrowee river ballarat mount worth wilsons promontory port campbell - national park - mooramong - first aid - ballarat school of mines

Collaboration between ATCV, the local university and corporate and resource manager partners.

The arboretum is well grown but is now poorly signed and appears neglected.

Large sign-written board next to Ballarat regional Arboretum which is on the slopes above the campus of the University of Ballarat.

See photograph attached

By the early 1980's, the population of Little Terns visiting Rigby Island in the Gippsland Lakes had fallen to a low level as the species has a very low reproduction rate. ACTV arranged, at short notice, a "Tern watch" which was literally volunteers babysitting the birds. The project was very successful.

This was the first ACTV project which actively used volunteers to protect a threatened species. The Little Terns are now off the official list of endangered species. It was among the first of our corporate sponsorships.

Cream coloured, t-shirt, with ACTV logo, blue ANZ logo and text "Tern Watch '88" on front.

gippsland, anz bank, little tern, tern watch, gippsland lakes, actv, conservation volunteers, endangered species, successful species recovery

Initially named the Conservation Corps, the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) was founded in 1959 by the Council for Nature. Today BTCV is the “largest practical conservation charity in the United Kingdom”, and celebrated its fiftieth birthday in February 2009. Its original name had been adapted from that of the Civilian Conservation Corps launched by President Roosevelt in Depression-era USA: - "I propose to create a Civilian Conservation Corps to be used in simple work, not interfering with normal employment, and confining itself to forestry, the prevention of soil erosion, flood control and similar projects. More important, however, than the material gains, will be the moral and spiritual value of such work. Roosevelt’s idea had been revived by Governor Jerry Brown of California in 1976 and exchange of ideas and personnel between the California Conservation Corps (CCC) and other US conservation corps) has flourished since. Mark Dwyer (later to play an important role in Green Corps) was leader of the first California Conservation Corps three-month exchange program to Australia in 1988. The first ATCV exchange group to California in 1987 National Director, Tim Cox and Team Leader, David Clark (group leader, in Australian military hat) Right: Members of the first CCC exchange team to Australia at the US Embassy, Canberra in 1988: from left - Merrold, Vicci and Bobby with Mark Dwyer (centre) and David Clark (ATCV, right). Exchanges have continued annually since 1988 and, in addition to environmental work done, many friendships have been made and maintained over the years.

This sleeve patch symbolises strong international links in place since ATCV/CVA was founded.

This cloth sleeve patch is an example of those sewn onto the uniforms of staff and volunteers of the California Conservation Corps. It is round with an orange rim with black lettering naming ther organisation and inside the rime there is a light blue circle inset with the State flag of California. This sleeve patch is part of CVA's collection of 34 sleeve patches from many States of the USA.

corps, david, conservation, mark, dwyer, california, clark, sleeve, patches

Annually since 2006 the Australian Department of Veterans Affairs has invited CVA to arrange a group of volunteers from Australia and New Zealand to travel to Gallipoli as part of the management of the Anzac Day Remembrance event. Announcing the 2011 visit the Commonwealth Minister, Warren Snowdon, said the contribution of volunteers on the ground at Gallipoli is highly valued. “Volunteers are very dedicated. They fund their way there and assist with a range of activities, including site preparation, crowd liaison and the distribution of visitor information packs,” he said. Volunteers appreciate this opportunity to both attend a place significant to many Australians and also to make a contribution to the safe and harmonious running of it. “I would like to thank CVA for the privileged of being involved in the Gallipoli program and would highly recommend it.” Volunteer Jennie, Newcastle NSW Since 2006 CVA group assisted at the ANZAC Day dawn service and at other remembrance The original idea was Garry Snowden's. Garry has a personal interest in WW1. On his second private trip to Gallipoli he noted there was too much litter around the commemorative sites and he had the idea of involving volunteers to play a role in providing a clean environment for visitors. The idea was raised with the Federal Govt (how was this done?). In 2005 there was bad publicity regarding behaviour of visitors and the amount of litter left and the Commonwealth Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) reviewed its management strategy for the event. As an integral part of the strategy CVA was engaged to recruit a group of volunteers who would attend at their own cost, assist the clean up the environs of the main sites prior to Anzac Day while doing orientation and personal sightseeing, and welcome visitors and give them an information pack including a litter bag (see photographs attached. The volunteers do NOT clean up afterwards: that is rightly the work of Turkish contractors.

Gallipoli is an iconic site for many Australians and New Zealanders and CVA provides this magnificent opportunity for volunteers to contribute effectively.

This is a visitor welcome pack distributed by CVA volunteers to visitors prior to the Anzac Dawn service and other commemorations. It contains three publications, a poncho in the evcent of rain, a rubbish bag and a pin.

Gallipoli, Gelibolu 2007

anzac, gallipoli, garry, snowden

Used in the field on South Australian Projects by Terry Peacock and others.

Bought in 1990 this was the first type of mobile phone used in the field by ATCV.

Mobile Telephone handset, battery in carry case.

Manufacturer was Motorola. Distributor Telecom Australia (later Telstra). Also CVA asset no. on leather carry case.

australia, telephone, mobile, telecom, motorola, south, 1990

Made by students and staff at the School of Mines Ballarat in 1983 and donated to the then fledgling ATCV. Photo attached shows staff Robert Brouwers and Gayle Spicer accepting the donation.........The boxes have been in the safe keeping of Terry Peacock at the Adelaide CVA office.....terry recalls that the only injury treated using the box he recalls was when the box slammed forward when the bus stopped abruptly and hit his head...

Basic safety was important from the very first projects. ATCV/CVA later developed a formidable safety culture.

Wooden boxes for storage and transport of First Aid materials on ATCV/CVA tasks/projects.

Grey cross in white circle on side

of, school, ballarat, peacock, mines, safety, first, aid, terry

This sign has been kept safely by Terry Peacock.

Showed location of the first national office of Conservation Volunteers

Black letters on white sign board. Echidna Logo - Office details.

ATCV ----

ACRONYMS: The name of the organisation is Australian Trust for Conservation of Nature (ATCV) from 1981 to 1999 and Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA) from 2000 onwards.............................................Last used in 1999 the Echidna logo was used for 17 years. It was designed by John Zulic, then a young graphic designer at Sovereign Hill Outdoor Museum in Ballarat, and by 2010 the longest serving employee. John was briefed by Peter Hiscock, then director of Sovereign Hill and also President of ATCV, in 1982 to design ATCV’s first logo. Through the image of the echidna John Zulic tried to capture a unique Australian identity (a combination of uniqueness, strength, resilience, role in a balanced habitat and a national feel) for a fledgling local group with big plans. John presented concept to Tim Cox and Peter Hiscock – both were enthusiastic: the rest is history. For many years newly arriving volunteers were photographed with the mascot.

The echidna was synonymous with ATCV for many years. The logo appeared on team vehicles and buses and on all publications until 2000. For many years new volunteers had their photograph taken with "Eddy". Even today overseas visitors to CVA's head office clamour to be photographed with it.

This item is a taxidermal (preserved and stuffed) echidna. The echidna is an Australian marsupial animal resembling the porcupine or hedgehog found in other continents. It is a nocturnal, burrowing, egg-laying mammal of the genera Tachyglossus and Zaglossus of Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea, having a spiny coat, slender snout, and an extensible sticky tongue used for catching insects. NOTE: The provenance of this item is not yet established but it has been the unofficial "mascot" of ATCV/CVA from soon after foundation till the present.

australian, echidna, mascot, logo, wildlife

The spade is a memento of the planting of a tree by the responseible Commonealth Minister to recognise the contribution of ATCV and ATCV volunteers to repair of the Australian environment. At the time ATCV had been operating in Ballarat for six years. ATCV volunteers had planted 192,000 trees from April 1987- March 1988. Senator Richardson was then Minister for the Arts and the Environment in the Hawke ALP Government and on 17 November 1988 he planted a tree using this spade at Sovereign Hill Outdoor Museum (at which ATCV volunteers had planted trees which are (by 2010) fully grown and a significant feature of the site). Peter Hiscock was director of Sovereign Hill as well as President of ATCV and among the most significant leaders of ATCV (now CVA). The spade also symbolises the recovery of ATCV (then a small and struggling community group) from near closure owing to the effects of the 1987 recession. The Cyclone Sylvaspade concept was component project of the Australian Bicentennial celebrations aimed at recognising organisations which had contributed positively to conservation of Australia's environment. The concept was originated and driven by Dr Wilf Crane of the CSIRO Division of Forestry and a highly regarded forester and environmentalist and champion of the cause of rejuvenating Australia's degraded landscape with trees. At the naming of a road after him in Canberra he was described as a: "enthusiast, a man of conviction, action, humility and simplicity". Wilf conceived the project, developed the tree planting spade with Boral Cyclone and the Institute of Foresters of Australia and launched it with the then Governor-General Sir Ninian Stephens at the new Parliament House. Cyclone has been a brand name for a manufacturer of good quality hand tools for over a century. It is likely manufacturing was still done in Australia at the time of manufacture of the Sylvaspade. Much of it has now moved offshore, particuarly to China and Taiwan.

This object is historically significant because it is a memento of a significant national event, the 200th anniversary of European settlement and the start of a process of environmental change which has had negative consequences and which demands a commitment to conserving the uniques Australian national environment. It recognised the achievement of ATCV in tree planting over six years. The Cyclone Sylvaspade is a practical memento and having the responsible Commonwealth Minister plant a tree with it was highly symbolic of ATCV's practical commitment to repair of our environment all over Australia. It was also used by the Victorian Premier, Hon John Brumby, to plant a tree at the reopening of the Boral Asphalt plant, Ballarat, in April 2010. The spade is No. 12 of a limited edition.

This item is a functional tree planting spade called a "Cyclone Sylvaspade", mounted on a block of wood with a plaque. The handle of the spade is made of grey plastic, the haft is light, stained wood, and the blade is manufactured to resemble silver and has engravings. It was donated by the Boral company and presented to ATCV by the Minister of Arts and the Environment, Senator Graham Richardson after he had planted a tree to mark the occasion at Sovereign Hill Outdoor Museum, Ballarat

On the stem of the spade here is a label showing the logo of the Boral company which reads "SYLVASPADE Tree Planting Spade - Made in Australia." On the blade is engraved "Cyclone - NUMBER 0012 - SYLVASPADE - 1788-1988" together with the logo of the Australian Bicentennial Authority. The spade is mounted on a sturdy polished wooden board on which there is a brass-coloured plate bearing the words: "PRESENTED BY SENATOR THE HON GRAHAM RICHARDSON TO AUSTRALIAN TRUST FOR CONSERVATION VOLUNTEERS IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE ENVIRONMENT 17TH NOVEMBER 1988 DONATED BY BORAL LIMITED"

of, trust, ballarat, memento, australian, australia, environment, conservation, atcv, for, volunteers, cyclone, sylvaspade, senator graham richardson, 1788 1988 australian, bicentennial, boral, spade, sovereign hill, 17th november 1988, 1988, minister for arts and environment, tree planting, institute, foresters, dr, wilf, crane

In March 1995 ATCV had circulated a proposal for an ‘Australia Corps’. The proposal emerged over time from ATCV board and staff through debate and experience. ATCV Board member Alan Wright had written earlier: “There is in our society a terrible vacuum for adolescents to give expression to their independence and idealism in a constructive way, a chance to try themselves out independent of their parents/teachers in adult roles.” ATCV’s Brisbane office manager Phil Harrison had first been involved with ATCV as a volunteer from UK, drew together ideas about an ‘Australia Corps’, that had been discussed with Alan Wright, John Fenton and others at the ATCV staff/board planning workshop at Sorrento in December 1993 and “…based upon our experience and participation in the LEAP program and observations of Conservation Corps around the world”. The concept of a six-month program for young people with a training wage and accredited training which encouraged both competencies and personal development emerged, with a standard format of ten participants working fopr six months under the direction of a supervisor. The ‘Australia Corps’ proposal was widely distributed to Federal, State and Territory parliamentarians and received positive feedback. The Liberal Party, then in Opposition, included the idea of a “Green Army” in their environmental policy, placing more emphasis on environmental outcomes and less on job creation than the Keating ALP Government had. A young and up-and-coming parliamentarian, Tony Abbott MP, was enthusiastic and was to visit several ATCV projects (both before and after Green Corps started) to learn about their workings direct from volunteers and CVA staff. Several times he visited projects with Ian Smith project and Ian recalls being impressed by the efforts he made to talk at length with all participants. Tony Abbott took a personal interest in the progress of Green Corps. Colin Jackson and Phil Harrison were guests of Abbott in Parliament House, Canberra, on the evening of 20 August 1996. The Federal Treasurer, Peter Costello, announced in his first Budget Speech that: - “the Government will provide $42 million over the next 3 years to establish the Green Corps. The Green Corps will be open to young Australians aged 17 to 20 to demonstrate their commitment to the environment by working on projects to preserve and restore Australia's natural environment and cultural heritage. The projects will also contribute to their career and employment prospects through training, skills development, work experience and personal development.” ATCV’s chief executive officer Colin Jackson worked with senior staff Madeline Townsend, Garry Snowden, Phil Harrison, and John Fenton to fine-tune the ATCV proposal. On the strength of unique national coverage and credible record ATCV went on to win the tender to administer and manage the day-to-day operations of the Green Corps program for five years (1997-2002).

Winning a $36 million contract was a big breakthrough for ATCV. Fourteen years before, a small non-profit group had started in Ballarat in country Australia with a vision – but little else. Its key people had shaped opinion and won political support for a concept. There was about to be transformation from hand-to-mouth existence into a nation-wide business with resources to build for the long term. This documents records many positive comments about Green Corps and ATCV's implementation of it.

24pp illustrated booklet printed in green and some gold.

atcv green corps australia-corps tony abbott mp phil-harrison

This set of magazines is a vital tool for those researching the early days and later development of ATCV and CVA. It was modelled loosely on the magazine "Conserver" of the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV). Issues become more sophisticated in format over time and each includes news, project reports, lists of upcoming projects, and stories. The editor for 62 issues was Mr Alf Bailey (staff 1987-current (2010)who edited the Conservator from Mar 1987 to mid-2006.Alf was a former high school principal and set a high standard. Since 2006 a more compact and economical newsletter "Conservation Volunteer" has been mailed to CVA and CVNZ members and is also downloadable from the CVA website.

This set of magazines is significant because it is the most comprehensive record of all aspects of the establishment, growth, expansion, and nature of ATCV/CVA and its activities. It reveals the change from a local charity to a nation-wide corporate structure engaging thousands of volunteers tackling hundreds of projects a year in Australia and New Zealand in the present day.

This was the final issue of a magazine produced by ATCV/CVA from 1982-2006 (c. 90 issues). This issue was a high quality, profusely illustrated colour magazine, representing a quantum leap in professionalism from the earliest photocopied editions.

magazine, conservator, conservation, volunteer, promotion, alf, bailey