Historical information

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.

Julie Riley and Jennie Turner - Friends of the Hooded Plover Breamlea

The hooded plover is one of Australia’s most threatened birds. Although they spend their whole life on the beach, they have one of the lowest breeding success rates of all birds. Although severely threatened, in the last decade their numbers have slowly stabilised as volunteer groups and conservationists have stepped in to protect their breeding grounds.

Julie and Jennie run the hooded plover volunteer program in Breamlea. To those who work with them they are, “a powerhouse of strength, resilience and determination to help these birds survive”. They put in hundreds of hours of works over a season for it to often eventuate to nothing. If a person crushes a nest or a chick is lost the day before it’s due to fledge, all their efforts are gone. But after each failure they continue to show up and slowly things are changing.

Photo at Breamlea by Nicole Marie.

Physical description

Image showing an environmental portrait of a two women standing with sand dunes in the background.