Friends of Parks Inc.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (15:48): I rise today to talk about the 23^rd annual general meeting of Friends of Parks Inc., which was held on Monday 16 May at the Volunteer Centre, Belair National Park, and hosted by Friends of Belair National Park. I particularly also want to mention the president, Duncan MacKenzie OAM, who represents Friends of Gluepot Reserve, for his hospitality on the day, along with that of the secretary, Pam Smith, from the Friends of Community Partnerships and Volunteer Programs Unit. Also I should note the presence of Mr Dene Cordes PSM, who is generally regarded as the founder of the Friends of Parks organisation in South Australia and who developed the network of Friends groups significantly in his work in the department system, under probably several different titles, but certainly in the department responsible for the environment at the time.

It is very interesting to cover the wide representation of various groups around South Australia that the Friends of Parks Inc. includes. They include the Barossa Goldfields Historical Society, BirdLife Australia, Friends of Gluepot, the Friends groups from Butcher Gap, Coffin Bay, Little Dip, the Simpson Desert parks, Torrens Island, Four Wheel Drive South Australia, the Sporting Shooters' Association of Australia, Conservation and Wildlife Management (SA) Inc., Walking SA, Walking Trails Support Group, and Wildlife Photographers Australia.

They also include other Friends groups from areas such as Mount Monster, Gawler Ranges, Granite Island, Innamincka, private bushland, Canunda and Beachport Parks, Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park, Flinders Ranges, Belair, Onkaparinga, the Riverland parks, Mound Springs, Conservation and Wildlife Management (SA), also the Moorook Kingston-on-Murray Community Association, the Friends groups from Black Hill and Morialta parks, Shepherds Hill, Sturt Gorge, Southern Eyre Peninsula, Aldinga Scrub and Cobbler Creek. The last two particularly I have had a bit to do with during recent years as well as, of course, my considerable work with the Friends of Para Wirra. Other groups are, of course, Friends of Kaiserstuhl, Scott Creek Conservation Park, the Scientific Expedition Group Inc., Friends of Innes National Park, Friends of the Coorong, the National Parks Heritage Committee, the Friends of Parks KI Western Districts, the Friends of Old Government House and the Nature Foundation SA.

I would also like to bring to the attention of members that the Friends of Parks Inc. will hold its 30^th Friends of Parks forum, 'Urban biodiversity rocks' on Friday 14 October to Sunday 16 October this year at the Cove Civic Centre, Ragamuffin Drive in Hallett Cove. I can recommend the Friends of Parks forums for anybody interested in conservation and particularly in national parks. I have had the pleasure of attending some in various parts of South Australia over the years. I particularly remember ones at Meningie and Sandy Creek. I do recommend to members if they get a chance to attend this and learn. As it is being held in a metropolitan setting, it will certainly will emphasise, as it says, urban biodiversity.