The
Killcare Wagstaffe Trust, "The
Trust", seeks
to preserve the
natural values of the area and its general ambiance, and to promote a
sense of community and place.
In line with this aim of "The Trust", major planning and
development proposals in the area are reviewed and a report made to the
next general or committee meeting. Where it is thought appropriate, a
response is made to Gosford City Council...
Visit our CURRENT PROJECTS page for information on recent events.
To find out more or join The Killcare Wagstaffe Trust, go to our "Who We Are" page and download a membership form.
This website is dedicated to
two amazing people, "The Stroms". Allen
and Beryl had a lifetime involvement in the environmental movement and
cultural heritage of New South Wales.
The Strom house, situated within Bouddi National Park, has been bequeathed, with all their archives, to the NPWS for use as an environmental centre.
Allen
and Beryl were very much involved in the negotiations that
led to
the establishment of the NPWS in 1967 and were passionate advocates for
healthy, sustainable natural and built environments.
They were an inspirational couple, making countless historic
studies,
site inspections, proposals and additions for national Parks, numerous
committees and the formation of the Environmental Education Association
on the Central Coast. They both worked very hard for the
Killcare
Wagstaffe Trust.
What's New
Maitland Bay Information Centre.
The Maitland Bay Information Centre has been refurbished and a celebration of the upgrade and its volunteers was held on Saturday 18 February.Mark Attwool spoke on behalf of the Killcare Wagstaffe Trust. This is a summary of his speech.
This building is a meeting place. From here roads lead to all parts of Bouddi National Park: to Putty and Boxhead, to Dingle Di nad Little Beach, to the Strom Lookout and the Daleys Point Aboriginal engraving site and down to Maitland Bay. And these same roads bring people together from all the little villages that make up the Bouddi Peninsula.
The visionaries who lobbied hard to conserve this building, understood the value of its strategic location as much as its heritage values.
These people (who I won’t name because they are so many and I would be biased towards those that I met later on) created a welcoming place full of information on the local environment. Much of this material was researched and produced here by the volunteers themselves. These are quality publications that reflect the intelligence and diverse talents of the contributors, they are comprehensive, accurate and most of all accessible to anyone who walks in. For me as a newly arrived Biology teacher at the local High school the Bouddi Penninsula study, and the Cockle Bay Study were and still are essential reading.
Welcoming visitors and providing information is the faithful duty of the Maitland Bay Centre volunteers who are rostered on every weekend. Since 1990 they have been sharing their knowledge and provide guidance to an increasing number of Park visitors. Depending on the weather and time of year numbers vary between about 5 to 50 visitors a day. The comings and goings of each visitor are recorded in meticulous detail that would put any other marketing survey to shame. The diaries record the details of their sex, age estimate, their origin, purpose of visit and what they bought. They are good sales people because many items were purchased. The purpose of recording this information is to provide the very best service possible – and to assist in planning for changing needs and to find out if there are any gaps in the available education about Bouddi.
The Centre isn’t always open to the public during the week but the front window is never empty. Certain talented volunteers maintain interest through their informative and attractive displays. Some volunteers had a permit to display wildflowers to help people identify them. A local artist creates interesting dioramas to amuse and educate people about the antics of the local wildlife
In 1998 the centenary of the sinking of SSMaitland was remembered here. This place was packed to capacity for a community inquiry into the tragic event. Through stories, poetry, drama and dance we got a feeling for what previously had just been facts.
Over the years the KWT has mounted exhibitions that attracted hundreds of people over the holiday periods –Geology, Wattles and Weeds, Sand to Sea, Wetlands, photography.
The professional displays we have come here to view today are a continuation of that legacy of conservation through education.
On behalf of the Killcare Wagstaffe Trust I am grateful for the opportunity to thank all the people who over the years have met here for the purpose of nourishing our understanding and appreciation of this wonderful place where we live.