| From the President |
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FROM THE PRESIDENT
John Bristow is taking a break, visiting conservation areas in the far west of the state near Birdsville, Goyders Lagoon, Warburton Creek and Ethabooka Reserve. It is largely a birdwatching activity, with time to photograph recent changes. We wish him a useful and restorative time.
The quality work of Executive Coordinator, Elizabeth Sayers, in facilitating the NPAQ Pavilion at the Careers Expo in the Brisbane Convention Centre was commended by the president. Coordinating the work of the Strategic Plan and Promotions committees, Elizabeth and a few volunteers spoke with over 1 000 young people and their parents. This promotion will be reported elsewhere, but it is clear from the exercise that NPAQ is fortunate to have a practical and hardworking Executive Coordinator who is prepared to go beyond the parameters of her job description and put in extra hours and effort.
Cynthia Ratazzo showed us how dynamic energy and a well informed spiel can draw in a crowd at the Expo, with a personal score of hundreds! On the Friday Michael Fendl assisted and promoted the NPAQ concept. Linda Fendl put in the time too, but drew the line at donning a large possum suit to attract the crowd. Not so Jack Taylor, who also used his considerable experience to create an audio visual “advertisement” for NPAQ, which is still at the formative stage. Our redoubtable Executive Coordinator even donned the hot possum suit, and by all accounts, was the reason for a crowd surge towards the eastern end of the venue!
The steering committee for the IBISCA climate change survey requested a representative from its major sponsor NPAQ, and I have attended several of these meetings in the last six months, providing liaison with our council. It is expected that the long awaited canopy balloon will be available from France in a January 2008 follow-up survey. This innovative helium-filled device is designed to skim across the treetops, giving easy access to upper strata arthropods and their habitat. For further news watch this space!
NPAQ was saddened to learn of the death of Alison Drake, the daughter of our founder Romeo Lahey. The Lahey family has continued its long association with NPAQ and several NPAQ members attended the funeral.
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