National Trust Board Announcement
The President, Dr Zeny Edwards, on behalf of the Board of Directors, wishes to announce the resignation of Tina Jackson as Executive Director of the National Trust of Australia (NSW). Her enthusiasm and commitment to the National Trust and the heritage cause over the last two and a half years has been much appreciated. We wish her all the best for her future career.

Dr Zeny Edwards
President
National Trust (NSW)

Thank you for your support
As I draw near the conclusion of nearly three exciting, challenging and very full years at the Trust, I am confident that the progress we have made over this time will serve the Trust very well in the future. Importantly the significant operating deficit that I reported on two years ago has been addressed and the restructure provides a foundation for financial viability. Key new fiscal initiatives to help ensure the ongoing financial viability of the Trust have included the Benefactor program, the Properties Endowment Fund for the ongoing care of our 38 heritage properties, the quarterly appeals program, and the annual Governor's fundraising dinner. We have enjoyed the continued support of key partners such as the Sydney Harbour Foreshores Authority, Energy Australia, the Federal Department of the Environment and Heritage and the NSW Department of Planning, and welcomed new partnerships such as with Bonhams and Goodman, American Express and Steensen Varming.

At this time of intense concern over climate change, we have been proactive on the environment, launching our Sustainability Program, designed to make our properties community models of environmental sustainability.  Conservation campaigns such as Heritage@ Risk, and our current campaigns to save important sites such as Catherine Hill Bay and to fight the decimation of heritage protections in NSW, have kept the Trust at the forefront of advocacy to conserve heritage.

At the same time we have brought new audiences and expanded our reach by introducing enews and redeveloping our website, with a major new redesign to be launched in the near future. Innovative projects such as Messages to the Future, the inaugural National Trust Day and the forthcoming digital photo competition “I love this place because…”, a signature event of the revamped 2008 National Trust Festival, “Our Place”,  have enhanced our profile and community engagement. I will leave in several months time knowing that the Trust is well placed to continue its proud history of protecting the environment and the places we hold dear, and very grateful to the supporters, volunteers, members and staff of the Trust who make this possible.

Tina Jackson
tjackson@nsw.nationaltrust.org.au

Call to Action – Heritage at Risk Taskforce
The Trust recently hosted a meeting of heritage organisations and community groups at which HART (the Heritage at Risk Taskforce) was formed. The Taskforce is calling on concerned citizens and community groups to mobilise to counter the threat of damage to our built and natural heritage which is indicated by recent actions such as the restructuring of the NSW Heritage Office and the as yet unknown ramifications of proposed changes to the NSW Heritage Act. Issues that remain unresolved at this stage are the membership of the Heritage Council, the future for Heritage Advisers and the vital role they play with local and particularly country councils and Heritage Grants (only $2.635 million in total but essential to fund vital heritage work). Please contact your local member of parliament and express your concerns.

Catherine Hill Bay
The Trust has prepared formal submissions opposing major residential developments at Catherine Hill Bay, Gwandalan and Nords Wharf on the NSW Central Coast. The Trust was also well represented at a recent rally on the beach at Catherine Hill Bay to publicise the community concerns on the proposed developments. The Trust Board has formally ratified a revision of the Trust’s earlier 1983 listing of the Catherine Hill Bay and Middle Camp cabin communities extending it to a new boundary taking in important vegetation communities, wetlands, historic ship wrecks and the World War II radar station. The Trust is now seeking to determine the National Heritage Significance of this site.

Orange Urban Conservation Area
The Trust has successfully lobbied against the approval of an unsympathetic multi-storey building in the Orange Urban Conservation Area originally Classified by the National Trust in 1974. Orange City Council has rejected the development proposal on the grounds of heritage impact and the scale of the building, concerns raised by the National Trust.

Historic Cottage – Bundanoon
The Trust is assessing the historic significance of Jackman’s Cottage at Bundanoon built by an early settler in 1877/9 and which is now under threat from the impacts of road widening for the transport by articulated 19 metre long semi-trailers of extracted water.

Listing of the Day and Night Sky in NSW
The Trust is finalising a listing on the National Trust Register of the day and night sky as viewed from NSW. The listing is to coincide with this year’s “Earth Hour” on 31st March and will recognise the historic, aesthetic, social and scientific values of the sky and the threats posed such as light spillage (the fifth star of the Southern Cross is becoming difficult to see from parts of Sydney) and electronic interference with facilities such as radio telescopes.

Join us for Breakfast with Frank Howarth on 1 April, 7.30am – 9am
The National Trust Corporate Breakfast series is kicking off 2008 with a fantastic breakfast in our beautiful venue the Tearoom, Queen Victoria Building. The first speaker for 2008 is Frank Howarth, Director of the Australian Museum. The Australian Museum has an international reputation in the fields of natural history and indigenous research, community programs and exhibitions. Frank will be speaking on ‘Museums as store houses of natural and cultural heritage: how to make a difference in the age of climate change and of the internet’.  Ticket costs (inc. GST) - $80 for non-members; $60 for members; and $600 (inc. GST) per table of ten. Download the booking form,or call Kylie Westaway on 02 9258 0181 for more information.

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