Australian_Geographic_-_December_2015_AU_

November–December 2015 39

Wheel of fire.

The weather was

wet and windy

as more than 40

volunteers of all ages

(above), including

Glenda Lewin (right),

descended on the

working bee at the

WAMA site in May

this year. But the

atmosphere was

warm and inviting.

It’s clear WA M A enjoys broad community

support with more than 40 locals turning up.

For more information on getting involved

with WAMA, visit http://www.wama.net.au. To

purchase the AG Society Art Calendar, visit:

http://www.magshop.com.au/2016-art-calendar

exotic species Joseph Banks brought
home [from Cook’s first voyage to
the Pacific in 1768–1771] helped
promote the theory of evolution...
and the subsequent published
illustrations caused a sensation and
awakened people’s interest in the
natural environment.”
The museum will be surrounded
by botanic gardens, a wetlands and
a wildlife sanctuary. The 16ha site

• the gift of a benefactor – borders
  the Grampians (Gariwerd)
  National Park, and is located 6km
  from Halls Gap.
  I joined a group of hardy
  volunteers there in May this year to
  participate in a working bee to clear
  non-native vegetation and plant
  indigenous Grampians flora seedlings.
  It’s clear WAMA enjoys broad com-
  munity support with more than 40
  locals turning up armed with chain-
  saws and gardening gear ready
  to roll up their sleeves, despite an
  unseasonably inclement day. As the
  wind howled and the rain beat down
  relentlessly, they laboured cheerfully
  from early morning till well after dark.
  Mike Stevens from The Grampians
  Wildlife Trust joined the party. The
  trust is working on reintroducing
  species that have become endangered
  here and he’s thrilled with the
  opportunity that WAMA offers for a
  sanctuary for some of the region’s
  smaller mammals.
  “Our initial aim is for long-nosed
  potoroos and southern brown
  bandicoots, which have been ham-
  mered in the Grampians landscape.
  We want to get them back into this
  site and...get an insurance population
  established,” he says. “We can use
  WAMA as a launch pad to get some
  larger fenced-off areas underway
  through agreements with local
  landowners...it’s a match made in
  heaven and we’re very lucky to have
  this opportunity.”
  When complete, the museum
  will house a permanent collection of
  natural history art and host travelling
  exhibitions, art workshops and
  artists-in-residence. There’ll be
  a strong focus on education and
  understanding of the natural

environment, and the facility will

provide more than 100 jobs and

draw visitors to the region.

Australian Geographic has

played a key role in the creation

and promotion of Australian natural

history and wildlife art and we are

keen to support the successful

completion of the WAMA project.

In 2016 our long-established

Australian Geographic Society Art Calendar

will showcase the work of several of

the talented wildlife artists involved

with WAMA and help raise awareness

of the museum and its foundation’s

fundraising efforts.

CHRISSIE GOLDRICK

WILDLIFE ART