8/14/2019 The Barnett's bush memory - Bush Heritage News

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-barnetts-bush-memory-bush-heritage-news 1/2

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A Black Saturday tragedy that unfoldedin the Victorian bush has inspire<i a

remarkable legac-y, your newest additionto Bush Herita3e's re\el'\cs.

ienn1,3n6 .[ohn Barnett's ]or.e of natnre

drove their commitnrent to their carcers,

ti-rcir life as a couple and the legacy theyl.ished 1o lear.e behincl. It rras this shared

lision for both tl-reir lir.es ancl deaths that has

ied to the es[ablishrnent oi Br,rs]r Heritage'snerr,csi adclition to our suite of rcsencs,

near -vVedCerburn irr central Victoria.

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On September 21, fhnrill. and friends

ofthe coupie gathered on the reserve's

lorv-i,ving slopc's ol gt ass,v l.oodlancl tocelebrate its christering trs the BamcttBlock. The 190-irectare ploperiv, whicli u'as

purchased in h'{a-r'', thar-rks to the Barnetts'joint be<luest to Bush Heritagc and'liustfirr Naturc, rvi1l be combinecl r,ilh ourn.ig,lrboLrrin5 \.rr.loc I liii5 ProPCrlie\ locre.ite a I 000-hectare coliectioit of resen es.

l)oug llumann, a cicse friend ol tl'rc couple

irnd the executor of their estaie, sa].s it's a

ntiing tribute to a coupie rvhose abidrnglove fbr' lhe Australian bush rvas t.:ratci-reii

bv a qr-riei determination and .leciication ro

protect the enl'ironmenl ancl its cteirtuies.

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8/14/2019 The Barnett's bush memory - Bush Heritage News

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-barnetts-bush-memory-bush-heritage-news 2/2

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"lenny rea11y liked the fact that throughBush Heritage they could get property intothe conservation state," says Doug. "It's a

wonderful thing that, thanks to the Barnetts

and Bush Heritage's many other passionate

supporters across Australia, there will be

another bit of protected bush, which willcarry their name into the future and recognise

their contribution, their commitment and

their passion for nature conservation."

Jenny worked for more than 25 years as

a researcher for Mctorian Nationai Parks

Association (\NPA), where she was knou,nfor her tireless campaigning and her exlensive

knowledge. She was also known for her quietbut pointed way of getting her message across.

"Jenny dug her heels in when she needed tobut had a lovely gentle side that we saw withthe T-shirts she painted with beautiful designs

of plants and animals," says Amanda Martin,a former \NPA executil-e director.

John r,vorked for more than 30 years at

Melbourne Universityt Animal Welfare Science

Centre, where the director, Paul Hcmsworth,has lauded him for his "outstanding scientilicefforts" in animal welfare.

The couple was no less dedicated on theirda,vs off. For 35 years, the two zoologists

volunteered for the Mammal Survey Groupof Victoria and conducted a number ofmammal surveys on Nardoo Hills reservei.

Much of their spare time was also spent on theirproperty at Steels Creek, where they planned

to retire. Tiagically, u,hile the Barnetts saw theirlife and legacy in tire Australian bush, they didnot foresee that their death rvould be there too.

On 7 February 2009, Jennv and lohn perished

in their Steels Creek home during the Black

Saturdav bushfires.

It is perhaps fitting that the purchase of theBarnett Block will now a11ow Bush Heritage

to build firebreaks that will protect the

entire Nardoo Hills resen es from bushfires

approaching from the west.

Jeroen van Veen, Bush Heritage's Regionai

Reserve Manager, Victoria, says the block notonly erlends our conservation of threatened

grassy woodland habitats at Nardoo Hilisbut it also provides a home for some rare

plains woodland - the lirst of its kind inBush Heritage's portfolio ol reserves.

"Plains woodland is very rare these days,

so it is officialiy endangered as a vegetation

community under the state of Victoria1egislation," says |eroen.

Buloke trees are a feature of this communityand, together with a sentinel of grey box and

yellow gum trees lining the Barnett Blockcreek, they will provide a home for decliningwoodland birds such as the hooded robin,painted buttonquail, the chestnut-rumpedthornbill and the endangered swift parrot.

According to Jeroen, the sheer size of the

combined Nardoo Hills reserves will also ler-rd

greater weight to our conservation work inthe area. "It means landholders pay atter-rtion

to rvhat we are doing and you can influenceland management decisions that are made

elsewhere in the distlict: on a council level

and on a f,re-management 1evel," he says.

Gerard O'Nei11, Bush Heritage CEO, says

the Barnetts have left behind them a legacy

to the growing conservation netn'ork ofCentral Victoria. "Their contribution joins

with the efforts of so many supporters and

partners rvho love and help to care for the

bush in this treasured part ofAustralia."

For more about the Barnett Block, visitwww' bushhe ritage,ot g. au / ba rnett-legacy

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