As our readers will be aware we formed a committee of committed people in the Narooma region and members of our Elm Grove Sanctuary Trust to address issues that had been raised during the failed referendum on 6th November 2024. This left a trail of hurt and confusion for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians alike and we sought to overcome the disinformation and poor understanding that was so evident within the Australian public.
We saw the importance for advancing opportunities and equity in education for our younger generation so that better understanding, relationship and unity of our nation might be encouraged. This was a continuation of our belief in education and the support that Elm Grove Sanctuary Trust has offered since its formation in 1987.
We have experienced and admired the wonderful commitment that our local educators have been offering to students to enable better understanding and co-operation. We have supported projects at Narooma High School since NEST was formed in early 2025 that have been most successful and supported by some generous donors to enable some very successful, exciting and rewarding outcomes.
These projects continue on, and from the seed funding that we provided they have grown and flourished catching the notice and support of our NSW Governor, Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal, Monash University, the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation and so many others. We have some deeply committed donors (not so many – we could urgently do with some more funds to enable these and future programs to flourish) but we are committed to support these initiatives while-ever we are able.
Outdoor Learning Together
News from NHS Horticultural Program
Year 9 and 10 students engaged in the weekly native nursery project murrawan-dhanga have continued to make connections with community and professional organisations involved in conservation, caring for country and growing native plants. Term 3 has seen improvements to our nursery facilities at school to prevent seedling attack by possums. We have participated in the Planting Seeds National Biodiversity blitz.
Students worked with the Living Knowledge Network, formerly Firesticks Alliance, conducting a cool cultural burn at Mystery Bay. This was an opportunity to learn from local and Australia wide experts in sharing knowledge about the practice of regenerative burning. Students had the opportunity to interview past Narooma High Students now working as NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Rangers.
Narooma High School have begun a consultative process with the Gulaga-Biamanga Board of Management to co-create interpretive signs for the new Tilba walking track. The students have also made recommendations for planting schemes at both Narooma Pre-School and the Mystery Bay Campground. They will use their plants to restore degraded habitat and enhance play areas.
Early beginnings for the NHS Horticultural Project seed-funded by EGS Trust in 2018. Special Ed. Teacher Todd Helton with Sr Laurel Clare lfsf
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NEST committee retired – With our ongoing commitment to projects here on the Far South Coast as well as our outreach to a much wider vista we are currently visioning how this might be implemented into the future. Due to the life demands and limitations of our dedicated team of NEST members, after considerable discussion it was decided to disband the NEST committee and to focus more broadly as a Board of Directors of EGS Trust.
The motion from the final meeting of NEST: ‘That NEST now believes it has achieved what it set out to achieve, and agrees to now disband on the understanding that EGST will continue to offer educational support broadly in the wider community of Narooma and elsewhere’.
The unanimous vote was moved by Kevin Bird and Seconded by Sean Burke. The Chairman, Sean Burke, on behalf of the NEST Committee extended to each member sincere thanks for their contribution in bringing us to this point.