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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