The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

World Wetlands Day 2003: Australia

Party at New Ramsar site!!

Reported by Helen Aitchison, Ramsar Officer

The Wetlands Centre Australia celebrated World Wetlands Day this year with great excitement. We took the opportunity to have a party to commemorate our brand new Ramsar listing. We have just been listed as part of the new Hunter Estuary Wetlands Ramsar Site!

After nearly twenty years of  restoration we have turned our garbage dump/football field into a world class wetland and we invited all our friends to celebrate. The staff, volunteers and many visitors came to The Wetland Centre to have a party. We had free entry all day and a host of fun activities.

A photographic display recalled the history of volunteer work to rehabilitate the site, and volunteers and members past and present were invited to share a memory of the Wetlands Centre by recording an anecdote in the memory book. We saw many old friends who came to celebrate our great day, and lots of new friends came with their families and had picnics and played beside the ponds.

Hundreds of visitors joined with staff and volunteers in bird watching, dip netting, and feeding our Magpie Geese and aquarium animals. Many visitors took advantage of the free entry and canoe hire. The fine weather and lovely wetlands created a festive atmosphere.

At 11 am TWC Board Chair, Chris Prietto and long-time Director, Max Maddock, officiated in a brief ceremony to cut our Ramsar Cake. It was a very special moment for everyone who had worked so hard.

“Being recognised internationally as a Ramsar listed Wetlands is a remarkable achievement and a wonderful reward for the many people who have played a part in the restoration of Shortland Wetlands” said Wetlands Centre CEO Louise Duff.

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Part of the jubilant crowd at our Celebration Ceremony!
The Wetland Centre Australia,2003

For further information about the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, please contact the Ramsar Convention Bureau, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ramsar@ramsar.org). Posted 11 February 2003, Sandra Hails, Ramsar.