Margie Maccoll
“All of us can make such a big difference by learning more about the environment,“ were words of wisdom from conservationist, environmental educator and photographer Spencer Hitchen who, at 13 years of age, has spent more than half of his life observing and learning about the environment and protecting it.
Last week Spencer hosted an intergenerational forum at Noosa Parks Association Friday Forum, bringing together young conservationists with local environmentalists to hear his conservation journey and get involved in workshops, interpretive walks and a panel discussion.
“This is where I started, doing my first talk when I was eight years old,“ he told a full house of attendees at the forum.
“So many people here, and not here today, taught me about nature, how we can protect nature.
“Cecily Fearnley, she’s died now, but she was such an incredible inspiration – ’never give up, when a door closes there’ll always be another door open’ she told me. That helped when trying to protect Grasstree Court.“
Over several years Spencer led a group of conservationists, Save Sunrise Glossies, who tried to save a parcel of Wallum habitat, home to several threatened species including his beloved glossy black cockatoos, at Grasstree Court, Sunrise Beach.
The habitat was eventually cleared to make way for an approved development, but their efforts spread a wider awareness of the habitat, its threatened species, particularly glossy black cockatoos and their importance to the ecosystem.
“Most of you know I tried to protect 5.8km of critical habitat of glossy black cockatoos, koalas, ground parrots so many other threatened species,“ Spencer said.
“That habitat was so important for the threatened species survival in that ecosystem. Now we’re seeing all these impacts that are unseen impacts when a development gets approved. You don’t realise the impacts coming off a single development into the national park. Observing and learning about our local environment is so important to protect our local environment.
“Unfortunately we didn’t win but it still helped to get such a huge impact to save that habitat.“
Spencer acknowledged several groups and mentors who had shared their knowledge with him over the years including Rochelle Gooch, Valmae and the birding group, members of the Coolum Coast Care, the NICA shorebird team, Meghan Halverson and Bernard Jean of Queensland Koala Crusaders and (Glossy) Bob Carey who taught him “how amazing the glossy black cockatoos are and how important it was to protect their habitat“.
“So this was really how I started. I observed my local environment, going out with binoculars first, then going out with mummy and daddy’s iPhone, my Nikon gifted from Noosa Photo Club and now my Sony so I can showcase the amazing nature and showcase my photos in my calendars [that he creates to raise awareness of the environment].
“You learn about your local environment once you’ve observed your environment. It’s through all the amazing environmental groups that have helped me learn about all the amazing species here in the amazing Noosa. It helped me teach people about nature. From the knowledge I’ve gained from these amazing environment groups then you can protect your local environment, and that’s what I think I do.“
Spencer encouraged others to observe, learn and protect their local environment.
“It doesn’t have to be what I’ve done. It doesn’t have to be standing in front of bulldozers. You can just sign petitions. That’s such an important thing to do.
There’s a petition today to save Noosa hinterland and critical habitat that’s going to be destroyed for quarry expansion.“
Other ways people can assist is by observing and documenting observations on different Apps such as Birdata, Birda, providing information that can be used for scientific research.
“Every little bit counts. Every habitat we protect helps threatened species. All of us can make such a huge difference,“ Spencer said.
