My passion for the natural environment and my horror at seeing the effects of climate change have been developed by bushwalking into remote areas and being witness to the spiritual and physical void left by logging to fauna, flora and to our precious waterways.

  In addition, the following sources have had an impact on me to produce the works shown in Once was Paradise at fortyfivedownstairs in 2019 and later works as shown under ‘selected works’.

  A Gardening Australia segment ‘Trees in Time’ showed the benefit to the environment of trees. This was assessed by calculating the level of carbon stored in a tree using its size, species, location and age to give each tree a dollar value in the hope this dollar value will make trees more appreciated.

  Further, an article by Tim Flannery in the Saturday Age (Nov 17, 2012) examined the eminent extinction of 110 fauna and 531 flora in Australia. He speaks about our values – can we accept the extinction of these fauna, as we did the pipistrellus, a tiny bat, on Christmas Island in 2009?

  It leaves me sad and frustrated that those in power are not acting with the necessary will and resources to mitigate the effects of climate change. Our ancient fragile landscape is suffering and needs to be nurtured to sustain human life, fauna and flora.

  In Once was Paradise I show endangered environments that are not always accessible to the average person who may never be able to experience such special places. Our protection is needed for these places to survive the onslaught of so-called development which results in only short-term monetary gain. The loss of place and the warming and degradation of our oceans and its people diminishes us as caring human beings.