At a time when the State Government’s plan to raise the Warragamba wall threatens habitat for the endangered Regent Honeyeater, Jenny from Wollongong decided to take action by making a print to help protect this beautiful black and gold bird.
As a high school teacher, Jenny has been sharing her passion for art with young people for over 30 years. When she’s not in the classroom, Jenny loves going on outdoor adventures with her husband, Marty.
On any given weekend, you might find them canyoning, kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding, as well as getting off the beaten track with other members of the Sydney University Bushwalkers club.
It was during one such weekend away she and her husband had the unique experience of coming face to face with NSW's most endangered bird, the Regent Honeyeater.
“We went to Wollemi. We were staying in the Hunter Valley for our 30th anniversary” she said, “and a couple of Regent Honeyeaters came and stole some crumbs off our plate.”
Yet, it wasn’t until Jenny and Marty went to a screening in Wollongong of the Colong Foundation’s documentary, GIVE A DAM, that they discovered that the NSW Government’s plan to raise the Warragamba Dam wall is putting the survival of this beautiful species at risk.
That’s when Jenny decided to make a beautiful print of the Regent Honeyeater and donate it to the Colong Foundation to help us raise funds to support our campaign to oppose raising the wall.
“I think there are too many animals that have just disappeared from Australia and nobody has even noticed…I think it's super important to protect these things and protect the environment that they’re in.”
“We’re not chain ourselves to trees type activists” she added. “You try to work out how you can help within your capacity.”
Her stunning print has a retail value of $400 and will soon be up for auction. So, through making her generous gift, Jenny's helping us stand up for the preservation of the Regent Honeyeater, as well as the habitat that this stunning black and gold bird relies on.
If you like her work as much as we do, check out her website: https://www.indigodazeart.com/