Revisiting the 2012 launch of NGT – this is how it all began…

It only feels like yesterday, but five years ago the handful of us involved in quietly preparing NGT behind the scenes for business, were counting down to the first email being distributed that would launch our new organisation – on the 16th of January 2012. If you didn’t receive that very first email then here is a copy to give you a sense for how it all began:

Back in time – 5 years ago… The initial email that launched NGT on the 16th of January 2012.

The NGT website was launched a couple of weeks later, on World Wetlands Day – the 2nd of February 2012 – and gained some media attention on both sides of the border.

On the Victorian side, this short ABC Radio interview kicked things off:

Meanwhile, on the SA side of the border, the Border Watch ran this article in the lead up to that date:

Article on Page 17 of the Border Watch, Tuesday the 24th of January 2012.

Well time has certainly flown by, and we’ve been busy ever since working on a wide range of projects from Albury to Geelong to Adelaide, and everywhere in between.

Looking back, I am now really proud to say that we’ve made huge strides towards our original stated intention of restoring wetlands across our focal region, with restoration works completed at over 30 wetlands on public and private land in Victoria and SA, and several more sites in the pipeline. We’ve also secured two crucial areas for permanent protection and restoration (Eaglehawk Waterhole (1700 acres) and Mt Burr Swamp (750 acres)) – to be held in perpetuity by NGT on behalf of the community as private nature reserves. Finally, we’ve completed critical research and recovery work on a wide range threatened species, including threatened freshwater fish, crayfish, plants, birds and other animals.

While that is just the tip of the iceberg, it gives you a sense of what we’ve managed to do in a relatively short space of time thanks to the incredible dedication and tireless efforts of our staff and volunteers, the amazing support of our donors, and the many landowners, community groups, government agencies and private businesses we work with. Let’s keep the momentum going and see what we can achieve together over the next five years!

As our way of expressing our thanks for you being part of NGT’s journey, if you are nearby please come and say g’day on our official “birthday”, Monday the 16th of January in Mt Gambier or Warrnambool. Details can be found here.