SI Joondalup – Water Kit for Yellagonga National Park – October 2011

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Members of Soroptimist International of Joondalup honour a member in providing a valuable tool to the Friends of Yellagonga National Park

Environmental issues have always been on SIJ’s agenda over many years starting with Vida Wright’s involvement in 1993 when she was giving a report on Perth’s water future. She became very alarmed when an application to mine near Lake Jasper in D’Entrecastreaux National Park was known and made sure that this tragedy was averted. Fortunately this has remained a pristine environment. She was very protective of the sand dunes in and around Hillarys and was not in favour of the commercial development that as planned and subsequently built but ended up appreciating the result as a lot of work was done to preserve the dunes. Vida had a deep knowledge of the Wanneroo area being the first woman town planner working with the Wanneroo Council. She encouraged SIJ to become actively involved in Yellagonga and over the years many members took part in their ‘busy bees’ by clearing weeds.
When member Margaret Fitzpatrick suggested that we set up a small memorial in her Vida’s honour, it was suggested that it should be something that could be used to benefit the ongoing projects of replanting of native species for the area as the weeds were removed. The research was done and a water testing kit was purchased so that the water in the area could be monitored.