BirdLife WA - 2025 AGM

Extraordinary Volunteer Efforts Highlighted in 2025 BirdLife WA’s AGM

BirdLife WA’s postponed Annual General Meeting took place last Monday 17th March at the WA Ecology Centre. National President, Mandy Bamford, was present as Branch Convenor, David Bruce, outlined the purpose of the Coordinating Committee and described some of the issues they have delt with including new office accommodation and project financing.

In his Convenor Report, David Bruce walked members through the branch’s 2024 highlights and Financial Report. The remarkable efforts of volunteers was reflected in the summaries submitted by committees covering Community Engagement, Sales and Events, Public Communications, Advocacy, Excursions, Australasian Bitterns WA, Great Western Woodlands and Wheatbelt Bird Surveys.

These highlights saw the Community Engagement team meet with over 1000 adults and more than 570 children over the course of 2024.
The Sales Committee represented BirdLife at numerous events, generating over $62,000 in sales for the branch.
The Public Communications team saw yet more Bird Guides requested by and developed for local councils and an annual total of 600 hours put into the production of WA Bird Notes, which enjoyed a ten-fold increase in readership following greater online promotion.
The Advocacy Committee received their comprehensive report examining WA’s regulatory system around land clearing and launched the branch’s first ‘Guide to Citizen Advocacy’ designed to enable anyone make a submission to protect native habitat for WA’s birds.
The Wheatbelt Bird Survey Committee already reported 18 active survey sites and 43 surveys conducted, despite launching late last year.
And although the Great Western Woodlands Project wrapped up after 10 epic years, plans are underway for continued citizen science surveys.
The Australasian Bittern Committee was very busy with retrieving and processing audio files.

Recognising the phenomenal efforts of BirdLife volunteers, David Bruce presented the following awards:

Recipient of 2024 Rosalind Denny Volunteer Awards
• Alice Bishop (Convenor, BirdLife Midwest-Geraldton)
• Lorraine Marshall (Chair, Community Engagement Committee)

Presentation of 25 Year Membership badges (9 recipients in total):
• Robert Mather

The other recipients who were unable to attend are:
• Lesley Brooker
• Paul Desmond
• Cora Keil
• Norma Martin
• Des Moran
• Annette Park
• Roger Vines
• Margi Weir

Meanwhile, all the Coordinating Committee positions were filled, with each member who nominated being re-elected. The Coordinating Committee welcomed new member, Sharyn Howells, into the role of Treasurer while Mike Bamford was also elected as Member.
Convenor: David Bruce
Deputy Convenor: Liz Milne
Deputy Convenor: Sam Rycken
Treasurer: Sharyn Howells
Secretary: Dylan MacGregor
Member: Mike Bamford

And so the 2025 AGM concluded, not before priming attendees with an update on BirdLife projects located in WA, presented by Dr Teagan Douglas, BirdLife’s Manager Black Cockatoos.

Below, top row, left to right:
– Sam Rycken presenting
– Volunteer of Year, Lorraine Marshall with David Bruce
– 25 Year Member Rob Mather with David Bruce
bottom row, left to right:
– Newly elected BirdLife WA Coordinating Committee: David Bruce, Mike Bamford, Sharyn Howells, Dylan MacGregor, Sam Rycken (missing: Liz Milne)
– Tegan Douglas presenting