This bridge is named in honour of Geoff Winning, a volunteer who played a pivotal role in shaping the Hunter Wetlands Centre from 1985 to 2010.
He was responsible for developing many of the ponds and tracks across the site, soil profile maps of the property, a plant species guide to match the soil conditions and hydrology studies.
The flow control gate beneath your feet represents part of an engineering solution Geoff developed to return the Melaleuca Swamp Forest and Water Ribbon Pond, as well as the other ponds, to full ecological health.
Is it higher in Melaleuca Swamp Forest or Water Ribbon Pond? Which way will the water flow?
The ongoing success of the rehabilitation of Hunter Wetlands owes a lot to the passion and dedication of a great many people and volunteers. Geoff Winning has been one of the shining stars of this group. Geoff was here from the very beginning in 1985. He was responsible for developing many of the ponds and tracks across our 45 hectare site.
Between 1992 and 1995 he held almost every position - Site Manager, CEO as well as Financial Director and at the same time running our consulting arm. In 1995 he left to start his own environmental consulting business.
His voluntary work for the Wetland Centre did not end there. He remained a principal source of expert advice on most technical issues relating to the ongoing management of the Wetlands until he passed away in 2010. He either created, or was involved with the production of many key documents for the site. These will be relied on for many years to come. He provided us with a soil profile map of the property, a plant species guide to match the soil conditions and hydrology studies. The hydrology studies solved serious problems affecting the long-term health of the various swamps on site.
The flow control gate beneath your feet represents part of an engineering solution for the site. Geoff proposed this to return the Melaleuca Swamp Forest (an Endangered Ecological Community), as well as the other ponds, to full ecological health.
His legacy can be seen in the trails, the planting of over 100,000 native trees and other plants since 1988 and plant propagation in our nursery. In fact, this legacy promotes the health of the whole swamp system.
Geoff is missed by us all but his footprints are everywhere.
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A Glencore Community Project