TLC's Natural Guardians share stories about why they've chosen to support us; we thank those whose bequests have helped to protect nature in Tasmania forever.
MICHAEL BENTLEY AND CHRISTINE CALEIDIN
My partner Christine Caleidin and I chose to move to Hobart in 2011. For us, Tasmania was where our project of conviviality – living with the natural world – could be realised.
Paraphrasing from the definition of public health, we saw conservation as the art and science of protecting places of natural wonder. The TLC does this well in Tasmania and it’s why we chose to support it. Collaborations in the TLC’s reserves Skullbone Plains and the Big Punchbowl are outstanding examples of how to create a sense of wonder about this beautiful corner of our living planet.
Sadly, Christine died in 2016. I established the Solas Fund through the TLC Foundation in loving memory of her and to support the art and science of the TLC. Among her many talents, Christine was a silk painter. She had a discerning eye for colour and revelled in the splendour of the ever-changing Tasmanian light. Solas is the Irish word for light. I am proud that Christine’s memory lives on through the TLC Foundation.
Michael Bentley, Natural Guardian
Read about the Solas Fund and other named funds in the TLC Foundation
MEREDITH HODGSON
Meredith Hodgson loved outdoor life and travelled widely both in Tasmania and overseas. She loved sailing and cruising the coast, including visits to Port Davey and the east coast. She was forever on the lookout for wildlife and finding solace in the highlands with its unique wilderness. Her generous bequest to the TLC represents her values: read more about Meredith’s bequest.
CINDY AND MATT PAGE
We have held strong ties to the natural landscape since our early years and with countless journeys into the wilderness appreciated all that is precious within Tasmania’s national parks and World Heritage Area. We didn’t realise at the time that most of Tasmania’s threatened vegetation communities and threatened species occur on private land.
Since the humblest of beginnings in 2001 TLC has grown to be the foremost NGO in the state with the sole purpose of protecting our wild and special places on private land. Much has been achieved through the TLC’s capacity to employ the right people, to form partnerships and engage with supporters.
Whilst the future will always present challenges, we are confident that TLC has the ability to endure and as a measure of our trust we have included a gift for TLC in our wills, so that the work of TLC can carry on into the future.
Cindy and Matt Page, Natural Guardians
PAM ROTHWELL
Pamela Rothwell (Pam) had the wonderful generosity and foresight to leave a gift in her will to the TLC.
Having communicated with Pam over the years, and most recently with her family, we knew that Pam wanted her bequest to support a project such as the purchase and permanent protection of land. After Pam’s death in 2016 her gift was directed to the TLC’s property acquisition campaign at the time.
Pam’s gift helped the TLC protect in perpetuity 150 hectares of important swift parrot habitat at Little Swanport on Tasmania’s east coast
Pam’s son Roy, who lives in Tasmania with his wife and children, thinks that his mother would be thrilled to be associated with the Little Swanport project:
Pam had a heightened sense of curiosity in all manner of things, embracing art, politics, history, music, gardening, geography, travel, languages, textiles and design, knitting and craft, sport, and domestic animals.
Pam thoroughly investigated several organisations before confirming her final intentions and we are heartened and so grateful that she was passionate about nature conservation in Tasmania and trusted in the TLC to honour her wishes.
Read about Little Swanport and the TLC’s suite of reserves or find out more about Pam’s gift in TLC Newsletter 54
Download our Gifts in Wills booklet
Banner photo: Kelvedon Hills, by Andy Townsend.