Love and Recherche

NATHAN Males fell in love with a Tasmanian and then fell in love with Tasmania.

Males, who is executive officer of the Tasmanian Land Conservancy, is a new figure on the national conservation scene.

TLC (tender loving care?) is the new owner of the north east peninsula of Recherche Bay, in a deal struck last week involving entrepreneur Dick Smith, Australian Greens leader Bob Brown, Tasmanian Premier Paul Lennon, and Robert and David Vernon, who owned the land.

While much has been said and written about the deal, not much is known about Males, a gentlemanly Englishman who grew up in England’s beautiful Lakes District, a landscape which inspired so many of England’s poets. But expect to read a profile of him ere long in The Mercury and other newspapers.

As already said, Males fell in love with a local girl and followed her to her home state in 1996, which he has made his home, Since then, he has graduated from the University of Tasmania, in a degree combining environmental studies and education, and is now doing a Masters degree in Protected Area Management.

Males, who was working for Australian Bush Heritage, was the founding president of TLC in 2001, an incorporated community group which had just $49 in the bank. The aim was to conserve significant areas in Tasmania, which had to compete with the national concerns of ABH.

Excited

“We’ve had an amazing ride since then,” Males says.

TLC is responsible for the management of four permanent reserves following the purchase of 386 hectares on the east coast, Long Point Reserve, Lutregalla Marsh on Bruny Island, plus the gift of the 43 hectare Silver Peppermint Reserve near Mt Field, and now, the purchase of 142 hectares at Recherche Bay, land it will hold in trust. And that doesn’t take into consideration of range of other programs in which it is involved.

“We are excited beyond our wildest dreams,” Males says of the Recherche Bay outcome.

“And everyone is happy at the outcome.”

TLC has remained out of the spotlight, not only because it is a relatively new and small organisation, but because it works behind the scenes to bring warring parties together rather than enter the political fray.

TLC president is Jane Hutchinson, a lawyer, vice president is Peter Bosworth, a DPWI bureaucrat, treasurer is Brian Barry, an accountant, secretary is Karina Potter, a forest expert. Board members are retired judge Edward Butler, photographer Matt Newton, botanist Wendy Potts, ecologist Sophie Underwood and RHH doctor Geoff Couser.