Illawarra Nature Festival
Sunday 8th September 2024 - 1.30pm
The Servo, Port Kembla / Dharawal Country

September is biodiversity month and we want to celebrate the incredible diversity of plants and animals in the Illawarra. We want to angle the spotlight to shine on the inspiring volunteers, backyard enthusiasts, researchers, citizens scientists and those passionately working in the environment space to conserve and protect nature.

Throughout the afternoon there will be food and beverages available, outdoor stalls and children’s activities.

1.30pm: Welcome to Country - Aunty Lorraine Brown and Aunty Narelle Thomas, Coomaditchie United Aboriginal Corporation

Science talks:

When	Who	Title of talk
2pm – 2:15pm	Angus Crichton, Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council’s Natural Resource Management Team	Caring for Country
2:15pm – 2:30pm	Alison Haynes, Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong	Small Wonders: Moss in the Cityscape
2:30pm – 2:45pm	Alex Pike, Saving our Species	The Wollongong Crayfish
3pm – 3:15pm	Jordyn Clough, University of Wollongong	Investigating southern greater glider health after the fires
3:15pm – 3:30pm	Dr Beth Mott, South East Ecosystems and Threatened Species Team	Great Grasslands – a tale of the Illawarra
3:30pm – 4:00pm	Kazan Riley, Gundungurra Traditional Owner - Murrindyarr Aboriginal Corporation	Predators on Country (film)
4.15pm – 4:30pm	Symbio	Surveying the escarpment for mammals
4:30pm – 4:45pm	Emma Rooksby, Landcare Illawarra	25 years of Landcare in the Illawarra
4:45pm – 5pm	Dr Rachel Melrose, South East Ecosystems and Threatened Species Team	Treasure Hunt for Endangered Frogs

5:30pm: film screening – Cry of the Glossy & Wallflowers and Evergreens

6.30pm: live music and projections – Russell Webster

Stalls include:

Naturemapr
Shellharbour and Wollongong Council Bushcare
Landcare Illawarra
Predators on Country (Saving our Species program)
Controlling pest species (Local Land Services)
Native bees
Streamwatch
Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council’s Natural Management Team
Tentacular Storytelling workshop for Coomaditchie Lagoon

Drink in the beauty of the Illawarra viewing a nature photography exhibition
Learn about local conservation work, citizen science opportunities, urban ecology and cultural ways of caring for country through a series of talks, educational stalls and kids activities
Connect with others who are passionate about conserving and protecting nature in the Illawarra. Find out about how you can get involved and make a difference
There will be plenty of activities to keep the kids busy, a short film screening, live music and food. This is a free, family friendly event

**The venue / event is limited capacity and will have a rolling attendance throughout the day, certain presentations and spaces within the event will reach capacity and it is recommended to arrive early for any presentations / events you are excited to see to avoid missing specific seating or space for those particular times, however audio will be broadcast across the full venue to allow others to tune in from outside etc**

Please note, event is all ages but u/18's must be accompanied by a parent / legal guardian