Sundowner Series: What we have to learn from Fungi

"All life on Earth is connected by a great mystery we are only just beginning to unravel. Hidden between the world of plants and animals, another world exists…"

Fungi: Web of Life is an IMAX film, narrated by the incredible vocalist BJORK.

Join us at Margaret River HEART on Thursday 28th August, we'll share a little of this special cinematic experience, and then hear from three expert speakers :

• Dr Tom May, a mycologist (fungi expert) at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, (joining us via zoom)

• Zac Webb, treasured Cultural Custodian, Wadandi boodja

• Aaron Jaggar, our new CEO at Nature Conservation Margaret River Region

Zac will speak to cultural resilience, fire, and listening to Country.

Our new CEO Aaron Jaggar, will share stories of Christchurch rebuilding from the 2011 earthquakes, his own observations of resilience.

Enjoy light supper, a drink, audience Q and A and become part of the conversation. We look forward to seeing you there. 

This Sundowner event is made possible via funding provided from the Augusta Margaret River Shire.

Date : Thursday 28th Aug

Venue : Nala Bardip Mia (HEART MARGARET RIVER - Main Theatre), Wadandi Country

Time : 6:15pm - 8pm

Ticket Price : Members $15, Non-members $25  (Ticket includes free drink on entry & light supper)

To become a member of Nature Conservation ($30 per yr) please sign up here or purchase 'annual membership renewal' above.

More info on our speakers -

Dr Tom May is a mycologist (fungi expert) at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria where he has worked for more than three decades on the taxonomy, ecology and conservation of larger fungi. Tom has combined a distinguished research career with a passion for communicating and educating about fungi. He has held many roles in professional and citizen science organisations, including as inaugural President of Fungimap and as a member of the founding executive of the Australasian Mycological Society. Tom has published widely in scientific and popular journals, co-authoring FunKey, an interactive key to mushroom genera, and the books Wild Mushrooming in Australia and Planet Fungi. Tom has been inducted as a Fellow of the International Mycological Society and his contributions to science and citizen science have been recognised by award of the Nancy T. Burbidge Medal and the Australian Natural History Medallion.

Zac Webb was born in Undalup (Busselton) and grew up on Wadandi country listening to his father and Elders, who remember sitting with the old people listening to stories of country. Zac passes down these stories, continuing his family’s cultural obligations to the people and the Boodja. He’s spent many years working in the field of natural resource management on an array of projects to protect cultural heritage, land, and kinship through the South West and Great Southern. Zac promotes Wadandi Pibulmun culture throughout the Margaret River Region to give the wider community a better understanding of cultural protocols, and their connection and responsibility to the Boodja that we all share together while calling this place home.

Aaron Jaggar is the new CEO at Nature Conservation Margaret River Region. A highly experienced leader with a background in heading up large conservation organisations in Australia and New Zealand, he has been working as the General Manager of Conservation Volunteers New Zealand for the last decade (a national group coordinating thousands of volunteers and over 60 employees aimed at connecting people who love nature and want to make a difference to their community and the natural world).

Aaron has completed a Masters of Environmental Management and held various leadership roles for Conservation Volunteers. He has a passion for nature, conservation and people, and loves hiking and surfing in his spare time.