Medlow Bath resident Amanda Foxon-Hill spends her time between the Blue Mountains and Central NSW where she’s a Mid Lachlan Landcare Coordinator. The Planetary Health Centre is working with her on Growing Connected Landscapes for the Glossy Black Cockatoo, with a talk about this vulnerable species at the Centre in Katoomba on Saturday 7 June, and a Community Tree Planting Day in Central NSW on Saturday 5 July. She’s encouraging Blue Mountains residents to get involved in this extremely rewarding project.
Key Points:
The Glossy Black Cockatoo has been listed as vulnerable in NSW.
Join wildlife photographer, ecologist and environmental educator Jayden Gunn at the Planetary Health Centre to learn more about Growing Connected Landscapes for the Glossy Black Cockatoo on Saturday 7 June 4-6pm Bookings essential here
Join a Community Tree Planting Day for the Glossy Black Cockatoo in Goologong from 10am-1pm on Saturday 5 July. Register your interest here
Amanda Foxon-Hill is an Industrial Chemist who moved to the Blue Mountains from England 21 years ago.
Ten years ago, while bringing up their family, she and her husband bought a 50-acre property in Woodstock, near Cowra. It became her passion project!
“We’ve been developing it as a bush conservation site. From a scientist’s perspective, I can walk around and watch what’s growing, and put in different understorey plants. It is just so rewarding.”
Amanda at their property in Woodstock (photo supplied)
When she decided to have a career change / tree change a couple of years ago, she said it made sense to start working for Mid Lachlan Landcare to build on the work she and her husband had been doing on their own 50 acres. They now split their time between the Blue Mountains and Central NSW.
Inspired by the pond at the Planetary Health Centre, Amanda built a pond in their garden at Medlow Bath (photo supplied)
She has discovered great joy in putting her hands in the soil to grow things.
Connecting Landscapes for Glossy Black Cockatoos
“At the moment I’m working on a project with the Glossy Black Cockatoos to conserve and expand their habitat, and in particular, build habitat connectivity between the Kanimbla and Nangar National Park. So that’s an area that makes up part of the Western Woodland Way, which is an interior corridor similar to the Great Dividing Range, but it goes on the inside of NSW and expands from the Weddin Mountains which are just outside our area.”
Listen to Amanda talk about the project to connect landscapes for the Glossy Black Cockatoo here:
Join us to learn more on Saturday 7th June, and help plant habitat in Central NSW on Saturday 5 July!
An afternoon with wildlife photographer, ecologist and environmental educator Jayden Gunn at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba
4-6pm Saturday 7 June, 2025
Habitat connectivity is essential if species are to adapt and overcome the challenges posed by our changing climate.
Join us as we imagine life as a Glossy Black Cockatoo. We’ll make our way through the temperate eucalypt forests of Dharug & Gundungurra land here in the Blue Mountains before leaving the Great Dividing Range for the Wheat & Sheep belt of the Central Tablelands. Our journey ends on Wiradjuri land, North West of Cowra in the dry scleropyhyll forests of the Conimbla & Nangar National Parks, the start of the Western Woodland Way.
Jayden Gunn is an adept wildlife photographer, ecologist, and environmental educator, with a deep passion for Australian birdlife. Through his lens, he captures Australia’s unique wildlife, using digital storytelling to connect people with nature in meaningful ways.
This event is being delivered by Mid Lachlan Landcare who have partnered with the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre to grow connected landscapes for the Glossy Black Cockatoo.
This project will improve habitat and connectivity for our beautiful Glossy Black Cockatoos – a species listed as vulnerable across NSW.
Together, we’ll improve the quality and quantity of habitat across the Western Woodland Way between Nangar and Conimbla National Parks, building connectivity and strengthening bird habitat in the Mid Lachlan Region.
This event is possible thanks to funding from the Bupa Landcare Grant. We’re part of the planting of over 80,000 trees, shrubs and grasses across the country, linking environmental health with community wellbeing.
Take Action:
Join wildlife photographer, ecologist and environmental educator Jayden Gunn at the Planetary Health Centre to learn more about growing connected landscapes for the endangered Glossy Black Cockatoo on Saturday 7 June 4-6pm Bookings essential here
Join a Community Tree Planting Day for the Glossy Black Cockatoo in Goologong from 10am-1pm on Saturday 5 July. Register your interest here
Consider planting habitat for the Glossy Black Cockatoo and other birds on your own property.
We`re setting up lots of cosy warm indoor spaces for the Peace Symposium and `Community Picnic` this Sat 2nd August and we`re thrilled that RosyRavelston Books will be there with their `books that change the world`! The Blue Mountains Peace Collective presented them with this poster designed by Melbourne-based Japanese artist Hiroyasu Tsuri, also known as TWOONE@t_w_o_o_n_e. @ican_australia commissioned this artwork to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the US bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan and the first nuclear test on First Nations land in New Mexico, USA, in 1945. It depicts symbols of peace and survival in the wake of nuclear devastation. View the full program for the Symposium and book your tickets here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-peace-symposium
Sixteen-year-old HART Youth Ambassador, Matilda Emmerich will be displaying her oil painting and poem “Where Hope Sits" and discussing her experience of having it banned at 11.30am this Saturday 2nd August at the Blue Mountains Peace Symposium at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba. Artwork and poem can be seen here: https://www.hartyouth.com/art
Places are limited so bookings essential here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-peace-symposium
Rotarians from throughout the District gathered at the Planetary Health Centre on Sunday to launch Greater Blue Mountains Rotary and its first fundraising campaign to purchase Rooming-in Cribs for Blue Mountains Hospital. Bringing together the expertise and resources of the former Blackheath, Katoomba and Central Blue Mountains Clubs, this exciting new collaboration reflects Rotary International’s theme for 2025-26: “Unite for Good”. The Planetary Health Centre has been collaborating with Rotary to deliver our monthly Skill Share program, and Rotarian Jennifer Scott AM will speak about Rotary’s international work for people, planet and peace at the Blue Mountains Peace Symposium next Saturday 2nd August. Bookings essential here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-peace-symposium
For more information about Greater Blue Mountains Rotary and how you can get involved email planetaryhealth@bmcc.nsw.gov.au or ring 0407 437 553
We’re thrilled to announce that the Environmental choir Ecopella will be performing at the Planetary Health Symposium and Community Picnic at 12.30pm next Saturday 2nd August at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba. They’re passionate, satirical and creative. This image is the cover of one of their CDs. You can view the full program and reserve your spot for the day here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-peace-symposium
How do we respond to a world at war? Join the community conversation at the Peace Symposium`s midday forum at the Planetary Health Centre on Sat 2 August. In his book 1984, Orwell wrote: "War, it will be seen, not only accomplishes the necessary destruction, but accomplishes it in a psychologically acceptable way." "The primary aim of modern warfare is to use up the products of the machine without raising the general standards of living." This poster will be one of a number on display at the Symposium. View the full program and book here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-peace-symposium
It`s just over a week to the Blue Mountains Peace Symposium and Community Picnic on Sat 2 Aug at the Planetary Health Centre. View the full program and book here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-peace-symposium
A huge thank you to @kindlehill_high_school and their fabulous students who`ve been visiting the Planetary Health Centre on Wednesdays to help us regenerate the bushland and develop our site. They`ve reduced the risk of fire around the Centre by replacing flammable vegetation with gravel; they`ve planted citrus trees for our edible winter garden; and they`ve spent two visits regenerating bushland. Today alone they`ve removed 250 privet plants! Such great work to restore habitat for wildlife and help us build a demonstration site for the community. #volunteers #community #bushcare #ediblegarden #disasterriskreduction #habitat #regeneration...
Our free Winter Tai Chi was so popular last month we`re offering it again for free on Sat 2nd August. It will be the first activity of the day as part of our Peace Symposium and Community Picnic at the Planetary Health Centre. Bookings essential here as places are limited(link in profile):
In 1986, the Blue Mountains celebrated the International Year of Peace with a Peace March in Hazelbrook. Join us for the Peace Symposium and Community Picnic at the Planetary Health Centre on Saturday 2nd August. 2025 has been declared the International Year of Peace and Trust because of the urgent need to reestablish these and reinvigorate a global culture of peace in our current turbulent times. This poster was created by Don McGregor, one of the founders of the Blue Mountains Peace Collective, and will be on display at the Symposium. You can view the program and purchase tickets for the Symposium here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-peace-symposium
The Lawson men’s circle meets on a Thursday night and fills a void where once male initiation and elder-mentorship might have been, helping men with self awareness and self growth. Read more in Mid Mountains Local News (link in profile): https://www.midmtnslocalnews.com/lawson-mens-circle/
Tickets now available here for the Blue Mountains Peace Symposium on 2nd August. A day of internationally renowned speakers, forums, live entertainment and family activities to grow an urgent groundswell for peace (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-peace-symposium
Today is the 80th anniversary of the world’s first atomic bomb test. Three weeks after today the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in Japan. Help us grow a groundswell of support to ban these horrific nuclear weapons that have caused so much cancer, death and suffering. Check out this fabulous screen print produced by Don McGregor and Indigenous artist Burri for a Peace Festival in Katoomba 37 years ago! It will be on display with other peace posters at the Peace Symposium and Community Picnic on Sat 2nd August. Don is one of the founders of the Blue Mountains Peace Collective which will be meeting at the Planetary Health Centre at 10am this Saturday. All welcome to help us prepare for the Symposium where we’ll be hearing from internationally regarded speakers on how we can work to stop wars and get nuclear weapons banned. Book your place early here as places are limited for the talks (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-peace-symposium
Protected areas such as national parks, nature reserves and Indigenous lands are the foundation of biodiversity conservation. However, climate change is threatening their effectiveness in safeguarding wildlife, ecosystem services and livelihoods.
