In 1936 Muriel Swain and five other delegates from the Parks and Playgrounds Movement of NSW "visited Newcastle to stimulate interest in the movement and make known its work" ." Miss Swain gave a talk to men and women representing many organisations such as the City Beautification Advisory Committee, Rotary, Hockey Association, Wattle Day League, Girl Guides Association, and the Y.W.C.A. among others.

Ms Swain spoke on the objectives of the movement and many Novocastrians were interested in what she and other members of the movement had to say. The Tree Planting and Preservation League in Newcastle was also raising similar issues at this time. The local municipal councils amalgamated in 1938 to form the Greater Newcastle City Council. Shortly after, council created the position of Parks Superintendent and allocated more funds for tree planting and park maintenance.

There was not sufficient interest at this time for the establishment of a similar group in Newcastle though Tom Farrell, who lived in New Lambton, joined the Sydney group. He was its only member outside of Sydney and sometimes combined a business meeting in Sydney with a meeting of the Parks and Playgrounds Movement. By 1951 he decided the time was right to establish a similar group in Newcastle.

At a meeting held at Newcastle City Hall on August 20 1951, the President of the Newcastle Rotary Club (Mr. Phillip Gastelaars), proposed a motion that a Northern District Parks and Playgrounds Movement (NPPM) be formed. The motion was adopted and a provisional committee was appointed to draw up a constitution. The movement's activities would extend over a wide area, for that reason the name Newcastle was not used in the Movement's title. The constitution was adopted at a meeting at Newcastle City Hall on the 26th of November 1951 confirming the formation of the Northern Parks and Playgrounds Movement. The acting secretary (Mr C. Hay) said that the constitution was similar to that of the Sydney parent. After examining the plans of the Northumberland City Council for reservation of recreation areas, the movement decided it would use the plans as a basis for its objectives. Mr Hay said 'we will set our standards by this blueprint.' 'We will accept nothing less and we will oppose any attempt to whittle away these areas,' he added.

Vicki Neech, author of an Oral History Project in 1990, stated that "[t]he long delay in the implementation of the Scheme meant many of its proposals were modified and some key proposals were eliminated. The open space proposals have only been partly implemented and the Northern Parks and Playgrounds Movement has worked hard for the implementation of these provisions…. Both the Northumberland and Cumberland County Councils were incorporated into the State Planning Authority in 1963."

The objectives of the movement were specified in an article in the Newcastle Herald in 1953. The main objectives were the preservation and development of present recreation and playground spaces in Newcastle and the north, the development of additional reservations for parks and playgrounds, and the encouragement of beautification of streets, highways and public lands. Importantly, the movement was also interested in the care, development and establishment of national parks and reserves.

The article also quoted from the movement's annual report. "[E]very effort is being made to let the authorities know there is a live and articulate body in the community which is prepared to fight against encroachment on the all too few parklands available to the public." The movement's membership was made up mainly of males with a professional background, including architects, academics, teachers, and businessmen. High standing in the community and expertise gave the group the ear of local council. When in agreement on something and working as a team, the movement had the capacity to have a strong influence on decision makers.

In 1953 the Northern Parks and Playgrounds Movement were focusing their energies on the issue of Blackbutt reserve, a place described as being of unspoiled natural beauty bounded by rapid developing residential areas. According to Mr C. Hay, NPPM Publicity Officer, movement officials had heard rumours of an attempt to establish a bowling club on the lookout area. The movement was strongly opposed to such a development. Mr Hay commented on the movement's own intentions for the area. "We will try to establish Blackbutt as a public reserve without fear of alienation. Long range plans are being discussed to develop sections for flora and fauna. We hope to achieve a sort of bushland zoo." Mr Hay also commented on the nature of the movement at this early stage. "Because the movement is really a representative group from different interests - sporting bodies, P. and C. Associations, Progress Associations and so on - it can speak on matters such as the preservation of the Lookout without being subjected to a charge of partisanship."

Some of the other planned activities for the movement at this early time included -

• Support for the Barrington club in its effort to have Barrington Tops declared a national park
• To be involved in the decision to acquire parklands for the Newcastle City Markets as the movement was against the sites proposed by both the Council and the County Council
• The protection of the Lake Macquarie foreshores and seashores.

The main debate for the movement in 1964 was over what was considered the proper use of Dixon Park. The main issue was whether the council should sell the Housing Commission three acres of publicly owned land near Dixon Park beach valued at £36,000. The town clerk (Mr. Burges) outlined the reasons behind the Newcastle City Council (NCC) offer to sell the land as a site for flats. "The sale would not encroach on Dixon Park. The land for sale was zoned for residential use. Not all vacant land was parkland." Mr Burges also added that; "[n]o one objected to the area being zoned residential at the time."

A public meeting was organised by the NPPM and it was decided to organise a protest. The resolution was that "…we emphasise that it is essential that this area be retained to widen the approach to the beach front and for parking facilities for future public use." Local resident Mr E. Murphy expressed another such sentiment. "The land should be held for open space. Once the area was built on the cost of resumption would be prohibitive even when the need for more parks became obvious as the city grew."

The Newcastle Chamber of Commerce was also involved in the debate but had not fully committed either way. Mr Young, President of the Chamber, agreed partly with council that profits from any such sale could be spent on providing facilities at the local beach. Mr Young also had in mind that the development would tidy the area and agreed that the land was too valuable to hold as a parking area. Council's (Mr Burges) response to this was: "If all the land were reserved for park it would be used by 'a few seagulls' most of the time. Only on hot summer weekends would it possibly be used to capacity."

On March 20 1965 the NPPM asked the council to resubmit their move to the City Planning Department for further technical advice and opinion. The movement had asked the Minister for Housing and Cooperative Societies (Mr Landa) to seek a variation in the zoning of beach land adjacent to Dixon Park. Mr Landa was only able to promise that a portion of council owned land was to be added to Dixon Park to ensure a large beachfront area. It was hoped that this was a solution to allowing for adequate provision of open space parking, beautification and beachfront facilities.

Mr Richley, President of the NPPM, commented that tourism, one of the most important industries to Newcastle, would increase. Mr Richley stated that; "Since the population of Sydney in the past 90 years had increased from 150,000 to 2,250,000, sufficient public beach space should be left in Newcastle in anticipation of expansion."

Despite such views the council voted 17 to two against the motion to seek an opinion from the State Planning Authority on the sale. The land was to be offered for sale for 26,000 pounds. The Lord Mayor (Ald. Purdue) said there were 16 acres of open space at Dixon Park and the council proposed to sell only three and a half of them. The Lord Mayor said; "The sale would give a site for 70 flats and 16 units for the aged. The city needed population in its inner areas to counter the drift of population to outlying suburbs caused by the spread of industry and commerce."

The Deputy Lord Mayor (Ald. McDougall), one of only two supporting a review of the planned sale, objected that "[we] are selling the birthright of the people of the future for 26 pieces of paper - 26 £1,000 notes."

By 1967 the NPPM attitude to council was still critical. Mr Richley is recorded as stating the Lord Mayor (Ald. McDougall), Deputy Lord Mayor (Ald. Bell) and City Engineer (Mr. Baddeley) "… do not appreciate open land as it applies to a city." Mr Richley also said that "Merewether, Hamilton and Mayfield are as low as two and a half acres to a thousand population instead of the 10 acres there should be." This was the recommended ratio for open space per head of population as outlined in the Northumberland County Council Plan.

Mr Richley's concerns with council were as follows;

• Council has failed to establish a planning department and ignored a parks and playgrounds responsibility
• The local Government Act allowing councils to accept money in place of park areas from subdivisions was unsatisfactory
• The Act should also contain a policy making it mandatory for councils to retain a public reservation right along all foreshores and major waterways.

In 1967 subscriptions to NPPM rose 35 percent and the number of members rose by 47. The NPPM were also encouraged by the enactment of that year of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act.

Joe Richley was very vocal in relation to these issues, being highly informed on the nature of regional planning. Mr Richley saw local planning as integral to this process. In a seminar presented by Mr Richley titled; 'Public Park and recreational facilities of the future' he stated that ; " 'Regional Planning' attempts to provide for integration of controlled development proposals beyond the limits of the single urban settlement and its environs. Planning of the region should precede and provide a basic framework for local planning." Mr Richley goes on to state that "…[r]egional planning can do much to assist Local Government in achieving it's legal commitments in affectively providing for the future open space needs of the community, but the real answer to the problem lies with individual councils, in their determination to provide the towns and cities of the future with amenities and living conditions worthy of the nation and it's people."

In their 15th annual report (1967), some of the major objectives expressed by the movement related directly to such thinking:

• They wanted the city council to have a Planning Department
• They wanted it to be mandatory that sub-divisions allocate 10% of area to Parks (No more subdivisions just paying money to council in lieu of parks)

These kinds of objectives would lead the movement into communication with the Minister for Local Government and the Minister for Lands to enact legislation to protect public reserves and parklands.

In 1968, Mr Doug Lithgow, secretary or NPPM, was of the opinion that "...[p]rogress in suburban parks has been good but city parks have been neglected." Activities and developments of the time included the following.

• The movement had sent a plan for city parks to the council to be considered.
• Due to delays in this consideration the movement asked the Minister for Local Government (Mr Morton) to urge the council to develop city parks.
• The movement was pleased at the council's decision to establish a planning department because it would mean parks and playgrounds would be more highly developed.

Mr Lithgow himself was a strong advocate for regional planning of Crown Land reserves . Although some advancement had been made with the establishment of a planning department, environmental advocates like Doug Lithgow realised that much still needed to be done.

A new and testing issue for the NPPM, especially in regards to town planning principles, was the proposed widening of King Street in 1968. The overall project would involve taking a large slice (perhaps 40 feet) off Birdwood Park and Civic Park. In a preliminary report titled 'Criticisms of the Present Plan and Suggestions for Alternative Measures', the NPPM objections, comments and suggestions were issued under four categories of Town Planning, Traffic Plan, Economics, and Amenity.

The report submitted by the NPPM was insightful and professional. It presented arguments which were informative, persuasive and challenging. The following are among the key points:

• The case for a six-lane dual carriageway highway in King St has not been substantiated
• Six-lane dual carriageway highways in inner city areas contravene accepted town planning principles
• An adequate improvement in traffic flow could be achieved by the adoption of traffic control measures
• The dual carriageway project involves unnecessary and wasteful expenditure which could be directed to more worthy highway projects in the Newcastle area
• In weighing up the relative advantages of roads and parks, there must be a point where any further substantial road widening at the expense of parks will do more harm than good to the community, and that this point has now been reached in the inner city areas

The report raised the question of the substantial cost involved if it was later decided that other parks were needed in the inner city to compensate for the loss of park space. It also investigated improving traffic flow. Suggestions included making King St a clearway in combination with 'limited access' measures such as 'no right turn' signs and 'no parking / no stopping' zones.

The report argued that there was no guarantee that the dual carriageway would be helpful to private business interest in the area. The NPPM warned that the road would bring in a lot more cars, which would lead to a need for more car parks and roads in the inner city, which in turn would lead to less space for commercial activities. This would then lead to fewer people coming into the city, thus land values and business profits would fall and finally the city centre would die.

The report wished to correct the tendency to argue that because King Street Park was not officially recognised and designated as a park in the town plan it was not a necessary fixture. King Street Park was a small park on the southern side of King Street, between Union and Auckland streets. The report argued that "….the town plan has proved flexible when it is a question of making suspensions of green belt land for residential and commercial development. It is not unreasonable therefore to expect that the plan could be sufficiently flexible to designate as 'park' an area that already exists as a park and only lacks official designation." In 1968 the widening of King Street absorbed most of this park.

The report also included some much more simple yet important objections, close to the heart of the NPPM Movement. "A park with gardens and trees enhances the appearance of the city" and "…[t]hey provide psychological and aesthetic satisfaction amidst the noise, hustle and stress of inner city areas".

King Street Park before road widening1968.

King Street Park after road widening 1968.

Another issue of concern for the movement was the future of Newcastle East and what the NPPM considered the piecemeal development of the area. The movement proposed that a plan be drawn up by a reputable firm of town planning consultants for the whole of the inner city area. By 1969 debate about the use of the area was heightening, with proposals for change raising concerns among local residents. In May The Newcastle City Works committee had inspected a site for a proposed parking area on Nobbys breakwater. The council planned to build a parking area about two-thirds along the breakwater on the Nobbys Beach side on sandhills. Objection to this proposal came from the NPPM and many other organisations including the Communist Party of Australia, Newcastle Trades Hall Council and Newcastle Principals Associations.

The Lord Mayor (Ald. McDougall) rejected claims that the parking area would disfigure the breakwater. "He said the councils intention was to beautify the area and provide a small area for motorists to turn vehicles and admire the view."

Despite such disagreements, the council had supported a move by NPPM that Nobbys Island, the breakwater, Camp Shortland, Fort Scratchley and part of the Zara-Street power station site be dedicated as a historic site. The movement was asking the State Government to dedicate the area as part of Australia's bi-centenary celebrations of Cook's discovery of the East Coast of Australia in the coming year.

On the 31st May 1969 Doug Lithgow wrote a short history of Newcastle East including maps and photographs to promote this move. In its introductory paragraph, Mr Lithgow states that "[t]he area comprising Nobbys Island, the breakwater, Camp Shortland, portion of the power station and railway land, and Fort Scratchley has distinct links with the discovery of the East Coast of Australia, and the early history and exploration of the Hunter Valley. All land in the area is publicly owned by either NSW or Commonwealth Governments." The report then goes on to give a brief history of each of these areas, describing their discovery and development. Interesting facts are also included, such as the following in regards to Nobbys. "The Government acting on a suggestion of Colonel Barney of the Royal Engineers started to remove Nobbys Island. The destruction of the Island was stopped following a public protest meeting which was held in Newcastle on June 21st 1854." Mr Lithgow also included a pithy quote from the Sydney Morning Herald (September 5th 1947) to conclude his report. "To think of Newcastle without Nobbys is to try to think of Sydney without the harbour and bridge."

In 1961 the NPPM conceived the concept of a park at Mount Sugarloaf. By 1965 a proposal for the park was drawn up. The proposed park covered approximately 1500 acres, which included Mt. Sugarloaf itself and the area along the northern ridge, the valley west of the northern ridge, the area east of Mt. Sugarloaf including the main access road, and Summit Point. The Minister for Lands (Mr. Tom Lewis) was keen to proceed with this action, previously approved under section 197 of the Crown Lands consolidation Act 1917. During an address at the NPPM annual meeting in 1968 Mr Lewis expressed sentiments close to the movements own. "No matter how interested - even devoted - an individual may be in the subject of nature conservation - in the overall concept we must enlist the sciences if we are to achieve results. Nature conservation is a science - a collection of sciences - involving geographers - biologists - zoologists - surveyors and expert administrators and managers." (Note: it was during the previous year that the National Parks and Wildlife act was passed. This reflected the growing consciousness of the need for environmental protection among members of the community).

"It had been envisaged that with the agreement of the company (which owned the land at Mt. Sugarloaf) there would be early action to acquire the land by resumption under the Public Works Act, 1912." "On July 10 1969, the company advised it did not agree to the proposal. It considered the proposed reserve should be deferred some years to permit determination of the economic future of the underlying coal deposits." The company also believed that the proposed price offer for the land was unacceptable.

Mr Richley said there should be no more installations at the top of Mt. Sugarloaf. Mr Richley was a member of Mt Sugarloaf Trust and said he would seek the support of Lake Macquarie Shire council, which already had been helpful in acquiring an area for a reserve.

Mr Lewis said he would advise Mr Booth MLA, when the Land Board would deal with the matter. Mr Lewis had referred to the local land board an application to resume an area at Mt. Sugarloaf required for a proposed reserve. By 1970 Mr. Lewis had accepted a park of 1130 acres and agreed to fund 50% of the acquisition providing that the Lake Macquarie Shire Council and Cessnock City Council each pay 25%. This was agreed upon.

There was also wider problems with Lake Macquarie Council. The NPPM wanted council to purchase the former R.A.A.F base at Rathmines. They also wanted the Government to cancel the balance of debt owed by Lake Macquarie shire council for the purchase of the base. As early as 1967 the movement was interested in purchasing open space at Lake Macquarie Shire as prescribed by the Northumberland County plan. A rate of fifty cents per ratepayer was suggested to fund such purchasing. Approaches to the Government for subsidy were also suggested. The suspension of the original Northumberland plans for the area had always been opposed to by the NPPM.

By 1970 pollution had become a problem in this area and the NPPM began to call for the council to think more seriously about land management and the preservation of Lake Macquarie. The removal of trees and ground cover in this hilly area had left topsoil open to heavy erosion. Material, including toxic waste, was initially being washed into the watercourse and eventually the lake itself. The problem had been brought to the attention of the Local and State Government Departments but the NPPM believed that it was up to the shire council to repair the damage. One option open to council was the direct removal of silt, but the obvious solution was to prevent the original erosion. Moves were afoot to make a developer responsible for the removal of the siltation and it was hoped that his would lead to a more careful planning of subdivisions and the retention of much more of the original ground cover . Council's plan in November 1968 for five thousand dollars worth of trees for the area was approved of by the NPPM.

In co-operation with the Lake Macquarie Shire Council, the National Trust and the Newcastle Flora and Fauna protection society, the NPPM sponsored a public meeting in October 1972 with the aim of setting up a citizens committee to work for the preservation of Lake Macquarie and suitable large areas of land fronting the lake for recreational purposes .

In the late 60's moves were under way to prepare a planning strategy for the entire Hunter Region. It was the ultimate aim of the NPPM for areas which they saw as most important to the people of Newcastle to be dedicated as National Parks, thus coming under the control of the national parks and wildlife service. In support of this aim, a publication titled 'Hunter 2000' was being compiled, with conservation issues placed high on the agenda. It was released in mid 1972 and was the movement's most important planning document.

"This report has been prepared for The National Trust of Australia (NSW) by the Conservation and Landscape Committee of the Hunter Regional Committee in response to an invitation from the State Planning Authority of NSW, for the Trust's views on planning for nature conservation, scenic preservation, historic buildings and recreation in the Hunter Region."

The report covered the Hunter Regional Planning District as defined by the State Planning Authority. It was researched and written by members of the Conservation and Landscape Committee of the National Trust. Most of these people were professionals drawn from the following regional bodies;

• National Parks Association of NSW, Hunter-Manning Region.
• Newcastle Flora and Fauna Protection Society
• Newcastle Parks and Playgrounds Movement
• Royal Australian Planning Institute (Newcastle Branch)
• The National Trust of Australia (NSW), Hunter Regional Committee.
• Town and Country Planning Association of the Hunter Valley
• Treetowners.

The principal object of the report was to bring the urgency of certain problems to the attention of the community so that the conservation requirements of the Hunter Region were accepted as vital elements in any strategic plan for the area. The most important problems included the following.

• The proposal by the Department of Main Roads to construct an expressway through Blackbutt Reserve
• Sewerage effluent in Lake Macquarie

During the 1970's the other major aims of the NPPM were:

• Establishment of a park at Cardiff point
• Beautification of Cathedral Park
• Establishment of a city square
• Expansion of Pacific Park

These were some of the ongoing issues described as 'hardy perennials' in the NPPM 1970 annual report by Doug Lithgow.

In September 1971 the Newcastle Herald reported that the NCC had complimented itself on having acquired 800 acres for park and recreation purposes over the last 10 years. This contrasted somewhat with the views of conservationists who believed that "…many areas shown zoned or reserved for parkland in the city have been alienated or threatened for other purposes." These areas included Birdwood Park, Blackbutt Reserve and Jefferson Park in Merewether.

Newcastle East remained an area of concern to the NPPM. During 1974 a Newcastle East Residents Group (NERG) was formed and put forward a proposal for the revitalisation of the Newcastle East area. It was described as a 'People's Plan' by city aldermen. "Highlights of the proposed plan were an extensive recreation area on the site of the existing railway marshalling yards, tourist road encircling the harbour foreshore and beachfront, one way traffic east in Scott St, along Pacific St and west along King St." This proposal was welcomed by the NPPM. "Mr Butler, a young architect who drafted the plan, said it was an ideal. He suggested consideration be given to provisional commercial areas and car parking , if necessary, with a limit of 10 to 15 years." The president of NERG, Mr B. Chisholm, "… believed now was the time to approach the Australian Government to help develop this concept as a tourist attraction for Newcastle and the Hunter Valley."

While such large-scale debate continued during the 1980's, Doug Lithgow was turning his attention more specifically to Fort Scratchley. In April 1983 Mr Lithgow wrote to Mr Alan Morris, Member for Newcastle, with a plan for the development of the site. Mr Lithgow's concluding remark in this letter is an important one. "The Newcastle East Historic Site has the potential to become Australia's most interesting and significant historic place and a major visitor attraction for Newcastle provided it is developed along professional lines with a long range goal of becoming a world class historic site."

Mr Lithgow then goes on to offer his thoughts in detail about how he believes this may be brought about. "A tentative management structure for the area would require Federal and State co-operation to provide funding. Ideally all the lands should be vested in the NSW National Parks and Wildlife service and a Trust including State and Federal Government representatives as well as Local Government and special interest groups such as the Maritime Museum Society be established. The Trust would have a charter to manage the site in accordance with a management plan. A professional Director and other staff could be provided by the State National Park Service."

The larger issues of the foreshore were however still to be dealt with. By 1987 the question remained as to what to keep as parkland and what should be preserved as heritage sites. There was growing public concern about Council's stance on these issues.

"Mr Murlock (acting Premier) said the State Rail Authority had agreed to hand over to Newcastle City Council as custodians the portion of land on which convict archaeological remains were unearthed last month [July 1987], although the area had yet to be defined. …Mr Murlock added that Newcastle City Council had not so far indicated that it would assume responsibility for keeping the land as parkland, although Ald. Nichols said the Lord Mayor, Ald McNaughton, had authorised him to say that he was keen for the council to enter negotiations as quickly as possible."

Members of council were being pressured to take a definite stand in the debate. In August 1987 approx. 800 people packed the City Hall "… and unanimously called for the return of the 3.1ha of Newcastle East railway land for parkland." As indicated by a report in the Newcastle Herald in August 1987, council was not fully in support of this. "Ald McNaughton, said last week he would like to see a compromise worked out for the land, including a hotel development on the site."

Newcastle East was under direct threat. "The secretary of Newcastle Trades Hall Council (NTHC), Mr Peter Barrack, said building unions, endorsed by the NTHC, had placed green bans on the site just 31 ½ hours before the scheduled auction of the land, which was then cancelled. The green bans were imposed as a last resort after lack of response from the

Lord Mayor to a request for him to lead a delegation to the Premier to try and win the land for open space."

Archaeological digs being conducted in Newcastle East had begun to show the area's true heritage significance. The archaeologist in charge of the dig on the East End land, Dr Damaris Bairstow, said that the site dated to be between 1804-8 and 1824, when convicts were brought to Newcastle. Dr Bairstow further commented that "[h]ere was an industrial site which made the buildings in Sydney possible." She also said that "….the interest that had been shown by Newcastle people in the excavation was unique, and that interest would be needed again to explore the site further."

The following are profiles of three key figures in the history of the NPPM.

Doug Lithgow

Doug Lithgow was born in 1933 in Sydney and moved to Newcastle area in 1951 to start an apprenticeship at Goninans. This led to a number of jobs around the Hunter but it was in teaching that Mr Lithgow made his career. After graduating from Teachers College he was first appointed to teach Industrial Arts at Nelson Bay prompting a move there in 1959. Doug, who was then secretary of the Port Stephens teachers association, attended a NPPM meeting in 1962 on behalf of the association. He then became a member of the NPPM when he moved back to Newcastle in 1962. The first issue in which he became involved was Dixon Park. It wasn't long before he became secretary of the movement and in 1980 was appointed president of the NPPM, a position he still retains in 2001. Mr Lithgow said "It's hard to say that it ever started at any particular spot. It's like treacle: you just get stuck into it and you become more and more involved. People ask you for help, so you go and help them, get involved in their issues and then somebody else asks and it just seems to become like a business". Former NPPM president Joe Richley inspired Mr Lithgow's involvement with environmental issues. It was from Mr Richley that Mr Lithgow learnt the principles of conservation which still guide him.

In 1987 Doug Lithgow was honoured with the Newcastle University's Board of Environmental Studies Environmental Achievement Award. This was the second year the award was presented. The award is primarily given to someone who has made contributions to the environment above and beyond what is expected of them. Mr Lithgow has played a large role in a great number of environmental battles. Some of the battles included the protection of Lake Macquarie and its foreshores, Blackbutt Reserve, the Newcastle East land formerly owned by the State Rail Authority, Sugarloaf reserve and the Glenrock State Recreation Area.

Tom Farrell

Tom Farrell was one of the longest serving active members of NPPM. Tom was, among other things, an astute businessman, being a Director of the Greater Newcastle Building Society for many years. He was one of our early environmentalists and when a branch of the National Parks Movement was formed in Sydney during the early 1920s, he joined it. For many years he was the only member who lived outside Sydney. During the 1930s he and Joe Richley successfully lobbied New Lambton Council to have the area now known as Blackbutt Reserve set aside as public recreational space.

In an address to the 32nd Annual General Meeting (1984) of the Movement, he recalled how he brought the Movement to Newcastle in 1951. "Mr Hume, the secretary of the NSW Parks and Playgrounds Movement in Sydney, attended a public meeting in City Hall to form a Newcastle branch. About 40 people attended and though successful, no officers were elected. Some months later, the Newcastle Businessmen's Club formed the NPPM with Stan O'shea as chairman and Joe Richley as secretary. Joe was highly respected and gave the Movement an excellent reputation which it still retains today."

Later, in the 1960s and early 1970s Tom Farrell was prominent in the campaign which was successful in preventing a highway being built through Blackbutt Reserve.

Camera in hand, Tom Farrell at Green Point 1985.

Tom Farrell may also be regarded as one of the founders of the University of Newcastle, using his considerable influence among business and civic leaders to exert pressure on the NSW Government to establish a University College in Newcastle in 1953. He was then instrumental in having the State Government acquire the land at Shortland, thus opening the way for the university to move from the overcrowded site at Tighes Hill to the campus at Shortland. In 1988 the University granted him an honorary M.A.

"Upon his death in July 1996, Mr R.E. (Tom) Farrell (1904-1996) was described as an 'extraordinary powerhouse of a man' who used his considerable energy and inspiration to make the Hunter Region a much more wonderful place to live in. Could we imagine Newcastle and the Hunter without a University? Or perhaps without our public nature reserves such as Blackbutt, Barrington Tops and Mt Sugarloaf? If we can appreciate that these things have made our life here better, then we need to thank people like Tom Farrell who through their actions, persistence and courage helped make these public places a reality."

Joe Richley

Mr Richley, of New Lambton, was president of the Northern Parks and Playgrounds Movement for 20 years. He played a key role in establishing Blackbutt Reserve and regional national parks. Mr Richley was the movement's foundation secretary in 1951 and president from 1952 to 1972. He served as an alderman representing mid-westward on Newcastle City Council from 1953 to 1956. "Mr Richley in the 1960s was president of Hunter Manning National Parks Association, vice-president of the NSW National Parks Association, and a member of Rathmines Development Panel, Civic Centre planning advisory committee and Blackbutt Reserve Committee. He was awarded the British Empire Medal in 1976 for services to the community." At his funeral in 1978, the President of the NPPM, Mr D. Barnett, said Mr Richley was a conservationalist 30 years ahead of his time who had never wavered in his dedication to the community. Doug Lithgow said that "Mr Richley was a man of vision whose dream encompassed Newcastle and the Hunter Region."

A comment by Joe Richley, coming as a preface to the 21st annual report, sums up his philosophy. "[T]he practice of land management, including parks, must spring from what is ethically and aesthetically right. A thing is right only when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the community, and the community includes the soil, water, flora and fauna, as well as people."

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