SPOTTING birds and taking long walks to see the country close up are some of the activities on the “life list” of Greg Hunt, who has retired after two and a half years as executive officer of the Western Port Biosphere Reserve Foundation.
His position at the biosphere will be filled by Mel Barker, who Mr Hunt describes as “a very well-credentialled local”.
At the time of Mr Hunt’s appointment, the biosphere foundation’s chair Duncan Malcolm pointed out that he was “not the Flinders MP” of the same name, but the previous executive officer of the South East Councils Climate Change Alliance (“Seasoned campaigner heads biosphere group” The News 11/12/2018).
“I am having another go at retirement after two and a half particularly fulfilling years at the Western Port Biosphere Reserve Foundation,” Mr Hunt said last week.
“Nonetheless, I’m going to be sad to go as there are some fascinating projects about to start and the biosphere is in a good position to start them.”
He said biosphere staff “are as committed to the organisation as anyone could be and they are right across the work program and the community for whom they deliver” (“AGL defeat ‘start’ for community action” The News 27/4/21).
“The issue is that there’s so much else for a still fit and healthy fellow to do,” Mr Hunt said. “My life list of Australia’s bird species has a few too many gaps and I’ve got to go to some of the best and or remote parts of the country to see them.
“There are long walks to take also if you want to see the country close up, and I do.”
Mr Hunt said he would “try and avoid work” but admitted to “having a few irons in the fire to keep my mind alive”.
He said the biosphere foundation’s work in climate change, environmental protection and sustainable development “has thrown up many challenges and has led to much strategising and willing and robust debate”.
“But change will always do that and that’s why working in change is so fulfilling.”
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 4 May 2021
