We fought all the way. We even fought when they were putting the first groyne rocks out to sea. You can see footage of us jumping in the water in protest. Eventually it was all over. The rock wall was built. One consequence is that that the once beautiful West Beach is now severely eroded. And the West Beach Surf Life Saving Club will be lost. When the Patawalonga Lake drainage system overflows, stormwater is diverted under the channel at Barcoo and piped polluted water goes out to sea. Environmental damage is real. We lost it. That was it for me. They were four of the most intense months of my life. I was exhausted. I dropped out of the residents’ association after that.
Anthony Psarros representing protesters at Parliament House (1998)
Save Our Beaches – another perspective Bridget Wardlaw (Bannear)
In 1998, I was president of the Henley and Grange Residents’ Association. I will talk about ‘we’ referring to all members. We learned to use the media effectively during the campaign Save Our Beaches. That year we received a media award for the story thread that had the most hits. Jim Douglas was terrific, appearing on my doorstep with drafts for a media release. Jim and I would hammer it out and get it off. I distinctly remember using the fax machine at work. Having the fax machine on fast dial and pressing the all media button meant all outlets were reached simultaneously. I think my employer was secretly tolerant about my fax use because we were environmentally sound, though later it became a bit tricky. The mayor of the council where I worked was actually friends with the developers. It was not unusual that at lunchtime a television crew would turn up at work. People working in the council were expecting that the mayor or the town clerk was about to be interviewed. I’d say: ‘It’s OK folks, it is me.’ Then I would hop into the car park, do a quick interview to camera, and return to work. They were exciting times. 32
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