By Derek Schlennstedt
A total of 400 people gathered at the summit of Mt Donna Buang on Saturday,13 May, to create a giant human sign spelling out support for the proposed Great Forest National Park.
The human sign measured over 60 metres long and 50 metres wide and spelled out the word, ‘We love parks,’ with the word love in the symbol of a love heart.
Hundreds of Warburton residents made the trek up the mountain to take part, and the Victorian National Parks Association organised people into their respective groups and letters.
“People were allocated to be either part of the heart or part of a letter as soon as they arrived,” president of the Warburton Environment Group, Karina Doughty, said.
“Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum, Warburton habitat group, Healesville groups and Toolangi groups, and many individuals came together to support the need for the creation of the Great Forest National Park.”
The Great Forest National Park proposes a new 355,000 hectares of protected forests to the existing 170,000 hectares of parks and protected areas in the Central Highlands of Victoria.
The Central Highlands region of Victoria is located around towns such as Healesville, Kinglake, Toolangi, Warburton, Marysville and Woods Point, and this region includes the vast majority of remaining (and declining) leadbeater’s possums.
The event, called the Great Forest Picnic, focused on putting pressure on the Daniel Andrew’s Government to create the Great Forest National Park.
Victorian National Parks Association executive director Matt Ruchel attended the event and said the creation of such a reserve would be paramount to the survival of threatened species.
“National parks benefit people and nature by providing permanent protection for our unique wildlife and a place for people to enjoy the great outdoors,” Mr Ruchel said.
“The Andrew’s Government is running out of time to give Victorians a clear commitment that it will create a new Great Forest National Park.”
Karina Doughty said the day had an incredible atmosphere, and was amazed at the number of passionate people who came out to support the creation of the Great Forest National Park.
“It was really exciting for us to see how many passionate people made the effort to come up the mountain and be outdoors and be in our national parks,” Ms Doughty said.
“It was a really great atmosphere.”
