Manly Environment Centre
The Manly Environment Centre (MEC) shopfront started in 1991 as a unique combination of community, council and local corporate sponsors.
It was the first Australian suburban environment centre and is well established as a pro-active organisation dedicated to the health of our local environment.
As an action and education based centre, the shopfront houses more than 10,000 publications and other resources, the largest collection of environmental education materials accessible to the community in Australia.
Each year thousands of overseas visitors, local tourists, day trippers, local residents, students and children visit the MEC shopfront. Staff and volunteers also actively seek out the community to help inspire and lead them towards sustainability by presenting a variety of events, talks and workshops. Most importantly information is provided to people, empowering them to take action and make lifestyle choices which will create positive outcomes for themselves, the wider community (locally and globally) and the environment.
The MEC offers accredited internships and work experience opportunities for a range of overseas, regional and local students in all fields of the environment and administration. The centre hosts a variety of volunteers with diverse experience, opportunities are available in local field work, administration, marketing, projects, research and events.
The centre is always looking for new volunteers to become part of the Manly Environment Centre team. The commitment required depends on the position – this is a fantastic opportunity for people looking for practical experience in the environmental or events industry.
The Little Penguins
Manly’s Little Penguin colony is now the last breeding colony on the mainland of New South Wales. Listed as an Endangered Population under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, the Little Penguins have dwindled in numbers and need all the help they can get to fend themselves from dogs, careless humans and ever-encroaching development. Many individuals, organizations and Government Authorities have been involved in monitoring the Penguin population in Manly and developing a Little Penguin Recovery Program to protect them, but more help is needed. You can make a difference!
Stepping off the Manly Ferry at dusk, Sara was finally ready to unwind after a long day at the office. Having signed off from her last work-related call of the day, she was looking forward to relaxing at home with her partner and small daughter. But as she walked past the boardwalk by the wharf, she stopped to get a quick glance of her favorite friends – the Little Penguins. This was always her favorite part of coming home to Manly. She peeked over the steel railing and saw Mrs.Silverwing standing there just outside her burrow, her tiny gray-white and indigo flippers slightly raised, valiantly looking out past the incoming tide to the expansive harbour beyond. Ignoring the crowd of spectators behind her, she was patiently waiting for her partner, Mr. Silverwing, to come home after a long and dangerous day of fishing in the open sea. Sara smiled and felt her eyes instantly well up. ‘What an adorable and noble little creature’, she thought. She couldn’t help but think of her own family waiting for her to come home that night, and hoped the little penguin pair would soon be reunited safely in their nest.
Manly’s Little Penguin colony is now the last breeding colony on the mainland of New South Wales. Listed as an Endangered Population under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, the Little Penguins have dwindled in numbers and need all the help they can get to fend themselves from dogs, careless humans and ever-encroaching development. Many individuals, organizations and Government Authorities have been involved in monitoring the Penguin population in Manly and developing a Little Penguin Recovery Program to protect them, but more help is needed. You can make a difference!
The Manly Environment Centre is looking for new recruits to join its Little Penguin Recovery Team as Volunteer Penguin Wardens. We need caring people who will help us continue our program of public awareness and regular nightly patrols to watch over penguins at the Manly Wharf. Our job is to educate the community and protect the penguins so they can breed safely from human or dog interference.
Specifically, the aim of the Volunteer Penguin Wardens is to:
• Patrol beaches and Penguin breeding areas – prevent dogs being on beaches and unleashed
within 50 metres of penguin nesting areas.
• Prevent contact with penguins or nesting areas.
• Prevent use of flash photography of penguins.
• Educate and inform public about penguins and draw attention to Council and NPWS regulations regarding dogs, boating, interference with penguins and fishing.
For more information, contact the Manly Environment Center at tel: (61) 2 9976 2842 or email: mec@manly.nsw.gov.au .
