Photos for the Forest

Wendy Slee
Artist Statement:

In September 2012, I heard that a group from the WA Forest Alliance were meeting at Helms Forest and the Jamarri Black Cockatoo sanctuary in Jalbarragup to discuss ways to stop the imminent logging of Helms Forest. As I have always felt connected to our black cockatoos, and passionate about protecting our natural resources from government mismanagement and corporate greed, I went along and was inspired by the work being done by David and Dee Patterson, at Jamarri. Those who gathered, including several Members of Parliament, all shared their concerns that the proposed logging of the adjacent Helms Forest would damage the last old growth area on the banks of the Blackwood, and in particular, the place where the rehabilitated birds have always been released and where many of these released birds have made their homes. At the time, Jamarri had nearly 100 Baudins, Carnabys and Red-Tailed Black Cockatoos in their care, many of whom were awaiting release, but this could not be done until the safety of the forest they were to be set free into, was assured. This forest - known as Helms - had the centuries-old marri trees that are critical for the nesting habitats of the Cockatoos and for many other native animals and birds. These are the very same trees that are blatantly destroyed during logging as they are considered of little or no use to the forestry industry and are usually burned on site. How can it be that in a few hours, trees that take hundreds of years to grow, and provide the future for countless native creatures for hundreds more, can be wiped out with no consideration or understanding? Regenerating the logged forest with other tree species cannot replace these old marri trees, nor provide habitat to our wildlife that is already endangered.

This is a beautiful and unspoiled part of the southwest, and as we took photos that day, I had the following thoughts - "what if I came back here to the forest and the Cockatoo sanctuary with some dedicated people with cameras, and we capture images of this magnificent place, to show everyone what is at risk, what is about to be destroyed forever. And should the worst happen, we would then have a visual record of this beautiful old forest and the birds and wildlife here that would endure."

I decided to create a visual petition and this is where it began ....

Our respectful and heartfelt outings captured images and stories and deeper history of the forests around Jamarri. Our love for the diversity and magnificence of our southwest forests grew, as did our awareness of what a critical battle we faced to save them for future generations. Over the year/s following, groups of photographers, artists and writers from various areas and groups or Universities, spent time at the Helms and adjacent blocks, and the Mowen forest, as well as the Jamarri Sanctuary. All created from the heart, their own personally testimonies to the native forests and our critical connection to their future. Words, poetry, art, photography, dreams - all were evoked.

We had a few small wins and delays over this time which were heartening, but eventually the corporate/government powers overruled our human battles - timber industry machines and teams moved in to Helms and together with the burning program, the destruction of the forest and the wildlife habitats continued. With the sad passing of David Patterson, although Dee continued her fight to protect the Black Cockatoos for many years, Jamarri eventually closed in February 2020, ending over thirty years of care and service to our iconic Black Cockies and the Forests of the Southwest (and beyond).

None of us have given up the fight, nor the hope and belief that common sense and understanding, and good people, will prevail before it is too late to save what is left of our old growth and native forests.

(Although the exhibition of photographs did not happen as planned, Bunbury Regional Art Gallery hosted a major exhibition from some of the "Photos for the Forest" days. The photographs and story were collected into a book called "Photos for the Forest" which remains as a testimony and visual history of these years and the people and forests that stood together.)