Whispers of Wilderness ~ Voices for our Coast Event Launch
Jetty Theatre Launch Event | NPA NSW President Liz Jeremy welcomes City of Coffs Harbour General Manager Murray Wood and Councillor Jonathan Cassell
When we made Whispers of Wilderness in 2025, we hoped it would start a conversation. We didn’t quite anticipate how far that conversation would travel.
The film — produced by the NPA NSW Coffs Coast Branch, funded through the City of Coffs Harbour Environmental Levy, and made by local filmmakers Bathtime Productions — brought together Traditional Owners, marine scientists, conservationists and local business to speak honestly about this coast we are so fortunate to call home. It premiered to a full house at the Jetty Theatre in April 2025. A year on, that conversation has grown into something much bigger — and we’d love you to be part of it.
What we’ve been making
Stage Two of the Whispers program has produced a new website, a colouring book illustrated by Lisa Foote and Michael Donovan, postcards and bookmarks by artist Faye Owner, and a jigsaw puzzle designed by Jess Harwood — all celebrating the flora, fauna and landscapes of the Coffs Coast region. These resources are for all ages and abilities, and are on their way to aged care facilities, hospital wards, schools, preschools, libraries and community groups right across the region.
Underpinning all of it is a simple but powerful idea: time in nature is good for us. Research shows that as little as ten minutes outdoors can lift mood and reduce stress, and a major analysis of nearly 450 studies found consistent evidence that contact with nature reduces depression and anxiety across all age groups. Living alongside national parks, world heritage rainforest and one of Australia’s most biodiverse coastlines, we are in a fortunate position — and the Whispers program exists, in part, to remind us of that.
Come along: our to our community events series
We launched the program on Monday 13 April at the Jetty Theatre, exploring nature-based tourism, the Coffs Coast’s status as NSW’s first certified ECO Destination, the recently announced establishment of the Great Koala National Park, and the science of nature and mental health. Three more free events follow — and we’d love to see you at one.
Toormina Community Centre — Saturday 2 May, 3:00–5:30 PM
Andrew Turbill — environmental educator, wildlife naturalist, and the north coast’s own bird guy — shares his lifetime of close observation and his belief that learning to tune in to the birds around us is one of the most profound ways we can reconnect with where we live. He is joined by Professor Kirsten Benkendorff, marine biologist and Director of the National Marine Science Centre at Southern Cross University, who brings the science of our ocean world to life in ways that are both rigorous and deeply accessible.
Coffs Botanic Gardens Nature Discovery Room — Saturday 23 May, 9:30 AM–12:30 PM
Uncle Micklo and Auntie Yvette Pacey share their knowledge of caring for nature and Gumbaynggirr Country.
Woolgoolga Community Village — Saturday 20 June, 2:00–4:30 PM
Speakers explore the Great Koala National Park and the restorative benefits of walking in nature.
All events are free, with light refreshments and a screening of the Whispers of Wilderness film. Everyone takes home a colouring book, postcards and bookmarks. Numbers are limited — We hope to see you there.
Paula Flack displaying the wonderful jigsaw puzzle of the Great Koala National Park