Ton of service: Crown land managers honoured for 100 years of volunteering

Two long-term Crown land managers have been honoured for their volunteer duties after nearly 100 years of combined service to their communities.

With National Volunteer Week from 20-26 May, the spotlight is turned on the important role of volunteers in our communities, including Garry Walters and Bruce Bartrim.

Garry Walters, now 80, retired as a Crown Land manager in March after 50 years of managing two Crown land reserves in the NSW central-west village of Elong Elong.

For Mr Walters, giving back to his community is embedded in his DNA. His father Arthur also served as a Crown land manager at the Elong Elong Recreation Reserve for 30 years.  When Arthur hung up his boots in 1973, Garry took over, managing not only the Elong Elong Recreation Reserve but, from 1974 onwards, the nearby Elong Elong Community Hall as well.

Under Mr Walters tenure, public facilities at Elong Elong flourished. New bathrooms and floorboards were installed at the community hall and a new fence was built to improve safety and amenity at the recreation reserve. These improvements, alongside ongoing maintenance work, has ensured these Crown land facilities remain at the heart of the local community, who use them for community events like birthdays, Rural Fire Service meetings, and church services.

Mr Walter’s commitment to improving public infrastructure paid dividends when he organised the ‘Back to Elong school reunion’ in 1998, which was held in the community hall. The event attracted over 500 guests and raised over $17,000 dollars, delighting locals and ensuring the public facilities could be funded for years to come.

Crown Lands also extends its appreciation to Bruce Bartrim who gave 49 years of dedicated service as a member of the Tyalgum Public Recreation and Preservation of Native Flora and Fauna Reserve Land Manager board before stepping down.

The reserve is located on Crown land in the heart of picturesque Tyalgum west of Murwillumbah in NSW’s north-east. The reserve is over 10 hectares in size and contains a sports oval, flora reserve, a serene camping area and public spaces.

Under Mr Bartrim’s watch, the reserve was maintained and its infrastructure vastly improved. The campsite was transformed with construction of an amenities block, a barbeque area, a small kitchen space and a storage shed.  The upgrades were enormously beneficial to the local community, attracting hundreds of campers each year, who spend money in Tyalgum’s cafes and shops, supporting local jobs and paying camping fees that go back into maintaining the reserve.

The 83-year-old is also an ardent sports fan who worked hard to establish the Bruce Bartrim Oval, which was opened to much local fanfare in 1989. The sports oval is well used allowing the next generation of Tyalgum cricketers to chase their dreams of one day playing for Australia.

Former Crown land manager Garry Walters said he loved the opportunity to be a Crown land manager.

“I loved getting out and doing the maintenance work myself. It was very rewarding, and I am sure whoever comes next will give it a good crack too,” Mr Walters said.

“I’d like to thank Crown Lands for their support over the years.  I also want to thank the other Crown land managers who helped me along the way, in particular Jenny Tunks and Robert Yeo, who provided invaluable support to me.”

Tyalgum Public Recreation and Preservation of Native Flora and Fauna Reserve Land Manager board member Alan Gallard said Bruce Bartrim is synonymous with Tyalgum.

“Bruce is our town’s unofficial mayor,” Mr Gallard said.

“You’d often see him on his mower on the weekend, clipping the grass so that the kids can enjoy a game of cricket later that day. He’s a community-minded man who has transformed our local reserve.”

Deputy Secretary Crown Lands and Public Spaces Mel Hawyes said Mr Bartrim and Mr Walters are wonderful examples of Crown Land managers.

“Bruce Bartrim and Gary Walters have dedicated themselves to improving public facilities located on Crown reserves,” Ms Hawyes said.

“Communities across NSW rely on volunteers like Bruce and Garry to ensure Crown land is managed effectively and to everyone’s benefit, and I thank them both for their steadfast commitment and hard work.”

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said Crown land reserves across the state rely on the dedication and determination of volunteers.

“Crown land reserves rely on the dedication and determination of volunteer Crown land managers, who devote their time as a way to give back to their community,” Minister Kamper said.

“Garry Walters and Bruce Bartrim are sterling examples of this, and I thank them both for their outstanding service.

“Crown reserves play an important role protecting the environment and supporting communities with everything from green open space, parks and walking tracks to showgrounds, sporting ovals and community halls.”

There are about 2,500 volunteer board members across the state who help manage Crown reserves for the benefit of their communities. Interested parties can find out more about volunteering to be a Crown land manager here.

Over the coming months, over 600 long-term Crown land volunteers will receive award certificates for their service.