Ian Hutton, The Lord Howe Island Signal

From May 25th to June 1st the Friends of Lord Howe Island ran another successful weeding ecotour to assist the LHI Board with the Island weed eradication program.

Eighteen people came along and enjoyed a week contributing to conservation, whilst enjoying the exploration of the Island.

The group focused on removing weeds from areas behind Middle Beach, in Steven’s Reserve, on Lagoon beach (removing Sea Spurge), on Intermediate Hill with LHI Board environmental staff (removing Crofton weed), and they also contributed an afternoon assisting Jack and Cindy Shick with their revegetation project.

Throughout the week, tour members enjoyed the Island, with a day at North Bay, as well as walks to Malabar, Boat Harbour, Little Island and a low tide walk at Ned’s Beach. The Friends AGM was held on Wednesday, 28 May, at the Museum.

An extra activity for this trip was participating in a film project with a Tasmanian film group, Silver Power.

The producers, Lara van Raay and Roslyn Walker, were making a larger documentary around Australia showcasing retiree volunteers who help with the environment.

As the Friends of LHI have an extended history of achieving conservation goals over 30 years, this was the first project location for the documentary crew, and it will open the program when it is screened on television.

A focus for the segment was the story of Ian Sinclair and John Pemble, who have been coming on the weeding trips since 2009, and who held their wedding during a Friends weeding trip.

Camera operator, Fred Olivier, greatly enjoyed filming the Friends activities as well as the Island scenery.

The group enjoyed island hospitality, staying at Oceanview and dining at the various restaurants.

On the last evening, Krissy Ward, from the LHI Board, thanked the tour members at a farewell function held in the Museum.

This article appeared in The Lord Howe Island Signal, 31 July 2025.