Our passionate and valued band of volunteers provide a critical contribution to our conservation work and organisational efforts. Last financial year, Nature Foundation volunteers (including our volunteer Board Directors) logged 3,500 hours of service. This time equates to $176,750* of donated time, which has significantly supported the actions and goals of Nature Foundation.
Conservation and Nature Reserve Support remain the two most highly serviced activity categories, with volunteers undertaking critical actions on the reserves. Volunteers have also provided valuable support with infrastructure projects, administrative and data-related activities in the office, and assisted the staff team at events, such as the Kids on Country documentary premiere.
It is wonderful to see the growth not only in the pool of volunteers but also in their participation, passion, engagement, skills development, and the immense contributions they are making towards our combined positive impact on nature.
On 5 December 2025 (International Volunteer Day), Nature Foundation staff, Board Chair Jan Ferguson OAM, Board Director Bec Hardy, and volunteers gathered at Belair National Park to celebrate their efforts at our annual Volunteer Thank You BBQ.
This event also provided an opportunity to acknowledge and recognise the efforts of those volunteers who logged the most hours across the 2025 season, participating in a wide range of working bees, activities and office-based support, impacting multiple nature reserves.
The Nature Foundation volunteers who registered the most hours of service in 2025 were:
- Coral Johnston
- Catherine Beer (pictured on right)
- Jennifer Hiscock
- Anthony Hogan (pictured at top)
Catherine and Anthony were in attendance at the BBQ and were presented with their certificates by Nature Foundation Board Chair, Jan Ferguson OAM, with Senior Conservation Land Manager sharing an overview of their service, including some humorous anecdotes from the field.
Many thanks to all of our volunteers. All of your efforts are valuable and make a real difference for conservation and biodiversity outcomes in South Australia and beyond.
*Based on the 2025 Volunteering SA&NT volunteering dollar replacement hourly rate value figure for South Australia of $50.50 per hour.