Our Volunteer Committee

Reid Hannington

Reid is a dedicated community leader and the current President of the Protection League.

With a passion for preserving the cultural and historical significance of his community, Reid has made it his mission to protect the traditions passed down for generations. In his role as President of the Protection League, Reid works tirelessly to ensure that the heritage and traditions of his community are protected and preserved for future generations. He is committed to honouring the legacy of those who have come before him and to building a bright and sustainable future for all who call this place home.

Helen Voysey

Helen Voysey was president of the Protection League (PL) from 2002 to 2021. She followed in the footsteps of her father Lew Voysey who was the first president of the League in 1945. Lew campaigned against the sale and development of the Era lands in 1950 and was part a delegation to the Minister for Lands that was successful in having the land resumed. Lew was also a founding member of the Era Surf Club and a member of the first bronze squad.

Helen worked hard as PL President during the difficult years of negotiating a way forward for the shack communities when the NPWS sought to sever the nexus between the people and their shacks. Culminating in legal action in the Land and Environment Court in 2005, then a mediated settlement under Court auspices, this was a time when the shack communities came together to ensure their heritage would be preserved. 

Helen has been going to the family shack for 70 years. She worked as a GP with Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory and through her lifelong association with Era, Helen appreciates something of their deep spiritual connection with country. Now retired, she shares the shack with three brothers and their families. Her greatest joy is spending time at the shack with her grandchildren, introducing them to the shack way of life, passing on the knowledge and sharing stories of the past and hopes for the future.

Kerry Mckenzie

Kerry is a respected community leader in the Little Garie Community. With a deep love and respect for the cultural heritage of her community, she has dedicated much of her life to preserving the traditions and customs that have been passed down from generation to generation. Kerry coordinates the Shack Open Days, making sure visitors have access and recognise the cultural significance.

Today, the community of Era, Burning Palms and Little Gaire and beyond, continue to benefit from Kerry’s legacy of service and leadership. She has inspired countless others to follow in her footsteps and to work towards a brighter, more sustainable future for all.

Margaret Pearce

Margaret is a dedicated member of the community and an essential member of the Protection League. Her tireless dedication to preserving the cultural heritage of the shacks has made her an invaluable asset to the committee. Margaret's commitment to volunteering work is evident in the countless hours she has dedicated to both the Burning Palms Surf Life Saving and the Protection League Committee.

peter stitt

Peter Stitt is a passionate advocate for the environment and has dedicated much of his life to preserving the natural beauty of the Royal National Park and surrounding areas. As the longstanding president of Landcare, he has volunteered countless hours to promote sustainable land management practices and to protect our natural resources.

Kathy Baratta

Kathy has dedicated her life to the cause of environmental conservation, following in the footsteps of her remarkable mother, Di Garder, who played a significant role in the success of the Protection League and the State Heritage listing of the shacks. Inspired by her mother's passion and commitment, Kathy has become an influential advocate in her own right, making significant contributions to the Era Surf Lifesaving Club (serving on the committee and an active patrol member for over 25 years), the Protection League and beyond.

georgia holloway

Georgia is a valued community member and a fourth-generation family member from Era. She has a deep connection to the shacks of the Royal National Park. She has made it her mission to preserve their cultural heritage for future generations. As one of the Shack Open Days coordinators, Georgia has dedicated countless hours to ensuring that these important sites are accessible to visitors and that their cultural significance is understood and appreciated. Georgia is currently undertaking a Master of Heritage Conservation at the University of Sydney; her undergraduate honours thesis explored the management approach of heritage values to the cabin community in the RNP.

Rachel Schriever

Rachel joined the Protection League and aims to inspire younger generations to participate and support the future of our living heritage. Rachel has been a patrolling member at Era Beach for over 20 years and has also competitively rowed surf boats for Era SLSC.