When Dr Arthur Harrold could no longer act as convener of the Noosa Parks Association Botany Group which he had instigated, the one to agree to step into his shoes was Stephanie Haslam. Thus, it was that many local amateur botanists, myself included, were able to benefit from Stepanie’s knowledge and her willingness to share it. For over a decade, she organised the group’s programme of talks and walks, and ran our monthly meetings with energy, humour and a keen intellect. With her encouragement, I felt able to give my first botanical presentation to a group and have not looked back since. I thank her for this although others might not.
After she relinquished this role, Stephanie became closely involved in the early days of the Noosa Integrated Catchment Association (NICA), a community-based organisation ‘specifically dedicated to the conservation and sustainable use of the Noosa River catchment.’ She and her husband Tony would go on to be the principal driving force behind NICA. Grants from government and non-government bodies have supported and funded numerous NICA initiated projects including those of various Bushcare groups, water quality testing, litter removal and the Urban Wildlife Gardens scheme.
Stephanie had also been directly involved in the writing of such valuable publications as ‘Noosa’s Native Plants’, ‘Grasses of the Noosa Biosphere’, ‘Sedges, Rushes and Restiads of the Noosa Biosphere’ and just recently ‘Noosa’s Native Plants – Flowering Now’. These are all books which promote the planting of locally indigenous species for the benefit of residents, visitors and wildlife.
A particular love of Stepahanie’s was for the plants of the Wallum. Her familiarity with these plant species was deep and wide. I found her division in ‘Noosa’s Native Plants’ of this diverse group of plants into wet and dry heath species most useful. Many readers will remember the two-day conference on the Wallum held in Noosa that she organised. It featured guided walks, interesting presentations and a dinner at which Laurie Smith spoke.
I happened to be walking in a beautiful patch of Scribbly Gum Forest when the sad news of Stephanie’s passing came through on the phones of Botany Group members. It was the perfect place to reflect on the legacy this remarkable woman has left for all of us.
Robert M Price
