A young woman called
at the nursery and told Henry that she had a few dollars to spend on some
coastal plants. To be helpful he asked where she was going to plant them
because as he explained, coastal plantings are exposed to harsh conditions, usually
sandy soils which dry quickly, even after heavy rain. All coastal areas are exposed
to very strong, off-shore winds, and not many plants tolerate the salt laden
air.
The woman told Henry that she was giving a
helping hand to the Little Blue Penguin population living and nesting along the
town’s foreshore. She had started walking down there and noticed a lot of dead
penguins and that the ones that were alive had nowhere to shelter other than amongst
industrial rubbish. Nobody was taking an interest in the small birds and for
sure nobody was taking any responsibility to keep those areas tidy. She told me
she had even seen some penguins nesting under the derelict buildings.
At the time, catchment boards were
encouraging farmers to remove gorse hedges and replant with suitable trees for
livestock shelter, some of the areas were coastal, so he had all sorts of
species available and the woman bought
as many as her dollars could stretch. He liked the idea she was promoting, so donated
some more plants that were in need of repotting. He showed her how to cut the
spiralled roots rather than to tease them out, because most native plants don’t
like their roots disturbed. He also demonstrated the best method to plant in
dry conditions.
He dubbed her The Penguin Woman, and
noticed that she had started writing
letters to the editor of the local paper, trying to put pressure on the council
to tidy up the foreshore and she supplied some embarrassing photos. She was
rubbished as a silly young woman with a bee in her bonnet! It’s a typical reaction
when businesses and civic leaders are embarrassed and the snide remarks
directed at her persisted for years. But she was unbending. Her letters also
put pressure on the various industries that were tipping their rubbish and
effluent onto the foreshore.
A bane for The Penguin Woman was dogs; dogs
patrolled the foreshore for carrion and when they came upon a penguin, they
tore it to pieces leaving only a few feathers. Sometimes she found carcasses
that dogs had left half-eaten and she wrote that the penguins were victims preyed
on not by feral dogs, but by domestic dogs that had been allowed to roam free at
night. Letters and photos to the paper followed and she continued to embarrass
the civic leaders as well as the dog owners. So there were a bunch of replies
to her letters that targeted her, dog owners especially weren’t happy about
being embarrassed into keeping their dogs on a leash when walking along the
beach, and tied up at night!
Support for her cause was mute, but
somehow she managed to keep raising some funds, or using her own to regularly buy
plants for her foreshore plantings. Henry usually discounted the price, which
allowed her to buy extra plants or he donated some. She carried out the
planting work on her own and cared for them well, witnessed by Henry who, from
time to time went to have check on them. The survivals were good, which is
always and encouragement to anyone planting trees and shrubs. .
The Penguin Woman’s campaign eventually
had an effect, the townspeople became aware of the penguins, because of the
shelter and improved environment she had provided allowed the birds to
multiply. The businesses were embarrassed into cleaning up their act on the
foreshore, and the civic leaders began to see that the protection of the
derelict Victorian buildings could boost the tourism potential for the town,
therefore income! Civic leaders like spending other people’s money. Dog owners at
last took responsibility for their pooches.
The Department of Conservation arrived,
‘the protectors of all things indigenous’, said in a deep, official voice! These
were the big boys, with university-implanted knowledge – far more than The
Penguin Woman could possibly know from practical experience! So she was unceremoniously
elbowed out of the picture. She wasn’t welcome even to offer an opinion on the
foreshore and penguins anymore!
A joint effort between the Department of
Conservation, civic leaders, and a new breed of volunteers set up a new
enterprise utilizing the area The Penguin Woman had planted. They saw the
business potential of the now trendy small seabirds. They built a visitor
centre and a Little Blue Penguin viewing stadium, which is now a leading
business enterprise in the town. Bringing those tourists to the town and their
dollars.
No commendation or thanks has ever been
directed towards The Penguin Woman. She deserves a brass plaque with a ruby
light erected in a prominent place within the flash visitor centre! It won’t
happen, her efforts have already been forgotten – almost.
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