This year’s Margaret Feilman Medal winners were announced at the National Trust’s Annual General Meeting last month.
We extend our congratulations to Hon David Templeman MLA, Pamela Boardman, Roger Jennings, and Wendy Gellard.
Named after Margaret Feilman OBE, a founding member of the National Trust of Western Australia, the Margaret Feilman Medal is awarded to individuals or organisations that make outstanding contributions to the protection of and access to Western Australia’s heritage.
Thank you to everyone who nominated – 2025 Margaret Feilman Medal nominations will open in mid-2025.
Hon David Templeman MLA
As Minister for Heritage from 2017, Hon David Templeman MLA has demonstrated exceptional understanding of the importance of heritage and provided enormous support and advocacy for heritage in Western Australia.
Early in his time as Minister he steered through Parliament the Heritage Act 2018, which significantly enhanced heritage protection in our state. He has been responsive to and highly supportive of the important role the National Trust plays in Western Australia in the conservation and interpretation of our state’s heritage. Through his strong leadership and recognition of the value in investing in conservation, the National Trust has secured substantial funding for important conservation works at several of its major sites.
Throughout his time as Minister, he championed heritage, been a friend and ally in progressing the cause of the National Trust and deployed his remarkable advocacy skills to the benefit of heritage in our state.
He leaves an indelible legacy through his tireless support for the heritage cause.
Pamela Boardman
Pamela Boardman has been an outstanding volunteer across many of the National Trust properties such as Samson House at Walyalup on Whadjuk Nyoongar Country and Old Blythewood on Bindjareb Noongar Country for more than eight years.
Pamela engages with stakeholders across the community (like the Rose Society) to ensure the ongoing conservation and development of our heritage gardens. Her research and input into garden design and planting at properties like Strawberry Hill at Barmup on Menang Noongar Country, Gallop House on Whadjuk Nyoongar Country, Curtin Family Home on Whadjuk Nyoongar Country to name a few is formidable. Pamela’s ongoing consultation with Serpentine Jarrahdale Landcare Group at the Jarrahdale Heritage Park on Whadjuk Nyoongar Country for planting days with the community was significant due to the associated cultural sensitivities.
Another testament to Pamela’s tenacity is the re-establishment of the Drive Trail at Avondale Farm on Ballardong Noongar Country. Through her organisational skills and the many volunteer hours she has put in, Pamela now has a group of equally enthusiastic volunteers who are re-planting and clearing up the trail, along with the homestead garden.
Pamela is an invaluable source of information on how to manage weed control and pests, in a sensitive and environmentally friendly way. Staff, volunteers and the public can share her delight in seeing new flora species of donkey orchids appear in the trail, an area once choked with, and now cleared of overgrown weeds. We are also privileged to see how Pamela has thriftily converted a once unloved accommodation space at Avondale Farm to a welcoming destination, enabling volunteers to stay overnight.
The oak trees and bees at Peninsula Farm at Wu-rut Woorat on Whadjuk Noongar Country also thank her for her efforts in their care and protection.
Roger Jennings
Nearly 20 years ago Roger Jennings applied for a position as a volunteer administrator with the National Trust’s Golden Pipeline project. With his history of volunteering in the museum and heritage sector, in particular Godalming in Surrey and the National Trust of Malta, Roger was a welcome addition.
His knowledge and experience was such that Roger became involved in other roles for the benefit of the National Trust. An example was his advice, as a qualified chemist when the National Trust acquired 57 Murray Street at Boorloo on Whadjuk Nyoongar Country, along with its disused laboratory facilities.
In 2008 Roger put his name forward as a member of Council in order to represent the interests of volunteers, a position he only retired from in November 2023. In 2024 Roger has been generous in continuing to give of his time as an administrator and to keep No 1 Pump Station at Minderinjy on Whadjuk Nyoongar Country open to the public. He has also continued his involvement in other volunteer roles including the Kalamunda Community Radio and Kalamunda Community Learning Centre.
Wendy Gellard
Over the last 40 years Wendy Una Gellard has made an outstanding contribution to the preservation of heritage and conservation of our natural environment through her work around her Chittering properties. Since purchasing her property ‘Peace Be Still’ in Lower Chittering 40 years ago, Wendy has worked hard to rejuvenate both the bush and farmland.
Over a three-year period, Wendy has successfully run a program to eradicate the declared pest plant – narrow leaf cotton bush on her property. A team of volunteers and staff from the National Trust assisted with the weed control during a busy bee and over the next two years, Wendy worked at a smaller scale with one volunteer to stay on top of the weeding. She has been a strong advocate for cotton bush control engaging both the Shires of Chittering and Swan (and initiating advocacy from the National Trust too), reporting on the prevalence of this weed on surrounding properties and highlighting the potential for damaging infestation into the surrounding Avon Valley National Park and Moondyne Nature Reserve.
Wendy has preserved heritage walking trails leading from her property into the adjoining Avon Valley National Park and Moondyne Reserve. Since 2018, Wendy has partnered with Curtin University, hosting an annual weekend busy bee with staff coordinators and students staying at her Peace Be Still guesthouse. These busy bees have focussed on revegetation, trail restoration, signage and weed eradication. Wendy’s commitment to natural and cultural heritage and conservation prompted her to make contact with the National Trust and the Department of Conservation and Land Management covenant programs in 2000, after which in the decade following, she placed 103 hectares of native bushland over three properties under covenant in perpetuity with the National Trust. Wendy added an additional property with 95 hectares of bushland under covenant with the National Trust in perpetuity in 2022. With assistance from the National Trust’s stewardship program, these covenants will help guide future owners in the preservation and protection of the natural flora and fauna on these properties. Wendy has also generously made donations to the National Trust’s covenant program and recently held a fundraising event with the intention of donating further funds.
Despite health challenges, Wendy is still very committed to preserving the natural environment and remains hands on with various programs. She frequently presents talks educating others on the importance of this work. Wendy has recommenced walking tours along the trails Avon Valley National Park and Moondyne Nature Reserve, some of which her friend and renowned environmentalist, Harry Butler originally devised. The trails educate walkers on the importance of looking after the natural bushland, and honour the stories of those people that have walked the land. Wendy has a passion for environmental care and she is quoted saying “I try to live my life in harmony with, and taking care of the natural environment”.
