This event has passed. Thank you for all who attended

The National Parks Association of Queensland (NPAQ) has been active in increasing Queensland’s National Park Estate and seeking management of threats for 92 years.

The Association’s objects throughout time can be summarised to:

  • advocate the preservation of existing parks and the reservation of all other suitable areas,

  • educate public opinion,

  • form a link between the public and the parks administration,

  • co-operate with other organisations with similar objects and

  • assist in enforcing national park protective regulations.

in the early 90’s, Romeo Lahey recognised that “no body of public opinion was organised to combat the influences which were operating against the best interests of national parks”. Discussions with like-minded people led to the official formation of NPAQ at the (just constructed) Brisbane City Hall on the 15th of April 1930.

Due to COVID 19 we have been unable to celebrate our 90th anniversary, which passed in 2020. With restrictions now eased, this July we are finally going to celebrate this momentous occasion with a formal dinner on July 22nd at the same venue as that inaugural meeting, Brisbane City Hall.

Following the COVID19 pandemic, we have decided that the theme of the dinner will be ‘Blue and Green’ to highlight the importance of blue and green spaces for our health.

We will have short presentations from a number of speakers including Cameron Costello, an award ceremony, lucky door prizes and an auction/raffle for some fantastic prizes!

Key Information

Date: 22nd July 2022

Theme: Blue & Green

Time: 6:30pm – 10pm

Dress Code: Please wear your best blue & green attire, you are not required to wear full suite / ballgown but you are welcome to, should you choose

Venue: Brisbane Room, Brisbane City Hall

RSVP: 11:55pm, 7th July 2022

The venue is easily accessible via King George Square bus station or a 5 minute walk from Central train station. The best parking for the event is available in King George Square car park and access to the Brisbane Room is via the Ann Street entrance to Brisbane City Hall.

Our Speakers

Environmental Minister Meaghan Scanlon

Meaghan Scanlon is the Palasazczuk Government’s Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Youth Affairs, a portfolio she is well suited to being the state’s youngest Cabinet Minister in history.

Prior to entering politics she worked as a solicitor and was then elected on the Gold Coast in 2017, serving as the Assistant Minister for Tourism Industry Development before being appointed as a Minister in 2020.

Her portfolio oversees the protection of the world’s largest coral reef system as well as more than 1,000 national parks and protected areas – double the size of Tasmania.

She is currently delivering major investments for the environment including the recent announcement of single-largest investment ever to acquire new national parks and protected areas, building on the 1.2 million hectares declared as protected areas since the Palaszczuk Government was formed in 2015.

As Minister for the Environment, she is driving Queensland’s Climate Action Plan, which outlines the state’s economic and environmental blueprint to drive jobs and reach net zero emissions, headlined by a $2 billion renewable energy fund and the $500 million Land Restoration Fund.

The Minister also recognises the importance of supporting young Queenslanders and giving them a voice in parliament, with the government backing young people through record investment in schools, free TAFE for under-25s and jobs through a $50 billion-plus infrastructure guarantee.

As Environment, Science and Youth Affairs Minister, she understands the role her portfolio also plays in creating good jobs and great lifestyles, with environmental initiatives protecting the reef’s $6 billion tourism economy and the $2.6 billion economic impact our national parks support.

Cameron Costello

Cameron Costello is a Quandamooka man from Moreton Bay, Brisbane in Queensland. He has worked previously in the legal industry and has over 15 years’ experience delivering First Nation policies and programs.

Cameron recently completed 7 years as the CEO for the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC) ‐ the Native Title Body and Cultural Heritage Body for the native title determination over Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island). He is a member on key Boards and committees including the Queensland Tourism Industry Council, Queensland First Nations Tourism Council, Healthy Land and Water and the Queensland Koala Advisory Council.

Cameron was previously the Co-Chair of the QYAC/Qld Government’s Senior Implementation Working Group for the joint management of Naree Budjong Djara (My Mother Earth) National Park on Minjerribah. This included developing the National Park Management Plan, the ranger program, integration of traditional knowledge and cultural heritage projects in parks management and legislative changes to increase national park to currently 50% of the island.

As QYAC CEO Cameron secured funding to progress a Quandamooka led World Heritage Listing for Moreton Bay and was a key negotiator for the 2019 Mulgumpin (Moreton Island) Native Title Determination.

Lucky Door Prize

Curtesy of Helping Hand Group

Raffle Prizes

Available for purchase on the night

Generously donated by Binna Burra Lodge, O’Reilly’s, The Australian Koala Foundation and The Royal Geographical Society of QLD