At the Ku-ring-gai Council Ordinary Meeting of Council on Tuesday 26 November 2024, all present in the Council Chambers stood for a minute’s silence to honour Ku-ring-gai resident Bill Jones.

Mayor Christine Kay made a Mayoral Minute in tribute to Bill Jones:

It is my sad duty to inform the Council and Ku-ring-gai residents of the passing of a dedicated community member and environmental volunteer, Bill Jones.

Bill and his wife Noela were longstanding locals and first became involved with the Bushcare movement back in the early 1980s, when they began volunteering for the ‘Voluntary Bush Regeneration Group’ formed in 1983 to work in reserves in Ryde, North Epping, Ku-ring-gai and Lane Cove National Park.

Enthused by this initial experience, Bill and Noela moved to West Pymble in the early 90s and immediately became involved with environmental group KuBES – or the Ku-ring-gai Bushland Environmental Society. 

Bill was President for several years until KuBES merged with STEP (the South Turramurra Environmental Protection Society Inc).  Noela became the coordinator of Lane Cove National Park volunteers, and along with Bill led bushwalks for STEP and the Friends of Lane Cove National Park.

A former CSIRO scientist, Bill devoted his retirement years to working tirelessly as an environmental volunteer. He volunteered for Bushcare at Quarry Creek for decades, regenerating weed infested areas into healthy natural bushland alongside Noela. 

Later he and Noela turned their attention to Bicentennial Park, to stop the balloon vine which was rampant there from spreading downstream.  Another of the couple’s favourite sites was Wallalong Crescent, where they persuaded Council to stop mowing to increase the recovery of several native grass species and boost the area’s biodiversity.

Bill and Noela were trainers and educators for several Ku-ring-gai Bushcare groups.  Their passion for the local environment and its wildlife was so inspiring that many volunteers they taught subsequently enrolled in TAFE to gain formal qualifications.

In addition to his Bushcare duties, Bill was an active member of the Australian Plants Society, North Shore Group. He gave advice on signage, led walks at the Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden and presented several talks each year on plant identification. Thanks to Bill, this program became one of the Society’s most successful in informing residents about native plants and their identification.

In 2012 Bill and Noela were recognised with a Mayoral Award for their outstanding contribution to the Ku-ring-gai community. The citation acknowledged their ‘dedication, passion and ongoing commitment’ to environmental education and volunteering. “Without their passion the creek and surrounding bushland would be overrun with lantana and privet…. that strangle and pollute the beauty of our precious bushland”.

The Council and our community have lost a dedicated and committed volunteer in Bill Jones – and his family have lost a much-loved man. On behalf of Council, I express our sincere condolences to his widow Noela and Bill’s family and friends.

Also see STEP E-News: Vale Bill Jones