News

28,29 September 2007
Olegas Opera extracts performed in Hobart
Extracts from an opera inspired by the life of Olegas Truchanas will be performed at the
Playhouse Theatre in Hobart. The libretto has been written by Natasha Cica and looks at Olegas' life in Lithuania and Tasmania and his involvement in the campaign to save Lake Pedder. The music has been composed by Constantine Koukias whose company IHOS is producing the opera.

More details and booking information can be found at: http://www.ihosopera.com/lab_aiec.html

9 September 2007
$100,000 Reward Offered
Filmmaker Scott Millwood has posted a $100,000 reward for information that solves the mystery of the disappearance of Brenda Hean & Max Price. If you have information call the toll free phone number 1800 233 059

All details of the reward can be found at www.searchingforbrenda.com

See newspaper clippings about the reward and disappearance of Max Price and Brenda Hean in "Resources". Scroll to the bottom of the screen once there.

8 September 2007
Memorial Service for Brenda Hean & Max Price
At 11am on Saturday 8 September 2007 a Memorial Service will be held at Scots Church in Bathurst Street, Hobart. The service will mark 35 years since the disapperance of Max Price and Brenda Hean. Brenda Hean and Max Price disappeared whilst attempting to fly from Tasmania to Canberra in the course of the campaign to prevent the flooding of Lake Pedder. The plane and its two occupants were never located. Mystery surrounded the disappearance following the discovery that the hangar in which the plane was kept had been broken into the night before the flight.

The service will include speeches from Senator Bob Brown and others. All are welcome to attend and stay for a late morning tea afterwards.

View the order of service - Front Page - Page 2 - Page 3.

October 2006
Wildflower Spectacular in Hobart
Featuring installation by the Lake Pedder Restoration Committee celebrating the famous Pedder beach and flora from the surrounds.Garden Plant & flower displays, plant sales, art and craft, rocks, soils, kids corner & light refreshments Based on the theme "Rocks, Soils, Plants - what grows where and why, the Australian Plant Society of Tasmania Inc. Southern Groups present their biennial Wildflower Show. Floor and table displays of flowers and plants, the soils in which they usually grow and the rocks from which those soils are derived will help gardeners to find plants most suitable for their environments. There will be plant, art and craft sales and complimentary allied displays, as well as a children's corner and light refreshments which will support the displays.
Date Fri, 06 Oct - Sun, 08 Oct 2006
Venue Hobart City Hall 57-63 Macquarie Street Hobart Tas 7000 Town/City Hobart
Times 10.00am to 6.00pm Friday and Saturday. 10.00am to 4.00pm Sunday.
Price Free
Other Information: School groups welcome, contact Co-ordinator to schedule.
Contact Details Mr Bruce Champion Ph: 03-6224 1004 Fax: 03-6224 1004
For more information
http://www.apstas.com/2006_Wildflower_Spectaculara.html

September2006
Periscope: a view from the original Lake Pedder
Geoff Parr's solo exhibition Persicope: a view from the original Lake Pedder beach is on at Hobart's Carnegie Gallery until 24 September 2006. The exhibition covers 25 years of work on issues of conflict and conservation. It is mixed media with computer generated images, photos and light box installations. Carnegie Hall is located on Argyle St opposite the Tasmanian Museum just up from the Waterfront.

August 2006
Pedder Cards Released
On 25 August 2006 Melva Truchanas and Bob Brown launched two greeting cards featuring previously unreleased images of Lake Pedder captured by Olegas Truchanas. The cards are published as a tribute to Olega's memory and to his pioneering work in raising consciousness of Tasmania’s threatened natural beauty. The cards also serve to promote awareness of the possibility of restoring Lake Pedder to its original state. The images are included below. The cards can be purchased from the Green Shop, 83 Harrington St, Hobart.

For Tasmanians, the name of Olegas Truchanas is synonymous with the lost Lake Pedder. Slide shows of his haunting photographs of the lake before its inundation by the Hydro Electric Commission played to standing-room-only audiences in the late 1960s. Truchanas, for some time a clerk at the Hydro, was prevented from speaking out about the destruction of what he saw as one of the jewels of Tasmanian landscape. Instead, he let the pictures speak for him. So powerful were the images that a campaign to save the lake sprang up; it did not succeed, but it formed the foundation of a robust environmental movement. He had spent many years exploring and photographing the wilds of Tasmania and was often the first non-indigenous person to traverse many parts of the rugged interior of the island. In 1967, the Hobart bushfires destroyed his home and with it virtually his entire collection of images. He set out to retrace his exploration and recording of the wilderness, but in 1972, while photographing the Gordon River on a mission to replace his lost slides, he was tragically drowned. (Text courtesy of Tasmanian Times)

December 2004
Reflections 10 released
The 10th edition of the Lake Pedder Restoration Committee newsletter "Reflections" was relead this month. Edition 10 will be the final "Relflections" in this format. The Committee will move to a less formal newsletter format to keep members informed. (read Relflections 10).

December 2003
The Pedder 2000 (Victorian Branch) AGM was held this month. It was decided that another walk along the old Pedder track from the Strathgordon Road to the north should be organised for 2004. Contact us if you're interested.

Check out the new weblinks - in particular Restoring the Earth - A project to promote the ecological restoration of the planet's degraded ecosystems as the essential over-riding and uniting task for the peoples and nations of the world in the 21st Century. You'll also find the website for the Tasmanian National Parks Association.

October 2003
Australian Geographic features the story of the 30th anniversary commemorative walk (see below) and the placing of a time capsule onto the submerged shores of Lake Pedder. Look out for some spectacular photos!

April 2003
Lake Pedder has a new website! You are in it now. Please give us feedback on the website.

Late 2002
A story appeared in Dimensions on the ABC about the 30th anniversary of Pedder.

April 2002
The 30th anniversary of Pedder's flooding was commemorated in Tasmania. After an emotional ceremony at Maydena, young and young-at-heart Pedder supporters followed the original route into Lake Pedder with journalists and photographers. A time capsule containing 'messages to the future' was lowered into the waters of the Huon-Serpentine impoundment, awaiting rediscovery when the dam is drained. Included in these messages was botanist David Bellamy's: "Lake Pedder will rise again, pink dawn of the Green Renaissance."

May 2000
Reflections of Pedder: a night of celebration was held in Melbourne. More than 300 people attended to raise more than $3000. Dr Geoff Mosley, Karen Alexander, Brian Walters and Rob Sitch shared thoughts of hope. An excellent slide and film presentation featured.