When the first three arrestees from the Bulga Forest protection actions go to court on Wednesday, February 22, there will be a celebration of their actions and their cause outside the Taree courthouse.
Spokesperson for the gathering, Linda Gill, a former Great Lakes Councillor for 24 years, said that history would remember those who fought to stop the forest destruction as heroes.
‘As someone who was elected to Council many times, I never forget those women who fought so bravely for my right to vote and my right to participate in our democratic system of government.
‘At the time, the suffragettes were beaten, abused, imprisoned and treated brutally by the establishment fighting to maintain its privilege.
Forest defenders, who are being criminalised
‘Well these forest defenders, who are being criminalised by a system that is propping up private profits by destroying public assets, will be remembered the same way.
‘We’ve already seen how things change. I was at the protests to defend the oldgrowth forest in Chaelundi in 1991. That area is now a National Park. Same with many other areas where the community has stood up and said this is too valuable to destroy, those places are now enjoyed and celebrated.
‘The Rocks in Sydney is another example. It was going to be bulldozed to make way for progress. There were huge protests. Now it’s a prime tourist location bringing in millions to the Sydney economy every year.
‘The public forests of NSW, the wildlife they support, the carbon they store, the water they provide, are way more valuable kept standing. The Forestry Corporation which manages the logging runs at a loss. It’s time we recognised that the future of our kids and grandkids in this area depends on healthy catchments, and healthy catchments depend on healthy forests.’
The three arrestees are Susie Russell, Aaron Crowe and Isla Lamont.
Ms Gill says the group will be outside the Taree Courthouse on Wednesday from 8.30am. ‘We will be loud and proud of our forest protectors.’
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
