Colong Foundation Board Members

Elizabeth Elenius,Chairperson, was a member of the Colong Committee during the battle for Mount Colong in the late 1960s, inspired by Milo Dunphy and her aunts, Eileen and Joan Bradley, of Bush Regeneration fame. Elizabeth also joined the National Parks Association at that time and became the Editor of the Association's Journal for a number of years. Through her conservation work she decided to return to 'school' and then secured a degree in Earth Sciences at Macquarie University. Once graduated, Elizabeth became a Project Officer with the Nature Conservation Council of NSW from 1979-1981, working on the rainforest campaign. She has held a number of positions within university administration and later in research organisations. In 2005 Elizabeth joined the Colong Foundation Board and has been our Secretary since 2006.

Albert Renshaw, Treasurer, has been supporting community groups, in an honorary capacity, since 1960. These include the Scout and Guide organisations; a local sporting group; the University of NSW Speleological Society; and the Glebe Society. He also spent several years on four committees of the National Trust of Australia (NSW) for which he was awarded their silver medal for service. He has been honorary treasurer to Colong for twenty years.

Ian Tanner, Secretary, is a retired accountant/company secretary and businessman. In 1960 did FP8 at Outward Bound School Hawkesbury River NSW then joined UNSW Bushwalking Club. Currently Treasurer for REACH - Christian Education at Chatswood High School and Willoughby Girls High School. Supporter of The Leprosy Mission as a team member/ prayer partner of a Missionary Committee. Member of Chatswood West Ward Progress Association. He strongly supports the preservation of Australia's natural wilderness heritage.

Henry Gold OAM, Honorary Photographer, arrived in Australia from Austria in 1955. He joined the Sydney Bushwalkers Club in 1956. He supported the infant environment movement and he has continued ever since as the Honorary Photographer of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness. His work has been used to lobby Governments, in books, by the press, in campaign literature and conservation magazines. Henry's images have convinced many members of the public to become wilderness supporters. In 2006 he was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for "service to wilderness preservation through the use of photographic documentation".

Patrick Thompson, Honorary Editor, has been a committee member since the 1970's and was chairperson for Colong between 1994 and 2007. Pat founded his Company Trekaway in 1973 which was a pioneering venture offering small group tours to National Parks in Australia and Overseas.  After publishing "Myles Dunphy, Selected Writings, compiled and annotated by Patrick Thompson" in 1986, he decided to retire from his travel business and become a publisher. His new business was called Envirobook and it continues to publish and distribute books focusing on the environment and the natural world. Pat is the editor of 'The New Bush Telegraph' of the Shoalhaven region where he resides and is currently Assistant Editor of the Colong Bulletin. Pat also enjoys bushwalking.

Jim Somerville AM, began his interest in preserving the natural environment when he became a member of the Coast and Mountain Buskwalking Club. He was a foundation member together with Myles Dunphy of the Heathcote National Park Advisory Committee continuing for 37 years. Jim became a director of Colong Committee in 1967, following the retirement from the finance branch of Qantas in 1975, was involved in a spirited campaign to save the remaining NSW rainforest - later publishing "How the Rainforest Was Saved." Was a part-time commissioner on the State Pollution Control Commission (later known as the EPA) from 1977 to 1985. Honorary Auditor of numerous conservation societies. Awarded an Award in the Order of Australia in 1986 for services in conservation.

Margaret Conley began her love affair with the Australian bush as a child on her parent’s farm in central NSW.  She is a member of Sydney Bushwalkers and more recently of the Bush Club: keeping the company of like-minded enthusiasts provides an additional and ongoing opportunity to learn about the immense value that national parks, wild places and nature’s treasures add to each of our lives.  Margaret now utilises skills learned as a CEO during more than 20 years in the not-for-profit and volunteer sectors on a range of Boards, Councils and Trusts.  By joining the Board of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness she is turning admiration for the work of the Foundation into more tangible support and looks forward to making a contribution to the governance and work of this respected group.

Rosamund Dallow-Smith Came to the environmental movement as an activist, lobbyist and organizer of protests and public information meetings on important wilderness/environmental issues, as a member of the Wilderness Society. (Also a member of NPA, Greenpeace, and The National Trust.) After a career as dancer and actor, studied at the University of NSW. Holder of a Diploma in Dance Teaching, and the Cambridge Certificate For Teaching Of E.S.O.L. (English For Speakers Of Other Languages.) At Bankstown and other TAFE colleges, taught English for work skills, e g Translation, Accounting, and many other courses. As Women’s Strategy Officer encouraged and developed ways for more women, especially migrant and refugee women, to study English for work skills, and to place them in jobs, or work experience. 

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