Following the K’gari Conference in November, members paused to mark the 20^th anniversary of FINIA – the Natural Integrity Alliance for K’gari with a celebratory dinner. 

The relaxed evening was filled with memories of FINIA’s legends and founding members and the alliance’s early days with K’gari Weed Management Officer, Jason Hervey (now living with his family in NSW).

FINIA owes its strength to its collaborative model, with members sharing knowledge and skills and giving what they could when they could. All partners (whether land managers, universities, special interest or community groups) are treated as equals.

In February, members will be planting a commemorative tree, a K’gari apple (Acronychia imperforata) at the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Fraser Coast Campus, with another tree to be planted at K’gari Research Station in May.

Members have also been asked to add a ‘FINIA celebrating 20 years of collaboration’ logo to their email signatures to raise awareness of the partnership.

Sue Sargent, FINIA’s longstanding Chair, would like to acknowledge all FINIA’s partners for their support and contribution to K’gari’s natural and cultural integrity over the last 20 years. Together, we have achieved so much more than any of our partners could have achieved alone, highlighting the success of FINIA’s collaborative governance model.

Article contributed by Sue Sargent, FINIA