Illawarra Ramblers Life Member, Pam Robinson, came to the Ramblers with a
long walking history. Like many of our long-time walkers Pam was a long-
standing member of the National Parks Association, was involved in the
establishment of an Illawarra branch, and active during the time when the WEA
conducted bushwalking activities in association with NPA. Prior to that was a
time when she managed a publicly funded environmental office in Wollongong.
Pam was a campaigner. Her fondest campaign memories were of the saving of
the Franklin River in the company of Bob Brown in the early 1980s. Locally, she
has spoken of campaigns to stop development of Bass Point, Killalea, Blackbutt,
and the Illawarra Escarpment and probably many more.
Pam and Neville, her husband of 54 years, travelled with their A-van all over
Australia after retiring from teaching. They’d been everywhere and Pam could,
and would, offer really accurate advice on what to see and do wherever in
Australia you might be going to, let alone alert you to what birds and plants to
look out for.
Her favourite places included Barren Grounds and Saddleback, the
Warrumbungles, the Antarctic Beech forests of the Border Ranges National
Park, Carnarvon Gorge, Wilpena Sound, and the Overland and Bibbulmun
Tracks. To these places she visited with Neville, the NPA, Ramblers or friends.
She conducted trips away for walking groups and with people who are still
Ramblers members. Annually, to the Snowy Mountains, often, to Murramarang
and Wombeyan, accompanying Graham Burgess at least 3 times to Talbingo, a
couple of times to Lord Howe with Joe Pike, Pam would be walking.
There were many quiet generous donations, especially to nature-based causes
including Bush Heritage, the Burrendong Arboretum and locally, the Bulli
Grevillea Park Botanic Garden whose new pavilion, recently recognised by the
NSW Governor has been named in her honour. It was only in her late eighties
that Pam started to ease back, limiting her Ramblers leading walks to just her 2
most favoured places, Mt Annan and the Grevillea Park. At the same time
though she treasured her Tuesday walks with the Bulli Walkie Talkies who
engaged in less energetic activities. Each week she’d also fit in a trip to the
supermarket and gather up a bag or 2 of food for donation to the Bellambi
Neighbourhood Centre for distribution to the hungry.
Pam leaves behind 3 daughters and a son, 8 grandchildren and at least 5
greats.

Pam’s send-off will be at Parsons 278 Princes Highway Bulli at Noon, Monday 9th
September.