A MILLION-dollar refurbishment of the Marine Discovery Centre Hastings Point, located at the North Star Holiday Resort, opened on Thursday, March 25, featuring state-of-the-art light and sound technology, interactive digital terminals and world-class marine and coastal science displays.
The Marine Discovery Centre is designed to inspire and educate people of all ages and help address challenges such as climate change and marine plastics.
The launch featured an inspiring vision for a sustainable future from Smart Money host and environmentalist Jon Dee, who was behind plastic bags being banned in supermarkets and some states going single-use plastic free, the launch of Planet Ark with Pat Cash, and National Tree Day with Olivia Newton-John.
North Star Holiday Resort owners Diana and Ian Beadel funded the $1.3-million transformation of what is now one of the largest privately-funded marine education facilities in Australia.
“We first opened in 2008 when Ted Brambleby bought his static marine display here,” Mr Beadel said.
“He did a great job, but now young people want more futuristic technology, so we bought the contents from Ted – I didn’t think he’d ever sell it – then we started working on a plan to bring it up to world’s best practice.
“It took about 18 months of research, then we called tenders and the Brandy Group won the tender.
“They built all the infrastructure and Jeff Baker and his team did all the audio visual components using the best technology from around the world; he is brilliant.
“All the movement of the walls which look like waves is the latest software, so hopefully it won’t only meet the needs of future marine biologists, but different groups will be able to use it for functions on subjects like what plastic is doing to the ocean.
“It’s very exciting and everyone is saying it’s excellent.”
Ted Brambleby said the refurbished centre was the culmination of a lifelong effort to educate people on the importance of taking care of the marine environment.
“Ian and Diana and I all contributed our best work to this,” he said.
“Without that, all these specimens would have been laying in a box somewhere and now it’s an evolving system.
“It’s beautiful; once people get to know what buttons to push everything will be right.
“It’s a matter of getting kids to appreciate the nitty gritty of what it’s all about.”
Marine biologist and Mr Brambleby’s former business partner Kerrie Trees said they set up the original centre in 1999 “on a wing and a prayer that our shared vision of a Marine Environmental Education centre at Hastings Point would somehow work.”
“Who would have thought from deeply significant yet humble beginnings, Ted’s vision of the importance of the environmental message could have endured for over six decades,” she said.
“That we stand here today is testimony to the message itself.
“Ten years on, through the original generosity of Ian and Diana, we were offered the opportunity to bring this vision, the business model, the regular school bookings to North Star in 2008.
“We were deeply blessed to have Rhett Brambleby, also an incredibly gifted educator, join us in 2010 and together, on average, we have sent 3,000 students per year for almost 20 continuous years, conservatively 60,000 students, back to their homes having learnt to see with new eyes.
Ms Trees also praised the work of a “true leader”, North Star’s CEO Susan Flaherty.
“I see the result of thousands of hours of discussions, of mind mapping, of decision-making, of creative energy and capacity, of high-level skill and experience coming together, resulting in an impressive outcome that is an expression of what true teamwork can achieve,” she said.
“I feel hope, for officially today, a new and evolved inspirational place is born from the legacy of the unforgettable Ted Brambleby, a legacy that will live on in these walls, in these specimens, in the knowledge you have shared Ted.
“The room may have changed Ted. Your messages never will.”
Ms Trees thanked Mr and Mrs Beadel, saying they could be “extremely proud to take your rightful place in history as being a part of the solution.”
“It is in this room that you have so generously gifted to the future caretakers of our planet. Hearts and minds will continue to change and become empowered with newfound knowledge,” Ms Trees said.
“Your gift of the opportunity for ongoing marine and coastal environmental education is, I believe, the greatest of all gifts.
“The next 60,000 students and then some, young and old, are deeply grateful to you both.
“The future is brighter because of your commitment.
“Our work is important. Our vision remains clear. This is our only home. There is no Planet B.”