Protecting Bongin Bongin Bay for future generations
Greg Pride was humbled when Mackellar MP Sophie Scamps presented him with an Australian Government Certificate of Appreciation during Volunteers Week in May for his work as president of Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay (the friends), established in 2023 to advocate for the area at Mona Vale Beach to be declared an aquatic reserve.
“It was very gratifying,” Greg tells PL. “It was personally significant, but it was more a representation of a team effort. I work with a terrific group of people. So, I took one for the whole team.”
Greg, 74, is busier than ever having retired 15 months ago after 40 years as a financial planner. “I sometimes feel like going back to work for a break,” he laughs.
He grew up in Gladesville but regularly visited Whale Beach with his family, and eventually moved to the Beaches when he married in 1979. “I had a real affinity with water,” recalls Greg. “When I moved to Newport, I joined Bayview Sailing Club and found myself out in Pittwater at weekends or having a surf.”
He’s been doing triathlons for 30 years and has represented Australia at the World Championships three times.
“I’m pretty keen. I did about 10 triathlons and three ocean swims last season,” he says. “I’d rather wear out than rust out, put it that way.”
Greg with MP Sophie Scamps
His love affair with Bongin Bongin Bay began in 2010 when he joined swimming group Dawn Busters for daily morning swims.
“It was personally significant, but it was more a representation of a team effort.”
“I just had an ongoing relationship with swimming across the bay and admiring what nature provides, including the sunrises each morning,” he explains. “And that was the catalyst for a couple of us looking at each other and saying, ‘this is worthwhile protecting for future generations.’ And that started the journey.”
Although Greg says not much fishing is done in the bay, they’re advocating to have a 45-hectare area declared an aquatic reserve to create better opportunities for fish to breed and promote ocean health. They collected over 6,000 signatures on a petition and sent it off to NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe and NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty.
“Cabbage Tree Bay in Manly is the only marine park (on the Beaches) fully protected and it’s not coincidental that it’s a thriving hub for marine life,” says Greg.
Greg with environmentalist Valerie Taylor
“Australia has committed to the United Nations goal of protecting 30% of the land and 30% of the sea by 2030, but we’ve only got two per cent of the Northern Beaches fully protected. That’s a long way from ‘30 by 30.’”
Greg thinks of his grandchildren and the world they will inherit. “If there’s a legacy I can leave, it’s that I try to do something for the planet that they’re inheriting,” he adds.
“It’s easy to shrug your shoulders and say, ‘oh, well, I should have done it,’ but I like to get into things,” says Greg. “It’s been inspirational. People are very conscious, particularly young people. Goodness me, how profound their concern and interest in this topic,” he says.
What does Greg think is the biggest threat to our oceans currently?
“That we do nothing is the greatest threat,” he says.
The friends launched a petition at its World Oceans Day Dive on 7 June. Visit bonginbonginbay.org