Our Story
We are a not-for-profit community organisation that exists to educate, advocate and collaborate for the good of the environment in the Denmark Shire and beyond. We are a not-for-profit community organisation and an established leader in environmental education, advocacy and collaboration in the South Coast region of Western Australia. Formed in 1987, our organisation continunes to be driven by community members passionate about the environment.
Your support is essential to continue our work. By joining us, you help protect the South Coast’s environment and strengthen our community’s capacity to care for it.
Show your support by joining up today and becoming part of a great community-based environmental organisation.
Participate and stay up to date with current campaigns and project activities
Borrowing rights to our environmental resource library, herbarium and microscope
Invitations to events and activities conducted by the Denmark Environment Centre
Vision and Values
Our vision is towards a community connected in kinship to
the natural world and each other, celebrating biodiversity
within a thriving natural environment.
Our purpose is to strengthen shared responsibility for
nature by fostering connections between people, land and
waters through collective action
Our Values
Integrity
We strive to act honestly, ethically
and with transparency within our
organisation and in our relations
with others.
Collaboration
We seek collective effort and embrace
partnerships with community,
businesses, government,
non-government organisations
and other stakeholders.
Relationships
We acknowledge the Noongar
heritage of the Boodja we live on and
endeavour to work closely with
traditional custodians
Reverence
We treasure the living landscape
that sustains all life.
Credibility
We endeavour to be diligent in our
research, analysis and assessment of
environmental issues.
Respect
We honour the biodiversity, community
voices and knowledge, and cultural
heritage of the southwest of Western
Australia.
Our Roots
The Denmark Environment Centre Inc. (DEC) is a not-for-profit community organisation dedicated to educating, advocating, and collaborating for the protection of the natural environment in Denmark Shire and beyond. Established in 1987 following the successful opposition to a proposed woodchip mill in old-growth forests, DEC has become a cornerstone of environmental activism and education in the south coast region.
Our vision is to foster a sustainable community with a deep respect for the environment. Over the years, DEC has addressed a wide range of environmental issues. These include opposing logging in native forests, carefully examining mining applications, advocating for the protection of local flora and fauna, and building connections with Noongar elders to promote understanding of Indigenous practices.
DEC operates an environmental shop and library on Strickland Street, run entirely by volunteers. This hub offers a range of books and items to inspire environmental consciousness, as well as resources for learning about local environmental challenges. Behind the shop, a modern office and meeting space host the Centre’s administration and a variety of community activities.
DEC has a proud history of award-winning initiatives and remains committed to empowering the community to take proactive steps toward a sustainable future.
Community Survey
In 2026, we invited our community to share their experiences of the Denmark Environment Centre — what they value about DEC, what is working well, and what they would like to see into the future.
We heard from over 100 respondents, who shared a wide range of experiences, perspectives and ideas. The survey offered valuable insight into what our community values about DEC, as well as areas where we can strengthen communication, connection and participation.
The findings will help inform DEC’s future direction and how we continue to evolve as a community-based environment centre.
Explore the full findings, community perspectives and key themes from the survey:
Meeting Room Hire
You can book our modern meeting room for 2 hours, a half day or even a full day.
Meet the Team
Our 2025-26 Committee
Bart Lebbing
Convenor
Bart has been a full time migratory beekeeper for the last 40 plus years, observing country. This has led him to be very concerned about the continuity of our natural estate particularly in regard to fire management of government controlled land.
For the last 4 years he has been actively involved in bringing about change to prescribed burning policy, as he continually sees detrimental effects to biodiversity and the health of ecosystems.
Dr Cath Spaggiari
Deputy Convenor
Cath has worked as a research geologist for 30 years and has spent much time observing and mapping various remote areas of Western Australia, and the high country of Victoria before that.
Cath is currently a Senior Research Scientist in the Mineral Resources Division at CSIRO and adjunct at UWA Albany Centre. She is keen to help protect and regenerate the incredible biodiversity of the southwest region, which is under threat from multiple fronts including a warming and drying climate and inappropriate fire regimes.
Diane Harwood
Treasurer
Diane Harwood is a founding member of the Denmark Environment Centre. She has served on the committee for numerous years. Diane is also the founder of South Coast Bush Care Services. She has dedicated much of her life to caring for the environment.
Sara Coyne
Committee Member
Sara’s background spans secretarial work in Perth’s mining sector to running Sara Rawlings Design & Drafting for over 18 years in Perth and Margaret River, combining building design, project management and interiors with a focus on sustainability. Now a practicing artist at Pepperwood House Art Studio and Denmark Riverfront Gallery, her work reflects her deep connection to nature.
Bruce Menzies
Committee Member
In the 1990s Bruce and his wife built a mud-brick home in Denmark, grew bio-dynamic raspberries and ran holiday accommodation. Bruce morphed from a lawyer into a mediator, and became involved with the former Denmark Conservation Society and later as Convenor of Green Skills.
Jess Dyer
Committee Member
Jess has been passionate about preserving the environment since her early 20s and has been involved in several campaigns. She has a deep sense of home and loves to camp, walk and spend time each day enjoying the gifts that the local environment has to offer. With that comes the desire to protect its precious natural areas.
‘Through my role as a committee member of The Denmark Environment Centre I hope to help to support and preserve the natural environment in the Denmark area and beyond’.
Theda Mansholt
Committee Member
Theda lives on a bush block by the Harewood Forest, where she raised her family and has grown an abundance of food. A proud “nanna for native forests,” she holds a deep love for the natural world and a strong sense of responsibility for caring for the environment. As a committee member, Theda looks forward to contributing actively to the ongoing work of the Denmark Environment Centre.
Lily Bourne
Committee Member
Phil Runham
Committee Member
Staff
Abie Kooy
Finance Manager
Abie is DEC’s finance manager. She handles all inquiries regarding finances and takes care of DEC’s accounts.
Anala Linckens
Office Admin & Shop
Anala takes care of the office administration. She orders stock for the DEC shop and creates the monthly newsletter.
Sally Jarvis
Project Coordinator
Sally initiates and manages new and ongoing projects, involving events and field trips as well as upgrades to the centre.
Rosemary Ingham
Honorary Shop Volunteer Coordinator
The Denmark Environment Centre Shop is staffed by volunteers. Rosemary coordinates the shop roster and trains new volunteers.
Career Opportunities
Local Affiliated Groups
William Bay National Parks Association
The William Bay National Parks Association has existed as a group for about 27 years. They describe themselves as ‘friends of the park’, and have historically undertaken weeding, seed collecting, propagation, planting and maintenance of the plantings.
William Bay National Parks Association
The William Bay National Parks Association has existed as a group for about 27 years. They describe themselves as ‘friends of the park’, and have historically undertaken weeding, seed collecting, propagation, planting and maintenance of the plantings.
FaBWA
Fire and Biodiversity WA (FaBWA) has been advocating for the WA government to review DBCA’s prescribed burning practices in the southwest of WA on the premise that they represent a significant threat to biodiversity.
Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee
The Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee (WICC) is a community-based organisation working to protect and improve the health of the Wilson Inlet and its surrounding catchment. Through on-ground projects, monitoring, education and partnerships, WICC supports sustainable land and water management across the region. The committee works closely with landholders, community groups and government agencies to address issues such as water quality, biodiversity and catchment resilience.
Friends of Mount Hallowell/ Kooryunderup
Friends of Mount Hallowell/ Kooryunderup is a active group which hosts regular walks and environmental information sessions in the reserve. The friends are actively working to safeguard the biodiversity values of the Mt Hallowell A Class reserve in Denmark Western Australia
South Coast Bushcare Services
South Coast Bushcare Services Inc. is a not-for-profit environmental organisation based in Denmark. Over time, we have evolved from a small group of volunteers to become a professional, qualified, experienced team. We manage local bushland sensitively using minimal disturbance, manual techniques. Our services include invasive weed control, bushfire mitigation works, track maintenance and advice on bushland management. We have partnerships with local landcare groups and schools, the Shire of Denmark and the Noongar community. We welcome volunteers.
Denmark Bird Group
The Denmark Bird Group is a community group based in Denmark and is an advocate for birds in the region. The group was instrumental in the establishment of the “Djerrt Mia” bird sanctuary at the mouth of the Wilson Inlet and organises bird surveys, hosts educational and social events, and leads bird outings. The Denmark Bird Group is an Associate Group of BirdLife Western Australia.
Denmark Bird Group
The Denmark Bird Group is a community group based in Denmark and is an advocate for birds in the region. The group was instrumental in the establishment of the “Djerrt Mia” bird sanctuary at the mouth of the Wilson Inlet and organises bird surveys, hosts educational and social events, and leads bird outings. The Denmark Bird Group is an Associate Group of BirdLife Western Australia.
Denmark Community Windfarm Ltd.
This company operates Denmark’s windfarm and has been generating electricity since 2013. It currently provides about 42% of Denmark’s annual domestic energy which reduces annual CO2 emissions by about 6000t a year. It is WA’s first community owned and operated windfarm, and only the second of its kind in Australia.
Friends of Mount Hallowell/ Kooryunderup
Friends of Mount Hallowell/ Kooryunderup is a active group which hosts regular walks and environmental information sessions in the reserve. The friends are actively working to safeguard the biodiversity values of the Mt Hallowell A Class reserve in Denmark Western Australia