
Ruffling feathers: should you be feeding the birds in your backyard?
Bird feeding is a common practice worldwide, but in Australia, it remains a contentious issue, with government agencies and wildlife organisations strongly discouraging and in some cases prohibiting the practice.
Urban ecologist Professor Darryl Jones changed his mind about bird feeding when he found that, despite being publicly shunned, most Australians feed birds.
"Between a third and a half of Australians anywhere in Australia are at any one time feeding birds," Professor Jones said.
"I realised that people were not going to stop feeding birds, that in some cases, they were inadvertently, without even knowing, feeding them the wrong things,
"There's no information because if you asked the local authorities or went to the council or the rangers or anybody and said 'What do you think I should feed the magpies?', you would get the absolute without a doubt, they would say 'You shouldn't be feeding them at all!'''
This inspired Professor Jones to write a bird feeding guide for Australians, 'Feeding the birds at your table'.
"I really do think you can feed birds in Australia as long as you're careful and feed the right things," he said.
Click the map below to see the law in your state or territory.
In Western Australia and the Northern Territory, it is illegal to feed native birds. The maximum penalty in WA for feeding fauna is a $20,000 fine.
In most other states and territories, it is illegal to feed native birds and wildlife in national parks and reserves (ACT, VIC, QLD, and TAS).
Some local councils prohibit bird feeding, usually when it has become a nuisance, and they can issue fines.
Australia's largest rescue organisation, WIRES (Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service), strongly implores people to never feed wildlife.
WIRES is licensed in NSW to rehabilitate injured, sick and orphaned protected animals by the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service.
As a WIRES wildlife emergency responder, Kyana McPherson witnesses the consequences of bird feeding on a daily basis.
"Although it can be tempting to feed wildlife, particularly birds, it's usually best to avoid this practice," she said.
"Some foods, such as bread and mince, can cause health impacts for birds and nutritional deficiencies. It also brings birds closer together and can potentially spread infectious diseases.
One such disease is bird and feather disease, also known as psittacine circovirus (PCV), which has high death rates and currently has no effective treatment.
"It's quite prevalent in rainbow lorikeets and cockatoos, and it's highly contagious and can be spread on surfaces," Ms McPherson said.
Professor Jones agrees that infectious diseases are a risk, which is why he emphasises the importance of cleaning bird feeders daily.
Feeding native birds can change the balance of their diet, increase aggression, encourage dependency and cause sicknesses and deformities, according to WIRES.
"I know we all want to help our birds and wildlife, [but bird feeding] generally does more harm than good," Ms McPherson said.
"If we do want to help, we can look into planting some native shrubs in our garden."
Queensland authorities continue to warn people not to feed cassowaries due to both the risk to humans and the impact on the endangered species.
A man in his seventies was kicked in the leg by a cassowary in his Cardwell backyard in April 2025 and treated for a cut to his leg.
In Queensland, feeding dangerous wildlife, such as cassowaries is illegal.
Cassowaries have sharp, three-toed claws, including a middle dagger-like claw that can grow up to 10cm long and is used in self-defence.
"When cassowaries associate humans with food, they can become impatient and aggressive, particularly when accompanied by chicks," wildlife ranger Jeff Lewis said in a statement.
One of the most common birds being fed is magpies, according to Professor Jones' research.
Unfortunately, most people feed magpies minced meat, which can be seriously harmful to them.
"We really have to stop feeding any bird's mince. It just doesn't have enough calcium," Professor Jones said.
"No bird just eats meat...they eat all the parts of the animal's body."
Until Australians can easily purchase an artificial worm or invertebrate, Professor Jones recommends dry cat or dog food for magpies.
He recommends purchasing bird seeds manufactured by a reputable pet food company instead of the cheaper supermarket versions.
When feeding birds, Professor Jones said it should be considered a snack, equivalent to approximately a cup of food.
"It's not a whole meal. It's just a snack. So just a little bit, and when it's all gone, that's fine. You don't need to put any more out," he said.
Bird feeding is not necessary for birds except during extreme weather events like the Black Summer 2019-20 bushfires, Professor Jones explained.
"We're putting out food for us to enjoy the birds. The birds don't need it."
While bird feeding may be contentious, most government and wildlife organisations agree that leaving water out for wildlife is a good idea.
The South Australian Department for Environment and Water discourages people from feeding or providing water to wildlife.
"Water can be a great lifeline, specifically on hot days," WIRES wildlife emergency responder, Kyana McPherson, said.
"I would suggest using a very shallow dish and cleaning it regularly, and also placing something like a stick or a rock into the water, so any small animal that may fall into the water can climb back out again."
Getting to know the native birds in your backyard is a beloved pastime for most Aussies, but should we be feeding our feathered friends?
Bird feeding is a common practice worldwide, but in Australia, it remains a contentious issue, with government agencies and wildlife organisations strongly discouraging and in some cases prohibiting the practice.
Urban ecologist Professor Darryl Jones changed his mind about bird feeding when he found that, despite being publicly shunned, most Australians feed birds.
"Between a third and a half of Australians anywhere in Australia are at any one time feeding birds," Professor Jones said.
"I realised that people were not going to stop feeding birds, that in some cases, they were inadvertently, without even knowing, feeding them the wrong things,
"There's no information because if you asked the local authorities or went to the council or the rangers or anybody and said 'What do you think I should feed the magpies?', you would get the absolute without a doubt, they would say 'You shouldn't be feeding them at all!'''
This inspired Professor Jones to write a bird feeding guide for Australians, 'Feeding the birds at your table'.
"I really do think you can feed birds in Australia as long as you're careful and feed the right things," he said.
Click the map below to see the law in your state or territory.
In Western Australia and the Northern Territory, it is illegal to feed native birds. The maximum penalty in WA for feeding fauna is a $20,000 fine.
In most other states and territories, it is illegal to feed native birds and wildlife in national parks and reserves (ACT, VIC, QLD, and TAS).
Some local councils prohibit bird feeding, usually when it has become a nuisance, and they can issue fines.
Australia's largest rescue organisation, WIRES (Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service), strongly implores people to never feed wildlife.
WIRES is licensed in NSW to rehabilitate injured, sick and orphaned protected animals by the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service.
As a WIRES wildlife emergency responder, Kyana McPherson witnesses the consequences of bird feeding on a daily basis.
"Although it can be tempting to feed wildlife, particularly birds, it's usually best to avoid this practice," she said.
"Some foods, such as bread and mince, can cause health impacts for birds and nutritional deficiencies. It also brings birds closer together and can potentially spread infectious diseases.
One such disease is bird and feather disease, also known as psittacine circovirus (PCV), which has high death rates and currently has no effective treatment.
"It's quite prevalent in rainbow lorikeets and cockatoos, and it's highly contagious and can be spread on surfaces," Ms McPherson said.
Professor Jones agrees that infectious diseases are a risk, which is why he emphasises the importance of cleaning bird feeders daily.
Feeding native birds can change the balance of their diet, increase aggression, encourage dependency and cause sicknesses and deformities, according to WIRES.
"I know we all want to help our birds and wildlife, [but bird feeding] generally does more harm than good," Ms McPherson said.
"If we do want to help, we can look into planting some native shrubs in our garden."
Queensland authorities continue to warn people not to feed cassowaries due to both the risk to humans and the impact on the endangered species.
A man in his seventies was kicked in the leg by a cassowary in his Cardwell backyard in April 2025 and treated for a cut to his leg.
In Queensland, feeding dangerous wildlife, such as cassowaries is illegal.
Cassowaries have sharp, three-toed claws, including a middle dagger-like claw that can grow up to 10cm long and is used in self-defence.
"When cassowaries associate humans with food, they can become impatient and aggressive, particularly when accompanied by chicks," wildlife ranger Jeff Lewis said in a statement.
One of the most common birds being fed is magpies, according to Professor Jones' research.
Unfortunately, most people feed magpies minced meat, which can be seriously harmful to them.
"We really have to stop feeding any bird's mince. It just doesn't have enough calcium," Professor Jones said.
"No bird just eats meat...they eat all the parts of the animal's body."
Until Australians can easily purchase an artificial worm or invertebrate, Professor Jones recommends dry cat or dog food for magpies.
He recommends purchasing bird seeds manufactured by a reputable pet food company instead of the cheaper supermarket versions.
When feeding birds, Professor Jones said it should be considered a snack, equivalent to approximately a cup of food.
"It's not a whole meal. It's just a snack. So just a little bit, and when it's all gone, that's fine. You don't need to put any more out," he said.
Bird feeding is not necessary for birds except during extreme weather events like the Black Summer 2019-20 bushfires, Professor Jones explained.
"We're putting out food for us to enjoy the birds. The birds don't need it."
While bird feeding may be contentious, most government and wildlife organisations agree that leaving water out for wildlife is a good idea.
The South Australian Department for Environment and Water discourages people from feeding or providing water to wildlife.
"Water can be a great lifeline, specifically on hot days," WIRES wildlife emergency responder, Kyana McPherson, said.
"I would suggest using a very shallow dish and cleaning it regularly, and also placing something like a stick or a rock into the water, so any small animal that may fall into the water can climb back out again."
Getting to know the native birds in your backyard is a beloved pastime for most Aussies, but should we be feeding our feathered friends?
Bird feeding is a common practice worldwide, but in Australia, it remains a contentious issue, with government agencies and wildlife organisations strongly discouraging and in some cases prohibiting the practice.
Urban ecologist Professor Darryl Jones changed his mind about bird feeding when he found that, despite being publicly shunned, most Australians feed birds.
"Between a third and a half of Australians anywhere in Australia are at any one time feeding birds," Professor Jones said.
"I realised that people were not going to stop feeding birds, that in some cases, they were inadvertently, without even knowing, feeding them the wrong things,
"There's no information because if you asked the local authorities or went to the council or the rangers or anybody and said 'What do you think I should feed the magpies?', you would get the absolute without a doubt, they would say 'You shouldn't be feeding them at all!'''
This inspired Professor Jones to write a bird feeding guide for Australians, 'Feeding the birds at your table'.
"I really do think you can feed birds in Australia as long as you're careful and feed the right things," he said.
Click the map below to see the law in your state or territory.
In Western Australia and the Northern Territory, it is illegal to feed native birds. The maximum penalty in WA for feeding fauna is a $20,000 fine.
In most other states and territories, it is illegal to feed native birds and wildlife in national parks and reserves (ACT, VIC, QLD, and TAS).
Some local councils prohibit bird feeding, usually when it has become a nuisance, and they can issue fines.
Australia's largest rescue organisation, WIRES (Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service), strongly implores people to never feed wildlife.
WIRES is licensed in NSW to rehabilitate injured, sick and orphaned protected animals by the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service.
As a WIRES wildlife emergency responder, Kyana McPherson witnesses the consequences of bird feeding on a daily basis.
"Although it can be tempting to feed wildlife, particularly birds, it's usually best to avoid this practice," she said.
"Some foods, such as bread and mince, can cause health impacts for birds and nutritional deficiencies. It also brings birds closer together and can potentially spread infectious diseases.
One such disease is bird and feather disease, also known as psittacine circovirus (PCV), which has high death rates and currently has no effective treatment.
"It's quite prevalent in rainbow lorikeets and cockatoos, and it's highly contagious and can be spread on surfaces," Ms McPherson said.
Professor Jones agrees that infectious diseases are a risk, which is why he emphasises the importance of cleaning bird feeders daily.
Feeding native birds can change the balance of their diet, increase aggression, encourage dependency and cause sicknesses and deformities, according to WIRES.
"I know we all want to help our birds and wildlife, [but bird feeding] generally does more harm than good," Ms McPherson said.
"If we do want to help, we can look into planting some native shrubs in our garden."
Queensland authorities continue to warn people not to feed cassowaries due to both the risk to humans and the impact on the endangered species.
A man in his seventies was kicked in the leg by a cassowary in his Cardwell backyard in April 2025 and treated for a cut to his leg.
In Queensland, feeding dangerous wildlife, such as cassowaries is illegal.
Cassowaries have sharp, three-toed claws, including a middle dagger-like claw that can grow up to 10cm long and is used in self-defence.
"When cassowaries associate humans with food, they can become impatient and aggressive, particularly when accompanied by chicks," wildlife ranger Jeff Lewis said in a statement.
One of the most common birds being fed is magpies, according to Professor Jones' research.
Unfortunately, most people feed magpies minced meat, which can be seriously harmful to them.
"We really have to stop feeding any bird's mince. It just doesn't have enough calcium," Professor Jones said.
"No bird just eats meat...they eat all the parts of the animal's body."
Until Australians can easily purchase an artificial worm or invertebrate, Professor Jones recommends dry cat or dog food for magpies.
He recommends purchasing bird seeds manufactured by a reputable pet food company instead of the cheaper supermarket versions.
When feeding birds, Professor Jones said it should be considered a snack, equivalent to approximately a cup of food.
"It's not a whole meal. It's just a snack. So just a little bit, and when it's all gone, that's fine. You don't need to put any more out," he said.
Bird feeding is not necessary for birds except during extreme weather events like the Black Summer 2019-20 bushfires, Professor Jones explained.
"We're putting out food for us to enjoy the birds. The birds don't need it."
While bird feeding may be contentious, most government and wildlife organisations agree that leaving water out for wildlife is a good idea.
The South Australian Department for Environment and Water discourages people from feeding or providing water to wildlife.
"Water can be a great lifeline, specifically on hot days," WIRES wildlife emergency responder, Kyana McPherson, said.
"I would suggest using a very shallow dish and cleaning it regularly, and also placing something like a stick or a rock into the water, so any small animal that may fall into the water can climb back out again."
Getting to know the native birds in your backyard is a beloved pastime for most Aussies, but should we be feeding our feathered friends?
Bird feeding is a common practice worldwide, but in Australia, it remains a contentious issue, with government agencies and wildlife organisations strongly discouraging and in some cases prohibiting the practice.
Urban ecologist Professor Darryl Jones changed his mind about bird feeding when he found that, despite being publicly shunned, most Australians feed birds.
"Between a third and a half of Australians anywhere in Australia are at any one time feeding birds," Professor Jones said.
"I realised that people were not going to stop feeding birds, that in some cases, they were inadvertently, without even knowing, feeding them the wrong things,
"There's no information because if you asked the local authorities or went to the council or the rangers or anybody and said 'What do you think I should feed the magpies?', you would get the absolute without a doubt, they would say 'You shouldn't be feeding them at all!'''
This inspired Professor Jones to write a bird feeding guide for Australians, 'Feeding the birds at your table'.
"I really do think you can feed birds in Australia as long as you're careful and feed the right things," he said.
Click the map below to see the law in your state or territory.
In Western Australia and the Northern Territory, it is illegal to feed native birds. The maximum penalty in WA for feeding fauna is a $20,000 fine.
In most other states and territories, it is illegal to feed native birds and wildlife in national parks and reserves (ACT, VIC, QLD, and TAS).
Some local councils prohibit bird feeding, usually when it has become a nuisance, and they can issue fines.
Australia's largest rescue organisation, WIRES (Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service), strongly implores people to never feed wildlife.
WIRES is licensed in NSW to rehabilitate injured, sick and orphaned protected animals by the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service.
As a WIRES wildlife emergency responder, Kyana McPherson witnesses the consequences of bird feeding on a daily basis.
"Although it can be tempting to feed wildlife, particularly birds, it's usually best to avoid this practice," she said.
"Some foods, such as bread and mince, can cause health impacts for birds and nutritional deficiencies. It also brings birds closer together and can potentially spread infectious diseases.
One such disease is bird and feather disease, also known as psittacine circovirus (PCV), which has high death rates and currently has no effective treatment.
"It's quite prevalent in rainbow lorikeets and cockatoos, and it's highly contagious and can be spread on surfaces," Ms McPherson said.
Professor Jones agrees that infectious diseases are a risk, which is why he emphasises the importance of cleaning bird feeders daily.
Feeding native birds can change the balance of their diet, increase aggression, encourage dependency and cause sicknesses and deformities, according to WIRES.
"I know we all want to help our birds and wildlife, [but bird feeding] generally does more harm than good," Ms McPherson said.
"If we do want to help, we can look into planting some native shrubs in our garden."
Queensland authorities continue to warn people not to feed cassowaries due to both the risk to humans and the impact on the endangered species.
A man in his seventies was kicked in the leg by a cassowary in his Cardwell backyard in April 2025 and treated for a cut to his leg.
In Queensland, feeding dangerous wildlife, such as cassowaries is illegal.
Cassowaries have sharp, three-toed claws, including a middle dagger-like claw that can grow up to 10cm long and is used in self-defence.
"When cassowaries associate humans with food, they can become impatient and aggressive, particularly when accompanied by chicks," wildlife ranger Jeff Lewis said in a statement.
One of the most common birds being fed is magpies, according to Professor Jones' research.
Unfortunately, most people feed magpies minced meat, which can be seriously harmful to them.
"We really have to stop feeding any bird's mince. It just doesn't have enough calcium," Professor Jones said.
"No bird just eats meat...they eat all the parts of the animal's body."
Until Australians can easily purchase an artificial worm or invertebrate, Professor Jones recommends dry cat or dog food for magpies.
He recommends purchasing bird seeds manufactured by a reputable pet food company instead of the cheaper supermarket versions.
When feeding birds, Professor Jones said it should be considered a snack, equivalent to approximately a cup of food.
"It's not a whole meal. It's just a snack. So just a little bit, and when it's all gone, that's fine. You don't need to put any more out," he said.
Bird feeding is not necessary for birds except during extreme weather events like the Black Summer 2019-20 bushfires, Professor Jones explained.
"We're putting out food for us to enjoy the birds. The birds don't need it."
While bird feeding may be contentious, most government and wildlife organisations agree that leaving water out for wildlife is a good idea.
The South Australian Department for Environment and Water discourages people from feeding or providing water to wildlife.
"Water can be a great lifeline, specifically on hot days," WIRES wildlife emergency responder, Kyana McPherson, said.
"I would suggest using a very shallow dish and cleaning it regularly, and also placing something like a stick or a rock into the water, so any small animal that may fall into the water can climb back out again."
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Perth Now
19 hours ago
- Perth Now
Surprising new face of homelessness
In February 2019, the NSW government signed an end street sleeping agreement with the Institute of Global Homelessness and City of Sydney. This included a commitment to reduce street homelessness by 50 per cent by 2025. Short of reducing or even remaining the same, the number of rough sleepers has instead increased by 67 per cent in the past five years, according to state government counts. One central Sydney volunteer has seen first hand how the face of homelessness has shifted over that time, saying 'it's no longer just those sleeping on the streets, but students, jobseekers, families, and older Australians all slipping through the cracks'. Donna Brooks has been volunteering for homeless assistance charity Orange Sky for more than six years near Central Station in the heart of Sydney. Donna Brooks has been volunteering with Orange Sky for more than six years. Orange Sky Credit: Supplied Over that time, with cost of living becoming increasingly burdensome and people struggling more and more to make ends meet, Ms Brooks said homelessness had shifted from something predominantly affecting those with pre-existing circumstances to everyday people just down on their luck. 'I think some years ago here it was a more common story that (homelessness) was a complex needs situation often,' she said. Complex needs refers to a situation where a person is dealing with several connected issues that seriously impact their wellbeing and ability to function in society. Examples can include intellectual disabilities, mental health concerns and drug addictions. 'Whereas now, I think what we're seeing a lot more is that people have less resources available to them. The cost of living definitely has had an impact on that,' she said. 'The cost of rent, a lot of people are priced out of the market. Some of the people that I've met doing Orange Sky have ended up learning about these services that they had no idea even existed for decades because they had careers and they ran a business and they were in a family. 'Then their circumstances change and they realise that they can't even get a rental and that they're struggling to get employment.' A homeless woman sleeps outside Sydney Town Hall Woolworths. NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers Credit: News Corp Australia Orange Sky provides hot showers and laundry cleaning services via mobile vans and Ms Brooks said the demographics of homelessness she was seeing over the course of her work was becoming 'increasingly diverse'. 'I think it's important to note the diversity of people we see,' she said. 'We're seeing young people, older people, all ages, genders, ethnicities. It's become increasingly diverse. 'I think there are so many pathways and circumstances that people are facing that lead them to seeking out help and services like Orange Sky. 'What we see now is not just necessarily the rough sleepers that people might be familiar with walking past in the inner city or in the streets. There's a lot of people that are being very creative as to how they're surviving without having a secure home.' Ms Brooks said for some people that meant living out of a car, vehicle or couch surfing. But for others, more innovative solutions were required. 'I volunteer regularly near Central Station in Sydney,' she said. 'A lot of the people that come through there, for example, will ride trains and ride overnight trains and late-running trains just to get a bit of shelter and hopefully some safety rather than being out in the open overnight. 'So that's a different kind of homelessness but is very much homelessness nonetheless.' Orange Sky helps provide clean laundry and hot showers to those sleeping rough. Orange Sky Credit: Supplied Speaking to NSW parliament on Friday morning, Premier Chris Minns announced a 10-year strategy targeting homelessness. Mr Minns drew focus to young people and Aboriginal communities 'disproportionately affected' by the issue. In the last census, the total number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experiencing homelessness was up 6.4 per cent from the previous census, making them approximately eight times more likely to be homeless than non-indigenous counterparts. Mr Minns announced a sleeping register would be brought in to develop a 'true picture of the scope and nature of people that are sleeping rough in NSW'. 'This is a real priority for us, an important one for the state, and an important one for Sydney, given we're one of the most expensive cities on the face of the world,' he said. Speaking to NewsWire, Homelessness Minister Rose Jackson said 'the previous government's promise to cut homelessness in half by 2025 simply hasn't delivered'. 'We've heard the reports and seen the statistics, and we need to be honest, past plans by the former Liberal/National Government failed because they were never adequately funded, never strategic enough and never long-term,' she said. Homelessness Minister Rose Jackson said 'the previous government's promise to cut homelessness in half by 2025 simply hasn't delivered'. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia 'This week, we announced our new homelessness strategy, a real and comprehensive approach to tackling homelessness. 'This strategy isn't just about crisis accommodation; it's about addressing the root cause of homelessness, the lack of affordable housing.' Ms Jackson acknowledged in order to solve the crisis a strategic approach was needed. 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Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Those left behind: The long shadow of Britain's nuclear testing in WA
A son, a daughter and a grandson of Australian servicemen exposed to nuclear testing have made an emotional pilgrimage up to the remote Montebello Islands to capture details of an era with – literally and metaphorically – enduring fallout. Paul Grace, Maxine Goodwin and Gary Blinco recently stood together in the ruins of a bomb command centre overlooking the scene of three British nuclear tests in the 1950s that few younger Australians have ever heard of. As the world commemorates Japan's wartime nuclear blasts in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the trio say Australians should not forget the impact of atomic tests conducted on West Australian soil in the 1950s, starting with Operation Hurricane in 1952 and followed by two more tests in Operation Mosaic in 1956. Other atomic tests at Emu Field and Maralinga bookended the Montebello series. Grace, Goodwin and Blinco all know the tests left a family legacy of death or ill-health – and lingering contamination 70 years later on several islands. On a recent expedition up to the Montebello archipelago, 80 kilometres offshore from Onslow, the trio gathered documentary and archival material while filling gaps in their own family histories. For Grace and Goodwin, the most poignant moment was when they stood on the tarmac at Onslow airport in the exact spot where his grandfather and her father posed for a photograph with No 86 Transport Wing Detachment RAAF, to commemorate the successful test of Britain's first ever nuclear bomb detonation on October 3, 1952. 'My grandfather Flight Lieutenant Ron Grace is seventh from left back row, and Maxine's father Leading Aircraftman [later Sergeant] Max Ward is third from left front row,' says Grace. 'They performed what they called 'coastal monitoring sorties' after testing, but that was code for looking for fallout – the British had promised that no fallout would reach the mainland.' Grace's grandfather wrote later: 'As pilot of the aircraft, I would have been the most exposed crew member, being shielded only by the Perspex of the front and side windows. The navigator, radio operator and Mr Hale being in the body of the aircraft had, presumably, more protection. 'Further to the above, after leaving the atomic cloud, we spent approximately two more hours in a radioactive airplane (as proved by the Geiger-Counter check) during the return to Onslow, landing, parking and shut-down.' Maxine Goodwin's father died of lymphatic cancer aged 49, when she was 16. 'He would have been servicing contaminated aircraft, so my mother and I do believe his illness was the result of his participation in the nuclear tests,' she says. 'When Paul and I looked across at the original runway where the Dakota planes would have been taking off and landing, I could visualise the busy scene from that time, and it was very emotional.' Gary Blinco's father Allen made several trips to the Montebello Islands during the test years, working as a navy diver recovering moorings in a lagoon and monitoring radiation levels. 'I knew as a young guy that my father had been there, but I didn't really know what it meant,' he says. 'I had a burning need to connect.' By the time Blinko was able to sit down with his estranged father to discuss it, the older man had been diagnosed with dementia. But he vividly recalled diving on the site of Royal Navy frigate HMS Plym, which had been detonated by one of the explosions; he recalled a depression in the seabed and 'a shiny base'. 'I'm told there was high stress about being a navy diver there,' says his son. 'I was able to swim in the water where my Dad had dived, and I walked on the beach where he guided scientists to do their monitoring. They were fully protected; he was wearing sandals and shorts.' 'The British did a very good job of keeping things under wraps and applying pressure on the Australian government to do the same.' Allen Blinko died of old age, but a 2006 DVA study of Australian participants in British nuclear tests in Australia showed an increase in cancer deaths and cancer incidence (18 per cent and 23 per cent respectively) than would be expected in the general population. 'They tried to explain these figures away, but they are really quite damning,' says Paul Grace, an author whose book Operation Hurricane gives a detailed account of the events and personnel involved in UK nuclear testing in Australia. The three descendants of nuclear veterans describe the Montebello Islands as haunting but beautiful. 'Within the landscape, you've got an incredible number of Cold War artefacts lying around, what the British referred to as 'target response items',' says Grace. 'It means stuff that they planted around the place to see whether it could withstand a nuclear blast, like World War II-era bomb shelters constructed out of corrugated iron and sandbags.' Another relic is the metal framework of the command centre on Hermite Island, which Grace, Goodwin and Blinko visited. 'It's where the scientists triggered all three bombs,' says Grace. 'It's on top of a hill with an extraordinary view over the entire island group, the only site during the tests that was still manned but evacuated afterwards.' The nuclear fallout was not limited to those servicemen involved. Still affected 70 years later are large tracts of land and seabed across the Montebello archipelago. New research into plutonium levels in sediment on some islands have found elevated levels up to 4500 times greater than other parts of the WA coastline. The research by Edith Cowan University, released in June, was supported by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency. Visitors are urged to spend no more than an hour on some islands. Grace says the Montebello story is a cautionary tale of Australia's over-eagerness to host Britain's nuclear test series, and of UK authorities' lack of safety and casual attitude toward radioactive drift. 'It forces you to question the wisdom of tying Australia's defence to powerful allies, especially in the context of the current debate over AUKUS, where the benefits are vague and shifting and the costs will only become clear decades in the future,' she says.

The Age
a day ago
- The Age
Those left behind: The long shadow of Britain's nuclear testing in WA
A son, a daughter and a grandson of Australian servicemen exposed to nuclear testing have made an emotional pilgrimage up to the remote Montebello Islands to capture details of an era with – literally and metaphorically – enduring fallout. Paul Grace, Maxine Goodwin and Gary Blinco recently stood together in the ruins of a bomb command centre overlooking the scene of three British nuclear tests in the 1950s that few younger Australians have ever heard of. As the world commemorates Japan's wartime nuclear blasts in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the trio say Australians should not forget the impact of atomic tests conducted on West Australian soil in the 1950s, starting with Operation Hurricane in 1952 and followed by two more tests in Operation Mosaic in 1956. Other atomic tests at Emu Field and Maralinga bookended the Montebello series. Grace, Goodwin and Blinco all know the tests left a family legacy of death or ill-health – and lingering contamination 70 years later on several islands. On a recent expedition up to the Montebello archipelago, 80 kilometres offshore from Onslow, the trio gathered documentary and archival material while filling gaps in their own family histories. For Grace and Goodwin, the most poignant moment was when they stood on the tarmac at Onslow airport in the exact spot where his grandfather and her father posed for a photograph with No 86 Transport Wing Detachment RAAF, to commemorate the successful test of Britain's first ever nuclear bomb detonation on October 3, 1952. 'My grandfather Flight Lieutenant Ron Grace is seventh from left back row, and Maxine's father Leading Aircraftman [later Sergeant] Max Ward is third from left front row,' says Grace. 'They performed what they called 'coastal monitoring sorties' after testing, but that was code for looking for fallout – the British had promised that no fallout would reach the mainland.' Grace's grandfather wrote later: 'As pilot of the aircraft, I would have been the most exposed crew member, being shielded only by the Perspex of the front and side windows. The navigator, radio operator and Mr Hale being in the body of the aircraft had, presumably, more protection. 'Further to the above, after leaving the atomic cloud, we spent approximately two more hours in a radioactive airplane (as proved by the Geiger-Counter check) during the return to Onslow, landing, parking and shut-down.' Maxine Goodwin's father died of lymphatic cancer aged 49, when she was 16. 'He would have been servicing contaminated aircraft, so my mother and I do believe his illness was the result of his participation in the nuclear tests,' she says. 'When Paul and I looked across at the original runway where the Dakota planes would have been taking off and landing, I could visualise the busy scene from that time, and it was very emotional.' Gary Blinco's father Allen made several trips to the Montebello Islands during the test years, working as a navy diver recovering moorings in a lagoon and monitoring radiation levels. 'I knew as a young guy that my father had been there, but I didn't really know what it meant,' he says. 'I had a burning need to connect.' By the time Blinko was able to sit down with his estranged father to discuss it, the older man had been diagnosed with dementia. But he vividly recalled diving on the site of Royal Navy frigate HMS Plym, which had been detonated by one of the explosions; he recalled a depression in the seabed and 'a shiny base'. 'I'm told there was high stress about being a navy diver there,' says his son. 'I was able to swim in the water where my Dad had dived, and I walked on the beach where he guided scientists to do their monitoring. They were fully protected; he was wearing sandals and shorts.' 'The British did a very good job of keeping things under wraps and applying pressure on the Australian government to do the same.' Allen Blinko died of old age, but a 2006 DVA study of Australian participants in British nuclear tests in Australia showed an increase in cancer deaths and cancer incidence (18 per cent and 23 per cent respectively) than would be expected in the general population. 'They tried to explain these figures away, but they are really quite damning,' says Paul Grace, an author whose book Operation Hurricane gives a detailed account of the events and personnel involved in UK nuclear testing in Australia. The three descendants of nuclear veterans describe the Montebello Islands as haunting but beautiful. 'Within the landscape, you've got an incredible number of Cold War artefacts lying around, what the British referred to as 'target response items',' says Grace. 'It means stuff that they planted around the place to see whether it could withstand a nuclear blast, like World War II-era bomb shelters constructed out of corrugated iron and sandbags.' Another relic is the metal framework of the command centre on Hermite Island, which Grace, Goodwin and Blinko visited. 'It's where the scientists triggered all three bombs,' says Grace. 'It's on top of a hill with an extraordinary view over the entire island group, the only site during the tests that was still manned but evacuated afterwards.' The nuclear fallout was not limited to those servicemen involved. Still affected 70 years later are large tracts of land and seabed across the Montebello archipelago. New research into plutonium levels in sediment on some islands have found elevated levels up to 4500 times greater than other parts of the WA coastline. The research by Edith Cowan University, released in June, was supported by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency. Visitors are urged to spend no more than an hour on some islands. Grace says the Montebello story is a cautionary tale of Australia's over-eagerness to host Britain's nuclear test series, and of UK authorities' lack of safety and casual attitude toward radioactive drift. 'It forces you to question the wisdom of tying Australia's defence to powerful allies, especially in the context of the current debate over AUKUS, where the benefits are vague and shifting and the costs will only become clear decades in the future,' she says.