Vale Jack Scouters

Just like to let Jervis Bay community know of the passing Jack Soeters.

Many of you may not know of Jack but here’s a thumbnail of his and others efforts in protecting JB.

Jack was the driving force for the creation of the Jervis Bay Protection Committee. Initially formed, circa 1981, to protect JB from the catastrophic damage to the sea floor caused by the scallop dredges, btw, approved by Fisheries. The dredging was eventually stopped.

Another challenge to JB and the JBPC was the proposed relocation of the RAN’s East Coast Armaments Depot from Sydney Harbour to Green Point/Cabbage Tree Beach. Although the proposal had been smouldering from many years, the 2000 Olympics created an urgency for relocation. In 1993, the JBPC gained support from Greenpeace and the Australian Conservation Foundation and held a peaceful protest on Cabbage Tree, led by Peter Garret, the ACF president at the time (I think).

A video of JB was created by Attila Biskos (ex JBDC and JBPC member), “A Vision of Jervis Bay”. It was the first video to be shown in the “New” Parliament House, in 1994, and was instrumental in changing the minds of ministers regarding the location of the ECAD. It was eventually relocated to Twofold Bay.

It was the second largest environmental campaign after the Franklin in Tasmania and was applauded by PM Paul Keating who invited Jack and other members of the JBPC to Canberra to congratulate them.

The JBPC, along with other stakeholders, then lobbied MP’s, Council, State and Federal Govts. for what was deemed impossible, the creation of the Jervis Bay Marine Park, which was finally gazetted in 1998.

The pics are from 1993, crikey, 32 years ago . In the first pic Jack has the clipboard standing behind PG.

Vale and RIP Jack Soeters, Jervis Bay and today’s users, Thank you.

Scallop dredging : https://youtu.be/tfFsikJ0eKg?feature=shared

Visions of Jervis Bay: https://youtu.be/y7UmpWwYoVw?si=oN-VBoHOx7itbiRh

Article credit - Jervis Bay Dive Club

Remembering Jack Scouters