FOKE’s committee consists of a terrific group of passionate heritage and environment
advocates —Ursula Bonzol, Joy Bryan, Christiane Berlioz, Carolyn Darby, Janet Harwood, Denise Hendy, Janine Kitson, Julie McArdle, Katrina Pickles, and Tanya Wood.
I would personally like to thank each of them for the time and commitment they give to
FOKE and for their valuable contribution to the committee’s work throughout the year.

I would particularly like to thank patient stalwart Tanya Wood for her valuable contribution
as Treasurer for the past few years and who retired as treasurer in April this year. Julie
McArdle has kindly stepped in to take over her role.

We also thank FOKE’s meticulous and reliable Minutes Secretary, Katrina Pickles, for the
great care in recording and writing up the committee meeting minutes every two months.
Another committee member who has been carrying out the role for many years.

Also, our thanks and appreciation to Public Officer Carolyn Darby, for her persistence and
patience in attending council meetings and reporting to the committee about decisions made by Ku-ring-gai Council, the Ku-ring-gai Planning Panel and the Sydney North Planning Panel.

A special thank you to member Jill Johnstone who retired as membership co-ordinator in
April. For the past 20+ years Jill had managed and updated FOKE’s membership lists and printed the labels for FOKE TALK newsletters etc. Having Jill’s assistance was of immense help to me and to the committee. We thank Jill sincerely for her tireless support and assistance to FOKE.

Our incredibly talented and hard-working Vice President, Janine Kitson has continued in the role to collect, organise, write, and edit the newsletter, FOKE Talk and Mailchimp Enews. Our email list of members and supporters has grown considerably over the past year. Switching to Mailchimp has been a good decision. It enables FOKE to build email lists, design newsletters, through a user-friendly interface, specialising in mass email distribution and membership communication. However, FOKE’s communication to members would not function without Janine’s IT expertise.

We thank Janine for being a witness and in representing FOKE at The Select Committee on Access Restrictions to Public Lands and Waterways and to give evidence at the ‘Inquiry into Access Restrictions to Public Lands and Waterways’ on Monday 20 April 2026 at Parliament House.

A huge thank you to Bruno Codemo a long-standing member and FOKE’s auditor who has just audited our account for the 31st time. Bruno’s years of professional accounting expertise and assistance to FOKE each year is greatly appreciated. Bruno has kindly offered to continue the audit in 2026.

Congratulations to FOKE Committee member Christiane Berlioz for her Ku-ring-gai Council Bushcare Outstanding Contribution Award for being a tireless environmental volunteer who has made a difference in Ku-ring-gai for over 17 years.

Christiane has been the Convenor for Mashmans Quarry, Turpentine Forest—The Coppins and the Ivor Wyatt Reserve in St Ives demonstrating outstanding leadership and care for the bushland. She has also played a key role in Streamwatch, monitoring Quarry Creek in Bicentennial Park and has served for many years on the Ku-ring-gai Bushcare Association (KBA) Committee.

Christiane is a strong advocate for places like Norman Griffiths Oval and the St Ives Showgrounds “always standing up for our local environment and community”.

Read FOKE’s full Report 2025-2026:

August 2026