In Their Own Words

Mornington Peninsula locals give their thoughts

Animal Kingdom

Lights like the sun blind our nocturnal space,
Magic's intrusion, disrupting our grace.
Potter enchantment, a twisted spell,
bringing intruders with wands and stories to tell.

Oh, magical beings, your spectacle grand,
But heed this critique from our native land.
Koalas, kangaroos, possums, we unite,
Against your intrusion, under the moonlight.
The bush is not your stage, the trees aren't a set,
Respect our habitat, lest you regret.

Michael Leeworthy
Mornington Peninsula Artist and Author

A Plea to Harry Potter Author J.K. Rowling

Originally published in The Mornington Peninsula News (9 January 2024)

Dear J.K.,

I’m writing to you with an appeal. I’m sure you get a zillion of these letters each day, but I’m hoping this one reaches your heart.

In the little town where I live, Mount Martha, there is a small park with an old sanctuary for rare Australian birds, wildlife and plants. Most of these are small shy nocturnal creatures with the beautiful powerful owl at the top of the food chain.

At night you can tour through this sanctuary and, armed with a pale red light, you might catch a glimpse of a koala, possum, or any of the small ground dwelling marsupials and plants that are nurtured within its boundaries.

The reason for this letter is that yesterday, buried in the fog of Christmas activity, it was revealed that Warner Brothers and our local council will be hosting a Harry Potter night time extravaganza inside this little sanctuary. This will attract thousands of visitors, lighting, sound and generating infrastructure.

There is a lot of money changing hands for this event and it is being presented as a fait accompli and no one, especially the traumatised animals, will have any influence over these decisions. I am appealing to you in good faith and with your considerable influence over all things Potter, to please reconsider this venue choice?

There is a lovely community forest within one kilometre of this site that would make a wonderful enchanted forest with all the same amenities and no environmental impact whatsoever.

I’m sure Harry Potter fans worldwide would applaud this consideration for the fauna and rare plant species at The Briars sanctuary. Please help if you can?

Best wishes.
Anthony Wood, Mount Martha
(and the tiny residents of The Briars, Mornington Peninsula Shire, Australia)

Letters to the Editor

For the past four weeks, Mornington Peninsula residents have written to the Mornington Peninsula news to give their thoughts on the Shire Council’s decision to hold the Harry Potter Forbidden Forest Experience in the Wildlife Sanctuary at The Briars. Read the letters by clicking below.

Lockdown Lament

The decision by our Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors to host the Harry Potter event inside The Briars Wildlife sanctuary goes against the ethos of our whole community. I wrote this poem during the lockdown when The Woodland Walk was our sanctuary. Please relocate.

Walking at The Briars
every day we walked at the Briars            
through the wetlands
tree roots tripped us up on days
when we weren’t looking
kangaroos startled us when we talked too much
Some days the woodland
hills were easy and
some days they
were tough going
when our spirits were low the kookaburras laughed
there was space to breathe
smell the fern and wattle
black cockatoos chipped
at branches overhead
an echidna crossed our path with yellow tips
one time we saw a white heron
walking in the shallows
it spread its wings gracefully
and took flight
the emu was unpredictable and we gave it respect
the land flattened out towards the end
our heads quiet and our
boots heavy with earth
only then we were silent
when the black copperhead moved, we stood still
no words left, just us there
resting together on our favourite bench
until we laughed at some silly memory
from our childhood
quietly we closed our eyes, listening to our breathing
we neared the crossing over the wooden bridge
the river was slow with reeds and lilies
after the rains it gushed loudly
and raised the flood gates
we dipped our feet in the cool running water
October brought the sweet smell
of fresh cut grass and the gentle wave
of spring petals blowing in the breeze
the seasons light was changing
then we knew this time was nearly over – we were heading home

Delia Tobin

Mount Martha

A Letter to J.K. Rowling

Dear Ms. J.K. Rowling,

Urgent Appeal for Environmental Support at The Briars Wildlife Sanctuary

I am writing to you with deep admiration for the magical world you created in the Harry Potter series and a plea for your support in a matter of great concern. The Briars Wildlife Sanctuary in Victoria, Australia, a haven for protected birdlife, wildlife, and the threatened Powerful Owls, is facing an unprecedented challenge. The Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has, unfortunately, approved the Warner Bros Harry Potter ‘Forbidden Forest’ event that is planned to commence in April 2024.

The extravagant light and sound show poses a significant threat to the delicate ecosystem nurtured within The Briars. This event, featuring loud sounds, singing, and the operational noises of food vendor engines, is set to draw a nightly crowd of 3,000 people. Disturbingly, it has been revealed that the newly planted endemic vegetation, vital to the sanctuary’s biodiversity, will be ripped out to accommodate this spectacle. As a local resident and an enthusiastic environmentalist, I am witnessing the distress caused to our beloved sanctuary, and I am not alone in this concern. Some
residents are now trying to sell their tickets, seeking refunds due to the unforeseen impact this event will have on the sanctuary’s ecosystem.

I am reaching out to you, not only as the beloved creator of the Harry Potter universe but also as someone with a demonstrated commitment to environmental causes. I believe that your voice could be a powerful advocate for The Briars. Your influence extends beyond the magical realm into the hearts of millions who share a passion for the natural world. I kindly request that you consider expressing your concerns about the potential environmental repercussions of this event at The Briars, urging a reconsideration by the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council.

Your support in preserving this sanctuary, where magical creatures of our own world find refuge, would be invaluable. Together, we can ensure that The Briars continues to be a sanctuary for generations to come.

Thank you for your time and consideration, I appreciate the positive impact your voice can have on this critical matter.

Sincerely,
RR and LC (Victoria, Australia)