Sheila is a resident of Beecroft. She arrived in her new home in Beecroft on New Years Eve 1967 and has remained there to this day. 

In 1982 Sheila commenced bushcare in Beecroft Reserve. Working with Jenie Lewis and Esma Blackmore. 

From this point she has worked or organised bushcare groups across Beecroft and Cheltenham. 

In a recent Hornsby Shire Council publication celebrating 30 years of bushcare in the Shire she was described as a “Bushcare Legend”. 

 

Contribution to society

Sheila has devoted much of her time for over three decades in caring for the bush in Beecroft and Cheltenham. 

Not only has she learnt her bush craft from leading exponents but has experienced the diversity of environments from the Pioneer Track near Ray Park to Observatory Park in the north. 

She completed studies at Ryde TAFE to increase her knowledge. 

She has always been generous with her time and knowledge in sharing bushcare with others and this is not only amongst the bushcare groups, that she has established, but also in response to general enquiries and students undertaking botany, environmental or bush care related studies. 

One of the expert reports obtained during work on the M2 commented that the bushcare in Beecroft Reserve under Sheila, had created one of the best maintained bits of bush in Sydney. 

She, together with Ross Walker, lead two bush walks a year for the Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust – and has been doing this for decades. 

The contribution that she has made to the quality of our environment, and to make Beecroft a destination for bushwalking is of the highest possible standard.