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Kieran Tapsell

Banksia Bushcare solves African art mystery with AI

By Kieran Tapsell of Banksia Bushcare When the Suez Canal was being built in the 1850s, many Greeks were brought in as labourers and tradesmen. After the completion of the canal in 1869, many of them stayed in Egypt. However, after the Suez Crisis...

Kieran Tapsell

July 2025

Science & Nature

Tree of the Month: Black She-oak

Wollongong area has two genera of species belonging to the Casuarinaceae family. There are three species of Allocasuarina and two of Casuarina, and they tend to grow in different soil types and conditions. The Allocasuarina littoralis grows along...

Kieran Tapsell

April 2025

News

Egg-ceptional: How Stanwell Park children make Art in the Park

The Stanwell Park Children’s Centre in the Stanwell Avenue Reserve has been involved in Banksia Bushcare’s work since its formation in 2017. We invited the Children’s Centre to have their pupils paint some of the eggs for the nests we created...

Kieran Tapsell

April 2025

Science & Nature

Tree of the Month: Tree Heath

On Friday, December 13, Kieran’s Banksia Bushcare group took home the 2024 Fostering Community Spirit Award at Wollongong City Council’s volunteer recognition ceremony at the Fraternity Club in Fairy Meadow. Read the full story here

Kieran Tapsell

January 2025

Science & Nature

Tree of the Month: Brown Beech

Kieran Tapsell of Banksia Bushcare shares his local tree of the month Brown Beech (Pennantia cunninghamii) can be found throughout the Illawarra. It has distinctive alternative, oval shaped, bright green leaves, with undulating margins. It is often...

Kieran Tapsell

December 2024

Science & Nature

Tree of the Month: Native Peach

Trema tomentosa (Native Peach) can grow into a small shrub or tree, and grows right throughout the Illawarra area, within rainforest and on the coastal plain. When small it is easily confused with lantana because of the similar serrated shape and...

Kieran Tapsell

November 2024

Science & Nature

Tree of the Month: The Alexander Palm

By Kieran Tapsell, of Banksia Bushcare Alexander Palm (Archontophoenix alexandrae) is indigenous to northern NSW and Queensland, but it thrives in frost-free areas further south, and has been planted widely in the Illawarra. It is a cousin of the...

Kieran Tapsell

September 2024

Science & Nature

Tree of the Month: Bangalow Palm

By Kieran Tapsell, of Banksia Bushcare Archontophoenix cunninghamiana (Bangalow Palm) can be found in colonies along the escarpment, but they are not as common as the Cabbage Tree Palm. That may be because they are generally killed by fire. Cabbage...

Kieran Tapsell

July 2024

Science & Nature

Tree of the Month: Water Gum

Tristaniopsis laurina (Water Gum) grows prolifically in the Stanwell Creek area where it can reach 15 metres. It also appears along the escarpment, and the Royal National Park, usually at the heads of watercourses. Its range is from south-east...

Kieran Tapsell

June 2024

Science & Nature

Tree of the Month: Red Cedar

Toona Ciliata (Red Cedar) is famous for its furniture timber. It also has a bloody history with the arrival of the first cedar cutters in the Illawarra in 1810 and the subsequent conflict with the Aboriginal people. Most of the cedars were cut down...

Kieran Tapsell

May 2024

Science & Nature

Woo-hoo! Powerful Owl returns to Stanwell Park

From time to time at Stanwell Park we are woken up by the screech of a train, a police or ambulance siren, mufferless motorbikes and someone doing wheelies in the parking areas. But it is not often you are woken at 3am by a powerful owl less than 50...

Kieran Tapsell

April 2024

Science & Nature

Tree of the Month: Blue Lilly Pilly

Syzygium oleosum (Blue Lilly Pilly) is common in the northern part of the Illawarra escarpment. It is mainly found in the rainforests of the plateau and occasionally on the higher reaches. It is mostly a spindly bush, but it can grow to 10 metres...

Kieran Tapsell

March 2024

Science & Nature

Tree of the Month: Brush Cherry

Syzygium australe (Brush Cherry) This Lilly Pilly is common throughout the Wollongong area, but does not quite reach Stanwell Park naturally. It usually occurs in creeks on the lower half of the escarpment but can also be found on the western part...

Kieran Tapsell

February 2024

Science & Nature

Tree of the Month: Sloanea australis (aka Maiden’s Blush)

Sloanea australis (Maiden’s Blush) is a rainforest tree extending throughout the Wollongong area, including Stanwell Park. It is more commonly found along the watercourses of the escarpment. It can grow to about 15 metres. It has large dark green...

Kieran Tapsell

January 2024