Jess Beckerling inducted into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame

16 March 2023

We are delighted to announce that WAFA convenor Jess Beckerling has been inducted into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame 2023 for her dedication to climate, forests and social justice. In particular, for her contribution to the major breakthrough in government policy to protect WA’s South West forests.

Held on International Women’s Day at Government House, the annual event recognises the contribution of a diverse group of women to the social, economic, historical, scientific, cultural,
and political achievements of women in WA.

Welcome to Country was given by Respected Elder Glenda Kickett, also a WA Women’s Hall of Fame inductee (2016). The Minister for Women’s Interest The Hon. Sue Ellery MLC then gave an address and welcomed each inductee to the stage.

‘I am really grateful to be inducted tonight – for me, it symbolises recognition of leadership in the WA forest campaign and our recent success in protecting native forests and and preventing huge volumes of carbon emissions,’ Jess said.

‘The Suffragettes taught us about the power of courage, of endurance, and in community. And in facing injustice we need these qualities now, to face the crises we are all so familiar with today. The work we have in front of us is very clear. It is no secret that we need to rule out new coal and gas and to reconnect and care for country.

A real part of that work is in building community action and, as the Minister said, in amplifying voices for women. Thankyou to the organisers of the event and congratulations to the other inductees.’

The 20 inductees for 2023 were drawn from the fields of arts, business, community, culture, education, health and sport. You can read their biographies on the WA Women’s Hall of Fame website.

Jess spoke with from RTR FM (one of the sponsors of the WA Women’s Hall of Fame), about her experience and the value of collaborative feminist leadership in WA’s environmental campaign. Listen to the full interview over at RTR FM.

Images by Matt Jelonek and supplied by WA Women’s Hall of Fame.

Protect the tingles from prescribed burning, for good

Tingles are a large, ancient tree species that are only found in a small area in WA’s Southwest, close to Walpole. They can live for more than 400 years, reach heights over 55 metres and have the largest base of any eucalypt, and provide critical habitat to many threatened plants and animals. They are vulnerable to frequent fire.

In December 2024, Giants East, a tingle forest block in the famed Valley of the Giants, was torched as part of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA)’s prescribed burning program.

More than 100 giant trees collapsed in the intense burn, with flames reaching the tops of many trees in one of the worst outcomes seen by WA’s prescribed burning program.

After persistent community action, three tingle-karri blocks, Nornalup, Coalmine and Mount Clare received a reprieve at the end of 2025 and were removed from the burn plan until July 2026.

But these blocks, and other tingle forests, aren’t safe forever. They could be on the burn plan for 2026-27. There must be a commitment from the WA Government to permanently protect tingles from prescribed burning and revise how fire is managed in these areas.

Over time, tingle forests self-thin and become naturally less flammable. Left unburnt, they are less of a fire risk than forests burnt in the last 30 years.

In a drying climate that is increasingly prone to bushfires, it’s important to be bushfire ready, but prescribed burning shouldn’t be the only tool in our bushfire prevention kit. It is vital that the Southwest’s prescribed burning practices reflect current science and a changed climate, and funding is directed towards rapid detection and suppression of bushfires.

Smoking collapsed Tingle after the giants east burn

It is of the highest priority that the tingles are protected from fire not just in this burn plan, but for good.

Please contact the Premier and relevant Ministers using our template to urge them to permanently protect tingle forests from prescribed burning. Enter your details to start writing your email.

Read more about the Giants East burn or about rapid suppression technology.