Our Wildcare Tasmania community is deeply saddened by the recent passing of Kevin Hyland, who was a passionate conservation advocate, community leader, and volunteer who made an extraordinary contribution to Tasmania’s North West Coast and to the Wildcare community.

Kevin was someone who believed in getting involved and getting things done. Across many decades, he gave his time, energy, and experience generously to his community – through local government, sport, conservation, and volunteering.

A determined advocate for threatened species

Within Wildcare Tasmania, Kevin was highly regarded for his passion, knowledge, determination, and practical approach to conservation.

As President of the Wildcare Friends of the Freshwater Lobster, Kevin was a driving force behind the Lobster Ponds Haven at Flowerdale, helping continue the vision first established by the late Don Bramich. When the Ponds closed around 15 years ago, Kevin brought volunteers together to reopen the facility and his determination continued to build the Ponds into a place where people could experience and learn about some of Tasmania’s remarkable threatened species.

At the heart of this work was the Giant Tasmanian Freshwater Lobster (Astacopsis gouldi) – the world’s largest freshwater crustacean and a species found only in the rivers and creeks of northern Tasmania. Kevin Hyland holding a Giant Tasmanian Freshwater Lobster

Kevin’s commitment saw the Lobster Ponds became an important education and conservation centre, welcoming school groups, community members, and visitors, giving people the opportunity to see these extraordinary animals up close. The Ponds also achieved a world first when Giant Tasmanian Freshwater Lobsters bred there in captivity.

Kevin’s conservation work extended beyond the freshwater lobster. He had a strong interest in threatened bird conservation and worked for many years towards supporting orange-bellied parrot (OBP) conservation at the Lobster Ponds.

Wildcare Tasmania Chair Marianne Gee, who is also President of the Wildcare Friends of the OBP, visited the Lobster Ponds on several occasions and saw firsthand Kevin’s passion and determination to create better outcomes for threatened species.

Kevin had a real vision for what could be achieved for threatened species. Each time I visited the Lobster Ponds I was struck by his determination to keep improving the site, creating opportunities for people to see and learn about threatened species, and turning ideas into action.

While Kevin didn’t get to see his dream of orange-bellied parrots at the Ponds realised, his work achieved so much. The walk-through aviary he helped establish gives visitors the opportunity to see swift parrots and a variety of native finches up close, while learning more about the importance of protecting our threatened species.

Kevin made an enormous contribution to conservation in Tasmania and to Wildcare. His passion, practical approach, and determination to make things happen will be greatly missed.

A legacy of action

Kevin’s contribution is best highlighted not just by the many positions he held in the community, but in what he achieved through them.

He brought people together. He shared his knowledge. He advocated for the places and species he cared about. And perhaps most importantly, he worked to make things happen.

His contribution to the Wildcare Friends of the Freshwater Lobster, the Lobster Ponds, and threatened species conservation in Tasmania will continue to have an impact well beyond his lifetime.

Kevin will be greatly missed by his fellow Wildcare volunteers and by the many people and organisations who had the privilege of working alongside him.

Wildcare Tasmania extends our deepest sympathies to Kevin’s family, friends, fellow volunteers and the wider community.

Vale Kevin Hyland, and thank you for an extraordinary contribution.

Vale Kevin Hylandx 2 Cropped

Friends of Freycinet

Sunshine and beaches - in the search for sea spurge