When Peter Gash took over the lease for Lady Elliot Island in 2005, he set out to “leave the place better than we found it” – a guiding principle that still drives the revegetation program today.

With help from the resort’s grounds team and passionate volunteers – especially John Meech (Meechy) – Peter began planting native trees, one cutting at a time. The island nursery had humble beginnings, starting as a single table growing Pisonia tree cuttings from the few that had survived the guano mining. It has since grown immensely, supporting thousands of plants.

Volunteers were the heart of those early years. Meechy, a turtle ranger from Mon Repos, volunteered his time giving nightly turtle talks to guests, then spent his days digging holes for Pisonia trees. Later, Jim and Anne Buck joined as volunteers and became core members of the team when funding support arrived.

Over the years, hundreds of guests and staff have also lent a hand. Many people feel a deep connection to Lady Elliot Island and want to give back – whether by planting trees, helping in the nursery, or simply lending their time to care for this special place.

A major turning point came in 2017, when Peter met with Prince Charles during a roundtable event held on the island to raise funds for the Great Barrier Reef Foundation’s Reef Islands Initiative. That day, $10 million AUD was pledged to fund large-scale restoration projects across selected Reef islands, including Lady Elliot Island, which received approximately $1.5 million AUD in funding. This support helped transform the revegetation program from a small-scale effort into a fully resourced restoration project.

Today, with a dedicated revegetation team, an expanded nursery and over 10,000 trees planted, the program has grown from humble beginnings to a full-scale restoration effort.

As Peter often says: “We’re standing on the shoulders of giants.”

Every leaseholder before us played a part. With continued support, we’re now able to build on that and make a bigger impact – and ensure the island thrives for generations to come.

The People Behind the Plants

Lady Elliot Island’s revegetation success is thanks to the dedication of many — from early volunteers to today’s expert team.

“Meechy”

Meechy was the island’s first revegetation volunteer. A long-time turtle ranger, he spent decades helping care for the island. During the day, he began planting trees – collecting cuttings from the last remaining Pisonia grandis and establishing the original forest nursery. His early efforts laid the groundwork for what would become a thriving Pisonia forest.

“Annie”

Annie Buck also began as a volunteer and became the first Nursery Coordinator when the revegetation team was formally established. Annie managed the island’s on-site nursery with great care, raising thousands of native seedlings and ensuring healthy plants were ready to support the island’s regrowth.

“Jim”

Jim Buck first arrived on the island as a volunteer and eventually became the Revegetation Manager for several years. Under his leadership, the program grew into a large-scale, science-backed effort to restore native vegetation. Jim played a key role in coordinating planting efforts, training new team members, and guiding the ecological direction of the program.

“Liam”

Liam is the current Revegetation Manager, taking over from Jim. His creativity and adaptive management style have helped the program continue to thrive. From responding to seasonal challenges to improving weeding and planting strategies, Liam plays a vital role in the ongoing success of the island’s revegetation.