What’s Vibin’: Whispers of Wilderness film inspires ongoing community wellbeing program

A LOCALLY made short film has sparked something bigger than its makers imagined – a community program now reaching into schools, hospitals, aged care facilities, town halls and community centres right across the Coffs Coast.

Whispers of Wilderness was produced in 2025 by the National Parks Association (NPA) NSW Coffs Coast Branch, funded through the City of Coffs Harbour Environmental Levy, and filmed by local filmmakers Bathtime Productions.

“It brought together Traditional Owners, marine scientists, conservationists and local business people to speak honestly about this remarkable stretch of coast – where tropical rainforest meets temperate ocean, where the Solitary Islands Marine Park teems with life, and where the Macleay-McPherson Overlap creates a biodiversity hotspot found nowhere else in Australia,” the NPA Coffs Coast Branch said in a statement.

The film premiered to a full house at the Jetty Theatre in April 2025.

A year on, the NPA Coffs Coast Branch is proactively connecting and engaging communities right across the region and the film has brought a whole suite of community resources with it.

Stage Two of the Whispers program – again funded by the City of Coffs Harbour Environmental Levy – has produced a new website and a suite of nature-inspired resources for all ages and abilities: a colouring book illustrated by Lisa Foote, postcards and bookmarks by artist Faye Owner, and a jigsaw puzzle designed by Jess Harwood.

They are on their way to aged care facilities, hospital wards, schools, preschools, libraries and community groups right across the region.

“At the heart of the program is a growing body of evidence that time in nature is good for us in ways that are measurable and accessible to everyone,” the NPA Coffs Coast Branch stated.

“Studies show that as little as one to ten minutes outdoors on a regular basis can lift mood and reduce stress, while 20 minutes of regular connection with nature is enough to lower cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone.

“A major analysis of nearly 450 studies found consistent evidence that contact with nature reduces depression and anxiety and enhances overall wellbeing across all age groups.”

The program was formally launched on Monday 13 April at the Jetty Theatre, with speakers exploring nature-based tourism, the Coffs Coast’s status as NSW’s first certified ECO Destination, business opportunities in the nature sector, and the recently announced establishment of the Great Koala National Park – a landmark conservation achievement for the region.

A series of free community events now follows.

First up is an afternoon at the Toormina Community Centre on Saturday 2 May from 3-5:30pm, featuring two outstanding speakers.

Environmental educator, wildlife naturalist and self-described “reclusive nerdy type” Andrew Turbill is perhaps best known on the north coast as “the bird guy”.

He has spent a lifetime paying close attention to birds and believes deeply that tuning into the natural world is one of the most profound ways we can reconnect with where we live.

With nearly 20 years’ experience managing environmental and Aboriginal education rangers with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Andrew also brings serious scientific credentials to his love of landscape-scale ecology and knowledge of the impacts of climate change on Gondwana World Heritage rainforests.

He is joined by Professor Kirsten Benkendorff, marine biologist and Director of the National Marine Science Centre at Southern Cross University, whose research spans ocean ecology, seafood health and the discovery of promising anticancer compounds derived from marine organisms.

Together they offer a rich portrait of the terrestrial and marine ecosystems that make this coast so extraordinary. On Saturday 23 May, Uncle Micklo Jarrett and Aunty Yvette Pacey will share their knowledge of caring for nature and Gumbaynggirr Country at the Coffs Botanic Gardens Nature Discovery Room from 9:30am to 12:30pm.

And on Saturday 20 June, the series concludes at the Woolgoolga Community Village from 2-4:30pm, with speakers exploring the Great Koala National Park and the restorative benefits of walking in nature.

All events are free, with light refreshments provided.

The Whispers of Wilderness film is screened at each, and everyone who comes along takes home a nature-inspired colouring book, postcards and bookmarks.

They also go into the running to win one of the beautiful Whispers of Wilderness jigsaw puzzles.

For more information and to register, visit www.npanswcoffscoast.org.