Most mornings, Jan Arone walks from Fairy Meadow Beach to the lighthouse, stopping for a coffee before heading back – a 6km round trip that keeps the energetic 85-year-old moving. But Thursdays are different. That’s when she leads the Bushcare group at Puckeys Estate Nature Reserve, a rare coastal habitat of rainforest, dunes and marshland.
Once overrun with weeds, Puckeys is now on the verge of bringing Bitou bush under control, thanks in large part to Jan and her team of volunteers. These efforts were recognised last December when she received the Dunecare Golden Trowel at Wollongong’s Environment Volunteer Awards for her dedication to protecting the dunes and coordinating efforts to remove invasive species.
Born in England but raised in Africa, Jan spent her early years moving between remote communities as her father researched leprosy. "We always lived in the bush because leprosy wasn’t something that allowed for close contact with others," she says.
At seven, she was sent to boarding school in the Congo, later finishing her studies in Kenya and moving to Canada at 20. Her career took her from the Northwest Territories, where she taught Inuit children, to the Cayman Islands. From there, she moved to Australia to take on a role at Waniora Public School, before returning to the African bush – this time to Zambia, where she taught children for the Frankfurt Zoological Society.
"It was a huge privilege," she says. "That vast, unspoilt area was so isolated and pristine."
Wherever she was in the world, her connection to the land remained constant. Bushcare has strengthened that bond – not just with the land, but with the people who care for it.
"It’s such a friendly thing to do, and so gratifying when you see what you’ve accomplished," she says. "People come along after a tough week or when something’s gone wrong, and after a little time in the forest, they brighten up. They feel good because they’re helping Mother Earth.
"It’s so healthy being out in the bush. We’re down by the sea, we get the fresh air, we watch the waves and the dolphins – it’s just a lovely, gentle thing to do. Sometimes people tell me they wish we did it more than once a week."
Her Bushcare journey began about 12 years ago when she stopped to chat with a man pulling weeds at Puckeys.
"A very old, cranky man," she recalls with a laugh. Impressed, she decided to join him.
At the time, the Bitou bush had taken over the reserve, but as Jan and fellow volunteers cleared patches, locals started noticing.
"People would stop and thank us," she says. "Anyone who spoke to us, I made a point of thanking them too. I’d tell them why we were there and explain that we were the keepers of the forest."
Before long, more people started showing up, drawn to Jan’s enthusiasm, the work and the sense of community.
"I’ve never had to go looking for people – they’ve always come to me. And I’ve been so lucky. The people who’ve joined have been incredible, from university students to retirees. Some of the young ones have taught us so much about the unique plants growing in Puckeys."
The group focuses on tackling Bitou bush and asparagus fern – aggressive weeds that take over the place. Rather than relying on poison, they dig out weeds by the roots.
"It’s hard work, but we’d rather spend three hours clearing a patch properly than have weeds sprout back even stronger."
After years of persistence, they’re seeing results.
“We’ve been eradicating Bitou bush for so long, and in some areas, we’re down to pulling out the last seedlings – just six or eight inches high,” Jan says. “But there are still large patches of big Bitou that we hope to tackle soon. Once those are cleared, any new growth should be manageable.”
The work can be tough, but everyone moves at their own pace.
"We carry tools in, put the sign out and do some pretty hefty work. Then at the end of the day, we march all the way back. It keeps us active,” she says.
"But physically, we acknowledge people's ability. I let people choose what they want to do for the day and some just do gentle things. Sometimes they work on their own, sometimes they're quiet, sometimes we're full of chitchat. It's just a healing process."
That sense of purpose keeps bringing Jan back, and each day in the bush reminds her how lucky she is.
"My life has taken me to so many places, and I’ve had the chance to do so many things. But at heart, I’m a bushy. I feel deeply grateful to have spent my life in the bush."
Most of all, she’s grateful for Puckeys itself – a place she calls "precious".
"It’s one of the most important places in Wollongong – a piece of land that hasn’t been spoilt. And as long as I can, I’ll be here helping to protect it."
How to volunteer at Puckeys
Puckeys was one of the first Bushcare sites, established in the mid-90s with strong community involvement. Its unique coastal vegetation has attracted external funding, including bio-banking and environmental trust grants, which support volunteer efforts.
“We couldn’t do it without volunteers, but we also rely on grant funding,” says Greg Fikkers, Natural Areas Coordinator at Wollongong City Council. “Over time, the site has transformed from a highly disturbed area into a stable natural ecosystem, and we’re still improving it.”
Many locals have seen the change firsthand. “People who grew up here remember how degraded it was, and the transformation is really positive. But there’s still a lot of work to do – we’d love more volunteers to lend a hand.”