I am a parent of three and grandmother of two, and have lived at Ellendale in the Upper Derwent Valley with my husband John for three years.

We had a landscaping and plant propagation business for 20 years, are now semi-retired, trying to live simply and tread lightly.

We moved to this part of Tasmania because we love the wild beauty, weather and easy access to pristine, wild places where we love to walk.

I usually live a quiet, reclusive life, preferring to go for a walk, work in the vegie garden, or knit for aids orphans than to attend social functions.

So how did I become a Face of the Florentine?

Last year I attended a community information day at the Upper Florentine held by other concerned Derwent Valley residents, and I walked through the magnificent forest that our government is intent on destroying.

I then became involved with the other locals trying to gain a better outcome for the forest in my backyard.

Then later on, I went out to the Florentine and saw that our government had destroyed a part of this forest.

The images of what I saw there still haunt me, we must not lose one more tree, fern or nest from this precious forest.

There is not one good reason to destroy this ancient, irreplacable forest and so many good and sensible reasons to protect it.

But I don’t think the Florentine should have to prove its worth or pay its way, we can protect it, and should protect something so beautiful for future enjoyment by all.

We need our wild, pristine places more than we need more timber and paper products to discard. It is comforting to know these places are there – wild, free and beautiful.

Please help us save the Florentine.

Help save the Florentine now