by Carla Caruso

Many nature-loving people make up our association, helping to promote and protect your Park Lands. One of them is Helen Hutton, who recently became a Park Ambassador for Tarntanya Wama (Park 26). She’ll lead her first guided tour for APA there in March. We asked her a few questions to find out more about her.

Hi, Helen. What drove you to become a Park Lands Ambassador?

I have been going on the guided tours for some time. I love history and researching and learning about Adelaide. I have a low-key, anonymous Instagram account where I post ‘Adelaide things’ and was asked a few months ago by another Park Ambassador if I’d be interested. 

I jumped at the chance – both because I have a genuine interest in the protection of the Park Lands and have an, as yet, unfulfilled plan to be a tour guide ... so a perfect opportunity!

At this stage, I have not led a guided tour of Tarntanya Wama (Park 26). This park is new on the association's offerings and I’m looking forward to the inaugural walk on 27 March, 2022.

What’s your favourite park in the Adelaide Park Lands, and why?

Each park has its own special significance for the Kaurna people, as well as a unique history and development since settlement in 1836 - so it is hard to choose a favourite.

I have always loved the glorious Tainmuntilla / Botanic Park (Park 11) with its wonderful canopy and open spaces.

I love the park for which I am an ambassador. Tarntanya Wama / Park 26 is a diverse but fractured park, which has several different segments due to sustained encroachment dating back to the early days of colonisation – the establishment of Adelaide Oval in 1877 and the Festival Theatre in the 1970s are just two examples – and [this is] continuing to the present day. 

The area has significance for the Kaurna people while at the same having many points of historical and contemporary interest such as Pinky Flat, Elder Park and Light’s Vision. The diversity of this park interests me, but it also needs protection from future encroachment.

What keeps you busy when you’re not being a Park Lands Ambassador?

I am a freelance editor and writer and am currently working as an instructional designer, developing training materials for apprentices. 

I have an interest in research, and apart from delving into Adelaide’s past, I am currently researching material based around my German ancestors in South Australia. 

I am also an ‘emerging’ poet and have been excited to have had poems published in various collections in 2021.

Do you have a favourite story to tell about the Park Lands? 

The wonderful thing about the Park Lands and going on the association’s guided tours is finding out about things I never knew about – like the old well at the Adelaide High School oval (Gladys Elphick Park / Narnungga – Park 25), the sculptures in Veale Park / Walyu Yarta (Park 21), and who would have thought there was a rubbish dump in the now sculpted gardens of Rymill Park / Murlawirrapurka (Park 14)? 

There are so many treasures in the Park Lands and each tour or personal visit unfolds a new story.

What do you consider to be the most pressing issue for the Park Lands?

Without a doubt, the Park Lands are under threat, resulting from a lack of vision by the state government. The lack of regard for the heritage status of the Park Lands and their unique character continues without a view to future generations. 

The Park Lands must be saved and nurtured, and future development not allowed to get even to the proposal stage if we are to have any chance of keeping and protecting this precious resource.

Thanks, Helen. To those interested in becoming a Park Ambassador, leading a guided walk annually for APA, please get in touch here.