by Carla Caruso

Dr Ingrid Wangel has many strings to her bow. She’s APA’s Deputy President, also our Park Ambassador for Denise Norton Park / Pardipardinyilla (Park 2), a rural generalist doctor, and a muso - plus the daughter of an Olympian.

As well, Ingrid’s part of a community reference group, recently recruited by the State Government to provide feedback on its three proposed Park Lands sites for a new Aquatic Centre.

We spoke to Ingrid about what makes her so passionate about your Open, Green, Public Adelaide Park Lands.

Hi, Ingrid. Why did you become a Park Lands committee member? And how long have you been involved?

I have always loved the Adelaide Park Lands but had not realised how much they were being built on and damaged until the AFL franchise staked a claim for ‘free land’ to build the Crows headquarters on Denise Norton Park (named after my mother, the first SA female Olympian – she swam in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics).

I became actively involved then, in 2018.

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

Usually whichever Park I have most recently visited. They are all quite different. In one of the July APA guided Park walks, we walked around Bonython Park [Tulya Wardli – Park 27].

I loved the unique opportunity to stand by the river there, under century-old trees, feeling as though I was in remote Australia, even though it was right in the heart of Adelaide.

The Park Lands are so unique. They are the cooling microclimate of the CBD heatsink.

It’s just crazy for the government to keep allowing mature tree felling and new huge buildings on public, national Park Lands when there are suitable alternative brownfields sites available. Haven’t they heard of climate change?

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

Until late last year, I worked quite a lot in hospitals and in Aboriginal medical clinics in remote NT. The wilderness up there is quite special.

I also really enjoy playing violin and a couple of other instruments for bush dances. Pre-COVID, I was travelling most years to Scandinavia to learn more Swedish and Finnish tunes.

They have a strong traditional dance and music culture over there. They also love nature and protect it much better than we seem to in Australia. 

Do you have any favourite memories from time spent in the Park Lands? 

I used to walk around the horse paddocks in North Adelaide [Park 6] with my young children – they loved the horses and looking at all the different trees.

We also had great times at the Bush Magic Playground in Denise Norton Park.

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

The continuing grab by the State Government and other developers to use and abuse the Park Lands as though it is a building site.

It needs to remain Open, Green, and Public. They are whittling it away in ever-larger chunks while insipidly muttering, “No net loss.”

[Editor’s note: The slogan “no net loss” is either a trick; or it’s failing to grasp an opportunity to RESTORE.]