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The Koonung Mullum Forestway Association was a local environment group that campaigned to save the Koonung and Mullum Mullum Creek valleys from freeway construction in Melbourne's east.
When I joined the KMFA, local residents had campaigned against the extension of the eastern freeway for over 20 years. In 1992, the state government pledged to protect the valleys and halt the eastern freeway extension.
My involvement began after the newly elected Kennett government reinstated the project and began clearing bushland.
Over the next four years, I organised protests and public meetings, produced newsletters, flyers and posters and wrote dozens of media releases, earning regular coverage in local and metro media.
The Bracks government ultimately preserved the most sensitive section of the Mullum Mullum valley by adding a 1.6km tunnel to the design of the EastLink project.
27 January 1996: Supporters join the KMFA's 24 hour occupation of the Koonung Creek valley in North Balwyn. The occupation lasted for 76 days, until police used excavators, chainsaws and jackhammers to remove protesters from trees, a tripod and a concrete lock-on device. The dramatic end to the occupation was covered by all major television, radio and print outlets, including a live broadcast by Channel 9's Today program. Channel 9 news described us as "polite protestor[s]" who "vowed to continue their good natured protest downstream".
December 1997: The election of the Labor candidate in a byelection for the state electorate of Mitcham marked a significant turning point for the campaign to protect the Mullum Mullum Creek valley. I wrote and designed flyers and local newspaper ads urging voters concerned for the future of Mullum Mullum Creek to put the Liberals last.
October 1997: With the loss of the Koonung Creek valley, the KMFA worked to expose the threat that freeway extensions posed to the ecology and wildlife of the Mullum Mullum Creek valley. I designed the "platypus crossing" banner for this outdoor public meeting, which was covered on radio and TV.
8 November 1998: Mike Colle and Eunice Morris recreate Frederick McCubbin's Bush Idyll within Mullum Mullum valley's threatened bushland. I designed this photo opportunity after the City of Whitehorse, which supported the extension of the freeway, attempted to buy the painting. The event was covered by radio and TV news.
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