About the Marine Discovery Centre
In 1999, Ted joined forces with teacher and business partner Kerrie Trees. Together they created the unique opportunity to host camps and day visits for students, teachers, community groups and holiday makers at Hastings Point Caravan Park. The original Marine Discovery Education Centre welcomed thousands of school students, and visitors who travelled from far and wide to learn about the importance of protecting the marine environment.
In 2008, thanks to the generosity of proprietors of North Star at Hastings Point, Ian and Diana Beadel, Ted and Kerrie relocated their resource centre and collections to the Resort. Ian allocated the space required in his state-of-the-art Seascape Building for a token rent of just $1 per year.
With ongoing future education very much the focus, it was agreed Ted’s collection would remain at North Star to carry on his legacy and to ensure the collection can be appreciated for many years to come.
A history of giving
Ian and Diana Beadel have once again invested in the Centre to ensure the longevity of this unique environmental learning facility. This latest philanthropic gesture from the couple came at a cost of around one million dollars, an investment Ian sees as “paramount to the continuation of fostering respect and knowledge of the marine environment amongst younger generations.”
“Many aren’t aware that this is one of the only privately-funded Marine Education facility in Australia, a valuable community asset that we believe must be fiercely protected”.
“This facility is one of a kind in Australia, if not the world, and this latest redevelopment is the next phase of our long-term strategy to ensure its future,” said Ian.
Today
The new Marine Discovery Centre incorporates state-of-the-art technology in a world-class display of marine and coastal science. Traditional displays blend seamlessly with interactive digital terminals and audio and visual elements to enhance the learning experience.
Our vision
Our engagement and relationship with nature is paramount to our wellbeing and to the wellbeing of our ocean-planet home. Education is key to unlocking our continued understanding of the many and complex issues that exist.
Always question; always seek out new ways of delivering scientific information to all and formulating our social conscience about our environment. The look but don’t touch, stay in your seats, nose in your textbooks approach is not how we should be nurturing budding young scientists and it certainly doesn’t cut it when it comes to learning how to care for our oceans and its inhabitants.
We want to inspire people to experience nature. In turn they are encouraged to look at their individual footprints and become empowered to take responsibility for protecting our oceans, beaches, rock pools, creeks, rivers and our unique country, now and into the future.