Sold-out Denmark benefit night draws large crowds in united call to protect ancient tingle forests from burns

A sold-out benefit concert in Denmark on Friday night drew a large crowd in a strong show of community support for the protection of ancient tingle forests. About 300 people attended the event and were able to enjoy local performances from Adam Grok, Rhian Bethan, the Femmonics Choir, Charlie McGee from Formidable Vegetable, Primordial Notes and Critical Hippo. The event was hosted by the WA Forest Alliance and was organised in response to growing concern about ecological damage caused by prescribed burns in fire-sensitive red tingle forests. The evening provided the space to address this growing concern. A live mass email action was held during the event allowing people to send a strong, unified message to Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn calling for an urgent policy change. Auntie Eliza Woods delivered the welcome to country and explained the deep cultural significance of the tingle forests. “These ancient tingle trees you are here to support tonight are more than giants of the forest, they are part of our story, they have stood for centuries, watching over ceremony, they hold memory, they hold spirit, they remind us our country’s alive and that we have a responsibility to look after it,” Ms Woods said. Member of the Tingle Action Group, Via Stidwell said the community wanted to see action taken by the Government. “What we saw on Friday night was a community that is speaking loudly in hope that the Government will act before next summer to protect these one-of-a-kind tingle forests,” she said. “People have written submission, signed petitions, attended rallies and listened to experts being ignored. “This turnout makes it clear that the public expects a clear policy shift to protect tingle forests before any more are lost to prescribed burns.” The Tingle Action Group is calling on the State Government to develop formal policy settings that protect red tingle forests and to impose an immediate suspension on prescribed burns until those protection policies are in place to prevent further damage. With autumn burns still planned, the group says it supports fire management approaches that protect both community safety and the tingle forest ecosystem.