Heathcote MP Maryanne Stuart said World Ranger Day presented an opportunity to remember former Royal National Park wildlife research officer, Ian Mahood.

Mr Mahood was one of 11 names on the honour roll read during a service today at the National Parks and Wildlife Service’s (NPWS) memorial in the Blue Mountains.

Mr Mahood tragically died on October 11, 1981, whilst onboard a helicopter conducting a survey in the state’s Central West.

Pilot Alan Adamson and passengers Leon Lim and Chris Martin were also onboard and survived the crash.

Mrs Stuart said World Ranger Day was an opportune time to remember the hard work and dedication of NPWS staff.

“We are so fortunate in the Heathcote electorate to have the Royal National Park – the second oldest national park in the world – in our backyard,” Mrs Stuart said.

“We are also fortunate to have the Heathcote National Park located within our boundaries.

“Protecting, preserving and promoting our national parks is a dream job for many NPWS staff – but it can certainly be a testing task at times.

“It is often NPWS staff who are on the frontlines during a crisis like fire and flood.

“Today, we pause to remember those 11 NPWS staff, including Ian Mahood, who lost their lives serving our community.”

The National Parks and Wildlife Service honour roll is as follows:

Jack Erskine, Ranger, Kosciuszko National Park, 1978

Ian Mahood, Wildlife Research Officer, Royal National Park, 1981

David Earle, Conservation Architect Historical Resources Subsection, NPWS, 1986

Mark Cupit, Field Officer, Sydney North Area, 2000

Claire Deane, Field Officer, Sydney North Area, 2000

George Fitzsimmons, Senior Field Officer, Sydney North Area, 2000

Erik Furlan, Field Officer, Sydney North Area, 2000

Bryce Laut, Senior Ranger, Manning Hastings Area, 2008

Aaron Harber, Ranger, Dorrigo Area, 2009

John Garland, Field Officer, Upper Hunter Area, 2011

Richard Oswald, Crewperson, ParkAir, 2022