Last week we reported that the Turtles Forever program had reached the halfway mark of its 10-year effort to release baby turtles into the wild.

It's an ambitious project as research had shown that more than 90 per cent of the turtles born in the wild were being taken by foxes in the first days of their lives.

For five years now the hatchlings born at UNE as well as in nests have been released in local catchments. The turtles are native to the Northern Tablelands and are only found in western flowing rivers.

Last week's release of 141 hatchlings near Uralla took the total over the first half of the program to more than 1500. More than 1000 were from nests that have been protected on the riverbank, and 533 were from eggs incubated and hatched in the laboratory at UNE.

We will continue to keep an eye on the project over the next five years, which is a wonderful example of the community, landholders and different agencies working together.

Meanwhile, with the death of Prince Philip last Friday, we have taken a look back at the time he came to Armidale 51 years ago this month.

One year ago we put together a photo gallery to mark the 50^th anniversary of the visit and have taken another look back at it following Friday's sad news.

Laurie Bullock

Group Editor