ACKMA Journal No. 31. June 1998. Pages 35 – 37.

It is both interesting and satisfying to reflect on the progress of caves and karst over the last decade. Certainly, there have been disappointments. However, when one surveys the incredible list of achievements, noted below, I think all ACKMA members can be proud of the results. The list is not exhaustive, and not all items are entirely ACKMAs, but almost invariably ACKMA members have played essential roles in the outcomes. Indeed, I believe ACKMA has played a pivotal part, both as an effective organization and as a facilitator of crucial interpersonal linkages, in these achievements. Long may it so continue…

10–17 May 1987  7th Australasian Conference on Cave & Karst Management,
New South Wales
16 May 1987  ACMA Founded, Yarrangobilly Caves, New South Wales 
October 1987  Blackwater Rafting, Waitomo, New Zealand, opens for business
June 1998  Edition 1 of the ACMA Newsletter published
10–14 April 1989  8th Australasian Conference on Cave & Karst Management, 
Punakaiki, New Zealand
14 April 1989  ACMA becomes ACKMA – Biennial General Meeting, Punakaiki.
February 1989  Ruakuri Cave at Waitomo closed to the public
June 1989  Water Cave re-discovered at Wellington Caves
July 1989  Ruakuri Cave Karst Walkway at Waitomo Caves completed
August 1989  ACKMA team prepares a Report on Cutta Cutta Caves, Northern Territory
September 1989  New Zealand ACKMA team advises on cave management in Tonga.
Early 1990  Jillibenan Cave, Yarrangobilly, re-wired & given universal access
13–14 May 1990  1st Cave Guides Gabfest, Yarrangobilly Caves, NSW
June 1990  Eastern Chamber Extension, Fairy Cave, Buchan, completed for opening
9–15 September 1991 9th Australasian Conference on Cave & Karst Management, 
Margaret River, Western Australia
1–2 August 1990  Severe flooding of Wombeyan and Abercrombie Caves, NSW
3–5 March 1991  2nd Cave Guides Gabfest, Wombeyan Caves, NSW
8 January 1992 Jersey Cave Centenary Celebrations, Yarrangbilly Caves, NSW (following complete re-wiring and re-development)
12 December 1991 National Parks & Wildlife (Karst Conservation) Bill and the Wilderness (Karst Conservation) Amendment Bill pass through the NSW Parliament
8–9 February 1992 1st Australian Karst Studies Seminar/Workshop, Buchan, Victoria
17–18 March 1992 3rd Cave Guides Gabfest, Naracoorte Caves, SA
February 1992 International Network on Cave Protection and Management, established under the commission on National Parks & Protected Areas (CNPPA) with significant Australian involvement
March 1992 New Entrance Tunnel and re-development of Gaden Coral Cave, Wellington Caves, NSW, completed
April 1992 Olsens Caves, Rockhampton, Qld, universal access constructed and opened
17 April 1992 Cammoo Caves, Rockhampton, Qld, becomes self-guiding
31 July 1992 Benders Quarry near Exit Cave, Tasmania, closed by the Federal Government
9 August 1992 Undara Volcanic National Park, North Queensland, officially opened.
August 1992 Neil Kell awarded Churchill Fellowship to study cave lighting in USA
3 September 1992 ACKMA Committee meets in Melbourne
November 1992 Glowworm Cave at Waitomo, New Zealand, re-lit
Nov–December 1992 Waitomo Museum of Caves extended
26 December 1992 Moondyne Cave, Western Australia, re-opened as an Adventure Tour cave.
1 January 1993 Peter Dimond, Waitomo Museum of Caves Director, received the Queen’s Service Medal, in New Zealand New Years Honour List
24–26 March 1993 4th Cave Guides Gabfest, Buchan Caves, Victoria
17–23 May 1993 10th Australasian Conference on Cave & Karst Management, 
Rockhampton, Queensland
24–29 May 1993 Post Conference Study Tour to Undara and Chillagoe Caves, Qld
20–22 November 1993 2nd Karst Studies Seminar/Workshop, Wombeyan Caves, NSW
October 1993 Wet Cave, Naracoorte, SA, opened as Self-guided tourist cave
13 November 1993 Jubilee Cave Centenary Celebrations, Jenolan Caves, NSW
11 December 1993 Grand Arch self-guided Tour officially opened, Abercrombie Caves, NSW
December 1993 Tinted Cave (self-guided), Wombeyan Caves, NSW, completed & opened
14–18 March 1994 5th Cave Guides Gabfest, Jenolan Caves, NSW
8 April 1994 Newly-constructed Education Centre at the Waitomo Museum of Caves officially open by Rt. Hon. J. B. Bolger, Prime Minister of New Zealand
10 April 1994 Victoria Cave Centenary Celebrations, Naracoorte Caves, South Australia
14 May 1994 ACKMA Committee meets in Sydney, NSW
15 May 1994 Joint ACKMA – ASF Executive Meeting
10 July 1994 2nd Australian Seminar on Spelean History, Sydney University, NSW
July 1994 Rehabilitation Plan for Newdegate Cave, Hasting Caves, Tasmania, released
December, 1994 Naracoorte Caves inscribed on the Word Heritage List
10 January 1995 New Lighting & Re-development of Princess Margaret Rose Cave, Western Victoria, officially opened.
29 April–7 May 1995 11th Australasian Conference on Cave & Karst Management, Tasmania
4 May 1995  ACKMA Incorporated inaugurated
19 June 1995 Determining an Environmental and Social Carrying Capacity for the Jenolan Caves Reserve document officially launched.
11 August 1995 ACKMA officially incorporated
October 1995 ACKMA’s South East Karst Province of South Australia Report published
7 October 1995 Bat Cave Teleview Centre officially opened, Naracoorte Caves, SA
December 1995 Blackwater Café (new Blackwater Rafting headquarters) opened, Waitomo Caves, New Zealand
January 1996 New Jenolan Caves Reserve Trust building opened in Bathurst, NSW
February 1996 ACKMA Cave Guide exchanges
13–15 February 1996 3rd Australian Karst Studies Seminar/Workshop, Naracoorte Caves, SA
4–8 March 1996  6th Cave Guides Gabfest, Kelly Hill Caves, Kangaroo Island, South Australia
20 May 1996  New Ticket Office opened, Jenolan Caves, NSW
9 June 1996  ACKMA Annual General Meeting, Taralga, NSW
1 August 1996  Directory of Caves in Australia & New Zealand published
7 September 1996 Redeveloped Cathedral Cave, officially opened, Abercrombie Caves, NSW
13 November 1996 Mole Creek Karst National Park, Tasmania, proclaimed
15 November 1996 Phosphate Mine "Cave" officially opened, Wellington Caves, NSW
16 January 1997  New day-use facilities officially opened, Royal Arch Cave, Chillagoe, Qld
21 February 1997 Caveworks Interpretation Centre officially opened, Lake Cave, Margaret River, Western Australia
Early 1997 IUCN Guidelines for Cave and Karst Protection, edited by an ACKMA team, is published.
27 April–4 May 1997 12th Australasian Conference on Cave & Karst Management, 
Waitomo Caves, New Zealand
4 May–8 May 1997 Post Conference Study Tour – Takaka Karst, South Island, New Zealand
18 October 1997  Junction Cave Centenary Celebrations, Wombeyan Caves, NSW
26 January 1998 Anne Atkinson becomes a Member of the Order of Australia for services to geology at Undara in Australia Day Honours List
10–13 February 1998 4th Australian Karst Studies Seminar/Workshop, Mole Creek Caves, Tasmania
15–20 March 1998 7th Cave Guides Gabfest, Augusta/Margaret River Caves, WA
March 1998  ACKMA Report on Cape Range karst released by the WA Government
March–April 1998 ACKMA team undertakes management study on Christmas Island