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Panda exchange at Adelaide Zoo
The Adelaide Zoo will bid farewell to giant pandas Wang Wang and Fu Ni, with the pair returning to China in the coming months.
While Wang Wang and Fu Ni’s 15-year residency at Adelaide Zoo might be coming to end, two new pandas from China are expected to call South Australia home at a future date.
Zoos SA Chief Executive Elaine Bensted says Adelaide Zoo has had the pleasure of hosting Wang Wang and Fu Ni for the past 15 years.
“Since 2009, the pair has been seen by over five million visitors,” Elaine says.
“Every single one of those visitors has learned something about these unique animals and been drawn into their story of survival and the need for their conservation.
“The arrival of new pandas will continue that storytelling and allow us to engage a new generation in the importance of giant panda conservation.”
Adelaide Zoo will work closely with the state and federal governments and their Chinese counterparts to plan for the arrival of two new pandas.
Elaine says the conservation status of giant pandas has improved since Fu Ni and Wang Wang arrived in 2009.
“The downgrading of the species from endangered to vulnerable is, in part, due to the heroic efforts of conservationists in China, around the world and right here in Adelaide,” she says.
“Together, the efforts to save the giant panda has resulted in an increase in their numbers in the wild. We hope that with a new pair of giant pandas arriving at Adelaide Zoo that this will only continue to improve.”
RAA members save 10 per cent on tickets and select experiences at Adelaide Zoo. Visit raa.com.au/Adelaide-zoo for more information.
President's message
Your vote matters
The Board is unanimously asking you to support the suite of Constitutional changes that will set RAA up to deliver more for our members in the years ahead.
In our busy lives, it’s hard to find time to get everything done, and I appreciate voting to strengthen RAA’s corporate governance may not be your highest priority.
But if you can find five minutes to read the special insert in this edition of sa move and cast your vote – you’ll be doing your bit for a much stronger RAA in the future.
Voting is as simple as using the form included in this edition of the magazine or jumping online from the comfort of your couch.
If you’ve read the materials and you have further questions before you vote, we’d love to hear from you. We’ll be holding a member information session on 29 August, which you can register to attend in person or online. Registration details can also be found in the voting materials or, as always, please email companysecretary@raa.com.au with any questions.
You’ll continue to be an RAA member and help ensure our state’s largest membership organisation remains strong for another 120 years, so I encourage you to vote in favour of these important governance changes.
Thanks in advance for your time and consideration of these important improvements to your RAA’s governance.
Kathy Gramp
RAA President and Chairman of the Board
Celebrating 50 years of the City-Bay Fun Run
The Lumary City-Bay Fun Run will celebrate its 50th year in 2024 as it takes over the streets between the CBD and Glenelg.
Thousands of runners, walkers, and wheelchair athletes are set to participate in the 3km, 6km, 12km or half-marathon 21km distances, with many of these participants rocking fancy costumes and fundraising for charity.
With the aim of attracting 50,000 participants for the 15 September event, organisers are offering $25 off online registration for RAA members.
At Colley Reserve, racegoers will enjoy the biggest fun run village to date, and can take advantage of free massages, snacks, and other goodies. Register now to participate in the 50th year of our state’s greatest fun run.
RAA members can take advantage of this exclusive member offer and save $25 on City-Bay registration until 31 August. Visit raa.com.au/city-bay for more information. This offer doesn’t apply to the 3km event.
Future moves for RAA
RAA has secured long-term leases for two new locations leading up to its mid-2026 exit from Mile End due to the Torrens to Darlington (T2D) Project.
Construction of RAA’s brand new, purpose-built Technical Centre at 599 Port Road, West Croydon will start in the coming months, with a move planned for 2026.
It will be home for Automotive Services, the Child Safety Centre, Drive School, part of Travel and Distribution and Solar and Battery.
“When constructed, the Technical Centre will provide our people with a modern and dynamic workplace, as well as the tools and tech needed to best serve our members for years to come,” RAA Chief Executive Officer Nick Reade says.
“When considering the best site for our technical-centred services, easy access to public transport, proximity to the CBD and the North-South corridor were front of mind. This site ticked those boxes.”
RAA is adding another location to its city footprint in 2026 – a long-term office at 150 Grenfell Street, which is seeking to become South Australia’s first up-front carbon-neutral certified office building.
“This reflects RAA’s commitment to reduce its environmental impact and maximise sustainability,” Nick says.
The Grenfell Street location will be able to house about 500 RAA staff members and also have member-facing facilities.
An artist's impression of RAA's new Grenfell Street home.
SA's war on single-use plastics
From the start of September, there will be a new group of single-use plastic products banned from sale in South Australia. The products include rolled-up plastic bags often seen in the supermarket produce section, food bag tags and single-use plastic beverage containers, such as takeaway coffee cups.
In 2021, South Australia introduced its first ban on single-use plastic products, including cutlery and drinking straws. Since then, more items, such as plastic plates and pizza savers have been phased out.
RAA Sustainability Specialist Lisa Hall says for the future of the planet and our health, we must reduce our use of single-use plastics. “Retailers and cafes will offer more environmentally friendly packaging as the plastic ban rolls out, but you can go one step further and bring your own reusable coffee cup, fold-up shopping bags and produce bags,” Lisa says.
For more information, visit replacethewaste.sa.gov.au
IMAGES: SATC/Adrian Mann, City-Bay, Getty, Kambitis Group, RAA.
