Cassowary Awards - 2005

Each year the Wet Tropics Management Authority recognises individuals and groups who have made outstanding contributions to the conservation and presentation of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.

The seventh annual Cassowary Awards were held at Hartley's Crocodile Adventures at Wangetti Beach on 19 November 2005. The awards were presented by the Queensland Minister for Environment, the Hon Desley Boyle. The evening featured the introduction of a new youth category - the Young Cassowary Awards.

The Cassowary Award recipients are pictured below and a brief summary of their achievements follows.

Back row: Bob Jago, Ron Birkett, Andrew Graham, Stan Breeden, Steve Russell.
Front row: Victor Maund, Shayne Allanson, Jenny McLean, Pam Birkett, Allison Halliday.

Wonga Beach State School

Shayne Allanson (Government)

Shayne is well known in the Johnstone and Cardwell Shires for her commitment to preserving the endangered cassowary. In her employment as a QPWS ranger, Shayne regularly goes above and beyond the call of duty - successfully rehabilitating sick injured and orphaned cassowaries, working with local government and community groups, and educating the community about cassowary conservation. Shayne leads by example and fosters community involvement in cassowary conservation. She has established a model for natural resource managers working with endangered species. Her education of children in schools and drivers using roads in cassowary areas has resulted in a marked reduction in road deaths in some areas. Her commitment of time and energy goes well beyond her paid responsibilities and today we say thank you for her efforts.

Stan Breeden (Arts)

Stan was the first person to write books about the rainforests of the north in the 1960s. He has written more than 12 books about rainforest and Aboriginal culture and has won number of awards for his literary talents. His writing prowess, teamed with his stunning photography, reflects the majestic beauty of our World Heritage Rainforests, and the proud traditions of the ancient Rainforest Aboriginal culture. Stan is also an outstanding filmmaker winning a number of international awards, including two Emmy awards with Belinda Wright for writing and cinematography. Their documentaries “Land of the Tiger” and “Australia’s Twilight of the Dreamtime” won a total of eight awards internationally and were National Geographic specials. A committed conservationist, Stan has been educating the world through his work - encouraging greater appreciation for this unique area. He is still writing informative and educational books on this topic and still producing exquisite photography and cinematography.

Willie Brim (Nature Based Tourism)

Willie is a member of the Djabugay / Bulwai community and a Traditional Owner of the land around Kuranda. Willie has had a long involvement in rainforest conservation. He possesses a boundless knowledge of Rainforest Aboriginal cultural heritage and a passion for Traditional Owner involvement in the ecotourism industry. Willie's efforts have seen the progressive development of cultural tourism opportunities at Bare Hill and the Pendas with the formation of Djabugay Country Tours. The company helps to train Indigenous people to become certified guides to conduct cultural and interpretive tours - providing training and employment for his community. Willie's enthusiasm has not wavered and he still is involved in tours, lectures, bush tucker and wildlife guiding and land management.

Daintree Discovery Centre (World Heritage Neighbour)

Ron and Pam Birkett, the owners of the Daintree Discovery Centre, are always striving for new and innovative ways of showcasing Wet Tropics rainforest to the public. With its rainforest canopy walk and educational tours, the Centre has become an icon for rainforest interpretation in far north Queensland. Under the guidance of the highly motivated Ron and Pam Birkett, staff at the centre give visitors a comprehensive tour of the rainforest, from the ground to the canopy. Ron and Pam's love of the rainforest and its wonders is shown by their ecologically sensitive approach to rainforest education. The Daintree Discovery Centre has deservedly received many regional, state and national ecotourism awards. Today we'd like to add a Cassowary Award to that list.

Dr Andrew Graham (Science)

A CSIRO ecologist (who has now retired) and prominent researcher in rainforest dynamics, Andrew’s studies in "disturbance and change" have altered how we think about the evolution of north Queensland’s vegetation and landscape over the past 30,000 years. Andrew was a Churchill Fellow who studied in USA and Canada with the specific aim of contributing to Wet Tropics management. He has been actively involved in conservation for more than 30 years and has a particular interest in the location and design of walking tracks in the Wet Tropics. His passions for bushwalking and professional research came together in the development of the Misty Mountain Trails, where he provided advice about the best routes and interpretive opportunities. Andrew has always been willing to share his extensive knowledge and enthusiasm throughout the community.

Bob Jago (Community Conservation)

Bob’s ability to identify thousands of Wet Tropics plants has provided botanists, governments and community groups with invaluable information on plant species and their distribution in the World Heritage Area. An avid bushwalker, Bob started collecting plants and sending them to the Queensland Herbarium at just 15 years of age. One of his most exciting finds was a new species of fern that was named after him. Bob also enjoys a bit of detective work, researching and finding plants ‘presumed extinct’ by early botanists. In his words, Bob said he’s been extraordinarily lucky to find a couple of presumed extinct plants and gets a thrill finding them almost 100 years since they were first recorded. A self-taught botanist, Bob’s expertise is sought by all tiers of government, private consultants and the Queensland Herbarium. If it is green or grows Bob is interested.

Allison Halliday (Rainforest Aboriginal Culture)

Allison has provided outstanding leadership to reconcile partnerships between Rainforest Aboriginal people and World Heritage management agencies. Allison was a driving force in the development and signing of the Wet Tropics Regional Agreement. This agreement provides a framework for meaningful involvement of Aboriginal people in World Heritage Area management. Allison is a highly respected member of the Rainforest Aboriginal community. Her enthusiasm for the recognition and preservation of her culture and countless hours of volunteer work is admired by all.

Victor Maund (Rainforest Aboriginal Culuture)

Victor has shown great leadership to the Ma:Mu people as the Vice Chair of the Ma:Mu Aboriginal Corporation. He played a key role in the establishment of the award-winning bush tucker garden in Innisfail and is a great source of knowledge for teachers and students studying bush tucker at the Innisfail TAFE. Victor has been involved in negotiations over the Ma:Mu Canopy Walk, ensuring the aspirations of Traditional Owners and their cultural heritage are considered in the planning process. He is also active in the broader community. Last year he was the Chair of the North Queensland Land Council Governing Committee. He is the Ma:Mu delegate for the Aboriginal Rainforest Council, and is also the Indigenous representative on the Chamber of Commerce. He is a Director of the Ma:Mu Health Board and has previously served as Chair of the Nikojarwin Legal Service in Cairns.

Jenny McLean (Community Conservation)

A Cairns local, Jenny has been a tireless advocate for the conservation, rescue and rehabilitation of bats, especially the spectacled flying fox - listed nationally as a vulnerable species. Jenny has worked hard over many years to establish a world-renowned rescue facility, the “Tolga Bat Hospital”. The hospital attracts a large number of international volunteers and a group of dedicated local volunteers. During the dreaded paralysis tick season, these volunteers save the lives of many different species of flying fox. Each year the hospital treats between 400 and 700 bats (mostly spectacled flying foxes) and, in Jenny’s words, “goes crazy”, raising up to 300 orphan spectacled flying foxes in a season. The hospital is also involved with education and research projects. Jenny is also the inspiration behind “Tolga Bat Rescue and Research” on the Atherton Tablelands, and established it as an incorporated non-profit community group in 2002.

Steve Russell (Unsung Hero)

Steve has been a driving force behind cassowary conservation in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area for nearly a decade, being a member of the Wet Tropics Cassowary Advisory Group for seven years - five of those years as the as the Chair. Steve's tenacity and expertise in local government has helped him rally support from all levels of government in his efforts to decrease cassowary deaths on roads and stop the destruction of their habitat through urban development. He has also implemented and financed a number of cassowary projects in the Mission Beach area and is a strong voice against the destruction of cassowary habitat. His quiet determination to ensure survival of this endangered species is inspiring.

Wonga Beach State School (Young Cassowary Award)

Fourteen months ago, Wonga Beach introduced an holistic approach to environmental education. They’re not only learning about sustainability, they’re acting on it. Students and teachers have revegetated two hectares of degraded wetland, and replanted large parts of the school grounds. The whole school is working hard to reduce their impact on the environment by reducing waste, energy and water use. I get the feeling this school could certainly teach the rest of us a thing or two.

Young Cassowary Awards

In addition to Wonga Beach State School, four other finalists were honoured at the Awards ceremony.

• Bartle Frere State School undertook a comprehensive study of tropical rainforests.

• Aloomba State School did a major study on river health, including participation in the tilapia terminators competition.

• Hambledon State School carried out a range of environmental projects including painting murals, tree planting and learning about the reef.

• Sonja Martin from from St Teresa's in Ravenshoe wrote a well-researched and imaginative journal about a rainforest expedition.