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 eighth annual Cassowary Awards was held at RainForeStation in Kuranda on Saturday 25th November 2006. Mr Steve Wettenhall, the Member for Barron River, presented the nine Cassowary Awards.

The evening also featured the second year of the Young Cassowary Awards. These awards recognise the work of students and school classes in helping to conserve the Wet Tropics.

The recipients of Cassowary Awards for 2006 are pictured below with a brief description of their achievements.

Bloomfield River State School (Young Cassowary Award)

The Bloomfield River State School ‘Sunbirds’ devised a campaign to help raise awareness in the Bloomfield area about the endangered southern cassowary. They compiled a variety of information about cassowaries which they used to influence their schoolmates, families, the community and tourists. They made posters and a multimedia presentation; printed environmentally friendly shopping bags with slogans that were put on display at the local store; and planted and grew cassowary fruit trees from cassowary scats. The trees were donated to the Daintree Cassowary Care Group nursery and to other community revegetation projects.

Daintree Rainforest Foundation (Community Conservation)

The Daintree Rainforest Foundation has worked tirelessly to support conservation of the Daintree lowland rainforests. The Foundation has worked closely with CAFNEC ( Cairns and Far North Environment Centre), Douglas Shire Council and the State Government to help protect high conservation value blocks in the Daintree. The Foundation has also raised significant funds to strategically purchase seven blocks in the Daintree for important nature refuges and a wildlife corridor. Many members have protected their own properties as nature refuges. The Daintree Rainforest Foundation has played an instrumental role in securing the long-term protection of the Daintree coastal lowlands.

Deborah Pergolotti (Unsung Hero)

Deborah has shown unswerving dedication to the health of frogs in the Wet Tropics. She has been instrumental in setting up and running the Cairns Frog Hospital which has been in operation for at least ten years. The hospital treats sick and injured frogs brought in by the community. It also conducts research into frog diseases and their distribution. Deborah is a tireless and passionate advocate for saving Wet Tropics frogs.

Marcus and Tiffanie Bulstrode (World Heritage Neighbour)

Marcus and Tiffanie have worked hard to rehabilitate their property which adjoins the World Heritage Area at Mena Creek. They are conservationists who are committed to rainforest restoration projects and have incorporated environmental farming practices on their land. Through rehabilitation of weedy paddocks they have re-established rainforest which has become a wildlife refuge and a release site for native wildlife. As accomplished artists, they are inspired by their rainforest environment and its plants and animals.

Ann Wonga (Rainforest Aboriginal Culture)

Ann is a Yidinji elder who has been a committed volunteer at the Babinda Visitor Centre for over 10 years. Ann has personally contributed to the greater natural and spiritual understanding of the region through guided walks and sharing information with scientists and educators. She is the last of her clan and, therefore, feels it important to share her knowledge of Aboriginal lore with others. Her commitment to World Heritage Area values through her volunteering is unparalleled.

Betsy Jackes (Science)

A highly respected botanist, Betsy has enhanced our knowledge and understanding of Wet Tropics rainforests. Betsy’s tropical biology course at James Cook University in Townsville is renowned. In 1976 Betsy became a full-time lecturer and her field trips attracted botany students and botany professionals alike. She has written numerous books and journals including; Poisonous Plants in Northern Australian Gardens, Plants of Magnetic Island, A Guide to the Plants of the Burra Range and Plants of the Tropical Rainforest. Although now ‘semi-retired,’ Betsy still commits much of her time to botanical studies and teaching.

Phil Rist (Rainforest Aboriginal Culture)

Phil is a Nywaigi Traditional Owner who, through his community work for almost 20 years, has raised the awareness of traditional knowledge in the southern Wet Tropics. His open manner and approachable style has made him an ideal spokesperson for Aboriginal people. His is one of the founding members of the Girringun Aboriginal Corporation and works tirelessly to help Traditional Owners coordinate management of their land and sea country. As the Chief Executive Officer of the Girringun Corporation, his patience, articulation and teaching style has helped government agencies understand Aboriginal cultural issues. He was instrumental in the signing of the Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement, setting up the Cardwell indigenous ranger unit and having Lumholtz National Park renamed to Girringun National Park.

Ravenshoe Visitor Centre (Conservation Education)

Ravenshoe is a community that was deeply affected by the declaration of World Heritage and its impacts on the logging industry. So it is wonderful to recognise the team of dedicated volunteers from the Ravenshoe Visitor Centre who present the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area in a very positive manner. The Centre recently celebrated its tenth anniversary and, over this time, has continued to provide a wealth of information about both the natural and Aboriginal cultural heritage of the Wet Tropics.

Dawn and Cliff Frith (Arts)

Talented writers, photographers, publishers, researchers and nature lovers of the Wet Tropics, the Friths have spent 30 years presenting the Wet Tropics to the world. They are world experts on bowerbirds and birds of paradise and have photographed and written books on tropical birds, orchids, butterflies, reptiles and frogs. Initially without external funding, they produced some of the first publications depicting the World Heritage values of the Wet Tropics.

Young Cassowary Awards

In addition to Bloomfield River State School 'Sunbirds' winning the Young Cassowary Award, six other schools were honoured at the ceremony.

Outstanding Achievement Awards

• Grade 3LM at Mundingburra State School wrote, illustrated and published a book about a fig tree called Ferdinand and a friendly flying fox that comes to visit.

• Kuranda District College senior art students created a colourful and original rainforest tree and animal display for their local visitor centre.

Continuing Excellence Awards

• Aloomba State School ran a tilapia terminators fishing challenge and a litter free lunch campaign.

• Year 7 students from Redlynch State School promoted water conservation, waste reduction and revegetation at their school.

• Years 2 to 5 at Wonga Beach State School ran a worm farm business, held a Sustainable School open day and erected a nesting pole for large birds like ospreys.

• Hambledon State School ran a north Queensland Reef Guardian youth forum.