Cassowary Awards - 2008

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 tenth annual Cassowary Awards were held at Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park at Smithfield on Saturday 8th November 2008. The Awards were presented by Mr Jim Turnour, Member for Leichhardt, representing the Australian Government, and Mr Steve Wettenhall, Member for Barron River, representing the Queensland Premier, Ms Anna Bligh.

The evening also featured the fourth year of the Young Cassowary Awards. These awards recognise the work of students and school classes in helping to conserve the Wet Tropics. The Young Cassowary Awards were presented by Lt Gen John Grey AC, WTMA board chair, and Mrs Pam Birkett from the Daintree Discovery Centre.

Sponsors of the event were Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Daintree Discovery Centre, Terain NRM, Steve and Meredith Russell and Hartleys Crocodile Adventures.

The recipients of Cassowary Awards for 2008 are pictured below with distinguished guests, followed by a brief description of their achievements.

Back: Steve Williams, Ken Chapman (Skyrail), Daryl Dickson, Jim Turnour MP, Steve Wettenhall (MP), Peter Freeman, Mike Berwick, John Grey (WTMA), Linda Venn
Front: Stella Martin, Leonard Andy, Angela Freeman, Barbara Lanskey, Neville Simpson

Daryl Dickson (Arts)

Daryl is a brilliant wildlife artist and wildlife carer who also rehabilitates injured and orphaned native wildlife. Daryl’s work reflects her dedication to the environment. Daryl and her partner, Geoff, share a passion for mahogany glider conservation and habitat protection. The first captive bred mahogany glider to return to the wild was successfully released on their Kennedy property. This year Daryl illustrated her first children’s book –a story about a mahogany glider.

Barbara Lanskey (Community Conservation)

Barbara has been the president of ‘Trees for the Atherton and Evelyn Tablelands’ (TREAT). Since 2001 her invaluable work has involved working bees, tree planting days and newsletter publications. Barbara was instrumental in developing the TREAT visitor centre and instructs local and international students about revegetation. Her unswerving enthusiasm is a wonderful example of how to succeed with community conservation.

Mike Berwick (Conservation)

Mike has done so much for conservation at all levels. Currently the Chair of Terrian NRM, Mike still commits his time, energy and passion to conserving the Wet Tropics WHA. In the 1980s he was committed to the campaign to protect the Daintree rainforest. As mayor of Douglas Shire Council he led the way for local councils in achieving a balance between tourism, industry, agriculture and the environment. Mike is a man of immense vision and drive and a powerful advocate for sustainability.

Neville Simpson (Education)

Neville has taught environmental education at Malanda State School since 1973 and has worked in the far north all his life. He has been involved in the development of a diverse range of environmental education products in the region and has written many publications. Neville provided the inspiration and content for much of the Authority’s Rainforest Explorer school curriculum and helped design the TREAT on Tap program for primary schools.

Stella Martin (Government)

Stella has written the ‘Ranger Diary’ media articles and ‘Tropical Topics’ newsletters for tour guides for many years, providing a public face and easily accessible information to the wider community. Over the past 20 years as a committed conservationist she has been dedicated to community education. Stella is a committed advocate for the sustainability of the region’s future.

Angela and Peter Freeman (Nature Based Tourism)

Angela and Peter’s commitment to nature based tourism is evident at ‘Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures’. Creating a tourism experience that promotes education and awareness for the Wet Tropics, they have committed resources to wildlife rescue, helping to rehabilitate and release cassowaries with the EPA. Leading by example they support and implement sound conservation and land management practices in their business.

Walker Family Tours (Nature Based Tourism)

The Walker family recognised there was an opportunity to share their passion for the local area with visitors to the region. Walker Family Tours now offer a short walk to Wujal Wujal ( Bloomfield) Falls, a warm and insightful indigenous rainforest experience intertwined with interpretation and conservation messages. Five local women lead the tours and provide a friendly insight into their links with the country. This successful venture has become a valued part of visitors’ rainforest experience for some major tour companies, adding a unique aspect to their tourism products.

Mr Leonard Andy (Rainforest Aboriginal Culture)

Leonard is a true ambassador of Rainforest Aboriginal Culture. For many years he has helped to manage the ‘Clump Mountain Community Education Centre’ in Mission Beach. Sharing his traditional knowledge he helps to educate the local community about World Heritage values. He is passionately devoted to cassowary conservation and has assisted scientists with their cassowary research. Leonard is also a talented artist who has produced a range of art work for public display in Mission Beach.

Assoc. Prof Steve Williams (Science)

Steve is Director of the ‘Centre for Tropical Biodiversity and Climate Change’ at James Cook University. Over the past 15 years Steve has undertaken internationally acclaimed and ground-breaking research on the biodiversity of the Wet Tropics fauna and its susceptibility to climate change. He has modelled the bioclimatic distribution of all the Wet Tropics vertebrates and predicted impacts of an increased temperature. His vital work has been used by Australian and international scientists and management agencies.

Linda Venn (Unsung Hero)

Linda is a teacher with a passion for environmental education, history and ecotourism, particularly in Paluma. She has worked consistently with her local community imparting her knowledge about the southern Wet Tropics and its people. This has involved working with WTMA, EPA and NQ Water. Linda has authored a book about the history of Paluma ‘Paluma the first eighty years 1870s – 1950s’. For the past eight years she has been an active member of the of the Authority’s Community Consultative Committee (CCC).

Hambledon State School (Young Cassowary Award)

Hambledon State School has a holistic approach to environmental education. Children of all ages have undertaken a wide range of outstanding environmental projects. These include: A rainforest canopy diorama, community environment art competitions, hosting a group of American students on a national geographic tour, collecting and recycling old mobile phones and presenting ideas to the Cairns 2020 summit.

Wonga Beach State School (Young Cassowary Award)

Year 6/7 students have given up their free time over the past year to design and build their own mini wetland. Developed in consultation with Australian experts the wetlands were constructed within the school grounds. This newly created habitat has been carefully designed to mimic the function of a natural wetland. This project is a great addition to the school both aesthetically and environmentally.

Young Cassowary Awards

In addition to the two Young Cassowary Award winners above, four other school classes received awards for their efforts.

Outstanding Achievement Award

• Middle School, Kuranda District College for producing the Be-cassowary children’s storybook

Continuing Excellence Award

• Aloomba State School for organising the annual Tilapia Terminators fishing challenge.

Encouragement Awards

• Heatley Secondary College for the creation of the butterfly garden by The Lepidoptera Club.

• Isabella State School for the ongoing environmental efforts of the Eco Warriors project.