The Cassowary Awards - 1999

The inaugural 1999 Cassowary Awards were initiated to mark the tenth anniversary of the listing of the World Heritage Area. So successful were the awards that the Wet Tropics Board then decided to make them an annual event.

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 first annual Cassowary Awards were held at the Cairns Convention Centre in Cairns on 17 July 1999. The awards were presented by the Queensland Environment Minister, the Hon Rod Welford, and Commonwealth Environment Minister, the Hon Robert Hill. Tim Flannery was the guest speaker for the evening.

The Cassowary Award recipients were:

Margaret Thorsborne (Community Conservation)

Margaret, along with her late husband Arthur, has spent most of her life promoting and supporting environmental values. A founding member of the Community for Coastal and Cassowary Conservation (C4) in Mission Beach and of the Tully branch of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland, Margaret is well known for her selfless efforts in working to preserve the unique and outstanding World Heritage values of Hinchinbrook Island and the Hinchinbrook Channel. The Thorsborne Trail on Hinchinbrook Island was named in honour of Margaret and her husband.

Anna Graham (Nature Based Tourism)

Anna and her late husband developed the Daintree Wilderness Lodge with environmental and conservation issues as their primary focus, offering gusets a true 'close to nature' experience. This is evident from the the 'Advanced Accreditation' awarded to the Lodge by the National Tourism Accreditation Program. Anna's relentless interest in the preservation of Wet Tropics values is evident in her donations to the Daintree Cassowary Care Group. Anna has also been actively involved in the many community and nature based tourism committees dealing with Wet Tropics issues over the past eight years. In addition, Anna's successful business activity in the region has contributed to the economic sustainability of nature based tourism in the Daintree area.

Ernie Grant (Indigenous Culture)

Ernie is an elder of the Jirrbal people. He was born and raised in the rainforest and is a passionate supporter of the forest and its people. Ernie is in great demand as a speaker and teacher about the cultural values of Aboriginal people. He is recognised as an outstanding researcher into Aboriignal cultural heritage and is a great advocate of enhancing the status of local Aboriginal people through the sharing of culture with visitors and locals.

John Donaghy and family(Wet Tropics Neighbour)

As the problems of tropical forest fragmentation and isolation place greater pressures on our dwindling populations of animals and plants, a realisation has dawnd that the preservation of biodiversity is no longer simply a case of looking after national parks. Private lands between isolated nature reserves will be crucial to provide corridors and linkages, ensuring localised extinctions do not become permanent. In setting aside part of his land for a substantial wildlife corridor, John and his family have demonstrated their willingness to play a crucial role in managing the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area for the long term. Through projects like Donaghy's Corridor Nature Refuge we can begin to see new hope for the future of our remarkable biodiversity. In showing others the way, John and his family have played an important role in conservation of the Area and its wildlife.

Joan Wright (Community Conservation)

One of the founders of Trees for the Evelyn and Atherton Tablelands (TREAT), Joan's oustanding rehabilitation work on the Tablelands is well known. Joan has given tireless support for revegetation work and environmental education. She has contributed significantly to improved management of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Her commitment, enthusiasm and energy have been of critical importance in galvanising TREAT to become the highly successful volunteer group it is today, running many revegetation projects to restore the natural environment of the Tablelands.

Nigel Tucker (Government)

Born and bred on the Tablelands, Nigel has an incredible knowledge of rainforest plant communities. Since the mid 1980s Nigel has been involved in the rehabilitation of vegetation communities throughout north Queensland and its offshore islands. He has achieved worldwide recognition for his wildlife corridor and revegetation projects. His tireless efforts in helping the community with replanting have included the successful revegation of Donaghy's Corridor, a project which links the previously isolated Lake Barrine rainforest to the main body of the World Heritage Area. Nigel is known to always be helpful, well above what is required for his work. He is passionate about the desperate need for human communities worldwide to repair their local ecological communities.

Errol Wiles (Wet Tropics Neighbour)

A resident of Babinda, Errol is President of the East Russell Ratepayers Association. Following his involvement with Landcare, Errol has led by example on his own property by planting thousands of native trees in an effort to reafforest the whole 159 acres. Errol's example is one of pragmatic commitment to the environment, taking a long term view in which future generations will benefit most from his efforts. His work has inspired others to follow his example.

Skyrail (Nature Based Tourism)

The award winning Skyrail Rainforest Cableway glides 7.5km above a canopy of tropical rainforest from Caravonica Lakes, over Red Peak and Barron Falls, to Kuranda township. This high volume, low impact attraction allows vistors to experience the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area from a rare perspective. Skyrail also provides visitors with interpretive information on rainforest ecology and guided boardwalk tours across the rainforest floor led by qualified rangers. Skyrail was voted 'Australia's Best Attraction' for a major tourist attraction at the 1997 Australian Toruism Awards. It provides a unique opportunity to present the Area's values to people from all walks of life.