2016 Cassowary Awards Finalists
The acclaimed Cassowary Awards have an impressive lineup of contenders for the eight award categories this year.
The Wet Tropics Management Authority present the awards to celebrate the great people and organisations in the region who dedicate so much effort into the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.
With 34 nominations, the calibre of individuals and organisations put forward is testimony to the commitment of Wet Tropics communities in conserving and presenting their internationally renowned natural and cultural landscape.
The Wet Tropics Management Authority Board Chair Leslie Shirreffs said, “There are amazing people and organisations out there working tirelessly for the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, often without acknowledgment.” Since the Cassowary Awards began in 1999, the Authority has strived to recognise these important efforts and to date more than 115 awards have been presented.
The number of deserving individuals and groups making outstanding contributions to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area made choosing the finalists for each category a difficult task, but the Board has now reviewed the nominations and 22 finalists have been selected.
“The finalists represent the incredible diversity in this region, with Rainforest Aboriginal people, tour operators, students, scientists, and local councils in the running for an award,” Ms Shirreffs added.
The finalists (in no particular order) are:
Angela and Mark McCaffrey - Atherton Tablelands
James Cook University Sustainability Club - Cairns
Dr Karen Coombes: Tree Roo Rescue and Conservation Centre - Atherton Tablelands
Australian Quoll Conservancy - Cairns
Jabalbina Ranger Program - Mossman
Liz Gallie - Mission Beach
Daniel Kim - Cairns
Kerry Trapnell - Cairns
Margaret and Rob Saunders - Innisfail (Coquette Point)
Douglas Shire Council - Mossman
Ken Reys - Cairns
Malanda Falls Visitor Centre - Malanda
Drew Morta - Malanda
Hidetoshi Kudo - Cairns
Mikhaila Jacoby - Kuranda
Glen Jacobs - Cairns
Kuranda Envirocare - Kuranda
Dr Miriam Goosem - Cairns
Ingrid Marker - Mission Beach
Kuranda Visitor Information Centre - Kuranda P
Peter Rowles - Innisfail
South Endeavour Land Trust - Atherton Tablelands
See finalists against their categories here
Information about all finalists will be on display to the public at the Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre from 18 November to 18 December 2016. Ms Shirreffs said, “We will be celebrating the incredible efforts of all the finalists and announcing the winners at the Cassowary Awards event at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures on 3 December”.
ENDS/
For interviews and comments contact:
Ms Leslie Shirreffs
Board Chair, Wet Tropics Management Authority
P: 0407 646 954 E: lawshir@bigpond.com
Mr Scott Buchanan
Executive Director, Wet Tropics Management Authority
P: 4241 0501 M: 0427 604 120
E: scott.buchanan@wtma.qld.gov.au
