Jabalbina Ranger Program and local Council honoured at Wet Tropics awards
WET TROPICS
SOME of the Wet Tropics’ most inspirational people were acknowledged and applauded at the Wet Tropics Management Authority’s prestigious Cassowary Awards at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures.
Named after the north’s iconic big bird, the Cassowary Awards celebrate community stewardship of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. With this global asset on their doorstep, Wet Tropics residents and organisations are a vital force in managing the Area’s natural and cultural landscape and in presenting its values to visitors and international audiences.
Mossman’s Jabalbina Ranger Program took out the Rainforest Aboriginal people - our country category, while the Douglas Shire Council won the Local Government award.
The Awards’ eight categories recognise the many ways that individuals and groups care for the Wet Tropics. Leading up to the event, there was an incredible diversity of nominations from across the Wet Tropics.
“The number of high-calibre nominees shows the exceptional level of commitment that people in our community have to protecting and presenting the World Heritage Area,” said Wet Tropics Management Authority Board Chair Leslie Shirreffs.
“They are all deserving of recognition for their outstanding contributions—each and every one of them makes the Wet Tropics a richer place.
A special ‘Chair’s Award’ was presented to Ron and Pam Birkett in appreciation of their contribution to the World Heritage Area spanning almost 30 years. As founders of the Daintree Discovery Centre (which they sold earlier this year) Ron and Pam have been leaders in the field of sustainable tourism, advancing the conservation and presentation of the World Heritage Area. They supported the Cassowary Awards for many years as sponsors of the Young Cassowary Award, and have played a valuable role by their participation in numerous consultative groups.
Shirreffs made special mention of the many organisations who partnered with the Authority to sponsor the Awards.
“The support given, by both government and private sectors, reflects their commitment to the unique natural and cultural landscape that is the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, and their appreciation of those who contribute to it,” she said.
Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch emphasised the importance of this corporate support in promoting the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area as a valuable regional asset.
“This show of commitment to our World Heritage Area helps build a sense of pride in our surrounds and encourages everyone to follow in the footsteps of the terrific people we saw recognised at the Cassowary Awards,” Entsch said.
Information about all finalists will remain on display to the public at the Cairns Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre until 18 December.
