Clean Up Australia Day champions awarded

Ahead of its 35^th anniversary event, Clean Up Australia has recognised individuals, groups and communities dedicated to keeping the country clean.

The inaugural Clean Up Australia Community Awards recognise the ongoing commitment and environmental stewardship of individual volunteers, community groups, education champions and councils across Australia.

The Ian Kiernan Impact Award, recognising an individual or group for making a positive impact on the environment, went to Venkataraj Jayaraj, who has participated in Clean Up Australia Day since 2013. Jayaraj has hosted Clean Up events across the Seven Hills area in Sydney and has been dedicated to instilling a sense of environmental stewardship in the younger generation.

Venkataraj Jayaraj accepting the Ian Kiernan Impact Award.

Marjo Hallowell and Michael Filby were dual recipients of the individual community champion award, for their contributions spanning more. than 20 years. Hallowell has cared for the environment in her local Wollondilly and Wingecarribee community for decades. Similarly, Filby has worked to clean up the stretch of highway running through his town of Walpole in remote Western Australia.

The Group Community Champion award was presented to Pioneer Catchment & Landcare Group Inc in Queensland, whose mission has been to protect and restore the environment since its formation in the early 1990s. Hosting clean-ups four times a year it has removed hundreds of kilograms of litter from local ecosystems, hoping to protect marine life and improve the health of local waterways.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has participated in annual clean-ups across several states over 35 years, with an estimated 42,500 hours spent by its volunteers during that time.

The Schools Sustained Environmental Award went to Gippsland Grammar-Bairnsdale Campus in Victoria in recognition of primary students who have participated in Schools Clean Up Day since 2014. The students have also created activities and programs such as nude food lunches and trash free Tuesday, as well as integrated compost systems across the school.

Gippsland Grammar-Bairnsdale Campus student Phoebe Earl received the award on behalf of her school for the Schools Sustained Environmental Award.

Blue Mountains City Council received the Outstanding Council Award for participating in Clean Up Australia Day every year since 1995. It has strengthened community ties, linking community groups, walking groups, clubs and services through their contributions to the shared endeavour of cleaning up the national park and council reserves.

Pip Kiernan, Chair of Clean Up Australia said the awards mark an exciting moment for Clean Up Australia as the organisation reaches its 35^th year.

“It is an exceptionally proud moment for these extraordinary volunteers who have done such wonderful things for our country,” said Kiernan.

“They embody Clean Up Australia’s ethos that each of us can make a difference in the care of the environment.

“Over the years, we have witnessed the power of community action as volunteers from all walks of life, from right across our vast nation, unite for this common cause. We are delighted to celebrate their dedication and tireless support.”

The winners were presented their awards during a ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra, hosted by Journalist Jeremy Fernandez and attended by guests including Tanya Plibersek, Minister for Environment and Water.

For more information, visit: www.cleanup.org.au/