We received an Award!

The Gnaraloo turtle and feral animal control programs won an award for Natural environment conservation at the 2012 Midwest / Gascoyne Tidy Towns – Sustainable Communities Regional Awards ceremony in Kalbarri, Western Australia, on 24 August 2012.

Well done to all previous Turtles, Stuart Dijkmans, Gnaraloo site management teams (including Paul Richardson, Colleen Mason, Marnie Bartley,Barb Gadomski and Feral), Mark Hamann at James Cook University (Queensland), Mike Butcher and his teams from Animal Pest Management Services, Alex Richardson and family (Northern Ireland and United Kingdom) and everyone else involved with the programs for seven years of hard work, dedication and commitment to protect the Gnaraloo turtles.

Previous GTCP Turtles include:

Pat Becker (Australia) & Grant Paterson (Australia) (Season 2008/09);

Jessica Leonard (Canada), Amy James (USA), Mike Williamson (United Kingdom), John Michael Stuart (Australia), Purusha Boelling (Australia) & Sergio Jacomy (Australia) (Season 2009/10);

Matt Boureau (France), Marie Duffy (Ireland) & Mark Wall (Australia) (Season 2010/11);

Kimmie Riskas (USA), Bobby Edman (USA) & Fiona Morgan (Australia) (Season 2011/12).

Thank you also to Esri Australia (Perth office) for mapping support, Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia) for valuable training and general support and the Australian Government for funding contributions to both programs under its Caring for our Country program.

As a regional category winner, the Gnaraloo Turtle Conservation Program and the Gnaraloo Feral Animal Control Program will also be judged for a State Award to be held at a ceremony in Perth on 16 November 2012.

The awards are an initiative of the Keep Australia Beautiful Council (WA) of the Department of Environment and Conservation. Mel Hay (Chair of Keep Australia Beautiful WA):

“Tidy Towns – Sustainable Communities is about much more than keeping town clean and tidy.  The awards recognize towns and private enterprise for their achievements in working towards sustainability including preserving their culture, protecting the environment and amenity of their areas.”

More info on www.gnaraloo.com

Cheers, Karen