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Celebrating the NSW environment movement's heroes
 The Nature Conservation Council's World Environment Day Awards were held at the Galleria Function Centre, Broadway on the night of the first day of our Annual Conference, Saturday 31st October.It was a great occasion for honouring the achievements of our member groups, individuals  and other community groups working hard
to protect NSW's environment. Leif Lemke was the recipient of this year's Allen Strom Hall of Fame Award for untiring dedication to conservation, particularly around the Bellingen area and for ongoing campaigning for greater protection for Solitary Islands Marine Park.
For the past 30 years Leif has persistently and successfully campaigned to protect and secure both terrestrial and marine parks and reserves in the Lake Macquarie and Coffs Harbour-Bellinger River areas on the NSW north coast. Pictured top above (from left) is Patrick Medway from Allen Strom Hall of Fame Award sponsor Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia, NCC Executive member Jim Morrison who collected the award on behalf of Leith, last year's Hall of Fame recipient Harold Spies and NCC Chairman Don White. Other award winners on the night included:
* Marie Byles Award sponsored by ecoDesign ecoPrint went to Sweetwater Action Group for its three-year campaign to protect land of high conservation significance in the Lower Hunter region, from inappropriate housing estate development; * Climatemovement.org.au Award sponsored by Greenpeace was won by
Climate Action Newtown for their work in educating and empowering the local and broader community to tackle climate change; * Nature Conservation Council Member Group Award sponsored by Australian Ethical Investment was earned by Willoughby Environmental Protection Association (WEPA) for its strong record of successful campaigns and influence in local environmental issues over 28 years; and
* Dunphy Award sponsored by Bunjaree Cottages was awarded to Carmel Flint for her outstanding advocacy and dedication to nature conservation, particularly her efforts to protect the North-East NSW forests, the Brigalow Belt-Nandewar bioregions and the River Red Gum forests of the Murray-Darling.
Congratulations to all the winners. Insight and inspiration at Nature Conservation Council's annual conference More than 60 delegates attended the Nature Conservation Council's Annual Conference on Saturday 31st October. It was a great opportunity for member groups to gather and discuss some of the major issues facing our natural world, vote on motions for policy and action, and hear high calibre speakers including a panel on Part 3A planning assessments, Diana Shand from IUCN, newly appointed NSW Environment and Energy  Minister John Robertson and Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Catherine Cusack.Minister Robertson shared with the conference that his focus would be on climate change and the need for greater renewable energy generation in NSW. He also said that before any scaling back of coal-fired electricity he wanted to ensure there were just transitions for workers and communities and support for alternative job creation. The Minister gave delegates at the Annual Conference the assurance that there would be "no recreational hunting in National Parks" and that contractors would continue to be appointed by National Rangers for supervised "culls".
However, he conceded the Labor Party was in still in discussions with the Shooters' Party and assurances are now being sought that his statement does not leave the door open for amateur hunters to be used for feral animal eradication under the supervision of the Department's staff. Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Catherine Cusack spoke of the important role of non-government environment groups and independent scientists in sharing their expertise and knowledge to inform better environmental policy-making. She mentioned the Liberal Party would be holding public forums and other stakeholder engagements in the near future aimed at feeding community input into the environment policy the party will take into the next state election. Minutes from the Annual Conference, including the full set of motions, will be available on www.nccnsw.org.au under Governance in the next couple of weeks. Be one of the first to watch "inconvenient truth of our oceans"
 Join the Nature Conservation Council for the first ever Sydney screening of End of the line, a very important and informative documentary on the threats to global fish stocks. Billed as An Inconvenient Truth for our marine world, this film explores the severe impact of overfishing on our oceans.When: 6.00pm Wednesday 25th November 2009 Where: Chauvel Cinema, Paddington Tickets: $20.00 per person Click here to view the trailer. Screened in partnership with the Sydney Aquarium Conservation Fund (SACF), the film will be introduced by a surprise guest chef along with a marine scientist, ending with a discussion forum led by the Nature Conservation Council and SACF. All proceeds from tickets sales will go to the Nature Conservation Council and SACF. Bookings: Please contact SACF on 02 8251 7875 or email: conservation@sacf.org.au Take a trip of a lifetime and dive with sharks in southern Africa
 The Nature Conservation Council of NSW has teamed-up with charity tour company Inspired Adventures to develop the Shark Swim Challenge, a once-in-a-lifetime experience where participants will interact with Great Whites and Whale sharks and explore the natural wonders of southern Africa.An unforgettable adventure, the Shark Swim Challenge includes snorkelling with Whale Sharks, cage diving with Great Whites and a special opportunity to witness one of the most awe-inspiring sights off the coast of southern Africa - the breaching of Great White Sharks. With 90 per cent of the world’s sharks already wiped out, the Nature Conservation Council is campaigning to ban shark fin exports from Australia and better protect their habitat. The adventure trip will increase awareness of the global threats to sharks, while also raising much-needed funds to help save endangered sharks in Australian waters. Each participant will raise the travel costs, with an additional fundraising target for the Nature Conservation Council of NSW. Visit www.sharkswimchallenge.com.au for more details or to register. Nominations open for the Serventy Conservation MedalThe Serventy Conservation Medal is named in honour of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia's past President of Honour, Dr Vincent Serventy AM, his brother, Dr Dominic Serventy, an international ornithologist, and his older sister Lucy Serventy.
The Award honours conservation work that has not been done as part of a professional career. It is given to those who labour in the conservation field for a love of nature and a determination that it should be conserved. In addition to the medal a cheque for $1000 is awarded annually. Many conservationists in the past have suffered financially for their devotion to the cause of conservation. This monetary award is a tribute to their dedication. Download the nomination form here . Nominations can be posted to Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia, PO Box 42, Brighton Le Sands NSW 2216 or emailed to info@wpsa.org.au. Entries close Thursday 31 December, 2009. For more information call Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia, Executive Director, Suzanne Medway on 02 9556 1537. SCRAP is a non-profit company that exists to help schools, other organisations and householders to become more environment-friendly. Starting in 1991 with the first mass-scale paper recycling program in NSW schools, this program today reaches more than 3500 schools and other organisations.
From that base they developed the first Sustainable Schools Program in 2000 and today offer a wide variety of goods and services ranging from worms, worm farm and compost systems to recycled paper and related products, environmental auditing in waste, etc, water conservation through enviroplumbing and alternative energy systems. Visit them at www.scrapltd.com.au or call (02) 9825 1062. Positions vacant
Manager Environmental and Developmental Services: Lachlan Shire Council
Closing date: Friday 13 November, 2009 Sustainable Agriculture Officer - Fixed Term: Tweed Shire Council Closing date: 12 noon, Friday 13 November, 2009 Program Officer: Humane Society International Closing date: COB, Friday November 20, 2009 Community Greening Coordinator: Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water Closing date: Friday 20 November, 2009 Executive Officer Animal Ethics Committee, Parks and Wildlife Group: Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water Closing date: Friday, 20 November, 2009 Campaign Manager: The Wilderness Society Closing date: Monday 30 November, 2009 Upcoming events
Willoughby Ecological Fire Workshop. Hosted by Willoughby City Council and the Nature Conservation Council. 9:00am - 2:30pm, Thursday 5th November, 2009 Meet at St Leonards Station, Herbert St Taxi stand for bus pick up. Newtown Festival 10:00am-6:00pm, Sunday 8th November, 2009 Camperdown Memorial Rest Park, Newtown Visit the Nature Conservation Council's stall and pick up your Walk Against Warming 09 flyers and posters. Ocean Care Day Festival Sunday 6th December, 2009 Manly Beach Find out more about the Shark Swim Challenge and our other marine campaigns and projects at the Nature Conservation Council's stall. *** Big Aussie Swap Party Latest Nature Conservation Council submissions Fisheries Scientific Committee Posidonia australis/Climate change Monday 28 September, 2009 Submissions open Tillegra Dam The Nature Conservation Council of NSW does not endorse the products or services advertised in
this newsletter. |
 SCRAP is a non-profit company that exists to help schools, other organisations and householders to become more environment-friendly. Visit them at www.scrapltd.com.au or call (02) 9825 1062. **** Contact Nature Conservation Council's Jonathan Boys on (02) 9279 2466 to find out about advertsing your business here.
Do you dare take the Shark Swim Challenge?
 You can help save our last sharks by joining the shark swim challenge, an amazing awareness and fund raising adventure where you can swim with whale sharks and great whites in Southern Africa. Face the mental challenge of a cage dive with Great White Sharks, swim with Whale Sharks and work on local marine conservation projects. Click here for details.  |
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