MEDIA RELEASE
Nature champions honoured at SA Environment Awards
27 October 2017
Legendary conservationists and local heroes were celebrated last night at the 2017 SA Environment Awards at Tandanya Cultural Centre.
Hosted by ABC’s Eddie Bannon, the Awards recognised extraordinary contributions to South Australia’s environment and conservation sector.
This year’s event included the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Awards, lauding five of South Australia’s most prominent environment campaigners and community leaders: Monica Oliphant AO, Dr Barbara Hardy AO, Dr David Shearman AM, Margaret Bolster AM and Yami Lester OAM.
Conservation SA’s Craig Wilkins said the ongoing Lifetime Achievement Awards would form the basis of a South Australian ‘Hall of Fame’ for community environment leaders.
“We activists and conservationists are standing on the shoulders of giants who forged a path for us,” he said.
“These people have been pioneers, creating the organisations, concepts and approaches we take for granted today.”
The major prize of the evening — the Jill Hudson Award for Environmental Protection — was awarded to Lisa Lumsden, Gary Rowbottom and Maddie Sarre on behalf of Repower Port Augusta for their successful five-year community campaign for solar thermal with storage in SA.
Bruce Wilson accepted this year’s Unsung Hero Award for his tireless work on behalf of Friends of Warriparinga in southern Adelaide, while the Mount Compass Area School Swamp Ambassadors took out the Young Achiever Award for their conservation work in the Fleurieu Swamps.
Conservation SA congratulates all the winners and finalists for their inspiring work on behalf of South Australia’s precious environment.
Release ends
Comments: Craig Wilkins, 0417 879 439
2017 SA Environment Awards - Full list of winners
Lifetime Achievement Awards
Monica Oliphant AO: Prominent clean energy campaigner, 2016 Senior South Australian of the Year, University of SA Associate Professor and Order of Australia for distinguished service to the renewable energy sector.
Dr Barbara Hardy AO: Leader in science education and environmental advocacy, patron of the University of South Australia's Barbara Hardy Institute and Order of Australia for service to conservation and the community.
Dr David Shearman AM: Founder of Doctors for the Environment and Order of Australia for significant service to medicine in the fields of gastroenterology and environmental health, particularly the impact of global climate change.
Margaret Bolster AM*: Former Conservation SA President, tireless champion for South Australia's nature places and recipient of the Order of Australia for service to conservation and the environment.
Yami Lester OAM*: Respected and beloved Yankunytjatajara elder, prominent anti-nuclear and Traditional Owner land rights campaigner, and Order of Australia for service in the field of Aboriginal Welfare.
*awarded posthumously
Jill Hudson Award for Environmental Protection
Lisa Lumsden, Gary Rowbottom and Maddie Sarre (Australian Youth Climate Coalition) for Repower Port Augusta’s successful five-year campaign for solar thermal with storage in South Australia.
Young Achiever Award
Mount Compass Area School Swamp Ambassadors for inspiring conservation and community awareness activities on behalf of their local Fleurieu Swamps.
Unsung Hero Award
Bruce Wilson from Friends of Warriparinga for his tireless work protecting and restoring local vegetation and preserving Warriparinga on the Sturt River in southern Adelaide.