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Who are the people who can bring about change, the trail-blazers coming up with solutions?

Announcement posted by Banksia Foundation 05 Jun 2011

2011 Prime Minister’s Environmentalist of the Year and 2011 Environment Minister's Young Environmentalist of the Year Awards are open for entry to recognise those working for a Sustainable Australia.

Having just celebrated World Environment Day, it is appropriate to take a few minutes to think about all the amazing Australian pioneers who are working for a sustainable Australia. Some like Russell Seaman (2010 Prime Minister’s Environmentalist of the Year) or Matthew Wright (2010 Environment Minister's Young Environmentalist of the Year Award) have already been recognised. There are so many more that should be acknowledged for their leadership, innovation and excellence.

So it is only appropriate that the Banksia Environmental Foundation should have launched launch entries for the 2011 Prime Minister’s Environmentalist of the Year and 2011 Environment Minister's Young Environmentalist of the Year Awards at this time.

Russell Seaman, Environmental Manager, Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth ProgramDepartment of Environment and Natural Resources South Australia, has played a pivotal role in developing innovative and visionary solutions to the greatest threat facing the environment of the Lower Murray-Darling Basin. Russell acknowledges that “winning the Prime Minister’s Environmentalist of the Year provides immense satisfaction and pride for our team knowing that the innovations and achievements are recognised nationally. It has also been important for the community members who supported our program”.

It is Russell’s new thinking approach that has enabled him to achieve such amazing outcomes in response to ecological collapse where the River Murray meets the sea. “Our work aims to secure a healthy, sustainable future for the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth region. We are working to build resilience into the environment so that it can cope with environmental changes in the future.”

Matthew Wright, Founder and Executive Director of Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE), epitomises personal sacrifice, determination, commitment and passion. His vision behind Beyond Zero Emission is to help bring about the changes needed to reach a safe climate for current and future generations. “Being awarded the 2010 Environment Minister’s Young Environmentalist of the Year award was made possible by the dedicated support of our volunteers as well as the generosity of our funders” he humbly recognizes adding “the award was welcome pat on the back for all the hard work I’ve put in to educate the community about climate change solutions. The award encouraged me to double my efforts to present fellow Australians with a positive vision of the future”.

Knowing his work is far from complete Matthew knows that “Australia can start building a renewable energy economy today. Through educating politicians, business leaders, and community, I can make people aware of the possibilities and empower Australians to take action.”

These are the types of people that epitomise the Prime Minister’s Environmentalist of the Year and Environment Minister's Young Environmentalist of the Year Awards and give us great hope that a Sustainable Australia is a not too distant reality. Entries for the 2011 awards close 22 July 2011 at 5.00 p.m. details are available on banksiafdn.com.

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