Environment Champions

The inaugural Environment Day Awards were announced at Beaumont House on Sunday 11 April.

The awards celebrate initiatives and activities that Burnside community members are implementing, across four award categories in the City.

Climate Change Challenge award winners, and Burnside residents, Dr Susan Marsden and Michael Szwarcbord said that they feel strongly about the threats to us all from the climate crisis.

"Everything we can all do, large and small, is really important," Dr Marsden said.

The award winners each received a wooden bowl made by Burnside resident and local wood turner, Flora Rumbelow, as their award 'trophy'. Most of the trophies were turned from a section of a fallen Red Gum branch. One trophy was made from an Olive tree branch taken as part of a regular pruning program at Beaumont House.

The winners are:

Local Sustainability

Andrew Crompton

Andrew works tirelessly as a volunteer at the Waterfall Gully site and gives so much time and incredible knowledge to other volunteers. He even provides extra hours when there are outstanding jobs needing attending. He is an inspiration due to his beliefs in the environment generally. He has been a leader and teacher in environmental management for many years.

Unsung Hero/es

Rotary Club of Burnside Inc.

In the early 1990s David Harvey a member of the Rotary Club of Burnside, initiated an environmental project in conjunction with the Burnside Council to revegetate a disused quarry and council rubbish dump within Chambers Gully Park. During the 2020 lockdown, small groups constructed 22 new habitat boxes for birds and possums.

High commendation: Rob Hilditch. Rob is a volunteer at the Burnside Men’s Shed where he uses and promotes the use of recycled material.

Waste Innovation

Leabrook Quality Meats

This Leabrook butcher has been extremely proactive in waste management and sustainability, reducing plastic consumption by switching to compostable packaging where possible, and recycling shopping bags instead of providing new ones for customers.

High commendation: Aiden Fisk and Ivana Alvarado, two students from Glenunga International High School. Aiden and Alana created a fantastic concept, called Better World System, an app, powered by students, aimed at reducing pollution and rewarding correct waste allocation.

Climate Change Challenge

Dr Susan Marsden & Michael Szwarcbord

Susan and her partner Michael, who are both experienced gardeners, have in the past 15 years had to learn to adapt to the micro-climate and soils in their own locality and to address the impact of climate change. They have reduced their own footprints… and they have helped others along the way.