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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-09-28 Daily Xml
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SA Environment Awards

Mrs PEARCE (King) (15:14): My question is to the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water. Can the minister update the house on South Australia's Environment Awards night 2022 that occurred last night honouring South Australia in protecting our environment?

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Minister for Defence and Space Industries, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water) (15:15): I thank the member for King for her question. It was a terrific night celebrating people who, in some cases, have spent decades of their lives contributing to a stronger environment in South Australia. It was a very warm and enjoyable evening for all.

I would like to run through in order to record officially on Hansard the winners of many of those awards. One of the categories was Lifetime Achievers Awards and that was for people—one of whom has passed away—who have spent their entire lives dedicated to looking after the environment. Betty Westwood, for example, who has passed away, was known as the 'tree lady' and in her lifetime planted some 250,000 trees personally. She was instrumental in the organisation Trees for Life and, in fact, she has been remembered by Trees For Life with their nursery in the southern suburbs called the Betty Westwood Nursery.

Richard Willing is a medical practitioner, a gastroenterologist I believe, but also a scientist and conservationist. He is part of the Scientific Expedition Group that goes out frequently undertaking expeditions to undertake scientific research on biodiversity. He has been, I think, of that organisation on the committee, the chair, the president and indeed the patron over his many years, and he is involved in a biodiversity project they run on his own property.

It was wonderful to see Major Sumner, Uncle Moogy, being recognised for his role, recognising not only his cultural authority as a Ngarrindjeri elder but also his utter commitment to advocacy for his environment and sharing his understanding of the environment with others. He is a very generous and patient person, having seen terrible things happen to the natural environment of his people and of us collectively, particularly with the fate of the River Murray.

Margaret Lee is a very long standing environmentalist. In 1958, she became the inaugural Assistant Secretary of the Australian Plant Society because the secretary position couldn't be held by a woman. She went on fortunately—as the society came to its senses—to hold most roles, including becoming the national president of that organisation. Through that organisation, she helped fund Trees for Life, which was known originally as Men of the Trees.

The final person who was acknowledged for a Lifetime Achievement Award I particularly want to focus on is Dr Mike Bossley. When I was a young environmentalist an awfully long time ago, I went into the office of Greenpeace in South Australia to volunteer and to work with them, and he was the mainstay of Greenpeace at that time. He had been instrumental previously in stopping Australians from whaling in 1979. We as a nation stopped commercial whaling, and he was instrumental in that. As most South Australians will know, ever since he has been dedicated to supporting cetacean life, in particular the dolphins of the Port River. His contribution is widely acknowledged. He is very popular with people, and he also is very well respected amongst the scientific community.

There were many other awards given; I won't have time to read all of them, but I will make sure that they are included in some form, either through a grievance or another mechanism to acknowledge their contributions. I was particularly touched by some of the younger people though. Often in community organisations we see that the senior people are of a significant age, as is appropriate, but last night was also full of young people who are utterly dedicated to making this planet a better one than they inherited and sustainable for all.

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