Community Environment Network congratulates BAT Award Winners

The Community Environment Network (CEN) BAT Awards recognises individuals from the Central Coast Community who has stood their ground at the crease, deflected the assault from their opponents and has remained steadfast in protecting their wicket, ll in the interests of the environment and this year's BAT Awards are no exception.

9 December 2022

 

THE Community Environment Network’s 2022 Be A Team (BAT) Award winners, announced at its annual networking night last week, included a list of quiet achievers and well-known campaigners, all working to protect sustainability and the environment on the Central Coast.

BAT Award categories include:

 

• Best 12th Man or Woman – someone who has worked tirelessly in the background to help others in the front line

 

• Rookie of the Year – a newcomer to the conservation movement who has contributed to our region’s environment and sustainability

 

• Most outstanding community-based organisation – a group that has worked tirelessly on behalf of the environment and sustainability

 

• Most outstanding allrounder (the BAT Award) – a person who has put in a valiant effort on behalf of the environment and sustainability

 

The 2022 winners were: Ellen-Jean (EJ) Kidd, Best 12th Woman, for her Land for Wildlife volunteer work; Lesley Harvey of Grow Urban Shade Trees (GUST) as Rookie of the Year; and the Coast Environmental Alliance (CEA) as most outstanding community-based organisation.

 

The recipients of the 2022 Most Outstanding Allrounder (BAT Award) were Ann and Stephen Parsons from the Pearl Beach Crommelin Native Arboretum.

 

Deputy Chair of CEN, John Asquith, said Ann and Stephen Parsons immediately became members of the Crommelin Native Arboretum when they settled permanently at Pearl Beach in 2009.

 

“Anne joined a Coastal Hazards Committee and was instrumental in getting the Pearl Beach Lagoon being within the remit for the study of lagoons on the Central Coast and contributed strongly to the subsequent ecological studies of the lagoon,” Mr Asquith said.

 

“Anne was instrumental in obtaining a grant of $20,000 from the Commonwealth Government for project to promote native bee conservation and examining the feasibility of re-introducing koalas into Brisbane Water area,” he said.

 

“The project was refocussed to one ensuring habitat support for both koalas and native bees in the Arboretum.

 

“Stephen has been a member of Pearl Beach Bushcare since 2009 and has superbly led the team for almost 10 years. Stephen has also been a member of the Arboretum Management Committee.

 

“Stephen has organised and run Clean Up Australia since 2010 and also removes litter all year round from the local roadsides in and around Pearl Beach.

 

“Throughout their time in Pearl Beach, Ann and Stephen have participated in local environmental acitivities including CEN, Arboretum working bees, arranging guest speakers, managing environment focussed functions and fund raisers and encouraging others to join the Arboretrum, Bushcare and Cleanup days through the Web, Facebook and through local media.”

 

Go here for more information about other award recipients.