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to Healthy Cities Illawarra Awards 
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VAL CUMMINGS AND THE COMBINED CHURCHES OF JAMBEROO: For creating the Jamberoo Garden of Tranquility Most of us would agree that the world is in need of a little more peace and harmony. Often we have no idea how to translate such a broad idea into our own personal actions. Val Cummings decided to do just that, and with the Combined Churches of Jamberoo, Val organized a gathering at the Jamberoo Garden of Tranquility. Community Members brought along a paper crane, symbolic of the Japanese girl who thought that by making 1000 cranes it would heal her health problems. Sadly, after constructing 655 cranes, she succumbed to radiation poisoning as a result of the Hiroshima bombing. Val’s vision has reminded us that there are local ways of achieving peace and harmony.
NORTHERN ILLAWARRA RESIDENTS ACTION GROUP: Continued commitment to environmental protection in the Northern Illawarra The environment of the Illawarra is crucially important to most people in the region. From the beauty of the escarpment to the clean, blue ocean the region is home to diverse natural animal and plant life of ecological significance tied into a rich indigenous cultural heritage. The Northern Illawarra Residents Action Group have been working for the protection of the environment in the Northern region of the Illawarra since 1984. The group understands the importance of community participation, Indigenous rights and ecologically sustainable development. The Northern Illawarra Residents’ Action Group continues to be a strong voice for protection of the Northern Illawarra environment and has been involved in numerous campaigns aimed at improving the environmental and cultural outcomes now, as well as for future generations.
MINNAMURRA PUBLIC SCHOOL: For creating an environmentally friendly outdoor learning space. Kids spend half their school time wishing they were out of their classroom. Now kids at Minnamurra Primary School need wish no longer – their learning environment has become a lot more interesting. Parents, teachers, children, business and community groups have all pitched in to create an outdoor area complete with a mural depicting local environmental treasures, as well as a landscaped garden with rainforest plants, bridge and waterfall. The development and ongoing evolution of this feature of Minnamurra Primary School is bound to stimulate learning whilst increasing the next generations’ links to our environment. KIDS UNI NORTH CHILDCARE CENTRE: Undertaking and encouraging environmental activities The Kids Uni North understand the importance of our children growing up being involved with - and learning about – activities that minimize our impact on the environment. Doing this will enable them to live the rest of their lives with such activities as second nature, as they should be. It is due to this understanding they implemented a series of changes around the centre that would instill environmental values in the children. Activities at Kids Uni North have included planting a vegetable garden, starting a worm farm, reducing the use of toxic cleaning agents, and using recycled materials in play activities. Congratulations to the staff and children at Kids Uni North who have both benefited from this initiative.
PETER TOWNSEND, JOY CAHILL AND FELLOW VOLUNTEERS: Participation in a voluntary clean up in Wollongong’s Crown Street Mall Often we see a problem and feel helpless that we cannot do anything to rectify it. Joy Cahill saw a problem when a council strike had caused rubbish to pile up and become strewn around Crown St Mall. However, instead of feeling helpless, Peter and Joy decided there was an easy way to clean up the mall and prevent waste entering our environment – do it themselves. Peter and Joy recruited several friends, and with plenty of elbow grease one night they cleaned up the mall. It was a welcome sight for mall-goers the following day, and it shows that people can make a difference at the local level.
THIRD AVENUE RESIDENTS: Creating a mini nature haven at the front of their combined properties Residents in Third Avenue, Port Kembla had always wondered why it was called a ‘nature strip’ – there wasn’t much nature at the front of their properties. Rather than change the name, they decided to change the land so that it was more of a natural feature. They did this by revegetating the land and adjoining laneway with local species of plants, which beautified the area and attracted local wildlife. Recently they further improved the area by collaborating with Wollongong City Council and the Australian Greenhouse Office to install a solar-powered streetlight – a first for the region. Congratulations to the residents who have put the nature back into their nature strips.
WINSOME BARKER AND KIAMA BUSINESSES: For involvement in the ‘Pelican Project’ to reduce the use of plastic bags Winsome Barker was so moved by the tale of a pelican’s fate caused by its eating of 17 plastic bags she took matters into her own hands and launched the Pelican Project. The Pelican project is a joint Tidy Towns, Kiama Council and community project that aims to reduce the amount of plastic packaging used and disposed of in Kiama. The latest push by the project is to reduce the number of plastic bags used in Kiama, and has shown to be a great success. In particular, alternative shopping bags made from calico have been a hit, and all the more popular thanks to support from local businesses.
AUSTINMER BOWLING CLUB: For voluntarily becoming a completely smoke free club By now most of us have heard that smoking in pubs and clubs will be completely banned by 2007. Many clubs have been concerned about these changes, citing a potential loss of business and income. But not the Austinmer Bowling Club. Perhaps in the knowledge of pubs overseas actually increasing their business when they went smoke free, or perhaps with concern for their employees, Austinmer Bowling Club did what very few other pubs and clubs have done – gone smoke free well before they were required to.
FRIENDS OF LAKE ILLAWARRA: Voluntary work towards the re-generation of the shores of Lake Illawarra Lake Illawarra is one of our area’s best features. It acts as a filter for much of the runoff of the area, a haven for a plethora of wildlife, and a recreational area for the people of the Illawarra. However, despite the natural beauty and importance of the Lake, the Lake does need extra care and help to keep it in top shape. To do this twenty-five locals decided to form the ‘Friends of Lake Illawarra’. This team enjoy what the Lake offers the region, as well as it’s natural beauty, and volunteer their time to carry out what can be very demanding environmental works in order to keep the Lake shore clean and beautiful.
ZIVKO PETROVSKI AND GLIGUR JOVANOSKI: For their active involvement in the development of Cringila Community Park It is now well established that being socially involved and connected are invaluable factors in the health and happiness of people. This would come as no surprise to Zivko Petrovski and Gligur Jovanoski who have been busily involved in connecting their local community. They have put in enormous hours working in the community garden at Cringila Community Park, and were the brains and muscle behind the installation of a wood-fired oven. The oven has proved a great success providing a wonderful reason for people of diverse cultural backgrounds to get together and celebrate in the Park.
F.X. LARKIN: For the donation of various water tanks for the Futureworld Eco-Technology Centre There is no doubt that we are currently in a water crisis. It is great to see the many ways in which local residents and business have contributed to help save water. Futureworld Eco-Technology Centre showcases many sustainable-living technologies, and in many cases relies on donations and support from business and other organizations. FX Larkin showed no hesitation in donating several different types of residential water tank systems for display at Futureworld. The display provides many good ideas for those looking to save water.
DAVID JOHNSON: For continued commitment & lobbying for environmental issues David Johnson is a community member who has invested a great deal of his time contributing to local environmental and historical issues. He was instrumental in establishing the Kingsford-Smith Memorial in Gerroa; has been a major contributor to the Historical Society collection; spends time in Berry Primary School teaching children about the planting, propagation and care of seeds and seedlings; and has lobbied for improvements to the sewerage system at Gerroa as well as being involved in the regeneration of degraded land along the estuary. David’s contributions to the local Kiama community are invaluable.
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