Reef Champion Awards

REEF CHAMPION AWARDS

SIX FAR NORTHERN WINNERS

DEC 2022

The 2022 Reef Champion Awards have been announced and there are six winners from the Far North – ranging from farmers to indigenous entities and a Port Douglas teenager.

Innovative nitrogen reduction practices, dedicated approaches to extension, revegetation of farms and conservation of wetlands and native animal species were just some of the success stories honoured at the Awards dinner in Cairns.

These awards, run by Queensland Farmers’ Federation with support from Prince’s Trust Australia, Australian and Queensland governments, recognise the outstanding achievements of individuals and organisations working to improve the quality of water entering the iconic Great Barrier Reef.

The 2022 Reef Champion Award winners are:

Prince’s Trust Australia Environmental Leadership – Reef Sustainability Award

Tony Rossi, Aloomba, for using his scientific skills on the farm; Tony was always interested in soil health, soil testing, developing precision agricultural techniques & regional environmental issues, & has become an advocate for demonstrating on-farm sustainable environmental practices to other farmers and industry.

Reef Nutrient Stewardship Champion Award

Denis Pozzebon, Mt Kelly, for being a true champion and pioneer in precision nutrient management in the lower Burdekin. Denis was one of the first cane farmers who had his farm’s electromagnetic induction (EM) mapped into zones for nutritional programs. He continues to utilise these maps for targeted soil testing, nutrient planning and variable rate amelioration.

Reef Sediment Stewardship Champion Award

Fran and Damon Lyons, Charters Towers, for taking over management of Basalt River Station in 2017; they took steps to improve land condition and resilience while increasing groundcover and available pasture. Modelling suggests that these management changes have saved around 1,950t of fine sediment annually.

Reef Conservation Champion Award

Jason Bradford, Alligator Creek, for the installation of 8 off-stream watering points (OSWP) and approximately 6km of fence lines has played a pivotal role in reef conservation efforts on Jason Bradford’s property, improving the management practices of around 90ha of Sandringham wetlands.
Pacific Biotechnologies (Australia) Pty Ltd, for developing a new standard of wastewater management and sustainable onshore aquaculture, removing large masses of effluent from the ecosystem before entering the Great Barrier Reef.

Reef Extension Officer Champion Award

Rebecca McHardie, Mossman, for being a respected extension agronomist in the Mossman cane growing region. Having worked in the industry for seven years, she has been instrumental in designing and delivering grant programs and extension support to growers to improve productivity and reef water quality outcomes.

Reef Pesticide Stewardship Champion Award

Matt and Ben Abbott, Mena Creek, for going one step further in pesticide management, using no synthetic chemicals and maintaining an organic certification covering their papaya and banana produce.

Reef Traditional Owner Group Champion Award

Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation, Through the Yirrganydji Land and Sea Ranger Program, all rangers employed are traditionally connected to Yirrganydji and take on the role for caring for country and improving water quality through clean ups on beaches and urban waterways, detection of biosecurity threats, compliance, blue carbon research, and mangrove and coral restoration activities.

Reef Community Champion Award

CQ Seagrass Regeneration Collective, Rockhampton, for working together to restore or reinstate seagrass meadows. Seagrass meadows across the globe are becoming more fragmented or disappearing completely. To address this issue, Fitzroy Basin Association, CQUniversity Australia’s Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC), Konomie Island Environmental Education Centre (KIEEC), First Nations Group Woppaburra TUMRA and members of the community are working together to restore or reinstate seagrass meadows.

Reef Traditional Owner Youth Champion Award

Ashlyn Skeene, As a Yirrganydji Land and Sea Ranger, Ash has contributed to scientific research on blue carbon and co-benefits (including water quality), contributed to seagrass, bird, and fish surveys, and led large groups of community volunteers on remote beach clean-ups, taking direct action on plastics before they are washed out to sea.

Reef Youth Champion Award

Ema Parker, Port Douglas, Ema, an NQ-based year 7 student, has been involved in a number of activities that relate to Marine Conservation and raising public awareness, including bake sale fundraisers, beach clean-up activities and reef sustainability education efforts.

The Reef Champion Awards are funded by the Australian Government and the Queensland Government’s Reef Water Quality Program.