Coledale rises to the occasion

Coledale Public School winner of the Rise & Shine School for their Sustainable Environment Management Plan. Photo: Google Streetview

A BELLAMBI woman who helps keep her suburb spotless and Coledale Public School are among the 2017 winners of Wollongong City Council’s Rise & Shine Awards.

The winners of the 32^nd Rise & Shine Awards are:

• Basil Ryan Award winner – Carol Nance, of Bellambi, received the Rise & Shine Campaign’s highest honour, the Basil Ryan Award, for her outstanding commitment to environmental improvement in regenerating the Bellambi Dunes and removing litter.
• Rise & Shine Citizen of the Year – Dave Williamson for his work on helping to clean up the walkways, footpaths and access around Windang bridge, while on his mobility scooter.
• Rise & Shine Community Group – Dapto Baptist Church, for their work on cleaning around the Tallawarra Power Station on Tallawarra Point
• Rise & Shine School – Coledale Public for their Sustainable Environment Management Plan, which includes everyday activities such as the Living Classroom and Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program. The program aims to develop students’ academic, social and practical skills through kitchen and garden lessons.

The winners were presented with their awards at the Rise & Shine Environment Awards presentation at the Salvation Army Function Centre on Thursday December 7.

Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said the Awards recognise outstanding leadership in sustainability and environmental initiatives.

“Over the years we have seen many community members and organisations turn their environmental initiatives into long term projects that help keep areas free of rubbish and ensure that these areas are managed and enhanced for future generations,” Cr Bradbery said.

“I congratulate all people involved in these programs, especially those groups and people who have been named as winners tonight.”

Rise & Shine is a campaign encouraging community participation in a range of activities to improve the environment and the quality of life enjoyed by local residents. The program began in 1986.

Background on 32^nd  Rise and Shine Winners

Basil Ryan Award- Carol Nance

Carol works on removing weeds and replacing these with native species on the Bellambi dunes. Carol removes litter, illegally dumped rubbish, material from old camp sites and anything that is an eye sore or not natural to the local environment. As well as the dune area of Bellambi, Carol walks down to the Bellambi Harbour to remove litter and discarded fishing tackle. She also walks to the cycleway bordering Bellambi lagoon ensuring all stormwater outlets that feed into the lagoon are free from litter and debris.

Best Overall School –Coledale Public School

Since winning the Most Improved School in 2008, Coledale School has continued to develop a more sustainable environment for everyone. Through their Sustainable Environment Management Plan, they have ongoing programs that develop cleaner and more efficient ways of doing everyday activities. The Living Classroom and Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program focuses on setting good examples and providing a fun, fully engaging, learning environment. Students develop their academic, social and practical skills through kitchen and garden lessons. Students, staff, parents and the broader community work together in a spirit of mutual respect for their environment to reduce their ecological footprint. Coledale is further developing their vegetable garden, frog pond, waste and water reduction actions and establishing a new sustainable native garden. All the above initiatives have led to more efficient environmental management strategies and a reduction in their ecological footprint.

This is the 32nd Year that awards will be given for participation in the “Rise & Shine”, Bushcare or other environmental initiatives. The awards acknowledge the partnership between the community and Council to improve our local environment.