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Awards

Fingal Head Coastcare has won over 80 local, state and national awards since 1990, including:

  • Tweed Sustainability Award from Tweed Shire Council for “going above and beyond for sustainability" 2023

  • Keep Australia Beautiful Sustainable Communities Tidy Town Habitat & Wildlife Conservation Award 2020

  • NSW Landcare Sure Gro Coastcare Award - State Champion 2017

  • Keep NSW Beautiful Community Action and Partnerships Award – Winner 2014

  • NSW Regional Community – Peabody Energy Envt & Landcare Award – Highly Commended 2015

  • Keep NSW Beautiful EPA Overall Clean Beach Award – Winner 2013

  • Keep NSW Beautiful State Environmental Protection – Winner 2013

  • Keep NSW Beautiful State Litter and Waste Management – Winner 2013

  • CMA Northern Rivers Landcare Award – Coastcare - Highly Commended 2013

  • Keep Australia Beautiful State Awards – Overall Clean Beach – Winner 2012

  • NSW Coastal Conference Community Involvement Award - Winner 2011

  • NSW Clean Beach Challenge Community Action and Partnership - Winner 2009

  • NSW Clean Beach Challenge Environmental Protection - Highly Commended 2008

  • Gold Gecko Award for conservation efforts of Fingal Head’s unique coastal environment through the maintenance of the genetic integrity of the local flora with plants propagated in their own nursery 2007

  • Northern Rivers CMA Regional Landcare - Winner 2007

One of the 2024 Tweed Australia Day Award recipients is our very own Kate McKenzie ...

The 2023 Volunteer of the Year – Individual went to Kate McKenzie. She was co-founder of Fingal Head Coastcare in 1986 and has been a volunteer with the group for 38 years. In this time, Kate has helped re-establish 32 hectares of native vegetation at Fingal Head – including coastal woodland, littoral rainforest, dunal and headland vegetation, which provides habitat for native flora and fauna, including many endangered species. She is an environmental educator and activist, imparting her extensive botanical, ornithological and bush regeneration knowledge to group members, educational institutions, and the broader community. CONGRATULATIONS, KATE!  View Tweed Shire Council video of Kate

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Kate relaxing after receiving her 2024 Tweed Australia Day Award 

A plaque from Rotary (Currumbin Coolangatta Tweed) mounted in the nursery - for 1,642 planted during 2022-23 - to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

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Kate McKenzie, Richard Roberts & Sam Meredith

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2023 Tweed Sustainability Award from Tweed Shire Council for “going above and beyond for sustainability"

Lucia Perry  

Nola Firth, Kate McKenzie, Lucia Perry, Kay Bolton & Jeanette Meredith

Olga Vidler OAM

Olga Vidler OAM

Olga was the first member of our group to receive an OAM in 2001, for service to the community.

Ian 'Bunny ' Rabbits

Ian ‘Bunny’ Rabbitts OAM

Bunny received an OAM in 2013 for service to the environment through coast care and environmental conservation.

Kay Bolton OAM

Kay Bolton OAM

Kay was recognised on the NSW Hidden Treasures Honour Roll for 2015, and she received an OAM in 2022 for her role in coastal land management.

Alex Dale

Alex Dale

Alex won the Tweed Shire Council Volunteer of the Year in the 2022 Australia Day Awards. Alex has worked tirelessly for decades for environmental causes, with groups such as FHC, Friends of Cudgen Nature Reserve and Team Koala. Alex’s skills in botanical knowledge and plant propagating are remarkable.

Brenda Blunden

Brenda Blunden

Brenda joined Fingal Head Coastcare in 1988, soon after its formation in 1986. She received a Local Achievement Award at the NSW Seniors Festival 2023 for her tireless work undertaking essential tasks such as propagating, potting, planting and weeding. She is one of our many quiet achievers.

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