The Community Environment Network (CEN) announced the winners of the 2023 BE A TEAM (BAT) Awards at its annual Networking Night on Friday, November 17, with Ursula Da Silva taking the top award.
Deputy Chair John Asquith the awards used the terminology of cricket to emphasise the importance of teamwork and showing up when working to protect nature and advocating for sustainability.
“I have observed over my career how many times just being there to say ‘hey … why is that wetland being cleared or filled in?’ can prick the conscience of those who are making the decisions,” Asquith said.
“You can have a big influence if you are prepared to be there and you are prepared to speak out.”
Ursula Da Silva was the winner of this year’s major BAT award as “a person who has put in a valiant effort on behalf of the environment/sustainability”.
“Ursula has led Camp Ourimbah, the group campaigning to stop logging in the Ourimbah State Forest, for several years,” her nomination said.
“She has been the leader caring for the state forest, its animals, plants and birds – the whole ecosystem.
“She has been tireless in her devotion.
“She has developed and educated a group of supporters and networked with other groups to end logging in native forests in NSW.
“She is inspirational and effective.
“She has been a beacon of inspiration – dedicated, focused, intelligent and effective.”
CEN also presented a Special Recognition Award to Richard Weller, leader of Climate Future – a group dedicated to raising awareness about the climate crisis.
The 2023 Best 12th Man or Woman Award was presented to Woy Woy Peninsula activist and President of the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) Central Coast Group, Mark Ellis, as “somebody who has worked quietly in the background to support others in the front line and help keep them afloat”.
“Mark Ellis has been quietly ever-present at community meetings, council meetings, rallies, workshops, drop-in sessions and community consultations,” his nomination said.
“His main interest has been the Wamberal seawall, a campaign he has been a part of since the 1990s.
“He is convenor of ACF Central Coast and a member of many other committees, working groups and community environmental initiatives.
“Mark is not a grandstander; he works consistently and quietly and is deserving of being this year’s 12th Man.”
The 2023 Rookie of the Year Award went to Woy Woy resident and member of the Mingaletta Aboriginal Corporation at Umina, Coral Roberts.
“Coral has pulled out all stumps to campaign to protect the trees in Austin Butler AC at Woy Woy,” her nomination said.
“She has letterbox dropped, handed out flyers at train stations, gathered thousands of signatures on a petition, lobbied the local MP, attended events, spoken at council meetings and even spontaneously interrogated the Administrator over tea and bickies.
“She is truly a champion of the Austin Butler trees; a grandmother and a First Nations elder, she ticked all the boxes for Rookie of the Year.”
The Most Outstanding Community Organisation for 2023 was Future Sooner – a group that has worked tirelessly on behalf of the environment/sustainability.
CEN CEO Samantha Willis, said the Network congratulated all BAT Award winners on their outstanding achievements in support of nature.
“Our BAT Award winners are extraordinary people and groups who work tirelessly to uphold the principles of ecologically sustainable development and we are so pleased to be able to recognise their efforts,” she said.