16th December, 2004
COCA-COLA AUSTRALIA SINGS PRAISES OF UNSUNG HEROES
COCA-COLA AUSTRALIA SINGS PRAISES OF UNSUNG HEROES
Awards feature once-in-a-lifetime journey with celebrated explorer Robert Swan
Sydney,
December
16, 2004 -
The Coca-Cola Australia Foundation recently announced the finalists in its newly launched Coca-Cola Community Awards program, devoted to recognizing the country's many unsung heroes. Each of the six finalists has made a sustainable difference in the community, either through making a positive contribution to the environment or by encouraging and motivating young people to lead active lifestyles.
For making it to the finals, each hero will receive a $5,000 grant for their organization from the Foundation. But the excitement has only just begun. Celebrated polar explorer Robert Swan has picked overall winners from the finalists for two awards: the Environmental Award and the Youth Activity Award.
The inaugural awards are as remarkable as the recipients. The winner of the Environmental Award will travel with Swan to the Antarctic on a 16-day INSPIRE! expedition. The winner of the Youth Activity Award will participate with Robert Swan in this year's Sydney to Hobart yacht race onboard the "Active Factor."
The competition is close for the coveted honors. Each of the finalists lives marked by selflessness, innovation and a devotion to helping others:
Brett Austine of Belmont (NSW), who won the inaugural Youth Activity Award. Brett runs the Lakeside Trampoline Club for five to 40-year-olds. Senior citizens and people with disabilities also use the club for physical fitness. Part of Brett's award was to participate onboard the "Active Factor" yacht in the Sydney Hobart yacht race at the end of December. He plans to weave this once-in-a-lifetime lesson in leadership and teamwork into his classes.
Matthew Dell of Surfrider Tasmania is from a marine debris cleanup and monitoring program, which takes volunteers on commercial fishing vessels into the remote southwest World Heritage area of Tasmania.
John Harding of Penrith (NSW) is a keen environmentalist who works with the 1st Blaxland Kalangadoo Rover Crew. Through Scouts Australia, he has taken on a project monitoring water quality in his local creek, training and supervising eight to 15-year-olds. He is also active in tree planting, bush regeneration, seed collection and plant propagation in his local area.
Graham Arkinstall of Camperdown College in Terang, Victoria has developed a plant nursery at the school where students propagate native species for local revegetation projects. He instigated a recycling centre at the school to recycle school wastes, and facilitated a national Wetlands conference for secondary students. A passionate environmentalist, he has inspired many students to pursue careers in related fields.
John van Groningen of ARMtour in New Gisborne, Victoria established the group Athletes as Role Models (ARMtour) for isolated indigenous youth in remote areas of the Northern Territory. ARM helps to instill a greater sense of hope for the future by building self-esteem and equipping youth for decision-making through participation in skill-building and initiative exercises.
Julie Nicholson is from the Western Australian Hippotherapy Association for Riding for the Disabled. This group offers horse-riding sessions, providing enjoyment and enhancing physical fitness as well as improvements in speech, mathematical, planning and social skills.
Nominations for the awards were placed through the Coca-Cola Active Factor website at: www.activefactor.com.au/.
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