18th October, 2004
NOMINATIONS OPEN: $30,000 IN GRANTS, CHANCE TO SAIL IN THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY ROLEX SYDNEY HOBART YACHT RACE
NOMINATIONS OPEN: $30,000 IN GRANTS, CHANCE TO SAIL IN THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY ROLEX SYDNEY HOBART YACHT RACE
The Coca-Cola Community Awards are Launched
Australia,
October
18, 2004 -
If you have ever dreamt of racing in the world famous ocean race, the 60th Anniversary Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race or visiting Antarctica, the Coca-Cola Australia Foundation is giving you the chance, as nominations to enter the inaugural Coca-Cola Community Awards open today.
The Coca-Cola Australia Foundation and Robert Swan OBE, the first person in history to walk the North and South Poles and environmental campaigner, have teamed up to reward and recognise people who are making or have made a difference in their community – either through environmental achievements or through encouraging active lifestyles in young people.
Not only could you be part of a once-in-a-lifetime experience participating in the 60th Anniversary Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race with Robert on board yacht 'The Active Factor', or travelling to the Antarctic on a 16-day INSPIRE! Antarctic Expedition, you could also win a $5,000 grant from the Coca-Cola Australia Foundation for your organisation.
"I'm looking for six unsung heroes who are making or have made a sustainable difference in their communities, either through a positive contribution to the local environment or who encourage young people to be motivated and physically active," said Robert.
Six finalists will be selected across the two award categories of Environmental and Youth Activity, and will receive a $5,000 grant from the Coca-Cola Australia Foundation for the organisation they represent.
From the finalists, the Coca-Cola Australia Foundation and Robert Swan will select the final two winners. The winner of the Environmental Award will visit the Antarctic with Robert in February/March 2005 and the winner of the Youth Activity Award will race on Robert's yacht in the 60th Anniversary Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, departing on the 26th December 2004.
The Environmental Award
The winner of the INSPIRE! Antarctic Expedition will experience an amazing 16-day journey of leadership, teamwork and personal development in one of the most challenging environments on earth. The expedition begins when the team touches down in Buenos Aires and then by sea across the Drake Passage, to arrive in the Antarctic where they will participate in activities to clean up the Antarctic.
"I have dedicated my life to the protection of our environment and the preservation and clean-up of Antarctica, so the Environmental Award is of special significance to me," said Robert.
"I've walked the Antarctic ice cap and experienced first hand the damage we have done to our environment, like premature melting of the Arctic Ice because of the greenhouse effect, so these awards are an opportunity to share my experiences with the Australian community," he continued.
The Youth Activity Award
Coca-Cola Australia Foundation is committed to encouraging Australians to lead active lifestyles, and through initiatives such as the Youth Activity Award, is able to reward those who have or are currently promoting a healthy and active life amongst young people in the community.
"With one in five Australian children and adolescents overweight or obese , it's important that we highlight the achievements of individuals who get young people off the couch and moving," said Robert.
"The winner of the Youth Activity Award won't just be racing in the 60th Anniversary Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race; they will be part of history when they board 'The Active Factor' yacht.
"This yacht has been involved in cleaning up the Antarctic, circumnavigating Africa and has sailed over 23,000 nautical miles. The race will be another fantastic achievement in an already amazing journey!" continued Robert.
The 60th Anniversary Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is an iconic part of the Australian Summer, with the 628 nautical mile ocean crossing being one of the world's most demanding. Each year on Boxing Day, the world's eyes are on Sydney Harbour when the fleet sails out into the Tasman Sea and across the Bass Strait.
Coca-Cola and Robert Swan
Coca-Cola in Australia is committed to working with local government and the relevant bodies to have recycling facilities in key public places by December 2005. Currently kerbside recycling recovers the high proportion of recyclables used in the home, however with nearly half of Coca-Cola products consumed away from home, Coca-Cola in Australia has now turned its focus to working with the relevant bodies to recover this material. In April 2004, Coca-Cola in Australia approached 50 councils nationally to form partnerships to implement public place recycling.
Robert says, "I have been working with Coca-Cola all over the world on their environmental initiatives and I am impressed at the genuine commitment they have to making a positive contribution to the environment and encouraging active lifestyles within communities."
"Our partnership with Robert has brought many different environmental initiatives to our attention and we are pleased that he is including Australia in his sights for environmental promotion and supporting our Community Awards," said Alec Wagstaff, Corporate Affairs Manager, Coca-Cola Amatil.
The Coca-Cola Community Awards are open from the 18th October to the 15th November. The Awards are open to all permanent residents of Australia 18 years and over who meet the selection criteria set out on the nomination form. The public can nominate themselves or nominate others from the community. Entry is through the official online application form at www.activefactor.com.au or by calling 1800 268 742.
The Coca-Cola Community Awards is an initiative of the Coca-Cola Australia Foundation.
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