Environmental Excellence Awards

We acknowledge and reward high school students for excellence in "sustainability" and "environmental action and awareness". Watch the video.

Starting our first awards at Maclean High School over 25 years ago, we now offer these annual awards across the North Coast of New South Wales, from Coffs Harbour to Tweed.

Each participating high school is eligible to win at least one award, and a Regional Leadership Award is presented to the most outstanding student overall. Please contact us for more details, or if you would like to donate towards the prizes.

Award Winners from each High School 2023

(listed in alphabetical order of school)

Alani Field, Byron Bay HS, Yr10. Alani helped organise the school Positive Change Market, closing the loop on Fast Fashion. They have been a key organiser of the Student Strike for Climate movement; are consistently thoughtful and working hard to avert the climate crisis. Alani is instrumental in fighting for change and environmental sustainability at Byron High.

Alexandra Strainic, Coffs Harbour HS, Yr9. Alexandra is an integral member of the School Garden Club and a diligent curator of the school’s plant room and crabitorium. They have been actively involved workshops and activities dedicated to the greening of the school, and worked with local council to create a Science Week ecosystem documentary.

Leticia Black, Grafton HS, Yr12. Leticia has been an inspiring head of the school Environmental Committee. They have demonstrated leadership in establishing the school’s Green Space, organising multiple fundraisers and a recycling initiative to start in 2024. Leiticia is an effective mentor for students in environmental issue, and a driving force of change.

Nadia Anstee, Kingscliff HS, Yr9. Nadia is an active member of the school’s Bush Regeneration Team, and undertakes bush care initiatives in the local littoral rainforest. They are an effective team leader responsible for ongoing rehabilitation & sustainability of local ecosystems.

Anthony Hickling, Maclean HS, Yr12. Anthony has performed cultural dance for the film ‘Yugaamgan’ about Coastal Emus in Yaegl Country. They have also contributed to Mudyala school holiday activities, including the Yugaamgan day. Anthony consistently demonstrates mentorship of younger students in respect for elders and culture.

Audrey O’Donnell Parr, Murwillumbah LCHS. Audrey has demonstrated leadership through being a Green Guardian, participating in the Youth Leading the World conference, and being an inspiring and outspoken Student Ambassador for the Environment.

Harry Castor, Orara HS, Yr9. Harry has achieved high results in Marine & Aquaculture Technology, and represents their school at events with pride. Harry consistently demonstrates leadership and is a fantastic role model for younger students.

Peter Fields, South Grafton HS, Yr9. Peter has been instrumental in the development and maintenance of the school Bush Tucker Garden

* Most photographs are from previous year winners. We are waiting for current winners to send us photos of their endeavours! If you are one of the 2023 WINNERS, please email us your photo NOW : )

* Please note we are using gender neutral pronouns as a sign of respect for all gender identities, without knowing which pronouns each student prefers.

Criteria for these awards are that students have shown demonstrable interest, leadership, passion and commitment towards environmental excellence and sustainability through actions, programs or effort either in school time and/or out-of-school hours. Prizes for the winners from each school include cash (!), publicity, and a printed award.

This environmental award is now acknowledged by most participating high schools as a major student award, presented alongside more traditional academic, sporting and citizenship awards. Recipients have used it effectively in resumes for employment and submissions for university and other tertiary placements.

Past Winners

2022 (details here)

Kayden Raywards, Alstonville HS, Yr8

Lyrdhan O’Reilly, Byron Bay HS, Yr12

Anton Saunders, Coffs Harbour HS, Yr9

Mackenzie McDonald, Evans River Community School, Yr5

Lucas Gough, Kingscliff HS, Yr8

Rose Roper, Maclean HS, Yr12

Dune Care Team - Shanaki Lisson Yr8, Nathan Dutton Yr 8, Jaela Cossetini Yr8, Jye Hackwood Yr10, Murwillumbah HS.

Sabyah Ryan-White, Nimbin Central School, Yr9.

Isaac Dean, Toormina HS, Yr11.

Audrey O’Donnell-Parr, Wollumbin HS, Yr10.

Marami Arraiza, Woolgoolga HS, Yr11.

2021 (details here)

Indigo Horn, Ballina Coast HS, Yr9

Ella Whan, Byron Bay HS, Yr12

Minyarni Isaac-Fisher, Evans River Community School, Yr9

Maddison Carlton, Grafton HS, Yr11

Saoirse Chu, Kingscliff HS, Yr12

Ember Edie, Maclean HS, Yr12

Dune Care Team - Kerry Clark-Arthur Yr12, Jade Tatum-Lube Yr9, Jye Hackwood Yr9, Shanaki Lisson Yr7, Murwillumbah HS.

Sabyah Ryan-White, Nimbin Central School, Yr7.

Bridie Shepherd, The Rivers Secondary (Richmond River) HS, Yr9.

Freyja Giese, Toormina HS, Yr10.

Audrey O’Donnell-Parr, Wollumbin HS, Yr9.

2020 (details here)

Regional Leadership Winner:

Tosh Perrow, Yr10, Byron High School

School Winners:

Rose May Christmas, Alstonville HS, Yr9

Garry McKenzie, Ballina Coast HS, Yr9

Heidi McClure & Isabelle Wicks, Evans River Community School, Yr7

Taya Clark, Kingscliff HS, Yr11

Bailey Guy Yr10, Jye Hackwood Yr8 & Savannah Juniel-Shepherd Yr10, Murwillumbah HS

Aliya Cassel, Nimbin Central School, Yr11

Montana Loader & Kaya McCoy, Orara HS, Yr7

Chelsea Boucher & Tahlo Nicholson-Moss, The Rivers Secondary (Richmond River) HS, Yr10

Eden Cunningham, Toormina HS, Yr12

Eliose Briley, Woolgoolga HS, Yr8

2019 (details here)

Regional Leadership Winner:

Stella Rees, Bellingen High School

Runner Up:

Vindi Ferguson, Byron High School

School Winners:

Coen Acret, Alstonville HS

Hope O’Connor, Ballina Coast HS

Charlotte Penhall, Coffs Harbour HS

Sunny Gillespie, Evans River Community School

Oskar Robertson, Grafton HS

Mia Taylor, Kingscliff HS

Eva Macnamara, Maclean HS

LS2 Class, Murwillumbah HS: Jack Latham, Jade Tatam-Lube, Jayde Johnson, Jye Hackwood, Meghan Butler, Nimai Havey, Tahliya Bennett.

Kai Prikulis, Nimbin HS

Belle Crowe, Orara HS

Abbey Bailey, The Rivers Secondary (Lismore) HS

Bowen Law, The Rivers Secondary (Richmond River) HS

Megan Elliot, St Johns College

Eleonor Logan-Cole, Trinity Catholic College

Jazmine Cooke, Tweed River HS

Tahlia-Belle Janetzki & Ella Curtis, Wollumbin HS

Taryn McCarthy, Woolgoolga HS

2018 (details here)

Regional Leadership Winner:

Ziggy McCartin Cole, Evans River Community School

Runners Up:

LS2 Class, Murwillumbah High School: Owen Findlay, Nimai Havey, Meghan Butler, Keshav Biswas, Kerry Clark-Arthur, Jessie Ross, Jayde Johnson, James Severs, Jack Latham, Christopher Hourn.

School Winners:

Zoe Fairfull & Rose Christmas, Alstonville HS

Hayley Hill, Ballina Coast HS

Summer Storm, Bellingen HS

Lucia Miles, Byron Bay HS

Felix Egan, Coff Harbour HS

Katie McGuire, Grafton HS

Ryan Adams, Maclean HS

Zoe Arias-Walker, Mullumbimby HS

Kai Prikulis, Nimbin HS

Cameron Mustard, Richmond River HS

Jasper Williams, Toormina HS

2017 (details here)

Regional Leadership Winner:
Samual Gribben, Bellingen HS

Runners Up:
Ruby Reeve, Byron Bay HS

Yee Ming Goh, Maclean HS

School Winners:

Lily Christmas & Charlotte Lopes, Alstonville HS

Keshav Biswas, Murwillumbah HS

Neem Solomon, Nimbin Central School

Alyssa MacDonald, The Rivers SC, Richmond River High Campus

Elkan Novak, The Rivers SC, Richmond River High Campus

Decklyn Brown, The Rivers Secondary College, Richmond River High Campus

Rachel Holm, Toormina HS

2016

Regional Leadership Winner
Edward Hubbard, Murwillumbah HS

School Winners:
Bella Rubbo-Fairbairn, Byron Bay HS

Benjamin Soden, Maclean HS

Edward Hubbard, Murwillumbah HS

Kai Prikulis, Nimbin Central School

Damon Cook, The Rivers SC, Richmond River High Campus

Elkan Novak, The Rivers SC, Richmond River High Campus

 

2015

Jake Fitzpatrick, Byron Bay HS

Morgan Koekemoer, Grafton High School

Braydon Connor, Maclean High School

Freya Hughes, Mullumbimby High School

Kaliah Fletcher, Mullumbimby High School

Jason Williams, Murwillumbah High School

Megan Lee, Nimbin Central School

Joel Mudge, Wollumbin High School

 

2014

William Sykes, Ballina High School

Nickolla Clark, Byron Bay High School

Taylah Holwerda, Coffs Harbour High School

Annabel Green, Grafton High School

Tayla Letts, Lismore High School

Besse Groves, Maclean High School

Lily Bullock, Mullumbimby High School

Romany Claringbull, Mullumbimby High School

Rhiannon Hayes, Murwillumbah High School

Jessie Kenneally-Clarke, Nimbin Central School

Jesulin Duray, South Grafton High School

Jake Kennedy, Wollumbin High School

 

2013

Daniel Martenet, Ballina High School

Ruby Tavener-Graham, Coffs Harbour High School

Matilda Lynch, Dorrigo High School

Bethany Bayliss, Evans River K-12 School

Melissa Picone, Grafton High School

Jakira Toniello, Lismore High School

Benjamin Pilcher, Maclean High School

Charlotte Higgins, Murwillumbah High School

Kudra Falla-Ricketts Trinity Catholic College Lismore

Luacy Vieria-Silva, Trinity Catholic College Lismore

Samuel Cook, Wollumbin High School

 

2012

Jack Norris, Ballina HS

Jack Christian, Byron Bay HS

Joel Ashworth, Byron Bay HS

Tiarne Hely, Coff Harbour HS

Grace Jones, Dorrigo HS

Briony Moore, Grafton HS

Maddy Braddon, Lismore HS

Robert Baker, Maclean HS

Courtney Bailey, Mullumbimby HS

Vanamali Hermans, Murwillumbah HS

Haven English, Murwillumbah HS

James Smykowsky, Richmond River HS

Rachael Payne, South Grafton

Genevieve Payne, Trinity Catholic College

Bridget Lea, Trinity Catholic College

Zak Thomas, Wollumbin HS

 

2011

Ellyssa McGinley, Ballina High School

Zeb Branton, Byron Bay High School

Juliette Kidston, Coffs Harbour High School

Teegan Ellis, Dorrigo High School

Reba Blake, Grafton High School

Maddy Braddon, Lismore High School

Kyah Hurrell, Maclean High School

Courtney Bailey, Mullumbimby High School

Monique Orell, Murwillubah High School

Hayden Cridland, Murwillumbah High School

Brianna Morris-Grant, Murwillumbah High School

Peter Macklin, South Grafton High School

Amelia Telford, Trinity Catholic College Lismore

James Lea, Trinity Catholic College Lismore

Kurtis Foulkes, Wollumbin High School

 

2010

Penny Skehan, Alstonville HS

Guy Luckenby, Coffs Harbour HS

Ryan McCallum, Grafton HS

Alice Batcheldor, Maclean HS

Jessica Bohan-Jensen, Murwillumbah HS

Soraya Quaine, Murwillumbah HS

Luke Asi, Nimbin HS

Sapote Hudd, Nimbin HS

Mahalia Jackson, Nimbin HS

Liam Dudgeon, South Grafton HS

Mikayla Robinson, Toormina HS

Madilyn Brady, Toormina HS

Haydn Maynard, Wollumbin HS

Megan Vynne, Southern Cross Uni

 

2009

Kel Gale, Alstonville HS

Henry Garrad, Bellingen HS

Sarah Trende, Byron Bay HS

Matt Flanders, Coffs Harbour HS

Katherine Sangster, Dorrigo HS

Tegan Morgan, Grafton HS

Gwen Palmer, Kyogle HS

Maree Dibella, Maclean HS

Chi Chi Mester, Mullumbimby HS

Jessica Bohan-Jensen, Murwillumbah HS

Jasmine Russ, Murwillumbah HS

Eileen Hodgkins, Murwillumbah HS

Soraya Quaine, Murwillumbah HS

Andrew Attwater, South Grafton HS

Alethea Cotmore, Wollumbin HS

Gwenaella Anne Seznec, Southern Cross Uni

 

2008

Zoe McClure, Lismore HS

Sasha Hunt, Lismore HS

Jake Farrell, Wollumbin HS

Matthew Skelton, Toormina HS

Kaitlin Cowan, South Grafton HS

Oli Landreth, Nimbin HS

Rowan Campbell, Murwillumbah HS

Kirsty Sheridan, Mullumbimby HS

Nikki Gibson, Maclean HS

Lucy Barker, Kadina HS

Alice Lane, Grafton HS

Kymbalee Tarran, Dorrigo HS

Shiloh Mignot, Byron Bay HS

Jacob Rodney Daley, Southern Cross Uni

 

2007

Keeghan Silcock, Alstonville HS

Cooper Dames, Byron Bay HS

Kymbalee Tarran, Dorrigo HS

Lucia Botta-Stanwell, Lismore HS

Karlee Gosewisch, Lismore HS

Erin McKenzie, Lismore HS

Alana Hutchison, Lismore HS

Jessica McLachlan, Maclean HS

Natasha Allen, Mullumbimby HS

Leanora Collett, Murwillumbah HS

Rennie Mitchell, Richmond River HS

Craig Evers, South Grafton HS

Ian Francis Hayes, Southern Cross Uni

 

2006

Sorelle Warzecha, Ballina HS

Chester Pierson, Byron Bay HS

Adele Finch, Coffs Harbour HS

Leah Varley, Coffs Harbour HS

Brianna Parbery, Dorrigo HS

Emma Quinlivan, Grafton HS

Lara Casson, Grafton HS

Tegan Morgan, Grafton HS

Alyson Hewett, Kadina HS

Victoria Jenkins, Kingscliff HS

Brendan Bedding, Kyogle HS

Reid Shipway, Murwillumbah HS

Angus McDowall, Maclean HS

Tenielle Joyce, Mullumbimby HS

Jeremy Hill, Richmond River HS

Crystal Jongen, South Grafton HS

Andrew Carroll, Wauchope HS

Adrian Peter Woodman, Southern Cross Uni

 

2005

Tim Murphy, Southern Cross Uni

 

2004

Kieran Searle, Maclean HS

Tiffany Keenan, Byron Bay HS

 

2002

Marika Tyas-Tunggal, Maclean HS

 

2001

Sue Jeong, Maclean HS

Sasha Kerr, Maclean HS

Frankie Sergeant, Maclean HS

Michael Schilling, Maclean HS

Scott Urquart, Maclean HS

 

2000

Marika Tyas-Tunggal, Maclean HS

 

1999

Marika Tyas-Tunggal, Maclean HS

Isabelle Nicoll, Maclean HS

Josh Dinham, Maclean HS

Jessica O’Connell, Maclean HS

Previous winners ... lost in the mists of time!