Victorian Marine and Coastal Awards 2020 - stage

In Warrnambool on Victoria’s west coast, Colleen Hughson leads a group of dedicated Beach Patrol volunteers. Her campaign to protect the marine environment began in 2017 after a plastic nurdle spill impacted local beaches. Colleen mobilised volunteers to be part of a local clean up and continues to lead broader community engagement on marine health through art and online educational resources.

The Two-Bays project has been running for over 15 years, conducting marine research, education and engagement activities aboard their 62-foot catamaran. Their success has seen over 10,000 people participate, experiencing the value of dialogue and information sharing, that enables ideas to be shared and new partnerships formed.

The Barwon Estuary is an extraordinary mix of lake, swamp, salt marsh, sea grass, mudflats, moonahs, mangroves and moon snails. Aimed at inspiring passion and stewardship of this iconic estuary, this project used a mix of scientific and creative art activities to engage and educate the local community. Activities ranged from guided walks, photography workshops and poetry to litter collection, revegetation and weed removal.

The ‘Share our Shores’ campaign focussed on vulnerable sand dunes, habitat and wildlife being damaged by human behaviours and dogs on beaches. Through a wide-ranging community education and awareness campaign the program increased public awareness about the issues and promoted positive behaviours. The result was a clear shift in community attitudes and actions that care for the coast.

The Port Phillip Baykeeper program delivers a diverse and ever-expanding suite of education, engagement, citizen science and environmental improvement projects tackling ecosystem scale issues and opportunities across Port Phillip Bay. The program has engaged over 27,000 participants and coordinated 26,700 volunteer hours to monitor and improve catchment, coastal and marine health.

‘Turn the Tide’ has inspired over 1,200 students to appreciate and care for the coast. The program provides students with an understanding of biodiversity and the connections between their actions and what happens in the marine and coastal environment. Students create their own conservation activities, leading implementation at school and within their local community.

This not-for-profit environmental organisation based on the Bellarine Peninsula works in collaboration with over 32 ‘friends of’ groups, organisations and land managers to deliver a diverse range of terrestrial and marine initiatives. Established programs include ‘Gardens for Wildlife’, ‘Be a Hero’ litter campaign, educational programs in schools, planting days with local groups, ‘Caring for our Bays’, ‘Businesses Caring For Our Bays’ and involvement in Coastcare’s annual ‘Summer by the Sea’ program.