Semaphore resident shares top award

Conservation SA, the state’s peak environmental body, has announced Semaphore resident Aaron Machado of Australian Marine Wildlife Research and Rescue and the Year 5 students of Grange Primary School and their teacher Sue Reynolds as joint winners of the annual Jill Hudson Award for Environmental Protection.

Conservation SA also presented its Unsung Hero Award to educator, environmentalist and campaigner Richard Smith.

The Jill Hudson Award recognises people who have made an outstanding contribution to environmental protection over the previous 12 months and faced significant challenges in doing so.

Aaron Machado, 31, was recognised for his exceptional work in the area of marine wildlife rescue; he is in the United States at the moment helping wildlife rescuers in the Gulf of Mexico.

Sue Reynolds and her students from 2009 were recognised for their work in raising community awareness about the impacts of stormwater pollution on Adelaide’s coastline with a short film on Adelaide’s metropolitan coastline called Leave Only Footprints, which was shown at a community forum. The film has also been nominated for a National Land Care Award.

Julie Pettett, CEO of Conservation SA, said “We were absolutely delighted with the strength of the nominees for this year’s Awards.

“As is the case every year, the breadth of work undertaken by both individuals and groups is inspiring and a testament to the strength of community effort to bring about good environmental outcomes. The winners of the Awards this year are truly worthy of Jill Hudson’s legacy.”

Richard Smith, of Torrensville, received Conservation SA’s Unsung Hero Award for his commitment and dedication to some of the most urgent environmental issues of our time. 

He plays a key role in the environment movement in South Australia and is a worthy recipient of the award.