South Burnett Australia Day Ambassadors Announced
South Burnett Regional Council is pleased to announce
that the Co-founder of Tears in the Jungle, Mr Daniel Clarke and Director of the Seed Savers Foundation, Mr Jeremy (Jerry) Coleby-Williams will join the South Burnett community to celebrate Australia Day by attending the Australia Day Award Presentation on Sunday 22 January 2023.
Australia Day is not only a time to celebrate being Australian together; it provides an opportunity to recognise our community members who excel in their chosen field or that go the extra mile to help others.
“Australia Day is an opportunity to showcase what’s great about the South Burnett and our national character. Ambassadors Daniel & Jerry have a life-time of service to the natural environment, something that resonates greatly with us as rural folk here in the South Burnett. I am sure their presence on our regional day of celebration will make this year’s event one to remember,” Mayor Brett Otto said.
Daniel Clarke
Daniel is a passionate conservationist for the critically endangered orangutan populations in Borneo and Sumatra. Since 2008, Daniel, with the help of his brother William, have highlighted the species’ plight and raised more than $1 million dollars to help protect the animals and their habitat. The funds have supported orangutan care centres by building new holding enclosures and enabling investment in veterinary equipment. The brothers have also sponsored more than 50,000 hectares of orangutan habitat.
Daniel and William’s literary work on orangutan conservation has been incorporated into the New South Wales Department of Education Curriculum and Daniel has spoken to more than 60,000 students Australia wide. Additionally, their conservation efforts have been recognised by the previous United States President Barack Obama, Dame Dr Jane Goodall and Sir David Attenborough.
Daniel was also named 2021 Queensland Young Australian of the Year.
Jerry Coleby-Williams
Jerry is the Director of the Seed Savers Foundation, a community organisation which conserves rare and heritage plants, and is a member of the Australian Institute of Horticulture.
Inspired by his family of gardeners and farmers, Jerry has been gardening since the age of four and initially trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Royal Horticultural Society in the United Kingdom. Jerry is qualified in horticultural estate management, soft landscape design, arboriculture, conservation, horticultural and botanical sciences.
Jerry has managed both public and private sector horticultural enterprises in Britain and Australia: nurseries, amenity tree maintenance, inner city parks and gardens, running a busy garden centre, and helping to establish Sydney's Mt Annan Botanic Garden.
Jerry has been a consultant for Sydney city renovation projects, including Darling Park, Central Station, St Mary's Cathedral, the Conservatorium of Music, and the Sydney International Airport. During 2001, Jerry was the horticultural consultant for the inaugural 'ABC Gardening Australia Live' in NSW. For twelve years, Jerry managed the horticultural estate at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney.
In 2003 Jerry moved to Bayside Brisbane to create a sustainable house and garden. His house generates solar power, recycles sewage and grey water, and harvests rainwater for house and garden use.
Jerry has been a familiar voice and face to most gardeners, having appeared on ABC Radio Talkback Gardening since 1995 and ABC Television’s Gardening Australia program since 1999.
Ambassadors become guests of honour and participate in activities as diverse as the communities they visit. The Program is one of the longest running and most successful national Australia Day programs sending high achieving Australians to over 300 community celebrations nationwide every Australia Day. Ambassadors are past recipients of the Australian of the Year Awards, sportspeople, scientists, businesspeople, actors, and community workers who contributed greatly to the community.
Mayor Otto said, “I invite the South Burnett community to come along to your local event and celebrate what makes our region so special this Australia Day.”
Daniel and Jerry are proud to be an Australia Day Ambassador and look forward to joining the celebrations in the South Burnett at the following event:
- Australia Day Awards Presentation
- Sunday 22 January 2023 at 12:00pm* Where: Nanango Show grounds
*The Awards Ceremony will commence at 12noon; Nanango Choir Heritage will perform, and an afternoon tea will be provided for the public at the conclusion of the ceremony from 2:00 - 3:00pm inside the hall.
For further information regarding Australia Day in the South Burnett contact Council’s Executive Services team on 4189 9100 or email info@sbrc.qld.gov.au.
