Media Release                                                                      30 May  2008

                                                                  

Gould Recognises Australian Firefighters for 100 Years of  Bird Habitat Protection

Volunteer firefighters throughout Australia will be honoured for their work to protect hundreds of millions of hectares of Australia's native bird habitats over the past century on World Environment Day Thursday 5 June 2008.

 

Gould, formerly the Gould League, Australia's oldest environmental education organisation, has announced the recognition of firefighters and emergency service agencies throughout Australia in the next twelve months as part of its centenary celebrations. 

 

Firefighters past and present or support staff in any brigade in Australia will be able to log in to the Gould website and create a personalised Gould Firefighters Certificate of Recognition.    

 

Ann-Maree Colborne, CEO of Gould said, "whilst the community recognises the important vital role firefighters everywhere undertake in saving lives and property, we believe the enormous contribution they make to the environmental health of Australia and their local communities is often overlooked."

 

Gould has created a special centenary certificate of recognition for Australia's firefighters throughout Australia. 

"Australia is home to between 600,000 and 700,000 species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. About 84% of plants, 83% of mammals, and 45% of birds are endemic - that is, they are only found in Australia.

"The Department of Environment and Water list twenty three birds as extinct, and another forty which are endangered.

Ms Colborne said the recognition comes at a time when all firefighters and the broader community will face increased environmental challenges through climate change including droughts, lack of water and more intense storms.

""We believe there will also be many of firefighters who have had a relationship with the Gould League through the signing of the historic Bird Lover's Pledge when they were at school. 

"Gould believes the striking of a special Centenary Certificate of Recognition and appreciation for firefighters to publicise their contribution towards saving bird habitats and protecting Australian native birds from extinction is an appropriate form of recognition. 

 "The appreciation of Australia's bird life has never been more important as many of our birds are facing extinction and unfortunately in the past one hundred years we have already lost many species," Ms Colborne said.

 

Gould Group
The Gould League was formed in 1909 following a suggestion by Jessica McMichael, a young school teacher from Richmond and with Australia's Prime Minister Alfred Deakin as its' first  patron to protect Australia's birds.  Millions of Australian children have since signed a Bird Lover's Pledge in thousands of classrooms to protect Australia's native birds.