WEPA is delighted to announce that its Honorary Secretary, Dr Meredith Foley, was named ‘Environmental Citizen of the Year’ by Willoughby City Council at its recent Australia Day Awards (26 January).

Meredith has been WEPA Hon Secretary for more than seven years, contributing to WEPA’s many campaigns and activities through submissions and publications.

With her sister Kathryn, she created the Facebook site Wildlife Willoughby to provide a place for people to share photographs, sightings of local wildlife and information about the plants and animals and walking tracks of the Willoughby region.  The site now has over 3,000 followers.

Over recent years she has collaborated with Willoughby Council’s Bushland team to lead student groups on bushland tours, organise citizen science events and coordinate WEPA information stalls at events such as the National Tree Day and the Fauna Fair.  Meredith is also a keen nature photographer who has exhibited her photos at Council and has shared her images for WEPA fund-raising and Council publications and promotions.

After the award, Meredith commented, “we have an amazing and unique biodiversity in Australia – I’m lucky to have the chance to do a little something at my local level to preserve it for future generations”.

Image: Geoff Osborne