TAMWORTH Tidy Towns Committee president Paul Ying is hoping more schools become involved in this year’s Tamworth Regional Sustainable Community Awards.
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“They’re promoting environmental issues anyway (in the school curriculum), so it would be good to get them involved in the awards,” he said.
There are four categories – Schools (small primary, large primary and secondary); Residential; Community and Hobby Farms; and Community Organisation.
Entry forms are running in The Northern Daily Leader up until nominations shut, on Friday, May 10.
Mr Ying is also hoping council will organise a bus to bring students from some of the outlying schools into town for the presentation ceremony at 10am on May 20 at Tamworth Community Centre.
“In the past, quite a few of the smaller schools in the region such as Nundle and Barraba have won categories but have not been able to get to the awards ceremony,” he said.
Mr Ying is also keen to have more entries this year from people in the more outlying areas of the Tamworth Regional Council area – not just from Tamworth and immediate surrounds. “We surely would like to see more people in the community involved,” he said.
“Residents in all the eight principal urban areas of Attunga, Barraba, Bendemeer, Kootingal, Moonbi, Manilla and Nundle are encouraged to participate.
“The competition is open to all residents, businesses, community groups and schools throughout the Tamworth region, with six awards to be made, subject to number of entries.”
Things such as climate change and a greater understanding that humans needed to protect the environment meant the awards would only gain a bigger profile in years to come, he said.
“More and more people are aware of looking after our environment,” he said.
“The solution lies with encouraging people in their own region to understand what sustainable living’s all about.”
Judging criteria includes: landscape design; weed and pest control; plant selection; and use of recyclable materials and innovation.
Judging occurs on May 13-15.
The first Tamworth Regional Sustainable Community Awards were held in 1996.