Mt Liebig’s efforts awarded nationally

21 March 2016

At the Keep Australia Beautiful national Tidy Town Awards this weekend, the hard work of the Mt Liebig community was honoured when they were named the inaugural Special Commendation Award winners.

While Mount Liebig did not take out a category win at this year’s awards, they were recognised by an impressive four Highly Commended mentions for their efforts across a number of areas.

Regular emu-bob walks with children and families picking up litter along with upcycling projects that have doubled the play equipment in the family park and show colour and happiness in the community, contributed to Mt Liebig being Highly Commended in the category of Litter Prevention and Resource Recovery.

Active engagement through the local primary school teaching children about composting, growing and caring for plants was central to being Highly Commended in the category of Environment Education.

The community’s successful maintenance of tradition cultural practice in conjunction with a modernising western lifestyle was recognised when named Highly Commended in the category of Heritage and Culture.

The small community at the western end of the MacDonnell Ranges has 100% community participation in its sustainability activities and partnership with government and non-government service providers in the community. This was acknowledged when named Highly Commended in the Community Action and Wellbeing category of the awards.

“This is a highly cohesive community with strong recognition of caring for country and each other” Tidy Town national judge Jill Grant said.

The national awards ceremony in Western Australia was attended by a contingent of Mt Liebig and MacDonnell Regional Council staff who expressed surprise and emotion as the special award winner was announced. They quickly shared the good news with their families in Mt Liebig.

The entire Mt Liebig community were overjoyed to learn that their efforts in so many categories were highly regarded by their peers and professionals around the country.

“This is really important recognition for a community walking with a foot in two worlds yet achieving its improvements through innovation and without great funding” MacDonnell Regional Council CEO Jeff MacLeod said in his acceptance speech.

As is the tradition of the national Tidy Towns competition, the reigning winners, Toodyay in Western Australia, got to showcase their town as they hosted the awards ceremony on 18 March.

Media release as downloadable PDF