Category Award - Environment
David Walsh - Recipient of the Environment Category Award
Nominated by Conservation Volunteers Australia
As a retiree, David has volunteered for Conservation Volunteers Australia for over seven years, mainly in the Canberra region and surrounding countryside. David worked as an administrator at the Australian National University before his retirement.
David volunteers on conservation projects which benefit the whole community. He helped set up the Landcare Memorial Forest in McKellar where members of the community had trees planted in memory of loved ones.
He works in a range of public areas, such as schools, nature parks and creeks. His tasks include tree planting, weeding, fence building, erosion control, and creating and maintaining walking tracks. David is particularly skilled at fence-building. His skills are of particular help to the team leaders and other team members.
The environment in which David volunteers can be physically challenging. The terrain and temperature can be extreme. He usually volunteers 2-3 days per week throughout the year in temperatures that vary from freezing in winter to very hot and dry in summer. The physical environment can also vary from steep slopes and rocky terrain to heavy vegetation.
David is a regular volunteer. He provides great support to the team leader as well as mentoring and encouraging new volunteers. David enhances community awareness of the organisation's work within the community by telling interested people.