17 Aug 2005
Inaugural Blake Environmental Educator announced
The Sir Peter Blake Trust has today announced the inaugural winner of the Sir Peter Blake Environmental Educator Award. The recipient is Dr Sue Jarvis from Lincoln High School in Canterbury.
The award, developed by the Trust in partnership with the Ministry of Education, enables Dr Jarvis to be released from teaching in 2006 to pursue an environmental project.
Dr Jarvis will be working with hosts Lincoln University and Landcare Research to develop a model of how a high school, working in environmental education, can spread this knowledge to the wider community.
Students will ultimately form part of a Sustainable Development Committee who will give advice to the town and galvanise local organisations into action. The model, implemented and tested by Lincoln High School students, will then be promoted to other schools to encourage them to take on an environmental initiative.
“I was overwhelmed and stunned when I was chosen, realising that I could spend a whole year following my passion. I’ve been working on projects, particularly those bringing back native trees to the area, in my spare time but now I will be able to dedicate all my energy to it,“ Sue said.
A criterion for the award is that each project will make an important contribution to the conservation of our natural environment. One of the aims of the award also specified it had to provide a significant opportunity to develop experience and capability as an environmental educator.
Executive Director of the Trust, Dr Mark Orams, says, “The Environmental Educator Award gives the recipient one of the most important resources of all – time – to enable them to develop and implement a worthwhile environmental project. Sir Peter was passionate and committed to delivering the message that we need to look after our planet. This award ensures that his message will not be forgotten.”
The Sir Peter Blake Trust aims to keep Sir Peter’s memory alive and to continue to empower young New Zealanders to make a positive difference to the environment.
