Barbara Yerondais, chair of the Rotary Melbourne 2026 Environmental Sustainability Award presented the awards at the luncheon which celebrated young environmental leaders.

In 2021 Melbourne Rotary ran its inaugural, focussing on improving ecological sustainability.

Previous awardees include

• Claire Moore from Sweet Justice
• Phoebe Gardner and Alex Arnold from Bardee
• Beth Mandile and Emily Jarvinen, Sustainability Captains from Star of the Sea, for their project on FAST Fashion
• EnviroFriends from St Monica’s College in Epping,

And a specific commendation award to

• Manon Beauchamp- Tardieu from Little Green Panda
  • Who has since joined our club and is with us today

Again This year the focus of the Award has been on tomorrow’s leaders.

The Award is inspired by the need to take action to support the environment, being one of Rotary’s 7 areas of focus.

This year the Award is focussed on excellence in environmental sustainability in secondary school aged children who have made a significant contribution to their community.

The 2026 Award criteria is for a group of secondary school students who have created or developed a project, that demonstrates leadership in sustainability and community engagement.

The purpose of the award is to:

• Inspire tomorrow’s leaders to focus on Environmental Sustainability
• Demonstrate Innovation and ideas
• Create engagement and to inspire other school children

The Award is $5000 grant to be paid to the school of the winning entrant, to be spent on an environment and sustainability project.

All secondary schools in Metropolitan Melbourne were invited to submit an application for the award, for student projects that addressed the criteria.

This year we only received a small number of applications.  Two of which were  outstanding and so we, the selection panel, have decided to split the award  to these two schools who are both worthy of the award and recognition.

All students who have made a submission will receive Participation certificates,

However before we present the award I have some news to share

Rotary Melbourne is a GOLD ENVIRO CLUB, recently recognised by Rotary International for our activities in the Environmental Sustainability space, and we have recently signed an MOU with xPand net ZERO.

I am delighted to have our awardees here today.

From Killester College in Springvale, for their project titled Brigid’s Blessing

• Loan Pham
• Jennifer Lai

And their teachers

• Lisa Reynders,
• Josie Dilettoso, the Head of Faith and Mission,

And from Eltham High School, for their project titled Indigenous Bush Food Garden

• Gwyn Van der Kamp,
• Anoushka Tymms and
• Jarren Nola

And their teacher  Ross Mckinnon

• We have also extended the invitation to Uncle Charles Pakana, who has been mentoring the students, unfortunately he was unable to attend. 

On behalf of the Environmental Sustainability Award committee I congratulate the Students of Killester College, and Eltham High School, and invite you to the podium to accept the award on behalf of their school.

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