The Central Australian MacDonnell Regional Council desert community township of Santa Teresa (Ltyentye Apurte) has done Northern Territory extremely proud and is Australia’s 2019 outright WINNER as well as winner of the Litter Prevention Category, Environmental Communication and Engagement Category, Community Health, Wellbeing and Interest Category, Young legend Category plus the well-deserved ‘Highly Commended’ recipients of the 2019 Australian Tidy Towns Sustainable Community Resource Recovery and Waste Management Category.
As the Territory’s 2018 Tidiest Town, Santa Teresa (Ltyentye Apurte) represented the Northern Territory at the Keep Australia Beautiful, 2019 Australian Tidy Towns Awards in Tasmania, at a national gala dinner on Friday evening.
Santa Teresa (Ltyentye Apurte) can now boast as it holds the prestigious award title as the 2019 Australian Tidy Town Sustainable Community WINNER.
Santa Teresa (Ltyentye Apurte) was also national award recipients of another four (4) Australian Award Categories, plus a Highly Commended award for their efforts and actions.
Keep Australia Beautiful Council (NT) CEO, Heimo Schober, said that Santa Teresa (Ltyentye Apurte) residents have embraced the Territory Tidy Towns program for some years now, with many in the community working hard to create a proud community culture, they proudly represented Northern Territory at the National Australian Awards and then winning these prestigious Australian Awards will certainly put the community on a deserved high for some time.
“The township’s strong culture of continuous improvement and community participation helped the MacDonnell community of Santa Teresa (Ltyentye Apurte) lead the national competition to WIN and completely own these categories” said Mr Schober.”
“MacDonnell Council Staff, Community Elders, Key Stakeholders and residents of Santa Teresa demonstrated great community pride and leadership in community culture and heritage, local sustainability practices and education, and set a wonderful example for other remote Australian townships to follow. “
“Santa Teresa (Ltyentye Apurte) was the stand-out township last year in promoting local culture and heritage, community participation and keeping their community tidy and beautiful, and I believe they certainly earned their win at the nationals as Australia’s BEST overall and in most specific categories. “
“2019 is one of the best and greatest national achievements recently obtained by a Northern Territory Community at our Australian Awards.”
“It is our FIRST Northern Territory Aboriginal Community to WIN the National Award outright, I’m bursting with pride and it’s a very honored Territory Community that’s achieved this prestigious win.”
“I encourage all Territorians to get behind this small proud central Australian township of Santa Teresa (Ltyentye Apurte) and loudly acknowledge the community on their wins, they have made big changes in sustainably reducing litter pollution and beautifying their community, they have a fantastic quality of life in Santa Teresa and a strong country.”
At last year’s Northern Territory Awards ceremony, Santa Teresa (Ltyentye Apurte) officially became the ‘Territory’s Tidiest Town’ and Northern Territory’s Finalist after winning the overall NT Award as well as receiving the Category Award for ‘Best Medium Territory Tidy Towns Community’.
The Territory Tidy Towns Sustainable Community Awards program recognises and acknowledges the hard work undertaken by remote and regional community groups, schools, individuals, businesses and Councils, and showcases innovative ideas and initiatives that create culture necessary to improve social and environmental development wellbeing and sustainability in regional areas of NT.
The national Tidy Town Awards was held at Smithton in Tasmania on 5th April 2019.
For further information, please contact Keep Australia Beautiful Council NT, Chief Executive Officer, Heimo Schober by phone 0407 186 461 or email to ceo@kabcnt.org.au
Media contacts:
KABC(NT): Heimo Schober, CEO of KABC(NT) mb 0407 186 461 – MacDonnell Council: Darren Pfitzner, MRC Communications Officer, P – 08 8958 9608, F – 08 8958 9601 or Darren.pfitzner@macdonnell.nt.gov.au
About Keep Australia Beautiful Council (NT): Keep Australia Beautiful Council NT is the Northern Territory’s peak body on litter prevention. With more than four decades of experience in engaging Territorians to care for their local environments, KABC(NT) Programs include Territory Tidy Towns, National Litter Index, Eco-Schools, Sustainable Cities, Clean Beaches, and Keep Australia Beautiful Week in August.
The KABC(NT) website is www.kabcnt.org.au where all information on the organisation can be accessed including membership, Eco-School program and the National Litter Index, which is Australia’s only independent nation-wide litter research.
The Keep Australia Beautiful Council (NT) Facebook page address is www.facebook.com/keepaustraliabeautifulnt