As a 6-year-old I discovered first-hand the impact of plastic pollution on the environment and innocent wildlife I adored. Despite my young age, I knew I had to take action against the plastic waste on my local beaches.

I grew up in a small coastal town where I spent most days in nature, developing an inseparable bond with the land. Fast forward 9 years – I’m now a 15-year-old award-winning conservation, wildlife rescuer and environmental educator in the Noosa Biosphere Reserve and beyond.

I’m passionate about inspiring and educating the next generation as, while kids make up a small percentage of the population, they are 100% the future. I love being involved in programs like “Kids In Action” on the Sunshine Coast, where kids teach kids, inspiring and educating students to pursue their environmental passions and ignite curiosity in the natural world. The initiative shows that everyone has an impact, despite age, or how small their ideas may seem. Encouraging the future local conservation heroes is really important to me.

I actively participate in the local community within the Noosa Biosphere Reserve, and you’ll typically find me clearing waterways, collecting rubbish from beaches and parks and removing fishing lines and tackle from the Noosa River. I believe these small, consistent acts help protect our ecosystem and wildlife.

All my clean-up efforts are recorded in Tagaroa Blue’s, Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI) database, which helps contribute to government policies on plastic waste reduction and supports collaboration with industry and government for large-scale change to stop litter flow. To date, I’ve collected 26,000+ pieces of litter and more than 2.2 kilometres of fishing line from waterways and beaches and recorded them in the AMDI database.

I recently returned from Sydney where I was personally invited to meet Dr Jane Goodall. I shared the conservation work I have been doing in the Noosa Biosphere Reserve, and we discussed the impact of discarded fishing lines and tackle in the Noosa River on our wildlife and ecosystems. Dr Goodall expressed deep concern for wildlife welfare and was also hopeful and pleased with my conservation work. 

As a volunteer wildlife rescuer with Wildlife Noosa, we are in our pontoon boat on the Noosa River nearly daily removing fishing lines, hooks and lures from trees, rocks and jetties to help protect wildlife.

Volunteering with Wildlife Noosa is very rewarding as you see your direct positive impact on sick, injured or ‘at risk’ wildlife. Wildlife Noosa is a fast-response rescue team that works with all other animal rescue and rehabilitation organisations and local vets in the greater Noosa Region. Through my involvement with Wildlife Noosa, I have learned about species identification, threats different species face and practical hands-on rescue techniques.

Wildlife Noosa provides a vital service to the community and the Noosa Biosphere Reserve with their volunteers rescuing all wildlife species from snakes, koalas, and marine turtles, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.