A Hornsby Shire Council bushcare volunteer has been acknowledged for two decades of work to preserve the region’s natural environment, with the Senior and Overall Regional Volunteer of the Year award from The Centre for Volunteering.
Barry Lees won the award for significant contributions to the care of Hornsby Shire’s bushland and waterways, having volunteered with Council’s Bushcare program and other organisations since 2002.
As leader of the Carrs Bush Bushcare group at Fagan Park, Mr Lees’ dedication, innovation and guidance has seen the site flourish, becoming a healthy remnant of the Critically Endangered Ecological Community of Sydney Turpentine Ironback Forest.
Mr Lees’ extensive work included bush regeneration, planting native plants and providing advice to landholders on growing native plants and managing their bushland.
In addition, Mr Lees works with Hornsby Shire Council’s Warada Ngurang Community Nursery to distribute local tree species throughout rural areas to improve habitat corridors.
Image: Barry Lees giving a talk to Plant Society members. Image: Hornsby Shire Council.
As a member of the Australian Plants Society, Mr Lees managed the Hornsby Herbarium online project, which documents the plants of the local area.
Mr Lees’ work with the Herbarium also involved attending plant surveys, searching for new species on bushland from Wisemans Ferry to Bobbin Head, Pennant Hills and Hornsby. The botanising group has provided over 75 comprehensive species lists for Council’s bushland reserves, adding considerably to Council’s database of local native plants.
As an inaugural member of the Still Creek Landcare Group, Mr Lees has monitored water quality in local streams and removed weeds in remote areas around the Hawkesbury River.
Having recently retired as coordinator of the group, Mr Lees continues to volunteer at information stalls and events, advocating for bush regeneration on private property. This work conserves the local character of Hornsby Shire’s local rural suburbs, improving habitats for local wildlife and enhancing the liveability of the Shire.
Hornsby Shire Council Mayor, Philip Ruddock, said, “Many congratulations to Barry Lees. These well-deserved awards recognise his outstanding contribution to the preservation and improvement of our beautiful bushland Shire’s environment.”
“We very much appreciate Barry’s willingness to volunteer his time and share his expertise, so that our partnership with the community can continue to flourish to the benefit of everyone. Thank you for your decades of hard work and dedication.”
Hornsby Shire Council’s Bushcare program has been working to restoring bushland areas since 1989. There are 400 registered volunteers working at 65 different sites across the Shire.
Featured image: 2022 Upper North Shore Volunteer of the Year Award winners with Hornsby Shire Mayor Philip (centre) and Barry Lees (Mayor’s right). Image: Hornsby Shire Council.
