In recognition of the commitment and contribution of past Committee members (Councillors and community representatives).
Georges Riverkeeper would like to acknowledge the following people for their outstanding support:
(Recipients are listed in alphabetical order.)
Tom Croucher
Tom Croucher was part of the Georges Riverkeeper Committee as a Councillor representative for over nine years. As a long-standing resident of Sutherland Shire, he has spent his time as Councillor and as a Georges Riverkeeper representative using his voice to ensure the good health of the river systems that make Sutherland Shire so beautiful.
A testament to his love of the river is his recent comment, ‘I can think of no better way of leaving a legacy to our children and grandchildren than by supporting the work of Georges Riverkeeper.’
Recently, Tom Croucher has retired from the positions of Deputy Mayor and Councillor at Sutherland Shire Council but he continues to support the work of Georges Riverkeeper.
Sharyn Cullis
‘Miss Georges River’, as some call her (aka Sharyn Cullis), has been a treasured community representative for Georges Riverkeeper for many years. Her love of the Georges River all started as a child when she lived on the banks of Prospect Creek, a middle tributary of the Georges River. Sharyn remembers seeing suds from detergent washing down the creek back in the 1960s and felt troubled by finding a blinded turtle effected by the chemicals.
Since then, Sharyn helped form the Georges River Environmental Alliance in the early 1990s, was the principal at The Georges River Environmental Education Centre and has been attending Georges Riverkeeper meetings since before the Riverkeeper program was developed.
She has been involved in the Georges Riverkeeper River Health Monitoring Program and finds huge joy in heading into Dharawal National Park to undertake macro-invertebrate sampling.
Sharyn is invaluable member of Georges Riverkeeper and we thank her for her commitment to its conservation.
Dawn Emmerson
Dawn Emerson has advocated for the Georges River since 1991, and been a key Georges Riverkeeper representative for over 28 years. Dawn notes that her love of the river started as a child being living in Wedderburn, Campbelltown City Council, where the river ran through her family’s property.
Dawn played a significant role in the success and development of Georges Riverkeeper, turning it from a lobbying group to what is it today, Sydney’s longest serving catchment group, with eight Member Councils and strong community and stakeholder representation. She held the position of Deputy Chairperson in 1999 and President in 2001, and was instrumental in securing the lease from National Parks and Wildlife Service for the Riverkeeper Centre and establishing a partnership with NSW Corrective Services.
Throughout Dawn’s decades of working with Georges Riverkeeper, she has been a strong voice for protection and conservation. We are fortunate that she continues to attend Committee Meetings throughout the year and shares her wealth of knowledge and experience.
Geoff Shelton
Geoff Shelton served Georges Riverkeeper in various capacities from 2012 to 2021 including consecutive terms as Chairman and as Councillor representative for Liverpool City Council. He has lived and worked in Liverpool for over 20 years and was lucky enough to live right alongside the Georges River.
Through his representation, he has been able to support many important actions throughout the catchment including catchment management, research, data collection and advocacy.
It was incredibly special to have Geoff Shelton celebrate with us as part of Georges Riverkeeper’s 40th Anniversary, something Geoff notes as being a milestone for any catchment group and a source of great personal satisfaction.
Geoff has now retired as Councillor and has moved interstate; his advocacy and love of Georges River will be greatly missed from our Committee. We wish him all the best.
Kim Wagstaff
Georges Riverkeeper has been privileged to have Kim Wagstaff as one of our Community Representatives for 10 years. As an Oatley resident who loves a swim at Jewfish Bay Baths, he is passionate about water quality and river health. Not only does he contribute to our work at Georges Riverkeeper, but he is an integral member of Oatley Flora and Fauna – a true conservation hero!
Kim has been a long running volunteer of the Georges Riverkeeper River Health Monitoring Program where water quality and macro-invertebrate sampling occurs in the lower estuary every year. Kim has noted the joy of travelling to the upper reaches of the Georges River, like Iluka and Cobbong Creeks, for water sampling (and a quick dip) as the highlight of his time working with Georges Riverkeeper.
We are so lucky to have such a committed community representative who contributes so much to the protection and conservation of the Georges River.
Adrian Wong
Adrian Wong is a former Councillor and Deputy Mayor of Fairfield City Council. He’s a lifelong resident of Cabramatta, where he attended Canley Vale High School. It was there he became familiar with the needs of Orphan School Creek, as he walked to school each day.
Adrian served as a Georges Riverkeeper Councillor Representative for four years, serving two terms as the Treasurer (2018-2020) and one term as the Chairperson (2020-2021). Showing he’s not afraid of hard work, Adrian was a huge supporter of our ‘Paddle Against Plastic’ events, as part of Clean Up Australia Day 2020 and 2021.
In his position, Adrian was a strong voice for the Georges River, and remained committed to its protection and conservation during the many years of his representation. We thank Adrian for his ongoing support of the environmental work of all the Member Councils within the Georges River catchment.
