An afternoon rubbing shoulders with the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian at Casino RSM Club last week turned into something much bigger for our very own environmental educators and co-creators of, dirtgirlworld Cate McQuillen and Hewey Eustace. Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis took the duo by surprise when he took to the microphone to announce the Premier was also here to present a very special award to two outstanding individuals who are putting the Northern Rivers on the world map with their innovative ideas to reduce our carbon footprint. Cate and Hewey have another prestigious award to add to their collection after the Premier presented them with a NSW Government ‘Community Service Award’. Mr Gulaptis said each year MPs across the state are given the opportunity to nominate two worthy people for a Community Service Award in recognition of the valuable contribution they make to their community. “Cate and Hewey are two amazing human beings who have dedicated their life to making our communities a better place to live. “Their passion and enthusiasm for educating our communities is boundless and infectious. “It’s easy to see why kids across the world can relate to them and why we have such wonderful waste reduction programs in the Northern Rivers region. “I think it’s terrific that a regional community can be at the forefront of environmental education not just in Australia but across the world. It’s cutting edge stuff. “We in the Northern Rivers consider ourselves fortunate to have Cate and Hewey live in our community and I can think of nobody more deserving than the two of them to be recognised with this special award for the work they do not only in their local communities but across the globe,” Mr Gulaptis said. Speaking on behalf of the duo, Ms McQuillen said she almost fell of her chair when the award was announced. “We were there to hear what our Premier was doing in the region and to enjoy a great home baked scone! “We were both shocked and delighted that what we get up to from our tiny dot on the map of NSW, Camira Creek, has been recognised in a such a profoundly significant way. “The vision for dirtgirlworld has always been about the story that stretches beyond the TV screen. “Being recognised for our projects that connect and inspire our communities to choose behaviours and actions that lead to us all living a more sustainable, engaged and happy lifestyle…is a massive honour,” she said. “Who would have thought that talking rubbish would have such an amazing outcome. “It’s the many hands and hearts of our team, the extraordinary partnerships that we have, especially with the Clarence Valley Council and the fact that so many people in our community are willing and excited to do things better that makes it easy to get up every day and believe that we can make a difference. “I really hope this inspires other groups and businesses in their work to help people in the journey of sustainable change. “We are all in this together. The planet needs as many of us as possible doing little things that make a big difference. “This region is absolutely leading the State when it comes to commitment and innovation in dealing with our waste. It’s easy to forget that. We should be very proud of what’s going on here. “We’re excited about speaking with the Premier and our local MP Chris Gulaptis about more great ideas that we can start here in the region and share with rest of the State and Nation,” Ms McQuillen said.