Flying-fox education program recognised at NSW awards

Published on 06 December 2024

Byron Shire Council’s No Bat No Me project has won a Highly Commended award at the 2024 Local Government NSW Excellence in the Environment Awards.

Claudia Caliari, Council’s Biodiversity Project Officer and the force behind the project, said the recognition was a wonderful way to celebrate the flying-fox education project,

No Bat No Me was a community engagement project aimed at teaching people about how crucial flying-foxes are in the natural environment.

“Flying foxes are long-distance pollinators, they disperse seeds and create habitat for many other important species, and they are fascinating,” Ms Caliari said.

“The clearing of habitat means flying-fox colonies are found in some urban areas of the Byron Shire and the No Bat No Me focused on education about these fascinating native animals and challenges this can cause” she said.

“We took a very broad approach, talking to children in preschools and schools, going to Splendour in the Grass and other events as well as through advertising and social media.

“This award reflects the strong collaboration between Council, WIRES and wildlife volunteers, particularly Lib Ruytenberg and Annie Crowley, local schools, flying-fox educators and wildlife rescuers whose contributions were essential to the success of the project,” Ms Calliari said.

No Bat No Me was funded by WIRES.

More information about flying-foxes is on Council’s website.