John Linton
......so many more endangered fauna, flora and avia could be saved from extinction.
Annette, Steve and I and a number of other Exetel people attended the Australian Geographic Annual Awards last night at the Sofitel in the Sydney CBD. Exetel contributes to the sponsorship of the conservation awards as part of our program of assisting Australia's 'non-human' inhabitants. I am not a very social person (a long life of dealing with irrational and just plain dislikeable human beings has made me very cautious of who I spend my non-work time with) but yesterday evening was quite exceptionally enjoyable apart from being an exceptionally run 'event in its own right - fresh and flavoursome hors d'oevres, almost drinkable wine, speedy and efficient service and better than just edible food served hot and promptly to all 250 attendees.
I had two highlights, apart from listening to the always enjoyable Sorrel Wilby who was a masterful and erudite MC. The first was to present the "life time award for conversation" to someone who recently celebrated his 100th birthday but spoke in a strong and well articulated voice lucidly and interestingly about a 75 year in protecting and developing the NSW Blue Mountains and other regions of NSW. I had the equally enjoyable pleasure of presenting the 2009 award for the most outstanding contribution to conservation in Australia to the long term organiser and leader of one of the first projects that Exetel directly funds. Ray Thomas sat at our table and it was a privilege to spend time talking to such a dedicated and effective person. Some details about the Regent Honey Eater and of Ray's work over the past fifteen years can be found on Exetel's and the project's web sites:
http://www.exetel.com.au/fauna-regent-honeyeater.php
http://regenthoneyeater.org.au/index.php
The evening was not only highly enjoyable but it was also highly inspirational to listen to the eight award winners briefly talk about what and why they did it preceded by Ms Wilby's informative introduction of each person and why the award had been given often together with slide and/or video footage (I wonder whether that word will ever become centimeterage?). A great note to conclude the 'working week' on.
While Exetel funds a majority of the Regent Honey Eater project's annual budget (and will continue to do so for as long as funding is required and we are able to provide it) the Federal Government cut its contribution by 50% as soon as the ex pop singer became minister for the destruction of the environment (Exetel made up that shortfall at the start of this year) and seems likely to cut it completely at the end of the year as he pursues his policy of "total environment not individual species" nonsense that only a person of his total lack of mental capacity could declaim without then needing to commit ritual suicide for mouthing such cr** in a public place. Exetel has a limited capacity (limited by the small profits it makes and our abilities to encourage more of our customers to financially support various conservation projects) to help people like Ray Thomas but perhaps in winning this award his project will become better known and better supported by his local community in Victoria's North East.
As we drove home I briefly thought about the paucity of what a tiny company like Exetel has been able to do to assist such dedicated people whom we had met and/or listened to over the previous few hours and how much more could be done if more commercial entities donated a tiny amount of their annual profits to people in local communities who work tirelessly to protect or rescue Australia's unique species from extinction. It's a far more worthwhile way of spending any person's time than simply trying to make more money for themselves and their shareholders - but then I don't aspire to a PA, large office, more expensive car, executive jet or the rest of the meaningless trappings of corporate life - any one of those toys would save any number of unique species from oblivion.
Anything anyone can do to persuade their employer to donate funds to real people in their local communities who have viable conservation projects would make a difference - if a lot of people did it - it would make a huge difference.....and a huge difference definitely has to be made.