Frances Bray was presented with the Ruth Readford Award for lifetime achievement at the recent NSW Coastal Conference at Ulladulla, while Narelle Wright received a Nature Conservation Council award for her long-term conservation effort as a volunteer.

Ms Bray’s award was to honour the energy and dedication she has shown in efforts to protect Lake Wollumboola and its unique ecology.

“It’s very pleasing and has been a 21-year journey of discovery for me,” said Ms Bray, who was presented with her award by NSW Minister for Environment Rob Stokes.

“I was totally surprised and didn’t even know I had been nominated,” Ms Wright said, who was presented with her award by Greens leader Christine Milne at an event at Sydney University.

Not surprisingly the pair was again hard at work at Lake Wollumboola on Tuesday morning, ensuring the high tide didn’t encroach onto this year’s nesting sites of the endangered little terns.

“All the science of the lake has been amazing to learn and it is still continuing,” said Ms Bray, who has had a house at Culburra Beach since 1989 and has lived in the area permanently since 2002.

“I originally came to Lake Wollumboola in 1993, I had heard about it but the moment I saw it I knew it was something special and unique.

“I had never seen so many birds and of all different species in all my life.”

She became involved in trying to protect the lake and its environments after hearing about a study for the Lake Wollumboola Estuary Plan.

“I got involved in the consultation for that study and that’s how I learnt a lot more about the lake, its environment, the Aboriginal cultural heritage and the planning proposals for the catchment,” she said.

She maintains proposals for development of land in the lake’s catchment by the area’s biggest private land owner Warren Halloran could have a disastrous effect on the lake.

“As long as there is no development expansion that impacts on the lake we should be able to conserve the lake and make it resilient to climate change and sea level rise,” she said.

“I’m not fighting all Mr Halloran’s proposals, but the strategic planning and all evidence says Lake Wollumboola catchment area is unsuitable for urban development and should be zoned national park and included in the Jervis Bay National Park.”

The Lake Wollumboola Protection Association is staging an all media exhibition at the Nowra Culburra Beach Surf Club this Saturday, November 29 from 10am, to celebrate the lake’s natural and Aboriginal cultural heritage.