ALLAN Voysey never saw himself as a pin-up boy but that's just what he's become as the face of the South Coast on the latest White Pages phone book released this week.
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Mr Voysey is who thousands of Shoalhaven residents and visitors will see every time they pick up their phone book for the next year.
And at 77 years old he doesn't cut a bad figure in his work gear of shorts and Dunecare t-shirt.
With his two good mates, George Byrn, 88 and Des Catts, the three were chosen to pose for the cover from a host of environmental groups in the region.
For nearly 20 years the three have been working tirelessly to protect the dunes at Shoalhaven Heads and have won many awards for their efforts as founding members of the Shoalhaven Heads Dunecare group.
"The photo was taken in December and if you look at it you can see how windy it was that day," Mr Voysey said.
"We were trying to tie down the mesh but the wind was blowing 100 miles an hour."
Mr Voysey and the rest of Shoalhaven Heads received their copy of the 2002/2003 phone book on Friday and he said the phone has been ringing hot with compliments and jokes from family and friends.
"People want to know which Academy Award I'm trying to win," he said.
Unfortunately Mr Byrn has yet to see his picture as he is currently recovering from surgery in Wollongong Hospital.
One of the key projects the Shoalhaven Heads Dunecare group is now undertaking is erecting sand trapping fences, constructing dunes, some over 1km long, and revegetating the banks of the Shoalhaven River.
The project, which is featured on the front cover of the phone book, has helped control dune erosion and reduce the risk of flooding by decreasing the amount of sand being blown in to Shoalhaven River.
The White Pages this year wanted to concentrate on the theme of Our Environment and asked the Landcare organisation to nominate groups in the Shoalhaven it considered worthy recipients of the front cover honour.
White Pages directory general manager Thomas Arthur said the covers of this year's phone books recognise the efforts of communities working together to care for their environment.
"The efforts of Shoalhaven Heads Dunecare demonstrated this community spirit," he said.
