Outstanding all-rounder

Biology lecturer wins community environmental award

Josh Dye
Public relations intern
Avondale College of Higher Education
Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia

Dr Jason Morton is officially an “outstanding all-rounder.”

The senior lecturer in the School of Science and Mathematics at Avondale College of Higher Education is recognised as such by the Community Environment Network (CEN), which has named him as its 2011 BAT Award winner.

CEN, which operates in Lake Macquarie, Gosford and Wyong, named Jason as its winner for his outstanding contribution to environmental sustainability.

The award is particularly for helping protect biological diversity along Sandy Creek Walk, which had been exposed to decades of damage from cattle grazing.

The walk begins at the swing bridge on the north bank of Dora Creek and ends behind women’s residence Ella Boyd Hall on the west bank of Jigadee Creek. Jason applied successfully for a $20,000 grant from the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority to protect and regenerate native riparian and wetland vegetation, to project the banks of the creeks and to control weeds. He and brother Darren, a senior lecturer in the School of Education, have used the money to build six kilometres of fencing, and to clear lantana.

The project is significant “because it borders Dora Creek, which discharges the largest amount of fresh water into Lake Macquarie,” says CEN’s deputy chair Avril Lockton.

The Mortons have also improved two other walks—Boys Walk and Girls Walk—that has created a new seven-kilometre loop of the Avondale Estate.

Since opening and improving the walks, Jason has led a team of staff members, students and community members in a NSW Waterwatch program to monitor the improvement in water quality.

He has also established a Landcare 4 Youth project on the estate in collaboration with Trees In Newcastle. The not-for-profit community organisation donated 400 trees as part of the project. Jason led a team of staff members and students in planting the trees during Avondale’s Green Week this past year. More trees are coming—Jason has established a plant propagation nursery of 1000 seedlings, which he plans to plant following the weed eradication this year.

“Before we were contributing to the problem, now we are part of the solution,” he says.

Avril is impressed with Jason’s contribution. “He has the uncanny ability to make significant changes to a large institution.” Jason sees his contribution as an opportunity to practice stewardship. “As a Seventh-day Adventist institution, I believe Avondale should have a stronger stance on looking after the environment.”